pired apparently during the thirty-seven years' wander- ing in the wilderness (xv, 1-xix, 22) ; but we have no notices of time or place. We have laws respecting the meat and drink offerings, and other sacrifices (xv, 1- 31) ; an account of the punishment of a Sabbath-break- er, perhaps as an example of the presumptuous sins mentioned in vers. 30, 31 (xv, 32-3G) ; the direction to put fringes on the garments as mementos (xv, 37-41); the history of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and the murmuring of the people (xvi) ; the budding of Aaron's rod as a testimony that the tribe of Levi was chosen (xvii) ; the direction that Aaron and his sons should bear the iniquity of the people, and the duties of the priests and Levites (xviii) ; the law of the water of purification (xix).
4. Tlie history of the last year, from the second ar- rival of the Israelites in Kadesh till they reach " the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho" (xx, 1-xxxvi, 13). — (r;.) This narrative returns abruptly to the second encampment of the Israelites in Kadesh. Here Miriam dies, and the people murmur for water, and Moses and Aaron, " speaking iniadvisedly," are not allowed to enter the Promised Land (xx, 1-13). They intended per- haps, as before, to enter Canaan from the south. This, however, was not to be permitted. They therefore de- sired a passage through the country of Edom. Moses sent a conciliatory message to the king, asking permis- sion to pass through, and promising carefully to abstain from all outrage, and to pay for the provisions which they might find necessary. The jealousj^ however, of this fierce and warlike people was aroused. They re- fused the request, and turned out in arms to defend their border. As those almost inaccessible mountain- passes could have been held by a mere handful of men against a large and well-trained army, the Israelites abandoned the attempt as hopeless, and turned south- ward, keeping along the western borders of Idumjea till they reached Ezion-geber (xx, 14-21).
On their way southward they stopjicd at Mount Ilor, or rather at Moserah, on the edge of the Edomitish ter- ritory ; and from this spot it would seem that Aaron, accompanied by his brother Moses and his son Elea- zar, quit the camp in order to ascend the mountain. Mount Ilor lying itself within the Edomitish territory, while it might have been perilous tor a larger number to attempt to penetrate it, these unarmed wayfarers would not be molested, or might escape detection. Bun- sen suggests that Aaron was taken to IMount Hor in the hope that the fresh air of the mountain might be beneficial to his recovery; but the narrative does not justify such a supposition.
After Aaron's death the march was continued south- ward; but when the Israelites approached the head of the Akabah, at the southernmost point of the Edomitish territory, they again murmured by reason of the rough- ness of the way, and many perished by the bite of ven- omous serpents (xx, 22-xxi, 9). The passage (xxi, 1-3) which speaks of the Canaanitish king of Arad as coming out against the Israelites is clearly out of place, stand- ing as it does after the mention of Aaron's death on Mount Hor. Arad is in the south of I'alcstine. The attack, therefore, must have been made while the people were yet in the neighborhood of Kadesh. The mention of Hormah also shows that this must have been the case (comp. xiv, 45). It is on this second occasion that the name of Hormah is said to have been given. Either therefore it is used proleptically in xiv, 45, or there is some confusion in the narrative. What " the way of Atharim" (A. V. " the way of the spies") was, we have no certain means now of ascertaining. See Exode.
(6.) There is again a gap in the narrative. We are told nothing of the march along the eastern edge of Edom, but suddenly find ourselves transported to the borders of Moab. Here the Israelites successively en- countered and defeated the kings of the Amorites and of Bashan, wresting from them their territory, and per- manently occupying it (xxi, 10-35), Their successes
alarmed the king of Moab, who, distrusting his superior- it}' in the field, sent for a magician to curse his enemies; hence the episode of Balaam (xxii, 1-xxiv, 25). Other artifices were employed by the Moabites to weaken the Israelites, especially through the influence of the Moab- itish women (xxv, 1), with whom the Midianites (ver. 6) are also joined ; this evil was averted by the zeal of Phinehas (xxv, 7, 8). A second numbering of the Is- raelites took place in the plains of Moab preparatory to their crossing the Jordan (xxvi). A question arose as to the inheritance of daughters, and a decision was given thereon (xxvii, 1-11). Moses is warned of his death, and Joshua is appointed to succeed him (xxvii, 12-23). Certain laws are given concerning the daily sacrifice, and the offerings for Sabbaths and festivals (xxviii, xxix), and the law respecting vows (xxx) ; the conquest of the Midianites is narrated (xxxi) ; and the partition of the country east of the Jordan among the tribes of Keuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (xxxii). Then follows a recapitulation, though with some difference, of the various encamp- ments of the Israelites in the desert (xxxiii, 1-49) ; the command to destroy the Canaanites (xxxiii, 50-5G) ; the boundaries of the Promised Land, and the men ap- pointed to divide it (xxxiv) ; the appointment of the cities of the Levites and the cities of refuge (xxxv); further directions respecting heiresses, with special ref- erence to the case mentioned in ch. xxvii, and conclu- sion of the book (xxxvi).