whom the Bible honours with the title of the refrain, "Si.ng le to the Lord," etc. (Se,e "prophetess." Prophetesses were common in the" Introduction to th,s chapter.) While Egypt o.t a much earlier dnte; and thos, tho.t responding, the female chorus both danced e. woman should have the gift wonld have Wld struck their tambourines. This ose of seemed no strange thing to the H~brews. dancing in a. religions ceremonial, so contrary ~or exampl_es of ot~_er p'rophetess~, !ee J udg. to Western ide0s of decorum, is quite con- 1v. 4; 2 Kmgs xxn. 14; Is. v111. ;:; ; Luke sonant with Oriental practice, both ancient ii. 36. The sister of Aaron. Compare Nam. and modern. 01her examples of it in Scripture xxvi. 59. Miriam is generally regarded as are David's dancing before the a.rk (2 Sam. vi. the sister of Moses mentioned in E,x. ii. 4-8, 16), the dancing of Jephtha.h's da.ughter(Judg. whose name is not there given. If so, she xi. :H), a.nd that of the virgins of Shiloh (ib. was considerably older tha)l either Moses or xxi. 21). It is also mentioned with approval Aaron. Took a timbrel By "a timbrel " in the Psalms (cxlix. 3; cl. 4). Dancing our translators meant what is now called " a was practised as a. religious ceremony in tambourine." Such instruments were common Egypt, in Phrygia, in Thrace, by the Phre- in Egypt (Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians, nicians, by the Syrians, by th1i Romans, and vol. i. p. 93), and in the representations are others. In the nature of things there is generally played by women. The separation clearly nothing unfitting or indecorous in a of the men and women into distinct bands was dedication, to religion of what ha.s been called au Egyptian custom; as likewise was the "the poetry of gesture." Bot human infirmity execution of dances by performers who ac- has connected snch terrible a.bases with the companied their steps with music (i'bid. vol.. practice that the purer religions have either ii. pp. 235. 301 ). discarded it or ebe denied it admission into Ver. 21.-Minam answered them. MiriaII\, their ceremonial. It still however lingers in with her chorus of women, answered the Mohammedanism among those who are called chorus of men, responding at the termination "dancing dervishes," whose extraordinary per- of each st~ or separate pa.rt of the ode with fo~ces are regarded as acts of devotion.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-18.-The song of Moses a pattern thanksgiving. There is nothing in the whole range of sacred or profane literature more fresh, more vigorous, more teeming with devotional thought than this wonderful poem. In rhythm it is grand and sonorous, in cons,truotion skilful and varied, in the quality of the thoughts lofty, in the mode of expression at once simple and sublime. Partly historic, partly prophetic, it describes the past with marvelloW! power, and gives wi:th a few touches a glorious picture of the future. Throughout i,t breathes the warmest love of God. the deepest thankfulness to him, the strongest regard for his honour. We may well take it for our model when we have t-0 thank God:- I. FoR A TEMPORAL DELIVERANCE; and observe (1) its matter; (2) its manner; (3) its form. (1) Its matter comprises (a) distinct and repea1!ed enunciation of the deliver- ance itse!f, with expatiation on its circumstances; (b) anticipation of further advantages to flow from the dr,liverance in the future; (c) transition from the particular mercy to the consideration of God's power, greatness and goodness in the abstract; and (d) glorifi- cation of God on all three accounils. (2) Its manner comprises, among other points, (a) beginning and ending with praise; (b) interm.u.ture of: the praise with the grounds of praise; (c) persistence and repetition, but with the introduction of new touches. (3) Its form is (a) poetic; (b) discontinuous, or broken into stanzas ; ( c) irregular. Our thanksgivings for great national or even great persona.I deliverances may well, if our powers suffice, take a poetic shape. Poetry is more expressive than prose, more hea.rt- stirring, more enthusiastic. It is also better remembered, and it is less diffuse. II. Fon SPIRITUAL DELIVERANCE FROM THE EGYPT OF SIN. .Each man's deliverance will have its own peculiar features, which he will do well to note and make special subjects of thankfulness, not sparing repetition, that he may present the matter tu himself in various lights, and see all God's goodness in respect of it. Each deliveranc" will also lead naturally to prospective thoughts, extending beyond the wilderness of thi~ life to the Canaan which is our inheritance. Each will profitably lead us to go beyond ourselves, and dwell for a while on the general attributes of God; whence proceed the mercies that we individually experience; and we shall do well to praise God on all the,e aceo1rnts. Manner and form are of less importance than matter, and admit of more 6 'rITE BOOK OF EXODU~: [CH XV. 1-1!},