(6) The Golden Calf. After giving to him the two tables of stone, on which the ten com mandments had been divinely inscribed. he hade him go down hastily-, as the Hebrews had already broken their engagements, and were worshiping a golden calf. He offered to make Moses' family a great nation, if he would but forbear interceding for his guilty brethren. Moses fell on his face before the Lord, and begged Ile would not destroy them, as they were his covenant people. When he came down from the mount, and observed their idolatry, his holy zeal was so excited, that he threw down the tables of the law, and broke them to pieces before them, as a token of their breaking God's covenant, and exposing themselves to be broken in his wrath. He took their idol calf and reduced it to powder, and caused the idolaters to drink the water, with the dust mixed with it, as a token that their guilt should be punished.
(7) Destruction of Idolaters. After sharply rebuking Aaron, his brother, for his part in their sin, he placed himself at the door of a tent, which he erected without the camp, and bade all that detested this idolatry to come to hint. Three thousand Levites quickly joined him. These Ile ordered to go through the camp, and slay every man his friend, or near kinsman, who had been active in the idolatry. After representing to the people the greatness of their sin, he returned to the mount, and fasted and prayed for the space of forty days. He begged that if God would not forgive the Hebrews' sin. he himself might be blotted out of the book of providential preser vation, and not live to see them ruined, or have the honor of his family established on their ruin. God replied, he would only cut off from• life in that quarrel, such as had offended; Moses con tinued his intercession, till God promised his presence ; promised, and gave him a signal mani festation of his mercy, goodness, and equity. Whereupon Moses begged that God would glorify the exceeding riches of his grace, in going up with them, though they were a most rebellious and stiff-neeked people.
After hewing two new tables of stone, Moses re turned again to the mount ; and continuing there forty days, came down with the moral law divinely inscribed on the tables. His face shone with the reflection of the divine glory. When he knew this, he covered his face with a vail, that the Hebrews might converse with him (Exod. xxv xxxiv • Dent. xi-x).
(8) 'The Tabernacle. The tabernacle was now to be reared by voluntary contribution. The peo ple brought materials, till Moses restrained them. Every male paid half a shekel as the ransom money of his soul. After six months' work the tabernacle was finished, everything being exactly according to the direction of God by Moses. After divine directions issued therefrom concern ing the various offerings, Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the service of it, and then a num ber of other ceremonial laws were by God uttered therefrom. (See LEvincus.)
An account of the Hebrews was then taken, and all were directed in their station and work, and their princes offered the oblations for the dedica tion of the tabernacle.
(9) Subsequent History. He then received the "spiritual statute book" of Israel as the con gregation of Jehovah (Lev. ch. i-vii), and con secrated Aaron and his sons for the priesthood (Lev. ch. viii-ix). Judgment was executed upon Nadab and Abihu (ch. x) and further regulations promulgated (ch. xi-xxvii). A-fter this Moses numbered the people (Num. ch. i), arranged the nrder of the tribes in the camp and on the march (ch. ii), numbered the Levites and arranged for their special calling (ch. iii-iv), gave directions respecting unclean persons, trespass, Nazarites, etc. (ch. v-vi), received the dedicatory gifts from the princes of the tribes (ch. vii), consecrated the Levites (ch. viii), and prepared for the onward journey (ch. ix-x:io).
Mention is made of Moses securing, by prayer, the quenching of the fire at Taberah (xi :t-3) ; Moses' complaint of the burden of his charge and the appointment of seventy elders (xi :io-3o) ; the sedition of Miriam and Aaron (ch.xii) ; the sending out of the spies (ch. xiii-xiv) ; the rebel lion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (ch. xvi) ; the death of Miriam and Aaron, and the smiting of the rock at Meribali (ch. xx) ; the plag-ue of ser pents (ch. xxi); the appointment of Joshua by Moses as his successor (ch. xxvii) ; the assign ment of their inheritance to the Reubenites and Gadites (ch. xxxii) ; the appointment of commis sioners to divide the Promised Land.
(10) Final Instructions. The eleventh month of tke fortieth year of the Hebrews' travels was now begun. Moses finding that no intercession with God could procure for him an entrance into the Promised Land, and knowing that his end drew near, rehearsed to the Hebrews a summary of what God had done for them, and a number of the laws he had given them, with some additional ones, and caused them to renew their solemn cove nant with God. He also set before them the mani fold blessings which would attend their obedience, and the curses that would follow on their dis obedience. He left a written copy of his law, to be placed at the side of the ark; and ordered the reading of it to the people at their public meet ings, especially on' the year of release. After giv ing Joshua a solemn charge with respect to his behavior, lie composed a sublime ode that repre sented the excellency of God, their duty to him, and their danger if they apostatized from it. He then blessed the tribes of Israel; that of Simeon (perhaps because it was the most guilty in the Midianitish whoredom and idolatry) only ex cepted, and concluded with a lofty commendation of God, as the source of true happiness.