Part 2

II. =THE DISPERSION OF THE RACES.= (B.C. 2247?) 1. Very soon after the deluge a new =instinct=, that =of migration=, took possession of the human family. Hitherto all mankind had lived together; from this time they began to scatter. As a result came tribes, nations, languages, and varieties of civilization. "The confusion of tongues" was not the cause, but the result of this spirit, and was not sudden, but gradual (Gen. 11. 2, 7).

2. =Evidences of this migration= are given: 1.) In the Bible (Gen. 9. 19; 11. 8). 2.) The records and traditions of nearly all nations point to it. 3.) Language gives a certain proof; for example, showing that the ancestors of the English, Greeks, Romans, Medes, and Hindus--races now widely dispersed--once slept under the same roof. At an early period streams of migration poured forth from the highlands of Asia in every direction and to great distances.

III. =THE RISE OF THE EMPIRES.= In the Bible world three centers of national life arose, not far apart in time, each of which became a powerful kingdom, and in turn ruled all the Oriental lands. The strifes of these three nations, their rise and fall, constitute the matter of ancient Oriental history, which is closely connected with that of the Bible. These three centers were Egypt (called in the Bible Mizraim, Gen. 10. 6, 13), of which the capital was Memphis; Chaldea, of which the capital was Babel or Babylon (Gen. 10. 10; 11. 2-9); and Assyria, of which the capital was Nineveh (Gen. 10. 11). We might add to these the Canaanite or Phenician city of Sidon (Gen. 10. 15, 19), and its daughter Tyre, the great commercial centers of the ancient world, whose empire was not the land, but the sea. Note that all of these early kingdoms were established by the Hamitic race.

IV. =THE MIGRATION OF ABRAHAM.= (B. C. 1921?) No other journey in history has the _importance_ of that transfer of the little clan of Abraham from the plain of Shinar to the mountains of Palestine in view of its results to the world. Compare with it the voyage of the _Mayflower_. Its causes were: 1. Probably the migratory instinct of the age, for it was the epoch of tribal movements. 2. The political cause may have been the desire for liberty from the rule of the Accadian dynasty that had become dominant in Chaldea. 3. But the deepest motive was religious, a purpose to escape from the idolatrous influences of Chaldea, and to find a home for the worship of God in what was then "the new West," where population was thin. It was by the call of God that Abraham set forth on his journey (Gen. 12. 1-3).

V. =THE JOURNEYS OF THE PATRIARCHS.= (B. C. 1921-1706?) For two centuries the little clan of Abraham's family lived in Palestine as strangers, pitching their tents in various localities, wherever pasturage was abundant, for at this time they were shepherds and herdsmen (Gen. 13. 2; 46. 34). Their home was generally in the southern part of the country, west of the Dead Sea, and their relations with the Amorites, Canaanites, and Philistines on the soil were generally friendly (Gen. 20. 14; 26. 26-31).

VI. =THE SOJOURN IN EGYPT.= (B. C. 1706-1491?) After three generations the branch of Abraham's family belonging to his grandson Jacob or Israel removed to Egypt (Deut. 26. 5), where they remained either two hundred or four hundred years, according to different opinions.[B] This stay in Egypt is always called "the sojourn." The event which led directly to the descent into Egypt was the selling of Joseph (Gen. 37. 28). But we can trace a providential purpose in the transfer. Its objects were:

1. =Preservation.= The frequent famines in Palestine (Gen. 12. 10; 26. 1;42. 1-3) showed that as shepherds the Israelites could not be supported in the land. On the fertile soil of Egypt, with three crops each year, they would find food in abundance.

2. =Growth.= At the end of the stay in Canaan the Israelites counted only seventy souls (Gen. 46. 27); but at the close of the sojourn in Egypt they had increased to nearly two millions (Exod. 12. 37; Num. 1. 45, 46). The hot climate and cheap food of Egypt has always caused an abundant population. In Egypt Israel grew from a family to a nation.

3. =Isolation.= There was great danger to the morals and religion of the Israelites in the land of Canaan. Abraham had sent to his own relatives at Haran for a wife for Isaac (Gen. 24. 3, 4) in order to keep both the race and the faith pure. One of Isaac's sons married Canaanite wives, and as a result his descendants, the Edomites, lost the faith and became idolaters (Gen. 26. 34, 35). Jacob sought his wives among his own relatives (Gen. 28. 1, 2). We note a dangerous tendency in Jacob's family to ally themselves with the Canaanites (Gen. 34. 8-10; 38. 1, 2). If they had stayed in Canaan the chosen family would have become lost among the heathen. But in Egypt they lived apart, and were kept by the caste system from union with the people (Gen. 46. 34; 43. 32). It was a necessary element in the divine plan that Israel should dwell apart from other nations (Num. 23. 9).

4. =Civilization.= The Egyptians were far in advance of all other nations of that age in intelligence, in the organization of society, and in government. Though the Israelites lived apart from them, they were among them, and learned much of their knowledge. Whatever may have been their condition at the beginning of the sojourn, at the end of it they had a written language (Exod. 24. 7), a system of worship (Exod. 19. 22; 33. 7), and a leader who had received the highest culture of his age (Acts 7. 22). As one result of the sojourn the Israelites were transformed from shepherds and herdsmen to tillers of the soil--a higher manner of living.

Blackboard Outline.

=Six Ev.= =I. Del.= 1. Fac. Scrip. Trad. 2. Dat. 2348? 3. Cau. Wick. rac. 4. Ext. par. 5. Pur. 1.) Des. ev. 2.) New ep. =II. Disp. Rac.= 1. Inst. mig. 2. Evid. Bib. Trad. Lang. =III. Rise Emp.= 1. Eg. 2. Chal. 3. Ass. 4. Sid. and Tyr. =IV. Mig. Abr.= Causes. 1. Mig. inst. 2. Pol. cau. 3. Rel. mot. =V. Jour. Patr.= Str. in Pal. Shep. Hom. Relat. =VI. Soj. in Eg.= Obj. 1. Pres. 2. Gro. 3. Isol. 4. Civ.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW.

What is the purpose in this series of studies? At what point does history begin? Name the six great events in early Bible history. How is the fact of a deluge attested? What date is commonly given to this event? What was the moral cause of the flood? What was its extent? What was its purpose in the plan of God? What new spirit took possession of men soon after the flood? To what results did this lead? What was the relation of this fact to the confusion of tongues? What evidences of these migrations are found? What were the three great centers of national life in the Oriental world? What city became the center of commercial life? To what race did the earliest empires belong? What was the most important journey, in its results, in all history? What three causes are given for this migration? What was especially the religious motive of this journey? How long did Abraham's descendants remain in Palestine? In what part of the country did they live? What were their relations with the native peoples in Palestine? What is meant by "the sojourn?" What was its immediate cause? What four providential results came to Israel through this sojourn? How long was the time of the sojourn? How were the Israelites protected from corruption through this sojourn? What was the effect of the sojourn upon their civilization?

Subjects for Special Papers.

THE PYRAMIDS. THE CITY OF BABYLON. THE GREAT RACES. TRADITIONS OF THE DELUGE. THE CHARACTER OF ABRAHAM. EGYPT IN THE TIME OF JOSEPH.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] See Geikie's _Hours with the Bible_, vol. 1, chap. xiii; _Bible Commentary_, note at the end of Gen. 8.

[B] From the fact that in several genealogies four generations are given to the sojourn in Egypt, the shorter period, from 1706 to 1491, has been generally assumed. But it is almost impossible that seventy people could become two million in four generations by natural increase alone. Moreover, the genealogy of Joshua (1 Chron. 7. 22-27) gives either ten or eleven generations to this period. It is probable that the other tables name only sufficient links to show the line, and omit many of the generations. This was frequently the case with Jewish records. (See the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matt. 1, where several names are omitted.) We conclude that the sojourn began about 1900 B. C., and the call of Abraham was about 2100 B. C., or earlier; but we give in the text the usual chronology.

SECOND STUDY.

THE WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS.

I. Let us notice briefly the =EVENTS LEADING TO THE WANDERING.=

1. =The Oppression of the Israelites.= (B. C. 1635.) (Exod. 1. 8-13.) This was an important link in the chain of events. If the Israelites had been prosperous and happy in Egypt they would have remained there, and the destiny of the chosen people would have been forgotten. Therefore, when Egypt had given to Israel all that it could, the wrath of man was made to praise God; and by suffering the Israelites were made willing to leave the land of their sojourn and seek the land of promise. The nest was stirred up, and the young eaglet was compelled to fly (Deut. 32. 11, 12).

2. =The Training of Moses.= (Born B. C. 1571.) There was another element of preparation. No common man could have wrought the great work of liberation, of legislation, and of training which Israel needed. Notice, 1.) Moses was an _Israelite in birth_, of the consecrated tribe of Levi (Exod. 2. 1, 2). 2.) But he was _educated in the palace_, and in the highest culture, as a prince in Egypt (Exod. 2. 10). If he had been doomed to a slave's life he could never have accomplished his mission. 3.) At full age Moses made _choice of his people_, because they were the people of God (Heb. 11. 24-26). 4.) Then came the _training of forty years_ in the desert, giving him knowledge of the land, experience of hardships, and maturity of thought. 5.) Lastly, there was the _call of God_ (Exod. 3. 2), with its revelation of God's name and power, imparting strength for his work.

3. =The Ten Plagues.= There was a special significance in these plagues, for each was a blow at some form of idol-worship among the Egyptians. They were: 1.) The river turned to blood (Exod. 7. 20, 21). 2.) Frogs (Exod. 8. 6). 3.) Lice (Exod. 8. 17). 4.) Flies, probably including beetles and other winged pests (Exod. 8. 24). 5.) Murrain, or pestilence among domestic animals (Exod. 9. 3, 4). 6.) Boils (Exod. 9. 10). 7.) Hail (Exod. 9. 23). 8.) Locusts (Exod. 10. 14, 15). 9.) Darkness (Exod. 10. 22, 23). 10.) Death of the first-born (Exod. 12. 29).

4. =The Passover.= (Exod. 12. 21-28.) This service represented three ideas. 1.) It was the spring-tide festival. 2.) It commemorated the sudden departure from Egypt, when there was not even time to "raise the bread" before leaving (Exod. 12. 34-39). 3.) It was an impressive prophecy of Christ, the slain Lamb of God (Exod. 12. 21, 22).

5. =The Exodus.= (B. C. 1491.) (Exod. 12. 40, 41.) The word means "going out." This was the birthday of a nation, the hour when the Israelites rose from being merely a mass of men to become a people.

II. =THE WILDERNESS OF THE WANDERING.= Let the student note carefully upon a good map the following locations, and then draw a map containing them:

1. Draw the coast-lines and note =three Seas=. 1.) The "great sea," or _Mediterranean_ (Josh. 1. 4). 2.) The _Red Sea_ (Exod. 13. 18), (Gulfs of Suez and Akaba). 3.) The _Dead Sea_.

2. Draw the mountain ranges, and note =five Deserts=. 1.) The _Desert of Shur_ (Exod. 15. 22), between Goshen and Canaan. 2.) The _Desert of Paran_, in the center of the Sinaitic triangle (Num. 10. 12). This is the wilderness in which thirty-eight of the forty years were passed (Deut. 1. 19). 3.) The _Desert of E'ham_ (Num. 33. 8), on the shore of the Gulf of Suez. 4.) The _Desert of Sin_, near Mount Sinai (Exod. 16. 1). 5.) The _Desert of Zin_, the desolate valley between the Gulf of Akaba and the Dead Sea, now called the Arabah (Num. 13. 21).

3. Locate also the =five Lands= of this region. 1.) _Goshen_, the land of the sojourn (Exod. 9. 26). 2.) _Midian_, the land of Moses's shepherd life (Exod. 2. 15), on both sides of the Gulf of Akaba. 3.) _Edom_, the land of Esau's descendants, south of the Dead Sea (Num. 21. 4). 4.) _Moab_, the land of Lot's descendants, east of the Dead Sea (Num. 21. 13). 5.) _Canaan_, the land of promise (Gen. 12. 7).

4. Fix also the location of =three Mountains=. 1.) _Mount Sinai_, where the law was given (Exod. 19. 20). 2.) _Mount Hor_, where Aaron died (Num. 20. 23-28). 3.) _Mount Nebo_ (Pisgah), where Moses died (Deut. 34. 1).

5. Notice also =seven Places=, some of which are clearly, others not so definitely, identified. 1.) _Rameses_, the starting-point of the Israelites (Exod. 12. 37). 2.) _Baal-zephon_, the place of crossing the Red Sea (Exod. 14. 2). 3.) _Marah_, where the bitter waters were sweetened (Exod. 15. 22-25). 4.) _Elim_, the place of rest (Exod. 15. 27). 5.) _Rephidim_, the place of the first battle, near Mount Sinai (Exod. 17. 8-16). 6.) _Kadesh-barnea_,[C] whence the spies were sent forth (Num. 13. 26). 7.) _Jahaz_, in the land of Moab, south of the brook Arnon, the place of a victory over the Amorites (Num. 21. 23, 24).

III. =THE JOURNEYS OF THE WANDERING.= These, with the =EVENTS= connected with them, may be arranged in order as follows:

1. From Rameses to the Red Sea (Exod. 12. 37; 14. 9). With this note: 1.) _The crossing of the Red Sea._

2. From the Red Sea to Mount Sinai. Events: 2.) _The Waters of Marah._ 3.) _The repulse of the Amalekites._ 4.) _The giving of the law._ 5.) _The worship of the golden calf._ At Mount Sinai the camp was kept for nearly a year, and the organization of the people was effected.

3. From Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea (B. C. 1490). At the latter place occurred, 6.) _The sending out of the spies_ (Num. 13. 1-26). 7.) _The defeat at Hormah_ (Num. 14. 40-45). It was the purpose of Moses to lead the people at once from Kadesh up to Canaan. But their fear of the Canaanite and Amorite inhabitants made them weak; they were defeated and driven back into the desert of Paran, where they wandered thirty-eight years, until the generation of slavish souls should die off, and a new Israel, the young people, trained in the spirit of Moses and Aaron, and fitted for conquest, should arise in their places.

4. From Kadesh-barnea through the desert of Paran and return. This was the long wandering of thirty-eight years. We trace the route from Kadesh, around the desert of Paran, to Mount Hor, to Ezion-geber at the head of the Gulf of Akaba, and at last to Kadesh once more (Num. 20. 1). There occurred, 8.) _The water from the rock at Kadesh_, and Moses's disobedience (Num. 20. 10-12). 9.) _The repulse of Arad_ (Num. 21. 1). It would seem that the Israelites made a second attempt to enter Canaan on the south, and were again defeated, though not so severely as before.

5. From Kadesh-barnea around Edom to the river Jordan. After this second defeat Moses desired to lead the people through the land of the Edomites, and to enter Canaan by crossing the Jordan (Num. 20. 14). But the Edomites refused to permit such an army to pass through their land (Num. 20. 18-21). Hence the Israelites were compelled to go down the desert of Zin, past Edom, as far as the Red Sea, then east of Edom, a very long and toilsome journey (Num. 21. 4). Note with this journey: 10.) _The brazen serpent_ (Num. 21. 6-9; John 3. 14, 15). 11.) _The victory over the Amorites_ (Num. 21. 23, 24). This victory gave to the Israelites control of the country from Amon to Jabbok, and was the first campaign of the conquest. The long journey was now ended in the encampment of the Israelites at the foot of Mount Nebo, on the eastern bank of the Jordan, near the head of the Dead Sea. 12.) The last event of the period was _the death of Moses_ (Deut. 34. 5-8) (B. C. 1451).

IV. =THE RESULTS OF THE WANDERING.= These forty years of wilderness life made a deep impress upon the Israelite people, and wrought great changes in their character.

1. It gave them certain =Institutions=. From the wilderness they brought their tabernacle and all its rites and services, out of which grew the magnificent ritual of the temple. The Feast of Passover commemorated the Exodus, the Feast of Pentecost, the giving of the law; the Feast of Tabernacles (during which for a week the people lived in huts and booths), the outdoor life in the desert.

2. Another result was =National Unity=. When the Israelites left Egypt they were twelve unorganized tribes, without a distinct national life. Forty years in the wilderness, meeting adversities together, fighting enemies, marching as one host, made them a nation. They emerged from the wilderness a distinct people, with one hope and aim, with patriotic self-respect, ready to take their place among the nations of the earth.

3. =Individual Liberty.= They had just been set free from the tyranny of the most complete governmental machine on the face of the earth. In Egypt the man was nothing, the state was every thing. The Israelite system was an absolute contrast to the Egyptian. For four centuries after the Exodus the Israelites lived with almost no government, each man doing what was right in his own eyes. They were the freest people on earth, far more so than the Greeks or the Romans during their republican epochs. Moses trained them not to look to the government for their care, but to be a self-reliant people, able to take care of themselves. If they had passed this initial stage of their history surrounded by kingdoms they would have become a kingdom. But they learned their first lessons of national life in the wilderness, untrammeled by environment and under a wise leader, who sought to train up a nation of kings instead of a kingdom.

4. =Military Training.= We trace in the history of those forty years a great advance in military discipline. After crossing the Red Sea Moses did not care to lead them by the direct route to Canaan, lest they should "see war" (Exod. 13. 17, 18). Attacked by the Amalekites soon after the Exodus, the Israelites were almost helpless (Exod. 17. 8-16; Deut. 25. 17-19). A year later they were the easy prey of the Canaanites at Hormah (Num. 14. 40-45). Forty years after they crossed the Jordan and entered Canaan, a drilled and trained host, a conquering army. This discipline and spirit of conquest they gained under Moses and Joshua in the wilderness.

5. =Religious Education.= This was the greatest of all the benefits gained in the wilderness. They were brought back from the idolatries of Egypt to the faith of their fathers. They received God's law, the system of worship, and the ritual which brought them by its services into a knowledge of God. Moreover, their experience of God's care taught them to trust in Jehovah, who had chosen them for his own people. Even though the mass of the people might worship idols, there was always from this time an Israel of the heart that sought and obeyed God.

Blackboard Outline.

=I. Eve. le. Wan.= 1. Opp. Isr. 2. Tra. Mos. 1.) Bir. 2.) Edu. 3.) Cho. 4.) Tra. 5.) Cal. 3. Ten Pla. 1.) Bl. 2.) Fr. 3.) Li. 4.) Fl. 5.) Mur. 6.) Boi. 7.) Hai. 8.) Loc. 9.) Dar. 10.) Dea. fir. bo. 4. Pass. 5. Exod.

=II. Wil. Wan.= 1. Seas. 1.) M. S. 2.) R. S. [G, S., G. A.] 3.) D. S. 2. Des. 1.) D. Sh. 2.) D. Par. 3.) D. Eth. 4.) D. Si. 5.) D. Zi. 3. Lan. 1.) Gos. 2.) Mid. 3.) Ed. 4.) Mo. 5.) Can. 4. Mts. 1.) Mt. Sin. 2.) Mt. H. 3.) Mt. Neb. 5. Pla. 1.) Ram. 2.) B.-zep. 3.) Mar. 4.) El. 5.) Rep. 6.) Kad.-bar 7.) Jah.

=III. Jour. and Even.= Jour. 1. Ram.--R. S., Ev. 1.) Cr. R. S. Jour. 2. R. S.--Mt. Sin. 2.) Wat. Mar. 3.) Rep. Am. 4.) Giv. L. 5.) Wor. gol. cal. Jour. 3. Mt. Sin.--Kad.-bar. 6.) Sen. Sp. 7.) Del. Hor. Jour. 4. Kad.-bar.--Des. Par.--Ret. 8.) Wat. roc. Kad. 9.) Rep. Ar. Jour. 5. Kad.-bar.--Ed.--Riv. Jor. 10.) Bra. Ser. 11.) Vic. ov. Amo. 12.) Dea. Mos.

=IV. Res. Wan.= 1. Ins. 2. Nat. Un. 3. Ind. Lib. 4. Mil. Tra. 5. Rel. Ed.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW.

Name five events which were preparatory to the wandering. What made the Israelites willing to leave Egypt? How was their leader trained for his mission? What were the ten plagues upon the Egyptians? What three ideas were connected with the Passover? What is meant by the Exodus? What are the three seas of the map illustrating the wandering? Name five deserts of this region. In which desert were the most years passed? What were the two deserts on the shore of the Red Sea? Where was the desert of Zin? Which desert was between Egypt and Palestine? Name and locate five lands of this region. Which land was nearest to Egypt? Which land was on the eastern arm of the Red Sea? Which land lay east of the Dead Sea? Which land was south of the Dead Sea? Name three mountains in this region. What event look place on each of these mountains? Name two places between Egypt and the Red Sea. Name three places on the route between the Red Sea, and an event at each place. What place was south of Canaan and near it? What events occurred at this place? What two places were battlefields? State the route of the first journey. What was the great event of this journey? What was the second journey? What four events are named with this journey? What was the third journey? What two events took place with this journey? What was the longest journey? Name four places of this journey. Name two events near its close. What was the last journey? What events took place at this time? Where was the last encampment of the Israelites? What institutions originated during this period? What was the political effect of this epoch upon the people? How did it give them liberty? What was the influence in military affairs? What were its results upon the religion of the people?

Subjects for Special Papers.

THE PHARAOH OF THE OPPRESSION. MOUNT SINAI. THE GREATNESS OF MOSES. THE MOSAIC LEGISLATION. THE SITE OF KADESH-BARNEA. THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS.

FOOTNOTE:

[C] The location of Kadesh-barnea is one of the great questions of the Bible geography. Robinson places it at _'Ain el-Weibeh_, north-west of Petra. Rowlands, and lately Trumbull, locates it at _Ain Gadis_, forty-five miles south of Beersheba. I think the latter is the true place, though the authorities are not agreed.

THIRD STUDY.

THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN.

I. Let us notice the =CANAANITES= before the conquest.

1. They were a =varied people=. There were from seven to ten different nations in Palestine when the Israelites entered it (Exod. 3. 17; Deut. 7. 1). Each tribe, often each city, had its own government. There was no unity of government, no combined action to resist the invasion of Israel. This made the conquest easy. If one king had ruled a united people the result might have been different.

2. These peoples were, however, of =one stock=. They belonged to the Hamite race, and were all descended from the family of Canaan (Gen. 10. 15-19). There was no reason, except the tribal spirit, for their separation into small clans and nationalities.