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They first brought six covered wagons, and twelve oxen, which Moses was directed by the Lord to accept, and give to the Levites according to the nature of the duties that they had to perform. Thus, two wagons and four oxen only were given to the Gershonites, with which to convey the curtains, coverings, and hangings of the tabernacle; for although these articles were cumbersome, they were light while the Merarites, who had a much heavier load to carry, the boards, bars, pillars and sockets, received, for their share, four wagons and eight oxen.

The Kohathites had none; because they were required to bear upon their shoulders, the sacred things which it was their lot to carry.

Other offerings were also made. They were for the dedicating of the altar. Twelve successive days were occupied in presenting them; each prince, as the representative of the tribe over which he had authority, bringing them before the altar, as gifts and sacrifices to the Lord.

On the first day, Nahshon of Judah came. His offering was a large silver charger, (a dish or deep bowl,) and a smaller silver bowl; both of which were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meatoffering a golden spoon full of incense: one young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: one kid of the goats for a sinoffering and for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two

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oxen, five rams, first year.

five he-goats, and five lambs of the

The other princes came, in their turn; each bringing his offering on their respective days, and each being like that which has just been described.

It seems to have been a national tribute of gratitude to God; and a public acknowledgment, by the sacrificial offerings, of the dependence of the Israelites on his mercy for the pardon of sin, and procuring the divine favor, through a future and prefigured Redeemer.

The Lord now has need of richer and more abundant offerings; not, indeed, the blood of the beast slain in sacrifice, (for the great propitiatory sacrifice has, once for all, been offered up,) but the willing tribute of the heart; the service of the head, the tongue, and the hands; the liberal contribution of the gold and the silver; in promoting the cause of his Son, our Saviour, throughout the world. Temples to him must be erected in every land, and altars dedicated in every heart. The ministry of his word, and the missionaries of the cross, must be sent forth in increasing numbers, and sustained in their labors. The Sacred Oracles must be published, and distributed to the millions who are yet destitute of them. The work is a vast one. The means needed for its accomplishment are vast also. The rulers and the people, the old and the young, you and I, are called upon for our offerings. They

should be cheerfully and bounteously made. Shall we dare to refuse them?

CHAPTER XLIV.

The departure from Sinai. General features of the regions between Sinai and Canaan.

Moses again went into the tabernacle, and "heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat, that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims." It was the voice of God, giving him some additional directions concerning the service of the tabernacle, and a command for the consecration of the Levites.

This command was immediately carried into effect. The Levites, having been sprinkled with the water of purifying, performed the ceremonial ablutions which were required, and taking with them their offerings, were brought by Moses before the tabernacle. The whole assembly of the children of Israel were convened, to have a part in the solemnity. Certain persons, selected for the purpose the representatives of the people, placed their hands

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upon the heads of the Levites. It was a religious ceremony, to denote that the whole nation now gave up, and dedicated this one tribe to the peculiar service of God, and bound themselves to provide for their support.

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Aaron, then, offered the Levites before the Lord, for an offering of the children of Israel;" and the bullocks were offered up in sacrifice; one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, to make an atonement for the Levites. Thus, they were publicly set apart, and consecrated to God, for the duties of their office.

Every thing was now prepared for the further progress of the Israelites towards the promised land. The magnificent dwelling-place of the Most High was completed; and his glorious presence occupied its holiest apartment. His laws and ordinances were promulgated; the rites of his worship established; a priesthood consecrated; and the regulations fixed for the order of encamping, and the marching forward from one stage to another.

The sublime and awe-inspiring scenes of Sinai had accomplished the moral design for which their Author had employed them. The time for leaving them was at hand. New regions were now to be explored, and other conditions of human life to be passed through. Nature, under different aspects, was to inculcate still further her lessons of instruction. She was to aid the discipline, severe indeed,

but necessary, which such a people as the Israelites greatly needed, and which their journeyings in the wilderness were destined to enforce.

At length, the rising cloud gave the signal for their departure. The trumpets sounded. The standards were raised. The tabernacle was taken down. The tribes were marshalled; and as the vast body began to set forward, what mingled emotions must have pervaded the breasts of such a multitude!

The hurried recollections of what they had witnessed and done, of what they had suffered and enjoyed, at Sinai; of its amazing prodigies; its natural scenes of awful grandeur; its lofty mountains and sequestered valleys; its scattered spots of delightful pasturage and repose; the refreshing streams which the smitten rock of Horeb had furnished; and the heavenly food which had supplied their wants, crowded thick upon their memory. The place where they had resided for nearly a year, surrounded with so many affecting and hallowed associations, was to be left for ever. cloud continued slowly to advance. They followed its path. Sinai and its environs began, at length, to grow dim in the distance; and the Israelites looking back upon it with a mournful regret, wondered what new scenes were about to open before them. To follow them with any thing like geographical accuracy, from one station to another, will be often difficult, and sometimes impossible. The

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