The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-05-05

Golden Text: Our Help Is in the Name
of the Lord. Psalm CNNiN: S-Exo-
dus |: Ill.
Introductory. Exodus i, Il Greek
word applied to the second book Of
the Pcntatcuch on account of the
chief event which it rccoriS-the go
ing out or departure from Egypt. 1t
continues the history of Genesis, and
is connected with it by the conjunc-
ton ''and. In one book we have
biography: in the other, history. In
one we have the fortunes Of family;
in the other, the growth of that fam
lily into a nation One is promise; the
other, fultillmcnt. This nation is
chosen TO be the depository of Gods
will, to preserve his worship pure
amid idolatrouS peoples. -Thc llomi-
lctlc Commentary.
f. The discovery of the treasure city
built by the depressed Israclites is
remarkable discovery within the past
ten years. Specimens of the bricks
may be found in the Metropolitan
museum of New York. They are un-
baked but very hard. "Thc lower
distance up are Of well made bricks
with chopped straw in them, but
higher up the courses arc not 50 good,
the straw long and scanty, and the
last courses have no straw at all but
have SedgcS, ruSheS and water plants
in the mud" (lIarper). and some were
without straw or ruShcS.-Rcv. }. 5.
Barrett.
|. The Family of Jacob, verses l-G.
|. "Thc names of the children Of
Israeli" In beginning the history Of
( the lSraclitish nation Moses is careful
to Cnumerate the ancestors from
whom that nation sprung. Every
man and his household The word
'houSchold' includes not only wife
and children. but also servants and
dependents.
). And all the souls were
seventy souls These were the i'm
mediate descendants of Jacob. Those
that accompanied them may have
raised the number to some hundreds
or even thousands.
II. In Hard Bondage, verses ia. :.
1.-The children of Israel were fruitful,
and increased abundantly, and multi
plied.' The rapid growth of the
/ lsraclites in number is made more
emphatic by being described by three
words instead Of one, We are to look
for the explanation of this growth
partly to the abundant supply of food
which the fertile soil of Goshen pro-
duced and partly to the special bless
ing of Almighty God. "WaXed eX-
ceediny mighty This phrase has
reference to the strength which num-
bers confer.
S. There arose up new king over
Egypt" A king Of a new house or
dynasty, now generally believed to
have been Rameses II. (Which knew
not Joseph This may mean either
that he was entirely ignorant of
Joseph's memory, or, as is more likely,
that he had no regard for it.
8. ''He said unto his people," He
probably summoned a council of his
mobiles and elders to consider the sub
ject, "The children
of Israel are more and mightier than
we" 1t is likely that in his concern
he exaggerated the fact.
10. Let us deal wisely with Them
The policy which the king proposed
was shrewd, but not wise after all.
Lest they join also unto our
enemies" He feared that in case of
war, of which there was real danger
from many quarters, the Israelites
would make common cause with the
foreign invaders. ''And so get them
up out of the land" The prospect of
losing the labor of the Israelites did
not please the king.
H. "TaskmaSterS. These were not
mere common OverseerS, but Egyptian
officers of high position, superintend-
ents of public works. Treasure
cities" Places in which provisions
and the munitions of war could be
kept stored up ready for an emergen-
cy. "Pithom and Raamses" These
cities were situated not far from the
district in which the Israelites lived.
II "rhey were grieved." That is,
they looked on the increase of the
Israelites with a mixed feeling OF
loathing and alarm.
A. "Made their lives bitter with
hard bondage" Not that they re-
duced them to a state of absolute
slavery. but that they exacted forced
labor from them for the state. ''Ir
mortar and in brick In these chief
w. 'In all manner of service in the
field" Flowing, sowing, ditching.
TDEEC AND DI ANTS