The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIoNAL LESSON, AUG. 4.
The Report of the Spies, as Told I'm
Numbers xiii, Verses 15-33-The
IsraeIftes Found Wanting.

BY REV. JAMES Z. GILBERT. ID. d..
Secretary OF the American Society of Re-
ligious Education.
CThese lessons constitute the Sunday
school extension department OF the above
named society. All who study them are
requested to send their names. postoffice
address and denomination, mentioning
this paper. TO the author at Washington.
d. c., for enroliment)
CONTEXT-In the journey from Sinai to
Paran, the beginning of which was sketched
in the last lesson, Israel halted twice. once
at Taberah and once at Hazeroth. At the
first named place the people complained.
and many were destroyed by fire. Numb.
XII. 1-S.) Having become weary of mama
they sighed for animal food. and quails
were sent. of which they ate so freely that
many died. Numb XII. 49, To relieve the
labor of Moses seventy elders were ap-
pointed, and the spirit of God was given to
them to him. Through jealousy Aaron
and Miriam raised a sedition against Moses
at Hazeroth claiming that they were en-
titled to exercise authority as much as he,
but complaining most of his Ethiopian
wife. (Numb. xiii - For this offense
Miriam was stricken with leprosy and shut
out of the camp for seven days, but was
healed in answer to the prayer of Moses.
Numb. xii, 10-14) From Hazeroth the
journey was through a weary land. Deut
!. 49, Our present lesson pertains to an
incident after the camp was established
in Paran. Numb. xii, l6)
GEOGRAPHY-The term wilderness, fire.
quently used in Scripture Matt. vi, D. does
not always signify wild and desolate
word counti.' denoting sparsely inhabit-
ed section. The wilderness or country of
Paran, for many centuries the home of the
Ishmaelites lay along the southern border
Of the promised land. 1t was bounded on the
east by Edom, the possession of the de-
scendants Of Esau fGen. xxxvi, 49,, and on
the west it stretched toward Egypt with
indefinite limits. Some parts of Paran were
barren wastes; others were fertile, afford
ing pasturage. The northern and eastern
portions were mountainous, and between
the lofty ranges were beautiful valleys. 1t
was the evident purpose of God to lead
Israel to its inheritance by the most direct
and expeditions route through Paran. Fol-
lowing the cloud OF the Divine presence
Moses established headquarters at Kadish-
Barnea. in the northeastern corner. the
pecting. after accommodating to advance
and take possession. Deut. i, 2O)
SPIES.-Before aeritering Canaan. twelve
men, one from each tribe (Numb xiii. 4-1S).
were sent to examine the country. This
was an act Of good Jgeneraiship and wise
craftsmanship fNonfeader- would conduct
three millions of people into a land with
which he unacquainted He would be
especially cautious IL enemies were TO be
met and battles fought. Besides God had
directed this preliminary advance (Numb
XIII l. y, for reasons which will appear in
the sequel. Withalsathere was popular
demand (Deut. i. 22). showing that the gov
eminent was not autocratic. nor vet purely
i 1rnieocratc, put to- some extent democratic.
me spies represented all Israel and went
lortn 10 exercise "a right denied to the
whole heather world--the right to iudee
somewhat concerning policies and measures.
IL was an exhibition of the spirit of per-
sonai liberty, born of the sense of moral
responsibility which had been quickered
T were NJ the 1on new regime The Israelites
from bondage Deut vi, 12), they purposed
10 enter their new home as freemen
a., ot t Definite Instructions We're Civ
lney were directed to ascend the noun
TAIN, from which they might look north
ward, a view but little less inviting than
mat afterward granted to Moses from the
top OF Pisgah. Deut. xxx.v IL Thence
they were told to walk through the land.
taking careful note of the cities. the fields.
the Inhabitants, indeed everything that
would enable them to render full and
accurate account Oversees T-ls) The chief
object OF that visitation was to determine
best plan of settlement. Deut i, 22)
survey was needed that the boundaries and
homes of the different tribes might be
fixed, advantageously to themselves Deut
xii, 10, ID, and wisely for the general good.
And yet. as dangers were cure to beset
the movements of such a prospecting par
~ fhnr- rArn nh nd ~ h. Af
age. Verse 20) They left at the time
of the first ripe grapes. June, B. c., 1890.
and were absent forty days. Verse 25)
itinerary of the spies. ' Scholars s Believe eVe
Chat they passed directly through from
south to north. probably a little distance
mentioned was Rehob Josh. xix, 2S). north
west of the sea of Galilee, on a. lire with
the city Of Tyre. about two hundred miles
crossed many beautiful valleys, among
them the plain of Esdraelon, where Jacobs
sons fed their focks centuries before.
return trip was nearer the Mediterranean,
for they came to Hebron, a very ancient
town. which afterward became famous in
the history of Israel Oh Sam. ". 3D. Thence
bearing eastward and passing through the
far-famed valley OF Eschol (Numb. xii 81,
they returned TO camp. This exploration,
so thoroughly conducted, made an agree
able impression upon the minds of men
who lived in Egypt and in the wilderness.
They were entirely satisfied with the coun-
try. (Deut. vi, 10, I'D BY its extent, its
situation, its variety OF climate, its hills
and valleys, it's rivers and lakes, it was
eminently adapted to be the home of Gods
people.
PRODUCTS.-Egyptw was the land OF corn
Gen. xiii, %, the granary of the world.
The spies, who had seen little IF agricul-
ture except in the wheat fields o. the Nile
bottom lands, were astonished at the pro-
auctions of the country through which
thew passed 1t was. indeed. fat land
(Neh. tx 25), flowing with milk and honey.
as had been promised. eek. lii. 81 There
was not only variety and abundance, but
excellence of quality. On reaching the val
ley Of Eschol they found the grape, the
pomegranite and the fig, SURPRISING any
thing they had ever known. The fruit was
so large that they cut off branches and
bore them upon poles. as samples for the
delight of their countrymen. At this day
travellers speak in high terms of the fruits
OF that locality. although more than thirty
centuries have passed, and an inferior CIV
iliZation has been established by less
thrifty people. What must have been pre-
se1tei before the astonshed eyes of the
fveive Tsraeljtes we can scarcely imagine
PEOpLE.-Ths land. which God proposed
To give to Israel. which. in fact, He had by
promise conveyed TO Abraham and his pos
ferity (Gen. xiii. 15), was densely populated
AZ this time There were several tribes or
nations who had held the country for many
centuries: they were the descendants of