The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-09
ISRAEL OPPRESSED IN ~'. EGYPT.
Exod. i: 1-l4.)

Introduction-Thc book of Exodus. from which we shall study until the close of the calendar year. opens a new chapter in sacred history, For twenty-five cen- turies God has aaministered grace under The patriarchal dl5penSation as recorded in the books Of Genesis and of Job. The father had been the priest of the family. ard his blessing under the covenant had been bestowed upon his son. Now a more imposing dispensa;lon, the Levitieal. Is to be established, ard along with that the chosen people were to be formed into q nation ard settled in a country. This change would give new influence to the cause of God by raising up a secular power for it's support and advancement, and tt would hasten the fuiiitlment of all the promises made to Abraham tGen. Nvii:4. In recent lessons We have seen how the Israelites went into Egypt. Now we shall learn how they went out. Their stay was for their schooling. Their re- moval was for their development
 Tribes-(Verses to 5l-The book begins with a summary account of those who entered the land in the time of the fam inc, E. c. 1IOo, an aggregate of seventy souls. These were all the descendants of Jacob. the grandson of Abraham, the heir of the covenant Gen. xXVii:S9. They were enumerated, not as so many indi- Nidpals. but as children of Jacobs sons. and the names of those sons are here given-ReubeH. Simon. Levi, Judah. Is- sachar, Zebulun. Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali. Cad, Asher It will be seen by Comnarison (Gen. Xxix and XxxD that these are the children of two wives and two concubines, not arranged in the or fer of their birth, but in an interesting maner-the six sons of Leah. two of Ra- chcl. two of BiIham and two of Zilpah. What is especially noteworthy is the fact that these were heads of tribes, so that the nation founded upon them was to be q confederation in which these tribes should be perpetuallv recognized (Acts xxvi:D. each with mission predicted by Iacnh l(.sn HiiN. 3-1I( fnPunino q of one blood but in twelve parts.
 Changes-(Verses to s)-The historian passes over in silence the period follow mg the close of Genesis, and here notes the changed conditions of the time about which he is to write. First, Joseph who dad been prime minister the country for eighty years (Gen. Xli:46; l:26). was dead He who had beer father and pro tcctor to Israel for so long a time tGen.
 :22l. YVES removed so that his counsel and care could no longer be had. Sec ond. the seventy s''cls that came into the land had greatly multiplied and -'rospered during their soiourn. They had increased In worldly goods and pread forth in ev- Fry direction until their presence and in- nuence were everywhere felt. Third, the King who had elevated Joseph had died. and one had come In his place who knew nothing, If tho wisdom. the virtue and tho executive ability of this Hebrew states man to whom tha land had been so great lv inde0tCt This had come largely through tfe fact that Oriental monar r,hs rai ed little for their predecessors.
 JCalousy--CterSs 9--It Is not possible for g. ,atiVe popuIa ton to contempt 70 with approval the increasing numbers and influence of foTeisners. Whatever may be the relatiVN worth of the .wo class $. the latter will certainly be regarded as in- ferior. At any rate tho former will con sder themselves as possessed of superior or natural rights which must be protect Cd. Illustrations of this were seen in the movements of the Arerican or Know Nothing party m the United States fortY to fifty years ago. tn" spirit of which still survives in some hearts. The King of Egypt beheld with iealou5 eyes this vast Hebrew people scattered upon and down through his domiuions. They are more and miShtier than we" he said to his courtiers 0Psalm cv:24. Fear blended with jealousy drew him out toward the interests of the kingdom, for whose safe ty he had serious concern. He would unite Egypt in self-defense.
 Intrigue-tVerse l0l-Feelings of that sort, when once they have entered into the heart. soon produce results in con duct It could not be expected that a