The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-16

set up. Much emphasis was laid OH the
subject of publication as a preparation
for worship Then came enactmCnts per.
tanning to the holy place. the offerings,
the day of atonement, the shcwbread
blasphemy, oppression, and redemption.
BY Divine direction census WAS taken
by tribes, showing that there were more
than SIX hundred thousand able to go
forth to war (Numb. i:i6). The order
and location of the tribes with reference
to the tabernacle was also determined,
both when they were in camp and on The
march. The lcviteS were formally in
structcd concerning their duties. A year
had now passed since Israel came out Of
Egypt, and the passover was duly OBJ
served. A fixed signal removal of the
cloud plumbers iX:l1-23), was appointed
FOR the iourneying. and two silver trum-
pets were made for calling the people.
On tho twentieth day Of the second month
In the second year, Israel left the will
dcrnoss of Sinai and moved toward the
wilderness Of Paran Numb. x:l1-13).
1NVITATlON.-Moscs married while Il
fugitive in the land OF INDIAN ZEN. ii:.D,
forty years before the exodus. When he
led Israel out of Egypt his father-in-law
came to see him. bringing his wife, who
had been left behind QIx. Xviii:), until
fest. When the old gentleman returned
(EX XViii:2O, llobab. his son, tarried in
the camp, content to make visit with
his sister and brOthor-in-law. Nowthat
israel was TO move on toward Canaan,
Moses invited him to become permanent
ly attached to the congregation and ac-
company them. AS an inducement he de-
cared the Lord had spoken good con-
cerning Israel, referring. doubtless. to
m tn A hI.n ,nt,
NNXii:12), as well as to himself zen. iii:1S:
vi:7-S) He also emphasized the fact that
they were going to a land which had been
promised to them Gen. Nvii:S), for pos
session. And he coupled the invitation
with a promise on his part to do good to
Hobab IL he accepted the invitation.
This was certainly Il most generous and
fattering offer. For, while many occur
rences during the temporary stay showed
how idolatrous and dlsobedent the peo-
pie We're, the same events had exhibited
the glory and the power of God and the
wisdom of Moses. On the whole, 1t was
an encouraging outlook, calculated to ex-
cite the ambition of any man.
HESITATION,-But ILobab did not
yield to the offer of his brother law.
II will not CO." was his Hat refusal. And
he proceeded to give his reason. II will
trict. part of the Sinaitic peninsula. He
preferred the plains with which he was
familiar to the distant and unknown land
of promise and hope. And he added, ~
Will return to my own kindred" Who
We're they? The Midanites (IIx. Xviii:D,
the descendants of Abraham by Keturah,
the second wife of that eminent patr-
arch (Gen, XVIII. Hobab's father was
shepherd priest CEN ii:l6), and his
words on several occasions indicate that
he worshipped the God of Israel (Ex.
Nviii:17-l9), that he was wise and good
man. 1t was while in his employ that
Moses had heard the voice of God APP
pointing him leader ZEN. iiI-2). But
his people were outside the Abrahamic
covenant They were not heirs to the
promises. They We're not in line of the
Messianic hope. And so, the love OF
country and of kin was stronger than all
the promises made by Moses than all
the attractions of the new nation about
to march to its now home 1t Is not
strange that the decision was made.
Blood, religion. home-these ties are not
easily severed.
ENTREATY,-Moses did not falter in
his purpose. Leave us not, pray thee"
he pleaded. He argued the case In earn
est words. Israel would pass through
an unknown wilderness, pitching their
tents at intervals. The way would be be-
Enemies would rise up against them
the Ishmaelites, the Amorites, and the
Moabites. But Hobab knew all this re-