The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-08-15
NOTES AND COMMENTS.


An Orderly Host.-ln the moving of a
multitude so great as that under the
direction of Moses, absolute system is
necessary. Each man must under
stand just where he belongs and what
he should do, both in camping and on
the march; otherwise there will be in
eXtricable confusion. When the Israel
ties took up their journey from Sinai,
they moved not like mob, but with the
orderly precision of an army. They
did not march in ranks, but each man,
each family, each tribe knew their
place and the service expected of them.
In that we have an illustration of the
extraordinary executive ability of
Moses as a leader.
The Order of Encamping-It must
be remembered that, so far as the dis
tance was concerned, the Hebrews
could have gone straight from Egypt
to Canaan by the Philistia road in 40
days instead of 40 years if they had
been ready. But they were not. They
had neither organization, equipment,
self-confidence nor tested confidence in
Jehovah, and would have fallen an easy
prey to the warilke Canaanite tribes.
They needed years in the wilderness
training to prepare them for the
successful conquest of the land. The
military arrangement described in this
chapter was simple. The tabernacle
was in the center, with the Levites close
about it (3:23,, 20, 35), and three tribes
were placed on each of the four sides.
Division of Service.-The purpose of
the service of the Levites is indicated
in 1873. For the theory of this arrange
ment see 3:11-13 and 3:44-51.
The Trumpet Signals.-The final step
in preparing for the march from Sinai
was the arrangement of trumpet calls
as signals. Notice that even the trum-
pets that were to sound the order to
march were connected with the solemn
rites of worship, so that their note
proclaimed not only the march,, but
the march at Jehovah's command and
under His leadership.
The March Begun.-After a stay of
almost a year at Sinai the trumpets
sounded, the tabernacle was taken
was name covering most of the coun-
| try between Sinai and Canaan. At
| last the Hebrews were moving toward
the promised land. 10:29-32 gives us a
most interesting account of the secur-
! ing of a valuable guide. The figureIof
| Hobab, Moses Midianite father-in-law,
is already familiar to us fom Fx.
1S:1-27, where he is called Jethro. His
experience in the wilderness as the
head of nomadic tribe had given him
familiarity with the country that
Moses considered invaluable. 1t was a
serious matter with him to cast his
lot with the Hebrews; his action in
volved his family and perhaps his tribe.
and at first he hesitated. The induce
ment offered, a share in the future of
| Israel, was not enough to move him:
but the second appeal, on the ground
| that that great company was facing a
| journey through an unknown wilder.
ness, and needed him, was not i'm vain
Of course both weighed together in
| the final decision. Two interesting
points for discussion are, "a Gods
guidance of us to-day: How are we to
! know it? He was leading the Hebrews
yet Moses felt that it was important
to secure an Arab guide who knew the
country. Was not part of Gods guild
ance in making Hobab's help available
| (2) How far does the need of others
constitute a claim on our time and
other resouces?
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Gods children, under His guidance,
are on their march to the promised
land.
The Israelites followed the ark; we
follow the cross.
''The Lord hath spoken good con
corning Israel" Therefore all should
cast in their lot with Gods people
1t is strange how much colder It is in
winter and how much hotter in sum
mer on Sundays than on other days.