°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > patriarchs and prophets >

µÚ79ÕÂ

patriarchs and prophets-µÚ79ÕÂ

С˵£º patriarchs and prophets ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



exceeding¡¡sinfulness¡¡of¡¡sin¡£¡¡Men¡¡flatter¡¡themselves¡¡that¡¡God¡¡is¡¡too¡¡good¡¡to
punish¡¡the¡¡transgressor¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡Bible¡¡history¡¡it¡¡is¡¡evident
that¡¡God's¡¡goodness¡¡and¡¡His¡¡love¡¡engage¡¡Him¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡sin¡¡as¡¡an¡¡evil
fatal¡¡to¡¡the¡¡peace¡¡and¡¡happiness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universe¡£

Not¡¡even¡¡the¡¡integrity¡¡and¡¡faithfulness¡¡of¡¡Moses¡¡could¡¡avert¡¡the¡¡retribution
of¡¡his¡¡fault¡£¡¡God¡¡had¡¡forgiven¡¡the¡¡people¡¡greater¡¡transgressions£»¡¡but¡¡He
could¡¡not¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡sin¡¡in¡¡the¡¡leaders¡¡as¡¡in¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡led¡£¡¡He¡¡had
honored¡¡Moses¡¡above¡¡every¡¡other¡¡man¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡revealed¡¡to¡¡him
His¡¡glory£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡him¡¡He¡¡had¡¡communicated¡¡His¡¡statutes¡¡to¡¡Israel¡£¡¡The
fact¡¡that¡¡Moses¡¡had¡¡enjoyed¡¡so¡¡great¡¡light¡¡and¡¡knowledge¡¡made¡¡his¡¡sin¡¡more
grievous¡£¡¡Past¡¡faithfulness¡¡will¡¡not¡¡atone¡¡for¡¡one¡¡wrong¡¡act¡£¡¡The¡¡greater
the¡¡light¡¡and¡¡privileges¡¡granted¡¡to¡¡man£»¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡is¡¡his¡¡responsibility£»
the¡¡more¡¡aggravated¡¡his¡¡failure£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡heavier¡¡his¡¡punishment¡£

Moses¡¡was¡¡not¡¡guilty¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡crime£»¡¡as¡¡men¡¡would¡¡view¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¡his¡¡sin
was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡common¡¡occurrence¡£¡¡The¡¡psalmist¡¡says¡¡that¡¡¡¨he¡¡spake¡¡unadvisedly
with¡¡his¡¡lips¡£¡¨¡¡Psalm¡¡106£º33¡£¡¡To¡¡human¡¡judgment¡¡this¡¡may¡¡seem¡¡a¡¡light¡¡thing£»
but¡¡if¡¡God¡¡dealt¡¡so¡¡severely¡¡with¡¡this¡¡sin¡¡in¡¡His¡¡most¡¡faithful¡¡and¡¡honored
servant£»¡¡He¡¡will¡¡not¡¡excuse¡¡it¡¡in¡¡others¡£¡¡The¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡self¡­exaltation£»¡¡the
disposition¡¡to¡¡censure¡¡our¡¡brethren£»¡¡is¡¡displeasing¡¡to¡¡God¡£¡¡Those¡¡who
indulge¡¡in¡¡these¡¡evils¡¡cast¡¡doubt¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡give¡¡the
skeptical¡¡an¡¡excuse¡¡for¡¡their¡¡unbelief¡£¡¡The¡¡more¡¡important¡¡one's¡¡position£»
and¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡his¡¡influence£»¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡is¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should
cultivate¡¡patience¡¡and¡¡humility¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡421


If¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡especially¡¡those¡¡who¡¡stand¡¡in¡¡positions¡¡of
responsibility£»¡¡can¡¡be¡¡led¡¡to¡¡take¡¡to¡¡themselves¡¡the¡¡glory¡¡that¡¡is¡¡due¡¡to
God£»¡¡Satan¡¡exults¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡gained¡¡a¡¡victory¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡thus¡¡that¡¡he¡¡fell¡£¡¡Thus
he¡¡is¡¡most¡¡successful¡¡in¡¡tempting¡¡others¡¡to¡¡ruin¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡place¡¡us¡¡on¡¡our
guard¡¡against¡¡his¡¡devices¡¡that¡¡God¡¡has¡¡given¡¡in¡¡His¡¡word¡¡so¡¡many¡¡lessons
teaching¡¡the¡¡danger¡¡of¡¡self¡­exaltation¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡not¡¡an¡¡impulse¡¡of¡¡our
nature£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡faculty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡or¡¡an¡¡inclination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡but¡¡needs
to¡¡be£»¡¡moment¡¡by¡¡moment£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡control¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spirit¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡There¡¡is
not¡¡a¡¡blessing¡¡which¡¡God¡¡bestows¡¡upon¡¡man£»¡¡nor¡¡a¡¡trial¡¡which¡¡He¡¡permits¡¡to
befall¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡Satan¡¡both¡¡can¡¡and¡¡will¡¡seize¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡to¡¡tempt£»¡¡to¡¡harass
and¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡soul£»¡¡if¡¡we¡¡give¡¡him¡¡the¡¡least¡¡advantage¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡however
great¡¡one's¡¡spiritual¡¡light£»¡¡however¡¡much¡¡he¡¡may¡¡enjoy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡favor
and¡¡blessing£»¡¡he¡¡should¡¡ever¡¡walk¡¡humbly¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡pleading¡¡in¡¡faith
that¡¡God¡¡will¡¡direct¡¡every¡¡thought¡¡and¡¡control¡¡every¡¡impulse¡£

All¡¡who¡¡profess¡¡godliness¡¡are¡¡under¡¡the¡¡most¡¡sacred¡¡obligation¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡the
spirit£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡exercise¡¡self¡­control¡¡under¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡provocation¡£¡¡The
burdens¡¡placed¡¡upon¡¡Moses¡¡were¡¡very¡¡great£»¡¡few¡¡men¡¡will¡¡ever¡¡be¡¡so¡¡severely
tried¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡yet¡¡this¡¡was¡¡not¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡excuse¡¡his¡¡sin¡£¡¡God¡¡has¡¡made
ample¡¡provision¡¡for¡¡His¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡they¡¡rely¡¡upon¡¡His¡¡strength£»¡¡they
will¡¡never¡¡become¡¡the¡¡sport¡¡of¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡The¡¡strongest¡¡temptation
cannot¡¡excuse¡¡sin¡£¡¡However¡¡great¡¡the¡¡pressure¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡soul£»
transgression¡¡is¡¡our¡¡own¡¡act¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡earth¡¡or¡¡hell¡¡to
compel¡¡anyone¡¡to¡¡do¡¡evil¡£¡¡Satan¡¡attacks¡¡us¡¡at¡¡our¡¡weak¡¡points£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡need
not¡¡be¡¡overcome¡£¡¡However¡¡severe¡¡or¡¡unexpected¡¡the¡¡assault£»¡¡God¡¡has¡¡provided
help¡¡for¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡His¡¡strength¡¡we¡¡may¡¡conquer¡£





£¨422£©

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chapter¡¡38

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Journey¡¡Around¡¡Edom


The¡¡encampment¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡at¡¡Kadesh¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡short¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡borders
of¡¡Edom£»¡¡and¡¡both¡¡Moses¡¡and¡¡the¡¡people¡¡greatly¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡route
through¡¡this¡¡country¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Promised¡¡Land£»¡¡accordingly¡¡they¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡message£»
as¡¡God¡¡had¡¡directed¡¡them£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Edomite¡¡king

¡¨Thus¡¡saith¡¡thy¡¡brother¡¡Israel£»¡¡Thou¡¡knowest¡¡all¡¡the¡¡travail¡¡that¡¡hath
befallen¡¡us£º¡¡how¡¡our¡¡fathers¡¡went¡¡down¡¡into¡¡Egypt£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡have¡¡dwelt¡¡in
Egypt¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Egyptians¡¡vexed¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡our¡¡fathers£º¡¡and¡¡when¡¡we
cried¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡He¡¡heard¡¡our¡¡voice£»¡¡and¡¡sent¡¡an¡¡Angel£»¡¡and¡¡hath¡¡brought
us¡¡forth¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Egypt£º¡¡and£»¡¡behold£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡in¡¡Kadesh£»¡¡a¡¡city¡¡in¡¡the
uttermost¡¡of¡¡thy¡¡border¡£¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡pass£»¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡thee£»¡¡through¡¡thy¡¡country£º¡¡we
will¡¡not¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡the¡¡fields£»¡¡or¡¡through¡¡the¡¡vineyards£»¡¡neither¡¡will¡¡we
drink¡¡of¡¡the¡¡water¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wells£º¡¡we¡¡will¡¡go¡¡by¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡highway£»¡¡we¡¡will
not¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡hand¡¡nor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left£»¡¡until¡¡we¡¡have¡¡passed¡¡thy
borders¡£¡¨

To¡¡this¡¡courteous¡¡request¡¡a¡¡threatening¡¡refusal¡¡was¡¡returned£º¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡shalt
not¡¡pass¡¡by¡¡me£»¡¡lest¡¡I¡¡come¡¡out¡¡against¡¡thee¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sword¡£¡¨

Surprised¡¡at¡¡this¡¡repulse£»¡¡the¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡second¡¡appeal¡¡to¡¡the
king£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡promise£»¡¡¡¨We¡¡will¡¡go¡¡by¡¡the¡¡highway£º¡¡and¡¡if¡¡I¡¡and¡¡my¡¡cattle
drink¡¡of¡¡thy¡¡water£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡will¡¡pay¡¡for¡¡it£º¡¡I¡¡will¡¡only£»¡¡without¡¡doing
anything¡¡else£»¡¡go¡¡through¡¡on¡¡my¡¡feet¡£¡¨

¡¨Thou¡¡shalt¡¡not¡¡go¡¡through£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡the¡¡answer¡£¡¡Armed¡¡bands¡¡of¡¡Edomites¡¡were
already¡¡posted¡¡at¡¡the¡¡difficult¡¡passes£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡any¡¡peaceful¡¡advance¡¡in¡¡that
direction¡¡was¡¡impossible£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Hebrews¡¡were¡¡forbidden¡¡to¡¡resort¡¡to¡¡force¡£
They¡¡must¡¡make¡¡the¡¡long¡¡journey¡¡around¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Edom¡£

Had¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡when¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡trial£»¡¡trusted¡¡in¡¡God£»¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡of¡¡the
Lord's¡¡host¡¡would¡¡have¡¡led¡¡them¡¡through¡¡Edom£»

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡423

and¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡them¡¡would¡¡have¡¡rested¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land£»¡¡so
that£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡manifesting¡¡hostility£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡shown¡¡them¡¡favor¡£
But¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡did¡¡not¡¡act¡¡promptly¡¡upon¡¡God's¡¡word£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡they¡¡were
complaining¡¡and¡¡murmuring£»¡¡the¡¡golden¡¡opportunity¡¡passed¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡at
last¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡present¡¡their¡¡request¡¡to¡¡the¡¡king£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡refused¡£¡¡Ever¡¡since
they¡¡left¡¡Egypt£»¡¡Satan¡¡had¡¡been¡¡steadily¡¡at¡¡work¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡hindrances¡¡and
temptations¡¡in¡¡their¡¡way£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡not¡¡inherit¡¡Canaan¡£¡¡And¡¡by¡¡their
own¡¡unbelief¡¡they¡¡had¡¡repeatedly¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡resist¡¡the
purpose¡¡of¡¡God¡£

It¡¡is¡¡important¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡God's¡¡word¡¡and¡¡act¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡promptly£»¡¡while¡¡His
angels¡¡are¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡work¡¡for¡¡us¡£¡¡Evil¡¡angels¡¡are¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡contest¡¡every
step¡¡of¡¡advance¡£¡¡And¡¡when¡¡God's¡¡providence¡¡bids¡¡His¡¡children¡¡go¡¡forward£»
when¡¡He¡¡is¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡do¡¡great¡¡things¡¡for¡¡them¡£¡¡Satan¡¡tempts¡¡them¡¡to¡¡displease
the¡¡Lord¡¡by¡¡hesitation¡¡and¡¡delay£»¡¡he¡¡seeks¡¡to¡¡kindle¡¡a¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡strife¡¡or
to¡¡arouse¡¡murmuring¡¡or¡¡unbelief£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡deprive¡¡them¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blessings¡¡that
God¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡bestow¡£¡¡God's¡¡servants¡¡should¡¡be¡¡minutemen£»¡¡ever¡¡ready¡¡to
move¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡His¡¡providence¡¡opens¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡And¡¡delay¡¡on¡¡their¡¡part¡¡gives
time¡¡for¡¡Satan¡¡to¡¡work¡¡to¡¡defeat¡¡them¡£

In¡¡the¡¡directions¡¡first¡¡given¡¡to¡¡Moses¡¡concerning¡¡their¡¡passage¡¡through
Edom£»¡¡after¡¡declaring¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Edomites¡¡should¡¡be¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡Israel£»¡¡the¡¡Lord
had¡¡forbidden¡¡His¡¡people¡¡to¡¡make¡¡use¡¡of¡¡this¡¡advantage¡¡against¡¡them¡£¡¡Because
the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡God¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡for¡¡Israel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fears¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Edomites¡¡would
make¡¡them¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡prey£»¡¡the¡¡Hebrews¡¡were¡¡not¡¡therefore¡¡to¡¡prey¡¡upon¡¡them¡£
The¡¡command¡¡given¡¡them¡¡was£»¡¡¡¨Take¡¡ye¡¡good¡¡heed¡¡unto¡¡yourselves¡¡therefore£º
meddle¡¡not¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡give¡¡you¡¡of¡¡their¡¡land£»¡¡no£»¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much
as¡¡a¡¡foot¡¡breadth£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡have¡¡given¡¡Mount¡¡Seir¡¡unto¡¡Esau¡¡for¡¡a
possession¡£¡¨¡¡Deuteronomy¡¡2£º4£»¡¡5¡£¡¡The¡¡Edomites¡¡were¡¡descendants¡¡of¡¡Abraham
and¡¡Isaac£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡these¡¡His¡¡servants£»¡¡God¡¡had¡¡shown¡¡favor¡¡to
the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Esau¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡given¡¡them¡¡Mount¡¡Seir¡¡for¡¡a¡¡possession£»¡¡and
they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡disturbed¡¡unless¡¡by¡¡their¡¡sins¡¡they¡¡should¡¡place
themselves¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡reach¡¡of¡¡His¡¡mercy¡£¡¡The¡¡Hebrews¡¡were¡¡to¡¡dispossess¡¡and
utterly¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡Canaan£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡filled¡¡up¡¡the¡¡measure¡¡of
their¡¡iniquity¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Edomites¡¡were¡¡still¡¡probationers£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡such¡¡were¡¡to
be¡¡mercifully¡¡dealt¡¡with¡£¡¡God¡¡delights¡¡in¡¡mercy£»¡¡and¡¡He¡¡manifests¡¡His
compassion¡¡before¡¡He¡¡inflicts¡¡His¡¡judgments¡£¡¡He

424

teaches¡¡Israel¡¡to¡¡spare¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Edom£»¡¡before¡¡requiring¡¡them¡¡to¡¡destroy
the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡Canaan¡£

The¡¡ancestors¡¡of¡¡Edom¡¡and¡¡Israel¡¡were¡¡brothers£»¡¡and¡¡brotherly¡¡kindness¡¡and
courtesy¡¡should¡¡exist¡¡between¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡Israelites¡¡were¡¡forbidden£»¡¡either
then¡¡or¡¡at¡¡any¡¡future¡¡time£»¡¡to¡¡revenge¡¡the¡¡affront¡¡given¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡refusal
of¡¡passage¡¡through¡¡the¡¡land¡£¡¡They¡¡must¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡possess¡¡any¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the
land¡¡of¡¡Edom¡£¡¡While¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡were¡¡the¡¡chosen¡¡and¡¡favored¡¡people¡¡of
God£»¡¡they¡¡must¡¡heed¡¡the¡¡restrictions¡¡which¡¡He¡¡placed¡¡upon¡¡them¡£¡¡God¡¡had
promised¡¡them¡¡a¡¡goodly¡¡inheritance£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡they
alone¡¡had¡¡any¡¡rights¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡crowd¡¡out¡¡all¡¡others¡£¡¡They
were¡¡directed£»¡¡in¡¡all¡¡their¡¡intercourse¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Edomites£»¡¡to¡¡beware¡¡of
doing¡¡them¡¡injustice¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡to¡¡trade¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡buying¡¡such¡¡supplies¡¡as
were¡¡needed£»¡¡and¡¡promptly¡¡paying¡¡for¡¡all¡¡they¡¡received¡£¡¡As¡¡an¡¡encouragement
to¡¡Israel¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡in¡¡God¡¡and¡¡obey¡¡His¡¡word¡¡they¡¡were¡¡reminded£»¡¡¡¨The¡¡Lord
thy¡¡God¡¡hath¡¡blessed¡¡thee£»¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡thou¡¡hast¡¡lacked¡¡nothing¡£¡¨¡¡Deuteronomy¡¡2£º7¡£
They¡¡were¡¡not¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Edomites£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡had¡¡a¡¡God¡¡rich¡¡in
resources¡£¡¡They¡¡must¡¡not¡¡by¡¡force¡¡or¡¡fraud¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡anything
pertaining¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡all¡¡their¡¡intercourse¡¡they¡¡should¡¡exemplify¡¡the
principle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡law£»¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡shalt¡¡love¡¡thy¡¡neighbor¡¡as¡¡thyself¡£¡¨

Had¡¡they¡¡in¡¡this¡¡manner¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡Edom£»¡¡as¡¡God¡¡had¡¡purposed£»¡¡the
passage¡¡would¡¡have¡¡proved¡¡a¡¡blessing£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡themselves£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡the
inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡would¡¡have¡¡given¡¡them¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡to
become¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡God's¡¡people¡¡and¡¡His¡¡worship¡¡and¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡how¡¡the
God¡¡of¡¡Jacob¡¡prospered¡¡those¡¡who¡¡loved¡¡and¡¡feared¡¡Him¡£¡¡But¡¡all¡¡this¡¡the
unbelief¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡had¡¡prevented¡£¡¡God¡¡had¡¡given¡¡the¡¡people¡¡water¡¡in¡¡answer
to¡¡their¡¡clamors£»¡¡but¡¡He¡¡permitted¡¡their¡¡unbelief¡¡to¡¡work¡¡out¡¡its
punishment¡£¡¡Again¡¡they¡¡must¡¡traverse¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡and¡¡quench¡¡their¡¡thirst¡¡from
the¡¡miraculous¡¡spring£»¡¡which£»¡¡had¡¡they¡¡but¡¡trusted¡¡in¡¡Him£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡no
longer¡¡have¡¡needed¡£

Accordingly¡¡the¡¡hosts¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡again¡¡turned¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡and¡¡made
their¡¡way¡¡over¡¡sterile¡¡wastes£»¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡even¡¡more¡¡dreary¡¡after¡¡a¡¡glimpse
of¡¡the¡¡green¡¡spots¡¡among¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡and¡¡valleys¡¡of¡¡Edom¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡mountain
range¡¡overlooking¡¡this¡¡gloomy¡¡desert£»¡¡rises¡¡Mount¡¡Hor£»¡¡whose¡¡summit¡¡was¡¡to
be¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡Aaron's¡¡death¡¡and¡¡burial¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡came¡¡to¡¡this
mountain£»¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡command¡¡was¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡Moses

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡425


¡¨Take¡¡Aaron¡¡and¡¡Eleazar¡¡his¡¡son£»¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡them¡¡up¡¡unto¡¡Mount¡¡Hor£º¡¡and¡¡strip
Aaron¡¡of¡¡his¡¡garments£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡them¡¡upon¡¡Eleazar¡¡his¡¡son£º¡¡and¡¡Aaron¡¡shall¡¡be
gathered¡¡unto¡¡his¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡shall¡¡die¡¡there¡£¡¨

Together¡¡these¡¡two¡¡aged¡¡men¡¡and¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡one¡¡toiled¡¡up¡¡the¡¡mountain
height¡£¡¡The¡¡heads¡¡of¡¡Moses¡¡and¡¡Aaron¡¡were¡¡white¡¡with¡¡the¡¡snows¡¡of¡¡sixscore
winters¡£¡¡Their¡¡long¡¡and¡¡eventful¡¡lives¡¡had¡¡been¡¡marked¡¡with¡¡the¡¡deepest
trials¡¡and¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡honors¡¡that¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡fallen¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡man¡£¡¡They
were¡¡men¡¡of¡¡great¡¡natural¡¡ability£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡their¡¡powers¡¡had¡¡been¡¡developed£»
exalted£»¡¡and¡¡dignified¡¡by¡¡communion¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Infinite¡¡One¡£¡¡Their¡¡life¡¡had
been¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡unselfish¡¡l

·µ»ØÄ¿Â¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨2£© ²È£¨2£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ