CHAPTER XCV.

MIRACLES IN THE WILDERNESS (continued).

THERE are three relating to divine worship.

1. THE SACRED FIRE FROM HEAVEN UPON AARON'S FIRST SACRIFICE.

This was the consecration of the tabernacle, or God's acceptance of it as a place of worship, just as He afterwards accepted Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem.

"And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

"And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.

"And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces" (Lev. ix. 22-24).

2. THE BURNING OF NADAB AND ABIHU.

These two younger sons of Aaron were so pleased with their office as priests, and with all the grand things they had to do, that they went into the tabernacle to have a private service of their own, which God had not ordered. They were playing at being priests, and did not see how solemn a vocation God had given them.

"Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not.

"And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

"Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

"And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

"So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

"And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people; but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled.

"And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses " (Lev. x. 1-7).

3. THE BUDDING OF AARON'S ROD.

The people murmured against Aaron, because he and his family only were priests. The people said all the congregation were holy, and the whole tribe of Levi thought they had as much right to the office as Aaron's family.

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

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Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

"And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.

"And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

"And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

"And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

"And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.

"And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

"And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

"And Moses did so: as the Lord commanded him, so did he " (Numb. xvii. 1-11).

QUESTIONS.

What three miracles related to worship? When was the first worked? What had Aaron been doing? How did the people receive it? Who were Nadab and Abihu? How were they wrong? What did they do? How were they punished? Why might not their friends mourn for them? Why were the twelve rods put into the tabernacle? Whose were they? What name was on each? What was to happen to one rod? Whose rod blossomed? How long was it blossoming? What was that to shew? What was done with it? Who ordered it?

CHAPTER XCVI.

MIRACLES IN THE WILDERNESS (continued).

THERE are three which were punishments for rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron.

1. THE DESTRUCTION OF KORAh, Dathan, anD ABIRAM, AND THEIR COMPANY.

"Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took

men:

"And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown;

"And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

"And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face :

"And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to-morrow the Lord will shew who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom He hath chosen will He cause to come near unto Him.

"This do: Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

"And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to-morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

"And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

"Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

"And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

"For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

"And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

"Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

"Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that

floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

"And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

"And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow:

"And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

"And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

"And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.

"And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

"And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

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Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

"And Moses rose up, and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

"And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

"So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side; and Dathan and