Part 375 (2/2)

105:23. And he said that he would destroy them: had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach: To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

105:24. And they set at nought the desirable land. They believed not his word,

105:25. And they murmured in their tents: they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord.

105:26. And he lifted up his hand over them: to overthrow them in the desert;

105:27. And to cast down their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in the countries.

105:28. They also were initiated to Beelphegor: and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

Initiated... That is, they dedicated, or consecrated themselves to the idol of the Moabites and Madianites, called Beelphegor, or Baal-Peor.

Num. 25.3.-Ibid. The dead... Viz., idols without life.

105:29. And they provoked him with their inventions: and destruction was multiplied among them.

105:30. Then Phinees stood up, and pacified him: and the slaughter ceased.

105:31. And it was reputed to him unto justice, to generation and generation for evermore.

105:32. They provoked him also at the waters of contradiction: and Moses was afflicted for their sakes:

105:33. Because they exasperated his spirit. And he distinguished with his lips.

He distinguished with his lips... Moses, by occasion of the people's rebellion and incredulity, was guilty of distinguis.h.i.+ng with his lips; when, instead of speaking to the rock, as G.o.d had commanded, he said to the people, with a certain hesitation in his faith, Hear ye, rebellious and incredulous: Can we from this rock bring out water for you? Num.

20.10.

105:34. They did not destroy the nations of which the Lord spoke unto them.

105:35. And they were mingled among the heathens, and learned their works:

105:36. And served their idols, and it became a stumblingblock to them.

105:37. And they sacrificed their sons, and their daughters to devils.

105:38. And they shed innocent blood: the blood of their sons and of their daughters which they sacrificed to the idols of Chanaan. And the land was polluted with blood,

105:39. And was defiled with their works: and they went aside after their own inventions.

105:40. And the Lord was exceedingly angry with his people: and he abhorred his inheritance.

105:41. And he delivered them into the hands of the nations: and they that hated them had dominion over them.

105:42. And their enemies afflicted them: and they were humbled under their hands:

105:43. Many times did he deliver them. But they provoked him with their counsel: and they were brought low by their iniquities.

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