patriarchs and prophets-第94部分

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to　the　plain　the　name；　〃Vale　of　Shittim。〃　It　was　here　that　the　Israelites
encamped；　and　in　the　acacia　groves　by　the　riverside　they　found　an　agreeable
retreat。

But　amid　these　attractive　surroundings　they　were　to　encounter　an　evil　more
deadly　than　mighty　hosts　of　armed　men　or　the　wild　beasts　of　the　wilderness。
That　country；　so　rich　in　natural　advantages；　had　been　defiled　by　the
inhabitants。　In　the　public　worship　of　Baal；　the　leading　deity；　the　most
degrading　and　iniquitous　scenes　were　constantly　enacted。　On　every　side　were
places　noted　for　idolatry　and　licentiousness；　the　very　names　being
suggestive　of　the　vileness　and　corruption　of　the　people。

These　surroundings　exerted　a　polluting　influence　upon　the　Israelites。　Their
minds　became　familiar　with　the　vile　thoughts　constantly　suggested；　their
life　of　ease　and　inaction　produced　its　demoralizing　effect；　and　almost
unconsciously　to　themselves　they

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were　departing　from　God　and　coming　into　a　condition　where　they　would　fall　an
easy　prey　to　temptation。

During　the　time　of　their　encampment　beside　Jordan；　Moses　was　preparing　for
the　occupation　of　Canaan。　In　this　work　the　great　leader　was　fully　employed；
but　to　the　people　this　time　of　suspense　and　expectation　was　most　trying；　and
before　many　weeks　had　elapsed　their　history　was　marred　by　the　most　frightful
departures　from　virtue　and　integrity。

At　first　there　was　little　intercourse　between　the　Israelites　and　their
heathen　neighbors；　but　after　a　time　Midianitish　women　began　to　steal　into
the　camp。　Their　appearance　excited　no　alarm；　and　so　quietly　were　their　plans
conducted　that　the　attention　of　Moses　was　not　called　to　the　matter。　It　was
the　object　of　these　women；　in　their　association　with　the　Hebrews；　to　seduce
them　into　transgression　of　the　law　of　God；　to　draw　their　attention　to
heathen　rites　and　customs；　and　lead　them　into　idolatry。　These　motives　were
studiously　concealed　under　the　garb　of　friendship；　so　that　they　were　not
suspected；　even　by　the　guardians　of　the　people。

At　Balaam's　suggestion；　a　grand　festival　in　honor　of　their　gods　was
appointed　by　the　king　of　Moab；　and　it　was　secretly　arranged　that　Balaam
should　induce　the　Israelites　to　attend。　He　was　regarded　by　them　as　a　prophet
of　God；　and　hence　had　little　difficulty　in　accomplishing　his　purpose。　Great
numbers　of　the　people　joined　him　in　witnessing　the　festivities。　They
ventured　upon　the　forbidden　ground；　and　were　entangled　in　the　snare　of
Satan。　Beguiled　with　music　and　dancing；　and　allured　by　the　beauty　of　heathen
vestals；　they　cast　off　their　fealty　to　Jehovah。　As　they　united　in　mirth　and
feasting；　indulgence　in　wine　beclouded　their　senses　and　broke　down　the
barriers　of　self…control。　Passion　had　full　sway；　and　having　defiled　their
consciences　by　lewdness；　they　were　persuaded　to　bow　down　to　idols。　They
offered　sacrifice　upon　heathen　altars　and　participated　in　the　most　degrading
rites。

It　was　not　long　before　the　poison　had　spread；　like　a　deadly　infection；
through　the　camp　of　Israel。　Those　who　would　have　conquered　their　enemies　in
battle　were　overcome　by　the　wiles　of　heathen　women。　The　people　seemed　to　be
infatuated。　The　rulers　and　the　leading　men　were　among　the　first　to
transgress；　and　so　many　of　the　people　were　guilty　that　the　apostasy　became
national。　〃Israel　joined　himself　unto　Baalpeor。〃　When　Moses　was

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aroused　to　perceive　the　evil；　the　plots　of　their　enemies　had　been　so
successful　that　not　only　were　the　Israelites　participating　in　the　licentious
worship　at　Mount　Peor；　but　the　heathen　rites　were　coming　to　be　observed　in
the　camp　of　Israel。　The　aged　leader　was　filled　with　indignation；　and　the
wrath　of　God　was　kindled。

Their　iniquitous　practices　did　that　for　Israel　which　all　the　enchantments　of
Balaam　could　not　dothey　separated　them　from　God。　By　swift…coming　judgments
the　people　were　awakened　to　the　enormity　of　their　sin。　A　terrible　pestilence
broke　out　in　the　camp；　to　which　tens　of　thousands　speedily　fell　a　prey。　God
commanded　that　the　leaders　in　this　apostasy　be　put　to　death　by　the
magistrates。　This　order　was　promptly　obeyed。　The　offenders　were　slain；　then
their　bodies　were　hung　up　in　sight　of　all　Israel　that　the　congregation；
seeing　the　leaders　so　severely　dealt　with；　might　have　a　deep　sense　of　God's
abhorrence　of　their　sin　and　the　terror　of　His　wrath　against　them。

All　felt　that　the　punishment　was　just；　and　the　people　hastened　to　the
tabernacle；　and　with　tears　and　deep　humiliation　confessed　their　sin。　While
they　were　thus　weeping　before　God；　at　the　door　of　the　tabernacle；　while　the
plague　was　still　doing　its　work　of　death；　and　the　magistrates　were　executing
their　terrible　commission；　Zimri；　one　of　the　nobles　of　Israel；　came　boldly
into　the　camp；　accompanied　by　a　Midianitish　harlot；　a　princess　〃of　a　chief
house　in　Midian；〃　whom　he　escorted　to　his　tent。　Never　was　vice　bolder　or
more　stubborn。　Inflamed　with　wine；　Zimri　declared　his　〃sin　as　Sodom；〃　and
gloried　in　his　shame。　The　priests　and　leaders　had　prostrated　themselves　in
grief　and　humiliation；　weeping　〃between　the　porch　and　the　altar；〃　and
entreating　the　Lord　to　spare　His　people；　and　give　not　His　heritage　to
reproach；　when　this　prince　in　Israel　flaunted　his　sin　in　the　sight　of　the
congregation；　as　if　to　defy　the　vengeance　of　God　and　mock　the　judges　of　the
nation。　Phinehas；　the　son　of　Eleazar　the　high　priest；　rose　up　from　among　the
congregation；　and　seizing　a　javelin；　〃he　went　after　the　man　of　Israel　into
the　tent；〃　and　slew　them　both。　Thus　the　plague　was　stayed；　while　the　priest
who　had　executed　the　divine　judgment　was　honored　before　all　Israel；　and　the
priesthood　was　confirmed　to　him　and　to　his　house　forever。

Phinehas　〃hath　turned　My　wrath　away　from　the　children　of　Israel；〃　was　the
divine　message；　〃wherefore　say；　Behold；　I　give　unto　him　My　covenant　of
peace：　and　he　shall　have　it；　and　his

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seed　after　him；　even　the　covenant　of　an　everlasting　priesthood；　because　he
was　zealous　for　His　God；　and　made　an　atonement　for　the　children　of　Israel。〃

The　judgments　visited　upon　Israel　for　their　sin　at　Shittim；　destroyed　the
survivors　of　that　vast　company；　who；　nearly　forty　years　before；　had　incurred
the　sentence；　〃They　shall　surely　die　in　the　wilderness。〃　The　numbering　of
the　people　by　divine　direction；　during　their　encampment　on　the　plains　of
Jordan；　showed　that　〃of　them　whom　Moses　and　Aaron　the　priest　numbered；　when
they　numbered　the　children　of　Israel　in　the　wilderness　of　Sinai；　。　。　。　there
was　not　left　a　man　of　them；　save　Caleb　the　son　of　Jephunneh；　and　Joshua　the
son　of　Nun。〃　Numbers　26：64；65。

God　had　sent　judgments　upon　Israel　for　yielding　to　the　enticements　of　the
Midianites；　but　the　tempters　were　not　to　escape　the　wrath　of　divine　justice。
The　Amalekites；　who　had　attacked　Israel　at　Rephidim；　falling　upon　those　who
were　faint　and　weary　behind　the　host；　were　not　punished　till　long　after；　but
the　Midianites　who　seduced　them　into　sin　were　speedily　made　to　feel　God's
judgments；　as　being　the　more　dangerous　enemies。　〃Avenge　the　children　of
Israel　of　the　Midianites〃　（Numbers　31：2）；　was　the　command　of　God　to　Moses；
〃afterward　shalt　thou　be　gathered　unto　thy　people。〃　This　mandate　was
immediately　obeyed。　One　thousand　men　were　chosen　from　each　of　the　tribes　and
sent　out　under　the　leadership　of　Phinehas。　〃And　they　warred　against　the
Midianites；　as　the　Lord　commanded　Moses。　。　。　。　And　they　slew　the　kings　of
Midian；　beside　the　rest　of　them　that　were　slain；　。　。　。　five　kings　of　Midian：
Balaam　also　the　son　of　Beor　they　slew　with　the　sword。〃　Verses　7；　8。　The
women　also；　who　had　been　made　captives　by　the　attacking　army；　were　put　to
death　at　the　command　of　Moses；　as　the　most　guilty　and　most　dangerous　of　the
foes　of　Israel。

Such　was　the　end　of　them　that　devised　mischief　against　God's　people。　Says
the　psalmist：　〃The　heathen　are　sunk　down　in　the　pit　that　they　made：　in　the
net　which　they　hid　is　their　own　foot　taken。〃　Psalm　9：15。　〃For　the　Lord　will
not　cast　off　His　people；　neither　will　He　forsake　His　inheritance。　But
judgment　shall　return　unto　righteousness。〃　When　men　〃gather　themselves
together　against　the　soul　of　the　righteous；〃　the　Lord　〃　shall　bring　upon
them　their　own　iniquity；　and　shall　cut　them　off　in　their　own　wickedness。〃
Psalm　94：14；　15；　21；　23。

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When　Balaam　was　called　to　curse　the　Hebrews　he　could　not；　by　all　his
enchantments；　bring　evil　upon　them；　for　the　Lord　had　not　〃beheld　iniquity　in
Jacob；〃　neither　had　He　〃seen　perverseness　in　Israel。〃　Numbers　23：21；　23。　But
when　through　yielding　to　temptation　they　transgressed　God's　law；　their
defense　departed　from　them。　When　the　people　of　God　are　faithful　to　His
commandments；　〃there　is　no　enchantment　against　Jacob；　neither　is　there　any
divination　against　Israel。〃　Hence　all　the　power　and　wily　arts　of　Satan　are
exerted　to　seduce　them　into　sin。　If　those　who　profess　to　be　the　depositaries
of　God's　law　become　transgressors　of　its　precepts；　they　separate　themselves
from　God；　and　they　will　be　unable　to　stand　before　their　enemies。

The　Israelites；　who　could　not　be　overcome　by　the　arms　or　by　the　enchantments
of　Midian；　fell　a　prey　to　her　harlots。　Such　is　the　power　that　woman；
enlisted　in　the　service　of　Satan；　has　exerted　to　entrap　and　destroy　souls。
〃She　hath　cast　down　many　wounded：　yea；　many　strong　men　have　been　slain　by
her。〃　Proverbs　7：26。　It　was　thus　that　the　children　of　Seth　were　seduced　from
their　integrity；　and　the　holy　seed　became　corrupt。　It　was　thus　that　Joseph
was　tempted。　Thus　Samson　betrayed　his　strength；　the　defense　of　Israel；　into
the　hands　of　the　Philistines。　Here　David　stumbled。　And　Solomon；　the　wisest
of　kings；　who　had　thrice　been　called　the　beloved　of　his　God；　became　a　slave
of　passion；　and　sacrificed　his　integrity　to　the　same　bewitching　power。

〃Now　all　these　things　happened　unto　them　for　ensamples：　and　they　are　written
for　our　admonition；　upon　whom　the　ends　of　the　world　are　come。　Wherefore　let
him　that　thinketh　he　standeth　take　heed　lest　he　fall。〃　1　Corinthians　10：11；
12。　Satan　well　knows　the　material　with　which　he　has　to　deal　in　the　human
heart。　He　knowsfor　he　has　studied　with　fien