patriarchs and prophets-第101章
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will be brought to see and acknowledge the justice of his condemnation。
Regardless of the divine sentence； the Israelites prepared to undertake the
conquest of Canaan。 Equipped with armor and weapons of war； they were； in
their own estimation； fully prepared for conflict； but they were sadly
deficient in the sight of God and His sorrowful servants。 When； nearly forty
years later； the Lord directed Israel to go up and take Jericho； He promised
to go with them。 The ark containing His law was borne before their armies。
His appointed leaders were to direct their movements； under the divine
supervision。 With such guidance； no harm could come to them。 But now；
contrary to the command of God and the solemn prohibition of their leaders；
without the ark； and without Moses； they went out to meet the armies of the
enemy。
The trumpet sounded an alarm； and Moses hastened after them with the
warning； 〃Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord？ but it
shall not prosper。 Go not up；
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for the Lord is not among you； that ye be not smitten before your enemies。
For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you； and ye shall
fall by the sword。〃
The Canaanites had heard of the mysterious power that seemed to be guarding
this people and of the wonders wrought in their behalf； and they now
summoned a strong force to repel the invaders。 The attacking army had no
leader。 No prayer was offered that God would give them the victory。 They set
forth with the desperate purpose to reverse their fate or to die in battle。
Though untrained in war； they were a vast multitude of armed men； and they
hoped by a sudden and fierce assault to bear down all opposition。 They
presumptuously challenged the foe that had not dared to attack them。
The Canaanites had stationed themselves upon a rocky tableland reached only
by difficult passes and a steep and dangerous ascent。 The immense numbers of
the Hebrews could only render their defeat more terrible。 They slowly
threaded the mountain paths； exposed to the deadly missiles of their enemies
above。 Massive rocks came thundering down； marking their path with the blood
of the slain。 Those who reached the summit； exhausted with their ascent；
were fiercely repulsed； and driven back with great loss。 The field of
carnage was strewn with the bodies of the dead。 The army of Israel was
utterly defeated。 Destruction and death was the result of that rebellious
experiment。
Forced to submission at last； the survivors 〃returned； and wept before the
Lord；〃 but 〃the Lord would not hearken〃 to their voice。 Deuteronomy 1：45。 By
their signal victory the enemies of Israel； who had before awaited with
trembling the approach of that mighty host； were inspired with confidence to
resist them。 All the reports they had heard concerning the marvelous things
that God had wrought for His people； they now regarded as false； and they
felt that there was no cause for fear。 That first defeat of Israel； by
inspiring the Canaanites with courage and resolution； had greatly increased
the difficulties of the conquest。 Nothing remained for Israel but to fall
back from the face of their victorious foes； into the wilderness； knowing
that here must be the grave of a whole generation。
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Chapter 35
The Rebellion of Korah
The judgments visited upon the Israelites served for a time to restrain
their murmuring and insubordination； but the spirit of rebellion was still
in the heart and eventually brought forth the bitterest fruits。 The former
rebellions had been mere popular tumults； arising from the sudden impulse of
the excited multitude； but now a deep…laid conspiracy was formed； the result
of a determined purpose to overthrow the authority of the leaders appointed
by God Himself。
Korah； the leading spirit in this movement； was a Levite； of the family of
Kohath； and a cousin of Moses； he was a man of ability and influence。 Though
appointed to the service of the tabernacle； he had become dissatisfied with
his position and aspired to the dignity of the priesthood。 The bestowal upon
Aaron and his house of the priestly office； which had formerly devolved upon
the first…born son of every family； had given rise to jealousy and
dissatisfaction； and for some time Korah had been secretly opposing the
authority of Moses and Aaron； though he had not ventured upon any open act
of rebellion。 He finally conceived the bold design of overthrowing both the
civil and the religious authority。 He did not fail to find sympathizers。
Close to the tents of Korah and the Kohathites； on the south side of the
tabernacle； was the encampment of the tribe of Reuben； the tents of Dathan
and Abiram； two princes of this tribe； being near that of Korah。 These
princes readily joined in his ambitious schemes。 Being descendants from the
eldest son of Jacob； they claimed that the civil authority belonged to them；
and they determined to divide with Korah the honors of the priesthood。
The state of feeling among the people favored the designs of Korah。 In the
bitterness of their disappointment； their former doubts； jealousy； and
hatred had returned； and again their complaints were directed against their
patient leader。 The Israelites
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were continually losing sight of the fact that they were under divine
guidance。 They forgot that the Angel of the covenant was their invisible
leader； that； veiled by the cloudy pillar； the presence of Christ went
before them； and that from Him Moses received all his directions。
They were unwilling to submit to the terrible sentence that they must all
die in the wilderness； and hence they were ready to seize upon every pretext
for believing that it was not God but Moses who was leading them and who had
pronounced their doom。 The best efforts of the meekest man upon the earth
could not quell the insubordination of this people； and although the marks
of God's displeasure at their former perverseness were still before them in
their broken ranks and missing numbers； they did not take the lesson to
heart。 Again they were overcome by temptation。
The humble shepherd's life of Moses had been far more peaceful and happy
than his present position as leader of that vast assembly of turbulent
spirits。 Yet Moses dared not choose。 In place of a shepherd's crook a rod of
power had been given him； which he could not lay down until God should
release him。
He who reads the secrets of all hearts had marked the purposes of Korah and
his companions and had given His people such warning and instruction as
might have enabled them to escape the deception of these designing men。 They
had seen the judgment of God fall upon Miriam because of her jealousy and
complaints against Moses。 The Lord had declared that Moses was greater than
a prophet。 〃With him will I speak mouth to mouth。〃 〃Wherefore； then；〃 He
added； 〃were ye not afraid to speak against My servant Moses？〃 Numbers 12：8。
These instructions were not intended for Aaron and Miriam alone； but for all
Israel。
Korah and his fellow conspirators were men who had been favored with special
manifestations of God's power and greatness。 They were of the number who
went up with Moses into the mount and beheld the divine glory。 But since
that time a change had come。 A temptation； slight at first； had been
harbored； and had strengthened as it was encouraged； until their minds were
controlled by Satan； and they ventured upon their work of disaffection。
Professing great interest in the prosperity of the people； they first
whispered their discontent to one another and then to leading men of Israel。
Their insinuations were so readily
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received that they ventured still further； and at last they really believed
themselves to be actuated by zeal for God。
They were successful in alienating two hundred and fifty princes； men of
renown in the congregation。 With these strong and influential supporters
they felt confident of making a radical change in the government and greatly
im
