David to wife, and Abihail the daughter || begat twenty and eight sons, and threeof Eliab the son of Jesse; score daughters.) 19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took "Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took a eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and Matt. 1:7. Abia. q 23. Deut. 17:17. Judg. 8:30. 2 Sam. 3:2-5. 5:13. 1 Kings 11:3. 1 Chr. 3:1-9. Cant. 6:8, 9. 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives. u while the king and the people in general adhered frequently pay some regard to the word of God, to the worship of God, as in the days of David,|| and, for a time, are restrained by it from actions, and in the best times of Solomon: but afterwards matters took another turn.-It is not probable, that Solomon would have been thus joined with David, as the good pattern which Rehoboam and his subjects followed, if he had persevered and perished in his apostacy. Jeroboam and his sons. (14) His sons were 'his principal counsellors, and assistants in the 'change he made in religion.' Bp. Patrick. V. 18-21. Rehoboam imitated his father in multiplying wives, but not to the same enormous excess: and he does not appear to have married any heathen women. to which they are inclined, and do many things which are disagreeable to them: and even this temporary faith, and external obedience, are often recompensed with temporary and external advantages.-In seasons of prevailing ungodliness and public disturbances, the ministers of religion will be exposed to peculiar trials; as they must either act contrary to their consciences or expose themselves to great loss and peril. This is the time, when God puts the sincerity of their faith and love to the proof: on these great occasions, he peculiarly calls upon them to bear testimony to his truth, and to protest at all events, against enormous evils, by whomsoever patronized. As connivance and silence in such a case are very criminal: so it is peculiarly honorable to God, and convincing to the consciences of men, when they readily renounce their secular interests, and stand up boldly for the cause of God, without re Daughter of Eliab. (18) Eliab was David's eldest brother; yet more than eighty years had elapsed, since David, at the age of thirty, began to reign. Abihail must, therefore, have been grand-daughter, or great grand-daughter to Eliab, and this shews the latitude in which the words son and daughter are used in scripture, for a descend-garding consequences: nor will such behavior ant, even after several intervening generations. (Note, Ruth 4:18-22.) The daughter of Absalom. (20) It is said of Abijah, that "his mother's name was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah." (13:2.) Gibeah belonged to Benjamin, and probably Absalom, here mentioned, was a Benjamite. (Note, 1 Kings 15:1-3.) V. 22, 23. Rehoboam acted from partial affection, and by his own authority, in advancing Abijah above his elder brethren: whereas, God himself chose Solomon to be king in preference to David's other sons. (Note, 1 Chr. 29:1.) It is probable, that Rehoboam's conduct gave umbrage to his other sons; and that he dispersed them, in the fenced cities, in honorable and affluent situations, to prevent their uniting against Abijah: but perhaps he also confided in them to retain these cities in their duty, and to defend them against the common enemy. Whatever were his motive, it was deemed good policy by his contemporaries. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. || It is commonly more prudent to manage moderate possessions well, than to risk losing them by grasping at greater advantages: and when an egregious error has exposed us to some heavy loss, it is generally wisest to sit down by it, lest we be betrayed into still more fatal mistakes.-It is in vain to contend with the purpose of God, when he makes it known unto us: and, as his word declares that none shall enjoy durable peace in the practice of wickedness, it is madness to expect it; yet, by this rule of judgment, what a world of madness and folly do we live in!-Even those who are destitute of true faith and grace, || ever lose its reward.-It may be their duty to retire from such places as will not receive their testimony, where they can do no good, where their temptations are great, and where they may be exposed to still fiercer persecutions: and in that case no possessions or connexions ought to be regarded. When the ministers and ordinances of God are driven from any place, it is time for them, "who set their hearts to seek the LORD," to come out and be separate, that they may not be seduced to have fellowship with the worshippers and servants of Satan. Trials of this kind, serve to separate the chaff from the wheat; and indeed untried faith is not much to be depended on: but when we have been proved, and it appears, that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, as far as called to it, for the sake of Christ and the gospel, we have got one good evidence that we are truly his disciples.-Those ministers should be welcomed and encouraged, who evidently prefer their work, with a good conscience, to their possessions; and if things were as they should be, their more affluent brethern would readily share their emoluments with them, if they saw them destitute.--It is genuine policy for any kingdom to entertain such as are willing to leave their estates and native country, purely for conscience' sake; for they will prove the strength and bulwark of the state, which gives them a comfortable asylum. But “I-chabod, the glory is departed," may be written on that kingdom which drives them away, by superstitious or idolatrous impositions, and by per secutions.-Nothing can injure us, while we keep close to the worship and service of God: but with out true faith and grace, all apparent zeal and external profession will at length wither. Yet, e 7:19,20. 36:14-19. Judg. 2:13k -15. 1 Chr. 28:9. Neh. 9:26, 27. Ps. 106:43,44. 11:5-12. Is. 36:1. Jer. 5:10. 12 Kings 18.17. Is. 8:8. 10:11. Is. 63:10. m 11:2. 1 Kings 12:22. many deem themselves good and righteous, because they are not so faulty, in the best part of their character, as some eminently godly persons were in the greatest blemishes of their lives!-It is indeed well, when those, who begin foolishly, grow wiser by experience: but alas! that wisdom is of little value, which is engrossed by the care of secular interests, to the neglect of the immortal soul, through the indulgence of worldly lusts, and departing from the living God. NOTES. CHAP. XII. V. 1. Rehoboam's religion seems to have proceeded wholly from his fears of being given up into the hands of Jeroboam: when therefore he was become so strong, that, as he supposed, he had nothing to apprehend from that quarter, he became openly rebellious and idolatrous. (Note, 1 Kings 14:22-24.) The leading men also and the bulk of the nation, so generally and openly renounced the worship of God at the temple, that it was adjudged a national apostacy.-The ten tribes had before apostatized with Jeroboam; and when Reho boam, with Judah and Benjamin, followed their example, "all Israel," as a nation, "had forsaken the law of the LORD;" and the pious remnant formed only a few exceptions to the general rule. V. 2. (Note, 1 Kings 14:25-28.) It is probable, that Shishak was of another family than Pharaoh, whose daughter Solomon had married; and was excited to this invasion by the reports of the immense treasures, which that prince had collected at Jerusalem, with the division in his dominions, and the weakness of Rehoboam's ad480] them, Thus saith the LORD, "Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. 6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves: and they said, The LORD is righteous. 7 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. t S 8 Nevertheless, they shall be his servants; that "they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. V 9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. n See on 1,2.-15:2. Deut. 28: 15,&c. Judg. 10:9-14. 1 Chr. 28:9. Jer. 2:19. 4:18. 5:19, 23: 33. o 2 Sam. 24:14. Ps. 37:33. p 32:26. 33:12,19,23. Ex. 10:3. Lev. 26:40,41. 1 Kings 8:3739. Ps. 78:34,35. Jer. 44:10. Dan. 5:22. Hos. 5:15. Luke 18:14. Jam. 4:10. q Ex. 9:27. Judg. 1:7. Job 33: 27. Ps. 129:4. Lam. 1:18. Dan. 9:14. Rom. 10:3. r Judg. 10:15,16. 1 Kings 21:28, ministration. But the Lord gave him power to execute his rapacious purposes; which he would not have done, if the people had not transgressed against him. In the fifth year.] Their apostacy was in the fourth year...; therefore God speedily correct'ed them, that he might reduce them to his service, before they were settled in their impiety.' Bp. Patrick. V. 3, 4. (Marg. Ref.) The Lubims were the inhabitants of Lybia, adjoining to Egypt on the west: the Sukkiims are supposed to have been the people called Troglodytes, because they dwelt in caves: (rpwydas) and the Ethiopians, probably, were the inhabitants of Ethiopia to the south of Egypt.-It is likely that several of Rehoboam's sons were slain, or taken captive, by Shishak, when he took the cities in which they governed. (Note, 11:22,23.) V. 5, 6. While the king and his nobles were consulting what measures to adopt, in this dangerous extremity, and perhaps were about to surrender to the conqueror; the prophet, in a few words, reminded them, that Shishak's power over them was the effect of the Lord's righteous indignation, who was contending with them for their apostacy. The time and circumstances indeed of their affliction evidently proclaimed this truth, yet they had not before attended to it: but this message had an immediate effect upon them; for they humbled themselves, and acknowledged the justice of God in their punishment. (Marg. Ref. p.) An external reformation, and a regard to the worship at the temple, during the remainder of Rehoboam's reign, 10 Instead of which, king Rehoboam the tribes of Israel, to put his name made shields of brass, and committed there. And his mother's name was Nathem to the hands of a the chief of the amah, an Ammonitess. guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house. 11 And when the king entered into the ouse of the LORD, the guard came and etched them, and brought them again into the guard-chamber. 12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well. 13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all 14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his hearth to seek the LORD. i 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead. V. 14. Rehoboam's religion was a reluctant, formal service; his heart was not engaged; he never called upon "all that was within him to praise the Lord," and he did not desire that prep position of heart, which is requisite in order to worship God spiritually and with delight. This was the source of his instability; and thus he was easily drawn into open ungodliness and wickedness. (Marg. and Marg. Ref.-Notes, 11:13-17, v. 16. 30:16-20, v. 19. 1 Chr. 29:10 V. 15, 16. Notes, 9:29–31. 1 Kings 14:30. V. 7-11. (Notes, Judg. 3:1,2. 1 Kings 21:27 -29. Ps. 76:10.) It is probable, that Shishak had intended to give up the city to be plunder-aration of an humble, believing, and pious dised by his army: but God suddenly disposed him to greater moderation and clemency, than could possibly have been expected from such a man in his circumstances. So that he contented himself with emptying the treasures of the temple and of the king, and carrying away the golden shields which Solomon had made for magnifi--19, v. 18. Ps. 78:9-11.) cence rather than for use: (Notes, 1 Kings 10: 16,17. 14:25-28.) and he did not proceed to rob the temple of its sacred vessels. Neither did he deprive the inhabitants of their private property; but perhaps he exacted a sum of money, in token of their becoming his servants. He was, however, permitted thus far to prevail, that Rehoboam and his subjects might experience the different effects of keeping close to the worship of God, as in the prosperous days of David and Solomon; and of renouncing his service, and in consequence being reduced under the power of the conqueror, and preserved from entire ruin, merely by his unexpected clemency on their unreserved submission. He resolved to let them feel the difference between him, and all 'other lords and masters: and how much more happy they were while they continued to wor'ship and serve him, than when they fell under 'a foreign yoke.' Bp. Patrick. V. 12. Things went well.] Or, "yet in Judah there were good things:" (marg.) that is, there were a number of true believers, spiritual worshippers, and servants of God, especially such as came out of Israel; for whose sake Rehoboam and the kingdom were spared: so that we read no more of Shishak, who, by one means or other, was kept from coming to extort any urther tribute or services from them. (Notes, Gen. 32:6-28. 33:4.) V. 13. The city, &c.] It was a peculiar honor conferred on Rehoboam for his fathers' sake, and his greatest advantage, that he reigned in that city which the LORD had chosen as the place of his temple, and instituted worship; (Marg. Ref. d, e.) but it seems to be here meniioned as an aggravation of the guilt of his ungodliness. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. It is a very common but most lamentable case, that men, who in distress or danger, or apParently near death, seem very much engaged in seeking God, often throw aside their religion when they have received a merciful deliverance. But the warning, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee," deserves the most serious consideration of all, who are tempted to such base ingratitude. (Note, John 5:10—14, v. 14.) The Lord can soon arrest them by renewed afflictions; reduce them to still greater extremities; and bring trouble upon them from those quarters whence it was least expected.-Ungodly prosperity serves only to increase vain confidence, and to invite rapacity, without affording any real security; and all methods of defence prove ineffectual, when an angry God "arises to that judgment, which he hath commanded."—Every affliction has a voice, and delivers a message from the Lord; but sinners do not regard or understand: it is therefore, a singular mercy when he sends them "an interpreter," to explain the voice of his rod by that of his word. (Note, Job 33:19 26.)-Humiliation before God for sin, with unreserved acknowledgments that he is just in all that he inflicts or threatens, is essential to true repentance: but this may be counterfeited both by word and deed. Yet, when there are merely external appearances of contrition, our merciful God will often grant respites, in order to encourage true penitents by shewing his readiness to forgive. This is especially the case in his dealings with sinful nations: for a general external humiliation before God, under national judgments, is a good evidence that their inities B. C. 957. e 3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him, with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor. 4 ¶ And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel; 5 Ought ye not to know, that i the a See on 12:16.-1 Kings 15:1. 11:20. Maachah the daughter of Absalom. 1 Kings 15:2. Abishalom. e 11:1. 14:8. 17:14-18. 26:12,13. f 14:9. g Gen. 10:18. Josh. 18:22. e Josh. 18:28. Gibeath. Judg.h 15:2. Judg. 9:7. 19:14,16. 1 Sam. 10:26. 41 Kings 15:6,7. i Neh. 5:9. Prov. 1:29. 2 Pet. Heb. bound together. 1 Sam. j Judg. 11:21-24. Jer. 27:5- 17:1-3. LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath m rebelled against his lord. 7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and a could not withstand them. 8 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 Have ye not "cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests k 1 Sam. 16:1,12. 2 Sam. 7:12, | 21:10,13. 1 Lev. 2:13. Num. 18:19. Ez. m 10:19. 1 Kings 11:26. 12:20, 27. n Judg. 9:4. 11:3. 1 Sam. 22:2. p 12:13. Ec. 10:16. Is. 3:4 1 r 9:8. Ps. 2:1-6. Is. 7:6,7. 9:6, 7. Luke 19:14,27. 8 14:9-11. 20:6,12. Ps. 39.16. 1 See on 11:15. 1 Kings 12:28. 14:9.-Hos. 8:6. u 11:14,15. v 1 Kings 12:31--33. 13.33. NOTES. are not yet full: and when there is a number of we do this in sincerity, using the other means of true believers among them, who are protected grace, and watching against sin and temptation; from oppression and persecution; the Lord will our endeavors will not be in vain. Where these grant some deliverance, and his "wrath shall not things are wanting, formality and hypocrisy form be poured out upon them" as yet.-Amidst all a man's highest attainments; his chief advantages our abounding iniquity, impiety, and infidelity, prove an aggravation of his crimes; and a life of these kingdoms seem hitherto to have been spared vanity and vexation will be closed by a miseraon these accounts: may he reform, and not destroy || ble death. May we then look to our hearts, and us!--When the Lord is pleased to shew mercy, he keep them with all diligence; for the Lord especan dispose the hardest hearts to compassion; the cially regards them: and may he prepare our most rapacious, to moderation; and the most im- hearts unto himself, that we may serve him with pious, to fear profaning sacred things: for he perseverance and delight, while we live; possess rules the impetuous lusts of men as he does the a strong consolation and joyful hope, when we are raging ocean, saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, called to walk through the valley of the shadow but no further, and here shall thy proud waves of death; and so have an abundant entrance into be stayed." But his wrath may occasion many the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior painful effects, when not poured out unto the ut- Jesus Christ! Amen. termost. These are, however, often intended in mercy, and are of salutary tendency: for it is good to be convinced by any sufferings, short of eternal misery, that by forsaking the Lord we are cruel to ourselves; and that his service, || which is but another name for liberty, peace, and felicity, cannot be renounced, without our becoming the miserable slaves of the worst of tyrants and oppressors: and whenever the heart is truly humbled, the afflictions will be removed, or alleviated and counterbalanced by divine consolations. Sin always debases those who commit it, robs them of substantial blessings, and substitutes a mere empty worthless shew of good; and whatever else be preserved or obtained, it will ruin the immortal soul, except true repentance intervene. Unless "the heart be prepared to seek the LORD," we must perish: and if convinced, that we are unable of ourselves to effect this preparation, let us pray fervently, according to the language of Scripture, "Turn thou me, and so shall I be turned;" "Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me." 482] CHAP. XIII. V. 1, 2. Marg. Ref.—Notes, 11:18-23. 1 Kings 15:1-3. V. 3. The kingdom of the ten tribes had been given to Jeroboam; but he and his people had, by apostacy and idolatry, merited_the_severest punishment, which Abijah was employed, or permitted, to execute. Rehoboam had aimed to recover dominion over all Israel; but perhaps Abijah only endeavored to secure his own kingdom. (Note, 1 Kings 12:21-24.)-The numbers which they brought into the field were immense: but when every man was a soldier, small kingdoms could raise very large armies upon any great emergency. Five hundred thousand had been numbered of Judah in the time of David, and it had received a great increase on the division of the kingdom; yet Israel raised an army twice as large as that of Judah, out of all their tribes. (Notes, 11:13-17. 2 Sam. 24:9. 1 Chr. 21:2-6 Ifv. 5. 27:1—15.) after the manner of the nations of other against the LORD God of your fathers; lands? so that whosoever cometh to con- for ye shall not prosper. secrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods. 10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and a the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business: c [Practical Observations.] 13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. looked back, 14 And when Judah behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and P the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a 11 And they burn unto the LORD, every morning and every evening, burntsacrifices, and sweet incense: the shew-shout: and as the men of Judah shoutbread also set they in order upon the pure ed, it came to pass, that God smote table; and the candlestick of gold with Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: and Judah. for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him. f 12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our Captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against Ŏ children of Israel, fight ye not you. * Heb. fill his hand. Ex. 32: | Rev. 8:3,4. x Ex. 29:1,35. Lev. 8:2. z 11:16,17. Ex. 19:5,6. Zech. k Lev. 24:6. e Ex. 25:31-39. 27:20,21. Lev. f Gen. 26:5. Num. 9:19,23. Ez. g Num. 23:21. 1 Sam. 4:57. 16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. 17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 18 Thus the children of Israel were 1 24:20. Num. 14:41. Deut. 28: m 20:22. Josh. 8:4. Prov. 21:30. n Ex. 14:10. Josh. 8:20. Judg. q 20:21. Josh. 6:16,20. Judg. 7: 18-22. Ps. 47:1.5. r 14:12. Num. 32:4. Josh. 11:8. Judg. 4:15. 2 Kings 5:1. Ps 118:4-7. Is. 37:36. s Gen. 14:20. Deut. 2:36. 3:3. Josh. 10:12. 21:44. Judg. 1:4. 11:21. 1 Sam. 23:7. t 3,12. 28:6. Is. 10:16-19. 37: 36. Nah. 1:5. 1 Cor. 10:22. was surely old enough to have behaved more wisely, if he had not been actuated by a proud, domineering disposition; and it was not so much owing either to his lenity, his timidity, or his weakness, that he had not prosecuted his pretensions by war; as to the divine prohibition. (Notes, V. 4-12. Jeroboam seems to have been the haps it was not candid to call them indiscrimaggressor in this war: yet Abijah had marched inately "vain men, the children of Belial." Rehointo his country; and from a hill, whence Jeroboam had given them no smali provocation; he boam and many of the Israelites could hear him, he spake to them as one who wished to bring the contest to an amicable conclusion. At least this seems to have been his ostensible design; though his speech was well suited, and probably intended, to encourage his own troops, and to dismay those of Jeroboam. Abijah bears a bad charac-1 Kings 12:8-24.)-But Abijah's words were ter in Kings; (Note, 1 Kings 15:1-4.) yet on this more forcible, when he exposed the apostacy and occasion he spoke religiously; and he seems to idolatry of the kingdom of Israel; their impiety have had a strong confidence in God, grounded and sacrilege in excluding the priests of the Lord on the maintenance of his ordinances, and the from their possessions; and the shameful manner, number of pious worshippers, in his kingdom. in which any worthless man was made a priest, The basis of his address was truth; but there was who could and would bring the sacrifice appointmuch false coloring in his manner of stating it, ed by way of consecration: for by these crimes, according to the too general custom of eloquent Jeroboam and his subjects were drawing down orators. For the covenant respecting the king- the vengeance of heaven upon themselves. dom over Israel, made with David in behalf of his (Notes, 11:13—17. 1 Kings 12:26-33. 13:33,34. posterity, (except as it related to the Messiah,) 14:5--16.) But what Abijah urged, concerning was conditional; and neither Solomon, Rehobo- the state of true religion in Judah, was not strictam, nor Abijah, had been attentive to the restip-ly just; and, as spoken by him, it savored of osulations. (7:17,18. Notes, 2 Sam. 7:12--16. 1 tentation. Abijah himself was not a godly man; Kings 9:4-9. 11:9–13. Ps. 89:19-37. 132:11, and idolatry was evidently connived at in his days. 12.) "A covenant of salt" is one solemnly ratified Yet it was true, that the men of Judah had the by a sacrifice and a feast, at both of which salt priests, ordinances, and worship of God among was used; that is to say, an unchangeable core- them; that there were numbers of pious worshipnant: (Notes, Lev. 2:13. Num. 18:19.) but the pers in the land; that theirs was the more rightLord evidently did not consider himself irreversi-eous cause; that the LORD was on their side, and bly engaged to continue the kingdom of all Israel to David's posterity.--Jeroboam had indeed acted very wickedly in his manner of seizing and governing the kingdom of Israel: yet it had been granted to him by God himself, and Abijah never mentioned that circumstance. (Notes, 1 Kings 11:29-40.)-The persons, who revolted from Rehoboam and made Jeroboam king, had acted with great precipitation and ingratitude; but per their Captain, while the Israelites fought against him; and that the presence of the priests blowing the sacred trumpets, according to the law, was a token of his presence with them and favor to them. (Notes, Num. 10:2-10.)-The expression, "after the manner of the nations," (9) shews that the laws of Moses were not made according to the customs of the gentiles, as many suppose; but entirely distinct from them: and that the sim |
