ments, comprised seventy-two thousand oxen, sixty-one thousand asses, and six hundred and seventy thousand five hundred sheep; and, what is still more remarkable, not a single Israelite fell in the conflict.

The conquest of Moab and Midian placed the Israelites in possession of all that part of the country which lay on the east side of the river Jordan; and, as the land was very fertile, and afforded abundance of pasturage, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Ma nasseh, requested Moses to allow them to make it their permanent abode. To this request Moses readily acceded, on condition that they would furnish their proportion of

army, which would still be required to complete the conquest of the promised land. He then, by Divine direction, designated the limits of the country that was still to be conquered, and ordered that the distribution of the whole should be made among the different tribes by lot; assigning the chief arrangement of their future settlement to Eleazer, the high-priest, and Joshua, the general of the army. To the Levites, who were to possess no landed property, he assigned, as residences, forty-eight cities, with their suburbs, six of which were to be cities of refuge, whither the Israelite, who had accidentally killed another, might flee, and there remain in safety until the death of the high-priest, which should be the sign of his restoration to liberty.

The forty years' sojourn of the Israelites in the wilderness, having now nearly closed, Moses called all the people together on the plains of Moab, and there, in the presence of the whole congregation, rehearsed the gracious dealings of God with their fathers since they left Egypt-their continual murmurings and rebellions against him, and the many severe judgments that followed, even to his owL exclusion from the promised land. He then gave them &

summary of the various laws which God had instituted for the promotion of their happiness; and, after repeating the Ten Commandments, he reminded them of the solemn manner in which they were delivered from mount Sinai, and of the many obligations they were under, to render a strict obedience to them. He farther assured them, that if they proved faithful to God, and kept his commandments, the Almighty would bestow innumerable blessings upon them; but should they, on the contrary, forget him, and neglect his statutes, he would visit them with the severest calamities.

These, and various other directions relative to their future conduct in the land of Canaan, Moses first delivered to the people verbally, and then afterwards caused them to be written in a book and placed within the ark, there to remain, to be used as a witness against them, should they, at any future time, again rebel. He also composed the song of Recapitulation-a poem of unusual excellence in which he particularly noticed the many benefits which God had bestowed upon his people—their ingratitude and forgetfulness of him-the punishments with which he had afflicted them; and the threats of greater judgments, should they persist in provoking him by a repetition of their follies and crimes. This beautiful poetic performance extends from the commencement of the thirty-second, to the end of the forty-third chapter of Deuteronomy.

Moses having now brought the Israelites to the borders of the land of Canaan, his mission on earth was finished, and he, therefore, after taking a solemn leave of the people, constituted, in accordance with the Divine command, Joshua as his successor. He then ascended to the top of mount Pisgah, whence he could survey the entire country which God had, more than five hundred and fifty years

before, pro nised to Abraham's posterity.

Here, after

having for some time gazed, with melancholy admiration, on the delightful plains of Jericho, and the fair cliffs and lofty cedars of Lebanon, he quietly resigned his gentle spirit into the hands of the Almighty, and his emancipated soul at once entered upon the possession of a far happier Canaan than that upon which he had just been gazing. The death of this distinguished servant of God occurred 1451 A. C., and when he had just attained the one hundred and twentieth year of his age.

Though Moses was, at the time of his death, so far advanced in life, yet "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." His death, therefore, may be regarded as an event as miraculous as any other incident in his wonderful career. His burial, too, was equally remarkable; for God himself buried him in a valley, in the land of Moab, opposite to Beth Peor, and in so secret a manner that the place of his interment has never been discovered.

Moses, in whatever light we view his character, must be regarded as one of the most remarkable men of any age or country. In addition to his natural talents, he enjoyed every advantage of education then known; and, in the exercise of his varied powers, he exhibited all the attributes of a skillful leader, a profound philosopher, an eminent prophet, and a beautiful, pathetic, and even sublime poet. But the circumstance which exalts his character immeasurably above any other of the sons of men, is the intimate relation which he bore for many years to the Deity himself; so that, in allusion to the coming Messiah, he could, with propriety, say, "A prophet shall the Lord thy God raise up unto thee from among thy brethren like

unto me."

CHAPTER THE THIRD.

THE JUDGES.

SECTION I.

JOSHUA:-The Crossing of the Jordan-Fall of Jericho-The Transgression of Achan-Fall of Ai-Deception of the Gibeonites-League of the Canaanitish Kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, against the Israelites-The total overthrow of the AlliesThe Sun and Moon stayed in their Course-Canaan divided by Lot amongst the Tribes-The Portion of Joshua and Caleb-Joshua's Death and Character.

IMMEDIATELY after the death of Moses, 1451 A. C., Joshua, his successor, assumed the command of the Israelites, and at once made preparation to lead them over the river Jordan, and settle them in the land of Canaan. To encourage his heart in this arduous undertaking, the Almighty was pleased graciously to promise him his Divine assistance; saying unto him, "As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong, and of a good courage, for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses, my servant, commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right hand nor to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."

Under this assurance of assistance from the Almighty, Joshua ordered the captains of Israel to proclaim throughout the camp, that within three days they should pass the Jordan, to take possession of the land which God had