Doctrine of Life # 59
59. What we have said about the law’s promulgation, holiness and power in no. 55 above, may be found in the Word in the following passages:
That Jehovah descended onto Mount Sinai in fire, and that the mountain smoked and quaked then, and that there were thunderings, lightnings, a thick cloud, and the sound of a trumpet, see Exodus 19:16, 18, and Deuteronomy 4:11, 5:19-23.
That before Jehovah descended, the people readied themselves and sanctified themselves for three days, see Exodus 19:10-11, 15.
That bounds were set around the mountain to keep anyone from drawing near and approaching its base, on pain of death, and that not even the priests were to approach, but only Moses, see Exodus 19:12-13, 20-23, 24:1-2.
For the law promulgated from Mount Sinai, see Exodus 20:2-14, Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
That the law was written on two tablets of stone with the finger of God, see Exodus 31:18, 32:15-16, Deuteronomy 9:10.
That when Moses brought those tablets down from the mountain a second time, his face shone, see Exodus 34:29-35.
That the tablets were placed in the Ark, see Exodus 25:16, 40:20, Deuteronomy 10:5 and 1 Kings 8:9.
That on the Ark was set a mercy seat, and placed on this were cherubim of gold, see Exodus 25:17-21.
[2] That the Ark, together with the mercy seat and cherubim, constituted the inmost constituents of the Tabernacle, and that the golden lampstand, the golden altar of incense, and the table overlaid with gold which held the showbread constituted its outer constituents, and the ten curtains of linen, purple and scarlet its outmost constituents, see Exodus 25,26, 40:17-28.
That the place where the Ark was, was called the holy of holies or most holy place, see Exodus 26:33.
That the Israelite people all camped in order by tribes about the place where it resided, and set out in order after it, see Numbers 2.
That a cloud then stood over its abode by day, and fire by night, see Exodus 40:38, Numbers 9:15-16, 14:14, and Deuteronomy 1:33.
That the Lord spoke with Moses from above the Ark between the cherubim, see Exodus 25:22 and Numbers 7:89.
That because of the law it contained, the Ark was called the abode of Jehovah, for whenever the Ark set out Moses said, “Rise up, O Jehovah!” and when it rested, “Return, O Jehovah!” see Numbers 10:35-36, and also 2 Samuel 6:2, Psalms 132:7-8.
That because of the holiness of that law, Aaron was permitted to enter within the veil only with sacrifices and incense, see Leviticus 16:2-14ff.
That David brought the Ark into Zion with sacrifices and jubilation, see 2 Samuel 6:1-19. That Uzzah later died because he touched it, see verses 6 and 7 in that same chapter.
That the Ark was placed in the midst of the Temple in Jerusalem, where it constituted its inner sanctuary, see 1 Kings 6:19ff., 8:3-9.
[3] That because of the Lord’s presence and power in the law contained in the Ark, the Jordan’s waters were parted, and as long as the Ark rested in the midst of it, the people crossed over on dry ground, see Joshua 3:1-17, 4:5-20.
That the Ark’s being carried around caused the walls of Jericho to fall, see Joshua 6:1-20.
That Dagon, the Philistine god, fell down before the Ark, and after that lay at the threshold of the shrine with its head broken off, see 1 Samuel 5:1-4.
That because of the Ark many thousands of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh were struck, see 1 Samuel 6:19.
Exodus 18
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Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.
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Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,
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and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land".
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The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword."
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Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.
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He said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her."
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Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.
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Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them.
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Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
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Jethro said, "Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
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Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them."
12
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.
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It happened on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.
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When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?"
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Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
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When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."
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Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.
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You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.
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Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.
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You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.
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Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
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Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.
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If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace."
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So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
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Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
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They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
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Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
