THE BLASPHEMER BROUGHT BEFORE

MOSES.

It happened that while the Almighty was communicating to Moses his will concerning the daily services of the tabernacle, "the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; and the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and they brought him unto Moses." The father of this man, though an Egyptian, was evidently a proselyte, and had no doubt accompanied the host of Israel in their flight from the tyranny of Pharaoh; his son was therefore admitted to the privileges of the Jewish covenant. It is supposed that an altercation took place between him and some other Jew upon his right, as the offspring of an Egyptian father, to number himself among any of their tribes, and being defeated by his adversary he blasphemed God in his anger. The man was immediately brought before Moses, as the supreme judge: for the law not having yet declared any specific punishment against blasphemy, the lesser courts did not know how to deal with the criminal. Moses immediately ordered him into confinement, until it should be known what punishment would be awarded to an offence so aggravated. The Almighty, when consulted by the Jewish lawgiver, commanded that the offender should be taken without the camp and stoned to death. From this time lapidation became the punishment of blasphemy. In the picture Moses is seated in the presidential chair, with his left hand upon the tables of the law, and in his right the mystical rod, at once the ensign of his office and the symbol of his delegated power. Beyond the stone tablets stands Aaron, and behind him Hur, the supposed husband of Miriam, a person high in the confidence of the Hebrew legislator. The blasphemer is forced into the sacred presence by two armed Israelites.

MIRIAM SMITTEN WITH LEPROSY.

*

SHORTLY after the plague which had taken place, in consequence of the Israelites rejecting the manna so miraculously provided for them by a merciful Providence and demanding flesh, Aaron and Miriam "spoke against Moses," whilst they were encamped at Hazeroth; at which God's anger was kindled and he summoned the three to repair to the tabernacle of the congregation. They immediately obeyed the summons, when the Shechinah appeared in the door of the tabernacle before which they stood; and here the Deity exhibited his displeasure by a most fearful visitation. "And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous." This awful infliction, however, was removed at the intercession of Moses, who "cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee," and after seven days' exclusion from the camp-among the Jews the ordinary period of purification from personal defilement- she was restored to her family healthy and unblemished. The illustration represents the door of the tabernacle, in the centre of which Moses stands, partially enveloped by that divine irradiation through which the heavenly oracle was always pronounced. He has with him the rod which had been the vehicle of so many miracles and was, in his hand, a consecrated instrument of divine benefaction. At a short distance from the entrance of the sanctuary stands Aaron, supporting in his arm the unhappy Miriam, upon whom the divine visitation had just fallen. The eyes of the high priest are directed towards Moses, supplicating his interposition with the Deity to remove the curse of leprosy from their guilty but penitent sister, whose look of agony indicates the dreadful nature of the plague with which she is visited.