Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839, by THOMAS H. GALLAUDET, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.

Right of publishing transferred to the American Tract Society.

PREFACE.

The filling up of Scripture-narrative with the details of graphical description, is a difficult and delicate task. And yet it is very necessary, especially for the young. They delight in particulars. They want, not merely the bold and striking outlines, but the specific objects, and enlivening colors and shades, of the picture.

In doing this, however, the writer should be continually on his guard. He needs, and should earnestly implore, the divine assistance. For he is in constant danger of being led by his fancy, to indulge in the embellishments of mere fiction and a poetical sentimentalism, both of which are entirely repugnant to the beautiful simplicity and truth of Scripture history.

The eventful life of Moses, and the wonderful scenes through which he passed, call peculiarly for this carefulness, in portraying them. The author hopes he has been enabled to maintain it. But of this his candid and intelligent readers will judge. Where he has considered

his account as not fully sustained by satisfactory information, derived from the comparison of one passage of Scripture with another, from the best expositors and critics; from the lights of history, geography, and Eastern customs and manners; and from the permanent features of verisimilitude which nature and the human character present at all times, and among all men; he has qualified his statements, and described them, as mere probabilities, suppositions, or conjectures.

Commending the work to the blessing of God, he only adds, what he is in duty bound to do, his grateful sense of the obligations which he is under to those whe have preceded him in elucidating this portion of sacred history, for the important aid which their writings on various topics have afforded him.

CONTENTS.-PART I.

PREFACE,

CHAP. 1.-The oppression of the Israelites in Egypt

by Pharaoh, and his cruelty towards them,

CHAP. 2.-Amram and Jochebed have a son; who,

after a concealment of three months, is left by his

mother on the brink of the river Nile,

CHAP. 3.-Moses is found by the daughter of Pharaoh,

and afterwards, as her adopted son, educated at

the court of Pharaoh,

He

CHAP. 4.-Moses leaves the court of Pharaoh.

puts an Egyptian to death,

CHAP. 5.-Moses flees from Egypt, and is hospitably

entertained by Jethro,

CHAP. 6.-Moses in Midian. He goes to Mount Horeb,

CHAP. 7.-God appears to Moses in the burning bush,

and makes known his intention of sending him

to Egypt,

CHAP. 8.-God directs Moses to go to Egypt with a

message to Pharaoh. Moses is reluctant to per-

form this duty,

CHAP. 9.-Moses is still reluctant. God provides Aaron

to assist him. He sets out for Egypt with his wife

and children,

CHAP. 10.-Aaron meets Moses. They go to Egypt.

The elders of the Israelites are informed of the

Divine message,

CHAP. 11.-Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel

appear before Pharaoh. He disregards their mes-

sage, and oppresses the Israelites more severely,

CHAP. 12.-The task-masters unjustly reproach Mo-

ses and Aaron. A new communication is made

to the Israelites,

CHAP. 13.-Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh.

Aaron's rod becomes a serpent. What the magi-

cians did, and the various opinions on the sub-

ject,

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CHAP. 14.-Pharaoh does not relent. Another mes-

sage is delivered to him. The waters of Egypt

are turned into blood,

CHAP. 15.-The plague of frogs.

hardened. The plague of lice,

CHAP. 16.-The plague of flies, of murrain, and of

boils and blains,

Pharaoh is more

CHAP. 20-The passover. The destruction of the

first-born of the Egyptians. Pharaoh urges the

Israelites to depart, which they do,

CHAP. 21.-Assembly of the Israelites at Rameses.

First day's march to Succoth. Etham. The pillar

of a cloud and of fire,

CHAP. 22.-The Israelites encamp between Migdol

and the sea. Pharaoh overtakes them,

CHAP. 23.-The Israelites pass through the Red Sea.

The destruction of the Egyptians,

CHAP. 24-The Song of Moses. Miriam. The Is-

raelites suffer from the want of water,

CHAP. 25.-Marah. Its bitter waters sweetened. Elim.

Encampment near the Red Sea,

CHAP. 26.-Wilderness of Sin. Murmurings of the

Israelites. Quails and manna sent,

CHAP. 27.-How the manna was to be gathered. The

Sabbath,

Page

CHAP. 17.-The plague of hail, and of locusts,

CHAP. 18.-The plague of darkness.-Pharaoh in a

rage orders Moses from his presence,

CHAP. 19.-What is meant by the Israelites borrowing

of the Egyptians. Of what the passover was a

type,

121

CHAP. 28.--The golden pot of manna, to be laid up

before the ark. Rephidim. The Rock in Horeb

smitten, and supplying water,

CHAP. 29.--Attack of the Amalekites. They are de-

feated in battle, while Moses prays on the hill-

top,

CHAP. 30.-Jethro comes to the camp of the Israelites,

with the wife and sons of Moses. By his advice

Moses appoints rulers over the people,

CHAP. 31.--Mount Sinai,

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