The people, with the exception of one small sect, never worshipped Adoni.

For the purpose of this inquiry, it is convenient to construct an ideal map of a space which, for want of a proper name, may be called Palestina Magna, comprising Palestine proper, Philistia, and Edom or Idumea, from the Mediterranean and the frontier of Egypt westward to the Euphrates eastward, and from the northern frontier of the Hittites to the Elanitic Gulf, including Phoenicia, Hamath, Damascus, Gilead, Moab, and Nabathea.

In this map, intersecting Palestine proper, and trenching northward on mount Ephraim and southward on the mountains of Judah, and occupied to a great extent, but not entirely, by the Bene Yamin, is the region which we have designated the sacerdotal land of Adonism; not that this was entirely peopled by Adonians, but that in it, almost exclusively, the Adonian cult prevailed to any appreciable extent.

We propose to apply the designations, Aborigines and Indigines to the peoples of Palestina Magna, not as indicating that they were the earliest inhabitants of these regions, but that they enjoyed these regions previously to the Hebrew settlements.

It was against these aborigines that the innocuous thunders and denunciations of the pentateuch were launched a thousand years or more after they were dead.

Instead of exterminating them and overturning their cities and utterly destroying their altars and pillars, their high places and groves, in obedience to these posthumous commands, the Hebrews intermingled and became amalgamated with them; gave their daughters and took their sons in marriage, and participated in their worships and festivities on the mountains, the high hills and under every green tree; as well beyond Palestine its limits.

proper as within

ARTS, COMMERCE, INSTITUTIONS.-From what has been already said of the routes of the kafilahs, the caravans of commerce, from Arabia and Egypt through Philistia, the plain of Jezreel and Galilee to Phoenicia and Damuscus; a track followed also by the Pharaohs and Assyrians in their wars, it may be inferred that a greater advance had been made in the arts of peace and war in these regions than among the mountaineers; and that some progress had been made by the people residing in Shechem and the other towns along the road traversed by some of the eastern and western caravans.

But there is no evidence that the most favoured of these peoples

had made any considerable progress in the arts of luxury and taste.

According to the pentateuch, the Hebrews had resided upwards of 2 centuries in Egypt, and been occupied for a large portion of that time in labour among the monuments of that land. And, according to it, they in the wilderness exhibited great skill in various arts.

Adoni is described as giving them, through Moses, the most precise directions, with plans and patterns, for constructing a tabernacle for his personal residence; with an ark, a seat and ornamented canopy for his throne; and patterns, with specific directions, for the garments and decorations of his domestic priests; and minute instructions for the oil, and lighting of the lamps: exhibiting the tastes of a cloth weaver, an upholsterer, a lapidary and mantua maker, combined in fitting up a boudoir for himself.

And, according to this story, artists are found among them of exquisite skill in the execution of all these fancy works, even in engraving diamonds, and all manner of precious stones.

To summon the people to the festivals, and the armies to war, the priests are furnished with silver trumpets.

But all this imaginary talent and splendour vanished with that generation. Even before the death of Joshua it had almost entirely disappeared. We have already inquired after the sumptuous tabernacle and the gorgeous vestures of the priests. What had become of the silver trumpets? The procession of the ark was announced, and Jericho was summoned to its fall by the sound of (it must be supposed peculiarly sonorous) horns of rams. And it was with the rams' horns that the judges called the people to war. The silver trumpets as well as the sumptuous tabernacle seem to have been invented in an edition of the pentateuch produced after these exploits of Joshua had been performed.

It was, perhaps, to account for the total absence of all these arts and treasures, that the death of all that generation, before the invasion of Palestine, was decreed. But surely Joshua and Caleb would not have left the superb residence of Adoni and the silver trumpets behind. Some of the youths nearly 20 years old, on leaving Egypt, would as surely have learnt something of the arts which had flourished in Egypt and their own camp, and acquired a little of their parental skill.

Story.-The sentence of death on the generation.-Numbers xxxii. 10. And Adoni's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware saying,

Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from 20 years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: save Caleb Ben Jephunneh, the Kenezite, and Joshua Ben Nun; for they have wholly followed Adoni.

13. And Adoni's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness 40 years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of Adoni was consumed.

Tabernacle, &c.-Exodus xxv. 1. And Adoni spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the Bene Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; 3. Gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breast-plate.

8. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

9. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus xxv. 4-40, Numbers vii. 1-end, contain lists of offerings of treasures for the tabernacle and the altar, and an account of their completion.

Exodus xxv. 10. And they shall make an ark of shittim wood, two cubits and a half (3 ft. 9 in.) shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half (2 ft. 3 in.) the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half (2 ft. 3 in.) the height thereof.

11. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast 4 rings of gold for it and put them in the 4 corners thereof, and 2 rings shall be in the one side of it, and 2 rings in the other side of it.

13. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood and overlay them with gold.

14. And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.

16. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony that I shall give thee.

17. And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two and a half cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

18. And thou shalt make 2 cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the 2 ends of the mercy seat.

20. And the cherubins shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings.

21. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark: and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

22. And there will I meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the 2 cherubims.

Exodus xxv. 23-48. Adoni gives directions for making an ornate golden table for shewbread, and dishes, and spoons, and ornate branched candlesticks and bowls and other instruments for the tabernacle.

49. And look that thou make them after the pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Exodus xxvi. 1. Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with 10 curtains of fine-twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

2-37 (end) are occupied with minute directions from Adoni to Moses as to the dimensions, divisions, materials, ornamentation, even to the loops of each curtain of this sumptuous tent.

Exodus xxvii. 1-20 is occupied with similar minute directions of Adoni to Moses for the construction of an elaborate altar, with its ornaments and implements, and directions as to the tabernacle for its reception.

20. And thou shalt command the Bene Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

21. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before Adoni, it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on behalf of the Bene Israel.

Exodus xxxi. 1. And Adoni spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel Ben Uri Ben Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and I have filled him with the spirit of god, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass; and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6. And behold I have given with him Aholiab Ben Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; the tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle; and the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot; and the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, and the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place; according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

Numbers vii. 88. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.

89. And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony from between the 2 cherubims; and he spake unto him.

Numbers viii. 1. And Adoni spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the 7 lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

3. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as Adoni commanded Moses.

The Silver Trumpets.-Numbers x. 1. And Adoni spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee 2 trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them; that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

Verses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, give directions for the use of these trumpets in the march through the wilderness.

8. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

9. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before Adoni your god, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

10. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your god: I am Adoni your god.