Sacred Biography and History; Containing Descriptions of Palestine, Ancient and Modern Lives of the Patriachs, Kings and Prophetschrist and the Apostlesmost Eminent Reformers, Luther, Melanethon. Calvin. &C, and Sketches of the Ruins of the Celebrated Cit (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1869. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. MOSES. The interval between the death of Joseph and the birth of Moses is set down by Dr. Hales at sixty-five years. The history of this period is given by the sacred writer in a very few words. He commences by enumerating, once more, the sons of Jacob, and then informs us that they and all the men of their generation died before the affliction of the Hebrews in Egypt commenced. Stephen appears to intimate (Acts, vii. 16) that they were all taken to be buried in the ground at Shechem, but whether immediately after death, or whether their bodies were kept, like that of Joseph, to be carried thither at a future day, we are not told. Meanwhile, a new king had arisen who "knew not Joseph;" and, as we read, the Israelites suffered from this monarch grievous and long-continued persecutions. The execution of the royal orders was therefore confided to men, "task-masters," who were charged with responsibilities which made them exact very strictly the services required. Thus "the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in. the field; all the service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor." It is not to be supposed that such a people as the Hebrews, and so numerous as they had now become, submitted very patiently to such measures as these, or that the coercion which was necessary to their execution was unattended with expense and difficulty. Finding this, and observing that the more the Israelites were oppressed the more they multiplied and spread, the king determined to take effectual measures to prevent their increase, and ultimately to insure their extinction. To this end orders were given to the midwives to destroy all the male ...