286 THE KING'S MIRROR 



mass of the people sinned grievously and even fell into 

 whoredom, cohabiting with women of the heathen race. 

 But so strictly had God forbidden this, that everyone 

 who fell into that sin was held worthy of death. Then 

 God said to Moses: "Now shalt thou cease speaking 

 with Me that My wrath may have time to wax hot 

 against this people which I gave into thy charge. For 

 they have fallen into such grievous sins against My 

 commandments that I intend to consume them all in 

 My fierce wrath; and I will give thee another people, 

 far better and stronger and more numerous than this 

 one." At this point it would almost seem as if a definite 

 sentence had been passed in the case of this nation. 

 Moses, however, asked permission to intercede briefly 

 in behalf of the people of Israel and, this being granted, 

 he spoke these words. " I pray Thee, O Lord, to turn 

 from Thy wrath and do not destroy Thy people, though 

 they have done ill. Let not the Egyptians have this to 

 say, that Thou didst lead Thy people out of Egypt and 

 out of their dominion to consume them in the moun- 

 tains and the desert; or that Thou wert unable to lead 

 Thy people into the land which Thou hadst promised 

 them from the beginning. Remember, O Lord, Thy serv- 

 ants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and do not destroy 

 the generations that have sprung from Israel's kin 

 which Thou hast Thyself promised to multiply upon 

 earth and to lead securely into the land that is now 

 controlled by Thine enemies." * God heard the prayer 

 of Moses; His wrath was appeased, and He did not slay 

 the people as He had threatened; but He gave their 



* Exodus, xxxii, 7-14. 



