142 
But in rejecting Exod. xii. 37, we have much more to reject. In Exod. 
xxxviii. 25, 26, where every male, from twenty years old and upward, paid 
a half-shekel of redemption-money, which was employed in the erection of 
the Tabernacle, those who paid were 603,550. The silver paidm was 100 
talents and 1,775 shekels. Any one who wishes to see how exactly the sum 
of the money and the number of the persons correspond, will do well to 
consult Dr. A. Clarke in loco. On the supposition that only a few thousand 
persons came out of Egypt, we have to reject the statement that such a sum 
was paid by them in half-shekels, or was employed in the erection of the 
T elTd ernacle 
In his note on Exod. xii. 37, Dr. Kitto remarks: “ Dr. Boothroyd and 
others think there must be an error in the numbers. It might be so 
understood if it were an unconnected text ; but the reading here is supported 
by a whole series of distinct enumerations in Numbers, chap. i., the sum of 
which, exclusive of the tribe of Levi, amounts to 603,550. This was at the 
commencement of the second year from the Exodus, and exhibits a detailed 
coincidence which precludes the idea of corruption, whether accidental or 
wilful, in the present text, unless we are prepared to admit the corruption ot 
a whole series of numbers in the census of Numb. i., and also in that of 
Numb, xx vi.” ^ , 
In Numb xi. 21, we have Moses saying to God, The people among 
whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen, and thou hast said, I will 
give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the 
herds he slain for them to suffice them ? or shall all the fish of the sea he 
gathered together for them to suffice them ? And the Lord said unto Moses, 
Is the Lord’s hand waxed short 1 thou shalt see now whether my word shall 
come to pass unto thee or not.” Substitute a few thousand for the six 
hundred thoussand footmen of the text, and I submit, not only is the text 
itself rejected without reason, but what is sublime approaches the ridiculous. 
But it is not alone such passages as these in the Old Testament that we 
must impugn ; by such criticism, we are obliged to reject what is equally 
clear and definite in the New. In 1 Cor. x. 8, of those who were under 
the cloud and passed through the sea, the apostle Paul tells us, there fell in 
one day 23,000. The original text in this passage is agreed on afl hands to 
be genuine. In Numb. xxv. 9, however, 24,000 are said to have fallen. 
But this number is naturally regarded as embracing those who were slam by 
the command of God. Dr. Thornton advances no evidence against the 
genuineness of the Greek text in this place. He simply rejects it. Casting 
away the thousands (xiX.actc) he reduces Paul’s number to 23. On this 
method of dealing with the originals, I should like to know how. we can be 
certain of the genuineness of any passage from Genesis to Revelation. 
But the principle adopted in the paper will not alone affect the numbers 
of the Exodus, it will necessitate the rejection of much beside. In en. 
xlvi 3, God says to Jacob, “Fear not to go down into Egypt ; for I will 
there make of thee a great nation.” In Deut. xxvi. 5, we find the offering 
of first-fruits instituted to be a memorial of this increase. On presenting i 
