364 
fear of the jealous king,, as we have already seen, and evoked 
the most energetic efforts for repression. With what result . 
The inspired historian is most explicit : — “ But the more, they 
afflicted* them, the more they multiplied and grew 33 (Exod. i.E). 
Still the conflict went on, man against God; dread ol the 
rapidly swarming alien population caused new measures ol 
cruel repressive policy ; but with the same result, “ the people 
multiplied, and waxed very mighty ” (i. 20). 
40. By-and-by, after the deliverance has been eflected, we 
find distinct and repeated recognition of the vastness of the 
population, not merely as an absolute fact (of which many 
examples have been adduced), but in relation to its increase 
from small beginnings ; which increase is always presented as 
a wonderful manifestation of Divine power. Thus Moses, 
when, recounting the history, he alludes to his having, at an 
early period in the sojourn, painfully felt the burden of so 
great a people, pauses a moment to make this reflection 
(Deut. i. 10) ; — Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and 
behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. 
In the same discourse he presently reminds them of the 
smallness of their origin (vii. 7 ),—' “Ye were the fewest of all 
peoples ; 33 and again, with a definiteness which strongly 
brings into prominence the marvellous augmentation ; 1 y 
fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons, 
and now, Jehovah thy God hath made thee as the stars of 
heaven for multitude” (x.’22). And yet. once more, the 
growth of one man into a nation , and this m tigypt, was 
ordained for solemn and set remembrance, when the land ol 
inheritance should be possessed. Let us examine the terms 
of this ordinance (Deut. xxvi. 1 — 11 ) And it shall be, 
when thou art come in unto the laud which Jehovah thy 
God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and 
dwellest therein, that thou shalt take of the first of all the 
fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that 
Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it m a basket 
and shalt go unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall 
choose to place his name there. And thou shalt go unto 
the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, 1 
profess this day unto Jehovah thy God, that I am come unto 
the country which Jehovah sware unto our fathers for to give 
• And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, 
ns.' Ana uie pncsu qxj.o.j. 1 . ~ — — _ _ . -< 
and set it down before the altar of Jehovah thy God And 
thou shalt speak and say before Jehovah thy God,. A Syrian 
ready to perish was my father ; and he went down into Egyp , 
and sojourned therewith a few, and became there a nation, 
great , mighty , and populous 
