12 
ISRAEL. 
1451 
B.C. 
“ Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel ?” 
He changes his place of sacrifice, again tries his incantation, and is struck with 
a still deeper sense of that irresistible power which must defy alike sorcery and arms. 
“ The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. . . . Surely 
there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel . . . 
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift himself up as a young lion: he 
shall not lie down till he eat of the prey, and drink of the blood of the slain.” 
At evening he makes a third attempt to blaspheme; but the host are now encamped, 
and the beauty of the sight fills his lips with a strain of pastoral and lovely imagery. 
“ How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 
“ As the valleys are they spread forth as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of 
lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar-trees beside the waters.” 
But the evil spirit within the soothsayer is at length totally vanquished; he abandons 
the work of magic, sees in futurity an intellectual Star, which eclipses all the rising 
splendours of the skies, and bursts out into uncontrollable and triumphant prediction. 
“ He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most 
High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open. 
“ I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh; there shall come a 
Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of 
Moab, and destroy all the children of Shetli. 
“ And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies ; and 
Israel shall do valiantly. 
“ Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion.” J 
The entrance into Canaan bore the same character of Divine royalty. On reaching 
the banks of the Jordan, the people found an obstacle which they possessed no human 
means of surmounting, a river in a state of inundation, spreading beyond its usual channel, 
a deep and rapid torrent. The order of march was now changed, and the tabernacle 
remained no longer in the centre of the tribes; God was their chieftain, and He led the 
way. The tabernacle was borne to the front, the host followed. As the foot of the priest 
touched the river, it shrank before him, and, by a new miracle, as in the passage of the 
Red Sea, the whole host marched over dry-shod and established their camp on the enemy’s 
shore. Their first conquest was alike by miracle. As God had shown himself the 
guide, He showed himself the conqueror. 2 Jericho, the first city on them march, w r as 
made his exclusive conquest: it was forbidden to be assailed by arms; the ark was carried 
round it, the priests blew their trumpets, and the battlements fell; the trophy alone of the 
irresistible Lord who led the armies of Israel. 
From this period the history assumes more distinctly the form of civil government, and, 
until the building of the Temple, then distant 447 years, exhibits alternately the Divine 
1 Numbers, xxiv. 
2 Joshua, vi. 
