Page 151 - Bible History

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,. the pillars of the Tabernacle.
III. THE WANDERINGS OF THE ISRAELITES IN THE DESERT
1. THE ISR LITES DEPART F M MOUNT SINAI
For two years the cloud which guided the Israelites
­ hung over the Tabernacle. Moses took a f the
people at the command of God, and dividm into groups according to their tribes. There were, in all, 603,550, excluding children, the tribe of Levi and, seemingly also, women and strangers. After that time, the cloud lifted into the heavens as- a sign that the time of departure had come. It began to move slowly in the direction in which the Israelites were to travel.
The priests blew the silver trumpets as a signal to the people to pack up their tents. Aaron and his sons took down the Tabernacle for the march. They re­ moved the veil that hung before the Ark of the Cove­
·nant and covered the Ark with it. The carrying poles were put into the rings on the sides of the Ark, and two violet coverings were placed over the veil. The Table of Showbreads, the Seven-branched Candlestick, the Altar of Incense, and the Altar of Sacri ce were carefully and reverently covered and prepared to be carried on the shoulders of t evites. Six wagons were needed to carry the anging the planks, and
When all was ready, the march began. The Levites carried the Ark of the Covenant at the head of the
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