Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/228

 prophecy  of  Balaam  was  well  known,  and  during  the  hundreds  of  years which elapsed  before  our  Lord’s  Incarnation,  the  tradition  of  this  prophecy was  preserved,  and  there  existed  a living  expectation  of  the rising of  a wonderful  star,  and  at  the  same  time  of  a sceptre,  i.  e.  a king  who  should  spring  up  out  of  Israel. Therefore, the  three  kings from  the  east,  as  soon  as  they  had  seen  the  wonderful  star,  went  straight to  Judea,  to  look  for  Him,  the  new-born  king,  whose  birth  was  heralded by  the  star.

Do not  curse! Say to  yourselves:  “There  is a God,  who  cannot  be  mocked.”

HE hour had  come  at  last  when  Moses,  was  to  be  taken away from  his  people. Before he  died,  God  commanded  him to lay  his  hands upon  Josue,  in  the  presence  of  all  the  people,  so that  they  might  obey  him  as  their  ruler. For God  had  said  to Moses:  “Thou  shalt  not  pass  over  this  Jordan;  but  Josue  shall bring the  people  into  the  land  which  I swore  I would  give  to their  fathers.”

Then Moses  made  his  farewell  discourse  to  the  people  in  the most touching  manner: “Hear,  O ye  heavens,  the  things  I speak; let the  earth  give  ear  to  the  words  of  my  mouth. Hear, O Israel, the Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord. Thou shalt  love  the  Lord  thy God with  thy  whole  heart,  and  with  thy  whole  soul,  and  with thy whole  strength. Let none  be  found  among  you  that  consult soothsayers, or  observe  dreams  and  omens. These things  the Gentiles do;  but  thou  art  otherwise  instructed. The Lord  thy