livered to the prince of Judah; Ezra i. 8; so that they had then a prince of Judah. And these princes and rulers, who are often mentioned, managed their return and settlement afterwards.

It is true that after the Babylonish captivity,

they were not so free a people as before, being under the dominion of the Persians, Greeks, and Romans; but still they lived as a distinct people under their own laws. The authority of their rulers and elders subsisted under these foreign masters, as it had done even while they were in Egypt. It subsisted even in our Saviour's time; for we often read of the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the poeple.

But the sceptre was then departing, and in about forty years after it totally departed. Their city was taken; their temple was destroyed, and they themselves were either slain with the sword, or sold for slaves. And from that time to this, they have never formed one body, or society, but have been dispersed among all nations; their tribes and genealogies have been confounded; they have lived without a ruler, without a lawgiver, and without supreme authority and govern ment in any part of the earth. This is a captivity not for seventy years only; but for more than seventeen hundred.

We have now seen the fulfilment of the prophecy, so far as it relates to the sceptre not departing from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet. We have now to consider the subsequent parts, viz. Until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be,” or the obedience of the people.- Until Shiloh come," that is, until the coming of the Messiah, as almost all interpreters, both ancient and modern, agree. For howsoever they may explain the word, and whencesoever they may derive it, the Messiah is the person plainly intended. In the Samaritan text and version, it is Pacificus, the peace-maker, and this perhaps is the best explanation of the word. For to whom can this, or any similar title, be so justly applied as to the Messiah? who is emphatically stiled, the Prince of Peace ; and at whose birth was the proclamation of the heavenly host: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will towards men."

Two events are specified as forerunners of the sceptre's departing from Judah; the coming of the Messiah, and the gathering of the Gentiles to him; and these together point out with greater exactness, the precise time of the sceptre's departure. Now it is certain that before the destruction of Jerusalem, and the dissolution of the Jewish Commonwealth, by the Romans, the Messiah was

not only come, but great numbers likewise of the Gentiles were converted to him.

The very same thing was predicted by our Saviour himself: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come;" Matt. xxiv. 14; the destruction of Jerusalem, and end of the Jewish constitution. The Jews were not to be cut off, until the Gentiles were grafted into the Church. And in fact, we find the apostles and their companions preached the gospel, in all the parts of the world then known : "Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." Rom. x. 48. And then the end came; then an end was put to Jewish polity, in church and state,

The government of the tribe of Judah had subsisted, in some form or other, from the death of Jacob to the last destruction of Jerusalem; but then it was utterly broken and ruined; then the sceptre departed, and hath never been restored. And now, even the distinction of tribes is in a great measure lost among them; they are all called Jews, but the tribe of Judah is now so far from bearing rule, that they know not for certain which is the tribe of Judah; and all the world is witness that they exercise dominion no where, but every where live in subjection.

い

To conclude, this prophecy and the completion of it will furnish us with an invincible argument, not only that Messiah is come, but also that Jesus Christ is the person. For the sceptre was not to depart from Judah, until the Messiah should come; but the sceptre hath been long removed, consequently the Messiah hath been long come.

The sceptre departed at the final destruction of Jerusalem, and hath been departed seventeen centuries; and consequently the Messiah came a little before that period. Prejudice itself cannot long make any doubt concerning the person. All considerate men must say, as Simon Peter said to Jesus: "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. John vi. 68, 69,

Newton on the Prophecies.

CHAPTER XXII.

MOSES AND AARON.

IN chapter the 19th, we left Moses at the burning mountain; for the Lord descended upon it in fire; and all the people beheld the smoke which ascended, as the smoke of a furnace; and the whole mount quaked greatly; the people also heard the voice of God answering Moses, but Aaron only was permitted to accompany him on the mount. Then were delivered the law of the ten commandments, and those institutions of a civil and political nature, which regarded their social and national capacity; in which may be traced the justest and most comprehensive views of human nature; the noblest and most liberal ideas of legislation; the most perfect equity, and the profoundest sagacity.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: "Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.” And Moses was again called up unto the Lord, and with him Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and se