Should any, moreover, feel any difficulty about the amount of gold indicated, he should

acquaint himself with the statements of archaeologist and historian. "The rich frequently

had ornamental works, statues, and furniture of solid gold. Diodoros mentions a golden

statue at Babylon, forty feet high, weighing one thousand Babylonian talents", and a list

is given of other similar effigies "making a total of at least 690 talents, reckoned equal to

L11,000,000 sterling". Thus Wilkinson in Ancient Egyptians.

Not only did Israel turn back in heart to the leeks and the fish which they did eat in

Egypt, thy also turned to their gods--yes, even after the majesty of Sinai and the

meditation of Moses. The lapse of forty days was a test, and under that test Israel failed.

The number forty is often associated with a test. How wonderfully the Lord Jesus

entered into Israel's position, triumphing where they failed. He, too, waited for forty

days; He, too, was tempted to worship Satan, but He gloriously triumphed, giving glory

to God and honouring His Word. The spies searched the land of Canaan forty days, and

again Israel failed, and for forty years wandered in the wilderness.

There is a sad parallel with Exod. 32: even to-day. The great Mediator has

ascended, the time seems long; ministers appointed by God yield to the pressure of the

people; they effect a compromise: "gods" and "the Lord" are brought together, and the

One Who accomplished their redemption is slighted.

The outcome of this awful departure from the covenant of God we must consider in

our next paper. Meanwhile, let us not miss the solemn lessons that everywhere are

apparent in this chapter, for in the scriptures written to us and about us is the warning

concerning "heaping to themselves teachers", and "a form of godliness, but denying the

power thereof". The added word," From such turn away", is, in measure, an echo of

Exod. 32: 26, where Moses stood in the gate of the camp and cried: "Who is on the

Lord's side? Let him come unto me."