Reference: WANDERINGS OF THE ISRAELITES
American
See EXODUS. The following tabular view of their various encampments, so far as they are recorded in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, is from Dr. Robinson's Biblical Researches. The "great and terrible wilderness" between mount Sinai and Palestine is still known by the Arabs as Et-Tyh, or the Wanderings.
Morish
The Israelites were always directed by God as to their journeyings and when and where to pitch their tents. It was God who caused them to 'wander' because of their sin. Nu 32:13.
The accounts of the journeys of the children of Israel have not escaped the unwarrantable attacks to which many parts of scripture have been subjected. Though many of the places mentioned cannot now be identified, and therefore the actual path trodden cannot be traced, yet enough is recorded to show in the main what their route was, and to prove that the several records do not clash one with another. The passage quoted above speaks of the wanderings occupying forty years, yet it was after their first visit to Kadesh-barnea in the 2nd year that their real 'wanderings' began.
Travellers have visited the districts along which the Israelites are supposed to have travelled, and have not hesitated to say that the cattle and sheep of the Israelites could not possibly have found pasture or fodder on which to have lived.
We read that they brought out of Egypt 'flocks and herds,' and in Ex 12:38 "very much cattle" is mentioned. Before crossing the Jordan the two and a half tribes are described as having "a great multitude of cattle," but this was after the Midianites had been destroyed, and most of the cattle and sheep may have fallen to these tribes, the other tribes taking "the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead" with other spoils.
The Israelites were forbidden to graze their flocks and herds "before the mount." And this implies that there was pasture there for them; the Amalekites also dwelt there, and doubtless had cattle. Ex 17:8; 34:3. The actual state of the desert now is no proof of what it was then. It is well known that the Bedouins do not encourage cultivation, and they have destroyed the trees extensively in order to make charcoal, which they can always sell, and this decreases the fertility. A traveller records that "the gardens at the Wells of Moses, under the French and English agents from Suez, and the gardens in the valleys of Jebel Musa, under the care of the Greek monks of the Convent of St. Catherine" are proofs of the fertility of the ground under culture.
The barren state of the desert in general does not preclude the fact that parts of it are fertile. There are few parts of the Sinai Peninsula that do not show signs of vegetation. The numerous valleys of the Sinaitic group of mountains are full of shrubs and grass.
Much farther north, near Kadesh, the Amalekites and Canaanites were able to live in the mountain. Nu 14:40-45.
It is therefore useless and unbelieving to draw conclusions from the present aspect of the land through which the Israelites travelled. If they continued to have much cattle, God could as easily have provided for their cattle as have given them manna from heaven for themselves.
The first part of their journey from Egypt was from Rameses to the Red Sea. Rameses was on the east of the Nile, but some place it farther north than others. The western branch of the Red Sea doubtless then extended farther north than it does at present, and it cannot be ascertained at what point the sea was crossed. The stations are
Ex. 12. Num. 33.
Rameses, Ex 12:37. | Rameses, Nu 33:3.
Succoth, Ex 12:37. | Succoth, Nu 33:5.
Etham, Ex 13:20. | Etham, Nu 33:6.
Pi-hahiroth, Ex 14:2. | Pi-hahiroth, Nu 33:7.
Passage through the Red Sea, | Passage through the Red Sea
Ex 14:22, and three days' march | and three days' march in the
into the desert of Shur, Ex 15:22 | desert of Etham, Nu 33:8.
It will be noticed that in Numbers, Etham is mentioned on both sides of the Red Sea. The word has been interpreted 'boundary of the sea' (a meaning which F?rst thinks doubtful, but gives no other): if so, it might apply to either side. The desert of Etham may have swept round the end of the Gulf of Suez, as in some maps.
The second part of their journey was from the Red Sea to Mount Sinai, on the east side of the Gulf of Suez. The wilderness of Sin, Mount Sinai, and Horeb are in the main identified. The stations are
Marah Ex 15:23. | Marah, Nu 33:8.
Elim, Ex 15:27. | Elim, Nu 33:9.
| Encampment by the Red Sea,
| Nu 33:10.
Desert of Sin, Ex 16:1. | Desert of Sin, Nu 33:11.
| Dophkah, Nu 33:12.
| Alush. Nu 33:13.
Rephidim, Ex 17:1. | Rephidim, Nu 33:14.
Desert of Sinai, Ex 19:1, in the | Desert of Sinai, Nu 33:15.
third month of the first year. |
In the wilderness of Sinai the Israelites remained until the second month of the second year, during which period the law was given. Nu 10:11; 33:16.
The third part of their journey was from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, some eighty miles farther north. In this journey only three intermediate stations are mentioned.
Taberah, Nu 11:3; De 9:22 |
Kibroth-hattaavah, Nu 11:34. | Kibroth-hattaavah, Nu 33:16.
Hazeroth, Nu 11:35. | Hazeroth, Nu 33:17.
Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran | Rithmah, Nu 33:18.
Num., 12:16; Num.13:1-26. |
At Taberah the fire of the Lord burnt among them. At Kibroth-hattaavah the people lusted for flesh: quails were given them, and then God sent upon them a very great plague. Nu 11:4,31-34. At Hazeroth Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, and Miriam was smitten with leprosy. Nu 12:10. The above shows that Kadesh is in the same locality as Rithmah, from whence the spies were despatched. The spies are not mentioned in Num. 33.
There was a prolonged stay at Kadesh or Rithmah in the wilderness of Paran. The return of the spies was waited for. The rebellion broke out on the report of the faithless spies, and God sware they should not enter the land, but should wander in the wilderness that all the men who came out of Egypt might die except Caleb and Joshua. In defiance of this they invaded the land, and were attacked by the Amalekites. Nu 14:33-45. Then followed the rebellion of Korah. Num. 16.
Apparently the Israelites spent about thirty-seven years in travelling three times between Kadesh and Ezion-gaber, at the corner of the Gulf of Akaba, but many of the stations cannot be identified; some may have been situated farther to the west. It is not, however, recorded how long they remained at the various places, and it is possible that some of them are not included in the lists.
By comparing Nu 20:22-29 with De 10:6 it will be seen that Mosera and Mount Hor are regarded as the same place, Mosera, or Moseroth, being situated at the foot of Mount Hor. Mosera is therefore a recognised place to which they travelled when the real 'wanderings' began. They removed from Kadesh, or Rithmah, to Rimmon-parez, and then to other stations till they arrived at Mosera, or Mount Hor, the first time, though it seems but a short distance. Nu 33:19-30.
From Mosera they travelled southward to Ezion-gaber, there being four stations between. Nu 33:31-35.
From Ezion-gaber they turned and travelled northward again and arrived at Kadesh or Kadesh-barnea a second time, no stations being mentioned between those two distant places. At Kadesh Miriam died. The people murmured, and the rock was smitten, on which occasion Moses and Aaron offended. Nu 20:1-13.
From Kadesh they travelled to Mount Hor, without any station being mentioned between them, unless Beeroth in De 10:6 comes in here. At Mount Hor Aaron died and was buried. Nu 33:37-38. They were attacked by King Arad the Canaanite, who was defeated and his cities destroyed. Nu 21:1-3.
The King of Edom having refused to let the Israelites pass through his land necessitated their journeying again to the Red Sea in order to compass the land of Edom (perhaps passing Gudgodah and Jotbath, De 10:7, in the route). Nu 20:14-21; 21:4. From the Red Sea their route is plainly on the east of Edom and the Salt Sea until they arrived opposite Jericho, where their wanderings ended.
From Mount Hor by the way of the | By Elath and Ezion-gaber, De 2:8.
Red Sea, Nu 21:4. |
| Zalmonah, Nu 33:41.
| Punon, Nu 33:42.
Oboth. Nu 21:10. | Oboth, Nu 33:43.
Ije-abarim, Nu 21:11. | Ije-abarim, or Iim, Nu 33:44-45.
De 2:13-14. |
De 2:24. |
| Dibon-gad, Nu 33:45,
Beer, in the desert, Nu 21:1
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then did the sons of Israel break up from Rameses, towards Succoth, - about six hundred thousand foot of men grown, besides little ones.
Then did the sons of Israel break up from Rameses, towards Succoth, - about six hundred thousand foot of men grown, besides little ones. Moreover also, a mixed multitude, came up with them, - flocks also, and herds, exceeding much cattle,
And they brake up from Succoth, - and encamped in Etham, at the edge of the desert.
Speak unto the sons of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, - before Baal-zephon, over against it, shall ye encamp, by the sea.
And Moses caused Israel to break up from the Red Sea, and they went out into the desert of Shur, - and journeyed three days in the desert and found no water; and, when they came in towards Marah they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter, - for this taut, was the name thereof called Marah.
Then came they in to Elim, and there, were twelve fountains of water and seventy palm-trees, - so they encamped there, by the waters.
Then moved they on from Elim, and all the assembly of the sons of Israel entered into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month, by their coming forth out of the land of Egypt.
And all the assembly of the sons of Israel set forward out of the desert of Sin, by their removings, at the bidding of Yahweh, - and encamped in Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink.
Then came in Amalek, - and fought with Israel, in Rephidim.
In the third month, by the coming forth of the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, on this day, came they into the desert of Sinai:
and, no man, may come up with thee, and let no man so much as be seen in all the mount, - and let not even the flocks or the herds, feed in front of that mountain.
And so it came to pass in the second year, in the second month on the twentieth of the month, that the cloud lifted itself up, from off the habitation of the testimony;
So he called the name of that place, Taberah because there burned among them the fire of Yahweh. Moreover the mixed multitude that was in their midst concealed not their lusting, - and so even the sons of Israel, fell away and wept, and said: Who will grant us to eat flesh?
Now, a wind, had sprung up, from Yahweh, and cut off quails from the sea, and let them lie over the camp - as it were a days journey here and a days journey there, round about the amp, - and as it were two cubits on the face of the land. And the people rose up all that day and all the night and all the next day, and gathered the quails, he that did least, gathered ten homers, - and they spread them out for themselves spreading away, round about the camp. read more. The flesh, was yet between their teeth, not yet chewed, - when the anger of Yahweh, had kindled upon the people, and Yahweh smote the people, with an exceeding great plague. And the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah - because there, they buried the people who had lusted,
And the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah - because there, they buried the people who had lusted, From Kibroth-hattaavah, the people set forward to Hazeroth, - and they remained in Hazeroth.
And, when, the cloud, removed from off the tent, - lo! Miriam, leprous, like snow! And Aaron turned unto Miriam and lo! -- leprous!
and your sons, shall be shepherds in the desert forty years, and shall bear your unchastities, - until your dead bodies are consumed in the desert. By the number of the days wherein ye spied out the land - forty days, each day for a year, shall they bear your iniquities - forty years, - so shall ye know my opposition. read more. I - Yahweh, have spoken, Verily this, will I do to all this evil assembly, who have conspired against me, - In this desert, shall they be consumed And there, shall they die. Now as for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, - who returned and caused all the assembly to murmur against him by giving out rumour against the land, they died - the men who gave out an evil rumor of the land, - by the plague, before Yahweh. But, Joshua son of Nun, and Caleb son of Jephunneh! remained alive - of those men who went to spy out the land. And Moses spake these words unto all the sons of Israel, and the people were greatly depressed. So they arose early in the morning, and went up into the top of the mountain, saying, - We are here - therefore will we go up into the place as to which Yahweh hath said that we have sinned.
So they arose early in the morning, and went up into the top of the mountain, saying, - We are here - therefore will we go up into the place as to which Yahweh hath said that we have sinned. But Moses said, Wherefore is it that, ye, are going beyond the bidding of Yahweh, - since that cannot prosper?
But Moses said, Wherefore is it that, ye, are going beyond the bidding of Yahweh, - since that cannot prosper? Do not go up, For Yahweh is not in your midst, - Lest ye be smitten down before your enemies.
Do not go up, For Yahweh is not in your midst, - Lest ye be smitten down before your enemies. For, the Amalekites and the Canaanites, are there before you, So shall ye fall by the sword, - For inasmuch as ye have turned back from following Yahweh, Therefore will Yahweh not be with you.
For, the Amalekites and the Canaanites, are there before you, So shall ye fall by the sword, - For inasmuch as ye have turned back from following Yahweh, Therefore will Yahweh not be with you. But they presumptuously ascended into the top of the mountain, - though, neither, the ark of the covenant of Yahweh nor Mosses moved out of the midst of the camp.
But they presumptuously ascended into the top of the mountain, - though, neither, the ark of the covenant of Yahweh nor Mosses moved out of the midst of the camp. So ten the Amalekites and the Canaanites, that dwelt in that mountain, came down, - and smote them and routed them even unto Hormah.
So ten the Amalekites and the Canaanites, that dwelt in that mountain, came down, - and smote them and routed them even unto Hormah.
Then came the sons of Israel the whole assembly, into the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people dwelt in Kadesh, - and Miriam died there, and was buried there. And there was no water for the assembly, - so they gathered together against Moses and against Aaron. read more. And the people contended with Moses, - and spake saying, Would then we had died a when our brethren died, before Yahweh! Wherefore then hast thou brought the convocation of Yahweh into this desert, - to die there, we, and our cattle? And wherefore did ye cause us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? - not a place of seeds, and figs, and vines and pomegranates, even water, is there none to drink. And Moses and Aaron went in from the presence of the multitude unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces, - and the glory of Yahweh appeared unto them.
Take the staff and gather together the assembly, thou, and Aaron thy brother, then shall ye speak unto the cliff before their eyes and it shall give forth it waters, - so shalt thou bring forth unto them water, out of the cliff, and shalt cause the assembly, and their cattle to drink. And Moses took the staff from before Yahweh, - as he commanded him. read more. And Moses and Aaron gathered together the convocation before the cliff, - and he said unto them: Hear I pray you ye rebels! Out of this cliff, must we bring forth for you water? And Moses lifted high his hand and smote the cliff with his staff, twice, - and there came forth water in abundance, and the assembly and their cattle, did drink. Then said Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to hallow me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore, shall ye not bring in this convocation into the land which I have given unto them. The same, were the waters of Meribah that is "Contention"in that the sons of Israel contended with Yahweh, - and so he hallowed himself among them. And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh, unto the king of Edom, - Thus, saith thy brother Israel, Thou thyself, knowest all the distress which befell us; and how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we abode in Egypt, many days, rod that the Egyptians ill-treated us, and our fathers; and we made outcry unto Yahweh, and he heard our voice, and sent a messenger, and brought us forth out of Egypt, - lo! then, we, are in Kadesh, a city at the extremity of thy boundary, Let us, we pray thee, pass through thy land - we will not pass through field or vineyard, nor will we drink the waters of a well, - by the kings road, will we go - we will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left, until we get through thy boundary. And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through my land, - lest with the sword, I come out to meet thee. And the sons of Israel said unto him - By the highway, will we go up, and if thy waters, we should drink - I, and my cattle then would I give the price thereof, - only - it is nothing! - with my feet, would I pass through. And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out to meet him, with a strong people, and with a firm hand. Thus did Edom refuse to give Israel passage through his boundary, - and Israel turned away from him. Then set they forward from Kadesh, - and the sons of Israel. all the assembly, came in to Mount Hor. Then spake Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron in Mount Hor, - near the boundary of the land of Edom saying: Aaron shall be withdrawn unto his kinsfolk, fur he shall not enter into the land. which I have given unto the sons of Israel, - because ye spurned my bidding, at the waters of Meribah. Take thou Aaron, and Eleazar his son, - and bring them up Mount Hor; and strip thou Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son, - and, Aaron, shall be withdrawn and shall lie there. And Moses did as Yahweh commanded, - and they went up into, Mount Hor, in sight of all the assembly. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son, and Aaron died there, in the top of the mount, - and Moses and Eleazar came down out of the mount. And all the assembly saw that Aaron was dead; and they bewailed Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
And the Canaanite, the king of Arad who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel had entered by the way of Atharim, - so he made war with Israel, and took some of them captive. Then Israel vowed vow unto Yahweh, and said, - If thou wilt, surely deliver up, this people into my band, then will I utterly destroy their cities. read more. And Yahweh hearkened unto the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanite into his hand, so he utterly destroyed them, and their cities, and called the name of the place Hormah that is, Utter Destruction. Then brake they up from Mount Hor, by way of the Red Sea, to go round the land of Edom, - and the soul of the people became impatient because of the way,
Then brake they up from Mount Hor, by way of the Red Sea, to go round the land of Edom, - and the soul of the people became impatient because of the way,
And the sons of Israel brake up, - and encamped in Oboth. And they brake up from Oboth, - and encamped in Ije-Abarim, in the desert which is over against Moab, towards the rising of the sun. read more. From thence, brake they up, - and encamped in the ravine of Zered. From thence, brake they up, and encamped on the other side of Arnon which is in the desert, that cometh forth out of the boundary of the Amorites, - for, Arnon, is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
And from thence, towards Beer, - the same, is the well whereof Yahweh said unto Moses, Gather together the people, that I may give them water.
A well! - princes digged it, Nobles of the people, delved it, With a sceptre, With their staves. And, from the desert, to Mattanah;
A well! - princes digged it, Nobles of the people, delved it, With a sceptre, With their staves. And, from the desert, to Mattanah; and from Mattanah, to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel, to Bamoth;
and from Mattanah, to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel, to Bamoth; and, from Bamoth of the valley, which is in the field-country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, - which over-looketh Jeshimon.
Then did the sons of Israel break up, - and encamp in the waste plains of Moab, on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho.
So the anger of Yahweh kindled upon Israel, and he made them wander in the desert, forty years, - until all the generation who had done the evil in the eyes of Yahweh, had wasted away!
So then they brake up from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month, on the morrow of the passover, came forth the sons of Israel with an uplifted hand, in the sight of all the Egyptians;
Thus then the sons of Israel brake up from Rameses, - and encamped in Succoth. And they brake up from Succoth, - and encamped in Etham, which is at the edge of the desert. read more. And they brake up from Etham, and turned upon Pi-hahiroth, which is over against Baal-zephon, - and encamped before Migdol. And they brake up from before Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea towards the desert, - and went their way a journey of three days in the desert of Etham, and encamped in Marah.
And they brake up from before Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea towards the desert, - and went their way a journey of three days in the desert of Etham, and encamped in Marah. And they brake up from Marah, and came in towards Elim; there being, in Elim, twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm-tree, so they encamped there. read more. And they brake up from Elim, - and encamped by the Red Sea. And they brake up from the Red Sea, - and encamped in the desert of Sin. And they brake up from the desert of Sin, - and encamped in Dophkah. And they brake up from Dophkah, - and encamped in Alush. And they brake up from Alush, - and encamped in Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink. And they brake up from Rephidim, - and encamped in the desert of Sinai. And they brake up from the desert of Sinai, - and encamped in Kibroth-hattaavah.
And they brake up from the desert of Sinai, - and encamped in Kibroth-hattaavah. And they brake up from Kibroth-hattaavah, - and encamped in Hazeroth. read more. And they brake up from Hazeroth, - and encamped in Rithmah. And they brake up from Rithmah, - and encamped in Rimmon-perez. And they brake up from Rimmon-perez, - and encamped in Libnah. And they brake up from Libnah, - and encamped in Rissah. And they brake up from Rissah, - and encamped in Kehelathah. And they brake up from Kehelathah, - and encamped in Mount Shepher. And they brake up from Mount Shepher, - and encamped in Haradah. And they brake up from Haradah, - and encamped in Makheloth. And they brake up from Makheloth, - and encamped in Tahath. And they brake up from Tahath, - and encamped in Terah. And they brake up from Terah, - and encamped in Mithkah. And they brake up from Mithkah, - and encamped in Hashmonah. And they brake up from Hashmonah, - and encamped in Moseroth. And they brake up from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene-jaakan. And they brake up from Bene-jaakan, and encamped in Hor-haggidgad. And they brake up from Hor-haggidgad, - and encamped in Jotbathah, - And they brake up from Jotbathah, - and en-camped in Abronah. And they brake up from Abronah, - and encamped in Eziongeber.
And they brake, up from Kadesh, - and encamped in Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom; and Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor, at the bidding of Yahweh, and died there, in the fortieth year, by the coming forth of the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first of the month.
And, they brake up from Mount Hor, - and encamped in Zalmonah. And they brake up from Zalmonah, - and encamped in Punon. read more. And they brake up from Punon, and encamped in Oboth. And they brake up from Oboth, - and encamped in Iye-abarim, within the bounds of Moab. And they brake up from Iyim, - and encamped in Dibon-gad.
And they brake up from Iyim, - and encamped in Dibon-gad. And they brake up from Dibon-gad, and encamped in Almon-diblathaim. read more. And they brake up from Almon-diblathaim, - and encamped among the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. And they brake up from the mountains of Abarim, - and encamped in the waste plains of Moab, by Jordan neat Jericho.
So we passed on, a way from our brethren the sons of Esau who dwell in Seir, from the way of the waste plain, from Elath, and from Ezion-geber, - and we turned and passed on by way of the desert of Moab.
Now, arise, and pass ye over the ravine of Zered. So we passed over the ravine of Zered. Now, the days in which we journeyed from Kadesh-barnea, as far as where we crossed the ravine of Zered, were thirty-eight years, - until all the generation of the men of war were consumed out of the midst of the camp, as Yahweh had sworn unto them.
Arise ye, set forward and cross over the ravine of Arnon, see! I have given into thy hand - Sihon king of Heshbon, the Amorite and his land, begin - take possession, - and engage in strife with him in battle.
Also, at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hataavah, a cause of provocation, became ye unto Yahweh.
And, the sons of Israel, set forward out of Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah, - there, died Aaron and was buried there, and Eleazar his son became priest in his stead.
And, the sons of Israel, set forward out of Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah, - there, died Aaron and was buried there, and Eleazar his son became priest in his stead. From thence, set they forward unto the Gudgodah, - and from the Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of torrents of water.
For I wish not ye should be ignorant, brethren, that, all our fathers, were, under the cloud, and, all, passed through the sea, - And, all, immersed themselves into Moses, in the cloud, and in the sea; read more. And, all, did eat the samespiritual food, And, all, drank, the same spiritual drink, - for they continued to drink of the spiritual rock that followed them, and, the rock, was the Christ: - Nevertheless, with the most of them, God, was not well-pleased, for they were strewed along in the desert. But, in these things, they became, ensamples for us, to the end we should not be covetous of evil things, even as, they, also coveted; Neither become ye, idolaters, as some of them, - as it is written - The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to be making sport; Neither let us commit fornication, as, some of them, committed fornication, and there fell, in one day, three and twenty thousand; Neither let us be putting the Lord to the test, as, some of them, put him to the test, and, by the serpents, were perishing; Neither be ye murmuring, even, as some of them, murmured, and perished by the destroyer. But, these things, by way of type, were happening unto them, and were written with a view to our admonition, unto whom, the ends of the ages, have reached along. So that, he that thinketh he is standing, let him take heed lest he fall. Trial, hath not taken you, save such as man can bear; faithful, moreover is God, who will not suffer you to be tried above what ye are able, but will make, with the trial, also the way of escape, that ye may be able to hold out. Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry, -