Page 9 - lesson12.vp

Lesson 12 Hope of Israel Ministries BIBLE Correspondence Course 9

LEAVENED BREAD SUCCEEDS that of the request to be allowed to go THREE DAYS
passover, and falls on the FIFTEENTH DAY of JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS in order
the month, and continues seven days, wherein to sacrifice is apparently unmeaning to one who
they feed on unleavened bread....So these does not know SINAI (Exodus iii.18, viii.27).
priests, upon the coming of their feast which is But the waterless journey of THREE DAYS to
called the Passover, when they slay their Wady Gharandel impresses itself on anyone who
sacrifices, FROM THE NINTH HOUR has to arrange for travelling. It is so essential a
[3:00pm] TO THE ELEVENTH [5:00pm]” feature of the road that this may well have been
(Josephus’ The Antiquities Of The Jews, Book known as the ‘THREE DAYS INTO THE
III, chapter 10, section 5; Book VI, chapter IX, WILDERNESS;’ in contrast to the road to
section 3). Aqaba, which is six or seven days in the
wilderness. To desire to go the ‘three days
Ancient Israel Forsakes Egypt journey in the wilderness’ was probably AN
EXPRESSION FOR GOING DOWN TO
1. Does the Feast of Unleavened Bread SINAI” (Researches in Sinai. E.P. Dutton &
continue for SEVEN DAYS? Compare Exodus company N.Y. 1906. P. 203).
12:15 with Exodus 34:18 and Numbers 28:17. Author Werner Keller adds to this by
See also Deuteronomy 16:3-4. saying: ...”It was along this road TO THE
COMMENT: The Feast of Unleavened MINES that Moses led his people. It begins at
Bread begins on the 15th of Abib. It continues Memphis, crosses the top of the Gulf, at what is
until the 21st of Abib. Both the 15th and the 21st now Suez, and then bends south along a
were especially happy “high” Sabbaths -- WATERLESS stretch of 45 miles, without a
ANNUAL HOLY CONVOCATIONS -- DAYS single oasis or spring....Fifteen miles farther on
OF REST. Seven is YEHOVAH’s special to the south, exactly a day’s march, lies Wadi
number signifying COMPLETION or PER- Gharande. A FINE OASIS with shady palms and
FECTION. YEHOVAH God wants His people PLENTY OF WATER-HOLES” (The Bible as
to come completely out of sin. History. William Morrow & company N.Y.
2. At what time did the Israelites finally 1981. Pp. 127-128).
get under way in their exodus from Egypt? In reality, this road to the MINES OF
Deuteronomy 16:1. SINAI also ran NORTH as far as the border-
COMMENT: They left from Rameses. crossing at Sile -- close to the city of Rameses.
The city is now to be identified with the Notes Sir Charles Marston -- “Sir Flinders Petrie
archaeological site which stretches out over the has suggested that ‘the three days’ journey into
territory to the north of the modern town of the wilderness’ was an expression used to denote
Fakus. the route to the TEMPLE OF SERABIT in the
3. Where was their first stop after leaving CENTRE of the Sinai Peninsula, where the then
Rameses? Exodus 12:37; Numbers 33:5. existing ceremonies and ritual OF THE
COMMENT: “Succoth” MEANS HEBREWS were observed” (The Bible Comes
“tents” or “camping shelters.” Alive. Eyre & Spottiswoode, London. 1937. P.
4. Where was this Succoth located? 64).
Notice Exodus 3:18 and Exodus 8:25-28. Under the 12th Dynasty pharaohs the
COMMENT: What did this phrase Israelites were also used as slave labor in the
“three days journey into the wilderness” mean -- turquoise and copper mines of the Sinai. It is not
and exactly WHAT DESTINATION did YE- conceivable that Moses and the escaping
HOVAH God have in mind for the Israelites? Israelites would have ignored their captive
Let Flinders Petrie explain: “The repeated brethren slaving in these mines. So Moses first

Days of Unleavened Bread -- Your Part in YEHOVAH’s Master Plan