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# The second census.

# The second census.

The Amalekite battle was the first battle of the army of Israel, which of course was untested and consisted of soldiers who, a short while before, had been slaves. Moses sent these untested recruits, under the command of [[Joshua (Biblical leader)|Joshua]], against [[Amalek]]ite raiders who had been attacking the stragglers among the Israelites. To ensure victory, Moses stood on a high hill and held up his rod. When he could not hold up his rod indefinitely, Aaron and Hur stood to either side of him, and each man held up one of Moses' arms. Thus Moses kept his rod held high, and the Israelites won.

The Amalekite battle was the first battle of the army of Israel, which of course was untested and consisted of soldiers who, a short while before, had been slaves. Moses sent these untested recruits, under the command of [[Joshua (Biblical leader)|Joshua]], against Amalekite raiders who had been attacking the stragglers among the Israelites. To ensure victory, Moses stood on a high hill and held up his rod. When he could not hold up his rod indefinitely, Aaron and Hur stood to either side of him, and each man held up one of Moses' arms. Thus Moses kept his rod held high, and the Israelites won.

The [[Golden Calf]] incident was the low point of the wilderness journey, lower even than the [[Korah]] Mutiny or the bad report of the spies. When [[God]] had finished dictating to Moses the Ten Commandments and the instructions for the [[Tabernacle]], He then told Moses to descend immediately, because the people had "corrupted themselves." God then said that he would make a new nation based on Moses. Moses begged God not to do this, and even said that God should kill him, too, if He were so determined. Nevertheless, Moses was furious with the people and would ultimately execute three thousand of them in that episode. Because only the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] came to his aid when he called for it, the Levites, from that day to this, took exclusive possession of all sacerdotal duty and responsibility in [[Jew]]ish life.

The [[Golden Calf]] incident was the low point of the wilderness journey, lower even than the [[Korah]] Mutiny or the bad report of the spies. When [[God]] had finished dictating to Moses the Ten Commandments and the instructions for the [[Tabernacle]], He then told Moses to descend immediately, because the people had "corrupted themselves." God then said that he would make a new nation based on Moses. Moses begged God not to do this, and even said that God should kill him, too, if He were so determined. Nevertheless, Moses was furious with the people and would ultimately execute three thousand of them in that episode. Because only the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] came to his aid when he called for it, the Levites, from that day to this, took exclusive possession of all sacerdotal duty and responsibility in [[Jew]]ish life.