University of Virginia Library

6. LETTER VI.
REMESES OF DAMASCUS TO KING SESOSTRIS.

The secret assembly of the elders, called by
Moses, met last night. It was in a solitary place, far
from any of the garrisons of soldiers. In the disguise of
a Hebrew, I also was present, standing by Aaron. It
was after midnight before all the elders could elude the
vigilance of their officers, and had assembled. The
well of Jacob, you recollect. It is where you had the
conversation with Remeses (now Moses), upon the condition
of the Hebrews. The Egyptian soldiers, who are
very superstitious, will not venture near this desolate
fountain by night; for the tradition is, that it leads to the
realms of the lower world, and that there are evil beings
who issue from it in the darkness, and drag under the
earth all who walk past it. The Hebrews have no such
superstition, or despised their fears on an occasion like
the present. Aaron, in selecting the spot, knew it
would be safe from intrusion on the part of the Egyptians.

It was a sublime spectacle to see no less than four

hundred and eighty elders of the Hebrews, forty out of
each tribe, met together beneath the aged palm-trees
that overshadowed the fountain, and where Jacob had
sat, with his sons about him, in peace, under the protecting
sceptre of the king of that day.

The moon shone here and there upon a silvery head,
while others were grouped in shadow. There was a
deep, expecting silence. At length Aaron stood up in
their midst, his venerable figure visible to all present,
as the pale moonlight fell upon him—

“Men and brethren, Hebrews of the house of Abraham
our father, hear, while I make known to you why
I have called this strange meeting—for when before has
Israel met in such an assembly! Your presence, your
readiness to come, your courage, and your success in
reaching here, all show to me the hand of God, and the
power of God.”

Aaron then gave a history of the origin of their nation,
of God's promise to Abraham, of his prophecy of
their bondage and deliverance, and his promise to give
them the land of the Canaanites. They listened with
deep attention, for he spoke with remarkable eloquence.
He then said, “The hour of our deliverance is at hand.
God has remembered His promise, and come down to
our deliverance.” Then, with thrilling power, the venerable
speaker described the scene at the burning bush
on Horeb, and, in conclusion, presented Moses, his
brother, to the elders. He was received with a murmur
of satisfaction; but some doubted. Others remembered
that he had been raised an Egyptian, and openly expressed
their fear that it was a plan to betray them into

a movement, that would give Pharaoh an excuse to
destroy them all.

“Let us see his miracles! If God sent him, let us see
his rod become a serpent before our faces,” said an
old man brutally and tauntingly.

Moses took the rod from the hand of his brother, and
said with sternness—

“Thou shalt see and believe!”

He then cast it upon the ground, when it not only
became a serpent, but its scales glittered like fire.
With fierce hissing it coiled itself about the form of the
doubter, and lifting its head above his own, darted it
every way with flashing eyes, so that there was a universal
cry of horror. The wretched old man fell to the
ground, the serpent uncoiled from his form, and Moses
taking it by the tail it became a rod again in his hand!

At this miracle, the whole assembly, save one man,
became convinced that Moses had been sent by God to
them. This one said—

“It is the magician's art! He hath been an Egyptian
priest, and knows their mysteries.”

Upon this, Moses said—

“Korah, I remember thee! I was educated as an
Egyptian, but I know none of their magic; and to show
thee that this is the power of God, thrust thy hand into
thy bosom!”

The man obeyed.

“Take it forth!” said Moses, in a tone of command

He did so and it was leprous as snow, and the moon
glared upon it, as upon the alabaster hand of a statue.
He uttered a cry of horror.

“Be not unbelieving,” said Moses. “Replace thy
hand in thy bosom.” He did so, and took it out
restored like the other. The man who had been entwined
by the serpent also rose to his feet, and both
acknowledged the power of God, and the authority of
Moses. He now made known to them that God had
sent him to demand their release from Pharaoh; and
that the king would at first refuse, but that after he had
seen the power of God he would yield and let them go
forth out of Egypt, to the good land promised to Abraham
for his seed, forever.

“Return now, elders and brethren,” he said to them,
like one who spake by authority to those who recognized
it, “return to your places of toil. Be quiet and
patient, and wait the hand of God. He will manifest
His glory and display His power in your behalf, as was
never done on earth before. Bear patiently your labors,
and do not doubt that the time of your deliverance is
at hand. Let all Israel know the glad tidings of God's
visitation, and that He has surely stretched out His arm
over Egypt, to break their yoke of bondage.”

This extraordinary assembly then separated, each man
to his place; and Moses and Aaron went to the house of
one Naashon, a Levite, whose sister had become
Aaron's wife many years before. Here I remained
until morning; but no eye closed in sleep, for many had
followed the brothers, and till dawn they were holding
discourse with their friends, on the wonderful things
about to happen.

Moses said he should go before Pharaoh the next day
but one, when he held public audience in the throne-room,

that great hall of Egyptian state, which, my dear
father you once described, and where you were presented
to Queen Amense, as she was seated upon the
same throne.

Farewell, my dear father. In three days I will write
you again.