Accordingly six days afterwards, with three of the most privileged of their number, who had already in the chamber of Jairus witnessed their Master’s power over death[362], He retired to one of the numerous mountain-ranges in the neighbourhood, not improbably one of the summits of Hermon[363]. From St Luke’s intimation that one object of His own withdrawal was that He might engage in solitary prayer (Lk. ix. 28), and that the three Apostles were wearied and oppressed by sleep (Lk. ix. 32), we infer that evening was the time of this retirement of the Holy One, the close, it may be, of a long day spent in going about doing good. While, then, they slept and He continued engaged in prayer, a marvellous change came over His person (Lk. ix. 29). His raiment suddenly became shining, _exceeding white as snow, the fashion_ also _of His countenance_ was altered, _and shone like the sun_ (Mtt. xvii. 2; Mk. ix. 3; Lk. ix. 29). Roused at length by the supernatural brightness around them, the Chosen Three awoke[364], and shaking off their slumbers, perceived not only the mysterious change that had come over their Master, but also that He was no longer alone! He was accompanied by _two men_, in whom they were enabled to recognize no others than the great pillars and representatives of the Old Testament dispensation, _Moses and Elias_. Nor did they only see their transfigured Lord attended by these strange visitants from the world of spirits, but they were privileged to overhear the subject of their mutual converse. _They spake of_, or described[365], _the decease He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem_ (Lk. ix. 31). Upon the ardent, impulsive Peter it was the scene itself, and not the topic of mysterious converse he overheard, that made the most impression. To him it seemed as though the kingdom of heaven was indeed “revealed in power.” In the excitement of the moment he would have made three tabernacles, one for his Lord, one for Moses, and one for Elias, in order that from thence the laws of the kingdom might be promulgated, and all men might recognise the true Messiah attended by the Pillars of the old Economy. But it was not to be. While he was yet speaking there came a cloud overshadowing them, and out of it there came a Voice, saying, _This is My Beloved Son, hear ye Him_. And then all was over. While the Apostles lay panic-stricken on their faces, their Master once more joined them, and bade them _rise and not be afraid_, and, as they descended from the Mount, He charged them to reveal to no man what they had seen, _till_ (again the mysterious words recurred) _He should have risen from the dead_ (Mtt. xvii. 9; Mk. ix. 9).