After the Israelites had been away from Egypt quite a long time, they came into a dry, stony country called the Wilderness, where there were no springs of water and no rivers. They got very thirsty, but could find nothing anywhere to drink. This made them angry with their leader, Moses, so angry that they were going to stone him to death. But Moses asked God to help him, saying: “What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.” God told him to take his rod and strike a certain rock on Mount Horeb. Moses did so. At once a clear stream of water burst out of the rock, enough for all the people. [Illustration: STRIKING THE ROCK.] THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. When the Israelites came near Mount Sinai, God said that in three days from that time he would come down upon the mountain. But none of the people except Moses and Aaron were to touch the mountain. If they did, they would die. They could come up into the mountain and be with Him. God did as he promised. There was a thick cloud all about Him, and fire and smoke, and thunder and lightnings, so the people could not see him. And the mountain shook and the voice of God was heard like the sound of a trumpet, giving to them the Ten Commandments. And the people were afraid and drew back from the mountain. [Illustration: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.] BEZALEEL AND AHOLIAB. After God had given the Ten Commandments, Moses went up into the mountain and stayed with God forty days and forty nights. God told him that the Israelites must build Him a house to live in which should be called “The Tabernacle.” They must give gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, oils, spices, costly woods, jewels and other precious things, for this house. Bezaleel and Aholiab must build it, because He had made them wise. Moses told the people what God had said. They were so anxious to help that they brought more than God had asked for. And God’s beautiful house was soon made. [Illustration: BEZALEEL AND AHOLIAB.] THE BRAZEN SERPENT. Once, almost forty years after they made God’s House, the Israelites were very hungry and thirsty. They said hateful things about Moses and about God too, which was very wicked. So God sent fiery serpents to bite the people. The bite was poisonous, and many died. Then they knew this was because they had done wrong. They came to Moses and asked him to pray God to take the serpents away. Moses prayed. God told Moses to make a brass serpent and set it on a pole where all the people could see it. When Moses had done this he told the people to look. Every one who was bitten was made well as soon as he saw the brass serpent. [Illustration: THE BRAZEN SERPENT.] THE PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN.