ISAREL'S PILLAR OF FIRE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 27, 2 April 1907, Page 7

ISAREL'S PILLAR OF FIRE.

The sacred fire of Israel, according to Mr. l\ H. Ualkwill, in the "Nineteenth Century," was a composition of naphtha or liquid bitumen known to the Persians and Greeks, the method of preparation of which Moses learned from the Egyptian priests. Thus Mr. Balkwill explains the pillar of cloud which checked the Egyptian pursuit of the Israelites, and the "lire from before the Lo.-d"- at tho first sacrifice by Moses and Aaron after the exodus, which "consumed upon the altar of burnt offering." Of the angel or pillar of cloud going before Israel, he says :—"The description would be realised if we suppose a large petroleum lamp to have been used, the flame being surrounded by a circular brass plate shield for safety, which would prevent the flame being seen. In still weather tho dense smoke would ascend as a pillar to some height, and then, spreading out, form that cloud described late.", on as resting over the tent of tho tabernacle ; while the reflection on the smoke from the flame below would make it appear at night a pillar of light.

"As wo might expect from such a dangerous combustible," adds Mr. Ualkwill, "some terrible events happened, two of which wo should call accidents. Soon after the initiation of the burnt offerings of Moses and Aaron, Nahab and Abihu, the oldest sons of Aaron, 'took each 0 f them his censer and put fire therein, and offered strange (ire before the Lord which he had not commanded them. And there came forth a tiro from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before (he Lord.'—Lev. x., 1).

"Probably they had taken some, of the sacred naphtha and put it in their censers, and annointed themselves with it. as well, in order to give themselves, as they thought, greater sanctity. They had done wrong, no. doubt, but. it was (lie sort of wrong of a foolhardy workman in a powder manufactory.

"The next outbreak is attributed to the people's munnurings ; but it reads as if some receptacle containing the sacred naphtha had been accidentally upset and the fluid running along (he ground, had caught lire, in some of the nearest outlying tents of the camp. 'And the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.' (Num. xi., 1.)" .... Mr. Palkwill gives similar explanations of (ho triumph of Elijah over tlv priests of Paal (when naphtha was burned floating on the to]) of water) and Ihe narratives in the Maccabees, and concludes :—"The evidence is circumstantial, eomulative positive, and, one would think, sufficient to prove that the prophets and priests of Israel used a highly inflammable fluid, probably a preparation of refined petroleum, to bring down lire from heaven."