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（85） Further； the Divine testimony concerning Abraham asserts nothing but
that he was obedient； and that he 〃commanded his household after him that
they should keep the way of the Lord〃 （Gen。 xviii：19）； it does not state
that he held sublime conceptions of the Deity。
（86） Moses； also； was not sufficiently aware that God is omniscient； and
directs human actions by His sole decree； for although God Himself says that
the Israelites should hearken to Him； Moses still considered the matter
doubtful and repeated； 〃But if they will not believe me； nor hearken unto my
voice。〃 （87） To him in like manner God was revealed as taking no part in；
and as being ignorant of； future human actions： the Lord gave him two signs
and said； 〃And it shall come to pass that if they will not believe thee；
neither hearken to the voice of the first sign； that they will believe the
voice of the latter sign； but if not； thou shalt take of the water of the
river；〃 &c。 （88） Indeed； if any one considers without prejudice the recorded
opinions of Moses； he will plainly see that Moses conceived the Deity as a
Being Who has always existed； does exist； and always will exist； and for
this cause he calls Him by the name Jehovah； which in Hebrew signifies these
three phases of existence： as to His nature； Moses only taught that He is
merciful； gracious； and exceeding jealous； as appears from many passages in
the Pentateuch。 （89） Lastly； he believed and taught that this Being was so
different from all other beings； that He could not be expressed by the image
of any visible thing； also； that He could not be looked upon； and that not
so much from inherent impossibility as from human infirmity； further； that
by reason of His power He was without equal and unique。 （90） Moses admitted；
indeed； that there were beings （doubtless by the plan and command of the
Lord） who acted as God's vicegerents … that is； beings to whom God had given
the right； authority； and power to direct nations； and to provide and care
for them； but he taught that this Being Whom they were bound to obey was
the highest and Supreme God； or （to use the Hebrew phrase） God of gods； and
thus in the song （Exod。 xv：11） he exclaims； 〃Who is like unto Thee； 0 Lord；
among the gods？〃 and Jethro says （Exod。 xviii：11）； 〃Now I know that the Lord
is greater than all gods。〃 （91） That is to say； 〃I am at length compelled to
admit to Moses that Jehovah is greater than all gods； and that His power
is unrivalled。〃 （92） We must remain in doubt whether Moses thought that
these beings who acted as God's vicegerents were created by Him； for he
has stated nothing； so far as we know； about their creation and origin。 （93）
He further taught that this Being had brought the visible world into order
from Chaos； and had given Nature her germs； and therefore that He
possesses supreme right and power over all things； further； that by reason
of this supreme right and power He had chosen for Himself alone the Hebrew
nation and a certain strip of territory； and had handed over to the care of
other gods substituted by Himself the rest of the nations and territories；
and that therefore He was called the God of Israel and the God of Jerusalem；
whereas the other gods were called the gods of the Gentiles。 （94） For this
reason the Jews believed that the strip of territory which God had chosen
for Himself； demanded a Divine worship quite apart and different from the
worship which obtained elsewhere； and that the Lord would not suffer the
worship of other gods adapted to other countries。 （95） Thus they thought
that the people whom the king of Assyria had brought into Judaea were torn
in pieces by lions because they knew not the worship of the National
Divinity （2 Kings xvii：25）。
（96） Jacob； according to Aben Ezra's opinion； therefore admonished his sons
when he wished them to seek out a new country； that they should prepare
themselves for a new worship； and lay aside the worship of strange； gods …
that is； of the gods of the land where they were （Gen。 xxxv：2； 3）。
（97） David； in telling Saul that he was compelled by the king's persecution
to live away from his country； said that he was driven out from the heritage
of the Lord； and sent to worship other gods （1 Sam。 xxvi：19）。 （98） Lastly；
he believed that this Being or Deity had His habitation in the heavens
（Deut。 xxxiii：27）； an opinion very common among the Gentiles。
（99） If we now examine the revelations to Moses； we shall find that they
were accommodated to these opinions； as he believed that the Divine Nature
was subject to the conditions of mercy； graciousness； &c。； so God was
revealed to him in accordance with his idea and under these attributes （see
Exodus xxxiv：6； 7； and the second commandment）。 （100） Further it is related
（Ex。 xxxiii：18） that Moses asked of God that he might behold Him； but as
Moses （as we have said） had formed no mental image of God； and God （as I
have shown） only revealed Himself to the prophets in accordance with the
disposition of their imagination； He did not reveal Himself in any form。
（101） This； I repeat； was because the imagination of Moses was unsuitable；
for other prophets bear witness that they saw the Lord； for instance；
Isaiah； Ezekiel； Daniel； &c。 （102） For this reason God answered Moses； 〃Thou
canst not see My face；〃 and inasmuch as Moses believed that God can be
looked upon … that is； that no contradiction of the Divine nature is therein
involved （for otherwise he would never have preferred his request） … it is
added； 〃For no one shall look on Me and live；〃 thus giving a reason in
accordance with Moses' idea； for it is not stated that a contradiction of
the Divine nature would be involved； as was really the case； but that the
thing would not come to pass because of human infirmity。
（103） When God would reveal to Moses that the Israelites； because they
worshipped the calf； were to be placed in the same category as other
nations； He said （ch。 xxxiii：2； 3）； that He would send an angel （that is； a
being who should have charge of the Israelites； instead of the Supreme
Being）； and that He Himself would no longer remain among them； thus leaving
Moses no ground for supposing that the Israelites were more beloved by God
than the other nations whose guardianship He had entrusted to other beings
or angels （vide verse 16）。
（104） Lastly； as Moses believed that God dwelt in the heavens； God was
revealed to him as coming down from heaven on to a mountain； and in order to
talk with the Lord Moses went up the mountain； which he certainly need not
have done if he could have conceived of God as omnipresent。
（105） The Israelites knew scarcely anything of God； although He was revealed
to them； and this is abundantly evident from their transferring； a few days
afterwards； the hono