Children of Israel

Following the triumph of the Children of Israel over the Egyptians, their training began.  With uplifted hearts and solemn confidence, the people turned their backs upon the Red Sea and entered the wilderness, under Moses' leadership. The land they entered was unknown to them; it was a land of barren mountains and rocks, in some parts an absolute desert, producing scanty herbage for their flocks and herds.

The people's courage soon failed them.  Their confidence in Moses and in God sank low.  For the first three  days of their march, they found no water, and when at last they reached the well of Marah, the waters were so bitter that they began to murmur against Moses.  Then God turned the water sweet for them.  When their food began to run low, they started to feel discomfort and fear. Again they clamored against Moses, and God again helped them by sending a host of quails and then a rain of manna.

God continued to test the resolve of the children of Israel.  Once more, as they marched southward, they found themselves in a region witout water.  So God bade Moses assemble the people of Israel to witness a solemn proof of the miraculous power that had been bestowed on Moses in order to aid and save the children of Israel.  In the presence of all the people and elders of Israel, Moses smote a huge rock with his rod, and water poured in streams from the stone as from a fountain.  The people quenched their thirst and were happy once more, rejoicing in the divine power and guidance of their leader.

These drawings of the Children of Israel are from my collection of antique books. Feel free to use these illustrations of the Children of Israel in your artwork. Click on the Children of Israel pictures below to see more details about saving a free Children of Israel image or about purchasing Children of Israel images at a higher resolution.