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FAMOUS MONASTERY OF SAINT CATHERINE IN THE SHADOW OF MOUNT SINAI

Copyright by Underwood & Underwood and used by special permission.

It was in this monastery that Prof. C. Tischendorf discovered one of
the oldest and most valuable manuscripts of the Bible in existence.
Tischendorf made three visits to the monastery, in 1844, 1853, and
1859. On the first visit he found forty-three leaves of the
manuscript in a wastebasket. Later he found the entire manuscript
with the exception of a few pages. It was published by Czar
Alexander II in celebration of the first millennium of the Russian
Empire. A traveler says, "When on a visit to Mount Sinai in March,
1877, I saw a copy of the magnificent four volume edition in the
convent library and mentioned the name of Tischendorf, the sub-prior
kindled up in indignation and called him a thief, who had stolen
their greatest treasure on the pretext of a temporary loan; and when
I reminded him of the large reward of the Emperor of Russia, who had
furnished a new silver shrine for the coffin of Saint Catherine, he
admitted it reluctantly, but remarked that they did not want the
silver, but the manuscript--the manuscript which their monks could
not read and were about to throw into the fire."
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And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he
said unto them, "Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Put ye every
man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate
throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his
companion, and every man his neighbor.'"

And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there
fell of the people that day about three thousand men. And Moses said,
"Consecrate yourselves to-day to the Lord, yea, every man against his
son, and against his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing
this day."

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people,
"Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord;
peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin."

And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, "Oh, this people have
sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou
wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy
book which thou hast written."

And the Lord said to Moses, "Whosover hath sinned against me, him will
I blot out of my book. And now go,