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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Heroes of Israel, by Theodore Gerald Soares
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Heroes of Israel
+       Text of the Hero Stories with Notes and Questions for Young Students
+
+Author: Theodore Gerald Soares
+
+Editor: Ernest D. Burton
+
+Release Date: August 3, 2011 [EBook #36956]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEROES OF ISRAEL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Heiko Evermann, Hazel Batey, and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net;
+scanned by Fox in the Stars from the collection of Brays
+Advent Christian Church in Iberia, Missouri
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+  CONSTRUCTIVE BIBLE STUDIES
+
+  EDITED BY
+
+  ERNEST D. BURTON
+
+
+
+
+  HEROES OF ISRAEL
+
+
+
+
+  THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
+  CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
+
+  Agents
+  THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY
+  NEW YORK
+
+  THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
+  LONDON AND EDINBURGH
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE SEMITIC WORLD]
+
+
+
+
+  HEROES OF ISRAEL
+
+  TEXT OF THE HERO STORIES WITH NOTES AND QUESTIONS FOR YOUNG STUDENTS
+
+  _By_
+
+  THEODORE GERALD SOARES
+  _Professor of Homiletics and Religious Education in the_
+  _University of Chicago_
+
+
+
+
+  THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
+
+
+
+
+  COPYRIGHT 1908 BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
+
+  All Rights Reserved
+
+  Published January 1909
+  Second Impression September 1909
+  Third Impression December 1909
+  Second Edition October 1911
+
+
+
+
+
+  Composed and Printed By The University of Chicago Press
+  Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
+
+
+
+
+  TO MY FATHER MY FIRST HERO
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+It is the purpose to present these Hero Studies in two books, one being
+the present volume which is intended as a textbook for the students, the
+other being the teacher's manual with fuller explanations and
+suggestions. The necessary prefatory statements will be found in the
+respective books under the titles "Foreword to the Student" and
+"Foreword to the Teacher".
+
+This volume contains the text of the stories, with explanatory notes and
+questions intended to stimulate study. Each lesson consists of a
+complete story arranged in such a way as to impress the main features of
+the narrative clearly upon the student's mind. The explanatory material
+is reduced to the minimum, since the main desire is to let the stories
+speak for themselves and not to burden the student with wearisome
+details. The three reviews divide the course into the three natural
+parts, the first extending to Christmas, the second to the end of March,
+the third, which is shorter, to the middle of June, when it is usually
+wise for the regular courses to end.
+
+The text of the British Revisers is used in the reprint of the stories
+with the consent and approval of the Oxford and Cambridge University
+presses. As the plan of simplifying the narratives involved certain
+verbal changes, it has seemed wise to go a step farther and to use the
+spellings which would be more familiar to American students.
+
+For constant suggestions as to form and method I am greatly indebted to
+my wife, who has taught the lessons from advance sheets to a class of
+boys. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the valuable counsel of Professor
+E. D. Burton, the editor of the series, and especially that of Professor
+J. M. P. Smith, who at Professor Burton's request, and to my own great
+satisfaction, assumed the editorial responsibility of reading the
+manuscript, and gave me the benefit of his ripe scholarship and
+judgment.
+
+                                        T. G. S.
+
+    July 29, 1908
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+                                                    Page
+
+  FOREWORD TO THE STUDENT                             xv
+
+  CHAPTER
+
+       I. ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL          1
+
+      II. ABRAHAM, THE MAGNANIMOUS                     9
+
+     III. ABRAHAM AND ISAAC                           16
+
+      IV. JACOB, THE CLEVER                           29
+
+       V. ISRAEL, THE GODLY                           41
+
+      VI. JOSEPH, THE SLAVE                           51
+
+     VII. JOSEPH, THE RULER                           60
+
+    VIII. JOSEPH, THE GENEROUS                        70
+
+      IX. MOSES' EARLY LIFE                           85
+
+       X. MOSES' COMMISSION                           94
+
+      XI. MOSES, THE DELIVERER                       104
+
+     XII. MOSES, THE LAWGIVER                        117
+
+    XIII. REVIEW: THE HEROES OF ISRAEL'S WANDERINGS  129
+
+     XIV. JOSHUA AND CALEB                           135
+
+      XV. GIDEON, THE WARRIOR                        147
+
+     XVI. SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN                     158
+
+    XVII. RUTH, THE FOREIGNER                        171
+
+   XVIII. SAMUEL AND ELI                             187
+
+     XIX. SAMUEL AND SAUL                            200
+
+      XX. JONATHAN'S VICTORY                         211
+
+     XXI. DAVID AND THE GIANT                        223
+
+    XXII. THE HERO FRIENDS, DAVID AND JONATHAN       237
+
+   XXIII. DAVID, THE OUTLAW                          247
+
+    XXIV. DAVID, THE KING                            260
+
+     XXV. DAVID AND HIS REBEL SON                    270
+
+    XXVI. REVIEW: TEN HEROES OF ISRAEL               283
+
+   XXVII. SOLOMON, THE WISE KING                     289
+
+  XXVIII. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF PURE RELIGION      303
+
+    XXIX. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF JUSTICE            317
+
+     XXX. ELISHA, THE HEALER AND COUNSELOR           328
+
+    XXXI. NEHEMIAH, THE BUILDER                      339
+
+   XXXII. ESTHER, THE PATRIOT QUEEN                  351
+
+  XXXIII. JUDAS, THE HAMMERER                        364
+
+   XXXIV. DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS                     373
+
+    XXXV. REVIEW: SEVEN HEROIC NAMES                 385
+
+
+
+
+
+MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+                                                     Page
+
+  MAP OF THE SEMITIC WORLD                   Frontispiece
+
+  A CARAVAN IN PALESTINE                                5
+
+  MAP OF CANAAN opposite                               47
+
+  THE SEAL OF THE GRAND VIZIER OF RAMSES II            66
+
+  PORTRAIT STATUES OF RAMSES II                        88
+
+  ORIENTAL SANDALS                                     95
+
+  BRICK-MAKING IN EGYPT                               102
+
+  MOSES                                               118
+
+  WINNOWING GRAIN                                     179
+
+  A PHILISTINE                                        212
+
+  DAVID                                               226
+
+  CEDARS OF LEBANON                                   294
+
+  ESTHER'S PALACE                                     357
+
+
+
+
+FOREWORD TO THE STUDENT
+
+
+1. We are to study the heroes of Israel. What is a hero? We use this
+word of the chief character in a book or of one who does a very noble
+deed. It is also applied to the great men of the past, who have done
+deeds that have made their names famous in story and who have been the
+makers of nations. Call to mind some American heroes.
+
+2. Why should we study the heroes of Israel? For three reasons: (1) The
+stories are very interesting and full of adventure. (2) Israel played a
+most important part in the world's history. The Jews, who now represent
+Israel, are no longer a nation, and unhappily they are often very badly
+treated, but they have many noble qualities. We owe some of the best
+things in our modern civilization to the men of old Israel. We shall
+find a great value in reading their story. (3) The questions of duty and
+religion that often puzzle us are very old questions. They came to these
+men thousands of years ago. We shall find them clearer to us as we read
+how the old heroes struggled with their difficulties.
+
+3. How shall we study? The stories of the heroes are in the Old
+Testament, but in order to bring them together, and to separate them
+from other matter which is less profitable for young people to study
+they have been reprinted in this book. Most of the more difficult names
+have been omitted, together with everything that would take from the
+interest in the story. Each chapter is divided into three parts: The
+Story, The Meaning of the Story, and the Written Review. In preparing
+the lesson, the story should be read through first. It would be a very
+good plan to read it aloud to someone. Then take up the suggestions in
+the second part of the lesson, one at a time, and look up the sections
+of the story to find answers to the questions. When special Scripture
+references are given look them up, and use the maps whenever directions
+are given to that effect. When you have finished the study read the
+whole story through again and be sure that you understand it.
+
+The Written Review is very important. Have a notebook in which you will
+write the review stories every week. The best time to write the review
+story is soon after the meeting of the class, while the lesson is still
+fresh in memory. Always read the story of the hero again before you
+write the review. Keep the notebook neat. It is a good plan to write the
+exercise in pencil first and then copy it into the book in ink. At the
+end of the year you will have a good-sized book full of your own hero
+stories.
+
+A careful study of these lessons will make you acquainted with a score
+of the mighty men of the past. Many of them you will wish to keep as
+life-long friends.
+
+
+
+
+ABRAHAM
+
+
+    I. ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL
+
+   II. ABRAHAM, THE MAGNANIMOUS
+
+  III. ABRAHAM AND ISAAC
+
+
+
+
+
+ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.1. The Old Home of Abraham= (Gen. 11:31)
+
+Terah took Abraham his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son's son, and
+Sarah his daughter-in-law, his son Abraham's wife; and they went forth
+with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and
+they came unto Haran, and dwelt there, and Terah died in Haran.
+
+
+=Sec.2. The Journey Westward= (Gen. 12:1-5)
+
+Now the Lord said unto Abraham, "Get thee out of thy country, and from
+thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show
+thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and
+make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that
+bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall
+all the families of the earth be blessed."
+
+So Abraham went, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:
+and Abraham was seventy and five years old when he departed out of
+Haran. And Abraham took Sarah his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and
+all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had
+gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan:
+and into the land of Canaan they came.
+
+
+=Sec.3. Abraham's Altars= (Gen. 12:6-9)
+
+And Abraham passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the
+oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
+
+And the Lord appeared unto Abraham and said, "Unto thy seed will I give
+this land." And there built he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto
+him.
+
+And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and
+pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and
+there he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the
+Lord. And Abraham journeyed, going on still toward the South.
+
+
+=Sec.4. A Test of Courage= (Gen. 12:10-20)
+
+And there was a famine in the land: and Abraham went down into Egypt to
+sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass,
+when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarah his
+wife, "Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: and
+it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they
+shall say, 'This is his wife': and they will kill me, but they will save
+thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well
+with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee."
+
+And it came to pass, that, when Abraham was come into Egypt, the
+Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. And the princes of
+Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken
+into Pharaoh's house. And he treated Abraham well for her sake: and he
+had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and menservants, and maidservants,
+and she-asses, and camels. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house
+with great plagues because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
+
+[Illustration: A CARAVAN IN PALESTINE]
+
+And Pharaoh called Abraham, and said, "What is this that thou hast done
+unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst
+thou, She is my sister? so that I took her to be my wife: now therefore
+behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way."
+
+And Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him: and they brought him on the
+way, and his wife, and all that he had.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+1 (Sec.1). We begin with the man to whom Israel looked back as their first
+great hero. What was his name? What was his father's name?
+
+2 (Sec.1). Where did he come from? Look at the map of the Semitic world.
+You will see two great rivers which join and then flow into the Persian
+Gulf. It is not always possible to know where ancient cities were
+located, but it is supposed that Ur may have been on the Euphrates near
+the point where the rivers join. It is called Ur of the Chaldees,
+because people of that name lived there. Terah therefore came from the
+very old country of Babylonia, which was rich and fertile because it was
+in the valley of the two rivers. What American river has a rich country
+in all its wide valley?
+
+3 (Sec.1). What route would be taken to go from Ur to Canaan? If you lay a
+ruler on the map you will see that Jerusalem is almost directly west of
+Ur. They lay about six hundred miles apart. But there was a very good
+reason why they could not travel right across that way. What kind of
+country would they have had to pass through? They had to follow the
+river for nearly the same distance in a northwesterly direction. This
+would bring them to a very rich country where it seems they stopped for
+some time and where Terah died. What was its name?
+
+4 (Sec.2). Evidently most of Terah's tribe were satisfied to stay in Haran,
+but Abraham felt a great stir in him to continue the journey to the West
+land. He believed that God wanted him to go there and to become the
+founder of a great nation that should serve Jehovah. This feeling became
+so strong that at last it was clear to him that the Lord was calling
+him. Learn the beautiful passage of the Call of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)
+so that you can recite it.
+
+5(Sec.2). What route would Abraham take from Haran to Canaan? Let us look
+at the map again. There was a caravan road that ran from Haran west
+across the river, then it turned south and came down through the country
+of Syria to a very ancient city. Abraham's chief servant came from this
+city (Gen. 15:2). The road still runs south and then crosses the river
+Jordan into Palestine.
+
+6(Sec.2). How long would such a journey take? There were no railroads and
+there are still very few in that country. Travel was very slow. We have
+an account in Ezra 7:9 of how long it took a company to make the journey
+from Babylon long afterward. But Abraham's company would move more
+slowly, for we must think of him as traveling with a great many animals
+and servants and children. It was very much as the Arab tribes move
+about to-day.
+
+7(Sec.2). Think of what Abraham left behind when he obeyed God's voice and
+came into the strange land. What company of people in American history
+felt that God called them to leave their own country and come into the
+new land? Is it always safe to obey God? Look up Gal. 3:9 and Heb.
+11:8-10 and see why Abraham is called "The Father of the Faithful."
+
+8(Sec.3). What promise did God give Abraham after he came to Canaan? What
+places did Abraham visit? Locate them on the map of Canaan. What
+religious act did he perform wherever he went? What act is the same in
+our lives?
+
+9(Sec.4). Abraham's numerous sheep and cattle required him to journey from
+place to place. Why was this? Why would dry weather cause him trouble?
+Notice on the map that when the famine came he was in the south of
+Palestine. It was only a short journey west to reach a very rich
+country, which lay in the valley of a great river. Name the country
+and its river and explain why there was no drought there.
+
+10 (Sec.4). We shall often notice that the old heroes did wrong. Tell the
+story of Abraham's visit to Egypt. What do you think of his conduct? If
+we knew only this part of Abraham's story we should not call him a hero.
+Ought we then to judge anyone by a single act?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+This story deals with several journeys. Let us get them all before our
+eyes. Turn to the map of the Semitic world at the beginning of the book
+and make a very simple copy of it, according to the following
+directions: Mark the two great rivers in the east. Make the coast line
+of the Mediterranean Sea. Draw the River Nile. Make the coast line of
+the Red Sea. Locate Ur, Haran, Damascus, Canaan, Egypt. Make this map
+first in pencil and then ink it.
+
+
+
+
+II. ABRAHAM, THE MAGNANIMOUS
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.5. Abraham's Treatment of Lot= (Gen. 13)
+
+And Abraham went out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had,
+and Lot with him, into the South. And Abraham was very rich in cattle,
+in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the South even
+to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning,
+between Beth-el and Ai; unto the place of the altar, which he had made
+there at the first: and there Abraham called on the name of the Lord.
+
+And Lot also, who went with Abraham, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
+And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together:
+for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
+And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abraham's cattle and the
+herdmen of Lot's cattle.
+
+And Abraham said unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between
+me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we are
+brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray
+thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the
+right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to the left."
+
+And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of Jordan, that it
+was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and
+Gomorrah, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou
+goest unto Zoar. So Lot chose him all the Plain of Jordan; and Lot
+journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
+Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the
+Plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were
+wicked and sinners against the Lord exceedingly.
+
+And the Lord said unto Abraham, after that Lot was separated from him,
+"Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art,
+northward and southward and eastward and westward: for all the land
+which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And
+I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can
+number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
+Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of
+it; for unto thee will I give it."
+
+And Abraham moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre,
+which are in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
+
+
+=Sec.6. Abraham's Deliverance of Lot= (Gen. 14:10-24)
+
+And there came five kings from the East and made war against the kings
+of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and
+they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain. And they
+took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and
+went their way. And they took Lot, Abraham's brother's son, who dwelt in
+Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
+
+And there came one that had escaped, and told Abraham the Hebrew: now he
+dwelt by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother
+of Aner; and these were confederate with Abraham. And when Abraham heard
+that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born
+in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. And
+he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote
+them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of
+Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his
+brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
+
+And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the
+slaughter of the kings. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth
+bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him
+and said, "Blessed be Abraham of God Most High, possessor of heaven and
+earth: and blessed be God Most High, which hath delivered thine enemies
+into thy hand." And he gave him a tenth of all.
+
+And the king of Sodom said unto Abraham, "Give me the persons, and take
+the goods to thyself."
+
+And Abraham said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up mine hand unto
+the Lord, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not
+take a thread nor a shoelatchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou
+shouldst say, I have made Abraham rich: save only that which the young
+men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me; Aner,
+Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their portion."
+
+
+=Sec.7. Abraham's Prayer for Sodom= (Gen. 18:17-32; 19:29)
+
+And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; seeing
+that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the
+nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, to
+the end that he may command his children and his household after him,
+that they may keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice;
+to the end that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath
+spoken of him."
+
+And the Lord said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and
+because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether
+they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto
+me; and if not, I will know."
+
+And Abraham drew near, and said, "Wilt thou consume the righteous with
+the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city:
+wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that
+are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the
+righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the
+wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do
+right?"
+
+And the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,
+then I will spare all the place for their sake."
+
+And Abraham answered and said, "Behold now, I have taken upon me to
+speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: peradventure there
+shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city
+for lack of five?"
+
+And he said, "I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five."
+
+And he spake unto him yet again, and said, "Peradventure there shall be
+forty found there."
+
+And he said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."
+
+And he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak:
+peradventure there shall thirty be found there."
+
+And he said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."
+
+And he said, "Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord:
+peradventure there shall be twenty found there."
+
+And he said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."
+
+And he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but
+this once: peradventure ten shall be found there."
+
+And he said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."
+
+And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that
+God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow,
+when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+11 (Sec.5). Follow Abraham's journey back from Egypt along the coast road.
+He reached the district in Southern Canaan that was called "the South."
+What wealth did he have? What would he need for his cattle? Notice how
+this caused him to journey from place to place.
+
+12 (Sec.5). On the western plains of America there have been disputes
+between the cattle men over the rights of grazing. The big men have
+driven the little men away. Tell the story of this old dispute in
+Canaan. What plan of settlement did Abraham suggest? How did Lot behave
+in the matter? What good result came to Abraham?
+
+13 (Sec.5). Look up the word "magnanimous." Could it be applied to Abraham?
+Have you ever known an act that was magnanimous?
+
+14 (Sec.6). Kings in old times used to make war on their neighbors just for
+the purpose of stealing their goods. This is the story of one of those
+plundering expeditions that was made against the country near the Dead
+Sea. Who had chosen that country for his residence? What was the result
+of the invasion? How did Abraham hear of it? How many young men did he
+have in his service? What does this show of the size of his camp? What
+did Abraham do?
+
+15 (Sec.6). What did Abraham do with the spoil that he captured? Was this
+magnanimous?
+
+16 (Sec.6). Compare Abraham's conduct with that of the United States in
+Cuba.
+
+17 (Sec.6). Abraham gave back the property that he had rescued: what should
+we do with property that we find?
+
+18 (Sec.7). Men of old loved to think of God appearing to them and talking
+to them. It is a beautiful picture of the silent message that comes to
+our hearts. What does Abraham learn is to happen to the wicked city of
+Sodom?
+
+19 (Sec.7). Is Abraham magnanimous in pleading for Sodom? What do the
+Lord's replies to Abraham's prayers teach us?
+
+20 (Sec.7). What happened to Sodom? Was Abraham's prayer answered?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Think over and write out the three ways in which Abraham was
+_magnanimous_. If you watch carefully the conduct of the best people you
+know you will be sure to see somebody do a magnanimous act before the
+next lesson. When you see it write it down in your notebook as your
+review work.
+
+
+
+
+III. ABRAHAM AND ISAAC
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.8. Abraham's Devotion= (Gen. 21:2, 3; 22:1-19)
+
+A. THE SACRIFICE OF THE FIRSTBORN
+
+And Sarah bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which
+God had spoken unto him. And Abraham called the name of his son Isaac.
+And the child grew. And it came to pass, that God did prove Abraham and
+said unto him, "Abraham."
+
+And he said, "Here am I."
+
+And he said, "Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even
+Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a
+burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."
+
+And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two
+of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he clave the wood for
+the burnt offering, and rose up, and went into the place of which God
+had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the
+place afar off.
+
+And Abraham said unto his young men, "Abide ye here with the ass, and I
+and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come again to you."
+
+And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac
+his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife; and they went
+both of them together.
+
+And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, "My father."
+
+And he said, "Here am I, my son."
+
+And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a
+burnt offering?"
+
+And Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt
+offering, my son."
+
+So they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God
+had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in
+order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the
+wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay
+his son.
+
+
+B. THE DIVINE INTERFERENCE
+
+And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said,
+"Abraham."
+
+And he said, "Here am I."
+
+And he said, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything
+unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not
+withheld thy son, thine only son, from me."
+
+And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram
+caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram,
+and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And
+Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to
+this day, "In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."
+
+And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham a second time out of
+heaven, and said, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, because thou
+hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
+that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply
+thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the
+sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in
+thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou
+hast obeyed my voice."
+
+So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went
+together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
+
+
+=Sec.9. The Selection of Isaac's Wife= (Gen. 24)
+
+A. THE COMMISSION OF THE SERVANT
+
+And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed
+Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of
+his house, that ruled over all that he had, "Swear by the Lord, the God
+of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for
+my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou
+shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son
+Isaac."
+
+And the servant said unto him, "Peradventure the woman will not be
+willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again
+unto the land from whence thou camest?"
+
+And Abraham said unto him, "Beware thou that thou bring not my son
+thither again. The Lord, the God of heaven, that took me from my
+father's house, and from the land of my nativity, and that spake unto me
+and that sware unto me, saying, 'Unto thy seed will I give this land,'
+he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my
+son from thence. And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, thou
+shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son
+thither again."
+
+And the servant sware to Abraham his master concerning this matter.
+
+
+B. THE MEETING WITH REBEKAH
+
+And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and
+departed; having all goodly things of his master's in his hand: and he
+arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made the
+camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time
+of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
+
+And he said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray
+thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
+Behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men
+of the city come out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the
+damsel to whom I shall say, 'Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I
+may drink;' and she shall say, 'Drink, and I will give thy camels drink
+also': let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant
+Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my
+master."
+
+And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah
+came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor,
+Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel
+was very fair to look upon; and she went down to the fountain, and
+filled her pitcher, and came up.
+
+And the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Give me to drink, I pray
+thee, a little water of thy pitcher."
+
+And she said, "Drink, my lord": and she hasted, and let down her pitcher
+upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him
+drink, she said, "I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done
+drinking." And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and
+ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
+
+And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether
+the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. And it came to pass, as
+the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a
+shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of
+gold, and said, "Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is
+there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?"
+
+And she said unto him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah,
+which she bare unto Nahor." She said moreover unto him, "We have both
+straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in."
+
+And the man bowed his head, and worshipped the Lord. And he said,
+"Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not
+forsaken his mercy and his truth toward my master: as for me, the Lord
+hath led me in the way to the house of my master's brethren."
+
+
+C. THE BETROTHAL OF ISAAC AND REBEKAH
+
+And the damsel ran, and told her mother's house according to these
+words. And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran
+out unto the man, unto the fountain. And it came to pass, when he saw
+the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard
+the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "Thus spake the man unto me;"
+that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the
+fountain.
+
+And he said, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou
+without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."
+
+And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave
+straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the
+men's feet that were with him. And there was set meat before him to
+eat.
+
+But he said, "I will not eat, until I have told mine errand."
+
+And Laban said, "Speak on."
+
+And he said, "I am Abraham's servant. And the Lord hath blessed my
+master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks and
+herds, and silver and gold, and menservants and maidservants, and
+camels, and asses. And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master
+when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. And my
+master made me swear, saying, 'Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of
+the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: but thou shalt
+go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my
+son.' And I said unto my master, 'Peradventure the woman will not follow
+me.' And he said unto me, 'The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his
+angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my
+son of my kindred, and of my father's house: then shalt thou be clear
+from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not
+to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.'
+
+"And I came this day unto the fountain, and said, 'O Lord, the God of my
+master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: behold, I
+stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the
+maiden which cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray
+thee a little water of thy pitcher to drink; and she shall say to me,
+Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be
+the woman whom the Lord hath appointed for my master's son.' And before
+I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her
+pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew:
+and I said unto her, 'Let me drink, I pray thee.' And she made haste,
+and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will
+give thy camels drink also.' So I drank, and she made the camels drink
+also. And I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter art thou?' And she said,
+'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him.' And I
+put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands. And I
+bowed my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of
+my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's
+brother's daughter for his son. And now if ye will deal kindly and truly
+with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the
+right hand, or to the left."
+
+Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing proceedeth from the
+Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before
+thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the
+Lord hath spoken."
+
+And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he
+bowed himself down to the earth unto the Lord. And the servant brought
+forth jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to
+Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
+And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and
+tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send
+me away unto my master."
+
+And her brother and her mother said, "Let the damsel abide with us a few
+days, at the least ten; after that she shall go."
+
+And he said unto them, "Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my
+way; send me away that I may go to my master."
+
+And they said, "We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth."
+
+And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this
+man?"
+
+And she said, "I will go."
+
+And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's
+servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, "Our
+sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy
+seed possess the gate of those which hate them."
+
+And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and
+followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
+
+
+D. THE MARRIAGE
+
+And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he
+lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
+
+And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off
+the camel. And she said unto the servant, "What man is this that walketh
+in the field to meet us?"
+
+And the servant said, "It is my master." And she took her veil, and
+covered herself.
+
+And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. And Isaac
+brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she
+became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his
+mother's death.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+21. What promise had been made repeatedly to Abraham? But he had grown
+old and was still without a son. Yet the Lord repeated the promise and
+Abraham believed. At last to his great joy the son was born. It makes a
+man's life strong to believe that God will fulfil his promise. Faith and
+goodness are very near together (Gen. 15:6). A good boy believes his
+parents: surely he can believe God.
+
+22 (Sec.8A). In order to understand this story we must consider a strange
+and fearful custom of the old times. Read II Kings 3:26, 27, and note
+the awful sacrifice that a king, who was seeking help, made to his
+heathen god. The ancients felt that God ought to have the best that man
+has. They had not learned that he is loving and good, wishing our best
+to be given to him in loving service and not killed in sacrifice.
+
+23 (Sec.8A). Abraham knew that it was the custom of his neighbors to show
+their loyalty to their gods by killing their oldest sons. He was most
+anxious to do what God would wish, so what would he naturally think that
+he ought to do? Is a man wicked if he does what he thinks is right? But
+if he is pure in his motive and is very anxious to know what is right,
+he will often come to the truth. This story shows how God led Abraham to
+know what he really wanted of him.
+
+24 (Sec.8). It is a very striking story. Picture the scenes: (1) The long
+journey: who went? (2) Abraham and Isaac alone: what did Isaac ask? What
+was Abraham's confidence in God? (3) The preparation for the sacrifice.
+(4) The wonderful interference: what did this teach Abraham? What was
+the promise that was repeated?
+
+25 (Sec.8). Men have often used wrong methods, thinking to please God. What
+did the Puritans do to the witches? But the Puritans were good men,
+anxious to do right, and they soon learned that they had been wrong. It
+is not enough for us to be willing to do right. We must try hard to find
+out what is right.
+
+26 (Sec.9A). This section is a long one, but is full of interest and need
+not detain us for special study. It is the charming story of an old-time
+wooing. Parents often arranged the marriages of their children in those
+days as they do in many countries to-day. Abraham had a trusted servant
+who managed his business for him. What did he ask the servant to
+promise?
+
+27 (Sec.9B). Mesopotamia means "between the rivers." Locate it between the
+two rivers of Abraham's old country. Recall Abraham's journey (5, 6, Sec.2)
+and trace the servant's journey.
+
+28 (Sec.9B). Tell the story of the meeting with Rebekah.
+
+29 (Sec.9C). Tell the story of the betrothal. Notice that the betrothal
+took place although Isaac was not there.
+
+30 (Sec.9D). Tell the story of the marriage.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+We have finished the study of the "Father of the Faithful." He was a man
+who trusted God. Think over all that you have learned about him and
+write down in your notebook two or three ways in which you think that he
+showed his trust in God. Think whether there is any way in which you
+would be willing to trust God.
+
+
+
+
+JACOB-ISRAEL
+
+
+  IV. JACOB, THE CLEVER
+
+   V. ISRAEL, THE GODLY
+
+
+
+
+IV. JACOB, THE CLEVER
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.10. The Purchase of the Birthright= (Gen. 25:25-34)
+
+Isaac and Rebekah had two sons who were twins. The first was red, all
+over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau, and the name
+of his brother was called Jacob.
+
+And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field;
+and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau,
+because he did eat of his venison: and Rebekah loved Jacob.
+
+And Jacob boiled pottage: and Esau came in from the field, and he was
+faint: and Esau said to Jacob, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red
+pottage; for I am faint."
+
+And Jacob said, "Sell me this day thy birthright."
+
+And Esau said, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall
+the birthright do to me?"
+
+And Jacob said, "Swear to me this day."
+
+And he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. And Jacob
+gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and
+rose up, and went his way: so Esau despised his birthright.
+
+
+=Sec.11. The Deception of Isaac= (Gen. 27:1-45)
+
+A. ISAAC'S COMMISSION TO ESAU
+
+And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so
+that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him,
+"My son."
+
+And he said unto him, "Here am I."
+
+And he said, "Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. Now
+therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go
+out to the field, and take me venison; and make me savory meat, such as
+I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee
+before I die."
+
+And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the
+field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
+
+
+B. REBEKAH'S SCHEME
+
+And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I heard thy
+father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 'Bring me venison, and make
+me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my
+death.' Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I
+command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good
+kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such
+as he loveth: and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so
+that he may bless thee before his death."
+
+And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, Esau my brother is a
+hairy man, and I am a smooth man. My father peradventure will feel me,
+and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon
+me, and not a blessing."
+
+And his mother said unto him, "Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey
+my voice, and go fetch me them."
+
+And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother
+made savory meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took the goodly
+garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and
+put them upon Jacob her younger son: and she put the skins of the kids
+of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: and she
+gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the
+hand of her son Jacob.
+
+
+C. Jacob's Deception
+
+And he came unto his father, and said, "My father."
+
+And he said, "Here am I; who art thou, my son?"
+
+And Jacob said unto his father, "I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done
+according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my
+venison, that thy soul may bless me."
+
+And Isaac said unto his son, "How is it that thou hast found it so
+quickly, my son?"
+
+And he said, "Because the Lord thy God sent me good speed."
+
+And Isaac said unto Jacob, "Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel
+thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not."
+
+And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said,
+"The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And
+he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother
+Esau's hands: so he blessed him. And he said, "Art thou my very son
+Esau?"
+
+And he said, "I am."
+
+And he said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison,
+that my soul may bless thee."
+
+And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine,
+and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, "Come near now, and
+kiss me, my son." And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the
+smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said,
+
+    See, the smell of my son
+    Is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:
+    And God give thee of the dew of heaven,
+    And of the fatness of the earth,
+    And plenty of corn and wine:
+    Let peoples serve thee,
+    And nations bow down to thee:
+    Be lord over thy brethren,
+    And let thy mother's sons bow down to thee:
+    Cursed be every one that curseth thee.
+    And blessed be every one that blesseth thee.
+
+
+D. ESAU'S DISAPPOINTMENT
+
+And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob,
+and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father,
+that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also made savory
+meat, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father, "Let
+my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless
+me."
+
+And Isaac his father said unto him, "Who art thou?"
+
+And he said, "I am thy son, thy firstborn, Esau."
+
+And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, "Who then is he that hath
+taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou
+camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed."
+
+When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding
+great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, "Bless me, even me also,
+O my father."
+
+And he said, "Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy
+blessing."
+
+And he said, "Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me
+these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath
+taken away my blessing. Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?"
+
+And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, "Behold, I have made him thy
+lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with
+corn and wine have I sustained him: and what then shall I do for thee,
+my son?"
+
+And Esau said unto his father, "Hast thou but one blessing, my father?
+bless me, even me also, O my father."
+
+And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered
+and said unto him,
+
+    Behold of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling,
+    And of the dew of heaven from above;
+    And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother;
+    And it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose,
+    That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.
+
+
+E. ESAU'S HATRED
+
+And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father
+blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my
+father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob."
+
+And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent
+and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, "Behold, thy
+brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill
+thee. Now, therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to
+Laban my brother to Haran; and tarry with him a few days, until thy
+brother's fury turn away; until thy brother's anger turn away from thee,
+and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and
+fetch thee from thence: why should I be bereaved of you both in one
+day?"
+
+
+=Sec.12. The Dream of the Heavenly Ladder= (Gen. 28:10-22)
+
+And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he
+lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the
+sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it
+under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and
+behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to
+heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
+And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, "I am the Lord, the God
+of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou
+liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as
+the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to
+the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy
+seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am
+with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring
+thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done
+that which I have spoken to thee of."
+
+And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely the Lord is in
+this place; and I knew it not." And he was afraid, and said, "How
+dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and
+this is the gate of heaven."
+
+And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had
+put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the
+top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el. And Jacob vowed
+a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way
+that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that
+I come again to my father's house in peace, then shall the Lord be my
+God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's
+house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth
+unto thee."
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+31. No man is altogether good and no one is wholly bad. Good and evil
+struggle for the mastery in us. Jacob is a man in whom this is very
+clearly seen. He was the twin brother of Esau, but Esau had the right of
+the oldest son. This was called the birthright. It was very important in
+that day. It meant that after the father's death Esau would become the
+head of the tribe, and would have twice as much of the property as his
+brother. Jacob did not like this and began to scheme to get the better
+of his brother.
+
+32 (Sec.10). What was the difference between the two men?
+
+33 (Sec.10). Tell the story of the hunting day and how Jacob sold the food
+to his brother.
+
+34 (Sec.10). What do you think of Esau in this affair? He gave up a great
+future for a little satisfaction.
+
+35 (Sec.10). Jacob was "smart" or "clever" in his bargain. Was he
+brotherly? Is it honest to charge all that you can get for something
+that people must have?
+
+36 (Sec.11A). The last solemn blessing of the head of the tribe was
+considered very important. How did Isaac arrange that it should be given
+to Esau?
+
+37 (Sec.11B). There was a wretched favoritism in this family. What was
+Rebekah's scheme to get the blessing for her favorite? Tell the story.
+
+38 (Sec.11C). Picture the blind old father and the crafty son coming to
+him. How did he secure the blessing? Notice how one wrong leads to
+another.
+
+39 (Sec.11D). Tell the story of Esau's bitter disappointment.
+
+40 (Sec.11E). What revenge did Esau plan? Rebekah was afraid: what advice
+did she give to Jacob? When the man had to flee for his life, how much
+had he gained by his deception? Do the "smart" men always win? If they
+do is it worth while?
+
+41 (Sec.12). The Lord is wonderfully forgiving, and he still wanted to lead
+Jacob to a noble life. Follow the journey on the map. What did Jacob do
+when night overtook him? There are great rocks at Beth-el that look
+something like a huge staircase. How did these form themselves in
+Jacob's dream? This is a simple, beautiful story of the old time when
+men thought they saw God in dreams. Tell the whole story in your own
+words.
+
+42 (Sec.12). What promise did the Lord give him? What vow did Jacob make?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Call to mind the meaning of _magnanimous_. Taking advantage of another's
+need as Jacob took advantage of Esau is the opposite of magnanimous.
+When the earthquake occurred in San Francisco some stores that had bread
+put up the price so high that very few could buy it. Soldiers compelled
+them to sell it for the regular price. How were those storekeepers like
+Jacob? Why was their conduct wrong? Write the answers to these two
+questions in your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+V. ISRAEL, THE GODLY
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.13. Jacob's Return after Twenty Years= (Gen. 29:1, 16, 23, 28; 30:43;
+31:17, 18)
+
+And Jacob came to the land of the children of the East. And he served
+Laban, his mother's brother. And Laban had two daughters: the name of
+the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Laban
+gave his two daughters to Jacob to be his wives.
+
+And Jacob increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, and maidservants
+and menservants, and camels and asses.
+
+And after twenty years Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives
+upon the camels; and he carried away all his cattle, and all his
+substance which he had gathered to go unto the land of Canaan.
+
+
+=Sec.14. Jacob's Fear of Esau= (Gen. 32:1-21)
+
+A. THE MESSAGE TO ESAU
+
+And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land
+of Seir. And he commanded them, saying, "Thus shall ye say unto my lord
+Esau, 'Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and
+stayed until now: and I have oxen, and asses and flocks, and
+menservants and maidservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I
+may find grace in thy sight.'"
+
+And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to thy brother
+Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with
+him."
+
+Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed: and he divided the
+people that was with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels,
+into two companies; and he said, "If Esau come to the one company, and
+smite it, then the company which is left shall escape."
+
+
+B. JACOB'S PRAYER
+
+And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac,
+O Lord, which saidst unto me, 'Return unto thy country, and to thy
+kindred, and I will do thee good': I am not worthy of the least of all
+the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy
+servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am
+become two companies. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my
+brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and smite
+me, the mother with the children. And thou saidst, 'I will surely do
+thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be
+numbered for multitude.'"
+
+
+C. THE PRESENT TO ESAU
+
+And he lodged there that night; and took of that which he had with him a
+present for Esau his brother; two hundred she-goats and twenty
+he-goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milch camels and
+their colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals.
+And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by
+itself; and said unto his servants, "Pass over before me, and put a
+space betwixt drove and drove."
+
+And he commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother meeteth
+thee, and asketh thee, saying, 'Whose art thou? and whither goest thou?
+and whose are these before thee?' then thou shalt say, 'They be thy
+servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, he
+also is behind us.'"
+
+And he commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed
+the droves, saying, "On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye
+find him; and ye shall say, 'Moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob is
+behind us.'" For he said, "I will appease him with the present that
+goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will
+accept me."
+
+So the present passed over before him: and he himself lodged that night
+in the company.
+
+
+=Sec.15. The Wrestle and the New Name= (Gen. 32:22-31)
+
+And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two
+handmaids, and his eleven children, and passed over the ford of Jabbok.
+And he took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that he
+had.
+
+And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the
+breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him,
+he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was
+strained, as he wrestled with him.
+
+And he said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh."
+
+And he said, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."
+
+And he said unto him, "What is thy name?"
+
+And he said, "Jacob."
+
+And he said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for
+thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
+
+And Jacob asked him, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name."
+
+And he said, "Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?" And he
+blessed him there.
+
+And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, said he, "I have
+seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." And the sun rose upon
+him as he passed over Peniel, and he halted upon his thigh.
+
+
+=Sec.16. The Meeting With Esau= (Gen. 33:1-16)
+
+And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, Esau came, and
+with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and
+unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and
+their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and
+Joseph hindermost. And he himself passed over before them, and bowed
+himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
+And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and
+kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women
+and the children; and said, "Who are these with thee?"
+
+And he said, "The children which God has graciously given thy servant."
+
+Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed
+themselves. And Leah also and her children came near, and bowed
+themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed
+themselves.
+
+And he said, "What meanest thou by all this company which I met?"
+
+And he said, "To find grace in the sight of my lord."
+
+And Esau said, "I have enough; my brother, let that thou hast be thine."
+
+And Jacob said, "Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy
+sight, then receive my present at my hand: forasmuch as I have seen thy
+face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take,
+I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt
+graciously with me, and because I have enough." And he urged him, and
+he took it.
+
+And he said, "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go
+before thee."
+
+And he said unto him, "My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and
+that the flocks and herds with me have young: and if they overdrive them
+one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over
+before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according to the pace of
+the cattle that is before me and according to the pace of the children,
+until I come unto my lord unto Seir."
+
+And Esau said, "Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are
+with me."
+
+And he said, "What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my
+lord."
+
+So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
+
+
+=Sec.17. The Altar of Beth-el= (Gen. 35:1-7)
+
+And God said unto Jacob, "Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and
+make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest
+from the face of Esau thy brother."
+
+Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with them, "Put
+away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and
+change your garments: and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will
+make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my
+distress, and was with me in the way which I went."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand,
+and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak
+which was by Shechem. And they journeyed: and a great terror was upon
+the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the
+sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Beth-el, he and all the people that were
+with him. And he built there an altar, because there God was revealed
+unto him when he fled from the face of his brother.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+43 (Sec.13). There is a long and interesting story of Jacob's marriage and
+of his twenty years' service with Laban. It was a hard service, for
+Laban was a hard master and was very jealous of the prosperity of his
+son-in-law. But in spite of difficulty Jacob was successful, though in
+the game of wits he was not always very scrupulous. At last he
+determined to return to his own land, but was obliged to go secretly for
+fear of Laban. Even so, Laban pursued him and there was a hot dispute.
+But at last they made a covenant of peace, and parted. Jacob journeyed
+as far as the brook Jabbok, a stream which flows westward into the
+Jordan, about twenty-five miles north of the Dead Sea. Locate it on the
+map.
+
+44 (Sec.14A). As Jacob returned home, what might he have to fear? The old
+sin comes up after twenty years. Note Jacob's plan. He is very courteous
+to Esau and yet he wants him to know what a great man he has become.
+What would the reply of the messengers indicate about Esau's life for
+the twenty years? How did Jacob feel when he heard of Esau, and what
+did he do?
+
+45 (Sec.14B). Jacob was very shrewd, but there is a better defense than
+cunning. Read the beautiful prayer. How does he think of God? How does
+he think of himself? What does he pray for? What promise does he plead?
+
+46 (Sec.14C). How many animals were there in each of the five droves? How
+many were there altogether? What was Jacob's plan to pacify Esau? Do you
+think this was a shrewd scheme?
+
+47 (Sec.15). In the old days the experiences and feelings of the heart were
+often told as if they were physical events. So we must understand the
+wonderful story of the wrestle. Jacob had been a clever man living by
+his wits. God had in many ways been seeking to bring him to obedience to
+his will. Now when the danger of Esau is upon him, Jacob has the fight
+of his life--but it is within his own heart.
+
+48 (Sec.15). Picture the loneliness of Jacob and describe how you think he
+felt that night? Did you ever have a great heart struggle about some
+duty, or over some temptation?
+
+49 (Sec.15). Jacob was defeated and yet he was victorious. When we give in
+to God, we are really victors. What was his new name? How are all his
+people called by it? The old name belongs to the clever man: the new
+name belongs to the godly man, who has received God's blessing.
+
+50 (Sec.16). This story may be passed rapidly, though it is full of
+interest. Tell in your own words: (1) what happened when the brothers
+met; (2) how Jacob wisely separated from Esau.
+
+51 (Sec.17). There was one place in Canaan that was very sacred to Jacob.
+What had happened at Beth-el? Why did God tell him to go there? How did
+he prepare his people for the visit? What thoughts do you think came to
+him when he returned to the spot where he had slept as a lonely young
+man twenty years before?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Tell your parents what you have learned about Jacob, and ask them if
+they ever knew a person who had done wrong and was in danger from it
+years afterward, and who was sorry for the wrong, and was helped by
+God's goodness. Write what they tell you in your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+JOSEPH
+
+
+    VI. JOSEPH, THE SLAVE
+
+   VII. JOSEPH, THE RULER
+
+  VIII. JOSEPH, THE GENEROUS
+
+
+
+
+VI. JOSEPH, THE SLAVE
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.18. Joseph and His Dreams= (Gen. 37:3-11)
+
+Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the
+son of his old age: and he made him a long garment with sleeves. And his
+brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; and
+they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph
+dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet
+the more.
+
+And he said unto them, "Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have
+dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my
+sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came
+round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf."
+
+And his brethren said to him, "Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt
+thou indeed have dominion over us?" And they hated him yet the more for
+his dreams, and for his words.
+
+And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said,
+"Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream; and, behold, the sun and the moon
+and eleven stars made obeisance to me."
+
+And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father
+rebuked him, and said unto him, "What is this dream that thou hast
+dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down
+ourselves to thee to the earth?"
+
+And his brethren envied him; and his father kept the saying in mind.
+
+
+=Sec.19. Joseph Sold as a Slave= (Gen. 37:12-35)
+
+And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. And
+Israel said unto Joseph, "Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem?
+come, and I will send thee unto them."
+
+And he said to him, "Here am I."
+
+And he said to him, "Go now, see whether it be well with thy brethren,
+and well with the flock; and bring me word again."
+
+So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a
+certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and
+the man asked him, saying, "What seekest thou?"
+
+And he said, "I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they are
+feeding the flock."
+
+And the man said, "They are departed hence: for I heard them say, 'Let
+us go to Dothan.'"
+
+And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. And they
+saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired
+against him to slay him. And they said one to another, "Behold, this
+dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him
+into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil beast hath devoured
+him': and we shall see what will become of his dreams."
+
+And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they
+stript Joseph of his coat, the long garment with sleeves that was on
+him; and they took him, and cast him into the pit: and the pit was
+empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread: and
+they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a traveling company
+of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and
+balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his
+brethren, "What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his
+blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our
+hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh."
+
+And his brethren hearkened unto him. And they drew and lifted Joseph out
+of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of
+silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt. And they took Joseph's coat,
+and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood; and they brought
+it to their father; and said, "This have we found; know now whether it
+be thy son's coat or not."
+
+And he knew it, and said, "It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath
+devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces." And Jacob rent
+his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son
+many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort
+him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, "For I will go down to
+the grave to my son mourning." And his father wept for him.
+
+
+=Sec.20. Joseph's Faithfulness= (Gen. 39:1-6)
+
+And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of
+Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand
+of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.
+
+And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in
+the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord
+was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his
+hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he ministered unto him:
+and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into
+his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in
+his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the
+Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was
+upon all that he had, in the house and in the field. And he left all
+that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught that was with him
+save the bread which he did eat.
+
+
+=Sec.21. Joseph in Prison= (Gen. 39:17-23)
+
+But Potiphar's wife spoke false words concerning Joseph, and she said
+unto her husband, "The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us,
+came in unto me to mock me: and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice
+and cried, that he fled out."
+
+And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which
+she spake unto him, saying, "After this manner did thy servant to me,"
+that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph's master took him, and put him
+into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he
+was there in the prison.
+
+But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him
+favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the
+prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the
+prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper
+of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand, because
+the Lord was with him; and that which he did, the Lord made it to
+prosper.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+52. The story of Joseph is remarkably beautiful and interesting. It is
+more fully told than many of the other stories, and we seem to know
+Joseph better than almost any of the older Bible characters. His life
+was full of startling adventure and shows how a strong, noble young hero
+can meet danger.
+
+53 (Sec.18). Joseph was the youngest but one of Jacob's sons. The others
+were grown up, and many statements show that they were not very good
+men. How did Jacob feel toward Joseph? He gave him a long garment with
+sleeves, which was a mark of distinction. The ordinary working garments
+were short and had no sleeves. How did Joseph's brothers feel toward
+him? What do you think of favoritism in families? Can a father feel the
+same toward good sons and bad sons?
+
+54 (Sec.18). In old times they thought much of dreams and believed they had
+important meanings. Tell Joseph's two dreams. What were they supposed to
+mean? Do boys often dream of their future?
+
+55 (Sec.19). Why do men with large flocks need to move from place to place?
+Locate Hebron on the map. Then note how far the shepherds had wandered
+to Shechem, which is a very rich pasturage. Then notice Dothan, 15 miles
+farther north, where the pasturage is still richer. About how far was
+Dothan from Hebron? (Use the scale on the map to measure.) Tell how
+Joseph found his brothers.
+
+56 (Sec.19). Tell the story of the plot. What had prepared these men for
+the crime they committed? (See I John 3:15.) It is a fearful thing to
+keep hatred in the heart. Shut the book and think for a moment whether
+you really hate anyone. Tell what they did with Joseph. How does one sin
+lead to another? What did they tell Jacob? Notice how sorry the old man
+was and how they showed their sorrow in those days.
+
+57 (Sec.20). What happened to Joseph when he reached Egypt? What is the
+position of a slave?
+
+58 (Sec.20). Notice how Joseph, although he was sold into slavery,
+determined to do his duty to his master. Some people will only do their
+best when they are well paid. How was faithfulness rewarded in this
+case?
+
+59 (Sec.21). This story is full of strange surprises. Just as Joseph was
+enjoying his place as overseer, a new enemy arose. His master's wife
+made false charges against him. She was a wicked woman and wanted Joseph
+to be put out of the way. Her husband believed her. What did he do with
+Joseph?
+
+60 (Sec.21). Joseph might well be discouraged, but even in prison he was
+determined to do his best. Whose favor did he gain? In our prisons they
+call the good prisoners "trusties." The jailer soon found that Joseph
+was a "trusty," and gave him charge of all the other prisoners.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Bear in mind Joseph's trouble in slavery and in prison, and try to find
+out about someone who has had a very hard time, but who is patiently and
+cheerfully doing his work, trusting in God. Write the account of it.
+
+
+
+
+VII. JOSEPH, THE RULER
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.22. Joseph's Interpretation of the Dreams= (Gen. 40)
+
+A. JOSEPH AND THE STATE PRISONERS
+
+And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of
+Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh
+was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers,
+and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in the house of the
+captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
+And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered
+unto them: and they continued a season in prison.
+
+And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream, in one night,
+each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and
+the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
+
+And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold,
+they were sad. And he asked them, saying, "Wherefore look ye so sadly
+to-day?"
+
+And they said unto him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that
+can interpret it."
+
+And Joseph said unto them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? tell
+it me, I pray you."
+
+
+B. THE CHIEF BUTLER'S DREAM
+
+And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my
+dream, behold, a vine was before me; and in the vine were three
+branches: and it was as though it budded, and its blossoms shot forth;
+and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: and Pharaoh's cup
+was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's
+cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand."
+
+And Joseph said unto him, "This is the interpretation of it: the three
+branches are three days; within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up
+thine head, and restore thee unto thine office: and thou shalt give
+Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his
+butler. But have me in thy remembrance when it shall be well with thee,
+and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto
+Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen away
+out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that
+they should put me into the dungeon."
+
+
+C. THE CHIEF BAKER'S DREAM
+
+When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto
+Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white
+bread were on my head: and in the uppermost basket there was of all
+manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat it out of the
+basket upon my head."
+
+And Joseph answered and said, "This is the interpretation thereof: the
+three baskets are three days; within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift
+up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds
+shall eat thy flesh from off thee."
+
+
+D. THE INTERPRETATION COMES TRUE
+
+And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he
+made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the
+chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants. And he
+restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup
+into Pharaoh's hand: but he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had
+interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but
+forgot him.
+
+
+=Sec.23. Joseph's Interpretation of Pharaoh's Dreams= (Gen. 41:1-16, 25-36)
+
+A. THE KING'S DREAM
+
+And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed:
+and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of
+the river seven kine, well favored and fatfleshed; and they fed in the
+reed-grass. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the
+river, ill favored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon
+the brink of the river. And the ill favored and leanfleshed kine did
+eat up the seven well favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he
+slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up
+on one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted
+with the east wind, sprung up after them. And the thin ears swallowed up
+the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a
+dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled;
+and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise
+men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream: but there was none that
+could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
+
+
+B. THE BUTLER'S RECOMMENDATION OF JOSEPH
+
+Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, "I do remember my
+faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in
+prison in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker:
+and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man
+according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was with us
+there a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guards; and
+we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according
+to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to
+us, so it was; I was restored unto mine office, and he was hanged."
+
+
+C. JOSEPH INTERPRETS PHARAOH'S DREAM
+
+Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of
+the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in
+unto Pharaoh.
+
+And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is none
+that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that when thou
+hearest a dream thou canst interpret it."
+
+And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me: God shall give
+Pharaoh an answer of peace."
+
+And Pharaoh told Joseph his dreams.
+
+And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one: what God is
+about to do he hath declared unto Pharaoh. The seven good kine are seven
+years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And
+the seven lean and ill favored kine that came up after them are seven
+years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they
+shall be seven years of famine. That is the thing which I spake unto
+Pharaoh: what God is about to do he hath showed unto Pharaoh. Behold,
+there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
+and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the
+plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall
+consume the land; and the plenty shall not be known in the land by
+reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous.
+And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the
+thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now
+therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over
+the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers
+over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the
+seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of these good
+years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in
+the cities, and let them keep it. And the food shall be for a store to
+the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land
+of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine."
+
+
+=Sec.24. Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt= (Gen. 41:37-45, 47-57)
+
+A. JOSEPH HONORED BY PHARAOH
+
+And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all
+his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, "Can we find such a
+one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?" And Pharaoh said unto
+Joseph, "Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so
+discreet and wise as thou: thou shalt be over my house, and according
+unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be
+greater than thou." And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "See, I have set thee
+over all the land of Egypt."
+
+And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon
+Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold
+chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot
+which he had; and they cried before him, "Bow the knee," and he set him
+over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "I am Pharaoh,
+and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the
+land of Egypt."
+
+[Illustration: THE SEAL OF THE GRAND VIZIER OF RAMSES II]
+
+And he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On.
+And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
+
+
+B. JOSEPH'S PROSPERITY
+
+And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
+And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the
+land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the
+field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And
+Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left
+numbering; for it was without number.
+
+And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came. And
+Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God hath made me
+forget all my toil, and all my father's house." And the name of the
+second called he Ephraim: "For God hath made me fruitful in the land of
+my affliction."
+
+And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an
+end. And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph
+had said: and there was famine in all lands; but in all the land of
+Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the
+people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the
+Egyptians, "Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do."
+
+And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all
+the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine was sore in
+the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy
+grain; because the famine was sore in all the earth.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+61. Recall rapidly the story of Joseph as far as we have studied it.
+Read Sec.21 and consider the situation of the young prisoner.
+
+62 (Sec.22A). Who were these two great men that were sent to prison? It was
+a high office to be cupbearer to the king. The butler's speech later
+shows that it was his duty to squeeze the grapes into a goblet of water,
+making the refreshing drink for his royal master. The officer who had
+charge of the kitchen in a great palace would also be an important man.
+In our time a French "chef" sometimes has a salary of $25,000. Why were
+these men in prison? What did Joseph have to do with them?
+
+63 (Sec.22A). This was three days before the king's birthday and on that
+day it was customary to decide the fate of state prisoners. How would
+the two men feel as the day drew near? Would they be likely to dream
+about their former occupations? Tell the conversation that took place
+between them and Joseph in the morning.
+
+64 (Sec.22B). Tell the story. Note how natural it was for the butler to
+dream that he was again preparing the king's grape juice. What do you
+think of Joseph's request? Was it a reasonable request?
+
+65 (Sec.22C, D). Tell the story of the baker's dream and the
+interpretation. What happened on the king's birthday? How was it that
+the chief butler was so ungrateful?
+
+66 (Sec.23A). Pharaoh was the title given to all the kings of Egypt, as
+Czar is given to the Russian emperors, Sultan to the rulers of Turkey,
+and President to our own chief executive. The most important thing in
+Egypt is its famous river. (What is its name?) It was natural for the
+king to dream of it. Tell the story of his dream.
+
+67 (Sec.23B). We have already noted how much significance was attached to
+dreams. A king would have a company of learned men who were supposed to
+be able to interpret his dreams. How was it in this case? What did the
+chief butler do? How long had he forgotten Joseph?
+
+68 (Sec.23C). How did they get Joseph ready to appear before the king? If
+you look at Egyptian pictures you will see that the great men never wore
+beards. The Egyptians were also very cleanly and particular about white
+garments. What did Pharaoh say to Joseph? Note Joseph's modesty.
+
+69 (Sec.23C). Tell Joseph's interpretation of the dreams. Of course we
+naturally ask how Joseph could know these things. But we can only say
+that it is part of the story, and our interest is in finding just what
+these beautiful old tales of the heroes have to say to us. What advice
+did Joseph give to the king? Famines were rare in Egypt, because the
+country is not dependent upon rainfall but upon the overflow of the
+Nile. Occasionally, though very seldom, the water does not come from the
+upper river in sufficient quantity; then there is no inundation and the
+crops fail.
+
+70 (Sec.24A). What did Pharaoh think of Joseph's interpretation? What did
+he think of his advice? What did he decide to do with him. Note the six
+distinctions he gave him and explain what they meant? In England one of
+the highest officers is the Keeper of the Great Seal. And there the
+aldermen wear gold chains round their necks. It was a notable honor to
+be married to the daughter of the high priest, who was a great
+dignitary.
+
+71 (Sec.24B). What did Joseph do during the seven prosperous years? How
+many sons were born to him? What did he do when the famine came?
+
+72. When Joseph was in the pit in slavery, and in the prison, whom did
+he trust? Did he ever think the happy dreams of youth were hopeless?
+What is the best way to meet bad fortune? Now note how he meets good
+fortune. Read Rom. 8:28.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Like Joseph, you doubtless have some tasks put upon you that are
+unpleasant. Note one of those tasks this week. Do it as Joseph would
+have done. You will feel after you have done your best that it was worth
+while. Then think again how Joseph behaved. Write out in your notebook
+why Joseph always did his duty.
+
+
+
+
+
+VIII. JOSEPH, THE GENEROUS
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.25. Joseph and the Guilty Brothers= (Gen. 42)
+
+A. THE FIRST JOURNEY OF THE BROTHERS
+
+Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his
+sons, "Why do ye look one upon another? Behold, I have heard that there
+is grain in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence;
+that we may live, and not die."
+
+And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy grain from Egypt. But
+Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he
+said, "Lest peradventure mischief befall him."
+
+
+B. JOSEPH'S TREATMENT OF HIS BROTHERS
+
+And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all
+the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down
+themselves to him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his
+brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and
+spake roughly with them; and he said unto them, "Whence come ye?" And
+they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
+
+And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto
+them, "Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come."
+
+And they said unto him, "Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants
+come. We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no
+spies."
+
+And he said unto them, "Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are
+come."
+
+And they said, "We thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man
+in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our
+father, and one is not."
+
+And Joseph said unto them, "Ye are spies." And he put them all together
+into prison three days. And Joseph said unto them the third day, "This
+do, and live; for I fear God: if ye be true men, let one of your
+brethren be bound in your prison house; but go ye, carry grain for the
+famine of your houses: and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall
+your words be verified, and ye shall not die."
+
+And they said one to another, "We are verily guilty concerning our
+brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us,
+and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us."
+
+And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an
+interpreter between them. And he turned himself about from them, and
+wept; and he returned to them, and spake to them, and took Simeon from
+among them, and bound him before their eyes.
+
+
+C. THE RETURN TO JACOB
+
+Then Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with grain, and to restore
+every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way:
+and thus was it done unto them.
+
+And they laded their asses with their grain and departed thence. And as
+one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging
+place, he espied his money; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his
+sack. And he said unto his brethren, "My money is restored; and, lo, it
+is even in my sack." And their heart failed them, and they turned
+trembling one to another, saying, "What is this that God hath done unto
+us?"
+
+And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told
+him all that had befallen them. And it came to pass as they emptied
+their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack;
+and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were
+afraid.
+
+And Jacob their father said unto them, "Me have ye bereaved of my
+children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin
+away: all these things are against me."
+
+And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, "Slay my two sons, if I bring
+him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee
+again."
+
+And he said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is
+dead, and he only is left: if mischief befall him by the way in the
+which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the
+grave."
+
+
+=Sec.26. Joseph and Benjamin= (Gen. 43)
+
+A. THE SECOND JOURNEY TO EGYPT
+
+And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had
+eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father
+said unto them, "Go again, buy us a little food."
+
+And Judah spake unto him, saying, "The man did solemnly protest unto us,
+saying, 'Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.' If
+thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
+but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down."
+
+And Israel said, "Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man
+whether ye had yet a brother?"
+
+And they said, "The man asked straitly concerning ourselves, and
+concerning our kindred, saying, 'Is your father yet alive? have ye
+another brother?' and we told him according to the tenor of these words:
+could we in any wise know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"
+And Judah said unto Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we
+will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and
+also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou
+require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then
+let me bear the blame for ever: for except we had lingered, surely we
+had now returned a second time."
+
+And their father Israel said unto them, "If it be so now, do this; take
+of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man
+a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts,
+and almonds: and take double money in your hand; and the money that was
+returned in the mouth of your sacks carry again in your hand;
+peradventure it was an oversight: take also your brother, and arise, go
+again unto the man: and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that
+he may release unto you your other brother and Benjamin. And if I be
+bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."
+
+
+B. THE KIND RECEPTION
+
+And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand,
+and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before
+Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward
+of his house, "Bring the men into the house, and slay, and make ready;
+for the men shall dine with me at noon."
+
+And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into
+Joseph's house. And the men were afraid because they were brought into
+Joseph's house; and they said, "Because of the money that was returned
+in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek
+occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our
+asses."
+
+And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house; and they spake unto
+him at the door of the house, and said, "Oh my lord, we came indeed down
+at the first time to buy food: and it came to pass, when we came to the
+lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money
+was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have
+brought it again in our hand. And other money have we brought down in
+our hand to buy food: we know not who put our money in our sacks."
+
+And he said, "Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your
+father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money."
+
+And he brought Simeon out unto them. And the man brought the men into
+Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he
+gave their asses provender. And they made ready the present against
+Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.
+
+
+C. THE FEAST
+
+And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in
+their hand into the house, and bowed down themselves to him to the
+earth. And he asked them of their welfare, and said, "Is your father
+well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?" And they said,
+"Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive." And they bowed the
+head, and made obeisance.
+
+And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's
+son, and said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto
+me?" And he said, "God be gracious unto thee, my son."
+
+And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he
+sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
+And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and
+said, "Set on bread."
+
+And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for
+the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the
+Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an
+abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn
+according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth:
+and the men marvelled one with another. And he took and sent messes unto
+them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any
+of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
+
+
+=Sec.27. Joseph's Forgiveness= (Gen. 44; 45:1-15)
+
+A. THE HARD TEST
+
+And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks
+with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his
+sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of
+the youngest, and his grain money."
+
+And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the
+morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. And
+when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph
+said unto his steward, "Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost
+overtake them, say unto them, 'Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
+Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed
+divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.'"
+
+And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words. And they said
+unto him, "Wherefore speaketh my lord such words as these? God forbid
+that thy servants should do such a thing. Behold, the money, which we
+found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land
+of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or
+gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we
+also will be my lord's bondmen."
+
+And he said, "Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom
+it is found shall be my bondman; and ye shall be blameless."
+
+Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and
+opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and
+left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then
+they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to
+the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; and he was
+yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
+
+And Joseph said unto them, "What deed is this that ye have done? know ye
+not that such a man as I can indeed divine?"
+
+And Judah said, "What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or
+how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy
+servants: behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both we, and he also in
+whose hand the cup is found."
+
+And he said, "God forbid that I should do so: the man in whose hand the
+cup is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, get you up in
+peace unto your father."
+
+
+B. JUDAH'S NOBLE OFFER
+
+Then Judah came near unto him, and said, "Oh my lord, let thy servant, I
+pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn
+against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his
+servants, saying, 'Have ye a father, or a brother?' And we said unto my
+lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a
+little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother,
+and his father loveth him.' And thou saidst unto thy servants, 'Bring
+him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.' And we said unto
+my lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his
+father, his father would die.' And thou saidst unto thy servants,
+'Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face
+no more.' And it came to pass when we came up unto my father, we told
+him the words of my lord. And our father said, 'Go again, buy us a
+little food.' And we said, 'We cannot go down: if our youngest brother
+be with us, then will we go down; for we may not see the man's face,
+except our youngest brother be with us.' And my father said unto us, 'Ye
+know that my wife bare me two sons: and the one went out from me, and I
+said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I have not seen him since: and if
+ye take this one also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring
+down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.' Now therefore when I come
+to my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound
+up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad
+is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the
+gray hairs of our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant
+became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, 'If I bring him not
+unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father for ever.' Now
+therefore, let thy servant, I pray thee, abide instead of the lad a
+bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how
+shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest I see the
+evil that shall come on my father."
+
+
+C. THE FORGIVENESS
+
+Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him;
+and he cried, "Cause every man to go out from me." And there stood no
+man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he
+wept aloud.
+
+And Joseph said unto his brethren, "I am Joseph; doth my father yet
+live?" And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at
+his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, "Come near to me, I
+pray you." And they came near. And he said, "I am Joseph your brother,
+whom ye sold into Egypt. And now be not grieved, nor angry with
+yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to
+preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and
+there are yet five years, in the which there shall be neither plowing
+nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the
+earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance. So now it was not
+you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to
+Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of
+Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, 'Thus saith
+thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me,
+tarry not: and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt
+be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children,
+and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: and there will I
+nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to
+poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.' And, behold,
+your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth
+that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in
+Egypt, and of all that ye have seen and ye shall haste and bring down my
+father hither."
+
+And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin
+wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them:
+and after that his brethren talked with him.
+
+
+=Sec.28. Joseph and His Father= (Gen. 45:25-28; 46:28-30; 47:7-11)
+
+And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto
+Jacob their father. And they told him, saying, "Joseph is yet alive, and
+he is ruler over all the land of Egypt."
+
+And his heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all
+the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the
+wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their
+father revived: and Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is yet
+alive: I will go and see him before I die."
+
+And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to show the way before him
+unto Goshen; and they came unto the land of Goshen. And Joseph made
+ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen. And
+he presented himself unto him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his
+neck a good while.
+
+And Israel said unto Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen thy
+face, that thou art yet alive."
+
+And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and
+Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, "How many are the
+days of the years of thy life?"
+
+And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are
+an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have been the days of the
+years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years
+of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage."
+
+And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.
+And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a
+possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+73. This a rather long chapter, but it is so full of interest that it
+would not be well to divide it. Recall the last chapter and tell what
+was the condition in Egypt and what was Joseph's position.
+
+74 (Sec.25A). We turn back in our story to what persons? What was happening
+to them? What was this journey, who went, why did they go, who remained
+behind? Compare this with Abraham's journey (Sec.4).
+
+75 (Sec.25B). How did Joseph feel when he saw his brothers after so many
+years? How did he recognize them, while they did not know him? Notice
+how roughly he treats them. He is going to see whether they care for the
+youngest brother Benjamin. How does he do this? We saw in the life of
+Jacob how an old sin comes back. So it is here, as the brothers realize.
+How does the interview end?
+
+76 (Sec.25C). What happened about the money? Describe the report that they
+made to Jacob.
+
+77 (Sec.26A). Why did they need to go to Egypt again? What did Judah say to
+his father? How did Jacob at last consent?
+
+78 (Sec.26B). Joseph is not yet ready to tell them of his forgiveness,
+because he wants them to be really repentant. He has a very good plan in
+his mind. What took place between the brothers and the steward?
+
+79 (Sec.26C). This description is very beautiful. What were Joseph's
+feelings when he saw Benjamin? How was the feast arranged? Notice that
+Joseph ate apart as the Egyptian custom required. How surprised they
+were that they should be seated according to their ages!
+
+80 (Sec.27A). What was Joseph's plan about the cup? Tell the story of the
+arrest. Notice the custom of expressing sorrow. The brothers find
+themselves in a hard case. Once, when they were guilty, they had been
+able to escape detection; now, when they are innocent, they cannot
+escape. What was Joseph's harsh decision?
+
+81 (Sec.27B). The brothers had not cared that Joseph should be sold as a
+slave and Jacob should be heartbroken. But now when Benjamin is to be a
+slave they feel different. Why is this? Tell in your own words Judah's
+noble speech. See how completely Joseph has brought his brothers to
+repentance.
+
+82 (Sec.27C). Notice (1) Joseph's loving words, (2) his faith in God's
+providence, (3) his message to his father, (4) his affection for his
+brothers. Have you ever known forgiveness to do any good?
+
+83 (Sec.28). How did Jacob receive the good news that Joseph was alive?
+Goshen was a fertile part of Egypt in which the Hebrews were to live.
+Describe the meeting of the father and son. Notice the formal
+presentation of Jacob to the king, and how stately is the old patriarch
+as he blesses the king.
+
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Remember how happy Joseph was in forgiving his brethren. Read Rom.
+12:20, 21. If anybody should annoy or anger you this week, try Joseph's
+plan. Instead of getting even with your enemy, be kind to him. See if
+you do not feel happier about it. Write in your notebook your own idea
+of whether Joseph was right in his forgiveness.
+
+
+
+
+MOSES
+
+
+   IX. MOSES' EARLY LIFE
+
+    X. MOSES' COMMISSION
+
+   XI. MOSES, THE DELIVERER
+
+  XII. MOSES, THE LAWGIVER
+
+
+
+
+
+IX. MOSES' EARLY LIFE
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.29. The Oppression of the Hebrews= (Exod. 1:6-12, 22)
+
+And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the
+children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and
+multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with
+them.
+
+Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he
+said unto his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are
+more and mightier than we: come, let us deal wisely with them; lest they
+multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war,
+they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and
+get them up out of the land."
+
+Therefore, they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their
+burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
+But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more
+they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of
+Israel.
+
+And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, "Every son that is born ye
+shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive."
+
+
+=Sec.30. The Birth and Adoption of Moses= (Exod. 2:1-10)
+
+[Illustration: _Copyright 1904 by Underwood and Underwood_
+THE SIXTY-FIVE-FOOT PORTRAIT STATUES OF RAMSES II]
+
+And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter
+of Levi. And the woman bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a
+goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer
+hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime
+and with pitch: and she put the child therein, and laid it in the flags
+by the river's brink. And his sister stood afar off, to know what would
+be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the
+river; and her maidens walked along by the river side; and she saw the
+ark among the flags, and sent her handmaid to fetch it. And she opened
+it, and saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept.
+
+And she had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews'
+children."
+
+Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call thee a
+nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?"
+
+And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go."
+
+And the maid went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter
+said unto her, "Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will
+give thee thy wages."
+
+And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she
+brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she
+called his name Moses.
+
+
+=Sec.31. The Young Man's Unwise Methods= (Exod. 2:11-15)
+
+And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went
+out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he saw an
+Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way
+and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the
+Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. And he went out the second day, and,
+behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that
+did the wrong, "Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?" And he said, "Who
+made thee a prince and a judge over us? thinkest thou to kill me, as
+thou killedst the Egyptian?" And Moses feared, and said, "Surely the
+thing is known." Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay
+Moses.
+
+
+=Sec.32. Moses in Midian= (Exod. 2:16-22)
+
+Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian:
+and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters:
+and they came and drew water, and filled the trough to water their
+father's flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses
+stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when they came to
+Reuel their father, he said, "How is it that ye are come so soon
+to-day?" And they said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hands of
+the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the
+flock." And he said unto his daughters, "And where is he? why is it that
+ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread." And Moses was
+content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter,
+and she bare a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, "I have
+been a sojourner in a strange land."
+
+
+=Sec.33. The Unhappy Hebrews= (Exod. 2:23-25)
+
+And it came to pass in the course of those many days, that the king of
+Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage,
+and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
+And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with
+Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw the children of Israel,
+and God took knowledge of them.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+84. In any nation one of the greatest heroes is the man who was the
+founder of the national life. The Italians look to the great Garibaldi,
+who delivered them from their enemies and brought about a united Italy.
+Americans call Washington the father of his country, because he was the
+leader in the great struggle to make America a nation. The Hebrews
+always looked back to Moses as their great deliverer, who brought them
+out of Egypt and made them a nation. The study of this hero takes us to
+the second book of the Bible, which is called Exodus, meaning "Going
+out," because it gives the story of the escape of the Hebrews from
+Egypt.
+
+85 (Sec.29). In the last chapter we were studying about a small tribe of
+people. Now we find that a long time has passed and the people have
+greatly increased in numbers. Consider how the negroes have increased in
+numbers since the War. There were then four millions. How many are there
+now?
+
+86 (Sec.29). There probably arose a new dynasty, or line of kings. What did
+the king fear might happen if the Hebrews grew too numerous? These
+Pharaohs were mighty builders. What great objects had some of the
+earlier Pharaohs built? They loved to have splendid palaces and temples
+and strong fortifications. As there was no machinery, this work
+required great numbers of men. In the wars of those days all prisoners
+were made slaves and compelled to work. So the Egyptians treated the
+Hebrews as if they were prisoners. What kind of labor were they
+compelled to do?
+
+87 (Sec.29). We get a glimpse into the awful harshness of that old slavery.
+As we see the pictures of the magnificent structures of those days we
+remember that they cost the lives of millions of human beings. We have
+done away with slavery, but are not people still compelled to work in
+awful conditions? There are very many occupations where the health of
+the laborers is broken down and their lives shortened. We have still a
+great deal to learn about how men ought to labor.
+
+88 (Sec.29). When the harsh slavery did not prevent the increase of the
+Hebrews, it was brutally determined to murder them. What was the plan?
+The girls were saved because they could not fight.
+
+89 (Sec.30). Doubtless many of the Hebrew children were drowned, but one
+mother was determined to save her boy. Tell the story of how he was
+hidden and found and saved.
+
+90 (Sec.30). By the happy plan of the mother and sister the boy could be
+brought up safely in his own home. But he was also to have the
+opportunity of training in the royal palace. What did it mean that he
+was adopted by the princess?
+
+91 (Sec.31). Which people would it have been most profitable for Moses to
+belong to--the Egyptians or the Hebrews? Sometimes we see a boy who is
+clever and fortunate separating himself from his family. How did Moses
+feel when he grew up and saw the sad condition of his people? What hasty
+thing did he do? Was Moses justified in that act? Let us see how it
+turned out.
+
+92 (Sec.31). The young man was not only anxious to save his people from
+tyranny but also from quarreling among themselves. What happened the
+next day? People are not always willing to take good advice. What danger
+was Moses in?
+
+93 (Sec.32). What was Moses obliged to do because he had killed the
+Egyptian overseer? Locate Midian. When Moses was off in the desert, a
+fugitive from justice, could he help his people? Was not his hasty act
+unwise? Do you remember someone attacking saloons with a hatchet? Can we
+often do good by violence? Sometimes we are very indignant because we
+see injustice, but in the long run we shall gain all good ends by
+peaceful means. Lynching is a poor way to secure justice.
+
+94 (Sec.32). Notice that the girls were in charge of the flocks. What did
+the rude shepherds do? Again Moses interferes to help the weak, but this
+time he seems to have done it without fighting. Why did the girls think
+Moses was an Egyptian? How did it all turn out?
+
+95 (Sec.33). Meantime everything looked very dark for the Hebrews. But God
+was preparing a man to save them. Would it have been a good thing for
+the Hebrews to have been happy in Egypt and to have stayed there and
+become Egyptians? Would it have been well if the Pilgrims had been well
+treated in England and had stayed there? Are our troubles ever good for
+us? Who is watching all the time?
+
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Moses was obliged to be a shepherd instead of a wealthy Egyptian. So
+sometimes our plans are changed. But often it turns out for good. Ask
+your parents, or your pastor, or some friend, to tell you if anything
+ever happened to them that seemed at the time to upset all their plans
+of life, but which turned out to be of great value in their training.
+Write an account of it in your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+X. MOSES' COMMISSION
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.34. The Call in the Wilderness= (Exod. 3:1-11; 4:1-17)
+
+A. THE BURNING BUSH
+
+Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest
+of Midian: and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came
+to the mountain of God, unto Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared
+unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked,
+and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
+
+And Moses said, "I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why
+the bush is not burnt."
+
+And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him
+out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses."
+
+And he said, "Here am I."
+
+And he said, "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet,
+for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. I am the God of thy
+father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
+
+And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord
+said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in
+Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I
+know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand
+of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land
+and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. Come now
+therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring
+forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt."
+
+[Illustration: ORIENTAL SANDALS]
+
+
+B. MOSES' HESITATION
+
+And Moses said unto God, "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and
+that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? Behold,
+they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say,
+'The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.'"
+
+And the Lord said unto him, "What is that in thine hand?"
+
+And he said, "A rod."
+
+And he said, "Cast it on the ground."
+
+And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled
+from before it.
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Put forth thine hand and take it by the
+tail."
+
+And he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in
+his hand.
+
+And the Lord said furthermore unto him, "Put now thine hand into thy
+bosom."
+
+And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his
+hand was leprous, as white as snow.
+
+And he said, "Put thine hand into thy bosom again."
+
+And he put his hand into his bosom again; and when he took it out of his
+bosom, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
+
+And the Lord said, "It shall come to pass, 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."
+
+And Moses said unto the Lord, "Oh Lord, I am not eloquent, neither
+heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: for I am slow
+of speech, and of a slow tongue."
+
+And the Lord said unto him, "Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh a
+man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not I the Lord? Now
+therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou
+shalt speak."
+
+And he said, "Oh Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of another whom
+thou wilt choose."
+
+And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, "Is
+there not Aaron thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also,
+behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be
+glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put the words in
+his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will
+teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the
+people. And thou shalt take in thine hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt
+do the signs."
+
+And the Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses."
+
+And he went, and met him in the mountain of God, and kissed him. And
+Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord wherewith he had sent him,
+and all the signs wherewith he had charged him.
+
+
+=Sec.35. The Return to Egypt= (Exod. 4:18, 20, 27-31)
+
+And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said unto
+him, "Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in
+Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive."
+
+And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace."
+
+And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he
+returned to the land of Egypt.
+
+And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the
+children of Israel: and Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had
+spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the
+people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the
+children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they
+bowed their heads and worshipped.
+
+
+=Sec.36. Pharaoh's Harshness= (Exod. 5:1-6:1)
+
+A. THE CHALLENGE
+
+And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh, "Thus saith
+the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a
+feast unto me in the wilderness.'"
+
+And Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should hearken unto his voice
+to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, and moreover I will not let
+Israel go."
+
+And they said, "The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we
+pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice unto
+the Lord our God."
+
+And the king of Egypt said unto them, "Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron,
+loose the people from their work? get you unto your burdens. Behold,
+the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their
+burdens."
+
+
+B. THE BITTER BONDAGE
+
+And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and
+their officers, saying, "Ye shall no more give the people straw to make
+brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. And
+the number of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay
+upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they be idle;
+therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Let
+heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let
+them not regard lying words."
+
+And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they
+spake to the people, saying, "Thus saith Pharaoh, 'I will not give you
+straw. Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it: for nought of
+your work shall be diminished.'"
+
+So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to
+gather stubble for straw. And the taskmasters were urgent, saying,
+"Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw." And the
+officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set
+over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Wherefore have ye not fulfilled
+your task both yesterday and to-day, in making brick as heretofore?"
+
+Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh,
+saying, "Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? There is no
+straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, 'Make brick': and
+behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people."
+
+But he said, "Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, 'Let us go and
+sacrifice to the Lord.' Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no
+straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks."
+
+And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in
+evil case, and they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they
+came forth from Pharaoh: and they said unto them, "The Lord look upon
+you, and judge; because ye have made us to be abhorred in the eyes of
+Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand
+to slay us."
+
+
+C. THE PROMISE OF THE LORD
+
+And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, "Lord, wherefore hast thou
+evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since
+I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath evil entreated this
+people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all."
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Now shalt thou see what I will do to
+Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong
+hand shall he drive them out of his land."
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+96 (Sec.34A). We left Moses in Midian. Locate it again on the map. With
+whom did he live? What was his occupation? Notice that he came to Mt.
+Horeb, which is also called Mt. Sinai. Locate it on the map.
+
+97 (Sec.34A). As Moses was alone in the wilderness, his thoughts would
+naturally turn to his people. What would he wish for them? How greatly
+they needed a leader! If ever the thought occurred to him that he ought
+to be their leader, how would he feel about it? At last God's message
+came to him. It is one of the beautiful stories of God speaking to man.
+How was Moses told to show his reverence? It is the custom in the East.
+How could they take off their shoes so easily? (See illustration of the
+sandal.) What custom do we have to show reverence? How did Moses show a
+still deeper reverence?
+
+98 (Sec.34A). What did God tell Moses? It might have seemed to the lonely
+exile that the Lord had forgotten all about the people in bondage. A
+commission is a duty given to a man: what was Moses' commission? At last
+God's plan for poor Israel was clear. The deliverer had been found.
+
+99 (Sec.34B). It was a startling commission for Moses. He remembered how
+the people had treated him when he had tried to help them. (Recall Sec.31.)
+What was he now afraid of? Tell the story of the signs with which the
+Lord gave him confidence. People were always anxious for something
+wonderful in those old days.
+
+100 (Sec.34B). Moses had another reason for hesitation. Is humility a good
+preparation for a great work or is confidence better? How does the Lord
+fit an earnest man for his work? Humility is not good when it is through
+lack of faith. "The anger of the Lord" means his displeasure at what
+is not right. Who was sent with Moses?
+
+101 (Sec.35). How did Moses act after receiving the commission. Did he tell
+his father-in-law his plans? Describe the meeting, as you may imagine
+it, between the two brothers and the Hebrew people.
+
+[Illustration: _Copyright 1904 by Underwood and Underwood_
+BRICK-MAKING IN EGYPT]
+
+102 (Sec.36A). It was a bold thing to go to the king. What did Moses and
+Aaron demand? What did the king say about the Lord? What did he say
+Moses and Aaron were doing?
+
+103 (Sec.36B). Brick was made from the black Nile mud mixed with sand and
+with chopped straw. There are pictures in Egypt of captives making these
+bricks with overseers guarding them. The soft mud would be put into a
+wooden mold, which would then be lifted off and the brick left to dry in
+the sun. Sometimes the captives had to gather waste material or stubble
+instead of straw. Why was this such a hardship to the Hebrews?
+
+104 (Sec.36B). Note how the orders were carried out. There are two classes
+of officials mentioned: the Egyptian taskmasters and the Hebrew
+officers. The latter were responsible for the full work being done by
+their countrymen. Tell the whole story of the bondage.
+
+105 (Sec.36B). Describe the interview of the officers with Pharaoh. How did
+they feel toward Moses and Aaron?
+
+106 (Sec.36C). How did all this affect Moses? It is often darkest just
+before day. What did the Lord promise?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Think over the story carefully and prepare for a debate, the students
+taking different sides on the question: Resolved that Moses was wrong in
+settling down in Midian and leaving his people so long without help.
+
+
+
+
+XI. MOSES, THE DELIVERER
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.37. The Plagues of Egypt= (Exod. 7:14-18, 25; 8:1-4, 6, 8, 13, 15-17,
+20-24, 28, 31, 32; 9:1-6, 8, 9, 22-28, 33, 34; 10:3-6, 14, 19-23, 28,
+29; 11:4-8; 12:29-36)
+
+A. THE NILE TURNED TO BLOOD
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn, he refuseth
+to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth
+out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink to meet
+him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine
+hand. And thou shalt say unto him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews,
+hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me
+in the wilderness: and, behold hitherto thou hast not hearkened. Thus
+saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I
+will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are
+in the river and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in
+the river shall die, and the river shall be polluted; and the Egyptians
+shall loathe to drink water from the river.'"
+
+
+B. THE SWARMS OF FROGS
+
+And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the
+river. And the Lord spake unto Moses, "Go in unto Pharaoh, and say unto
+him, 'Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. And
+if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with
+frogs: and the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come
+into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into
+the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens,
+and into thy kneading-troughs: and the frogs shall come up both upon
+thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.'"
+
+And the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh
+called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the Lord, that he take
+away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people
+go, that they may sacrifice unto the Lord."
+
+And the frogs died, but when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he
+hardened his heart.
+
+
+C. THE STINGING GNATS AND SWARMS OF FLIES
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust
+of the earth, that it may become stinging gnats throughout all the land
+of Egypt." And there were gnats upon man, and upon beast; all the dust
+of the earth became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand
+before Pharaoh; and say unto him, 'Thus saith the Lord, Let my people
+go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people go,
+behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants,
+and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the
+Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon
+they are. And I will separate in that day the land of Goshen, in which
+my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou
+mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.'"
+
+And the Lord did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into all
+the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that ye may
+sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness."
+
+And the Lord removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his
+servants, and from his people; there remained not one. And Pharaoh
+hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.
+
+
+D. THE CATTLE PESTILENCE AND THE BOILS
+
+Then the Lord said unto Moses, "Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, 'Thus
+saith the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may
+serve me. For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
+behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field,
+upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and
+upon the flocks: there shall be a very grievous pestilence. And the
+Lord shall separate between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of
+Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that belongeth to the children
+of Israel.'"
+
+And on the morrow all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the
+children of Israel died not one.
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, "Take handfuls of ashes,
+and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. And
+it shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a
+boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast, throughout all
+the land of Egypt."
+
+
+E. THE HAIL, THE LOCUSTS, AND THE DARKNESS
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven,
+that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon
+beast, and upon every herb of the field." So there was hail, and fire
+mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the
+land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote all that was
+in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the
+field, and brake every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen,
+where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. And Pharaoh sent,
+and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, "I have sinned this
+time. I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer."
+
+And the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the
+earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders
+were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his
+servants.
+
+And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, "Thus saith
+the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, 'How long wilt thou refuse to humble
+thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if
+thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to-morrow I will bring locusts
+into thy border: and they shall cover the face of the earth, that one
+shall not be able to see the earth: and they shall eat that which
+remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth
+for you out of the field: and thy houses shall be filled, and the houses
+of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither thy
+fathers nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were
+upon the earth unto this day.'"
+
+And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord
+brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all the night; and
+when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And they did eat
+every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail
+had left.
+
+Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, "I have
+sinned against the Lord your God, and against you."
+
+And the Lord turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the
+locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust
+in all the border of Egypt. But Pharaoh did not let the children of
+Israel go.
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch out thine hand toward heaven,
+that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which
+may be felt."
+
+And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick
+darkness in all the land of Egypt three days; they saw not one another,
+neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of
+Israel had light in their dwellings.
+
+
+F. THE LAST PLAGUE
+
+And Pharaoh said unto Moses, "Get thee from me, take heed to thyself,
+see my face no more; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die."
+
+And Moses said, "Thus saith the Lord, 'About midnight will I go out into
+the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall
+die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even
+unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all
+the firstborn of cattle. And there shall be a great cry throughout all
+the land of Egypt, such as there hath been none like it, nor shall be
+like it any more.' But against any of the children of Israel shall not a
+dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that
+the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. And all
+these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto
+me, saying, 'Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee': and
+after that I will go out." And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
+
+And it came to pass at midnight, that the Lord smote all the firstborn
+in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his
+throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and
+all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and
+all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in
+Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he
+called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise up, get you forth
+from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve
+the Lord, as ye have said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as ye
+have said, and be gone; and bless me also."
+
+And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, to send them out of the
+land in haste; for they said, "We be all dead men."
+
+And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they
+asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and
+raiment: and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the
+Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked.
+
+
+=Sec.38. The Great Deliverance= (Exod. 13:17, 18, 21, 22; 14:5-7, 10-14,
+19-27)
+
+A. THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT
+
+And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led
+them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was
+near; for God said, "Lest peradventure the people repent when they see
+war, and they return to Egypt:" but God led the people about, by the way
+of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up
+armed out of the land of Egypt.
+
+And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them
+the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they
+might go by day and by night: the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar
+of fire by night, departed not from before the people.
+
+And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the
+heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and
+they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from
+serving us?" And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with
+him: and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of
+Egypt, and captains over all of them.
+
+And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes,
+and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore
+afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they
+said unto Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken
+us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with
+us, to bring us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we spake
+unto thee in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone, that we may serve the
+Egyptians'? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that
+we should die in the wilderness."
+
+And Moses said unto the people, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the
+salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you to-day: for the
+Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for
+ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."
+
+
+B. THE PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA
+
+And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and
+went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and
+stood behind them: and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of
+Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by
+night: and the one came not near the other all the night. And Moses
+stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go
+back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land. And
+the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry
+ground. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the
+midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
+And it came to pass in the morning watch, that the Lord looked forth
+upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud,
+and discomfited the host of the Egyptians. And he took off their chariot
+wheels, that they drove them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, "Let
+us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against
+the Egyptians."
+
+And the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that
+the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and
+upon their horsemen." And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea,
+and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the
+Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the
+midst of the sea.
+
+
+=Sec.39. The Song of the Exodus= (Exod. 14:30, 31; 15:1, 2, 20, 21)
+
+Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians;
+and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw the
+great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared
+the Lord: and they believed in the Lord, and in his servant Moses.
+
+Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and
+spake, saying,
+
+    I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously:
+    The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
+    The Lord is my strength and song,
+    And he is become my salvation:
+    This is my God and I will praise him;
+    My father's God, and I will exalt him.
+
+And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her
+hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with
+dances. And Miriam answered them,
+
+    Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously;
+    The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+107. The story of the deliverance from Egypt makes a long chapter, but
+it is full of exciting interest and shows the fearless character of the
+great leader who trusted in his God. It was a bold thing for Moses to
+return to Egypt and try to persuade the king to let Israel go. But when
+he was sent to threaten Pharaoh it was indeed a task requiring courage.
+Imagine a single man to-day demanding of the sultan of Turkey that he
+should free his slaves.
+
+108 (Sec.37). Moses was sent to tell the king that terrible plagues would
+come upon his people if he refused to let the Hebrews go. Ten plagues
+are mentioned. Nine of them were as follows: (1) the water of the Nile
+turned to blood-red color and made undrinkable; (2) enormous numbers of
+frogs; (3) swarms of stinging insects, perhaps gnats or mosquitoes; (4)
+swarms of flies, which would be terrible in a hot country; (5) a cattle
+pestilence; (6) fearful boils on men and cattle; (7) destructive hail;
+(8) locusts that ate vegetation; (9) the awful hot desert wind filling
+the air with fine sand and causing darkness.
+
+109 (Sec.37). When Pharaoh was frightened by each of the plagues, what did
+he promise? What made him break his promise? Did you ever know anyone
+who was sorry for doing wrong when the punishment came, but forgot his
+promises afterward?
+
+110 (Sec.37F). What did Pharaoh threaten Moses after the ninth plague? What
+did Moses say should be the last plague? Probably some sudden terrible
+pestilence came upon Egypt. Tell the story of that night.
+
+111 (Sec.38A). Study the map and notice what a short journey it would be
+from Egypt along the coast to the Philistine country. But the borders of
+Egypt were strongly guarded, so that was a dangerous way to go. What
+might have happened if the Hebrews had seen that they would have to
+fight?
+
+112 (Sec.38A). Moses was a wise leader. He knew he had a host of slaves,
+who had not learned courage. So he led them southward toward the Red
+Sea. There was a road leading to the wilderness near the Bitter Lakes.
+Locate this.
+
+113 (Sec.38A). What happened when the Egyptians found that the people had
+actually gone? What did the Hebrews say when they learned that Pharaoh
+was following them? How did Moses encourage them?
+
+114 (Sec.38B). The Hebrews were in a very difficult situation. They had
+come to a place where the water from the Red Sea ran far up the
+low-lying sands. What great canal has since been dug there? The water
+was too deep for the Hebrews to cross. Pharaoh's army was coming up
+behind. The only thing that could save Israel would be a strong wind
+that should drive the waters back and leave the sands clear. How often
+God's great Providence helps his people in trouble! Moses bravely
+encouraged them.
+
+115 (Sec.38B). What separated the Israelites from the Egyptians? What made
+the crossing possible? What trouble did the Egyptians experience? What
+would naturally happen if the high wind stopped after the Israelites had
+crossed? Tell the story of the deliverance.
+
+116 (Sec.39). What do you think were the feelings of Israel when they found
+themselves safe? Recite the song in which they celebrated their escape?
+What does "Exodus" mean?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Let us try to see just what happened to the Hebrews. Draw a map of Egypt
+and the Sinai peninsula on a larger scale than that in your book. Mark
+Goshen, the region where the Hebrews lived. Mark the bitter lakes coming
+nearly to the Gulf of Suez. Connect these with a wavy line showing the
+shallow waters which were driven back for the passage of the Hebrews.
+Mark with a red line the road which the Hebrews might have taken along
+the coast road straight to Canaan and the road which they actually took
+south of the bitter lakes. Continue this last line into the Sinai
+peninsula, noting that the people were led into the wilderness.
+
+
+
+
+XII. MOSES, THE LAWGIVER
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.40. The Law at Sinai= (Exod. 15:22-25, 27; 19:1)
+
+A. THE MARCH AND THE MURMURING
+
+And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went three days
+in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they
+could not drink of the waters for they were bitter. And the people
+murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" And he cried unto
+the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, and he cast it into the
+waters, and the waters were made sweet.
+
+And they came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and
+threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
+And they took their journey from Elim, and in the third month they came
+to the wilderness of Sinai; and there Israel encamped before the mount.
+
+[Illustration: MOSES]
+
+B. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
+
+And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the
+mountain, saying, "Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell
+the children of Israel;
+
+  =I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out
+  of the house of bondage.=
+
+  =Thou shalt have none other gods before me.=
+
+  =Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor the likeness of any
+  form that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that
+  is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself unto
+  them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting
+  the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon
+  the fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto
+  thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.=
+
+  =Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord
+  will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.=
+
+  =Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor,
+  and do all thy work: but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the Lord thy
+  God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
+  daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
+  stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven
+  and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
+  wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.=
+
+  =Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the
+  land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.=
+
+  =Thou shalt do no murder.=
+
+  =Thou shalt not commit adultery.=
+
+  =Thou shalt not steal.=
+
+  =Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.=
+
+  =Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy
+  neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox,
+  nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.=
+
+And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the
+voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw
+it, they trembled, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, "Speak
+thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we
+die."
+
+And Moses said unto the people, "Fear not: for God is come to prove
+you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not."
+
+And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick
+darkness where God was.
+
+
+=Sec.41. The Great Rebellion= (Exod. 24:13, 18; 32:1-8, 15-20, 30-35)
+
+A. THE GOLDEN CALF
+
+And Moses and Joshua his minister went up into the mount of God. And
+Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. And when the people
+saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered
+themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, "Up, make us gods,
+which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us
+up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him."
+
+And Aaron said unto them, "Break off the golden rings, which are in the
+ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them
+unto me."
+
+And all the people brake off the golden rings which were in their ears,
+and brought them unto Aaron. And he received it at their hand, and
+fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they
+said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the
+land of Egypt."
+
+And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made
+proclamation, and said, "To-morrow shall be a feast to the Lord."
+
+And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and
+brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink,
+and rose up to play.
+
+And the Lord spake unto Moses, "Go, get thee down; for thy people, which
+thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
+they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them:
+they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have
+sacrificed unto it."
+
+And Moses turned and went down from the mount with the two tables in his
+hand. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he
+said unto Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp."
+
+And he said, "It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery,
+neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the
+noise of them that sing do I hear."
+
+And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw
+the calf and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the
+tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took
+the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to
+powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel
+drink of it.
+
+
+B. MOSES' PRAYER
+
+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 unto Moses, "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him
+will I blot out of my book. And now go, lead the people unto the place
+of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine angel shall go before
+thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon
+them."
+
+And the Lord smote the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron
+made.
+
+[The people were forgiven, but again and again they rebelled. Moses
+prayed for them, but the Lord said they must wander in the wilderness
+forty years. At last Moses led them to the plains of Moab and to the
+river Jordan, where he made his farewell speech.]
+
+
+=Sec.42. The Last Days of Moses= (Deut. 31:1-3, 6-8; 34)
+
+A. THE FAREWELL SPEECH
+
+And Moses spake these words unto all Israel, "I am a hundred and twenty
+years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: and the Lord hath
+said unto me, 'Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.' The Lord thy God, he
+will go over before thee; he will destroy these nations from before
+thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before
+thee, as the Lord hath spoken. Be strong and of a good courage, fear
+not, nor be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth
+go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
+
+And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all
+Israel, "Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt go with this
+people into the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to
+give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it
+is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail
+thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
+
+
+B. THE DEATH OF MOSES
+
+And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of
+Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the
+land.
+
+And the Lord said unto him, "This is the land which I sware unto
+Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy
+seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not
+go over thither."
+
+So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab,
+according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in the valley in
+the land of Moab, but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And
+Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not
+dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for
+Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days.
+
+And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses,
+whom the Lord knew face to face; in all the signs and the wonders, which
+the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his
+land; and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which
+Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+117. After the Revolutionary War, the thirteen American states adopted a
+constitution. Washington was the great leader. We all honor him now, but
+during his life many were jealous of him and the people often found
+fault with him and lost confidence in him. He was greatly tried and
+would have given up the presidency but for his sense of duty. So it was
+with Moses. He brought deliverance to the people and gave them their
+first great laws, but they constantly murmured against him and against
+God. The long story of his leadership of Israel during forty years in
+the wilderness is told in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
+Deuteronomy. We shall study a few of the main incidents.
+
+118 (Sec.40A). After the victory over the Egyptians, Moses led the people
+toward Mt. Sinai. Notice on the map the mountain range in the Sinai
+Peninsula. What difficulty soon arose? How did the people meet it? This
+was the beginning of a number of trials that Moses had in his
+leadership.
+
+119 (Sec.40A). How long did it take to reach Mt. Sinai? The gathering at
+the mountain was a very solemn occasion. Israel was to receive a
+constitution. Think of the solemn time when the constitution of the
+United States was adopted.
+
+120 (Sec.40B). What do we call these great words? Every student should know
+them by heart. If they were learned in the Primary Department it would
+be well to recall them.
+
+121 (Sec.40B). How were the people impressed by the holy law? Let us
+understand that when we speak of "the fear of the Lord" it does not mean
+that we are afraid of him, but that we have a great reverence for him.
+
+122 (Sec.41A). How long had Moses remained in the mountain to which he had
+gone to receive the laws? The people could not understand a God whom
+they could not see. They wanted an idol such as the Egyptians had. Tell
+the story of the golden calf.
+
+123 (Sec.41A). How did Moses learn of what had happened? What did Moses
+bring down from the mountain? What did Joshua hear? What did Moses do
+when he found what had happened? Is it ever right to be angry?
+
+124 (Sec.41B). The people had greatly disappointed Moses, but he was very
+sorry for their sin. He went to pray for them. Read carefully his
+wonderful prayer. Moses well knew God's love, but he knew also that
+wickedness must be punished.
+
+125. We shall consider another great rebellion in connection with the
+next two heroes whom we study. It resulted in the Hebrews being
+sentenced to travel about for forty years. Moses led them. He was their
+chief, ruling over them, and their general, enabling them to conquer
+their enemies.
+
+126 (Sec.42A). Moses had led the people for forty years. At last the grand
+old man brought them to the very border of the Promised Land. What river
+was all that separated them from Canaan? Locate the place of the last
+camp just opposite Jericho. The book of Deuteronomy gives the farewell
+speeches of Moses. This section is a part of what he said to them. Tell
+it in your own words. What great American gave a Farewell Message to his
+countrymen?
+
+127 (Sec.42B). It was a great disappointment to Moses that he could not
+lead the people into Canaan, but he cheerfully accepted God's will. It
+must have been a wonderful sight that the old man saw from the mountain.
+Imagine yourself on Mt. Nebo. Look over Canaan and tell what Moses saw.
+Where did Moses die? How did Israel mourn for him? What did the writer
+of the last verses think of this great man? Learn Mrs. Alexander's
+beautiful poem.
+
+THE BURIAL OF MOSES
+
+    By Nebo's lonely mountain,
+      On this side Jordan's wave,
+    In a vale in the land of Moab,
+      There lies a lonely grave;
+    But no man dug that sepulchre,
+      And no man saw it e'er,
+    For the angels of God upturned the sod,
+      And laid the dead man there.
+
+    That was the grandest funeral
+      That ever passed on earth;
+    But no man heard the tramping,
+      Or saw the train go forth.
+    Noiselessly as the daylight
+      Comes when the night is done,
+    And the crimson streak on ocean's cheek
+      Grows into the great sun,
+
+    Noiselessly as the springtime
+      Her crown of verdure weaves,
+    And all the trees on all the hills
+      Open their thousand leaves,
+    So, without sound of music,
+      Or voice of them that wept,
+    Silently down from the mountain crown
+      The great procession swept.
+
+    This was the bravest warrior
+      That ever buckled sword;
+    This the most gifted poet
+      That ever breathed a word;
+    And never earth's philosopher
+      Traced, with his golden pen,
+    On the deathless page, truths half so sage
+      As he wrote down for men.
+
+    And had he not high honor?
+      The hillside for his pall;
+    To lie in state while angels wait,
+      With stars for tapers tall;
+    And the dark rock-pines, like tossing plumes,
+      Over his bier to wave;
+    And God's own hand, in that lonely land,
+      To lay him in the grave.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Draw a picture of two large tables of stone. Write the first five
+commandments on one, using just the first sentence of each commandment.
+Write the last five commandments on the other in full, except that for
+the tenth commandment use only its first four words. Do this very
+neatly.
+
+
+
+
+REVIEW
+
+  XIII. THE HEROES OF ISRAEL'S WANDERINGS
+
+
+
+
+XIII. THE HEROES OF ISRAEL'S WANDERINGS
+
+128. Our studies have brought us to the time when the Hebrews were about
+to enter the land of Canaan. Up to that time they were a wandering
+people going from place to place, seeking pasture for their flocks or
+refuge from famine. After they settled down they used to tell the
+stories of the heroes of the old wandering days. We have studied five of
+these. Who was called the Father of the Faithful? Who was his son? Who
+was the man who gave his name to the nation? Which of his sons became
+the ruler of Egypt? Who was the deliverer of the people from Egypt? Let
+us recall some of the stories of these five heroes.
+
+129 (5-7, Sec.2). Tell the story of Abraham's journey westward to the new
+land. Who did he believe called him and led him? What people in our own
+history did we compare with him?
+
+130 (12, 13, Sec.5). Abraham had a nephew with him: what was his name? What
+great wealth did these two men have? What trouble was caused by the
+increase of their wealth? How did Abraham settle the matter? Why did we
+call him "magnanimous"?
+
+131 (23, 24, Sec.8). Abraham was most anxious to do what he thought was
+right. Tell the wonderful story of how God showed him that he need not
+sacrifice his son.
+
+132. Read Sec.11A and see if you can recall the story of Jacob's deception
+of Isaac.
+
+133 (50, Sec.16). After many years and after Jacob had learned many hard
+lessons he turned back to his own land. Tell the story of his meeting
+with the brother whom he had wronged.
+
+134 (Sec.19). How many sons had Jacob? Who was his favorite? Why did his
+brothers hate him? Tell the story of how they sold him as a slave.
+
+135 (Sec.23C). Joseph prospered in Egypt, but through false accusation was
+thrown into prison. Here he interpreted the dreams of two men: who were
+they? which of the men was pardoned by the king and forgot Joseph? The
+king dreamed: how did this lead to Joseph's promotion?
+
+136 (Sec.27C). There were seven years of good crops followed by seven years
+of famine. How did the famine bring Joseph's brothers to Egypt? Why did
+they not recognize him when he knew them? What plan did he use to make
+them sorry for their unkindness and to make one of them willing to be a
+slave to save his youngest brother? Tell the story of the forgiveness.
+
+137 (84, 89, 90, Sec.30). After the Hebrews had been a long time in Egypt
+they became very numerous. Pharaoh was alarmed at their numbers. What
+order did he give so that there should be no more men? Tell the story of
+Moses' safety and adoption.
+
+138 (97, 98, Sec.34A). Moses had been obliged to flee from Egypt and had
+lived a long time in the wilderness thinking about how his people could
+be saved. Perhaps sometimes he thought that he ought to deliver them,
+but he hesitated. Tell the story of the Burning Bush and how God
+encouraged him to go back to Egypt and be the deliverer.
+
+139 (114, Sec.38B). Moses boldly went back and told the king he must let
+the people go. After ten awful plagues Pharaoh let them go. But no
+sooner were they gone than he repented and followed after them. How did
+Moses lead them into safety by God's good providence?
+
+140 (127, Sec.42B). How many years did Moses lead his people in the
+wilderness? To what point did he bring them at last? There he made them
+a noble farewell speech of encouragement. Tell the story of how he saw
+Canaan, and of his death. What did the writer of the Book of Deuteronomy
+think of Moses?
+
+
+
+
+WAR HEROES
+
+   XIV. JOSHUA AND CALEB
+
+    XV. GIDEON, THE WARRIOR
+
+   XVI. SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN
+
+
+
+
+XIV. JOSHUA AND CALEB
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.43. The Twelve Spies= (Num. 13:1, 2, 17-21, 25-28, 30-33; 14:1-10,
+26-33)
+
+A. THE MISSION OF THE SPIES
+
+The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "Send thou men, that they may spy out
+the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every
+tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a prince among
+them."
+
+And Moses sent twelve men of the tribes of Israel, and of them Caleb was
+of the tribe of Judah and Joshua of the tribe of Ephraim. And Moses sent
+them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, "Get you up this
+way by the South, and go up into the mountains: and see the land, what
+it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or
+weak, whether they be few or many; and what the land is that they dwell
+in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell
+in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; and what the land is, whether
+it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of
+good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land."
+
+Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes. So they went up, and
+spied out the land. And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut
+down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it
+upon a staff between two; they brought also of the pomegranates, and of
+the figs.
+
+
+B. THE REPORT OF THE COWARDS
+
+And they returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days. And
+they went and came to Moses, and to the children of Israel, and showed
+them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, "We came unto
+the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and
+honey; and this is the fruit of it. Howbeit the people that dwell in the
+land are strong, and the cities are fenced, and very great: and moreover
+we saw the giants, the children of Anak, there."
+
+And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at
+once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it."
+
+But the men that went up with him said, "We are not able to go up
+against the people; for they are stronger than we." And they brought up
+an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of
+Israel, saying, "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is
+a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that
+we saw in it are men of great stature. And there we saw the giants, the
+sons of Anak: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we
+were in their sight."
+
+
+C. THE DISCOURAGEMENT
+
+And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the
+people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against
+Moses and against Aaron: and said unto them, "Would God that we had died
+in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And
+wherefore doth the Lord bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword?
+Our wives and our little ones shall be a prey: were it not better for us
+to return into Egypt?"
+
+And they said one to another, "Let us make a captain, and let us return
+into Egypt."
+
+Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the
+children of Israel.
+
+
+D. THE ADVICE OF THE HEROES
+
+And Joshua and Caleb, which were of them that spied out the land, rent
+their clothes: and they spake unto all the children of Israel, saying,
+"The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good
+land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land,
+and give it unto us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only
+rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for
+they are bread for us: their defence is removed from over them, and the
+Lord is with us: fear them not."
+
+But all the people cried to stone them with stones.
+
+
+E. THE SENTENCE OF THE LORD
+
+And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the
+children of Israel. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,
+saying, "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which
+they murmur against me. Say unto them, 'As I live, saith the Lord,
+surely as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: your
+carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of
+you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward,
+which have murmured against me, surely ye shall not come into the land,
+concerning which I lifted up my hand that I would make you dwell
+therein, save Caleb and Joshua. But your little ones, which ye said
+should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land
+which ye have rejected. But as for you, your carcases shall fall in this
+wilderness. And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty
+years.'"
+
+
+=Sec.44. After the Forty Years= (Josh. 1:1-11; 11:16-18; 14:6-13)
+
+A. JOSHUA'S REWARD
+
+Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord,
+that the Lord spake unto Joshua, Moses' minister, saying, "Moses my
+servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all
+this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children
+of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to
+you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses. From the wilderness, and
+this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the
+land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of
+the sun, shall be your border. There shall not any man be able to stand
+before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be
+with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a
+good courage: for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which
+I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very
+courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my
+servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the
+left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. This
+book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt
+meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according
+to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way
+prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded
+thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not affrighted, neither be
+thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou
+goest."
+
+Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, "Pass through
+the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, 'Prepare you
+victuals; for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to go
+in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess
+it.'"
+
+
+B. JOSHUA'S CONQUESTS
+
+So Joshua took all that land, the hill country, and all the South, and
+the lowland, and the hill country of Israel, and the lowland of the
+same; and all their kings he took, and smote them, and put them to
+death. Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. So Joshua took
+the whole land, according to all that the Lord spake unto Moses; and
+Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their
+divisions by their tribes.
+
+
+C. CALEB'S REWARD
+
+Then the children of Judah drew nigh unto Joshua: and Caleb said unto
+him, "Thou knowest the thing that the Lord spake unto Moses the man of
+God concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old
+was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to
+spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
+Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the
+people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses sware on
+that day, saying, 'Surely the land whereon thy foot hath trodden shall
+be an inheritance to thee and to thy children for ever, because thou
+hast wholly followed the Lord my God.' And now, behold, the Lord hath
+kept me alive, as he spake, these forty and five years, from the time
+that the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while Israel walked in the
+wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As
+yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as
+my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out
+and to come in. Now, therefore, give me this mountain, whereof the Lord
+spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the giants, the
+sons of Anak, were there, and cities great and fenced: it may be that
+the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the Lord
+spake."
+
+And Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron unto Caleb for an
+inheritance. And the land had rest from war.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+141. We have followed the story of Moses to the time of his death. Now
+we shall go back to notice the part that two other heroes played in the
+wilderness. It was at the time when Moses had led the people from Mount
+Sinai toward the southern part of Canaan. Locate this journey on the
+map.
+
+142 (Sec.43A). Notice that we take up the Book of Numbers, which is so
+called because it tells of the census of the people in the wilderness.
+Try to imagine the feelings of the people who had come from slavery in
+Egypt and had reached the borders of the strange new land. They would
+wish to know what was before them. What plan was to be used to find
+out?
+
+143 (Sec.43A). The southern part of Canaan was called "the South." Locate
+it. They were to go through there and then to the higher country where
+the vineyards were planted on the hills. What seven different things
+were these men to find out? What were they to bring back with them? What
+time of the year was it? We can imagine how the settlers in the early
+history of our country might have sent scouts to go through the Indian
+lands to find out what they were and what kind of people the Indian
+tribes were.
+
+144 (Sec.43A). These twelve men went all through the land. What did they
+get as a sample of the fruit? Why did two men have to carry it? What
+does this show of the character of the land?
+
+145 (Sec.43B). How long did it take them to find out about the country?
+What did they do when they came back. What report did they give? The
+children of Anak were very tall men. It seems that there must have been
+a tribe of exceedingly big men in Canaan. These frightened the spies.
+
+146 (Sec.43B). There was one of the committee who spoke out a bold word.
+Who was he and what did he say? But what did the others reply? Notice
+that at first they said they saw some tall men. Soon they began to think
+that all the Canaanites were giants. So difficulties grow in our minds
+when we are cowardly.
+
+147 (Sec.43C). What happened when the people heard the discouraging report?
+It shows how a few men can discourage a whole army. What rebellion did
+they plan? Would it have been wise to go back to Egypt?
+
+148 (Sec.43D). Moses and Aaron were very much troubled. But the two heroes
+out of the twelve spies made a great speech. They were troubled so they
+tore their clothes. But what did they say about the land? Who did they
+say would bless the people if they would be faithful and brave? How did
+the people respond? Think of the two noble men standing against the
+great crowd.
+
+149 (Sec.43E). The message of the Lord tells of the punishment for the
+rebellion. What was to happen to all the grown men? What two men were to
+be an exception? What was to happen to the children? Notice that the
+punishment is that they shall not go into the land. But they did not
+want to go. Sometimes the worst punishment is to take a person at his
+word.
+
+150 (Sec.44A). Now imagine forty years to pass. All the old men are gone.
+The great leader is gone. Let us see what became of the two brave men.
+We turn to a new book, the sixth in our Bible, which is called after the
+name of the hero. Who was chosen to succeed Moses? Was not this an honor
+and reward? What was to be his duty for the people? What spirit was he
+to have? What was to be his guide? Who promised to be with him? What did
+he immediately do as the first act of his leadership?
+
+151 (Sec.44B). The first eleven chapters of this book give the account of
+Joshua's wars to gain the land for his people. This passage tells how he
+succeeded. Tell it in your own words.
+
+152 (Sec.44C). The old hero Caleb comes up to get his share of the new
+land. Tell what he says to Joshua. As he states that it is forty-five
+years since Moses gave him the promise, there must have been five years
+spent in conquering the land. It was a long time to wait for his reward,
+but at last the old man receives it. It is interesting to note that he
+chooses his own reward. He asks to be given the very highland country
+that the spies were so much afraid of. He expects the Lord to help him
+to drive the giants out. One would think that an old man would ask for
+an easy place. Caleb asks for a hard one. What do you think of Caleb?
+What kind of a place do you want in the world--an easy place with
+plenty to get or a hard place with plenty of chance to do good? Think
+about that question and then answer it to yourself.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+This week you will undoubtedly have some difficult lessons assigned in
+school. It will seem that they are too hard and you will feel inclined
+to give them up. Do not be afraid of the giants, be like Joshua and
+Caleb and you can conquer if you are brave enough. Make up your mind to
+conquer some hard task each day. When you are sure you have really
+conquered a difficulty think how those heroes must have felt about the
+giants. Write in your notebook the reason why Caleb and Joshua wanted to
+do the hard duty.
+
+
+
+
+XV. GIDEON, THE WARRIOR
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.45. The Call of Gideon= (Judg. 6:2-6, 11-24, 36-40)
+
+A. THE OPPRESSION OF THE MIDIANITES
+
+The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of Midian the
+children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and
+the caves, and the strongholds. And so it was, when Israel had sown,
+that the Midianites came up and encamped against them, and destroyed the
+increase of the earth, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep,
+nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents,
+they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were
+without number: and they came into the land to destroy it. And Israel
+was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried
+unto the Lord.
+
+
+B. THE ANGEL'S VISIT TO GIDEON
+
+And the angel of the Lord came, and sat under the oak that belonged unto
+Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the
+winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord
+appeared unto him, and said unto him, "The Lord is with thee, thou
+mighty man of valor."
+
+And Gideon said unto him, "Oh my lord, if the Lord be with us, why then
+is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our
+fathers told us of, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?'
+but now the Lord hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of
+Midian."
+
+And the Lord looked upon him, and said, "Go in this thy might, and save
+Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?"
+
+And he said unto him, "Oh Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold,
+my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's
+house."
+
+And the Lord said unto him, "Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt
+smite the Midianites as one man."
+
+And he said unto him, "If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show
+me a sign that it is thou that talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray
+thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and lay it
+before thee."
+
+And he said, "I will tarry until thou come again."
+
+And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an
+ephah of meal: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a
+pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
+
+And the angel of God said unto him, "Take the flesh and the unleavened
+cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth."
+
+And he did so. Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff
+that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes;
+and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the
+unleavened cakes; and the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.
+And Gideon saw that he was the angel of the Lord; and Gideon said,
+"Alas, O Lord God! forasmuch as I have seen the angel of the Lord face
+to face."
+
+And the Lord said unto him, "Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt
+not die."
+
+Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord.
+
+C. THE SIGN OF THE FLEECE
+
+And Gideon said unto God, "If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as
+thou hast spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the
+threshing-floor: if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry upon
+all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine
+hand, as thou hast spoken."
+
+And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and pressed the
+fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of
+water. And Gideon said unto God, "Let not thine anger be kindled against
+me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this
+once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon
+all the ground let there be dew."
+
+And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and
+there was dew on all the ground.
+
+
+=Sec.46. The Defeat of the Midianites= (Judg. 6:33-35; 7:2-24; 8:4,
+10-12, 21)
+
+A. THE GATHERING OF THE TRIBES
+
+Then all the Midianites assembled themselves together; and they passed
+over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. But the spirit of the Lord
+came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered
+together after him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; and
+they also were gathered together after him: and he sent messengers unto
+Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet
+them.
+
+
+B. THE CHOICE OF THE WARRIORS
+
+And the Lord said unto Gideon, "The people that are with thee are too
+many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt
+themselves against me, saying, 'Mine own hand hath saved me.' Now
+therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whosoever
+is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from mount Gilead.'"
+
+And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there
+remained ten thousand. And the Lord said unto Gideon, "The people are
+yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for
+thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, 'This shall
+go with thee,' the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto
+thee, 'This shall not go with thee,' the same shall not go."
+
+So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto
+Gideon, "Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog
+lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth
+down upon his knees to drink."
+
+And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth,
+was three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon
+their knees to drink water.
+
+And the Lord said unto Gideon, "By the three hundred men that lapped
+will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all
+the people go every man unto his place."
+
+So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he
+sent all the men of Israel every man unto his tent, but retained the
+three hundred men: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
+
+
+C. THE DREAM OF THE ENEMY
+
+And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, "Arise,
+get thee down into the camp; for I have delivered it into thine hand.
+But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Purah thy servant down to the
+camp: and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine
+hands be strengthened to go down into the camp."
+
+Then went he down with Purah his servant unto the outermost part of the
+armed men that were in the camp. And the Midianites lay along in the
+valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number,
+as the sand which is upon the sea shore for multitude.
+
+And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto
+his fellow, and said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of
+barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came unto the tent,
+and smote it that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent
+lay flat."
+
+And his fellow answered and said, "This is nothing else save the sword
+of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: into his hand God hath
+delivered Midian, and all the host."
+
+And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the
+interpretation thereof, that he worshipped; and he returned into the
+camp of Israel, and said, "Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your
+hand the host of Midian."
+
+
+D. THE PLAN OF THE BATTLE
+
+And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put
+into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches
+within the pitchers. And he said unto them, "Look on me, and do
+likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it
+shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow the trumpet, I and
+all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of
+all the camp, and say, 'For the Lord and for Gideon.'"
+
+So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the
+outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when
+they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake
+in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands. And the three companies
+blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the torches in their
+left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and
+they cried, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon."
+
+And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the
+host ran; and they shouted, and put them to flight. And they blew the
+three hundred trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his
+fellow, and against all the host: and the host fled and the men of
+Israel pursued after Midian.
+
+
+E. THE PURSUIT AND THE VICTORY
+
+And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim,
+saying, "Come down against Midian and take the Jordan before them." So
+they came down.
+
+And Gideon came to the Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three
+hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing.
+
+Now the two kings of Midian had with them about fifteen thousand men,
+all that were left of the host. And Gideon smote the host. And the two
+kings of Midian fled. And Gideon pursued after them and took them. And
+he slew them, and took the crescents that were on their camels' necks.
+
+
+=Sec.47. The Result of the Victory= (Judg. 8:22-27)
+
+Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, "Rule thou over us, both thou,
+and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast saved us out of the
+hand of Midian."
+
+And Gideon said unto them, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my
+son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you."
+
+And Gideon said unto them, "I would desire and request of you, that ye
+would give me every man the earrings of his spoil."
+
+And they answered, "We will willingly give them."
+
+And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings
+of his spoil. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested
+was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside the crescents,
+and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of
+Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. And
+Gideon made an idol thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and
+all Israel went after it there: and it became a snare unto Gideon, and
+to his house.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+153. After the death of Joshua, the Hebrews had a hard time from their
+many enemies. Just as our forefathers were constantly in danger from the
+Indians, so the Hebrew settlers were often attacked and their goods
+taken from them. But in their case it was worse, because their enemies
+often came against them in great armies and conquered them. Israel had
+no king or governor, but from time to time some hero rose up to deliver
+them. These men were called "judges," because in addition to leading the
+people in war they decided matters of dispute. Their stories are told in
+the Book of Judges. Gideon was one of these military heroes.
+
+154 (Sec.45A). The Midianites were a wandering people of the desert. They
+wandered on the borders of Edom and Moab. Find these places on the map,
+southeast of Canaan. As they raised no crops themselves they delighted
+to attack the agricultural people after the crops were harvested and
+steal all the result of the year's work. That is the meaning of the fear
+of the Hebrews that is described. Where did the Hebrews hide? How many
+were there of the enemy?
+
+155 (Sec.45B). Notice that Gideon was afraid to thresh his wheat in the
+open place, so he was beating out a few sheaves in the hollow where they
+pressed the grapes. What did the angel say to him when he saw his
+powerful frame and how vigorously he was beating his wheat? Tell the
+conversation, showing how the angel encouraged Gideon. He was a brave
+man, but like everyone else he had lost heart. What sign was given to
+Gideon? It was such a solemn thing to be called by God to deliver the
+people that Gideon was afraid, but God encouraged him. What did Gideon
+build there? What did that mean?
+
+156 (Sec.45C). What further sign was given to Gideon to make him sure that
+the Lord was with him?
+
+157 (Sec.46A). There were twelve tribes in Israel and each tribe consisted
+of a number of clans. Gideon was of the clan of Abiezer, which was part
+of the tribe of Manasseh. Look at the map of Canaan and note the names
+of the Twelve Tribes. In the tribe of Issachar is the Plain of
+Esdraelon. That was the great plain where many of the battles of Israel
+were fought. If you can look at a relief map you will see how this great
+plain lay. The enemy had crossed the Jordan and camped on this plain.
+When Gideon heard it, he was stirred to the heart. What did he do? First
+his own clan followed him. Then he called his own tribe to follow him.
+Then he sent to three of the northern tribes. Find all these on the map.
+Try to imagine the Israelites all gathering together at the call of the
+hero.
+
+158 (Sec.46B). Here we have a strange story. It would seem as if the army
+ought to be as large as possible, but the Lord told Gideon that he did
+not want the people to boast of the victory. Who were told to go home?
+How large was the army? How many went home? How many remained? But still
+the numbers were too large: what was the second plan to reduce them? How
+many at last were left?
+
+159 (Sec.46C). What did Gideon do in order to find out about the enemy?
+Tell the dream that he heard explained.
+
+160 (Sec.46D). Read carefully and explain what Gideon told his men. He had
+a stratagem in mind to frighten the enemy. It is to be noted that the
+men who went home left their provisions and their trumpets, so Gideon
+had as many trumpets in his little army as in the big army. What would
+the Midianites think when they heard three hundred trumpets blowing? The
+night was divided into three watches. The sentries had just been set
+for the second watch when the attack was made. Describe the actions of
+the Israelites. What did they shout? The Midianites killed one another
+in the confusion.
+
+161 (Sec.46E). Gideon wanted the great tribe of Ephraim to help in the
+fight, so he asked them to go down to the river Jordan to cut off the
+flying enemy. What did Gideon do himself? What happened to the kings of
+Midian and the host?
+
+162 (Sec.47). What did the grateful people offer Gideon? Why did he refuse?
+What great American refused to be a king? The story closes in
+disappointment. Is it not strange that after the great victory Gideon
+should forget God? Tell the story of making the idol.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Make a search during the next week for an example of some brave person
+standing up like Gideon for a good cause when others hold back. There is
+sure to be someone if you are keen enough to find him. It may be at
+school or in the city, or you may hear of someone in the newspapers.
+Talk it over with your companions until you have found the best example.
+Write about it in your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+XVI. SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.48. The Birth of Samson= (Judg. 13:2-6, 24)
+
+There was a certain man of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his
+wife bare no child. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman,
+and said unto her, "Behold now, thou shalt bear a son. Now therefore
+beware, I pray thee, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any
+unclean thing: for, lo, thou shalt bear a son; and no razor shall come
+upon his head: for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from his
+birth: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the
+Philistines."
+
+Then the woman came and told her husband.
+
+And the woman bare a son and called his name Samson: and the child grew
+and the Lord blessed him.
+
+
+=Sec.49. The Riddle at the Wedding Feast= (Judg. 14)
+
+And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the
+daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and
+his mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of
+the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife."
+
+Then his father and his mother said unto him, "Is there never a woman
+among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou
+goest to take a wife of the Philistines?"
+
+And Samson said unto his father, "Get her for me; for she pleaseth me
+well."
+
+Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and
+came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared
+against him. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he
+rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand:
+but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. And he went
+down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
+
+And after a while he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see
+the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the
+body of the lion, and honey. And he took it into his hands, and went on,
+eating as he went, and he came to his father and mother, and gave unto
+them, and they did eat: but he told them not that he had taken the honey
+out of the body of the lion. And his father went down unto the woman:
+and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. And it
+came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to
+be with him.
+
+And Samson said unto them, "Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if
+ye can declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it
+out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of
+raiment: but if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty
+linen garments and thirty changes of raiment."
+
+And they said unto him, "Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it."
+
+And he said unto them,
+
+    "Out of the eater came forth meat,
+    And out of the strong came forth sweetness."
+
+And they could not in three days declare the riddle.
+
+And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's
+wife, "Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest
+we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to
+impoverish us? is it not so?"
+
+And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, "Thou dost but hate me, and
+lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my
+people, and hast not told it me."
+
+And he said unto her, "Behold, I have not told it my father nor my
+mother, and shall I tell thee?"
+
+And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it
+came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed
+him sore: and she told the riddle to the children of her people. And the
+men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went
+down, "What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion?"
+
+And he said unto them,
+
+    "If ye had not plowed with my heifer,
+    Ye had not found out my riddle."
+
+And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he went down to
+Ashkelon, and smote thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave
+the changes of raiment unto them that declared the riddle. And his anger
+was kindled, and he went up to his father's house. But Samson's wife was
+given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
+
+
+=Sec.50. Samson's Strength= (Judg. 15:1-17; 16:1-3)
+
+A. THE STORY OF THE FOXES
+
+But it came to pass after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that
+Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, "I will go in to my
+wife into the chamber."
+
+But her father would not suffer him to go in. And her father said, "I
+verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her
+to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I
+pray thee, instead of her."
+
+And Samson said unto them, "This time shall I be blameless in regard to
+the Philistines, when I do them a mischief."
+
+And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and
+turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two
+tails. And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the
+standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the
+standing grain, and also the oliveyards.
+
+Then the Philistines said, "Who hath done this?"
+
+And they said, "Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he hath
+taken his wife, and given her to his companion."
+
+And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
+
+And Samson said unto them, "If ye do after this manner, surely I will be
+avenged of you, and after that will I cease."
+
+And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down
+and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam.
+
+
+B. THE STORY OF THE JAWBONE
+
+Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread
+themselves in Lehi. And the men of Judah said, "Why are ye come up
+against us?"
+
+And they said, "To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath
+done to us."
+
+Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of
+Etam, and said to Samson, "Knowest thou not that the Philistines are
+rulers over us? what then is this that thou hast done unto us?"
+
+And he said unto them, "As they did unto me, so have I done unto them."
+
+And they said unto him, "We are come down to bind thee, that we may
+deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines."
+
+And Samson said unto them, "Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me
+yourselves."
+
+And they spake unto him, saying, "No; but we will bind thee fast, and
+deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee."
+
+And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.
+When he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the
+spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon
+his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped
+from off his hands. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth
+his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith. And Samson
+said,
+
+    "With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps,
+    With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men."
+
+And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast
+away the jawbone out of his hand.
+
+
+C. THE STORY OF THE GATES OF GAZA
+
+And Samson went to Gaza. And it was told the Gazites, saying, "Samson is
+come hither." And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all
+night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying,
+"Let be till morning light, then we will kill him."
+
+And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of
+the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them
+up, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to
+the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.
+
+
+=Sec.51. Samson's Weakness= (Judg. 16:4-22)
+
+And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman, whose name was
+Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said
+unto her, "Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by
+what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict
+him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of
+silver."
+
+And Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great
+strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee."
+
+And Samson said unto her, "If they bind me with seven new bowstrings
+that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man."
+
+Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven new bowstrings
+which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now she had liers
+in wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, "The
+Philistines be upon thee, Samson."
+
+And he brake the bowstrings as a string of tow is broken when it touches
+the fire. So his strength was not known.
+
+And Delilah said unto Samson, "Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me
+lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound."
+
+And he said unto her, "If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no
+work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man."
+
+So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him,
+"The Philistines be upon thee, Samson."
+
+And the liers in wait were abiding in the inner chamber. And he brake
+them from off his arms like a thread.
+
+And Delilah said unto Samson, "Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me
+lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound."
+
+And he said unto her, "If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with
+the web."
+
+And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, "The Philistines be
+upon thee, Samson."
+
+And he awaked out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam,
+and the web.
+
+And she said unto him, "How canst thou say, 'I love thee,' when thine
+heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast
+not told me wherein thy great strength lieth."
+
+And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and
+urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death. And he told her all his
+heart, and said unto her, "There hath not come a razor upon mine head:
+for I have been a Nazirite unto God from my birth: if I be shaven, then
+my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any
+other man."
+
+And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and
+called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for
+he hath told me all his heart."
+
+Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought the
+money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees: and she
+called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she
+began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, "The
+Philistines be upon thee, Samson."
+
+And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other
+times, and shake myself."
+
+But he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
+
+And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they
+brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he
+did grind in the prison house. Howbeit the hair of his head began to
+grow again after he was shaven.
+
+
+=Sec.52. Samson's Vengeance= (Judg. 16:23-31)
+
+And the lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great
+sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, "Our god
+hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand." And when the people saw
+him, they praised their god: for they said, "Our god hath delivered into
+our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which hath slain
+many of us." And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that
+they said, "Call for Samson, that he may make us sport."
+
+And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made sport
+before them: and they set him between the pillars. And Samson said unto
+the lad that held him by the hand, "Suffer me that I may feel the
+pillars whereupon the house resteth, that I may lean upon them."
+
+Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the
+Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three
+thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
+
+And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, "O Lord God, remember me, I
+pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once. O God, that I
+may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."
+
+And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house
+rested, and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand, and the other
+with his left. And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." And
+he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords,
+and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at
+his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
+
+Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took
+him, and brought him up, and buried him in the burying-place of Manoah
+his father.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+163. All peoples have their old stories of heroes who had great
+strength. The Greeks had their Hercules and the Hebrews had their
+Samson. In reading his story we must remember that it belongs to a rude
+age, when men's passions were strong and they had not learned the
+gentler ways of life. The story is full of adventure; it is very well
+told; it shows us much of the old Hebrew life; and it helps us to see
+how hard the lot of the people must have been under their oppressors. Of
+course they remembered any strong man of those days, and his story grew
+as it was told from generation to generation.
+
+164 (Sec.48). The first thing that we learn about the hero is that he was a
+promised child. He was set apart from his birth to the Lord. Such
+persons were called Nazirites. They had to abstain from wine, and their
+hair was not to be cut.
+
+165 (Sec.49). With whom did Samson fall in love? The Philistines were the
+oppressors of his people. What did his parents think of it? It would
+seem that they all went down to make the betrothal feast. What great
+feat of strength did Samson perform on the way? Then there was a second
+visit for the marriage itself. What did Samson find this time on his
+way?
+
+166 (Sec.49). The story describes some of the old customs. What was Samson
+expected to provide for the wedding? How many young men were there? What
+bet did he make with them? What was the riddle? Could you have guessed
+it?
+
+167 (Sec.49). How did the young men find out the riddle? How did Samson pay
+his bet? Consider what rude times those must have been.
+
+168 (Sec.50A). We have a number of the old stories of Samson's strength.
+Consider what injury was done to Samson. What humorous and savage
+revenge did Samson take upon his enemies? It was considered a great
+insult to burn the standing grain. What horrible vengeance did the
+Philistines take on the bride's family?
+
+169 (Sec.50B). Tell what Samson's own people did to him. Why did they do
+it? What was Samson's great feat? Notice how big they made the
+stories--one man killing a thousand.
+
+170 (Sec.50C). They loved the stories of Samson's clever escapes. How did
+the men of Gaza think he was caught? How did Samson escape?
+
+171 (Sec.51). This strong man was not really a great man. After he had lost
+his first Philistine wife he fell in love with another woman of the same
+race. She proved as deceitful as the first. Note the enormous bribe that
+the Philistine lords offered Delilah. What was the first trial of
+Samson's strength? The new bowstrings were probably cords made from the
+intestines of animals. If they were not dried they would be tougher.
+
+172 (Sec.51). Tell the story of the second trial. The story of the third
+trial is not quite so plain. It means that his long hair was to be
+woven in with a piece of stuff that was being woven in the loom. When he
+woke up he walked off with the whole heavy loom.
+
+173 (Sec.51). Notice how he let the wicked woman tease him. Was he strong
+or weak? Is it the part of a strong man to go into temptation or to run
+away from it? What was done to Samson? He makes us think of many a big
+strong man who was weak when it came to a question of goodness. Most of
+the big prize fighters are so weak that they become drunkards. Think of
+this hero doing the work of a slave.
+
+174 (Sec.52). Notice how delighted the Philistines were that they had
+overcome their great enemy. Imagine the crowd gathered in a temple, the
+roof of which rested upon two central pillars. When they were very merry
+they sent for the poor blind Samson to make fun of him. What happened?
+
+175. Do you think Samson was a great man?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Discuss the question whether Samson ought to have been put among the
+heroes of Israel. Read over the story carefully and see why the Hebrews
+would have wished to class him with their heroes. Read it again to see
+what there is against giving him that distinction. Prepare for a debate
+upon the question.
+
+
+
+
+A HEROINE
+
+  XVII. RUTH, THE FOREIGNER
+
+
+
+
+XVII. RUTH, THE FOREIGNER
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.53. The Three Widows= (Ruth 1:1-5)
+
+And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a
+famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem went to sojourn in
+the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of
+the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of
+his two sons Mahlon and Chilion. And they came into the country of Moab,
+and continued there.
+
+And Elimelech, Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
+And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was
+Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten
+years. And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left
+of her two children and of her husband.
+
+
+=Sec.54. The Return to Bethlehem= (Ruth 1:6-22)
+
+A. THE TWO DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW
+
+Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the
+country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the
+Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. And she went forth out
+of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and
+they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
+
+And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to
+her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with
+the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of
+you in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted
+up their voice, and wept.
+
+And they said unto her, "Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy
+people."
+
+And Naomi said, "Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have
+I yet sons that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go
+your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have
+hope, if I should even have a husband, and should also bear sons; would
+ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from
+having husbands? nay, my daughters: for it grieveth me much for your
+sakes, for the hand of the Lord is gone forth against me." And they
+lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her
+mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her.
+
+And she said, "Behold thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people,
+and unto her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law."
+
+And Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from
+following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou
+lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my
+God; where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord
+do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." And
+when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off
+speaking unto her.
+
+
+B. THE ARRIVAL IN BETHLEHEM
+
+So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when
+they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and
+the women said, "Is this Naomi?"
+
+And she said unto them, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the
+Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord
+hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord
+hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?"
+
+So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with
+her; and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
+
+
+=Sec.55. In the Barley Field= (Ruth 2)
+
+A. THE GLEANERS
+
+And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth; and
+his name was Boaz.
+
+And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, "Let me now go to the field, and
+glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find
+favor."
+
+And she said unto her, "Go, my daughter."
+
+And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and
+she happened to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz.
+
+And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, "The
+Lord be with you."
+
+And they answered him, "The Lord bless thee."
+
+Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, "Whose
+damsel is this?"
+
+And he answered, "It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi
+out of the country of Moab: and she said, 'Let me glean, I pray you, and
+gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came, and hath
+continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a
+little in the house."
+
+Then said Boaz unto Ruth, "Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to
+glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by
+my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go
+thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not
+touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of
+that which the young men have drawn."
+
+Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said
+unto him, "Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldst take
+knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?"
+
+And Boaz answered and said unto her, "It hath fully been showed me, all
+that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy
+husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land
+of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not
+heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given
+thee of the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to
+take refuge."
+
+Then she said, "Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord; for that thou
+hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy
+handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens."
+
+And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, "Come hither, and eat of the bread,
+and dip thy morsel in the vinegar."
+
+And she sat beside the reapers; and they reached her parched grain, and
+she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof.
+
+And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men,
+saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not. And
+also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her
+glean, and rebuke her not."
+
+
+B. THE HUMBLE AND HAPPY HOME
+
+So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she
+had gleaned, and it was about a bushel of barley. And she took it up,
+and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned:
+and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she
+was sufficed.
+
+And her mother-in-law said unto her, "Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and
+where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee."
+
+And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said,
+"The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz."
+
+And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he of the Lord, who
+hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead." And Naomi
+said unto her, "The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near
+kinsmen."
+
+And Ruth the Moabitess said, "Yea, he said unto me, 'Thou shalt keep
+fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.'"
+
+And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter,
+that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any
+other field."
+
+So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley
+harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
+
+
+=Sec.56. At the Threshing Floor= (Ruth 3)
+
+A. THE PLAN
+
+And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, "My daughter, shall I not
+seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz
+our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley
+to-night in the threshing-floor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee,
+and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor;
+but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating
+and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt
+mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his
+feet, and lay thee down: and he will tell thee what thou shalt do." And
+she said unto her, "All that thou sayest I will do."
+
+[Illustration: _Copyright 1904 by Underwood and Underwood_
+WINNOWING GRAIN]
+
+
+B. THE DUTY OF THE KINSMAN
+
+And she went down unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all
+that her mother-in-law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and
+his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of
+grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
+And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned
+himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
+
+And he said, "Who art thou?"
+
+And she answered, "I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt
+over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman."
+
+And he said, "Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: thou hast showed
+more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou
+followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter,
+fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my
+people doth know that thou art a worthy woman. And now it is true that I
+am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this
+night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto
+thee the part of a kinsman, well; but if he will not, then will I do the
+part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the
+morning."
+
+And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one
+could discern another. For he said, "Let it not be known that the woman
+came to the threshing-floor."
+
+And he said, "Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it," and she
+held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and
+he went into the city.
+
+And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How hast thou fared,
+my daughter?"
+
+And she told her all that the man had done to her. And she said, "These
+six measures of barley gave he me; for he said, 'Go not empty unto thy
+mother-in-law.'"
+
+Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter
+will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing
+this day."
+
+
+=Sec.57. At the City Gate= (Ruth 4:1-17)
+
+A. THE PURCHASE
+
+Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the
+near kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by: unto whom he said, "Ho, such a
+one! turn aside, sit down here." And he turned aside, and sat down.
+
+And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit ye down
+here." And they sat down.
+
+And he said unto the near kinsman, "Naomi, that is come again out of the
+country of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother
+Elimelech's: and I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, 'Buy it
+before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people.' If thou
+wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me,
+that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am
+after thee."
+
+And he said, "I will redeem it."
+
+Then said Boaz, "What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi,
+thou must buy also Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up
+the name of the dead upon his inheritance."
+
+And the near kinsman said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar
+mine own inheritance: take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I
+cannot redeem it."
+
+Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming
+and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things; a man drew off his
+shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the manner of witness in
+Israel.
+
+So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, "Buy it for thyself." And he drew
+off his shoe.
+
+And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, "Ye are
+witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and
+all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth
+the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to
+raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the
+dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his
+place; ye are witnesses this day."
+
+And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, "We are
+witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thy house like
+Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do
+thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem."
+
+
+B. THE HAPPY MARRIAGE
+
+So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and she bare a son.
+
+And the women said unto Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who hath not left
+thee this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in
+Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of
+thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better
+to thee than seven sons, hath borne him."
+
+And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse
+unto it.
+
+And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, "There is a son born
+to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse,
+the father of David.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+176. We study one of the heroines of Israel. She was a foreigner of the
+country of Moab, but held a most important place in Israel's history as
+the great-grandmother of King David. The story tells of her devotion and
+of its reward.
+
+177 (Sec.53). Notice the time in which the story is placed. The town which
+is mentioned is well known to us because of one who was born there long
+afterward: who was he? The farmer with his wife and two sons went over
+to the rich high country of Moab. Locate it on the map, east of the
+Jordan. What happened in Moab?
+
+178 (Sec.54A). What did Naomi decide to do? These three women loved one
+another very dearly, but Naomi thought that the young women ought to
+marry again, so she told them to stay in their own land as they would
+not be likely to find husbands among strangers.
+
+179 (Sec.54A). According to the Hebrew custom, if a man died his brother
+would marry the widow, but Naomi had no sons who could marry these young
+widows. Why did Orpah return? Why did Ruth refuse to leave her
+mother-in-law? Note how beautifully Ruth spoke. Love does not count the
+cost. What do we mean by Ruth's devotion?
+
+180 (Sec.54B). Why were the Bethlehem women so surprised at Naomi's
+appearance? Naomi means "Pleasant." Perhaps the name had been given to
+her because of her beauty. Mara, the same as our name Mary, means
+"Bitter." Explain what Naomi meant by her speech to the women. What time
+of year was it when they returned?
+
+181 (Sec.55A). The principal man of the story is introduced to us. The two
+women had nothing to live on, but the Hebrew law permitted the poor to
+follow the reapers and to gather up the stalks that were dropped or
+left. This was called gleaning. Where did Ruth go to glean? This young
+woman did not leave her mother to do the work. Her love expressed itself
+in deeds.
+
+182 (Sec.55A). Tell the conversation between Boaz and the foreman. Note the
+kindness of this Bethlehem gentleman to the stranger. It is the mark of
+a gentleman to be kind. It was not usual to invite the gleaners to share
+the lunch with the farm hands, but Boaz was especially kind to Ruth.
+What directions did he give to the young men? How would this help her in
+gleaning?
+
+183 (Sec.55B). Notice that she beat out the ears of barley, so as not to
+carry home the straw. How much did she have? This was a good day's
+gleaning. How surprised Naomi was that she had secured so much! Tell
+their conversation in your own words. They were poor, but they were
+happy all that harvest time: why?
+
+184 (Sec.56A). Remember that it was the Hebrew custom for a man's widow to
+be married by his brother. If he had no brother his nearest relative was
+expected to marry her. So Naomi hoped that Boaz, who was related to her
+dead husband, would marry Ruth. She plans a little scheme to let him
+know privately that he is a near relative who ought to do this honor for
+those who were dead. There would be a great feast at the time the barley
+was threshed, and then all the men would go to sleep in the open air on
+the smooth floor where the threshing was done. Ruth was instructed to
+let Boaz know the plan when the others were asleep.
+
+185 (Sec.56B). Tell the story in your own words. Notice especially that
+Boaz explains that there is a nearer relative who ought to marry Ruth.
+What did Boaz give to Ruth to take to her mother-in-law? Tell the
+conversation of the two women.
+
+186 (Sec.57A). The Gate was the place where all the business was done.
+Note how the business was begun, and how arrangements were made for the
+bargain to be witnessed. The conversation refers to the Hebrew laws of
+real estate. It is enough for us to see that the kinsman was not willing
+to marry Ruth. What interesting old custom is shown? They were sitting
+on the ground cross-legged, so one could easily pull off his shoe or
+sandal. What other story have we had in which the sandal was easily
+taken off? (See 97 and illustration.) Note Boaz' solemn statement of the
+agreement. How did all the people congratulate Boaz?
+
+187 (Sec.57B). It is interesting to see that the people congratulated Naomi
+when Ruth's baby was born, because there was again a son for her family.
+This grandson would take the place of the sons whom she had lost. What
+did the women think of Ruth? What relation was Ruth to David?
+
+188. What do you think of Ruth? Look up I Cor. 13:13 in the Revised
+Version and see what it says about the greatest thing in the world. Can
+everybody have this greatest thing? How much does it cost? Think whether
+you are bringing that into your home.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+We do not always see the heroism that is just about us. The only women
+whom we think about as heroines are those who have done some great
+public work, but there is many a heroine who is quietly giving up her
+ambitions to make the home happy as Ruth gave up herself to go with
+Naomi. Ask your mother to tell you about some young woman who gave up
+opportunity of education, or ease, or pleasure, in order to help the
+family. Write about it in your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOUNDERS OF THE KINGDOM
+
+
+  XVIII. SAMUEL AND ELI
+
+    XIX. SAMUEL AND SAUL
+
+     XX. JONATHAN'S VICTORY
+
+
+
+
+XVIII. SAMUEL AND ELI
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.58. The Birth of Samuel= (I Sam. 1:1-4, 8-28; 2:11)
+
+A. HANNAH'S GRIEF
+
+Now there was a certain man of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name
+was Elkanah. And the name of his wife was Hannah and she had no
+children. And this man went up out of his city from year to year to
+worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two
+sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto the Lord, were there. And
+when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, Hannah wept, and did not eat.
+
+And Elkanah her husband said unto her, "Hannah, why weepest thou? and
+why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am I not better to
+thee than ten sons?"
+
+So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had
+drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door post of the
+temple of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto
+the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, "O Lord of
+hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and
+remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine
+handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days
+of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."
+
+And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli
+marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips
+moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been
+drunken. And Eli said unto her, "How long wilt thou be drunken? put away
+thy wine from thee."
+
+And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful
+spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my
+soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a wicked woman: for
+out of the abundance of my complaint have I spoken."
+
+Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant
+thy petition that thou hast asked of him."
+
+And she said, "Let thy servant find grace in thy sight."
+
+So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more
+sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the
+Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah.
+
+
+B. THE DEDICATION OF SAMUEL
+
+And it came to pass, that Hannah bare a son; and she called his name
+Samuel. And the man Elkanah went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly
+sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her
+husband, "I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will
+bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for
+ever."
+
+And Elkanah her husband said unto her, "Do what seemeth thee good; tarry
+until thou hast weaned him; only the Lord establish his word."
+
+So the woman tarried until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him,
+she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal,
+and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in
+Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew the bullock, and brought
+the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my
+lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For
+this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I
+asked of him: therefore I also have granted him to the Lord; as long as
+he liveth he is granted to the Lord."
+
+And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto
+the Lord before Eli the priest.
+
+
+=Sec.59. The Wicked Priests= (I Sam. 2:12-17, 22-25, 18, 19, 26)
+
+Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they knew not the Lord. And the
+custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered
+sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was being boiled,
+with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; and he struck it into the
+kettle; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took. So they did
+in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. Yea, before they
+burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that
+sacrificed, "Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have
+boiled flesh of thee, but raw." And if the man said unto him, "They will
+surely burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul
+desireth;" then he would say, "Nay, but thou shalt give it to me now:
+and if not, I will take it by force." And the sin of the young men was
+very great before the Lord; for they despised the offering of the Lord.
+
+Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all
+Israel. And he said unto them, "Why do ye such things? for I hear of
+your evil dealings from all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good
+report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man
+sinned against another, God shall judge him: but if a man sin against
+the Lord, who shall entreat for him?"
+
+Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father.
+
+But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a
+linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it
+to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the
+yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife. And the child
+Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.
+
+
+=Sec.60. The Call of Samuel= (I Sam. 3:1-18)
+
+And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And it came to
+pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, (now his eyes
+had begun to wax dim, that he could not see,) and the lamp of God was
+not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, in the temple of
+the Lord, where the ark of God was; that the Lord called Samuel: and he
+said, "Here am I." And he ran unto Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou
+calledst me." And he said, "I called not; lie down again."
+
+And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, "Samuel."
+
+And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou
+calledst me."
+
+And he answered, "I called not, my son; lie down again."
+
+Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord
+yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time.
+And he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou calledst
+me."
+
+And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said
+unto Samuel, "Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou
+shalt say, 'Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.'"
+
+So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood,
+and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel."
+
+Then Samuel said, "Speak; for thy servant heareth."
+
+And the Lord said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at
+which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that
+day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his
+house, from the beginning even unto the end. For I have told him that I
+will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because
+his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not."
+
+And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of
+the Lord. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
+
+Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son."
+
+And he said, "Here am I."
+
+And he said, "What is the thing that the Lord hath spoken unto thee? I
+pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou
+hide any thing from me of all the things that he spake unto thee."
+
+And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said,
+"It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good."
+
+
+=Sec.61. The Punishment of the Wicked Priests= (I Sam. 4:1-18)
+
+A. ISRAEL'S DOUBLE DEFEAT
+
+Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle. And the
+Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined
+battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the
+army in the field about four thousand men. And when the people were come
+into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Wherefore hath the Lord
+smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the
+covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us,
+and save us out of the hand of our enemies."
+
+So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from thence the ark of
+the covenant of the Lord of hosts; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and
+Phinehas, were there with the ark. And when the ark of the covenant of
+the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so
+that the earth rang again.
+
+And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What
+meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?" And
+they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp. And the
+Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God is come into the camp." And
+they said, "Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing
+heretofore. Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these
+mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner
+of plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O
+ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have
+been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight."
+
+And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every
+man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of
+Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the
+two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
+
+
+B. THE DEATH OF THE OLD PRIEST
+
+And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the
+same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. And when
+he came, lo, Eli sat upon his seat by the wayside watching: for his
+heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city,
+and told it, all the city cried out.
+
+And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, "What meaneth the
+noise of this tumult?"
+
+And the man hasted, and came and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety and eight
+years old; and his eyes were set, that he could not see. And the man
+said unto Eli, "I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out
+of the army."
+
+And he said, "How went the matter, my son?"
+
+And he that brought the tidings answered and said, "Israel is fled
+before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among
+the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and
+the ark of God is taken."
+
+And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he
+fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck
+brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged
+Israel forty years.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+189. We turn to the Books of Samuel, which take their name from one of
+the great heroes of Israel. He did not write the books, for they contain
+the story of what happened long after his death, but as he was the
+noblest character in the books they were named after him.
+
+190 (Sec.58A). At the beginning of this story we learn that Elkanah the
+husband and Hannah his wife had no children. They had gone up to Shiloh
+to the sacred building that was called the house of God, and had
+celebrated a sacred feast. But Hannah was greatly troubled that she had
+no child. What did she do? What did she promise if she could have a son?
+We remember from the story of Samson that leaving the hair uncut was a
+mark that the child was to serve God.
+
+191 (Sec.58A). When Hannah prayed, did she speak aloud? What did Eli, the
+old priest, think about her? Tell in your own words their conversation.
+
+192 (Sec.58B). The boy whom Hannah longed for was born. What was his name?
+It was the custom to kill animals at the house of God as a sign of
+thanksgiving: what did Hannah take with her for this sacrifice? What
+did she say to Eli? Note that she brings the boy to the old priest to
+learn the duties of the house of God.
+
+193 (Sec.59). Perhaps the wrong-doing of the priests seems rather difficult
+to understand. Eli, the old priest, was assisted by his two sons. Their
+duty was to offer the sacrifices for the people, and they would be
+allowed part of the meat as their pay. That was one of the ways in which
+a priest had his living. But these young priests would send their
+servants to stick a large fork into the pot where the meat was boiling
+and whatever came out they would take. Or they would take the meat
+first, before the offering to the Lord had been made, and this was
+considered a dishonor to the sacrifice. It often happens that public
+officers are more anxious to get what they can than to do their duty.
+
+194 (Sec.59). How did the father feel about his sons? What did he say to
+them? What ought he to have done to them? Why did he not do so?
+
+195 (Sec.59). What was happening to Samuel all this time? The linen ephod
+was a white dress such as a priest would wear. Who made the boy's
+garments? Think what those happy meetings of the parents and boy once a
+year must have been.
+
+196 (Sec.60). Imagine how the little church, or temple, was at night. There
+was a room in which the sacred box called the ark was kept. A lamp
+burned in this room all night. Samuel had a room near by, where he
+slept, and old Eli had another. What wonderful thing happened to Samuel
+one night? Tell it in your own words. Nearly all men and women who have
+become great have heard calls in some manner in their youth. Joan of
+Arc, the young girl who saved France from her enemies, thought that she
+heard God calling to her, though she was only thirteen years of age.
+This was a vision that Samuel saw in the night. Do you remember the
+dreams of Joseph? It is often in conscience and in times of
+thoughtfulness that God speaks to us.
+
+197 (Sec.60). How did Samuel do as Eli had told him? Note that God tells
+the boy that a great punishment will come upon Eli's family. How was Eli
+to blame for the wickedness of his sons?
+
+198 (Sec.60). What did Samuel do as soon as he got up in the morning? What
+does this show us regarding his duties? What did he think about the
+vision? But old Eli knew that there was something very important that
+had happened. Tell in your own words the conversation between them. Note
+that the poor old man can simply say that he must bear what comes upon
+him. What do you think of Eli?
+
+199 (Sec.61A). With whom did Israel go to war? Locate the country of these
+enemies on the map. How did the battle come out? The people thought that
+if they could have the ark with them they could conquer. They thought
+the Lord would fight for them. Where did they go to get the ark? Who
+were with the ark?
+
+200 (Sec.61A). When the two priests brought the ark to the camp, what
+happened? What effect did this have upon the Philistines? What was the
+result? What happened to the two priests? What happened to the ark?
+
+201 (Sec.61B). When a Hebrew felt very sad he covered his head with dust
+and tore his dress. Tell the story of how the news of the defeat was
+brought to Eli. How old was the priest? What was he doing? Why did he
+care so much about the ark of God? What happened to him? Eli was a noble
+man himself, but could he not have done better for Israel than he did?
+Remember that young Samuel was growing up while these things were going
+on.
+
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Think of what paragraph 196 means to you. It is at Samuel's age that
+most young people come into the full membership of the church. Write
+what you think that means.
+
+
+
+
+XIX. SAMUEL AND SAUL
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.62. The Meeting of Samuel and Saul= (I Sam. 9:1-25)
+
+A. SAUL SEEKING THE DONKEYS
+
+Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, a mighty man of
+valor. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly:
+and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than
+he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
+And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul
+his son, "Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the
+asses."
+
+And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and there they were
+not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found
+them not. When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his
+servant that was with him, "Come and let us return; lest my father cease
+caring for the asses, and take thought for us."
+
+And he said unto him, "Behold now, there is in this city a man of God,
+and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely
+to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning
+our journey whereon we go."
+
+Then said Saul to his servant, "But, behold, if we go, what shall we
+bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a
+present to bring to the man of God: what have we?"
+
+And the servant answered Saul again, and said, "Behold, I have in my
+hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man
+of God, to tell us our way."
+
+Then said Saul to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go."
+
+
+B. SAUL ENTERTAINED BY SAMUEL
+
+So they went unto the city where the man of God was. As they went up the
+ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water,
+and said unto them, "Is the seer here?"
+
+And they answered them, and said, "He is; behold, he is before thee:
+make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have
+a sacrifice to-day in the high place: as soon as ye be come into the
+city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place
+to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless
+the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get
+you up; for at this time ye shall find him."
+
+And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold,
+Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
+
+Now the Lord had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
+"To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of
+Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over my people Israel,
+and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I
+have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me."
+
+And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, "Behold the man of
+whom I spake to thee! this same shall have authority over my people."
+
+Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me, I pray
+thee, where the seer's house is."
+
+And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am the seer; go up before me unto
+the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day: and in the morning I
+will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. And as
+for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them;
+for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not
+on thee, and for all thy father's house?"
+
+And Saul answered and said, "Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of
+the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the
+tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou to me after this
+manner?"
+
+And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the
+guest-chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that
+were bidden, which were about thirty persons. And Samuel said unto the
+cook, "Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee,
+'Set it by thee.'"
+
+And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it
+before Saul.
+
+And Samuel said, "Behold that which hath been reserved! set it before
+thee and eat; because unto the appointed time hath it been kept for
+thee, for I said, 'I have invited the people.'"
+
+So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. And when they were come down from
+the high place into the city, he communed with Saul upon the housetop.
+
+
+=Sec.63. Saul Anointed by Samuel= (I Sam. 9:26-10:7)
+
+A. THE PROMISE OF THE KINGDOM
+
+And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day,
+that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, "Up, that I may send
+thee away."
+
+And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
+As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul,
+"Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou
+still at this time, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God." Then
+Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed
+him, and said, "Is it not that the Lord hath anointed thee to be prince
+over his inheritance? When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou
+shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin;
+and they will say unto thee, 'The asses which thou wentest to seek are
+found: and lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and taketh
+thought for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?' Then shalt thou go
+on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the oak of Tabor, and
+there shall meet thee there three men going up to God to Beth-el, one
+carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and
+another carrying a bottle of wine: and they will salute thee, and give
+thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hand. After
+that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the
+Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to
+the city, that thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the
+high place with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp,
+before them; and they shall be prophesying: and the spirit of the Lord
+will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and
+shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are
+come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee: for God is with
+thee."
+
+
+B. SAUL'S RETURN HOME
+
+And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God
+gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And
+when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him;
+and the spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among
+them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him before-time saw that,
+behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to
+another, "What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also
+among the prophets?"
+
+And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
+And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, "Whither went ye?"
+
+And he said, "To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were not
+found, we came to Samuel."
+
+And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto
+you."
+
+And Saul said unto his uncle, "He told us plainly that the asses were
+found." But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake,
+he told him not.
+
+
+=Sec.64. Saul's Opportunity= (I Sam. 11:1-11, 15)
+
+Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead:
+and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, "Make a covenant with us,
+and we will serve thee."
+
+And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, "On this condition will I make
+it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for
+a reproach upon all Israel."
+
+And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, "Give us seven days' respite,
+that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel: and then, if
+there be none to save us, we will come out to thee."
+
+Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spake these words in the
+ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
+And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul
+said, "What aileth the people that they weep?"
+
+And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. And the spirit of God
+came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was
+kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and
+sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of
+messengers, saying, "Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after
+Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen."
+
+And the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one
+man. And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were
+three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they
+said unto the messengers that came, "Thus shall ye say unto the men of
+Jabesh-gilead, 'To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have
+deliverance.'"
+
+And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
+Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "To-morrow we will come out unto you,
+and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you."
+
+And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three
+companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning
+watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to
+pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were
+not left together.
+
+And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before
+the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace
+offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel
+rejoiced greatly.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+202 (Sec.62A). Look at the map of Canaan and find the tribe of Benjamin. Is
+it a very large tribe? The tribes occupied separate districts, something
+like our states. This story is going to tell us about how the first king
+was chosen, so it is particular to tell us where he came from and how it
+happened. What kind of man was Saul? Some animals that are used very
+much in Palestine had strayed: tell about them.
+
+203 (Sec.62A). Saul and the servant had wandered a long way looking for the
+donkeys, probably spending several days in the hunt. At last Saul made
+up his mind to do something: what was it? But the servant thought of a
+plan to help them in their search. The man of God was one who could help
+people in their troubles. They were supposed to bring him a present.
+What did Saul do about the present?
+
+204 (Sec.62B). Try to imagine the whole scene. Think what Saul and the
+servant were doing: whom did they meet and what did they ask? We must
+understand that a feast was to be held. The people were going to cook a
+whole animal. They would pour out the blood and burn the fat, which was
+called a sacrifice and was part of their religion; then they would eat
+the rest of the animal with great joy. It happened that the two men
+reached the city just as the feast was to be held. And Samuel would be
+there to ask the blessing. The girls told the two men all this. What
+happened just as they reached the city?
+
+205 (Sec.62B). The Philistines were enemies of Israel who greatly troubled
+them. Samuel had been wondering how the people could be saved from their
+enemies. What had the Lord told him? What did Samuel feel just as soon
+as he saw Saul?
+
+206 (Sec.62B). Try to imagine the meeting. What did Saul say? What did
+Samuel answer? Notice the invitation, the information about the donkeys,
+and especially the hint of some great thing. Saul is surprised: what
+does he say to Samuel?
+
+207 (Sec.62B). What did Samuel do for Saul? What plan had Samuel made so
+that a good piece of meat could be kept? Note the part of the animal
+that they thought best is the same that we like: it is the leg of lamb
+or the second joint of the turkey. What did Samuel say to Saul?
+
+208 (Sec.62B). Evidently Samuel took Saul to his own house. What part of
+the house did they use in those days for visiting? How could they do so?
+What do you think they talked about? Once during the Civil War Abraham
+Lincoln went to visit Henry Ward Beecher: what do you think they talked
+of? Samuel had great hopes that Saul was the man to save Israel.
+
+209 (Sec.63A). After the conversation they went to bed. Then they talked
+again early in the morning. Then Samuel walked with Saul out of the
+city. What plan did Samuel use to be alone with Saul? Picture the scene
+to yourself: the old man with the flask of olive oil in his hand, the
+tall young man wondering about his future, the anointing, the solemn
+kiss, the promise.
+
+210 (Sec.63A). What signs was Saul to have? Samuel's last word meant that
+Saul was to wait until some great opportunity should arise and then to
+do as God led him. We shall see how the opportunity came.
+
+211 (Sec.63B). Tell the story of what happened to Saul after he left
+Samuel. What was the conversation between Saul and his uncle? What did
+Saul keep silent about? Why do you think he did so? He was modest; he
+did not want to boast. It seems that he went quietly to work on his
+father's farm and waited for something to happen that should show him
+what to do.
+
+212 (Sec.64). The scene of the story changes. Locate Ammon on the map, east
+of the Jordan. The Ammonites were old enemies of Israel. Locate
+Jabesh-Gilead, the town which they attacked. The people were afraid and
+begged for mercy. What terms did the cruel king offer them? He was so
+sure that no one in Israel could save them that he let them send
+messengers asking for help. The messengers came to the town where Saul
+lived. Locate Gibeah in Saul's tribe. How did the people feel when they
+heard the news? What had Saul been doing since his return from Samuel?
+Tell the story of how he came home on the day the messengers arrived.
+
+213 (Sec.64). How did the news affect Saul? This was the opportunity that
+Samuel had told him to wait for. What striking thing did he do to gather
+an army? Tell the story of the successful march to relieve
+Jabesh-Gilead.
+
+214 (Sec.64). What did the people think of the hero who had saved them?
+What did they do? Who was the first president of the United States? Why
+was he elected? Who was the first king of Israel? Why was he chosen?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Consider which man you would rather have been: A wise, good man who was
+magnanimous enough to see that a king was needed and to choose him, or
+the vigorous man who could conquer the enemies and win the kingship.
+Think carefully of the heroic qualities of each of them. Write down
+which you admire the most and why you would rather be that one.
+
+
+
+
+XX. JONATHAN'S VICTORY
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.65. The New King and the Old Foes= (I Sam. 13:2-7, 15-17; 14:1-23)
+
+A. THE OUTBREAK OF WAR
+
+When Saul had reigned two years over Israel, he chose him three thousand
+men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with him in Michmash and in the
+mount of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of
+Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. And
+Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the
+Philistines heard of it.
+
+And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the
+Hebrews hear."
+
+And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the
+Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the
+Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul.
+
+And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel,
+thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the
+sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and
+pitched in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw
+that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the
+people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and
+in holds, and in pits.
+
+[Illustration: A PHILISTINE]
+
+Now some of the Hebrews had gone over Jordan to the land of Gad and
+Gilead. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about
+six hundred men. And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that
+were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines
+encamped in Michmash. And the spoilers came out of the camp of the
+Philistines.
+
+
+B. JONATHAN'S BOLD ATTACK
+
+Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the
+young man that bare his armor, "Come and let us go over to the
+Philistines' garrison, that is on yonder side." But he told not his
+father.
+
+And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate
+tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about
+six hundred men. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. And
+between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the
+Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a
+rocky crag on the other side. The one crag rose up on the north in front
+of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
+
+And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, "Come and let us
+go over unto the garrison: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for
+there is not restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."
+
+And his armorbearer said unto him, "Do all that is in thine heart: turn
+thee, behold I am with thee according to thy heart."
+
+Then said Jonathan, "Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will
+discover ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, 'Tarry until we
+come to you;' then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up
+unto them. But if they say thus, 'Come up unto us,' then we will go up:
+for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be the
+sign unto us."
+
+And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the
+Philistines: and the Philistines said, "Behold, the Hebrews come forth
+out of the holes where they had hid themselves." And the men of the
+garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, "Come up to
+us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said unto his
+armorbearer, "Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into
+the hand of Israel."
+
+And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his
+armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his
+armorbearer slew them after him. And that first slaughter, which
+Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it
+were half an acre of land. And there was a trembling in the camp, in the
+field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they
+also trembled: and the earth quaked; so there was an exceeding great
+trembling.
+
+
+C. THE GENERAL BATTLE
+
+And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the
+multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.
+
+Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, "Number now, and see
+who is gone from us."
+
+And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were
+not there. And Saul said unto Ahijah the priest, "Bring hither the ark
+of God." For the ark of God was there at that time with the children of
+Israel.
+
+And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult
+that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul
+said unto the priest, "Withdraw thine hand."
+
+And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together,
+and came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his
+fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. Now the Hebrews that
+were with the Philistines as before-time, which went up with them into
+the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with
+the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of
+Israel which had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when
+they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after
+them in the battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle
+passed over by Beth-aven.
+
+
+=Sec.66. Saul's Oath and Jonathan's Danger= (I Sam. 14:24-46)
+
+A. THE OATH OF ABSTINENCE
+
+And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the
+people, saying, "Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be
+evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies."
+
+So none of the people tasted food. And all the people came into the
+forest; and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people were
+come unto the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand
+to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not
+when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth
+the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb,
+and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
+
+Then answered one of the people, and said, "Thy father straitly charged
+the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man that eateth food
+this day.'" And the people were faint.
+
+Then said Jonathan, "My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you,
+how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this
+honey. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the
+spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a
+much greater slaughter among the Philistines?"
+
+
+B. THE HUNGRY WARRIORS
+
+And they smote of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and
+the people were very faint. And the people flew upon the spoil, and took
+sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people
+did eat them with the blood.
+
+Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people sin against the Lord,
+in that they eat with the blood."
+
+And he said, "Ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me
+this day." And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say
+unto them, 'Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep,
+and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the Lord in eating with
+the blood.'"
+
+And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and
+slew them there. And Saul built an altar unto the Lord: the same was the
+first altar that he built unto the Lord.
+
+
+C. JONATHAN'S DANGER AND RESCUE
+
+And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil
+them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them."
+
+And they said, "Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee."
+
+Then said the priest, "Let us draw near hither unto God." And Saul asked
+counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou
+deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he answered him not that day.
+
+And Saul said, "Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people: and know
+and see wherein this sin hath been this day. For, as the Lord liveth,
+which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely
+die." But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
+
+Then said he unto all Israel, "Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my
+son will be on the other side."
+
+And the people said unto Saul, "Do what seemeth good unto thee."
+
+Therefore Saul said unto the Lord, the God of Israel, "Show the right."
+And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot: but the people escaped.
+
+And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan
+was taken.
+
+Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what thou hast done."
+
+And Jonathan told him, and said, "I did certainly taste a little honey
+with the end of the rod that was in mine hand; and, lo, I must die."
+
+And Saul said, "God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die,
+Jonathan."
+
+And the people said unto Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought
+this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there
+shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought
+with God this day."
+
+So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. Then Saul went up from
+following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+215 (Sec.65A). There was a strong enemy on the western coast that was the
+most serious trouble to Israel. It was to save themselves from these
+people that the Hebrews had longed for a king. Imagine how we should
+feel if some foreign nation should capture New York and Chicago and St.
+Louis and San Francisco and should compel us to give up a large part of
+our crops every year. We should look for a great general to lead us to
+turn them out. What then did Saul feel was his first duty as king? He
+had with him his noble son: what was his name? The first blow was struck
+at the town of Geba: what followed at once?
+
+216 (Sec.65A). Note the great force of the Philistines. What do you think
+they expected to do with the Hebrews? How did the Hebrews behave? We
+have seen before how the people would hide from their enemies. How many
+warriors did Saul have left? Notice that the two forces were drawn up on
+opposite sides of a valley. Each was on a height which it was difficult
+to attack. The reference to "the spoilers" means that the Philistines
+determined to destroy all the Hebrew country. The little army of Saul
+was unable to prevent the raids.
+
+217 (Sec.65B). Evidently some bold deed had to be done. We find that the
+king had a hero son. The knights in Europe used to have their squires:
+Jonathan had his armorbearer. Why did he not tell his father of his
+plan? At the battle of Santiago in the Cuban war Lieutenant Hobson
+wanted to do a very bold deed, but it was so dangerous that he had
+difficulty in getting permission. Jonathan was afraid his father would
+think his plan foolhardy. Study the description of the place. There was
+a narrow pass between two rocky crags. In order to reach the
+Philistines, Jonathan would have to climb the steep rock. Note that
+Jonathan hopes for the Lord to be with him. How does the armorbearer
+respond?
+
+218 (Sec.65B). Jonathan proposes to go into the open at the bottom of the
+valley and call to the Philistine sentinels, and then to decide whether
+to attack according to their reply. He thinks that they will make one of
+two replies: what were they? Tell what happened. How do you think the
+sudden attack of two men could have frightened the Philistines?
+
+219 (Sec.65C). The Hebrew sentinels on their crag suddenly saw a great
+disturbance on the opposite height, which the Philistines held. What did
+Saul do? The king intended to consult God through the priest, but the
+confusion in the enemy's camp grew so great that he decided to attack at
+once. Three causes helped to put the Philistines to flight: what were
+they?
+
+220 (Sec.66A). In the old time it was thought to be very religious to make
+solemn vows to God. Saul felt that the Lord was saving Israel from the
+oppression: what oath did he put upon the people? What did the hungry
+people find in the forest? How did they act? How did Jonathan act? The
+little food was so refreshing that he seemed to see clearly again, so it
+is said "his eyes were enlightened." Tell what conversation took place
+about the honey.
+
+221 (Sec.66B). In order to understand this story, we must remember that it
+was considered wrong to eat meat unless it had been properly killed so
+that the blood could run off. The blood was thought to be an offering to
+God. The Jews still keep up the same custom, and their meat is always
+specially killed. When the Philistines fled, what property did they
+leave behind? How did the hungry Hebrews behave? How did Saul secure an
+altar where the animals could be properly killed? Saul was very careful
+to do everything that was considered right.
+
+222 (Sec.66C). The king thought that the victory should be followed up, so
+that the Philistines could not return to trouble them. They had a custom
+of seeking to find out God's will about any matter through the priest,
+just as people do in the temples of Japan to-day. But there was some
+difficulty in securing an answer, so Saul felt sure that someone had
+broken the oath. It was a most solemn matter to him. What did he say to
+the leaders of the people? Tell how they found out that Jonathan was
+guilty.
+
+223 (Sec.66C). When a man was found out by the lot, he was expected to
+confess. What did Jonathan confess? Do you think that he had done wrong?
+Evidently Saul thought so, because at that time it seemed terrible to
+break a solemn oath. Picture the scene to yourself and see how nobly
+Jonathan was ready to bear the punishment.
+
+224 (Sec.66C). It seems to us most strange that the king should think so
+much of the matter as to feel that his son must die, but we must
+remember that it was part of their religion. It makes us very glad that
+we know God so much better, and that we can see that he must have been
+pleased with the hero who had risked his life to save his people from
+their enemies. Indeed we find that Jonathan's noble conduct was so clear
+that the people decided that the old custom must be broken. What did
+they say? Why did they think the Lord would not wish Jonathan to die?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Imagine that you were Jonathan's armorbearer. Write a letter home, just
+as the young man might, telling what happened that day. Make it as full
+of description as possible.
+
+
+
+
+DAVID
+
+
+    XXI. DAVID AND THE GIANT
+
+   XXII. THE HERO FRIENDS, DAVID AND JONATHAN
+
+  XXIII. DAVID, THE OUTLAW
+
+   XXIV. DAVID, THE KING
+
+    XXV. DAVID AND HIS REBEL SON
+
+
+
+
+XXI. DAVID AND THE GIANT
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.67. The Anointing of David= (I Sam. 16:1-13)
+
+And the Lord said unto Samuel, "I have rejected Saul from being king
+over Israel. Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse
+the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons."
+
+And Samuel said, "How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me."
+
+And the Lord said, "Take an heifer with thee, and say, 'I am come to
+sacrifice to the Lord.' And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show
+thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name
+unto thee."
+
+And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the
+elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Comest thou
+peaceably?"
+
+And he said, "Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify
+yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse
+and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass,
+when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, "Surely the
+Lord's anointed is before him."
+
+But the Lord said unto Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the
+height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for the Lord seeth
+not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the
+Lord looketh on the heart."
+
+[Illustration: DAVID]
+
+Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he
+said, "Neither hath the Lord chosen this."
+
+Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, "Neither hath the Lord
+chosen this."
+
+And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said
+unto Jesse, "The Lord hath not chosen these." And Samuel said unto
+Jesse, "Are here all thy children?"
+
+And he said, "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth
+the sheep."
+
+And Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch him: for we will not sit
+down till he come hither."
+
+And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a
+beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And the Lord said,
+"Arise, anoint him: for this is he."
+
+Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his
+brethren: and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that
+day forward.
+
+
+=Sec.68. David and Goliath= (I Sam. 17:1-14, 16-52)
+
+A. GOLIATH'S CHALLENGE
+
+Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and they
+were gathered together at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah. And Saul and
+the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched in the vale of
+Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And the
+Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on
+the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
+
+And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named
+Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an
+helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clad with a coat of mail; and
+the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had
+greaves of brass upon his legs, and a javelin of brass between his
+shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his
+spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer
+went before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and
+said unto them, "Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not
+I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and
+let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me,
+then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill
+him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us." And the Philistine
+said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day, give me a man, that we may
+fight together."
+
+And when Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they
+were dismayed, and greatly afraid, and the Philistine drew near morning
+and evening, and presented himself forty days.
+
+
+B. DAVID'S VISIT TO THE ARMY
+
+Now Jesse had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of
+Saul, stricken in years among men. And the three eldest sons of Jesse
+had gone after Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that
+went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him
+Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David was the youngest: and the
+three eldest followed Saul.
+
+And Jesse said unto David his son, "Take now for thy brethren an ephah
+of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to
+the camp to thy brethren; and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain
+of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare."
+
+And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a
+keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to
+the place of the wagons, as the host which was going forth to the fight
+shouted for the battle. And Israel and the Philistines put the battle in
+array, army against army. And David left his baggage in the hand of the
+keeper of the baggage, and ran to the army, and came and saluted his
+brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the
+champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of
+the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard
+them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him,
+and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, "Have ye seen this man
+that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be,
+that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great
+riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free
+in Israel."
+
+And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, "What shall be
+done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the
+reproach from Israel? for who is this Philistine, that he should defy
+the armies of the living God?"
+
+And the people answered him after this manner, saying, "So shall it be
+done to the man that killeth him."
+
+And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and
+Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why art thou come
+down? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I
+know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come
+down that thou mightest see the battle."
+
+And David said, "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" And he
+turned away from him toward another, and spake after the same manner:
+and the people answered him again after the former manner.
+
+
+C. THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHALLENGE
+
+And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them
+before Saul; and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, "Let no man's
+heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this
+Philistine."
+
+And Saul said to David, "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine
+to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from
+his youth."
+
+And David said unto Saul, "Thy servant kept his father's sheep; and when
+there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went
+out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and
+when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and
+slew him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this
+Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of
+the living God." And David said, "The Lord that delivered me out of the
+paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out
+of the hand of this Philistine."
+
+And Saul said unto David, "Go, and the Lord shall be with thee." And
+Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put an helmet of brass upon his
+head, and he clad him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword
+upon his apparel, and he essayed to go; for he had not proved it.
+
+And David said unto Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved
+them." And David put them off him.
+
+
+D. THE COMBAT
+
+And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out
+of the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in
+his scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the
+Philistine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the
+man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked
+about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and
+ruddy, and withal of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto
+David, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" And the
+Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David,
+"Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to
+the beasts of the field."
+
+Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and
+with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to thee in the name of the
+Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast defied.
+This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite
+thee, and take thine head from off thee; and I will give the carcases of
+the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to
+the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is
+a God in Israel: and that all this assembly may know that the Lord
+saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he
+will give you into our hand."
+
+And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh
+to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the
+Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone,
+and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone
+sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David
+prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote
+the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of
+David. Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his
+sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off
+his head therewith.
+
+And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
+And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the
+Philistines, until thou comest to Gath, and to the gates of Ekron.
+
+
+=Sec.69. David before Saul= (I Sam. 17:15-18:5)
+
+And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto
+Abner, the captain of the host, "Abner, whose son is this youth?"
+
+And Abner said, "As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell."
+
+And the king said, "Inquire thou whose son the stripling is."
+
+And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took
+him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his
+hand. And Saul said to him, "Whose son art thou, thou young man?"
+
+And David answered, "I am the son of thy servant Jesse the
+Bethlehemite."
+
+And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that
+the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved
+him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no
+more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a
+covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped
+himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his
+apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
+
+And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself
+wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the
+sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+225 (Sec.67). It is a surprise to read that Saul who had begun his reign so
+well had made a failure so early. But he was a headstrong man. He would
+not take Samuel's advice, and the old prophet realized that a new king
+would have to be chosen. We have now the interesting story of how David
+was given his first knowledge of the great future that was before him.
+
+226 (Sec.67). Tell the story of the plan for a visit to Bethlehem. What did
+Samuel think when he saw Jesse's oldest son? What did the Lord tell him
+about the way to judge of men? Saul was a man of noble appearance, but
+sometimes such men are disappointing. What occurred regarding the other
+sons? Tell the story of the anointing of David. Compare this with the
+anointing of Saul.
+
+227 (Sec.68A). We hear again of the same old enemies of Israel. Who were
+they and where did they live? Who was their champion? Six cubits and a
+span would be at least ten feet, so we may suppose that as this story
+was told over and over again they came to exaggerate the height of the
+giant. But he must have been a very big man. He had heavy bronze armor.
+How many pieces? Five thousand shekels would be about 150 lbs.--a heavy
+coat of mail. Who was with him? Tell the story of his challenge.
+
+228 (Sec.68B). How many of David's brothers were in the army? Why did Jesse
+send David to the army and what presents did he send with him? Tell the
+story of David's inquiry about the Philistine. What did his brother say
+to him? What did David think of the challenge?
+
+229 (Sec.68C). Tell the story of David's interview with Saul. What kind of
+a young man was he? What had he been able to do in his shepherd life?
+How did he get along with Saul's armor?
+
+230 (Sec.68D). There was one weapon with which David was very skilful. Some
+of the Israelites could do wonders with this simple weapon: read Judg.
+20:16. Try to imagine what the two men looked like when they met.
+Describe the meeting.
+
+231 (Sec.68D). What did Goliath say to David? The young man knew that the
+safety of his people depended upon this fight. What noble words did he
+say? Did he boast of his own skill? Tell the story of the combat.
+
+232 (Sec.69). What conversation took place regarding David? What did Saul
+do for the young victor?
+
+233 (Sec.69). Jonathan comes out nobly in the story. We might think that he
+would be jealous of David's success, but instead of that, he was
+delighted with his fine appearance and his courage. How did Jonathan
+show his pleasure in David? There began that day a great friendship that
+lasted till death. There can be no jealousy between friends. It is one
+of the noblest feelings, when one friend can be glad of another's
+advancement.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+When David was practicing with his sling and keeping his flocks he
+little thought that he would ever be king of Israel. We do not know how
+our common duties are getting us ready for a greater work. Make a list
+of the principal things that you will have to do this week. Write them
+down in your notebook. Then write down what good you think they will do
+to prepare you for your work when you are grown up.
+
+
+
+
+XXII. THE HERO FRIENDS, DAVID AND JONATHAN
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.70. Saul's Jealousy of David= (I Sam. 18:6-9, 27-29; 19:1-18)
+
+A. THE BEGINNING OF THE JEALOUSY
+
+And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter
+of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel,
+singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and
+with instruments of music. And the women sang one to another as they
+played, and said,
+
+    Saul hath slain his thousands,
+    And David his ten thousands.
+
+And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said,
+"They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have
+ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?" And
+Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
+
+And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. And Saul saw and knew
+that the Lord was with David; and Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And
+Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David's enemy
+continually.
+
+
+B. JONATHAN THE PEACEMAKER
+
+And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they
+should slay David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.
+
+And Jonathan told David, saying, "Saul my father seeketh to slay thee:
+now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morning, and
+abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: and I will go out and stand
+beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my
+father of thee; and if I see ought, I will tell thee."
+
+And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto
+him, "Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because
+he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been very
+good toward thee: for he put his life in his hand, and smote the
+Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great victory for all Israel: thou
+sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against
+innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?"
+
+And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, "As the
+Lord liveth, he shall not be put to death."
+
+And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And
+Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as
+before-time.
+
+
+C. SAUL'S ATTEMPTS TO KILL DAVID
+
+And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the
+Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled before
+him. And an evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his
+house with his spear in his hand; and David played with his hand. And
+Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear; but he
+slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the spear into the
+wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. And Saul sent messengers
+unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and
+Michal David's wife told him, saying, "If thou save not thy life
+to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be slain." So Michal let David down
+through the window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
+
+And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow
+of goats' hair at the head thereof, and covered it with the clothes. And
+when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."
+
+And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me
+in the bed, that I may slay him." And when the messengers came in,
+behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at
+the head thereof. And Saul said unto Michal, "Why hast thou deceived me
+thus, and let mine enemy go, that he is escaped?"
+
+And Michal answered Saul, "He said unto me, 'Let me go; why should I
+kill thee?'"
+
+Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him
+all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in
+Naioth.
+
+
+=Sec.71. The Two Friends= (I Sam. 20:1-39)
+
+A. THE COVENANT OF THE FRIENDS
+
+And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan,
+"What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy
+father, that he seeketh my life?"
+
+And he said unto him, "God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father
+doeth nothing either great or small, but that he discloseth it unto me
+and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so."
+
+And David sware moreover, and said, "Thy father knoweth well that I have
+found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, 'Let not Jonathan know this,
+lest he be grieved': but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul
+liveth, there is but a step between me and death."
+
+Then said Jonathan unto David, "Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will
+even do it for thee."
+
+And David said unto Jonathan, "Behold, to-morrow is the new moon, and I
+should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may
+hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. If thy father miss
+me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me that he might
+run to Bethlehem his city: for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all
+the family.' If he say thus, 'It is well;' thy servant shall have peace:
+but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him. Therefore
+deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a
+covenant of the Lord with thee: but if there be in me iniquity, slay me
+thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?"
+
+And Jonathan said, "Far be it from thee: for if I should at all know
+that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not
+I tell it thee?"
+
+Then said David to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me if perchance thy father
+answer thee roughly?"
+
+And Jonathan said unto David, "Come and let us go out into the field."
+And they went out both of them into the field.
+
+And Jonathan said unto David, "The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness;
+when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, or the third
+day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto
+thee, and disclose it unto thee? The Lord do so to Jonathan, and more
+also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not
+unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the
+Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt not
+only while yet I live show me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not:
+but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever:
+no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from
+the face of the earth."
+
+And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to
+him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jonathan said unto
+him, "To-morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy
+seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt go
+down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when
+the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. And I will
+shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And
+behold, I will send the lad, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say
+unto the lad, 'Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee': take them,
+and come; for there is peace to thee and no hurt, as the Lord liveth.
+But if I say thus unto the boy, 'Behold, the arrows are beyond thee'; go
+thy way; for the Lord hath sent thee away. And as touching the matter
+which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord is between thee and me
+for ever."
+
+
+B. SAUL'S DEADLY ANGER
+
+So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the
+king sat him down to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at
+other times, even upon the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and
+Abner sat by Saul's side: but David's place was empty. Nevertheless
+Saul spake not any thing that day; for he thought, "Something hath
+befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean." And it came to
+pass on the morrow after the new moon, which was the second day, that
+David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, "Wherefore
+cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to-day?"
+
+And Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to
+Bethlehem: and he said 'Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a
+sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there:
+and now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray
+thee, and see my brethren.' Therefore he is not come unto the king's
+table."
+
+Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him,
+"Thou son of a perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast
+chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame? For as long as the son of
+Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy
+kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely
+die."
+
+And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, "Wherefore
+should he be put to death? what hath he done?"
+
+And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that
+it was determined of his father to put David to death. So Jonathan
+arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second
+day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had
+done him shame.
+
+
+C. THE PARTING OF THE FRIENDS
+
+And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the
+field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And
+he said unto his lad, "Run, find now the arrows which I shoot." And as
+the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to
+the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the
+lad, and said, "Is not the arrow beyond thee?" And Jonathan cried after
+the lad, "Make speed, haste, stay not." And Jonathan's lad gathered up
+the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not any thing: only
+Jonathan and David knew the matter.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+234. When David returned victorious from the fight with Goliath,
+Jonathan, the king's son, made a fast friendship with him. Read Sec.69.
+What do you think each of these young men would admire in the other?
+There was the beginning that day of a life-long friendship.
+
+235 (Sec.70A). It is still the custom among the Arabs for the women to go
+dancing and singing to meet the warriors returning from a fight. The
+women of Israel had the simplest musical instrument, the tambourine,
+such as the Salvation Army women use. They composed a little verse to
+sing: what was it? How did Saul feel when he heard it? Was it natural
+for him to have this feeling? It was a very sad thing connected with
+the Spanish War, that after the battle of Santiago there was a bitter
+jealousy between the two American admirals. It is a most pitiful thing
+when great men are jealous. Recall why we called Abraham "magnanimous."
+What would have been magnanimous conduct in Saul? Was Jonathan jealous?
+
+236 (Sec.70B). There are a number of stories of Saul's enmity against
+David. We shall study a few of them. How did Jonathan try to be the
+peacemaker? How did he praise David to the king? What effect did it
+have? Evidently Saul had a better nature, to which Jonathan could
+appeal, but there was always danger that the fit of jealousy would
+return.
+
+237 (Sec.70C). David had been appointed to a high command in the army. He
+seems always to have been successful against the Philistines. But it
+made Saul jealous. Saul had been subject to fits of melancholy, which
+was explained in those days as caused by an evil spirit. David, who was
+a skilful player on the harp, had often been able to soothe the king.
+So, when the jealousy made him moody, David tried to cheer him with
+music. But a sudden fit of rage came upon Saul. What happened?
+
+238 (Sec.70C). David had married Michal, the daughter of the king. What
+plan of Saul's did she discover? How did she help her husband to escape?
+The teraphim was an idol about the size of a man: how did Michal use it
+to deceive Saul's messengers? But when Saul was determined to have David
+brought to him even if he were sick in bed, how was the deceit
+discovered? What did Saul say to his daughter? Notice that she told her
+father a falsehood, saying that David had threatened to kill her. Where
+did David flee?
+
+239 (Sec.71A). This is another story of how Jonathan helped David when he
+first found out his father's jealousy. Note that Jonathan feels sure
+that Saul will not do evil to David, but David is certain of his danger.
+A plan is thought of to find out whether the king is really David's
+enemy. There was to be the regular monthly religious feast at the time
+of the new moon and it was David's duty to be present. What was the plan
+that he suggested to test the king? What appeal does David make to
+Jonathan? The two friends go out into the field where they can talk
+unobserved.
+
+240 (Sec.71A). This is the story of the covenant or agreement. If Jonathan
+finds that Saul is well disposed to David, what does he promise to do?
+If Saul is evil disposed, what does he agree to do? He is sure that
+David will succeed to the throne; what therefore does he ask of him in
+the future? We are glad to know that David remembered this promise long
+after and took care of Jonathan's lame son.
+
+241 (Sec.71A). Jonathan knows that it will be dangerous for him to tell
+David the result of his observation of the king as he would probably be
+watched, so he arranges to tell him by signal. Read the story carefully,
+and then tell in your own words how David was to know if he could return
+safely, and how he was to know if he must escape.
+
+242 (Sec.71B). Tell the story of the Feast of the New Moon. Notice that
+Saul did not object to David's absence the first day, thinking that
+there might be some religious cleansing that was necessary. What excuse
+did Jonathan make? The king thought that Jonathan could not understand
+that David would get the throne, and he was angry with him for being so
+foolish as to be friends with him. Do you think Jonathan knew that David
+was to be king? What was the end of the discussion between the king and
+his son?
+
+243 (Sec.71C). How did Jonathan inform David that the king was his enemy?
+Why did he say to the boy, "Make speed, haste, stay not"? So these two
+friends parted, each trusting the other.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Have you known a friend who was magnanimous when he might have been
+jealous? Write about it in your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+XXIII. DAVID, THE OUTLAW
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.72. The Band of Outlaws= (I Sam. 22:1, 2; 23:1-8, 13, 14; 25:2-42)
+
+A. THE GATHERING OF THE BAND
+
+David arose and fled for fear of Saul, and escaped to the cave of
+Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they
+went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every
+one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered
+themselves unto him; and he became captain over them: and there were
+with him about four hundred men.
+
+And they told David, saying, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting
+against Keilah, and they rob the threshing-floors."
+
+Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go and smite
+these Philistines?"
+
+And the Lord said unto David, "Go, and smite the Philistines, and save
+Keilah."
+
+And David's men said unto him, "Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how
+much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the
+Philistines?"
+
+Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and
+said, "Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines
+into thine hand."
+
+And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines,
+and brought away their cattle, and slew them with a great slaughter. So
+David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
+
+And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul summoned
+all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his
+men. Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and
+departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was
+told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go
+forth.
+
+And David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in
+the hill country.
+
+
+B. DAVID'S REQUEST OF NABAL
+
+And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the
+man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand
+goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man
+was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and the woman was of good
+understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish
+and evil in his doings.
+
+And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. And
+David sent ten young men, and David said unto the young men, "Get you
+up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: and thus
+shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, 'Peace be both unto thee,
+and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And
+now I have heard that thou hast shearers: thy shepherds have now been
+with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto
+them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, and they
+will tell thee: wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes;
+for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine
+hand, unto thy servants, and to thy son David.'"
+
+And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all
+those words in the name of David. And Nabal answered David's servants,
+and said, "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many
+servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master. Shall I
+then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my
+shearers, and give it unto men of whom I know not whence they be?"
+
+So David's young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and
+told him according to all these words. And David said unto his men,
+"Gird ye on every man his sword." And they girded on every man his
+sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David
+about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
+
+
+C. ABIGAIL'S PEACEMAKING
+
+But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Behold,
+David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he
+flew upon them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not
+hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we were with them, when we
+were in the fields: they were a wall unto us both by night and by day,
+all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know
+and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our
+master, and against all his house: for he is such a worthless fellow,
+that one cannot speak to him."
+
+Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of
+wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn,
+and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and
+laid them on asses. And she said unto her young men, "Go on before me;
+behold, I come after you." But she told not her husband Nabal. And it
+was so, as she rode on her ass, and came down by the covert of the
+mountain, that, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she
+met them. Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I kept all that this
+fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that
+belonged unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good. God do so unto
+David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the
+morning light so much as one man child."
+
+And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off her ass, and
+fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground. And she
+fell at his feet, and said, "Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity:
+and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear thou
+the words of thine handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this
+worthless fellow, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal, fool,
+is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the
+young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. Now therefore, this present
+which thy servant hath brought unto my lord, let it be given unto the
+young men that follow my lord. Forgive, I pray thee, the trespass of
+thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house,
+because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord; and evil shall not be
+found in thee all thy days. And though man be risen up to pursue thee,
+and to seek thy life, yet the life of my lord shall be bound in the
+bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the lives of thine enemies,
+them shall he sling out, as from the hollow of a sling. And it shall
+come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all
+the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed
+thee prince over Israel; that this shall be no grief unto thee, nor
+offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood
+causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: and when the Lord shall
+have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid."
+
+And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
+which sent thee this day to meet me: and blessed be thy wisdom, and
+blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from bloodguiltiness, and
+from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the Lord,
+the God of Israel, liveth, which hath withholden me from hurting thee,
+except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been
+left unto Nabal by the morning light so much as one man child."
+
+So David received of her hand that which she had brought him: and he
+said unto her, "Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to
+thy voice, and have accepted thy person."
+
+
+D. THE END OF NABAL
+
+And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house,
+like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he
+was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until
+the morning light. And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was
+gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart
+died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about
+ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
+
+And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the Lord,
+that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and
+hath kept back his servant from evil; and the evil-doing of Nabal hath
+the Lord returned upon his own head."
+
+And David sent and spake concerning Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
+And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they
+spake unto her, saying, "David hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to
+him to wife."
+
+And she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said,
+"Behold, thine handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of
+my lord." And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five
+damsels of hers that followed her; and she went after the messengers of
+David, and became his wife.
+
+
+=Sec.73. David's Generosity to Saul= (I Sam. 26:2-25; 27:1-4)
+
+A. THE SLEEPING ENEMY
+
+And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness, having three thousand
+chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David. David therefore sent out
+spies and knew where Saul was come. And David arose, and came to the
+place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul
+lay, and Abner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place
+of the wagons, and the people pitched round about him. Then answered
+David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai, "Who will go
+down with me to Saul to the camp?"
+
+And Abishai said, "I will go down with thee."
+
+So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay
+sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the
+ground at his head: and Abner and the people lay round about him.
+
+Then said Abishai to David, "God hath delivered up thine enemy into
+thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with
+the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the
+second time."
+
+And David said to Abishai, "Destroy him not: for who can put forth his
+hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?" And David said, "As
+the Lord liveth, either the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come
+to die; or he shall go down into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid
+that I should put forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but now
+take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of
+water, and let us go."
+
+So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head; and
+they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any
+awake: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was
+fallen upon them.
+
+
+B. SAUL'S REPENTANCE
+
+Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the
+mountain afar off; a great space being between them: and David cried to
+the people, and to Abner, saying, "Answerest thou not, Abner?"
+
+Then Abner answered and said, "Who art thou that criest to the king?"
+
+And David said to Abner, "Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to
+thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept watch over thy lord
+the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy
+lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye
+are worthy to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, the
+Lord's anointed. And now, see, where the king's spear is, and the cruse
+of water that was at his head."
+
+And Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is this thy voice, my son
+David?"
+
+And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king. Wherefore doth my lord
+pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine
+hand? for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one
+doth hunt a partridge in the mountains."
+
+Then said Saul, "I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more
+do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day:
+behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly."
+
+And David answered and said, "Behold the spear, O king! let then one of
+the young men come over and fetch it. And the Lord shall render to every
+man his righteousness and his faithfulness: forasmuch as the Lord
+delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth mine hand
+against the Lord's anointed. And, behold, as thy life was much set by
+this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the
+Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation."
+
+Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both
+do mightily, and shalt surely prevail." So David went his way, and Saul
+returned to his place.
+
+
+C. DAVID'S FLIGHT FROM ISRAEL
+
+And David said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of
+Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the
+land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any
+more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand."
+
+And David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were
+with him, unto Achish the king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at
+Gath, he and his men. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath:
+and he sought no more again for him.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+244. It was clear to David that Saul had determined to kill him. He
+therefore decided to flee to his own tribe of Judah and to dwell in the
+mountains where it would be hard for Saul to reach him. The caves in the
+Judean hills have been the refuge all through the centuries for those
+who were in danger from the government. In thus fleeing from the king,
+David became an outlaw, that is, one who refuses to be under the law. Of
+course he was obliged to do so by the king's tyranny.
+
+245 (Sec.72A). Adullam was probably about twelve miles from Bethlehem.
+David would have friends near his own town. He gathered to him all his
+own relatives, who otherwise might have been killed by the king. Three
+classes of people are mentioned as joining him: who are they? The first
+would be those who were oppressed, the second those who were likely to
+be sold as slaves for debt, the third those who had some grievance. It
+has often happened in countries where there was no free government that
+men have banded together in sufficient strength to defy the rulers. In
+English history we read of Robin Hood and his outlaws, who made the rich
+pay tribute, when they caught them in the forest. Of course in our
+modern free states there is no excuse for any such life, and we rightly
+put down all bandits as criminals. How many men did David have at the
+first?
+
+246 (Sec.72A). News soon came to David that the people of Keilah, a few
+miles south of Adullam, were being robbed by the old enemies, the
+Philistines. They had come when the people were threshing the grain, and
+intended to steal it. How did David use his band of adventurers against
+the Philistines? What food supply did he secure?
+
+247 (Sec.72A). How was David's expedition brought to an end? How large had
+his band grown to be? He must have been an able chieftain to attract
+these men to him. The next story shows how he provided for them.
+
+248 (Sec.72B). Find Maon and Carmel on the map, just south of Hebron. Who
+was the rich sheep owner? What kind of man was he and what kind of wife
+had he? It is evident that David's men had protected the shepherds. What
+request did he make at the time of the shearing feast? Was this a
+reasonable request? There were so many bands of robbers abroad that it
+was a great advantage to the Judean shepherds to have David's
+protection. Of course he in turn needed supplies for his men.
+
+249 (Sec.72B). What answer did Nabal send back? How did he sneer at David's
+band? What did David decide to do? How did he divide his men?
+
+250 (Sec.72C). What report was brought to Abigail? What did the shepherds
+think of David? What did Abigail immediately do? David was in a great
+rage with Nabal, though of course he really had no right to any pay from
+the man. What vengeance had he decided to take? What do you think of
+that? How thankful it makes us feel that we live in times when we have
+strong laws, and no man is permitted to take the law in his own hands.
+
+251 (Sec.72C). Notice how beautifully Abigail speaks to David, telling him
+that she knows he will never be sorry that he was merciful. How does
+David respond? What do you think of a man who gives up his purpose so
+suddenly?
+
+252 (Sec.72D). Note the character of the drunken fellow and his cowardice
+when he learned of his escape. Probably his drunkenness and the shock of
+his terror seriously affected him. How long afterward did he die? When
+David heard the news, what message did he send to the beautiful Abigail?
+How did she reply?
+
+253 (Sec.73A). Saul had not given up his determination to kill David. He
+had made several unsuccessful attempts to capture him. At last he heard
+of David's hiding-place. How many men did he take with him? But David
+was ever on the watch. How did he discover that Saul was coming?
+
+254 (Sec.73A). Tell the story of the sleeping camp, of David's stealthy
+approach with a single companion, of the proposal of Abishai, of David's
+reply, of the spear and the jug of water. What did we mean when we said
+Abraham was "magnanimous"? Would you say that David was magnanimous?
+Read Rom. 12:19-21. Where does David appear best--when he threatens
+Nabal or when he spares Saul?
+
+255 (Sec.73B). Tell the story of the conversation with Saul: David's
+summons to the sleepers, his reproach of the captain, Saul's
+recognition, David's appeal, Saul's repentance, the peaceful separation.
+
+256 (Sec.73C). David knew that he could not trust Saul. There was constant
+danger from the jealous king, so he decided to leave the country. We are
+surprised to find that he found refuge with Israel's enemies. Where did
+he go? Locate the city on the map. How was he received? What did Saul
+decide? But David could afford to wait. In a little while everything was
+going to turn to his advantage.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Imagine that you were Abishai. Write the story as though you were
+telling your brother Joab about that night when you crept with David to
+the sleeping camp. Describe all that happened and tell what you thought
+of David.
+
+
+
+
+XXIV. DAVID, THE KING
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.74. The Way to the Throne= (I Sam. 31:1-6; II Sam. 1:1-4, 17, 19, 20,
+23, 24, 26, 27; 2:1-4, 8-11; 3:1; 5:1-3)
+
+A. THE BATTLE OF GILBOA
+
+Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled
+from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And
+the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the
+Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of
+Saul. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook
+him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers. Then said
+Saul to his armorbearer, "Draw thy sword, and thrust me through
+therewith; lest these Philistines come and thrust me through, and abuse
+me."
+
+But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul
+took his sword, and fell upon it. And when his armorbearer saw that Saul
+was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul
+died, and his three sons, and his armorbearer, and all his men, that
+same day together.
+
+
+B. DAVID'S DIRGE OVER SAUL AND JONATHAN
+
+And it came to pass after the death of Saul, that a man came out of the
+camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it
+was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did
+obeisance. And David said unto him, "From whence comest thou?"
+
+And he said unto him, "Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped."
+
+And David said unto him, "How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me."
+
+And he answered, "The people are fled from the battle, and many of the
+people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead
+also."
+
+And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his
+son:
+
+    Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places!
+    How are the mighty fallen!
+
+    Tell it not in Gath,
+    Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon;
+    Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
+    Lest the daughters of the enemy triumph.
+
+    Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,
+    And in their death they were not divided;
+    They were swifter than eagles,
+    They were stronger than lions.
+
+    Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
+    Who clothed you in scarlet delicately,
+    Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
+
+    I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:
+    Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
+    Thy love to me was wonderful,
+    Passing the love of women.
+
+    How are the mighty fallen,
+    And the weapons of war perished!
+
+
+C. DAVID MADE KING
+
+And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying,
+"Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?"
+
+And the Lord said unto him, "Go up."
+
+And David said, "Whither shall I go up?"
+
+And he said, "Unto Hebron."
+
+So David went up thither, and his men that were with him did David bring
+up: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came,
+and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
+
+Now Abner, the captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of
+Saul, and made him king over Israel. But the house of Judah followed
+David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of
+Judah was seven years and six months.
+
+Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of
+David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul
+waxed weaker and weaker, and when Ish-bosheth was dead, then came all
+the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, "Behold,
+we are thy bone and thy flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over
+us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord
+said to thee, 'Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be
+prince over Israel.'"
+
+So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David
+made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed
+David king over Israel.
+
+
+=Sec.75. David's Great Reign= (I Chron. 11:4-9; II Sam. 5:17-25; 8:2-6, 13,
+14; 10:6, 17-19; 11:1; 12:29-31; 5:11, 12; 23:14-17)
+
+A. THE NEW CAPITAL
+
+And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, where the Jebusites were,
+the inhabitants of the land. And the inhabitants said to David, "Thou
+shalt not come hither."
+
+Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. And David said,
+"Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain."
+
+So Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was chief. And David dwelt
+in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David. And he
+built the city round about, from Millo, even round about: and Joab
+repaired the rest of the city. So David waxed greater and greater: for
+the Lord of hosts was with him.
+
+
+B. DAVID'S WARS OF DEFENSE
+
+And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over
+Israel, they went up and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
+
+And David enquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up against the
+Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand?"
+
+And the Lord said unto David, "Go up; for I will certainly deliver the
+Philistines into thy hand."
+
+And David went up and smote them; and he said, "The Lord hath broken
+down mine enemies before me like the breaking of waters."
+
+And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the
+valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, "Thou
+shalt not go up. Go about to their rear and come upon them opposite the
+mulberry trees. And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching
+in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself;
+for then is the Lord gone out before thee to smite the host of the
+Philistines."
+
+And David did so as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines,
+and subdued them.
+
+And he smote Moab. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought
+tribute.
+
+And David put garrisons in Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to
+David, and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David
+whithersoever he went.
+
+And David got him a name when he returned from smiting Edom in the
+valley of salt, even eighteen thousand men. And he put garrisons in
+Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David.
+
+And the children of Ammon hired the Syrians. And it was told David; and
+he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan. And the
+Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. And
+the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred
+chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote the
+captain of their host.
+
+And when all the kings saw that they were smitten before Israel, they
+made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help
+the children of Ammon any more.
+
+And it came to pass, at the return of the year, that David sent Joab,
+and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the
+children of Ammon. And David went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and
+took it. And he brought forth the spoil of the city exceeding much. And
+thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon.
+
+And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and
+carpenters, and masons: and they built David a house. And David
+perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that
+he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
+
+
+C. DAVID'S KNIGHTS
+
+And at one time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the
+Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, "Oh that
+one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is
+by the gate!"
+
+And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and
+drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took
+it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof,
+but poured it out unto the Lord. And he said, "Be it far from me, O
+Lord, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men that
+went in jeopardy of their lives?" therefore he would not drink it.
+
+These things did these three mighty men.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+257. David spent many years as captain of his outlaw band, first in the
+mountains of Judah and then in Philistia. The Philistines thought he had
+given up his own people and become one of them. Fortunately, however,
+they did not wish him to fight against Saul, so he was not obliged to
+meet that difficulty. He had simply to wait till the end of Saul's
+reign. It came very tragically.
+
+258 (Sec.74A). The battles of Israel were generally fought on the broad
+plain of Esdraelon. Find it on the map southeast of Mt. Carmel. In this
+case, however, Saul had entrenched his army on the high ground to the
+south of the plain. But the terrible enemies who had troubled Israel so
+long were too strong for him. How did the battle result? Who were
+killed? How did Saul die?
+
+259 (Sec.74B). David was still in the Philistine town of Ziklag. He had
+been fighting the Amalekites who had attacked him. How was the news of
+the battle of Gilboa brought to him? How would you expect him to feel
+about Saul's death? how about Jonathan's? As a matter of fact he forgot
+all his wrongs, and remembered only how he had loved Saul and honored
+him in the early days, and of course he remembered his great friendship
+with Jonathan. Was this "magnanimous"?
+
+260 (Sec.74B). A dirge means a song for the dead. David was a fine poet and
+he sang this beautiful song of lamentation over the king and the prince.
+Notice the six stanzas. The first and the last are a refrain. The second
+is a hope that the Philistines will not know the sad news. The third is
+a praise of Saul and Jonathan. The fourth is a special praise of Saul,
+whose victories had brought spoil to Israel. The fifth is the tender
+lament of the singer for his friend. This would be a noble poem to learn
+by heart.
+
+261 (Sec.74C). After Saul's death, it was a question whether David should
+return home. Tell what happened. Find Hebron on the map in the south.
+But Saul's general had another policy. What did he do? So there was war
+between the north and south. At last Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was
+murdered by two men who thought they would get reward from David. He
+punished them of course, but the way was open for David to be king of
+the whole land. Tell how David was elected king.
+
+262 (Sec.75A). When the thirteen American colonies adopted the Constitution
+and became the United States, it was necessary to have a capital that
+should not be in any one state. So two of the states gave a piece of
+land, which was called a District: what is its full name? What is the
+name of the city that was built to be the capital of our country? Does
+it belong to any one of the states in particular? Saul had not had a
+definite capital, except his own town. David had his headquarters at the
+old town of Hebron. But it would not do to have a town of Judah as
+capital of all Israel. There was a strong town that had never been
+conquered and occupied by the Israelites, but was still inhabited by the
+old Jebusites. David decided to capture this city and make it his
+capital. What is the name of the city that is still after 3,000 years
+the chief city in Palestine? Find it on the map. The fortress was so
+strong that there was a proverb that it could be defended even by the
+blind and the lame. Tell the story of the capture.
+
+263 (Sec.75B). The first necessity was to prevent the enemies all around
+Israel from interfering with the new kingdom. Who was the first enemy
+subdued? Locate their territory. In several campaigns these old enemies
+were prevented from giving any more trouble. The next enemy was in the
+southeast: who were they? Locate their territory. The next was an old
+city in the north, then a people in the south, then a nation to the east
+who hired northern allies. Locate all these, and note that David subdued
+all his troublesome neighbors. One people was left on the northwest
+coast, but they were a commercial and not a military people. What
+alliance did David make with them?
+
+264 (Sec.75C). David was able to conquer all these enemies because he had a
+noble company of knights about him. They were brave and loyal to their
+king. We study one fine passage that tells of a heroic deed during one
+of the Philistine campaigns. What do you think of the bravery of the
+heroes and the conduct of the king?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Draw an outline map of Canaan. Mark Jerusalem which David made his
+capital. Mark the territory of each of the enemies whom David conquered.
+You will find that you will have to go all around the map showing that
+David had to defend his people on every side.
+
+
+
+
+XXV. DAVID AND HIS REBEL SON
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.76. The Treacherous Son and the Loyal Friends= (II Sam. 14:25, 26;
+15:1-15, 18-37)
+
+A. ABSALOM'S BEAUTY AND TREACHERY
+
+Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for
+his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head
+there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head, (now
+it was at every year's end that he cut it: because the hair was heavy on
+him, therefore he cut it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two
+hundred shekels, after the king's weight.
+
+And Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run
+before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the
+gate: and it was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to
+the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, "Of what
+city art thou?"
+
+And he said, "Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel."
+
+And Absalom said unto him, "See, thy matters are good and right; but
+there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee." Absalom said
+moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which
+hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!"
+
+And it was so, that when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put
+forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. And on this manner
+did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom
+stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
+
+And it came to pass at the end of four years, that Absalom said unto the
+king, "I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto
+the Lord, in Hebron."
+
+And the king said unto him, "Go in peace."
+
+So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout all
+the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as ye hear the sound of the
+trumpet, then ye shall say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"
+
+And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were
+invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not any thing. And
+Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his
+city, even from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the
+conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with
+Absalom.
+
+
+B. DAVID'S FLIGHT
+
+And there came a messenger to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of
+Israel are after Absalom."
+
+And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem,
+"Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom:
+make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil
+upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword."
+
+And the king's servants said unto the king, "Behold, thy servants are
+ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose."
+
+And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And all his
+servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the
+Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him
+from Gath, passed on before the king.
+
+Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, "Wherefore goest thou also with
+us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also
+an exile; return to thine own place. Whereas thou camest but yesterday,
+should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither
+I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with
+thee."
+
+And Ittai answered the king, and said, "As the Lord liveth, surely in
+what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life,
+even there also will thy servant be."
+
+And David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over."
+
+And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little
+ones that were with him. And all the country wept with a loud voice,
+and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the
+brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the
+wilderness.
+
+And, lo, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark
+of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God, until all the
+people had done passing out of the city.
+
+And the king said unto Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city:
+if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again,
+and show me both it, and his habitation: but if he say thus, 'I have no
+delight in thee;' behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good
+unto him."
+
+
+C. DAVID'S PLAN
+
+The king said unto Zadok the priest, "Return into the city in peace.
+See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word
+from you." Zadok therefore carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem:
+and they abode there.
+
+And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he
+went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the
+people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up,
+weeping as they went up.
+
+And one told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
+Absalom."
+
+And David said, "O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel
+into foolishness."
+
+And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the ascent,
+behold, Hushai came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his
+head: and David said unto him, "If thou passest on with me, then thou
+shalt be a burden unto me: but if thou return to the city, and say unto
+Absalom, 'I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's
+servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant': then shalt thou
+defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. And hast thou not there with
+thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what
+thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it
+to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with them
+their two sons; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye
+shall hear."
+
+So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city.
+
+
+=Sec.77. The Folly and Fate of Absalom= (II Sam. 16:15, 16, 20; 17:1-16,
+22, 24; 18:1-17, 21, 24, 25, 31-33)
+
+A. ABSALOM'S COUNCIL OF WAR
+
+And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem,
+and Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai, David's
+friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, "God save
+the king, God save the king."
+
+Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do."
+
+And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, "Let me now choose out twelve thousand
+men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: and I will come
+upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid:
+and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the
+king only: and I will bring back all the people unto thee: so all the
+people shall be in peace."
+
+And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
+
+Then said Absalom unto Hushai, "Ahithophel hath spoken after this
+manner: shall we do after his saying? if not, speak thou."
+
+And Hushai said unto Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel hath given
+this time is not good. Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be
+mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her
+whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge
+with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other
+place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be fallen at the
+first, that whosoever heareth it will say, 'There is a slaughter among
+the people that follow Absalom.' And even he that is valiant, whose
+heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel
+knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are
+valiant men. But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto
+thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for
+multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. So shall we
+come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light
+upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men
+that are with him we will not leave so much as one. Moreover, if he be
+gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and
+we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found
+there."
+
+And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai is
+better than the counsel of Ahithophel."
+
+Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Thus and thus
+did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and
+thus have I counselled. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David,
+saying, 'Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but in any
+wise pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that
+are with him.'"
+
+Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed
+over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was
+not gone over Jordan. And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not
+followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his
+city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and
+was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
+
+
+B. THE BATTLE AND THE DEATH OF ABSALOM
+
+And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of
+thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth the
+people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the
+hand of Abishai, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of
+Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, "I will surely go
+forth with you myself also."
+
+But the people said, "Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they
+will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us:
+but thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that
+thou be ready to succor us out of the city."
+
+And the king said unto them, "What seemeth you best I will do."
+
+And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people went out by
+hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and
+Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with
+Absalom."
+
+And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge
+concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field against
+Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. And the people of
+Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, and there was a
+great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle
+was there spread over the face of all the country: and the forest
+devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom
+chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon his mule,
+and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head
+caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the
+earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
+
+And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, "Behold, I saw
+Absalom hanging in an oak."
+
+And Joab said unto the man that told him, "And, behold, thou sawest it,
+and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have
+given thee ten pieces of silver, and a girdle."
+
+And the man said unto Joab, "Though I should receive a thousand pieces
+of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the
+king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and
+Ittai, saying, 'Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.' Otherwise
+if I had dealt falsely against his life, (and there is no matter hid
+from the king,) then thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me."
+
+Then said Joab, "I may not tarry thus with thee." And he took three
+darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while
+he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare
+Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab
+blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel:
+for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into
+the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of
+stones: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
+
+
+C. DAVID'S GRIEF
+
+Then said Joab to the Cushite, "Go tell the king what thou hast seen."
+And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
+
+Now David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the
+roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and,
+behold, a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king.
+And the king said, "If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth." And,
+behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, "Tidings for my lord the
+king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up
+against thee."
+
+And the king said unto the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man
+Absalom?"
+
+And the Cushite answered, "The enemies of my lord the king, and all that
+rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is."
+
+And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate,
+and wept: and as he went, thus he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my
+son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+265. David did not bring up his sons well and there were very bad family
+quarrels. At last Absalom murdered one of his brothers and was obliged
+to flee. The king allowed him to return, but the wicked young man
+planned to rebel against his father.
+
+266 (Sec.76A). What are we told of this handsome young man? Beauty of face
+and figure is very desirable, but it frequently makes a person vain and
+selfish. Probably Absalom had been admired and spoiled, and had come to
+think only of himself.
+
+267 (Sec.76A). How did the young prince make a fine appearance? We see that
+people were accustomed to come to the king to have their matters of law
+decided. He was the supreme court. Of course it was not always possible
+to hear all the cases at once. How did Absalom persuade the people that
+he would make a better king than his father? Note how the prince
+pretended to be democratic. What do you think of all this conduct?
+
+268 (Sec.76A). This deceitful conduct continued for four years until
+Absalom thought he was ready to strike the blow. He decided to make
+Hebron the headquarters of his rebellion. Locate Hebron. It was where
+David had his capital when he was king of Judah. Can you think of any
+reason why that city might have been dissatisfied? What excuse did
+Absalom give for a journey to Hebron? How did he plan to gather an army?
+How many innocent men went with him? What wise man did Absalom get on
+his side?
+
+269 (Sec.76B). What did David decide upon as soon as he heard the news?
+Notice that he had a body guard of 600 Philistine soldiers. The old
+enemies were good warriors and he had taken them into his service.
+David had a wonderful way of gaining friends. Tell the story of Ittai.
+How did the people feel about the flight of the old king?
+
+270 (Sec.76B). It was customary for the ark to be taken when the army went
+to battle (Sec.61A). So the priest thought he ought to carry it with David.
+But the king sent it back again, saying that he would trust in the Lord.
+Moreover he was glad to have a friend in the city. How did he arrange
+with Zadok to have news sent to him? Describe the sad journey up the
+Mount of Olives. What signs of grief did they show?
+
+271 (Sec.76C). Whom did David hear had joined Absalom? How did he plan that
+bad advice might be given to Absalom? How did he arrange for news to be
+brought to him? Let us get the movement of the story before us. Absalom
+is marching from Hebron with his counselor and his army; David is in
+flight with his 600 guards and some faithful friends, but he has left
+some friends in the city to send him news; presently Absalom marches
+into the city.
+
+272 (Sec.77A). The first act of the new king is to decide what to do.
+Ahithophel advised immediate pursuit of David. Tell what he said.
+Absalom decided to ask the wise old Hushai his advice also. Whose side
+was Hushai really on? What advice did he give? How did he frighten
+Absalom and how did he flatter him? Why was this advice good for David?
+What was decided?
+
+273 (Sec.77A). How was David informed of the council? He decided to cross
+the river at once, so as to have the swift stream between himself and
+his pursuers. Locate the Jordan. Did he succeed in getting his whole
+company over? What became of Ahithophel? Meantime Absalom was gathering
+a considerable army. After a lapse of a little time he followed his
+father, who had been gathering all the people that were loyal to him.
+The matter could only be settled by battle.
+
+274 (Sec.77B). How many divisions were there of David's army? Why did he
+not go himself to battle? Notice how he reviewed the troops as they went
+forth. What special command did he give to the captains? Why did he do
+this? Give an account of the battle.
+
+275 (Sec.77B). In the battle, which was going against him, Absalom met
+David's guards. What accident happened to him as he was trying to
+escape? What dispute took place between the soldier and Joab? What did
+Joab do? There was no need for further pursuit, so Joab called back his
+troops. What was done with Absalom? We see that with the death of the
+leader the rebels fled to their homes. Joab called a Cushite, that is a
+negro slave: what command did he give him?
+
+276 (Sec.77C). Where was David during the battle? What conversation took
+place between the king and the Cushite? How was David affected? What do
+you think of David in all this matter?
+
+
+A REVIEW OF DAVID
+
+David was one of those men who loved others and could make them love
+him. It will be interesting to make a list of all those of whom we have
+studied who felt the influence of his winning disposition. Read I Sam.
+16:12, 21; 18:1, 20; 24:16; 25:42; II Sam. 1:26; 2:4; 5:3; 15:21, 32;
+18:3; 23:15, 16. Write a little paper telling of all the people who
+loved David.
+
+
+
+
+REVIEW
+
+  XXVI. TEN HEROES OF ISRAEL
+
+
+
+
+XXVI. TEN HEROES OF ISRAEL
+
+After we had studied the heroes of Israel's wanderings we looked back
+over the stories and tried to remember the great characters we had
+learned to know. Now we have added ten more heroes to our acquaintance
+since Moses. Let us look back over the stories of these ten, and see if
+we can remember about them.
+
+277. Moses brought the people near to Canaan and then sent twelve spies
+into the land to find out about it. Ten of the men were afraid, and said
+that the Hebrews could not conquer it, but two men were brave, and told
+their countrymen to trust in the Lord and go up. Tell the story of these
+two and what happened to them later. (Sec.44; Josh. 1:1, 2; 14:13.[1])
+
+[1: Very short Scripture references are given--just enough to
+recall the story. Read these and glance over the section in the textbook
+to refresh the memory.]
+
+278. After the Hebrews had settled in Canaan they were greatly troubled
+by enemies. Many heroes arose who delivered them. One, who was called by
+the Lord, gathered a large army, then sent home all who were not fit and
+reduced his army to 300 men. He then devised a strange plan to frighten
+the enemy. Tell the story. (Sec.46; Judg. 7:19, 20.) What reward did this
+hero refuse? (Sec.47; Judg. 8:22, 23.)
+
+279. One of the heroes of Israel was a man of enormous strength. What
+were some of the stories told about him? How did he foolishly sin and
+lose his strength? (Sec.51; Judg. 15:14, 15; 16:18, 19.)
+
+280. Who was the heroine of whom we studied? Tell what you remember of
+her. (Sec.54.)
+
+281. Do you remember the story of the good old priest who had two wicked
+sons, and of the little boy who came to live with him? Tell the story of
+how the boy came, and what happened one special night, and how the old
+priest died. (Sec.Sec.60, 61; I Sam. 3:10, 11; 4:18.)
+
+282. The little boy grew up to be a great prophet. He saw that the
+people could never be saved from their enemies without a strong king.
+One day a young man who was seeking some straying animals came to see
+him. Tell the story of what happened. What great blow for liberty did
+this young man strike and so become king? (Sec.64; I Sam. 11:6-11.)
+
+283. The new king had a brave son. This young man determined to help
+free his people from their oppressors. Tell the story of his bold attack
+upon the Philistines. (Sec.65; I Sam. 14:13.) How did Saul follow up the
+attack?
+
+284. The young man who was to be the great king of Israel performed a
+wonderful feat of arms. One of the Philistine heroes challenged the
+Hebrews to send a single man against him. Who accepted the challenge
+and how did the combat turn out? (Sec.68; I Sam. 17:48,49.)
+
+285. Who were the two hero friends? Tell the story of their parting.
+(Sec.71; I Sam. 20:35-39.)
+
+286. Why was David an outlaw? Tell the story of his sparing the king's
+life. (Sec.73; I Sam. 26:9-12.)
+
+287. David had a company of heroes about him. Tell the story of the
+knights who brought him the drink of water. (Sec.75C; II Sam. 23:14-17.)
+
+288. David had a bitter trial in his wicked son who rebelled against
+him. But many loyal friends stood by him: who were these, and how did
+they show their loyalty? (Sec.76; II Sam. 15:19-34.)
+
+289. Write down the names of the ten heroes in a column. How many were
+great patriots? How many trusted God? How many showed fine leadership?
+How many showed weakness of character? Who showed a great love? How many
+were unselfish? Which of them do you think the greatest?
+
+
+
+
+SOLOMON
+
+  XXVII. SOLOMON, THE WISE KING
+
+
+
+
+XXVII. SOLOMON, THE WISE KING
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.78. Solomon's Wise Choice= (I Kings 2:12; 3:3-15)
+
+Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was
+established greatly. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes
+of David his father.
+
+And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great
+high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that
+altar. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and
+God said, "Ask what I shall give thee."
+
+And Solomon said, "Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father
+great kindness, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in
+righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept
+for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on
+his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made
+thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little
+child; I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the
+midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot
+be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give thy servant therefore an
+understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between
+good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?"
+
+And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And
+God said unto him, "Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not
+asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor
+hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself
+understanding to discern justice; behold, I have done according to thy
+word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that
+there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any
+arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast
+not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among
+the kings like unto thee, all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my
+ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did
+walk, then I will lengthen thy days."
+
+And Solomon awoke, and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to
+Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and
+offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a
+feast to all his servants.
+
+
+=Sec.79. Solomon and the Temple= (I Kings 5:1-12; 6:1, 2, 7, 15, 16, 19,
+21, 22, 38; 8:1, 6, 10, 11, 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 54-58, 62)
+
+A. PREPARATIONS FOR THE TEMPLE
+
+And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard
+that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram
+was ever a lover of David.
+
+And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, "Thou knowest how that David my
+father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God for the
+wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under
+the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on
+every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. And,
+behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as
+the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, 'Thy son, whom I will set
+upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build a house for my name.' Now
+therefore command thou that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and
+my servants shall be with thy servants: and I will give thee hire for
+thy servants according to all that thou shalt say: for thou knowest that
+there is not among us any that knoweth how to cut timber like unto the
+Sidonians."
+
+And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he
+rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath
+given unto David a wise son over this great people."
+
+And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which thou
+hast sent unto me: I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar,
+and concerning timber of fir. My servants shall bring them down from
+Lebanon unto the sea: and I will make them into rafts to go by sea unto
+the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be broken
+up there, and thou shalt receive them, and thou shalt accomplish my
+desire, in giving food for my household."
+
+[Illustration: CEDARS OF LEBANON]
+
+So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all
+his desire. And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat
+for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave
+Solomon to Hiram year by year.
+
+And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was
+peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
+
+
+B. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE
+
+And it came to pass in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, in the second
+month, that he began to build the house of the Lord. And the house was
+sixty cubits in length, twenty cubits in breadth, and thirty cubits in
+height. And the house was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and
+there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the
+house, while it was in building.
+
+And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: and he
+covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.
+
+And he built an oracle, even the most holy place, in the midst of the
+house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Solomon
+overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold
+across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold. Also the whole
+altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold.
+
+And in the eleventh year, in the eighth month, was the house finished
+throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of
+it. So was he seven years in building it.
+
+
+C. THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE
+
+Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the
+tribes, the princes of the children of Israel, to bring up the ark of
+the covenant of the Lord. And the priests brought in the ark of the
+covenant of the Lord unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to
+the most holy place. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out
+of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord so that
+the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the
+glory of the Lord filled the house.
+
+Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all
+the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; and he
+said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, who keepest covenant and
+lovingkindness with thy servants, that walk before thee with all their
+heart, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto
+thy servant David my father. But will God in very deed dwell on the
+earth? behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how
+much less this house that I have builded! Yet hearken thou to the
+supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall
+pray toward this place: yea, hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place; and
+when thou hearest, forgive."
+
+
+D. THE BENEDICTION
+
+And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this
+prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of
+the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward
+heaven. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a
+loud voice, saying, "Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his
+people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed
+one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his
+servant. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let
+him not leave us, nor forsake us: that he may incline our hearts unto
+him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his
+statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers."
+
+And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the
+Lord.
+
+
+=Sec.80. The Greatness of Solomon= (I Kings 10:1-10, 13, 23-25)
+
+A. THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA
+
+And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the
+name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.
+
+And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare
+spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come
+to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And
+Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the
+king, which he told her not.
+
+And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house
+that he had built, and the food of his table, and the sitting of his
+servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and
+his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the
+Lord; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, "It was
+a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy
+wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes
+had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and
+prosperity exceed the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are
+these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear
+thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set
+thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever,
+therefore he made thee king, to do justice and righteousness."
+
+And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of
+spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such
+abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king
+Solomon.
+
+And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire,
+whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal
+bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
+
+
+B. HIS WEALTH AND WISDOM
+
+So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and
+wisdom. And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his
+wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his
+tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, and armor
+and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+290. We are to study the story of the man whom the Hebrews loved to
+think of as one of their heroes, because of his great wisdom and wealth.
+He was the most splendid of all their kings. To be sure he laid very
+heavy taxes upon the people to raise money for his magnificence, but the
+later ages forgot all that in admiration of his glory.
+
+291 (Sec.78). When David died he left a throne to his son that was secure
+from all enemies. The young king had a great opportunity to be a noble
+ruler. Read carefully the story of the young man's dream. What offer did
+God make to him in the dream? In what spirit did Solomon reply? When he
+says he is a little child he means that he is young and inexperienced.
+Remember that one of the important duties of an eastern king was to hear
+cases, as a kind of chief justice. What quality did Solomon ask for? Why
+was the Lord pleased? What did he give Solomon?
+
+292 (Sec.78). It is often true that the young man who desires above all
+things to fit himself to do his duty, without thinking of honor or
+wealth, actually obtains those also. Washington never sought greatness,
+but what do we think of him? Tennyson wrote of the great Duke of
+Wellington,
+
+    Not once or twice in our fair island story
+    The path of duty was the way to glory.
+
+Learn these lines.
+
+293 (Sec.79A). One of David's great hopes was that he could build a noble
+house of worship. He had been unable to do so, partly because of his
+many wars. Solomon therefore decided to carry out his father's plan. But
+the Hebrews were not skilful as artists or mechanics. They were at that
+time mostly farmers and shepherds. Solomon therefore decided to secure
+the help of the people of Phoenicia, called the Sidonians, who lived on
+his northwest border. Locate the country. What are its two chief cities?
+Who was the king who sent to congratulate Solomon on his succession to
+the throne?
+
+294 (Sec.79A). Read carefully Solomon's message to Hiram. What proof does
+he give that he is able to build the temple? What trees does he ask for?
+These were the noble trees that grew in the mountains of Lebanon. Locate
+this region to the north of Israel. What reason does Solomon give why
+the Sidonians (that is, the people of Sidon) should cut the trees?
+
+295 (Sec.79A). Read Hiram's reply. Notice the plan of getting the timber to
+Jerusalem. The lumbermen from Tyre and Sidon would cut it in the
+mountains. It would be hauled by the nearest route to the sea. Note on
+the map where that would be. Then how was it to be taken by sea to the
+port nearest to Jerusalem? This port was probably Joppa. Locate it. What
+then was to be done with it before it was hauled up the steep roads to
+Jerusalem? It was a hard job in those days when they had no railways.
+How different from the way our lumber trains carry the great timbers!
+What was Solomon to give Hiram in exchange? This is a very old story of
+trade between nations.
+
+296 (Sec.79B). When did Solomon begin to build? The building itself was not
+very large. A cubit is rather less than two feet, so the structure was
+about 100 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 50 feet high. Do you know any
+building about that size? Inside, one-third of the space was partitioned
+off for the ark. How was this room ornamented? How long did it take to
+finish the work?
+
+297 (Sec.79C). What solemn procession was held? How was the glory of the
+Lord shown? Read carefully the prayer of Solomon and see that it is
+reverent and trustful. What is his great hope that God will do for the
+people when they pray? We are quite sure that God will do that. Read I
+John 1:9.
+
+298 (Sec.79D). Who pronounced the benediction upon the people? What does he
+feel that God has done for them? What does he hope that God will do for
+them?
+
+299 (Sec.80A). This is one of the stories showing the fame of Solomon.
+Sheba was in Arabia. Note how much information the story gives us of the
+products of those times. Tell the story of the visit.
+
+300 (Sec.80B). What does the story tell us finally of Solomon's wealth and
+wisdom?
+
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Recall the lines about the Duke of Wellington and write them in your
+notebook. Find out if there is any man in your own state of whom that
+would be true. Find someone in politics or business or in one of the
+professions who has been more anxious to do his duty than for anything
+else and to whom reward has come. Write an account of it.
+
+
+
+
+TWO PROPHETS
+
+
+  XXVIII. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF PURE RELIGION
+
+    XXIX. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF JUSTICE
+
+     XXX. ELISHA, THE HEALER AND COUNSELOR
+
+
+
+
+
+XXVIII. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF PURE RELIGION
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.81. Elijah and the Drought= (I Kings 16:30-17:24)
+
+A. THE STARTLING PROPHECY
+
+Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord
+above all that were before him. And it came to pass, that he took to
+wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and
+served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in
+the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab did yet more
+to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of
+Israel that were before him.
+
+And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto
+Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand,
+there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."
+
+
+B. ELIJAH AT THE BROOK
+
+And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, "Get thee hence, and
+turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is
+before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and
+I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there."
+
+So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and
+dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens
+brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the
+evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while,
+that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
+
+
+C. THE WIDOW'S CAKE
+
+And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, "Arise, get thee to
+Zarephath, which belongeth to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have
+commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee."
+
+So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the
+city, behold, a widow woman was there gathering sticks: and he called to
+her, and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that
+I may drink."
+
+And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, "Bring me,
+I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand."
+
+And she said, "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an
+handful of meal in the barrel, and a little oil in the cruse: and,
+behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me
+and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
+
+And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but
+make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it forth unto me, and
+afterward make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord, the
+God of Israel, 'The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the
+cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the
+earth.'"
+
+And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he,
+and her house, did eat many days. The barrel of meal wasted not, neither
+did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he
+spake by Elijah.
+
+
+D. THE WIDOW'S SON
+
+And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the
+mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that
+there was no breath left in him. And she said unto Elijah, "O thou man
+of God? thou art come unto me to bring my sin to my remembrance, and to
+slay my son!"
+
+And he said unto her, "Give me thy son."
+
+And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber,
+where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the
+Lord, and said. "O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the
+widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?" And he stretched himself
+upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, "O Lord
+my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again."
+
+And the Lord hearkened unto the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the
+child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child,
+and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered
+him unto his mother: and Elijah said, "See, thy son liveth."
+
+And the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that thou art a man of God,
+and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth."
+
+
+=Sec.82. Elijah's Victory= (I Kings 18:1-46)
+
+A. THE SEARCH FOR PASTURAGE
+
+And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to
+Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I
+will send rain upon the earth." And Elijah went to show himself unto
+Ahab.
+
+And the famine was sore in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, who was
+over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly: for it was so,
+when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took a
+hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with
+bread and water.) And Ahab said unto Obadiah, "Go through the land, unto
+all the fountains of water, and unto all the brooks: peradventure we may
+find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the
+beasts."
+
+So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went
+one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
+
+
+B. ELIJAH'S CHALLENGE TO THE KING
+
+And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him,
+and fell on his face, and said, "Is it thou, my lord Elijah?"
+
+And he answered him, "It is I: go, tell thy lord, 'Behold, Elijah is
+here.'"
+
+And he said, "Wherein have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy
+servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As the Lord thy God liveth,
+there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek
+thee: and when they said, 'He is not here,' he took an oath of the
+kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou sayest, 'Go,
+tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.' And it shall come to pass, as
+soon as I am gone from thee, that the spirit of the Lord shall carry
+thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot
+find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my
+youth. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets
+of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in
+a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now thou sayest, 'Go,
+tell thy lord, Behold Elijah is here': and he shall slay me."
+
+And Elijah said, "As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I
+will surely show myself unto him to-day."
+
+So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet
+Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto
+him, "Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?"
+
+And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's
+house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou
+hast followed the Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all
+Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and
+fifty, which eat at Jezebel's table."
+
+
+C. THE TEST AT CARMEL
+
+So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets
+together unto mount Carmel.
+
+And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said, "How long halt ye
+between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then
+follow him." And the people answered him not a word.
+
+Then said Elijah unto the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of
+the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them
+therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for
+themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no
+fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on the wood,
+and put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your god, and I will
+call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let
+him be God."
+
+And all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."
+
+And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, "Choose you one bullock for
+yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of
+your god, but put no fire under."
+
+And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and
+called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, "O
+Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they
+leaped about the altar which was made.
+
+And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, "Cry
+aloud: for he is a god; either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he
+is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked."
+
+And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives
+and lances, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it was so, when
+midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of
+the evening sacrifice; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer,
+nor any that regarded.
+
+And Elijah said unto all the people, "Come near unto me." And all the
+people came near unto him.
+
+And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was thrown down. And Elijah
+took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of
+Jacob. And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord;
+and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two
+measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in
+pieces, and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four barrels with
+water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood." And he said,
+"Do it the second time." And they did it the second time. And he said,
+"Do it the third time." And they did it the third time. And the water
+ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
+
+And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening
+sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, "O Lord, the God
+of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou
+art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all
+these things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may
+know that thou, Lord, art God, and that thou hast turned their heart
+back again."
+
+Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the
+wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in
+the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces:
+and they said, "The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God."
+
+And Elijah said unto them, "Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of
+them escape."
+
+And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon,
+and slew them there.
+
+
+D. THE COMING OF THE RAIN
+
+And Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is the
+sound of abundance of rain." So Ahab went up to eat and to drink.
+
+And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon
+the earth, and put his face between his knees. And he said to his
+servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea."
+
+And he went up, and looked, and said, "There is nothing."
+
+And he said, "Go again," seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh
+time, that he said, "Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as
+small as a man's hand."
+
+And he said, "Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Make ready thy chariot, and get
+thee down, that the rain stop thee not.'"
+
+And it came to pass in a little while, that the heaven grew black with
+clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to
+Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his
+loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+301. In the beautiful city of Florence in Italy there was once a great
+prince named Lorenzo, whose reign was very splendid, but who oppressed
+the people and lived an evil life. The people followed his bad example
+and there was great immorality in Florence. But a fearless preacher came
+to the city who told the prince and the people plainly of their sins.
+Great crowds went to hear him and he became the most influential man in
+Florence. By his stirring words he compelled the government to give back
+the liberties to the people, and he led the citizens to promise to serve
+God with good lives. His enemies finally proved too strong for him and
+killed him, but this noble Italian preacher, Savonarola, left an
+influence that has lasted to this day.
+
+Among the heroes of Israel were some bold preachers, called prophets,
+who did not hesitate to denounce the sins of kings and people. One of
+the greatest of these was Elijah.
+
+302 (Sec.81A). Ahab was a very wicked king who married a princess from
+Sidon. Locate the city on the coast of Palestine. The Sidonians
+worshipped a god called Baal, and so the king built a temple for this
+idol in his capital. He thought he could go on serving the Lord and
+serve Baal also. Suddenly a man appeared in the court. He was roughly
+clad, not a man of the city. What startling message did he bring?
+
+303 (Sec.81B). While the drought came upon Israel the prophet was taken
+care of. Tell the story of Elijah at the brook. What happened to the
+brook at last?
+
+304 (Sec.81C). Elijah was east of the Jordan. He was sent to Zarephath near
+Sidon. Locate it. Tell the story of his conversation with the widow. The
+"cruse" was a flask or small jug for holding liquids.
+
+305 (Sec.81D). Many wonderful stories were told of this great prophet. Tell
+the story of the widow's son. Think of the prophet waiting all this
+time till he should be sent back to the king.
+
+306 (Sec.82A). At last Elijah's message came. How long had he waited?
+Meantime what was the condition in Israel, and Samaria the capital? Who
+was Obadiah? What had he done? What did the king and Obadiah undertake?
+
+307 (Sec.82B). Tell the story of Elijah's conversation with the timid
+Obadiah. This man was good, but he was having a hard time as the servant
+of a bad king. What bold answer did Elijah make to the king? What is a
+challenge? What challenge did Elijah make?
+
+308 (Sec.82C). This is the important part of the story. Find Mt. Carmel on
+the coast. Imagine the scene: the king, the prophets of Baal, and
+Elijah, as the actors, and the great crowd as an audience. What was
+Elijah's first question to the people? We have a saying that no one can
+be on the fence: everyone must be on one side or the other. Whenever
+there is a right and wrong, people must take sides.
+
+309 (Sec.82C). What test did Elijah propose? Who prepared the bullock for
+the sacrifice first? How did they try to gain the attention of their
+god? Could Baal hear them? How did Elijah mock them? What was the result
+of all the excitement?
+
+310 (Sec.82C). Notice how serious Elijah was. How did he prepare for the
+sacrifice? How did he arrange so that nobody could say there was a
+trick? What prayer did Elijah offer? Learn this noble prayer so that you
+can recite it. What happened? How did it affect the people?
+
+311 (Sec.82C). Those were days when men were very stern. What awful
+punishment did Elijah inflict on the false prophets?
+
+312 (Sec.82D). Elijah was sure that the drought would now be over. What did
+he say to Ahab? They had eaten nothing all day, so everyone went eagerly
+to the food. But Elijah went back to the mountain. Who went with him?
+What happened? What message did the prophet send to Ahab? Notice how
+quickly the storm came up. Elijah was a man of the desert, hardy and
+strong; he was also under great excitement from the events of the day.
+It was sixteen miles from Carmel to Jezreel. Locate these places on the
+map. The king drove his horses hard in the storm. What did Elijah do?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Imagine yourself present at the scene on Mt. Carmel and that your
+parents were unable to go. How would you tell them the story of all that
+happened that day? Write it out just as you would have told it, if you
+were a young Israelite on that great occasion.
+
+
+
+
+XXIX. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF JUSTICE
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.83. Elijah's Discouragement= (I Kings 19:1-21)
+
+A. THE BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT
+
+And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain all
+the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah,
+saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life
+as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time."
+
+And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to
+Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he
+himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down
+under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die;
+and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not
+better than my fathers."
+
+And he lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and, behold, an angel
+touched him, and said unto him, "Arise and eat."
+
+And he looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the
+coals, and a bottle of water. And he did eat and drink, and laid himself
+down again.
+
+And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him,
+and said, "Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee."
+
+And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that
+food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
+
+
+B. ELIJAH COMFORTED AND INSTRUCTED
+
+And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word
+of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, "What does thou here,
+Elijah?"
+
+And he said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts;
+for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine
+altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am
+left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
+
+And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord."
+
+And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the
+mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord
+was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was
+not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was
+not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so,
+when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went
+out, and stood in the entering of the cave. And, behold, there came a
+voice unto him, and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?"
+
+And he said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts;
+for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine
+altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am
+left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
+
+And the Lord said unto him, "Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of
+Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over
+Syria: and Jehu shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the
+son of Shaphat shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall
+come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu
+slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
+Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have
+not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."
+
+
+C. THE CALL OF ELISHA
+
+So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
+plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth:
+and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he
+left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me, I pray thee,
+kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee."
+
+And he said unto him, "Go back again; for what have I done to thee?"
+
+And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew
+them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave
+unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah,
+and ministered unto him.
+
+
+=Sec.84. Elijah and the Tyrant= (I Kings 21:1-24)
+
+A. AHAB COVETS NABOTH'S VINEYARD
+
+And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a
+vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of
+Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, "Give me thy vineyard, that
+I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house;
+and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it: or, if it seem
+good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money."
+
+And Naboth said to Ahab, "The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the
+inheritance of my fathers unto thee."
+
+And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word
+which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, "I will
+not give thee the inheritance of my fathers." And he laid him down upon
+his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
+
+But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, "Why is thy spirit
+so sad, that thou eatest no bread?"
+
+And he said unto her, "Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and
+said unto him, 'Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please
+thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it': and he answered, 'I
+will not give thee my vineyard.'"
+
+And Jezebel his wife said unto him, "Dost thou now govern the kingdom of
+Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give
+thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
+
+
+B. JEZEBEL'S PLOT
+
+So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and
+sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in the
+city, and that dwelt with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying,
+"Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: and set two
+wicked men before him, and let them bear witness against him, saying,
+'Thou didst curse God and the king.' And then carry him out, and stone
+him, that he die."
+
+And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his
+city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, according as it was written in
+the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and
+set Naboth on high among the people. And the two wicked men came in and
+sat before him: and the men bare witness against him, even against
+Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and
+the king." Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him
+with stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth is
+stoned, and is dead."
+
+And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was
+dead, that she said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of
+Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for
+Naboth is not alive, but dead."
+
+And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that he rose
+up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take
+possession of it.
+
+
+C. ELIJAH'S STARTLING SENTENCE
+
+And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Arise, go
+down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwelleth in Samaria: behold, he is
+in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to take possession of
+it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, 'Thus saith the Lord, Hast
+thou killed, and also taken possession?' and thou shalt speak unto him,
+saying, 'Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood
+of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.'"
+
+And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?"
+
+And he answered, "I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to
+do that which is evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring
+evil upon thee, and will utterly sweep thee away, and will cut off from
+Ahab every man child, and him that is shut up and him that is left at
+large in Israel, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to
+anger, and hast made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the Lord,
+saying, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel.' Him that
+dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the
+field shall the fowls of the air eat."
+
+
+=Sec.85. The Old Prophet and the New Prophet= (II Kings 2:1-15)
+
+A. THE FAREWELL OF THE OLD PROPHET
+
+And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah by a whirlwind
+into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said
+unto Elisha, "Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me as far
+as Beth-el."
+
+And Elisha said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not
+leave thee."
+
+So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were at
+Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the
+Lord will take away thy master from thy head to-day?"
+
+And he said, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."
+
+And Elijah said unto him, "Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord
+hath sent me to Jericho."
+
+And he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not
+leave thee."
+
+So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at
+Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the
+Lord will take away thy master from thy head to-day?"
+
+And he answered, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."
+
+And Elijah said unto him, "Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath
+sent me to Jordan."
+
+And he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not
+leave thee."
+
+And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went,
+and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And
+Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters,
+and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on
+dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah
+said unto Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken from
+thee."
+
+And Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be
+upon me."
+
+And he said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me
+when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it
+shall not be so."
+
+And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold,
+there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them
+both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha
+saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and
+the horsemen thereof!"
+
+
+B. THE NEW PROPHET
+
+And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent
+them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from
+him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan. And he took the
+mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said,
+"Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" and when he also had smitten the
+waters, they were divided hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
+
+And when the sons of the prophets which were at Jericho over against him
+saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha." And they
+came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+313. How did the great day close after Elijah had defeated the prophets
+of Baal? How do you think Ahab felt about it? Elijah probably hoped to
+see a complete return of the people to the Lord and he expected the
+wicked queen Jezebel to be prevented from interfering with the prophets
+of the Lord.
+
+314 (Sec.83A). What did Ahab do when he returned home? What did Jezebel
+decide? Was she willing to give up her power? Elijah saw that nothing
+had been gained, for the wicked queen was still in control. Where did he
+go? Follow his journey on the map. Mention all the circumstances that
+would make Elijah tired out. His discouragement was largely due to his
+exhaustion from hunger and travel. What kind thing did the Lord do for
+the tired prophet?
+
+315 (Sec.83B). Where did Elijah go? Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai.
+Do you remember what great hero led the people to Sinai? (Sec.40A.) Elijah
+wanted to go back to the mountain where his people had heard of the
+Lord. Tell the story of what happened at the cave. The Lord would show
+Elijah that the people could not be saved by great contests, but by
+gentle means. He also told him that it would take time to get rid of the
+idolatry. He told him three important persons would all have a part in
+the work, even after he was dead: who were these?
+
+316 (Sec.83B). Elijah was mistaken in thinking that he was the only
+faithful man left. How many were there? There are often more good people
+than we think.
+
+317 (Sec.83C). Tell the story of the call of Elisha.
+
+318 (Sec.84A). Locate Jezreel on the map. We found it before, near Mt.
+Carmel. King Ahab had a fine palace there, though his capital was in
+Samaria. But the king needed some more land to make a garden. How did he
+try to get it? Why would not the man sell it? We must remember that in
+those times a farm would sometimes remain in one family for centuries.
+How did Ahab behave? What did Jezebel say that she would do?
+
+319 (Sec.84B). A king of Israel could not do as he pleased. He was bound to
+respect the rights of his people. Jezebel therefore thought out a plan
+to have Naboth killed. What was the plan and how did it work?
+
+320 (Sec.84B). When Jezebel heard of the success of her plot she told the
+king. What did he do? What ought he to have done?
+
+321 (Sec.84C). The king and queen had forgotten all about Elijah. How did
+he suddenly appear? Imagine how frightened the king must have been when
+he saw the stern prophet coming to meet him in the garden. So conscience
+suddenly speaks when we have forgotten it. What did Elijah say?
+
+322 (Sec.84C). We have seen Elijah the champion of pure religion, now we
+see him the champion of justice. There was no one else who dare speak
+against the king's tyranny. Do you think he was brave? Why did not Ahab
+kill him?
+
+323 (Sec.85A). Tell the story of the last journey of Elijah and Elisha.
+Follow the journey on the map. Imagine the fearful mountain storm on the
+east of Jordan in the midst of which Elijah was carried away. Is it not
+a grand story of the end of such a stormy life?
+
+324 (Sec.85B). How did the new prophet begin his work?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Ahab, although in many respects an able king, showed himself in this
+incident a bully. A bully is one who does wrong to a person who is too
+weak to resist. There is generally a bully in every school. Is there
+also a hero? Write what you think a hero ought to do with a bully.
+
+
+
+
+XXX. ELISHA, THE HEALER AND COUNSELOR
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.86. The Payment of the Widow's Debt= (II Kings 4:1-7)
+
+Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets
+unto Elisha, saying, "Thy servant my husband is dead: and thou knowest
+that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take
+unto him my two children to be slaves."
+
+And Elisha said unto her, "What shall I do for thee? tell me; what hast
+thou in the house?"
+
+And she said, "Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a
+pot of oil."
+
+Then he said, "Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even
+empty vessels; borrow not a few. And thou shalt go in, and shut the door
+upon thee and upon thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and
+thou shalt set aside that which is full."
+
+So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons; they
+brought the vessels to her, and she poured out. And it came to pass,
+when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, "Bring me yet a
+vessel."
+
+And he said, "There is not another vessel."
+
+And the oil stopped. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said,
+"Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy sons on the
+rest."
+
+
+=Sec.87. The Healing of the Leper= (II Kings 5)
+
+A. NAAMAN'S VISIT TO ISRAEL
+
+Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man
+with his master, and honorable, because by him the Lord had given
+victory unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a
+leper. And the Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away a
+captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on
+Naaman's wife. And she said unto her mistress, "Would God my lord were
+with the prophet that is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his
+leprosy."
+
+And one went in, and told his lord, saying, "Thus and thus said the maid
+that is of the land of Israel."
+
+And the king of Syria said, "Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto
+the king of Israel."
+
+And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six
+thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. And he brought the
+letter to the king of Israel, saying, "And now when this letter is come
+unto thee, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou
+mayest recover him of his leprosy."
+
+And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that
+he rent his clothes, and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive,
+that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? but
+consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me."
+
+
+B. NAAMAN HEALED
+
+And it was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel
+had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Wherefore hast
+thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that
+there is a prophet in Israel."
+
+So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the
+door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him,
+saying, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come
+again to thee, and thou shalt be clean."
+
+But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, "Behold, I thought, He
+will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord
+his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are
+not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the
+waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?"
+
+So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and
+spake unto him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do
+some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then,
+when he saith to thee, 'Wash, and be clean'?"
+
+Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according
+to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the
+flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
+
+
+C. NAAMAN'S GRATITUDE
+
+And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and
+stood before him: and he said, "Behold now, I know that there is no God
+in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a
+present of thy servant."
+
+But he said, "As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive
+none."
+
+And he urged him to take it; but he refused. And Naaman said, "If not,
+yet I pray thee let there be given to thy servant two mules' burden of
+earth; for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor
+sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord."
+
+And he said unto him, "Go in peace."
+
+So he departed from him a little way.
+
+
+D. PUNISHMENT OF GREED AND DECEIT
+
+But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my
+master hath spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands
+that which he brought: as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and
+take somewhat of him."
+
+So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw one running after
+him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all
+well?"
+
+And he said, "All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, 'Behold, even
+now there be come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men
+of the sons of the prophets; give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver,
+and two changes of raiment.'"
+
+And Naaman said, "Be content, take two talents."
+
+And he urged him and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two
+changes of raiment, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they
+bare them before him. And when he came to the hill, he took them from
+their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and
+they departed. But he went in, and stood before his master.
+
+And Elisha said unto him, "Whence comest thou, Gehazi?"
+
+And he said, "Thy servant went no whither."
+
+And he said unto him, "Went not mine heart with thee, when the man
+turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive
+money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards and vineyards, and sheep
+and oxen, and menservants and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of
+Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever."
+
+And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
+
+
+=Sec.88. Mysterious Capture of the Syrian Soldiers= (II Kings 6:8-23)
+
+A. THE SYRIANS' FEAR OF ELISHA
+
+Now the king of Syria warred against Israel; and he took counsel with
+his servants, saying, "In such and such a place shall be my camp."
+
+And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that
+thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are coming down."
+
+And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him
+and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once nor twice.
+
+And the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and
+he called his servants, and said unto them, "Will ye not show me which
+of us is for the king of Israel?"
+
+And one of his servants said, "Nay, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the
+prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that
+thou speakest in thy bedchamber."
+
+And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and fetch him."
+
+And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in Dothan."
+
+
+B. THE UNSEEN ARMY OF THE LORD
+
+Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and
+they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant
+of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host with
+horses and chariots was round about the city. And his servant said unto
+him, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?"
+
+And he answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they
+that be with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray thee,
+open his eyes, that he may see."
+
+And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold,
+the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
+And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said,
+"Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness." And he smote them with
+blindness according to the word of Elisha.
+
+And Elisha said unto them, "This is not the way, neither is this the
+city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek." And he
+led them to Samaria.
+
+
+C. THE RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS
+
+And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said,
+"Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." And the Lord
+opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of
+Samaria.
+
+And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, "My father,
+shall I smite them? shall I smite them?"
+
+And he answered, "Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those
+whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread
+and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their
+master."
+
+And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and
+drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands
+of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
+
+
+=Sec.89. Elisha's Last Counsel= (II Kings 13:14-19)
+
+Now Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness of which he died: and Joash
+the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, "My
+father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!"
+
+And Elisha said unto him, "Take bow and arrows." And he took unto him
+bow and arrows.
+
+And he said to the king of Israel, "Put thine hand upon the bow." And he
+put his hand upon it. And Elisha laid his hands upon the king's hands.
+
+And he said, "Open the window eastward." And he opened it.
+
+Then Elisha said, "Shoot." And he shot.
+
+And he said, "The Lord's arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory
+over Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have
+consumed them."
+
+And he said, "Take the arrows." And he took them.
+
+And he said unto the king of Israel. "Smite upon the ground." And he
+smote thrice, and stayed.
+
+And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, "Thou shouldest have
+smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst
+consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice."
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+325. Different kinds of men are needed for different times. Severe
+contests require vigorous men: times of trouble require patient men.
+When the king and all Israel were going into heathen worship, the
+strong, stern Elijah was the man to force them back to right conduct.
+But when the kingdom of Israel fell into great weakness and was beaten
+again and again by the Syrians, there was need of a prophet who could
+comfort and encourage the nation. The young man who had been trained by
+Elijah was fitted for this work. What was his name? He must have been a
+most kindly and helpful man as there are more wonderful stories gathered
+about his name than about any of the other heroes of Israel. We shall
+study four of these stories.
+
+326 (Sec.86). This story shows us how harsh the old law of debt was. Why
+were the widow's two sons to be sold as slaves? She came to Elisha in
+her trouble, and he said that they would use whatever she had. What did
+she have? How was the debt paid?
+
+327 (Sec.87A). Locate Syria on the map to the north of Israel. What is the
+capital? These people had been fighting against Israel and had taken
+many prisoners and made slaves of them. What was the name of the Syrian
+general? He was a great man, but he had the terrible disease of leprosy.
+It is a most frightful malady, slowly eating away the body. The
+general's wife had a little Hebrew slave. How did she get her? What did
+the little slave say to her mistress? Tell the story of Naaman's visit
+to Israel.
+
+328 (Sec.87B). How was the king of Israel troubled, and what did Elisha say
+to him? Describe the grand visit of the general with all his servants to
+the simple home of the prophet. What message did Elisha send? Why was
+Naaman angry? What did his servants say to him? How did it all turn out?
+
+329 (Sec.87C). What great change of feeling came over Naaman? What did he
+wish to give Elisha? The prophet did not want any present, because he
+wished Naaman to know that the Lord's prophet would help anyone in need
+without money.
+
+330 (Sec.87D). What did Elisha's servant think of this conduct of his
+master? Tell the story of his greed and deceit. Notice how one sin leads
+to another and one lie leads to another. But the prophet understood the
+wicked servant. What terrible punishment came upon him?
+
+331 (Sec.88A). How did Elisha help his people against the plans of the
+Syrians? What did the Syrian king think of it? It seems evident that
+Elisha was the counselor of Israel. Locate Dothan on the map.
+
+332 (Sec.88B). Tell the story of the two armies, one of them visible and
+the other invisible. This is a beautiful way of telling of God's power
+and care that are always over us. How did Elisha lead the army to
+Samaria?
+
+333 (Sec.88C). How did the Syrians find that they were in the capital of
+their enemies? What did the king want to do to them? How did Elisha say
+they should be treated? Do you remember that several times we have
+called the heroes "magnanimous"? Elisha has this character. After all,
+forgiveness is the best revenge.
+
+334 (Sec.89). At last the old prophet who had been the counselor of several
+kings was about to die. Who visited him? Notice he used the same words
+of him that Elisha had used of Elijah. What did it mean? Tell the story
+of the bow and arrows. The king was not a strong character and he showed
+it in this little bit of play. Elisha meant to tell him that great
+things in the world can only be done by determination. In the Civil War
+our great generals did not give up after three endeavors. Grant said "I
+propose to fight it out on this line, if ..." (finish the quotation),
+and Lee held together his gallant army to the last limit of endurance.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Tell your parents, or some friend, what you have learned about Elisha,
+and explain that you are to write a short story in your notebook on "A
+Hero of Helpfulness." Ask them if they can tell you about some good
+doctor who was unselfish and kindly and gave himself for the good of
+others. Or perhaps they know some pastor who was always seeking to help
+his people and cared very little what good things he got himself. Or
+they may be able to tell you of a good woman who spent her life in doing
+good to people. She would be "A Heroine of Helpfulness." Find out some
+strong character who did good unselfishly like Elisha, and write the
+story for the next class.
+
+
+
+
+PATRIOTS IN TROUBLOUS TIMES
+
+    XXXI. NEHEMIAH, THE BUILDER
+
+   XXXII. ESTHER, THE PATRIOT QUEEN
+
+  XXXIII. JUDAS, THE HAMMERER
+
+   XXXIV. DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS
+
+
+
+
+
+XXXI. NEHEMIAH, THE BUILDER
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.90. Nehemiah's Plans= (Neh. 1:1-4, 11. 2:1-9, 11-13, 16-18)
+
+A. NEHEMIAH'S SORROW FOR JERUSALEM
+
+Now it came to pass as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of
+my brethren, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them
+concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity,
+and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, "The remnant that are
+left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and
+reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates
+thereof are burned with fire."
+
+And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept,
+and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of
+heaven, and said, "O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be
+attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy
+servants, who delight to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy
+servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." (Now I
+was cupbearer to the king.)
+
+
+B. THE KING'S PERMISSION TO REBUILD
+
+And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of
+Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine,
+and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been before-time sad in his
+presence. And the king said unto me, "Why is thy countenance sad, seeing
+thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart."
+
+Then I was very sore afraid. And I said unto the king, "Let the king
+live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the
+place of my father's sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are
+consumed with fire?"
+
+Then the king said unto me, "For what dost thou make request?"
+
+So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, "If it
+please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that
+thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers'
+sepulchres, that I may build it."
+
+And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) "For how
+long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return?"
+
+So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Moreover I said
+unto the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me to the
+governors beyond the river, that they may let me pass through till I
+come unto Judah; and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's
+forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the
+castle, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall
+enter into."
+
+And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
+
+
+C. NEHEMIAH'S ARRIVAL IN JERUSALEM
+
+Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's
+letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and
+horsemen. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
+
+And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any
+man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem: neither was there
+any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by
+night by the valley gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were
+broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. And the
+rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told
+it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the
+rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
+
+
+D. THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK
+
+Then said I unto them, "Ye see the evil case that we are in, how
+Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come
+and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a
+reproach." And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me;
+as also of the king's words that he had spoken unto me.
+
+And they said, "Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their
+hands for the good work.
+
+
+=Sec.91. Nehemiah's Difficulties= (Neh. 4:1-4, 6-9, 16-20; 6:1-9)
+
+A. SCORNFUL JEALOUSY OF THE ENEMIES
+
+But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall,
+he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he
+spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What do
+these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice?
+will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the
+heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?"
+
+Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "Even that which they
+build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall."
+
+"Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon
+their own head; for they have provoked thee to anger before the
+builders."
+
+So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto half the
+height thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
+
+
+B. CONSPIRACY OF THE ENEMIES
+
+But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians,
+and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the
+walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be
+stopped, that they were very wroth; and they conspired all of them
+together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion
+therein. But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against
+them day and night, because of them. And it came to pass from that time
+forth, that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them
+held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and
+the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They that builded the
+wall and they that bore burdens laded themselves, every one with one of
+his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon; and
+the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so
+builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. And I said unto the
+nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, "The work is
+great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from
+another: in what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort
+ye thither unto us; our God shall fight for us."
+
+
+C. PLOTS OF THE ENEMIES
+
+Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and
+to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had
+builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein (though even
+unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates); that Sanballat
+and Geshem sent unto me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in one of
+the villages in the plain of Ono."
+
+But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them,
+saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should
+the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?"
+
+And they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them
+after the same manner. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like
+manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; wherein was
+written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that
+thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou buildest the
+wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words. And
+thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem,
+saying, 'There is a king in Judah': and now shall it be reported to the
+king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take
+counsel together."
+
+Then I sent unto him, saying, "There are no such things done as thou
+sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart." For they all
+would have made us afraid, saying, "Their hands shall be weakened from
+the work, that it be not done." But now, O God, strengthen thou my
+hands.
+
+
+=Sec.92. Nehemiah's Success= (Neh. 6:15, 16; 7:1-3; 12:27, 31, 38, 40, 43;
+Ps. 122:2,3)
+
+A. THE COMPLETION OF THE WALL
+
+So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul,
+in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard
+thereof, that all the heathen that were about us feared, and were much
+cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was
+wrought of our God.
+
+Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the
+doors, that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the
+castle, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God
+above many. And I said unto them, "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be
+opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand on guard, let them
+shut the doors, and bar ye them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants
+of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against
+his house."
+
+
+B. THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL
+
+And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites
+out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the
+dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing,
+with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. Then I brought up the princes
+of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave
+thanks and went in procession; whereof one went on the right hand upon
+the wall eastward. And the other company of them that gave thanks went
+to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, upon the
+wall. And the two companies of them that gave thanks met in the house of
+God, and stood still, and the singers sang loud:
+
+    Our feet are standing
+    Within thy gates, O Jerusalem,
+    Jerusalem, that art builded
+    As a city that is compact together.
+
+And they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had
+made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the children
+rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+335. When a man has been prominent in a great undertaking it is very
+interesting to have his own account of it. General Grant was persuaded
+by friends to write a story of his own campaigns. It was called
+"Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant," the word "memoirs" meaning his
+own recollections of the events. Perhaps the first man who ever wrote
+such a personal story was the Governor of Judah, 2,300 years ago. The
+story we study here might be called "Personal Memoirs of Nehemiah."
+
+336. Nehemiah was a great patriot. It is easy to be a patriot when it
+simply means shouting for a great, prosperous country. But this man had
+never seen his own land. His great-grandparents had been taken away as
+prisoners, and the family had been one hundred and fifty years in the
+foreign land. But they had never forgotten their own beloved country.
+Nehemiah was rich, and in a high office in Persia, but he loved
+Jerusalem and longed to be able to serve her. Read (and learn) Ps.
+137:5, 6, and you will see how the patriotic Jews in the East felt about
+their fatherland. Let us read this personal story of the patriot and see
+what he did.
+
+337 (Sec.90A). Look at the map of the Semitic world and find Persia in the
+East. Find Susa, which is the same as Shushan. It is a long way from
+Jerusalem. But one day some of the Jews came from Jerusalem to the
+palace of the Persian king to tell the story of the sad condition of
+their city. What did they tell Nehemiah? How did the story affect him?
+What office did he hold? Look up the description of this office that we
+had some time ago (62).
+
+338 (Sec.90B). Oriental kings are very arbitrary and the courtiers have to
+be most careful not to offend them. Note how cleverly Nehemiah managed,
+so that he obtained all that he wanted from the king. What did he
+obtain?
+
+339 (Sec.90C). Look again at the map. What is the river that Nehemiah
+mentions? Recall the first journey that we followed from the East to
+Palestine (Sec.Sec.3, 5). Note that the Governor traveled with a body guard.
+What did he do first in Jerusalem?
+
+340 (Sec.90D). The people who had lived so long in the ruined city were
+discouraged. How did Nehemiah cheer them? How did they respond?
+
+341 (Sec.91A). There were jealous enemies all around Judah, so Nehemiah
+soon found himself in difficulties. First they despised his efforts. How
+did he meet this ridicule?
+
+342 (Sec.91B). When the enemies could not stop him by laughing at him, what
+did they try? How did Nehemiah plan his work so as not to be surprised?
+
+343 (Sec.91C). What plots did the enemies devise? How did Nehemiah meet the
+plots?
+
+344 (Sec.92A). In the old times, cities had to have walls all around them
+to prevent attacks. How long did it take this vigorous governor to
+repair the fortifications? How did he plan to guard the city?
+
+345 (Sec.92B). What help did Nehemiah feel that he had in all his work?
+"Dedication" means an offering to God. They gave the city to God. Tell
+the story of this joyful patriotic service. Learn the song that they
+sang.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+You will probably find that people to-day are opposed in their
+determination to do what is right in just the same three ways that
+Nehemiah suffered. Keep a good lookout during the week and see if you
+can find anyone, young or old, trying to do some right thing while
+somebody else laughs, or while somebody tries to stop it by force, or
+while somebody tells falsehoods about it. If you find any hero who goes
+straight on in right-doing in spite of these oppositions, give a short
+account of it in your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+XXXII. ESTHER, THE PATRIOT QUEEN
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.93. Esther Made Queen= (Esther 1:1, 5, 7, 9, 11-13, 15, 16, 19, 21;
+2:1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 15-18, 20)
+
+A. QUEEN VASHTI DEPOSED
+
+King Ahasuerus made a feast unto all the people that were present in
+Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days in the court of the
+garden of the king's palace. And they gave them in vessels of gold royal
+wine in abundance, according to every man's pleasure.
+
+Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house. On
+the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he
+commanded to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown
+royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty: for she was fair
+to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's
+commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and
+his anger burned in him.
+
+Then the king said to the wise men, "What shall we do unto the queen
+Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the
+king?"
+
+And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "If it please the
+king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be
+written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not
+altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the
+king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she."
+
+And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did
+according to the word of Memucan.
+
+
+B. THE SELECTION OF ESTHER
+
+After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he
+remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against
+her. Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, "Let there
+be fair young maidens sought for the king in all his kingdom; and let
+the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti." And the
+thing pleased the king; and he did so.
+
+There was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, who had brought up
+Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and
+the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were
+dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. So it came to pass, when
+the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens
+were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, that Esther was taken
+into the king's house.
+
+Now when the turn of Esther was come to go in unto the king, she
+required nothing but what the keeper of the women appointed. And Esther
+obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. So Esther
+was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month,
+in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all
+the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all
+the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her
+queen instead of Vashti.
+
+Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants,
+even Esther's feast; and he gave gifts, according to the bounty of the
+king.
+
+Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had
+charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when
+she was brought up with him.
+
+
+=Sec.94. The Plot against the Jews= (Esther 3:1, 2, 5, 6, 8-13; 4:1, 2, 4,
+5, 8, 11-17)
+
+A. THE ENMITY OF HAMAN
+
+After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman, and advanced him,
+and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the
+king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed down, and did
+reverence to Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But
+Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence.
+
+And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence,
+then was Haman full of wrath. But he thought scorn to lay hands on
+Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai:
+wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the
+whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
+
+And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered
+abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy
+kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither
+keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to
+suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they be
+destroyed."
+
+And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman, and
+said, "The people is given to thee to do with them as it seemeth good to
+thee."
+
+Then were the king's scribes called, and letters were sent by posts into
+all the king's provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish,
+all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day,
+even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month
+Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
+
+
+B. MORDECAI'S APPEAL TO ESTHER
+
+Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and
+put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city,
+and cried with a loud and a bitter cry: and he came even before the
+king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with
+sackcloth. And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment
+and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and
+fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
+
+And Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the
+queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent her chamberlain to Mordecai
+to know what this was, and why it was.
+
+And Mordecai gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that was given
+out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare
+it unto her; and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to
+make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her
+people.
+
+And he came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Then Esther gave him
+a message unto Mordecai, saying: "All the king's servants, and the
+people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or
+woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called,
+there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except such to whom
+the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have
+not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days."
+
+And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai bade them return
+answer unto Esther, "Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in
+the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether
+holdest thy peace at this time, then shall relief and deliverance arise
+to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house shall
+perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for
+such a time as this?"
+
+Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai, "Go, gather together
+all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and
+neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens
+will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is
+not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."
+
+So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had
+commanded him.
+
+
+=Sec.95. Esther's Brave Intercession= (Esther 5:1-5; 7:2-6, 9, 10; 8:1-8,
+9, 11, 15-17; 9:1, 2, 5, 20-23, 32)
+
+A. THE DANGEROUS INTERVIEW
+
+Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal
+apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against
+the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal
+house, over against the entrance of the house. And it was so, when the
+king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor
+in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that
+was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the
+sceptre. Then said the king unto her, "What wilt thou, queen Esther?
+and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to the half of the
+kingdom."
+
+[Illustration: _From Price, "The Monuments and the Old Testament"_
+ESTHER'S PALACE]
+
+And Esther said, "If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman
+come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him."
+
+Then the king said, "Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as
+Esther hath said."
+
+So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. And
+the king said unto Esther, "What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it
+shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the
+kingdom it shall be performed."
+
+Then Esther the queen answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy
+sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my
+petition, and my people at my request: for we are sold, I and my people,
+to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish."
+
+Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, "Who is
+he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?"
+
+And Esther said, "An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman."
+
+Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. Then said one of
+the chamberlains that were before the king, "Behold also, the gallows
+fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai standeth in the
+house of Haman."
+
+And the king said, "Hang him thereon."
+
+So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.
+Then was the king's wrath pacified.
+
+
+B. THE DELIVERANCE OF THE JEWS
+
+On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews'
+enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for
+Esther had told what he was unto her. And the king took off his ring,
+which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set
+Mordecai over the house of Haman.
+
+And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet,
+and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman and his
+device that he had devised against the Jews. Then the king held out to
+Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.
+And she said, "If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his
+sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in
+his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman
+which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's
+provinces: for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my
+people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"
+
+Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the
+Jew, "Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have
+hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write
+ye also to the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it
+with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's
+name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse."
+
+Then were the king's scribes called at that time, and it was written
+according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the
+satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces, that the king
+granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together,
+and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to
+perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault
+them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a
+prey.
+
+And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel
+of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of
+fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad. The
+Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor. And in every province,
+and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree
+came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many
+from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews
+was fallen upon them.
+
+
+C. THE FEAST OF THE DELIVERANCE
+
+Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day
+of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be
+put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have
+rule over them; whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had
+rule over them that hated them; the Jews gathered themselves together in
+their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay
+hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for
+the fear of them was fallen upon all the peoples. And the Jews smote all
+their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and
+destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them.
+
+And Mordecai wrote letters unto all the Jews that were in all the
+provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, to enjoin them that
+they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth
+day of the same, yearly, as the days wherein the Jews had rest from
+their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to
+gladness, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them
+days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another,
+and gifts to the poor. And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun,
+and as Mordecai had written unto them.
+
+And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of the feast of
+Purim; and it was written in the book.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+346. Among the stories of their heroes the Jews preserved several
+stories of heroines, and none is more striking than that of the patriot
+queen, whose extraordinary bravery saved her people. There are many
+kinds of bravery, some in doing, some in suffering. Let us try to get a
+correct judgment of Esther.
+
+347 (Sec.93A). The first part of the story shows how Esther became the
+queen of Persia. What kind of feast did the king give? What command did
+he give to Vashti? Let us remember that ladies in the East do not often
+appear in public before men. How did it happen that Vashti was deposed?
+
+348 (Sec.93B). What plan was proposed to secure a most beautiful wife for
+the king? Who was Mordecai? How did he get Esther introduced to the
+king? How did she become queen? Note that her cousin had advised her not
+to let it be known that she was a Jewess, because there was a prejudice
+against her nation.
+
+349 (Sec.94A). The villain of the story is Haman. What high place did he
+hold? How did Mordecai offend him? What revenge did he plan?
+
+350 (Sec.94B). Mordecai knew that when a royal decree had been issued it
+could not be changed. How did he behave? What did he request Esther to
+do?
+
+351 (Sec.94B). Notice the strict rule of the Persian court. No one could
+see the king unless summoned by him. How different from our democratic
+government, where any citizen may at least ask permission to see the
+president! But Mordecai urged Esther to risk her life to save her
+people. Now see how brave she was. She might have said, "No one knows
+that I am a Jewess. I am quite safe as the king's wife. I will keep
+silent. It would be folly to risk my life by offending the king." But
+she decided to risk her great place with its wealth and luxury, and also
+her life, because her duty to her people required it. What answer did
+she send to Mordecai?
+
+352 (Sec.95A). Describe Esther's approach to the king. The tyrant happened
+to be in a good humor, so she was safe. What invitation did she extend?
+
+353 (Sec.95A). Haman was delighted with the great honor the queen did him.
+He had no idea that his enemy, whom he had planned to hang on a high
+gallows, was the queen's cousin. How did it all turn out?
+
+354 (Sec.95B). How was Mordecai promoted? We must remember that although
+Haman was dead, the king's decree for the slaughter of the Jews could
+not be changed. But permission could be given to the Jews to defend
+themselves on the day of the massacre. How was this arranged?
+
+355 (Sec.95C). Of course this is an old story of times when people took
+fierce revenge, so we learn that the Jews slaughtered their enemies. But
+it was a great deliverance, and Mordecai and Esther planned that a great
+feast should be kept to celebrate it. What kind of feast was it?
+
+356 (Sec.95C). The Jews still keep the Feast of Purim. It is one of the
+merriest times they have. They have all kinds of fun and give presents,
+as we do at Christmas. And they still honor the beautiful queen, who
+stood with her own people in their peril, and saved them by her wit and
+courage.
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Recall Mordecai's suggestion to Esther (p. 356). In the days of chivalry
+knights had a motto: _Noblesse oblige_ meaning that those of noble rank
+had an obligation to serve those in need. Any strength or good we have
+is not for our own use, but to help others with. Take this as your
+motto. Draw a banner and inscribe in colors: _Noblesse oblige_.
+
+
+
+
+XXXIII. JUDAS, THE HAMMERER
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.96. The Tyrant and the Heroes= (I Macc. 1:41-50, 54-57; 2:1-7, 14, 15,
+17-25, 27, 28, 44, 45, 48-50, 64-66, 70)
+
+A. THE TYRANNY OF ANTIOCHUS
+
+Antiochus, king of Syria, who had rule over many peoples and over the
+Jews, wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, and
+that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed
+according to the word of the king, and many of Israel consented to his
+worship, and sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the sabbath. And the
+king sent letters by the hand of messengers unto Jerusalem and the
+cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land, and
+should profane the sabbaths and feasts, and pollute the sanctuary; that
+they should build altars, and temples for idols, and should sacrifice
+swine's flesh and unclean beasts. And whosoever shall not do according
+to the word of the king, he shall die.
+
+And they built an abomination of desolation upon the altar, and in the
+cities of Judah they built idol altars. And they rent in pieces the
+books of the law which they found, and set them on fire. And wheresoever
+was found with any a book of the covenant, and if any consented to the
+law, the king's sentence delivered him to death.
+
+
+B. THE OLD HERO AND HIS FIVE SONS
+
+In those days rose up Mattathias the priest, who dwelt at Modin. And he
+had five sons, John, Simon, Judas who was called Maccabaeus (the
+Hammerer), Eleazar, Jonathan. And he saw the blasphemies that were
+committed in Judah and in Jerusalem, and he said. "Woe is me! wherefore
+was I born to see the destruction of my people and of the holy city?
+Wherefore should we live any longer?"
+
+And Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth,
+and mourned exceedingly.
+
+And the king's officers came into the city Modin to sacrifice. And they
+spake to Mattathias saying, "Thou art a ruler and an honorable and great
+man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brethren; now therefore
+come thou first and do the commandment of the king, as all the nations
+have done, and the men of Judah, and they that remain in Jerusalem: and
+thou and thy house shall be in the number of the king's Friends, and
+thou and thy sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts."
+
+And Mattathias answered and said with a loud voice, "If all the nations
+that are in the king's dominion hearken unto him, to fall away each one
+from the worship of his fathers, and have made choice to follow his
+commandments, yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the
+covenant of our fathers. We will not hearken to the king's words, to go
+aside from our worship, on the right hand, or on the left."
+
+And when he had left speaking these words, there came a Jew in the sight
+of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the
+king's commandment. And Mattathias saw it, and his zeal was kindled, and
+he showed forth his wrath, and ran and slew him upon the altar. And the
+king's officer, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time,
+and pulled down the altar. And he cried with a loud voice, "Whosoever is
+zealous for the law, let him come forth after me."
+
+And Mattathias and his sons fled into the mountains, and they mustered a
+host and smote sinners in their anger, and they went round about, and
+pulled down the altars, and they rescued the law out of the hand of the
+Gentiles.
+
+And the days of Mattathias drew near that he should die, and he said
+unto his sons, "My children, be ye zealous for the law, and give your
+lives for the covenant of your fathers. Be strong and show yourselves
+men in behalf of the law; for therein shall ye obtain glory. And,
+behold, Simon your brother, I know that he is a man of counsel; give ear
+unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you. And Judas Maccabaeus, he
+hath been strong and mighty from his youth: he shall be your captain,
+and shall fight the battle of the people."
+
+And he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers. And all Israel
+made great lamentation for him.
+
+
+=Sec.97. The Great Deliverance= (I Macc. 3:1, 2, 13, 15-23, 25, 34, 35;
+4:14, 25, 28, 34, 36-40, 42, 43, 47, 48, 53-56, 58; 9:20-22)
+
+A. THE VICTORIES OF JUDAS
+
+And his son Judas, who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his stead. And
+all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that clave unto his
+father. And they fought with gladness the battle of Israel.
+
+And Seron, the commander of the host of Syria, heard that Judas had
+gathered a congregation of faithful men with him, and of such as went
+out to war. And he went up with a mighty army of the ungodly to take
+vengeance on the children of Israel.
+
+And Judas went forth to meet him with a small company. But when they saw
+the army coming to meet them they said unto Judas, "What? shall we be
+able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a
+multitude? And we for our part are faint, having tasted no food this
+day."
+
+And Judas said, "It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands
+of a few; and with heaven it is all one to save by many or by few: for
+victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of a host; but strength
+is from heaven. They come to destroy us and our wives and our children:
+but we fight for our lives and our laws. Be ye not afraid of them."
+
+Now when he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and
+Seron and his army were discomfited before him.
+
+And the fear of Judas and his brethren, and the dread of them, began to
+fall upon the nations round about them. And king Antiochus gave Lysias
+half of his forces, and the elephants, and gave him charge to destroy
+the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem. And Lysias chose
+three mighty men; and with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and
+seven thousand horse, to go into the land of Judah, and to destroy it.
+And Judas joined battle, and the Gentiles were discomfited. And Israel
+had a great deliverance that day.
+
+And the next year Lysias gathered together sixty thousand chosen
+footmen, and five thousand horse. And Judas met them with ten thousand
+men. And they joined battle; and there fell of the army of Lysias about
+five thousand men.
+
+
+B. THE TEMPLE CLEANSED
+
+Judas and his brethren said, "Behold, our enemies are discomfited; let
+us go up to cleanse the holy place and to dedicate it afresh."
+
+And all the army was gathered together, and they went up unto mount
+Zion. And they saw the sanctuary laid desolate, and the altar profaned
+and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the court as in a forest,
+and the priests' chambers pulled down. And they rent their clothes, and
+made great lamentation, and put ashes upon their heads, and fell on
+their faces to the ground, and cried toward heaven.
+
+Then Judas chose blameless priests, and they cleansed the holy place.
+And they built a new altar after the fashion of the former; and they
+built the holy place, and the inner parts of the house; and they
+hallowed the courts.
+
+
+C. THE OLD WORSHIP RESTORED
+
+And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of
+burnt offerings which they had made. At what time and on what day the
+Gentiles had profaned it, even on that day was it dedicated afresh, with
+songs and harps and lutes, and with cymbals. And all the people fell
+upon their faces, and worshipped, and gave praise unto heaven, which had
+given them good success. And they kept the dedication of the altar eight
+days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed a
+sacrifice of deliverance and praise. And there was exceeding great
+gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned
+away.
+
+
+D. THE DEATH OF JUDAS
+
+And when Judas died all Israel made great lamentation for him, and
+mourned many days, and said, "How is the mighty fallen, the Savior of
+Israel!"
+
+And the rest of the acts of Judas, and his wars, and the valiant deeds
+which he did, and his greatness, they are not written; for they were
+exceeding many.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+357. Three hundred years ago King Philip II of Spain was the most
+powerful king in Europe. He was a bitter tyrant, determined to rule his
+people according to his own will. He was a Roman Catholic and hated all
+Protestants. The little country of Holland was part of his territory and
+he ordered the people to become Roman Catholics. They refused, for they
+were loyal to their own religion. He sent against them a great army
+under the command of a brutal general, Alva, and all Europe thought that
+the little people would be crushed. But they fought for their faith and
+their homes so valiantly that the tyrant was compelled to withdraw. It
+is almost impossible to destroy patriots.
+
+358. We always admire the heroism of those who resist tyrants. The Jews
+were often bitterly persecuted and they had many a hero who defended
+them. One of the greatest of all their heroes was Judas, who was called
+the Maccabee, or the Hammerer. With a great faith in God and a wonderful
+courage he defeated large armies. His story is not found in the Old
+Testament, but in another collection of Hebrew books called "The
+Apocrypha." The book is I Maccabees.
+
+359 (Sec.96A). At the time of this story the Jews were under the rule of
+Antiochus, the king of Syria. What was the wish of this tyrant? What
+insults were offered to the religion of the Jews?
+
+360 (Sec.96B). An old priest was living in one of the villages of Judah
+with his five noble sons. They were very much distressed about the sad
+state of their people: but what could they do against the strong king?
+At last the king's officers came to this village to order the heathen
+sacrifices. What did they demand of Mattathias, and what did they
+promise him? How did the old priest answer? What followed?
+
+361 (Sec.96B). The priest and his sons went to the hills, where they could
+find refuge in the caves. Who joined them? What did they do? The fierce
+contest was too severe for the old man, and he soon fell ill. What were
+his last words to his sons?
+
+362 (Sec.97A). Who took the lead after the death of the old priest? Note
+that there was no jealousy among those noble brothers. Tell the story of
+the first victory over the Syrians.
+
+363 (Sec.97A). The king was astonished that his forces should be defeated
+by the little army of patriots. Great preparations to crush the Jews
+were made. Note that elephants with armed men were employed. What was
+the result of the campaigns?
+
+364 (Sec.97B). At last the victories were so conclusive that they thought
+it safe to go to Jerusalem and clean out the abominations from the
+temple. In what condition did they find the temple? How did it affect
+them? How did Judas purify it?
+
+365 (Sec.97C). Note how happy they were when they could worship once more
+in the house of God. Describe the celebration.
+
+366 (Sec.97D). One can imagine how greatly the Jews would honor such a
+deliverer as Judas. How did they mourn for him at his death?
+
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Imagine yourself a boy (or girl) about thirteen years old, living in the
+village of Modin a little over two thousand years ago. Imagine that you
+were present on the day when the officers came to command the heathen
+sacrifice. Then imagine yourself writing a letter describing everything
+that took place that day. Write it in the first person to some friend
+who was absent. Describe the whole scene just as it lies in your mind,
+and tell what you think of the heroes.
+
+
+
+
+XXXIV. DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS
+
+THE STORY
+
+
+=Sec.98. The Training of the Young Men= (Daniel 1:1-19)
+
+When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came against Jerusalem and
+captured it, certain of the youths of the nobility were taken and given
+into the charge of the master of the king's servants that he should
+teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king
+appointed for them a daily portion of the king's meat, and of the wine
+which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at
+the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were,
+of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. And
+the master gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave the name of
+Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach;
+and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
+
+But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with
+the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he
+requested of the master that he might not defile himself. Now God made
+Daniel to find favor and compassion in the sight of the master. And he
+said unto Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat
+and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the
+youths which are of your own age? so should ye endanger my head with the
+king."
+
+Then said Daniel to the steward, whom the master had appointed over
+them, "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give
+us vegetables to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be
+looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of
+the king's meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants."
+
+So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And
+at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were
+fatter in flesh, than all the youths which did eat of the king's meat.
+So the steward took away their meat, and the wine that they should
+drink, and gave them vegetables. Now as for these four youths, God gave
+them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had
+understanding in all visions and dreams. And at the end of the days
+which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the master brought
+them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and
+among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
+Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
+
+
+=Sec.99. The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace= (Dan. 3:1, 2, 4-30)
+
+A. THE WORSHIP OF THE GOLDEN IMAGE
+
+Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty
+cubits, and its breadth six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura in
+the province of Babylon. Then the king sent to gather together all the
+rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image.
+
+Then the herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, O peoples,
+nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the
+cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of
+music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the
+king hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the
+same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."
+
+Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the music, they fell
+down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had
+set up.
+
+
+B. THE THREE JEWS DEFY THE KING
+
+Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought
+accusation against the Jews, and said to Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live
+for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall
+hear the sound of the music, shall fall down and worship the golden
+image: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall be cast into
+the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou
+hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach,
+Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they
+serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set
+up."
+
+Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach,
+Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
+Nebuchadnezzar said unto them, "Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach,
+and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image
+which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the
+sound of the music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have
+made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into
+the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall
+deliver you out of my hands?"
+
+Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "O
+Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. If it be
+so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
+furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not,
+be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor
+worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
+
+
+C. DELIVERANCE FROM THE FIERY FURNACE
+
+Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was
+changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake,
+and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it
+was wont to be heated. And he commanded certain mighty men that were in
+his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into
+the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their hose,
+their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast
+into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the
+king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame
+of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and
+Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell
+down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
+
+Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste: he
+spake and said unto his counselors, "Did not we cast three men bound
+into the midst of the fire?"
+
+They answered and said unto the king, "True, O king."
+
+He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of
+the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a
+son of the gods."
+
+Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace:
+he spake and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the
+Most High God, come forth, and come hither."
+
+Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth out of the midst of
+the fire. And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the
+king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire
+had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed,
+neither were their hose changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on
+them.
+
+Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach,
+and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that
+trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their
+bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own
+God. Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language,
+which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
+Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a
+ruin: because there is no other god that is able to deliver after this
+sort."
+
+Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province
+of Babylon.
+
+
+=Sec.100. Daniel and the Lions= (Dan. 6:1-28)
+
+A. THE DECREE OF KING DARIUS
+
+It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps,
+which should be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three
+presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give
+account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. Then this
+Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because
+an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the
+whole realm.
+
+Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against
+Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor
+fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or
+fault found in him. Then said these men, "We shall not find any occasion
+against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of
+his God."
+
+Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and
+said thus unto him, "King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of
+the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the
+governors, have consulted together, to establish a royal statute, and to
+make a strong decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or
+man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den
+of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that
+it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which
+altereth not."
+
+Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
+
+
+B. DANIEL AT HIS PRAYERS
+
+And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house
+(now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem); and he
+kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks
+before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled together,
+and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
+
+Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's
+decree; "Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall make
+petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king,
+shall be cast into the den of lions?"
+
+The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of
+the Medes and Persians, which altereth not."
+
+Then answered they and said before the king, "That Daniel, which is of
+the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor
+the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a
+day."
+
+Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set
+his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down
+of the sun to rescue him.
+
+Then these men assembled together unto the king and said unto the king,
+"Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no
+decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed."
+
+
+C. DANIEL DELIVERED FROM THE LIONS
+
+Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the
+den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, "Thy God whom
+thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."
+
+And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the
+king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords;
+that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
+
+Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither
+were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from
+him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste
+unto the den of lions. And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he
+cried with a lamentable voice: the king spake and said to Daniel, "O
+Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest
+continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?"
+
+Then said Daniel unto the king, "O king, live for ever. My God hath sent
+his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me:
+forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee,
+O king, have I done no hurt."
+
+Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take
+Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no
+manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.
+
+And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused
+Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children,
+and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and break all
+their bones in pieces, or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
+
+
+D. THE PROSPERITY OF DANIEL
+
+Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages,
+that dwell in all the earth; "Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a
+decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear
+before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for
+ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his
+dominion shall be even unto the end: he delivereth and rescueth, and he
+worked signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; who hath delivered
+Daniel from the power of the lions."
+
+So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of
+Cyrus the Persian.
+
+
+THE MEANING OF THE STORY
+
+367. In the last chapter we studied the bitter persecution of the Jews
+in the time of Antiochus. God sent them a great deliverer in Judas the
+Hammerer. He also sent them a helper who told them heroic stories of
+the olden time to encourage them to believe that God would surely
+deliver them. These stories were of Daniel and his three friends who
+were taken to Babylon in the captivity. They were under great temptation
+to be untrue to their religion. We can see how these stories would help
+the people to be faithful.
+
+368 (Sec.98). In the old times the food and wine for the king's table would
+first be offered to the heathen gods, so Daniel felt that he would
+really be an idolator if he took them. What request did he make? How did
+the master think it would be discovered that he had not fed them on rich
+food? What test did Daniel propose? How did it turn out? Of course it
+was really much more healthy for the young men to live simply. It took
+some courage to stand out against the officer, but it was a matter of
+conscience with Daniel and his friends.
+
+369 (Sec.99A). Imagine the great golden image 100 feet high. What was the
+king's command to the people? What was to be the penalty if they refused
+to obey? How would a faithful servant of the Lord feel about it?
+
+370 (Sec.99B). We do not know where Daniel was at this time, but what did
+his three friends do? What did the king say to them? What did they
+answer him? Notice carefully that they said they were sure God could
+save them, but whether he did or not they would be faithful. God does
+not always save people from death. The noble army of martyrs have been
+faithful unto death. But God has always brought good out of their
+sufferings.
+
+371 (Sec.99C). Describe the scene when these men were thrown into the
+furnace? What did the king think he saw? What did he do to the three?
+What impression did it make on the king? We can understand how the Jews
+would have told such a wonderful story as this to cheer those who were
+under great temptation to give up their faith.
+
+372 (Sec.100A). Long after, when Daniel was an old man, another great
+danger arose. He had meantime been promoted to the highest station.
+Great men always have many enemies who are jealous of them. All our
+great Americans have had those who envied them. What foolish thing did
+Daniel's enemies persuade the king to do? There seems to have been a
+rule that if the king gave an order it could not be changed.
+
+373 (Sec.100B). What had been Daniel's custom regarding prayer? How did he
+change it when he heard of the decree? Would he have been wiser to pray
+secretly? Some of our soldier boys that went to the war were ashamed to
+kneel down and pray at night, but some of them were not afraid even when
+their companions jeered them. Do you remember a story like that in _Tom
+Brown at Rugby_? How did the king feel when he found that Daniel had
+refused to obey the decree? Why could not the king pardon him? Notice
+how bitterly his enemies insisted on the penalty.
+
+374 (Sec.100C). What did the king say to Daniel? How did the king pass the
+night? What happened in the morning? What was done to his enemies?
+
+375 (Sec.100D). What message did the king send to his people? Daniel's
+bravery made the king respect his religion. What was the result of all
+this to Daniel? Suppose Daniel had been killed by the lions, what would
+you think of him?
+
+
+WRITTEN REVIEW
+
+Think about Daniel's refusal to do wrong. You have probably
+known one of your companions who refused to do some wrong when
+it was hard to refuse. Young people can be heroes in standing
+up for duty. Write about anybody whom you have known who did
+this. Or perhaps you will find somebody actually doing such a
+thing now. Make a good story of it for your notebook.
+
+
+
+
+REVIEW
+
+  XXXV. SEVEN HEROIC NAMES
+
+
+
+
+XXXV. SEVEN HEROIC NAMES
+
+376. The Hebrews always looked back to their magnificent king, whom they
+thought of as the wisest of men. What was his name? Tell the story of
+his great building. (Sec.79; I Kings 5:2-6.[2])
+
+[2: Very short Scripture references are given, just enough to
+recall the story. It might be well to read these as well as to look at
+the section in the textbook.]
+
+377. What great prophet was the champion of pure religion? Tell the
+story of the test at Mount Carmel. (Sec.82; I Kings 18:20-24.)
+
+378. King Ahab had a fine palace in Jezreel and Naboth had a vineyard
+near by. Tell the story of the king's covetousness. Why did Elijah
+interfere? (Sec.84; I Kings 21:17-23.)
+
+379. Who was the prophet that followed Elijah? Why did we call him the
+healer and counselor? We read a number of stories of his kindly deeds to
+the people. Tell one of them.
+
+380. One of Israel's heroes was a man who had always lived far away from
+Jerusalem. He had a high office, and would have found it more profitable
+not to trouble himself about his countrymen. But he heard of their sad
+condition and persuaded the king to let him help them. Tell the story of
+Nehemiah building the wall of Jerusalem. (Sec.91; Neh. 6:15, 16.)
+
+381. Two books in the Old Testament are named after women. One was a
+foreigner who came into Israel, the other was the beautiful Jewess who
+married the Persian king. Who was the wicked man that wanted to kill all
+the Jews? How did the queen risk her life to save her people? (Sec.95;
+Esther 4:13-17.)
+
+382. We studied about one hero, whose story is not in the Old Testament.
+What did his surname Maccabaeus mean? How did he deliver his people?
+(Sec.97.)
+
+383. Sometimes the noblest heroism is just to refuse to be frightened
+away from doing right. Who was the man who prayed three times a day when
+the king had commanded that no prayers should be offered except to
+himself. Tell the story of the den of lions. (Sec.100.)
+
+384. Write down these seven heroic names. Which of them was honored as
+the kindly helper of the needy and the wise adviser of his nation in
+days of trouble? Which was the gallant soldier who defeated the tyrant?
+Who risked life and fortune to save the people? Who started out in his
+youth to be a good judge and ruler of the people? Who was loyal to his
+conscience at the risk of his life? Who was the stern rebuker of
+injustice? Who gave up his ease to work for his troubled people? Note
+that there are many ways to be a hero.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+CONSTRUCTIVE BIBLE STUDIES
+
+
+=Kindergarten Series=
+
+     =The Sunday Kindergarten: Game, Gift, and Story.= By CARRIE S.
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+     material: Permanent, $1.00 net, postage extra; Temporary, 35
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+
+
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+
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+
+     =Child Religion in Song and Story.= (The Child in His World.)
+     By GEORGIA L. CHAMBERLIN AND MARY ROOT KERN. Teacher's manual,
+     $1.25 net; postpaid $1.39. Sunday Story Reminders, for the
+     pupil, 40 cents net; postpaid 45 cents.
+
+     =Child Religion in Song and Story. (Walks with Jesus in His
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+
+     =The Life Of Jesus.= By HERBERT W. GATES. Teacher's manual, 75
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+
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+     $1.00 net; postpaid $1.10. Pupil's notebook, 50 cents net;
+     postpaid 59 cents. Pupil's home-work book, 25 cents net;
+     postpaid 28 cents.
+
+     =Heroes of Israel.= By THEODORE G. SOARES. Pupil's textbook,
+     $1.00 net; postpaid $1.13. Teacher's manual, $1.00 net; postage
+     extra.
+
+     =Studies in the Gospel according to Mark.= By ERNEST D. BURTON.
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+
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+     net; postpaid $1.12. Pupil's notebook, 25 cents net; postage
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+     postpaid $1.12. Teacher's manual (announcement of price later).
+
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+
+
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+     postpaid $1.12.
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+     $1.00 net; postpaid $1.14.
+
+     =A Short History of Christianity in the Apostolic Age.= By
+     GEORGE H. GILBERT. $1.00 net; postpaid $1.14.
+
+     =The Priestly Element in the Old Testament.= By WILLIAM R.
+     HARPER. $1.00 net; postpaid $1.12.
+
+     =The Prophetic Element in the Old Testament.= By WILLIAM R.
+     HARPER. $1.00 net; postpaid $1.10.
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+     postpaid 54 cents.
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+    THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
+    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS=
+
+
+
+  Transcribers Note: skekels changed to shekels Sect. 68 A
+                     thuo changed to thou Sect. 68 C
+                     Eljiah changed to Elijah Sect. 82 B
+                     Scripture references have been standardised as
+                       this example (Gen. 21:2, 3; 22:1-19)
+                     Punctuation moved inside end quote on the following
+                      lines:--
+                       "Drink, my lord:" Sect. 9 B
+                       "Lest peradventure the people repent when they
+                         see war, and they return to Egypt:" Sect. 38 A
+                     Word hyphenation has been standardised.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Heroes of Israel, by Theodore Gerald Soares
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