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diff --git a/36956-h/36956-h.htm b/36956-h/36956-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5162ee7 --- /dev/null +++ b/36956-h/36956-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12600 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <HTML><HEAD> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> +<title>Heroes of Israel By Theodore Gerald Soares. A Project Gutenberg eBook </title> <style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + +h1,h2,h3,h4 { text-align: center; +/* all headings centered */ +clear: both; } + +p { margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em; } + +hr { width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; clear: both; } + +table { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } + +blockquote { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; } + +.trnote { +margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%; text-align: left; } + +.tbox { +margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%; +text-align: left; padding-bottom: 1em; +padding-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; +padding-right: 1em; background: +#eeeeee; border: dashed 1px; } + +.headright { margin-right: 10%; +text-align: right; font-size: 1.2em } + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.ccaption {font-weight: bold; text-align: +center; } + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} +.smaller {font-size:small;} +.larger {font-size:large;} +.padtop {margin-top:4em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +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: ISO-8859-1 + +*** 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 + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br> +<p class='larger center'><b>CONSTRUCTIVE BIBLE STUDIES</b></p> + +<p class='padtop center'><b>EDITED BY<br> +<span class='larger'>ERNEST D. BURTON</span></b></p> + +<h1>HEROES OF ISRAEL</h1> + + + +<p class='padtop center'><b>THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS<br> +CHICAGO, ILLINOIS<br> +<br> + +<i>Agents THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY NEW YORK</i><br> +<br> +THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS</b><br> +<span class='smaller'><a name="Map" id="Map"></a><b>LONDON AND EDINBURGH</b></span></p> +<br> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/il006-n.jpg" width="450" height="340" alt="" title="" > +</div> + +<blockquote class="tbox"><h2>HEROES OF ISRAEL</h2> +<h3>TEXT OF THE HERO STORIES WITH NOTES AND QUESTIONS FOR YOUNG STUDENTS</h3> + +<h3><i>By</i></h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">THEODORE GERALD SOARES</span> </h3> +<h4><i>Professor of Homiletics and +Religious Education in the University of Chicago</i></h4> + +<h4>THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS</h4> +<h4>CHICAGO, ILLINOIS</h4></blockquote> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright 1908 By</span></h4> +<h4><span class="smcap">The University of Chicago</span></h4> + +<h4>All Rights Reserved</h4> + +<h4>Published January 1909</h4> +<h4>Second Impression September 1909</h4> +<h4>Third Impression December 1909</h4> +<h4>Second Edition October 1911</h4><br> + +<h4>Composed and Printed By</h4> +<h4>The University of Chicago Press</h4> +<h4>Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.</h4><br> + + + +<h4>TO +MY FATHER</h4> +<h4>MY FIRST HERO</h4><br> + + + + + + +<h3>PREFACE</h3> + + +<p>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<a name="preface" id="preface"></a> <a href="#preface">"Foreword to the Student"</a> and +"Foreword to the Teacher".</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="headright">T. G. S.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">July 29, 1908</span> +</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left"><a href="#FOREWORD_TO_THE_STUDENT">Foreword to the Student</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#ABRAHAM_THE_FATHER_OF_THE_FAITHFUL">I.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Abraham, the Father of the Faithful</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#II_ABRAHAM_THE_MAGNANIMOUS">II.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Abraham, the Magnanimous</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#III_ABRAHAM_AND_ISAAC">III.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Abraham and Isaac</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#IV_JACOB_THE_CLEVER">IV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jacob, the Clever</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#V_ISRAEL_THE_GODLY">V.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Israel, the Godly</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#VI_JOSEPH_THE_SLAVE">VI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joseph, the Slave</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#VII_JOSEPH_THE_RULER">VII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joseph, the Ruler</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#VIII_JOSEPH_THE_GENEROUS">VIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joseph, the Generous</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#IX_MOSES_EARLY_LIFE">IX.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses' Early Life</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#X_MOSES_COMMISSION">X.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses' Commission</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XI_MOSES_THE_DELIVERER">XI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses, the Deliverer</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XII_MOSES_THE_LAWGIVER">XII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses, the Lawgiver</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XIII_THE_HEROES_OF_ISRAELS">XIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Review: The Heroes of Israel's Wanderings</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XIV_JOSHUA_AND_CALEB">XIV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joshua and Caleb</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XV_GIDEON_THE_WARRIOR">XV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Gideon, the Warrior</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XVI_SAMSON_THE_STRONG_MAN">XVI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samson, the Strong Man</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XVII_RUTH_THE_FOREIGNER">XVII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Ruth, the Foreigner</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XVIII_SAMUEL_AND_ELI">XVIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samuel and Eli</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XIX_SAMUEL_AND_SAUL">XIX.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samuel and Saul</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XX_JONATHANS_VICTORY">XX.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jonathan's Victory</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXI_DAVID_AND_THE_GIANT">XXI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David and the Giant</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXII_THE_HERO_FRIENDS_DAVID_AND">XXII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Hero Friends, David and Jonathan</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXIII_DAVID_THE_OUTLAW">XXIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David, the Outlaw</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXIV_DAVID_THE_KING">XXIV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David, the King</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXV_DAVID_AND_HIS_REBEL_SON">XXV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David and His Rebel Son</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXVI_TEN_HEROES_OF_ISRAEL">XXVI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Review: Ten Heroes of Israel</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXVII_SOLOMON_THE_WISE_KING">XXVII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Solomon, the Wise King</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXVIII_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF">XXVIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elijah, the Champion of Pure Religion</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXIX_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF">XXIX.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elijah, the Champion of Justice</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXX_ELISHA_THE_HEALER_AND_COUNSELOR">XXX.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elisha, the Healer and Counselor</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXI_NEHEMIAH_THE_BUILDER">XXXI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nehemiah, the Builder</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXIII_JUDAS_THE_HAMMERER">XXXII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Esther, the Patriot Queen</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXIII_JUDAS_THE_HAMMERER">XXXIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Judas, the Hammerer</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXIV_DANIEL_AND_HIS_FRIENDS">XXXIV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daniel and His Friends</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXV_SEVEN_HEROIC_NAMES">XXXV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Review: Seven Heroic Names</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#Map">Map of the Semitic World</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#caravan">A Caravan in Palestine</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#il066">Map of Canaan</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#RAMSES086">The Seal of the Grand Vizier of Ramses II</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#RAMSES108">Portrait Statues of Ramses II</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#SANDALS">Oriental Sandals</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#BRICK">Brick-making in Egypt</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#MOSES138">Moses</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#WINNOWING">Winnowing Grain</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PHILISTINE">A Philistine</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#DAVID246">David</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#CEDARS">Cedars of Lebanon</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"><a href="#Esther">Esther's Palace</a></span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> + +<h3><a name="FOREWORD_TO_THE_STUDENT" id="FOREWORD_TO_THE_STUDENT"></a>FOREWORD TO THE STUDENT</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>ABRAHAM</h2> + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#ABRAHAM_THE_FATHER_OF_THE_FAITHFUL">I.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Abraham, the Father of the Faithful</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#II_ABRAHAM_THE_MAGNANIMOUS">II.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Abraham, the Magnanimous</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#III_ABRAHAM_AND_ISAAC">III.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Abraham and Isaac</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> + +<h2><a name="ABRAHAM_THE_FATHER_OF_THE_FAITHFUL" id="ABRAHAM_THE_FATHER_OF_THE_FAITHFUL"></a>I. ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL</h2> + + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§1. The Old Home of Abraham</b> (Gen. 11:31)</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§2. The Journey Westward</b> (Gen. 12:1-5)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§3. Abraham's Altars</b> (Gen. 12:6-9)</p> + +<p>And Abraham passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the +oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§4. A Test of Courage</b> (Gen. 12:10-20)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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 <a name="caravan" id="caravan"></a>wife.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/il023.jpg" width="348" height="219" alt="" title="" > +</div> + +<p class="ccaption">A CARAVAN IN PALESTINE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him: and they brought him on the +way, and his wife, and all that he had.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>1 (§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?</p> + +<p>2 (§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?</p> + +<p>3 (§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?</p> + +<p>4 (§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.</p> + +<p>5(§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.</p> + +<p>6(§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.</p> + +<p>7(§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."</p> + +<p>8(§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?</p> + +<p>9(§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.</p> + +<p>10 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<br><hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="II_ABRAHAM_THE_MAGNANIMOUS" id="II_ABRAHAM_THE_MAGNANIMOUS"></a>II. ABRAHAM, THE MAGNANIMOUS</h2> + + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§5. Abraham's Treatment of Lot</b> (Gen. 13)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§6. Abraham's Deliverance of Lot</b> (Gen. 14:10-24)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And the king of Sodom said unto Abraham, "Give me the persons, and take +the goods to thyself."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§7. Abraham's Prayer for Sodom</b> (Gen. 18:17-32; 19:29)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, +then I will spare all the place for their sake."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five."</p> + +<p>And he spake unto him yet again, and said, "Peradventure there shall be +forty found there."</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: +peradventure there shall thirty be found there."</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: +peradventure there shall be twenty found there."</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but +this once: peradventure ten shall be found there."</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>11 (§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.</p> + +<p>12 (§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?</p> + +<p>13 (§5). Look up the word "magnanimous." Could it be applied to Abraham? +Have you ever known an act that was magnanimous?</p> + +<p>14 (§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?</p> + +<p>15 (§6). What did Abraham do with the spoil that he captured? Was this +magnanimous?</p> + +<p>16 (§6). Compare Abraham's conduct with that of the United States in +Cuba.</p> + +<p>17 (§6). Abraham gave back the property that he had rescued: what should +we do with property that we find?</p> + +<p>18 (§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?</p> + +<p>19 (§7). Is Abraham magnanimous in pleading for Sodom? What do the +Lord's replies to Abraham's prayers teach us?</p> + +<p>20 (§7). What happened to Sodom? Was Abraham's prayer answered?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>Think over and write out the three ways in which Abraham was +<i>magnanimous</i>. 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.</p><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2><a name="III_ABRAHAM_AND_ISAAC" id="III_ABRAHAM_AND_ISAAC"></a>III. ABRAHAM AND ISAAC</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§8. Abraham's Devotion</b> (Gen. 21:2, 3; 22:1-19)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE SACRIFICE OF THE FIRSTBORN</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Here am I."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, "My father."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Here am I, my son."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a +burnt offering?"</p> + +<p>And Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt +offering, my son."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE DIVINE INTERFERENCE</p> + +<p>And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, +"Abraham."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Here am I."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went +together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§9. The Selection of Isaac's Wife</b> (Gen. 24)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE COMMISSION OF THE SERVANT</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the servant sware to Abraham his master concerning this matter.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE MEETING WITH REBEKAH</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Give me to drink, I pray +thee, a little water of thy pitcher."</p> + +<p>And she said, "<a name="Drink" id="Drink"></a><a href="#Drink_my_lord">Drink, my lord:</a>" 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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE BETROTHAL OF ISAAC AND REBEKAH</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But he said, "I will not eat, until I have told mine errand."</p> + +<p>And Laban said, "Speak on."</p> + +<p>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.'</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And they said, "We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth."</p> + +<p>And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this +man?"</p> + +<p>And she said, "I will go."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center">D. THE MARRIAGE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And the servant said, "It is my master." And she took her veil, and +covered herself.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>22 (§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.</p> + +<p>23 (§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.</p> + +<p>24 (§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?</p> + +<p>25 (§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.</p> + +<p>26 (§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?</p> + +<p>27 (§9B). Mesopotamia means "between the rivers." Locate it between the +two rivers of Abraham's old country. Recall Abraham's journey (5, 6, §2) +and trace the servant's journey.</p> + +<p>28 (§9B). Tell the story of the meeting with Rebekah.</p> + +<p>29 (§9C). Tell the story of the betrothal. Notice that the betrothal +took place although Isaac was not there.</p> + +<p>30 (§9D). Tell the story of the marriage.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>JACOB-ISRAEL</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#IV_JACOB_THE_CLEVER">IV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jacob, the Clever</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#V_ISRAEL_THE_GODLY">V.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Israel, the Godly</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="IV_JACOB_THE_CLEVER" id="IV_JACOB_THE_CLEVER"></a>IV. JACOB, THE CLEVER</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§10. The Purchase of the Birthright</b> (Gen. 25:25-34)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Jacob said, "Sell me this day thy birthright."</p> + +<p>And Esau said, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall +the birthright do to me?"</p> + +<p>And Jacob said, "Swear to me this day."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§11. The Deception of Isaac</b> (Gen. 27:1-45)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. ISAAC'S COMMISSION TO ESAU</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said unto him, "Here am I."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the +field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. REBEKAH'S SCHEME</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And his mother said unto him, "Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey +my voice, and go fetch me them."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<p class="center">C. Jacob's Deception</p> + +<p>And he came unto his father, and said, "My father."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Here am I; who art thou, my son?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Isaac said unto his son, "How is it that thou hast found it so +quickly, my son?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "Because the Lord thy God sent me good speed."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "I am."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, +that my soul may bless thee."</p> + +<p>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,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">See, the smell of my son<br></span> <span class="i0">Is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath +blessed:<br></span> <span class="i0">And God give thee of the dew of heaven,<br></span> <span class="i0">And of the fatness of +the earth,<br></span> <span class="i0">And plenty of corn and wine:<br></span> <span class="i0">Let peoples serve thee,<br></span> <span class="i0">And +nations bow down to thee:<br></span> <span class="i0">Be lord over thy brethren,<br></span> <span class="i0">And let thy +mother's sons bow down to thee:<br></span> <span class="i0">Cursed be every one that curseth thee.<br></span> +<span class="i0">And blessed be every one that blesseth thee.<br></span> </div></div><br> + + +<p class="center">D. ESAU'S DISAPPOINTMENT</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Isaac his father said unto him, "Who art thou?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "I am thy son, thy firstborn, Esau."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy +blessing."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Esau said unto his father, "Hast thou but one blessing, my father? +bless me, even me also, O my father."</p> + +<p>And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered +and said unto him,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Behold of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And of the dew of heaven from above;<br></span> +<span class="i0">And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother;<br></span> +<span class="i0">And it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose,<br></span> +<span class="i0">That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.<br></span> +</div></div><br> + + +<p class="center">E. ESAU'S HATRED</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§12. The Dream of the Heavenly Ladder</b> (Gen. 28:10-22)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>32 (§10). What was the difference between the two men?</p> + +<p>33 (§10). Tell the story of the hunting day and how Jacob +sold the food to his brother.</p> + +<p>34 (§10). What do you think of Esau in this affair? He +gave up a great future for a little satisfaction.</p> + +<p>35 (§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?</p> + +<p>36 (§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?</p> + +<p>37 (§11B). There was a wretched favoritism in this family. +What was Rebekah's scheme to get the blessing for her +favorite? Tell the story.</p> + +<p>38 (§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.</p> + +<p>39 (§11D). Tell the story of Esau's bitter disappointment.</p> + +<p>40 (§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?</p> + +<p>41 (§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.</p> + +<p>42 (§12). What promise did the Lord give him? What +vow did Jacob make?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>Call to mind the meaning of <i>magnanimous</i>. 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.</p><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="V_ISRAEL_THE_GODLY" id="V_ISRAEL_THE_GODLY"></a>V. ISRAEL, THE GODLY</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§13. Jacob's Return after Twenty Years</b> (Gen. 29:1, +16, 23, 28; 30:43; 31:17, 18)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Jacob increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, and maidservants +and menservants, and camels and asses.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<p class="center"><b>§14. Jacob's Fear of Esau</b> (Gen. 32:1-21)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. THE MESSAGE TO ESAU</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JACOB'S PRAYER</p> + +<p>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.'"</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE PRESENT TO ESAU</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So the present passed over before him: and he himself lodged that night +in the company.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§15. The Wrestle and the New Name</b> (Gen. 32:22-31)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And he said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh."</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."</p> + +<p>And he said unto him, "What is thy name?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "Jacob."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Jacob asked him, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?" And he +blessed him there.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§16. The Meeting With Esau</b> (Gen. 33:1-16)</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "The children which God has graciously given thy servant."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And he said, "What meanest thou by all this company which I met?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "To find grace in the sight of my lord."</p> + +<p>And Esau said, "I have enough; my brother, let that thou hast be thine."</p> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And he said, "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go +before thee."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Esau said, "Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are +with me."</p> + +<p>And he said, "What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my +lord."</p> + +<p>So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§17. The Altar of Beth-el</b> (Gen. 35:1-7)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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 <a name="il066" id="il066"></a>I went."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> <img src="images/il066.jpg" width="450" height="713" alt="" title="" > </div> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>43 (§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.</p> + +<p>44 (§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?</p> + +<p>45 (§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?</p> + +<p>46 (§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?</p> + +<p>47 (§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.</p> + +<p>48 (§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?</p> + +<p>49 (§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.</p> + +<p>50 (§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.</p> + +<p>51 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2>JOSEPH</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td align="right"><a href="#VI_JOSEPH_THE_SLAVE">VI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joseph, the Slave</span></td></tr> <tr><td align="right"><a href="#VII_JOSEPH_THE_RULER">VII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joseph, the Ruler</span></td></tr> <tr><td align="right"><a href="#VIII_JOSEPH_THE_GENEROUS">VIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joseph, the +Generous</span></td></tr> </table></div><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2><a name="VI_JOSEPH_THE_SLAVE" id="VI_JOSEPH_THE_SLAVE"></a>VI. JOSEPH, THE SLAVE</h2> + + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§18. Joseph and His Dreams</b> (Gen. 37:3-11)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And his brethren envied him; and his father kept the saying in mind.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§19. Joseph Sold as a Slave</b> (Gen. 37:12-35)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said to him, "Here am I."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they are +feeding the flock."</p> + +<p>And the man said, "They are departed hence: for I heard them say, 'Let +us go to Dothan.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§20. Joseph's Faithfulness</b> (Gen. 39:1-6)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§21. Joseph in Prison</b> (Gen. 39:17-23)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>53 (§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?</p> + +<p>54 (§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?</p> + +<p>55 (§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.</p> + +<p>56 (§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.</p> + +<p>57 (§20). What happened to Joseph when he reached Egypt? What is the +position of a slave?</p> + +<p>58 (§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?</p> + +<p>59 (§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?</p> + +<p>60 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2><a name="VII_JOSEPH_THE_RULER" id="VII_JOSEPH_THE_RULER"></a>VII. JOSEPH, THE RULER</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§22. Joseph's Interpretation of the Dreams</b> (Gen. 40)</p> + +<p class="center">A. JOSEPH AND THE STATE PRISONERS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And they said unto him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that +can interpret it."</p> + +<p>And Joseph said unto them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? tell +it me, I pray you."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE CHIEF BUTLER'S DREAM</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE CHIEF BAKER'S DREAM</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE INTERPRETATION COMES TRUE</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§23. Joseph's Interpretation of Pharaoh's Dreams</b> (Gen. 41:1-16, 25-36)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. THE KING'S DREAM</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE BUTLER'S RECOMMENDATION OF JOSEPH</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center">C. JOSEPH INTERPRETS PHARAOH'S DREAM</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me: God shall give +Pharaoh an answer of peace."</p> + +<p>And Pharaoh told Joseph his dreams.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§24. Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt</b> (Gen. 41:37-45, 47-57)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. JOSEPH HONORED BY PHARAOH</p> + +<p>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 <a name="RAMSES086" id="RAMSES086"></a>Egypt."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> <img src="images/il086.jpg" width="150" height="106" alt="THE SEAL OF THE +GRAND VIZIER OF RAMSES II" title="" > <span class="caption">THE SEAL OF THE GRAND VIZIER OF +RAMSES II</span> </div> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On. +And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JOSEPH'S PROSPERITY</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>61. Recall rapidly the story of Joseph as far as we have studied it. +Read §21 and consider the situation of the young prisoner.</p> + +<p>62 (§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?</p> + +<p>63 (§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.</p> + +<p>64 (§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?</p> + +<p>65 (§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?</p> + +<p>66 (§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.</p> + +<p>67 (§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?</p> + +<p>68 (§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.</p> + +<p>69 (§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.</p> + +<p>70 (§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.</p> + +<p>71 (§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?</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2><a name="VIII_JOSEPH_THE_GENEROUS" id="VIII_JOSEPH_THE_GENEROUS"></a>VIII. JOSEPH, THE GENEROUS</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§25. Joseph and the Guilty Brothers</b> (Gen. 42)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. THE FIRST JOURNEY OF THE BROTHERS</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JOSEPH'S TREATMENT OF HIS BROTHERS</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said unto them, "Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are +come."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center">C. THE RETURN TO JACOB</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§26. Joseph and Benjamin</b> (Gen. 43)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. THE SECOND JOURNEY TO EGYPT</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Israel said, "Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man +whether ye had yet a brother?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE KIND RECEPTION</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE FEAST</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center"><b>§27. Joseph's Forgiveness</b> (Gen. 44; 45:1-15)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. THE HARD TEST</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JUDAH'S NOBLE OFFER</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE FORGIVENESS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§28. Joseph and His Father</b> (Gen. 45:25-28; 46:28-30; 47:7-11)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Israel said unto Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen thy +face, that thou art yet alive."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>74 (§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 (§4).</p> + + +<p>75 (§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?</p> + +<p>76 (§25C). What happened about the money? Describe the report that they +made to Jacob.</p> + +<p>77 (§26A). Why did they need to go to Egypt again? What did Judah say to +his father? How did Jacob at last consent?</p> + +<p>78 (§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?</p> + +<p>79 (§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!</p> + +<p>80 (§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?</p> + +<p>81 (§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.</p> + +<p>82 (§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?</p> + +<p>83 (§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.</p><br> + + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2>MOSES</h2> + + + + +<div class="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td align="right"><a href="#IX_MOSES_EARLY_LIFE">IX.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses' Early Life</span></td></tr> <tr><td align="right"><a href="#X_MOSES_COMMISSION">X.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses' Commission</span></td></tr> <tr><td align="right"><a href="#XI_MOSES_THE_DELIVERER">XI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses, the Deliverer</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XII_MOSES_THE_LAWGIVER">XII. </a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moses, the Lawgiver</span></td></tr> </table></div> + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2><a name="IX_MOSES_EARLY_LIFE" id="IX_MOSES_EARLY_LIFE"></a>IX. MOSES' EARLY LIFE</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + + +<p class="center"><b>§29. The Oppression of the Hebrews</b> (Exod. 1:6-12, 22)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§30. The Birth and Adoption of Moses</b> <a name="RAMSES108" id="RAMSES108"></a>(Exod. 2:1-10)</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> <img src="images/il108.jpg" width="348" height="364" alt="Copyright 1904 +by Underwood and Underwood THE SIXTY-FIVE-FOOT PORTRAIT STATUES OF +RAMSES II " title="" > </div> <p class="center">Copyright 1904 by Underwood and Underwood</p> <p class="ccaption">THE +SIXTY-FIVE-FOOT PORTRAIT STATUES OF RAMSES II</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And she had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' +children."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§31. The Young Man's Unwise Methods</b> (Exod. 2:11-15)</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§32. Moses in Midian</b> (Exod. 2:16-22)</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§33. The Unhappy Hebrews</b> (Exod. 2:23-25)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>85 (§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?</p> + +<p>86 (§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?</p> + +<p>87 (§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.</p> + +<p>88 (§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.</p> + +<p>89 (§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.</p> + +<p>90 (§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?</p> + +<p>91 (§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.</p> + +<p>92 (§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?</p> + +<p>93 (§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.</p> + +<p>94 (§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?</p> + +<p>95 (§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?</p><br> + + + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2><a name="X_MOSES_COMMISSION" id="X_MOSES_COMMISSION"></a>X. MOSES' COMMISSION</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§34. The Call in the Wilderness</b> (Exod. 3:1-11; 4:1-17)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE BURNING BUSH</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Moses said, "I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why +the bush is not burnt."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Here am I."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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 <a name="SANDALS" id="SANDALS"></a>Egypt."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> <img src="images/il115.jpg" width="300" height="219" alt="ORIENTAL +SANDALS" title="" > <span class="caption">ORIENTAL SANDALS</span> </div><br> + + +<p class="center">B. MOSES' HESITATION</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>And the Lord said unto him, "What is that in thine hand?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "A rod."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Cast it on the ground."</p> + +<p>And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled +from before it.</p> + +<p>And the Lord said unto Moses, "Put forth thine hand and take it by the +tail."</p> + +<p>And he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in +his hand.</p> + +<p>And the Lord said furthermore unto him, "Put now thine hand into thy +bosom."</p> + +<p>And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his +hand was leprous, as white as snow.</p> + +<p>And he said, "Put thine hand into thy bosom again."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Oh Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of another whom +thou wilt choose."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<p class="center"><b>§35. The Return to Egypt</b> (Exod. 4:18, 20, 27-31)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace."</p> + +<p>And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he +returned to the land of Egypt.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§36. Pharaoh's Harshness</b> (Exod. 5:1-6:1)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE CHALLENGE</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center">B. THE BITTER BONDAGE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE PROMISE OF THE LORD</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>96 (§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.</p> + +<p>97 (§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?</p> + +<p>98 (§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.</p> + +<p>99 (§34B). It was a startling commission for Moses. He remembered how +the people had treated him when he had tried to help them. (Recall §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.</p> + +<p>100 (§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?</p> + +<p>101 (§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 <a name="BRICK" id="BRICK"></a>people.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> <img src="images/il122.jpg" width="348" height="366" alt="Copyright 1904 +by Underwood and Underwood" title="" > </div> <p class="center">Copyright 1904 by Underwood and +Underwood</p> <p class="ccaption">BRICK-MAKING IN EGYPT</p> + +<p>102 (§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?</p> + +<p>103 (§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?</p> + +<p>104 (§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.</p> + +<p>105 (§36B). Describe the interview of the officers with Pharaoh. How did +they feel toward Moses and Aaron?</p> + +<p>106 (§36C). How did all this affect Moses? It is often darkest just +before day. What did the Lord promise?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> <h2><a name="XI_MOSES_THE_DELIVERER" id="XI_MOSES_THE_DELIVERER"></a>XI. MOSES, THE DELIVERER</h2> + + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§37. The Plagues of Egypt</b> (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)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE NILE TURNED TO BLOOD</p> + +<p>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.'"</p><br> + +<p class="center">B. THE SWARMS OF FROGS</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the frogs died, but when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he +hardened his heart.</p><br> + +<p class="center">C. THE STINGING GNATS AND SWARMS OF FLIES</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center">D. THE CATTLE PESTILENCE AND THE BOILS</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>And on the morrow all the cattle of Egypt died: +but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center">E. THE HAIL, THE LOCUSTS, AND THE DARKNESS</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in +haste; and he said, "I have sinned against the Lord +your God, and against you."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center">F. THE LAST PLAGUE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§38. The Great Deliverance</b> (Exod. 13:17, 18, 21, 22; +14:5-7, 10-14, 19-27)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT</p> + +<p>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, <a name="Lest_2" id="Lest_2"></a>"<a href="#Lest">Lest peradventure the people repent +when they see war, and they return to Egypt:</a>" 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center">B. THE PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§39. The Song of the Exodus</b> (Exod. 14:30, 31; +15:1, 2, 20, 21)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this +song unto the Lord, and spake, saying,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously:<br></span> +<span class="i0">The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.<br></span> +<span class="i0">The Lord is my strength and song,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And he is become my salvation:<br></span> +<span class="i0">This is my God and I will praise him;<br></span> +<span class="i0">My father's God, and I will exalt him.<br></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously;<br></span> +<span class="i0">The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.<br></span> +</div></div> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>108 (§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.</p> + +<p>109 (§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?</p> + +<p>110 (§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.</p> + +<p>111 (§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?</p> + +<p>112 (§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.</p> + +<p>113 (§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?</p> + +<p>114 (§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.</p> + +<p>115 (§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.</p> + +<p>116 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XII_MOSES_THE_LAWGIVER" id="XII_MOSES_THE_LAWGIVER"></a>XII. MOSES, THE LAWGIVER</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§40. The Law at Sinai</b> (Exod. 15:22-25, 27; 19:1)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE MARCH AND THE MURMURING</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <a name="MOSES138" id="MOSES138"></a>mount.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/il138.jpg" width="348" height="526" alt="MOSES" title="" > +<span class="caption">MOSES</span> +</div><br> + +<p class="center">B. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS</p> + +<p>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;</p> + +<blockquote Class="tbox"><p><b>I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the +land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.</b></p> + +<p><b>Thou shalt have none other gods before me.</b></p> + +<p><b>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.</b></p> + +<p><b>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.</b></p> + +<p><b>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.</b></p> + +<p><b>Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may +be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth +thee.</b></p> + +<p><b>Thou shalt do no murder.</b></p> + +<p><b>Thou shalt not commit adultery.</b></p> + +<p><b>Thou shalt not steal.</b></p> + +<p><b>Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.</b></p> + +<p><b>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.</b></p></blockquote> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew +near unto the thick darkness where God was.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§41. The Great Rebellion</b> (Exod. 24:13, 18; +32:1-8, 15-20, 30-35)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. THE GOLDEN CALF</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. MOSES' PRAYER</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the Lord smote the people, because they +made the calf, which Aaron made.</p> + +<p>[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.]</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§42.</b> <b>The Last Days of Moses</b> (Deut. 31:1-3, +6-8; 34)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE FAREWELL SPEECH</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE DEATH OF MOSES</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>118 (§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.</p> + +<p>119 (§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.</p> + +<p>120 (§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.</p> + +<p>121 (§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.</p> + +<p>122 (§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.</p> + +<p>123 (§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?</p> + +<p>124 (§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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>126 (§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?</p> + +<p>127 (§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.</p> + + +<p class="center">THE BURIAL OF MOSES</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By Nebo's lonely mountain,<br></span> +<span class="i2">On this side Jordan's wave,<br></span> +<span class="i0">In a vale in the land of Moab,<br></span> +<span class="i2">There lies a lonely grave;<br></span> +<span class="i0">But no man dug that sepulchre,<br></span> +<span class="i2">And no man saw it e'er,<br></span> +<span class="i0">For the angels of God upturned the sod,<br></span> +<span class="i2">And laid the dead man there.<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That was the grandest funeral<br ></span> +<span class="i2">That ever passed on earth;<br></span> +<span class="i0">But no man heard the tramping,<br></span> +<span class="i2">Or saw the train go forth.<br></span> +<span class="i0">Noiselessly as the daylight<br ></span> +<span class="i2">Comes when the night is done,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And the crimson streak on ocean's cheek<br ></span> +<span class="i2">Grows into the great sun,<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Noiselessly as the springtime<br ></span> +<span class="i2">Her crown of verdure weaves,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And all the trees on all the hills<br ></span> +<span class="i2">Open their thousand leaves,<br></span> +<span class="i0">So, without sound of music,<br></span> +<span class="i2">Or voice of them that wept,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Silently down from the mountain crown<br ></span> +<span class="i2">The great procession swept.<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">This was the bravest warrior<br></span> +<span class="i2">That ever buckled sword;<br></span> +<span class="i0">This the most gifted poet<br ></span> +<span class="i2">That ever breathed a word;<br></span> +<span class="i0">And never earth's philosopher<br ></span> +<span class="i2">Traced, with his golden pen,<br></span> +<span class="i0">On the deathless page, truths half so sage<br ></span> +<span class="i2">As he wrote down for men.<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And had he not high honor?<br></span> +<span class="i2">The hillside for his pall;<br></span> +<span class="i0">To lie in state while angels wait,<br></span> +<span class="i2">With stars for tapers tall;<br></span> +<span class="i0">And the dark rock-pines, like tossing plumes,<br></span> +<span class="i2">Over his bier to wave;<br></span> +<span class="i0">And God's own hand, in that lonely land,<br></span> +<span class="i2">To lay him in the grave.<br></span> +</div></div><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> +<br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>REVIEW</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XIII_THE_HEROES_OF_ISRAELS">XIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Heroes of Israel's Wanderings</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XIII_THE_HEROES_OF_ISRAELS" id="XIII_THE_HEROES_OF_ISRAELS"></a>XIII. THE HEROES OF ISRAEL'S WANDERINGS</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>129 (5-7, §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?</p> + +<p>130 (12, 13, §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"?</p> + +<p>131 (23, 24, §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.</p> + +<p>132. Read §11A and see if you can recall the story +of Jacob's deception of Isaac.</p> + +<p>133 (50, §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.</p> + +<p>134 (§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.</p> + +<p>135 (§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?</p> + +<p>136 (§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.</p> + +<p>137 (84, 89, 90, §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.</p> + +<p>138 (97, 98, §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.</p> + +<p>139 (114, §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?</p> + +<p>140 (127, §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?</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>WAR HEROES</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XIV_JOSHUA_AND_CALEB">XIV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joshua and Caleb</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XV_GIDEON_THE_WARRIOR">XV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Gideon, the Warrior</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XVI_SAMSON_THE_STRONG_MAN">XVI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samson, the Strong Man</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XIV_JOSHUA_AND_CALEB" id="XIV_JOSHUA_AND_CALEB"></a>XIV. JOSHUA AND CALEB</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3> + + +<p class="center"><b>§43.</b> <b>The Twelve Spies</b> (Num. 13:1, 2, 17-21, 25-28, +30-33; 14:1-10, 26-33)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE MISSION OF THE SPIES</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE REPORT OF THE COWARDS</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE DISCOURAGEMENT</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And they said one to another, "Let us make a +captain, and let us return into Egypt."</p> + +<p>Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before +all the assembly of the children of Israel.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE ADVICE OF THE HEROES</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>But all the people cried to stone them with stones.</p><br> + +<p class="center">E. THE SENTENCE OF THE LORD</p> + +<p>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.'"</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§44.</b> <b>After the Forty Years</b> (Josh. 1:1-11; +11:16-18; 14:6-13)</p> + +<p class="center">A. JOSHUA'S REWARD</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JOSHUA'S CONQUESTS</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. CALEB'S REWARD</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron +unto Caleb for an inheritance. And the land had +rest from war.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>142 (§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?</p> + +<p>143 (§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.</p> + +<p>144 (§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?</p> + +<p>145 (§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.</p> + +<p>146 (§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.</p> + +<p>147 (§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?</p> + +<p>148 (§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.</p> + +<p>149 (§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.</p> + +<p>150 (§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?</p> + +<p>151 (§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.</p> + +<p>152 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XV_GIDEON_THE_WARRIOR" id="XV_GIDEON_THE_WARRIOR"></a>XV. GIDEON, THE WARRIOR</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3> + +<br> +<p class="center"><b>§45.</b> <b>The Call of Gideon</b> (Judg. 6:2-6, 11-24, 36-40)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE OPPRESSION OF THE MIDIANITES</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE ANGEL'S VISIT TO GIDEON</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the Lord said unto him, "Surely I will be +with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as +one man."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will tarry until thou come again."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the Lord said unto him, "Peace be unto thee; +fear not: thou shalt not die."</p> + +<p>Then Gideon built an altar there unto the +Lord.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE SIGN OF THE FLEECE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And God did so that night: for it was dry upon +the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§46.</b> <b>The Defeat of the Midianites</b> (Judg. 6:33-35; +7:2-24; 8:4, 10-12, 21)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE GATHERING OF THE TRIBES</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE CHOICE OF THE WARRIORS</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE DREAM OF THE ENEMY</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE PLAN OF THE BATTLE</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">E. THE PURSUIT AND THE VICTORY</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Gideon came to the Jordan, and passed over, +he, and the three hundred men that were with him, +faint, yet pursuing.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§47.</b> <b>The Result of the Victory</b> (Judg. 8:22-27)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Gideon said unto them, "I will not rule over +you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord +shall rule over you."</p> + +<p>And Gideon said unto them, "I would desire and +request of you, that ye would give me every man the +earrings of his spoil."</p> + +<p>And they answered, "We will willingly give them."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>154 (§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?</p> + +<p>155 (§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?</p> + +<p>156 (§45C). What further sign was given to Gideon to +make him sure that the Lord was with him?</p> + +<p>157 (§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.</p> + +<p>158 (§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?</p> + +<p>159 (§46C). What did Gideon do in order to find out about +the enemy? Tell the dream that he heard explained.</p> + +<p>160 (§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.</p> + +<p>161 (§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?</p> + +<p>162 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XVI_SAMSON_THE_STRONG_MAN" id="XVI_SAMSON_THE_STRONG_MAN"></a>XVI. SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§48.</b> <b>The Birth of Samson</b> (Judg. 13:2-6, 24)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then the woman came and told her husband.</p> + +<p>And the woman bare a son and called his name +Samson: and the child grew and the Lord blessed +him.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§49.</b> <b>The Riddle at the Wedding Feast</b> (Judg. 14)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Samson said unto his father, "Get her for +me; for she pleaseth me well."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And they said unto him, "Put forth thy riddle, +that we may hear it."</p> + +<p>And he said unto them,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Out of the eater came forth meat,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And out of the strong came forth sweetness."<br></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And they could not in three days declare the +riddle.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said unto her, "Behold, I have not told +it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell thee?"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said unto them,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"If ye had not plowed with my heifer,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Ye had not found out my riddle."<br></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§50.</b> <b>Samson's Strength</b> (Judg. 15:1-17; 16:1-3)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE STORY OF THE FOXES</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Samson said unto them, "This time shall I +be blameless in regard to the Philistines, when I do +them a mischief."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then the Philistines said, "Who hath done +this?"</p> + +<p>And they said, "Samson, the son-in-law of the +Timnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given +her to his companion."</p> + +<p>And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and +her father with fire.</p> + +<p>And Samson said unto them, "If ye do after this +manner, surely I will be avenged of you, and after +that will I cease."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE STORY OF THE JAWBONE</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And they said, "To bind Samson are we come up, +to do to him as he hath done to us."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said unto them, "As they did unto me, so +have I done unto them."</p> + +<p>And they said unto him, "We are come down to +bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of +the Philistines."</p> + +<p>And Samson said unto them, "Swear unto me, +that ye will not fall upon me yourselves."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps,<br></span> +<span class="i0">With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men."<br></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And it came to pass, when he had made an end of +speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his +hand.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE STORY OF THE GATES OF GAZA</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§51.</b> <b>Samson's Weakness</b> (Judg. 16:4-22)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, I pray +thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith +thou mightest be bound to afflict thee."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he brake the bowstrings as a string of tow is +broken when it touches the fire. So his strength +was not known.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, +and said unto him, "The Philistines be upon +thee, Samson."</p> + +<p>And the liers in wait were abiding in the inner +chamber. And he brake them from off his arms +like a thread.</p> + +<p>And Delilah said unto Samson, "Hitherto thou +hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith +thou mightest be bound."</p> + +<p>And he said unto her, "If thou weavest the seven +locks of my head with the web."</p> + +<p>And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, +"The Philistines be upon thee, Samson."</p> + +<p>And he awaked out of his sleep, and plucked away +the pin of the beam, and the web.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will +go out as at other times, and shake myself."</p> + +<p>But he wist not that the Lord was departed +from him.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§52. Samson's Vengeance</b> (Judg. 16:23-31)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>164 (§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.</p> + +<p>165 (§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?</p> + +<p>166 (§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?</p> + +<p>167 (§49). How did the young men find out the riddle? +How did Samson pay his bet? Consider what rude times +those must have been.</p> + +<p>168 (§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?</p> + +<p>169 (§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.</p> + +<p>170 (§50C). They loved the stories of Samson's clever +escapes. How did the men of Gaza think he was caught? +How did Samson escape?</p> + +<p>171 (§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.</p> + +<p>172 (§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.</p> + +<p>173 (§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.</p> + +<p>174 (§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?</p> + +<p>175. Do you think Samson was a great man?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>A HEROINE</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XVII_RUTH_THE_FOREIGNER">XVII.</a> </td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Ruth, the Foreigner</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XVII_RUTH_THE_FOREIGNER" id="XVII_RUTH_THE_FOREIGNER"></a>XVII. RUTH, THE FOREIGNER</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§53. The Three Widows</b> (Ruth 1:1-5)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§54.</b> <b>The Return to Bethlehem</b> (Ruth 1:6-22)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE TWO DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And they said unto her, "Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy +people."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE ARRIVAL IN BETHLEHEM</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with +her; and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§55.</b> <b>In the Barley Field</b> (Ruth 2)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE GLEANERS</p> + +<p>And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth; and +his name was Boaz.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And she said unto her, "Go, my daughter."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p>And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, "The +Lord be with you."</p> + +<p>And they answered him, "The Lord bless thee."</p> + +<p>Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, "Whose +damsel is this?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, "Come hither, and eat of the bread, +and dip thy morsel in the vinegar."</p> + +<p>And she sat beside the reapers; and they reached her parched grain, and +she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE HUMBLE AND HAPPY HOME</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§56.</b> <b>At the Threshing Floor</b> (Ruth 3)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE PLAN</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And she said unto her, "All that thou sayest I +will <a name="WINNOWING" id="WINNOWING"></a>do."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/il199.jpg" width="348" height="365" alt="Copyright 1904 by Underwood and Underwood WINNOWING GRAIN" title="" > +<span class="caption">Copyright 1904 by Underwood and Underwood</span><br> +<span class="caption">WINNOWING GRAIN</span> +</div><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE DUTY OF THE KINSMAN</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And he said, "Who art thou?"</p> + +<p>And she answered, "I am Ruth thy handmaid: +spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for +thou art a near kinsman."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And when she came to her mother-in-law, she +said, "How hast thou fared, my daughter?"</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§57.</b> <b>At the City Gate</b> (Ruth 4:1-17)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE PURCHASE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and +said, "Sit ye down here." And they sat down.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "I will redeem it."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, "Buy it for +thyself." And he drew off his shoe.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE HAPPY MARRIAGE</p> + +<p>So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and +she bare a son.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her +bosom, and became nurse unto it.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>177 (§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?</p> + +<p>178 (§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.</p> + +<p>179 (§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?</p> + +<p>180 (§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?</p> + +<p>181 (§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.</p> + +<p>182 (§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?</p> + +<p>183 (§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?</p> + +<p>184 (§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.</p> + +<p>185 (§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.</p> + +<p>186 (§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?</p> + +<p>187 (§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?</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>THE FOUNDERS OF THE KINGDOM</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XVIII_SAMUEL_AND_ELI">XVIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samuel and Eli</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XIX_SAMUEL_AND_SAUL">XIX.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samuel and Saul</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XX_JONATHANS_VICTORY">XX.</a> <td align="left"><span class="smcap">Johnathan's Victory</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XVIII_SAMUEL_AND_ELI" id="XVIII_SAMUEL_AND_ELI"></a>XVIII. SAMUEL AND ELI</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§58. The Birth of Samuel</b> (I Sam. 1:1-4, 8-28; 2:11)</p> + +<p class="center">A. HANNAH'S GRIEF</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace: and +the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast +asked of him."</p> + +<p>And she said, "Let thy servant find grace in thy +sight."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE DEDICATION OF SAMUEL</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Elkanah her husband said unto her, "Do +what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou hast +weaned him; only the Lord establish his word."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And +the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli +the priest.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§59. The Wicked Priests</b> (I Sam. 2:12-17, +22-25, 18, 19, 26)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the +voice of their father.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§60. The Call of Samuel</b> (I Sam. 3:1-18)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he went and lay down. And the Lord called +yet again, "Samuel."</p> + +<p>And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here +am I; for thou calledst me."</p> + +<p>And he answered, "I called not, my son; lie +down again."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And +the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other +times, "Samuel, Samuel."</p> + +<p>Then Samuel said, "Speak; for thy servant heareth."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened +the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel +feared to show Eli the vision.</p> + +<p>Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my +son."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Here am I."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§61. The Punishment of the Wicked Priests</b> (I Sam. 4:1-18)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. ISRAEL'S DOUBLE DEFEAT</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE DEATH OF THE OLD PRIEST</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he +said, "What meaneth the noise of this tumult?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "How went the matter, my son?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>190 (§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.</p> + +<p>191 (§58A). When Hannah prayed, did she speak aloud? +What did Eli, the old priest, think about her? Tell in your +own words their conversation.</p> + +<p>192 (§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.</p> + +<p>193 (§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.</p> + +<p>194 (§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?</p> + +<p>195 (§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.</p> + +<p>196 (§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.</p> + +<p>197 (§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?</p> + +<p>198 (§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?</p> + +<p>199 (§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?</p> + +<p>200 (§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?</p> + +<p>201 (§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.</p><br> + + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XIX_SAMUEL_AND_SAUL" id="XIX_SAMUEL_AND_SAUL"></a>XIX. SAMUEL AND SAUL</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§62. The Meeting of Samuel and Saul</b> (I Sam. 9:1-25)</p> + +<p class="center">A. SAUL SEEKING THE DONKEYS</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then said Saul to his servant, "Well said; come, +let us go."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. SAUL ENTERTAINED BY SAMUEL</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and +said, "Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house +is."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>And the cook took up the thigh, and that which +was upon it, and set it before Saul.</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§63. Saul Anointed by Samuel</b> (I Sam. 9:26-10:7)</p> + +<p Class="center"><span class="smcap">A. THE PROMISE OF THE KINGDOM</span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. SAUL'S RETURN HOME</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "To seek the asses: and when we +saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel."</p> + +<p>And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, I pray thee, +what Samuel said unto you."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§64. Saul's Opportunity</b> (I Sam. 11:1-11, 15)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>202 (§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.</p> + +<p>203 (§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?</p> + +<p>204 (§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?</p> + +<p>205 (§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?</p> + +<p>206 (§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?</p> + +<p>207 (§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?</p> + +<p>208 (§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.</p> + +<p>209 (§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.</p> + +<p>210 (§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.</p> + +<p>211 (§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.</p> + +<p>212 (§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.</p> + +<p>213 (§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.</p> + +<p>214 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XX_JONATHANS_VICTORY" id="XX_JONATHANS_VICTORY"></a>XX. JONATHAN'S VICTORY</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§65. The New King and the Old Foes</b> (I Sam. 13:2-7, +15-17; 14:1-23)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE OUTBREAK OF WAR</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, +saying, "Let the Hebrews hear."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <a name="PHILISTINE" id="PHILISTINE"></a>pits.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 252px;"> +<img src="images/il232.jpg" width="252" height="325" alt="A PHILISTINE" title="" > +<span class="caption">A PHILISTINE</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JONATHAN'S BOLD ATTACK</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And his armorbearer said unto him, "Do all that +is in thine heart: turn thee, behold I am with thee +according to thy heart."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE GENERAL BATTLE</p> + +<p>And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin +looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and +they went hither and thither.</p> + +<p>Then said Saul unto the people that were with +him, "Number now, and see who is gone from +us."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§66. Saul's Oath and Jonathan's Danger</b> (I Sam. +14:24-46)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE OATH OF ABSTINENCE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE HUNGRY WARRIORS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people +sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. JONATHAN'S DANGER AND RESCUE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And they said, "Do whatsoever seemeth good +unto thee."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then said he unto all Israel, "Be ye on one side, +and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side."</p> + +<p>And the people said unto Saul, "Do what seemeth +good unto thee."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan +my son." And Jonathan was taken.</p> + +<p>Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what thou +hast done."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Saul said, "God do so and more also: for +thou shalt surely die, Jonathan."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>215 (§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?</p> + +<p>216 (§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.</p> + +<p>217 (§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?</p> + +<p>218 (§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?</p> + +<p>219 (§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?</p> + +<p>220 (§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.</p> + +<p>221 (§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.</p> + +<p>222 (§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.</p> + +<p>223 (§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.</p> + +<p>224 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>DAVID</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXI_DAVID_AND_THE_GIANT">XXI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David and the Giant</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXII_THE_HERO_FRIENDS_DAVID_AND">XXII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Hero Friends, David and Jonathan</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXIII_DAVID_THE_OUTLAW">XXIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David, the Outlaw</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXIV_DAVID_THE_KING">XXIV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David, the King</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXV_DAVID_AND_HIS_REBEL_SON">XXV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">David and His Rebel Son</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXI_DAVID_AND_THE_GIANT" id="XXI_DAVID_AND_THE_GIANT"></a>XXI. DAVID AND THE GIANT</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§67. The Anointing of David</b> (I Sam. 16:1-13)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Samuel said, "How can I go? if Saul hear +it, he will kill me."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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 <a name="DAVID246" id="DAVID246"></a>heart."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/il246.jpg" width="348" height="461" alt="DAVID" title="" > +<span class="caption">DAVID</span> +</div> + +<p>Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass +before Samuel. And he said, "Neither hath the +Lord chosen this."</p> + +<p>Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he +said, "Neither hath the Lord chosen this."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "There remaineth yet the youngest, +and, behold, he keepeth the sheep."</p> + +<p>And Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch +him: for we will not sit down till he come hither."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§68. David and Goliath</b> (I Sam. 17:1-14, 16-52)</p> + +<p class="center">A. GOLIATH'S CHALLENGE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <a name="shekels" id="shekels"></a><a href="#skekels">shekels</a> 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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. DAVID'S VISIT TO THE ARMY</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And the people answered him after this manner, +saying, "So shall it be done to the man that killeth +him."</p> + +<p>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 <a name="thou" id="thou"></a><a href="#thuo">thou</a> +mightest see the battle."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHALLENGE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And David said unto Saul, "I cannot go with +these; for I have not proved them." And David +put them off him.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE COMBAT</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§69. David before Saul</b> (I Sam. 17:15-18:5)</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Abner said, "As thy soul liveth, O king, I +cannot tell."</p> + +<p>And the king said, "Inquire thou whose son the +stripling is."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And David answered, "I am the son of thy +servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>225 (§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.</p> + +<p>226 (§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.</p> + +<p>227 (§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.</p> + +<p>228 (§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?</p> + +<p>229 (§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?</p> + +<p>230 (§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.</p> + +<p>231 (§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.</p> + +<p>232 (§69). What conversation took place regarding David? +What did Saul do for the young victor?</p> + +<p>233 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXII_THE_HERO_FRIENDS_DAVID_AND" id="XXII_THE_HERO_FRIENDS_DAVID_AND"></a>XXII. THE HERO FRIENDS, DAVID AND +JONATHAN</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§70. Saul's Jealousy of David</b> (I Sam. 18:6-9, +27-29; 19:1-18)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE BEGINNING OF THE JEALOUSY</p> + +<p>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,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Saul hath slain his thousands,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And David his ten thousands.<br></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JONATHAN THE PEACEMAKER</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: +and Saul sware, "As the Lord liveth, he shall not +be put to death."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. SAUL'S ATTEMPTS TO KILL DAVID</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Michal answered Saul, "He said unto me, +'Let me go; why should I kill thee?'"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§71. The Two Friends</b> (I Sam. 20:1-39)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE COVENANT OF THE FRIENDS</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then said Jonathan unto David, "Whatsoever +thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>Then said David to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me +if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?"</p> + +<p>And Jonathan said unto David, "Come and let +us go out into the field." And they went out both +of them into the field.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. SAUL'S DEADLY ANGER</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said +unto him, "Wherefore should he be put to death? +what hath he done?"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE PARTING OF THE FRIENDS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>234. When David returned victorious from the fight with +Goliath, Jonathan, the king's son, made a fast friendship with +him. Read §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.</p> + +<p>235 (§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?</p> + +<p>236 (§70B). There are a number of stories of Saul's enmity<br> +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.</p> + +<p>237 (§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?</p> + +<p>238 (§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?</p> + +<p>239 (§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.</p> + +<p>240 (§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.</p> + +<p>241 (§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.</p> + +<p>242 (§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?</p> + +<p>243 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>Have you known a friend who was magnanimous when he +might have been jealous? Write about it in your notebook.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXIII_DAVID_THE_OUTLAW" id="XXIII_DAVID_THE_OUTLAW"></a>XXIII. DAVID, THE OUTLAW</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§72. The Band of Outlaws</b> (I Sam. 22:1, 2; +23:1-8, 13, 14; 25:2-42)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE GATHERING OF THE BAND</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And they told David, saying, "Behold, the Philistines +are fighting against Keilah, and they rob the +threshing-floors."</p> + +<p>Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, +"Shall I go and smite these Philistines?"</p> + +<p>And the Lord said unto David, "Go, and smite +the Philistines, and save Keilah."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, +and remained in the hill country.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. DAVID'S REQUEST OF NABAL</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. ABIGAIL'S PEACEMAKING</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE END OF NABAL</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§73. David's Generosity to Saul</b> (I Sam. +26:2-25; 27:1-4)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE SLEEPING ENEMY</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Abishai said, "I will go down with thee."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. SAUL'S REPENTANCE</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>Then Abner answered and said, "Who art thou +that criest to the king?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is this +thy voice, my son David?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. DAVID'S FLIGHT FROM ISRAEL</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>245 (§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?</p> + +<p>246 (§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?</p> + +<p>247 (§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.</p> + +<p>248 (§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.</p> + +<p>249 (§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?</p> + +<p>250 (§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.</p> + +<p>251 (§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?</p> + +<p>252 (§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?</p> + +<p>253 (§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?</p> + +<p>254 (§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?</p> + +<p>255 (§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.</p> + +<p>256 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXIV_DAVID_THE_KING" id="XXIV_DAVID_THE_KING"></a>XXIV. DAVID, THE KING</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§74. The Way to the Throne</b> (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)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE BATTLE OF GILBOA</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. DAVID'S DIRGE OVER SAUL AND JONATHAN</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said unto him, "Out of the camp of Israel +am I escaped."</p> + +<p>And David said unto him, "How went the matter? +I pray thee, tell me."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And David lamented with this lamentation over +Saul and over Jonathan his son:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places!<br></span> +<span class="i0">How are the mighty fallen!<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Tell it not in Gath,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon;<br></span> +<span class="i0">Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Lest the daughters of the enemy triumph.<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And in their death they were not divided;<br></span> +<span class="i0">They were swifter than eagles,<br></span> +<span class="i0">They were stronger than lions.<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Who clothed you in scarlet delicately,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:<br></span> +<span class="i0">Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:<br></span> +<span class="i0">Thy love to me was wonderful,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Passing the love of women.<br></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">How are the mighty fallen,<br></span> +<span class="i0">And the weapons of war perished!<br></span> +</div></div><br> + + +<p class="center">C. DAVID MADE KING</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And the Lord said unto him, "Go up."</p> + +<p>And David said, "Whither shall I go up?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "Unto Hebron."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§75. David's Great Reign</b> (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)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE NEW CAPITAL</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. +And David said, "Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites +first shall be chief and captain."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. DAVID'S WARS OF DEFENSE</p> + +<p>And when the Philistines heard that they had +anointed David king over Israel, they went up and +spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.</p> + +<p>And David enquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall +I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver +them into my hand?"</p> + +<p>And the Lord said unto David, "Go up; for +I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy +hand."</p> + +<p>And David went up and smote them; and he said, +"The Lord hath broken down mine enemies before +me like the breaking of waters."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And David did so as the Lord commanded him, +and smote the Philistines, and subdued them.</p> + +<p>And he smote Moab. And the Moabites became +servants to David and brought tribute.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. DAVID'S KNIGHTS</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>These things did these three mighty men.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>258 (§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?</p> + +<p>259 (§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"?</p> + +<p>260 (§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.</p> + +<p>261 (§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.</p> + +<p>262 (§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.</p> + +<p>263 (§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?</p> + +<p>264 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXV_DAVID_AND_HIS_REBEL_SON" id="XXV_DAVID_AND_HIS_REBEL_SON"></a>XXV. DAVID AND HIS REBEL SON</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§76. The Treacherous Son and the Loyal Friends</b> (II Sam. 14:25, 26; 15:1-15, 18-37)</p> + + +<p class="center">A. ABSALOM'S BEAUTY AND TREACHERY</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "Thy servant is of one of the tribes +of Israel."</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king said unto him, "Go in peace."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. DAVID'S FLIGHT</p> + +<p>And there came a messenger to David, saying, +"The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king's servants said unto the king, "Behold, +thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my +lord the king shall choose."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. DAVID'S PLAN</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And one told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among +the conspirators with Absalom."</p> + +<p>And David said, "O Lord, I pray thee, turn the +counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§77. The Folly and Fate of Absalom</b> (II Sam. 16:15, +16, 20; 17:1-16, 22, 24; 18:1-17, 21, +24, 25, 31-33)</p> + +<p class="center">A. ABSALOM'S COUNCIL OF WAR</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give your +counsel what we shall do."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the +elders of Israel.</p> + +<p>Then said Absalom unto Hushai, "Ahithophel +hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his +saying? if not, speak thou."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The +counsel of Hushai is better than the counsel of +Ahithophel."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE BATTLE AND THE DEATH OF ABSALOM</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king said unto them, "What seemeth +you best I will do."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, +"Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. DAVID'S GRIEF</p> + +<p>Then said Joab to the Cushite, "Go tell the king +what thou hast seen." And the Cushite bowed +himself unto Joab, and ran.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king said unto the Cushite, "Is it well +with the young man Absalom?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>266 (§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.</p> + +<p>267 (§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?</p> + +<p>268 (§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?</p> + +<p>269 (§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?</p> + +<p>270 (§76B). It was customary for the ark to be taken when +the army went to battle (§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?</p> + +<p>271 (§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.</p> + +<p>272 (§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?</p> + +<p>273 (§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.</p> + +<p>274 (§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.</p> + +<p>275 (§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?</p> + +<p>276 (§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?</p> + + +<p>A REVIEW OF DAVID</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<br> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>REVIEW</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXVI_TEN_HEROES_OF_ISRAEL">XXVI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Ten Heroes of Israel</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXVI_TEN_HEROES_OF_ISRAEL" id="XXVI_TEN_HEROES_OF_ISRAEL"></a>XXVI. TEN HEROES OF ISRAEL</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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. (§44; Josh. 1:1, 2; +14:13.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>)</p> + +<p>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. (§46; Judg. 7:19, 20.)</p> + +<p>What reward did this hero refuse? (§47; Judg. +8:22, 23.)</p> + +<p>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? (§51; Judg. 15:14, 15; 16:18, 19.)</p> + +<p>280. Who was the heroine of whom we studied? +Tell what you remember of her. (§54.)</p> + +<p>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. (§§60, 61; +I Sam. 3:10, 11; 4:18.)</p> + +<p>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? (§64; I Sam. 11:6-11.)</p> + +<p>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. (§65; I Sam. 14:13.) How did +Saul follow up the attack?</p> + +<p>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? +(§68; I Sam. 17:48,49.)</p> + +<p>285. Who were the two hero friends? Tell the +story of their parting. (§71; I Sam. 20:35-39.)</p> + +<p>286. Why was David an outlaw? Tell the story +of his sparing the king's life. (§73; I Sam. 26:9-12.)</p> + +<p>287. David had a company of heroes about him. +Tell the story of the knights who brought him the +drink of water. (§75C; II Sam. 23:14-17.)</p> + +<p>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? (§76; II Sam. 15:19-34.)</p> + +<p>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?</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>SOLOMON</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXVII_SOLOMON_THE_WISE_KING">XXVII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Solomon, the Wise King</span></td></tr> +</table></div> +<br> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXVII_SOLOMON_THE_WISE_KING" id="XXVII_SOLOMON_THE_WISE_KING"></a>XXVII. SOLOMON, THE WISE KING</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§78. Solomon's Wise Choice</b> (I Kings 2:12; 3:3-15)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§79. Solomon and the Temple</b> (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)</p> + +<p class="center">A. PREPARATIONS FOR THE TEMPLE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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 <a name="CEDARS" id="CEDARS"></a>household."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/il314.jpg" width="348" height="506" alt="CEDARS OF LEBANON" title="" > +<span class="caption">CEDARS OF LEBANON</span> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + +<p class="center">D. THE BENEDICTION</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king, and all Israel with him, offered +sacrifice before the Lord.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§80. The Greatness of Solomon</b> (I Kings +10:1-10, 13, 23-25)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. HIS WEALTH AND WISDOM</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>291 (§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?</p> + +<p>292 (§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,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Not once or twice in our fair island story<br ></span> +<span class="i0">The path of duty was the way to glory.<br></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Learn these lines.</p> + +<p>293 (§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?</p> + +<p>294 (§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?</p> + +<p>295 (§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.</p> + +<p>296 (§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?</p> + +<p>297 (§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.</p> + +<p>298 (§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?</p> + +<p>299 (§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.</p> + +<p>300 (§80B). What does the story tell us finally of Solomon's +wealth and wisdom?</p><br> + + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<br> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>TWO PROPHETS</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXVIII_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF">XXVIII.</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elijah, the Champion of Pure Religion</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXIX_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF">XXIX.</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elijah, the Champion of Justice</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXX_ELISHA_THE_HEALER_AND_COUNSELOR">XXX.</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elisha, the Healer and Counselor</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXVIII_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF" id="XXVIII_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF"></a>XXVIII. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF PURE RELIGION</h2> + + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§81. Elijah and the Drought</b> (I Kings 16:30-17:24)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE STARTLING PROPHECY</p> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. ELIJAH AT THE BROOK</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE WIDOW'S CAKE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE WIDOW'S SON</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>And he said unto her, "Give me thy son."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§82. Elijah's Victory</b> (I Kings 18:1-46)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE SEARCH FOR PASTURAGE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So they divided the land between them to pass +throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and +Obadiah went another way by himself.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. ELIJAH'S CHALLENGE TO THE KING</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he answered him, "It is I: go, tell thy lord, +'Behold, Elijah is here.'"</p> + +<p>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, <a name="Elijah" id="Elijah" href="#Eljiah">Elijah</a> 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."</p> + +<p>And Elijah said, "As the Lord of hosts liveth, +before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto +him to-day."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE TEST AT CARMEL</p> + +<p>So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and +gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And all the people answered and said, "It is well +spoken."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Elijah said unto all the people, "Come near +unto me." And all the people came near unto +him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Elijah said unto them, "Take the prophets +of Baal; let not one of them escape."</p> + +<p>And they took them: and Elijah brought them +down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE COMING OF THE RAIN</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he went up, and looked, and said, "There is +nothing."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Make +ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain +stop thee not.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>302 (§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?</p> + +<p>303 (§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?</p> + +<p>304 (§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.</p> + +<p>305 (§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.</p> + +<p>306 (§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?</p> + +<p>307 (§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?</p> + +<p>308 (§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.</p> + +<p>309 (§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?</p> + +<p>310 (§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?</p> + +<p>311 (§82C). Those were days when men were very stern. +What awful punishment did Elijah inflict on the false prophets?</p> + +<p>312 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXIX_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF" id="XXIX_ELIJAH_THE_CHAMPION_OF"></a>XXIX. ELIJAH, THE CHAMPION OF JUSTICE</h2> + + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§83. Elijah's Discouragement</b> (I Kings 19:1-21)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT</p> + + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he lay down and slept under a juniper tree; +and, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto +him, "Arise and eat."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. ELIJAH COMFORTED AND INSTRUCTED</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the +mount before the Lord."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE CALL OF ELISHA</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said unto him, "Go back again; for +what have I done to thee?"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§84. Elijah and the Tyrant</b> (I Kings 21:1-24)</p> + +<p class="center">A. AHAB COVETS NABOTH'S VINEYARD</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Naboth said to Ahab, "The Lord forbid it +me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers +unto thee."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto +him, "Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no +bread?"</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. JEZEBEL'S PLOT</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. ELIJAH'S STARTLING SENTENCE</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me, +O mine enemy?"</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§85. The Old Prophet and the New Prophet</b> +(II Kings 2:1-15)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE FAREWELL OF THE OLD PROPHET</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Elisha said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy +soul liveth, I will not leave thee."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your +peace."</p> + +<p>And Elijah said unto him, "Elisha, tarry here, I +pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho."</p> + +<p>And he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul +liveth, I will not leave thee."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And he answered, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your +peace."</p> + +<p>And Elijah said unto him, "Tarry here, I pray +thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan."</p> + +<p>And he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul +liveth, I will not leave thee."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double portion +of thy spirit be upon me."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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!"</p><br> + +<p class="center">B. THE NEW PROPHET</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>314 (§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?</p> + +<p>315 (§83B). Where did Elijah go? Horeb is another name +for Mount Sinai. Do you remember what great hero led the +people to Sinai? (§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?</p> + +<p>316 (§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.</p> + +<p>317 (§83C). Tell the story of the call of Elisha.</p> + +<p>318 (§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?</p> + +<p>319 (§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?</p> + +<p>320 (§84B). When Jezebel heard of the success of her plot +she told the king. What did he do? What ought he to have +done?</p> + +<p>321 (§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?</p> + +<p>322 (§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?</p> + +<p>323 (§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?</p> + +<p>324 (§85B). How did the new prophet begin his work?</p><br> + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXX_ELISHA_THE_HEALER_AND_COUNSELOR" id="XXX_ELISHA_THE_HEALER_AND_COUNSELOR"></a>XXX. ELISHA, THE HEALER AND COUNSELOR</h2> + + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§86. The Payment of the Widow's Debt</b> (II Kings 4:1-7)</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And Elisha said unto her, "What shall I do for +thee? tell me; what hast thou in the house?"</p> + +<p>And she said, "Thine handmaid hath not any +thing in the house, save a pot of oil."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "There is not another vessel."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§87. The Healing of the Leper</b> (II Kings 5)</p> + +<p class="center">A. NAAMAN'S VISIT TO ISRAEL</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And one went in, and told his lord, saying, "Thus +and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel."</p> + +<p>And the king of Syria said, "Go to, go, and I will +send a letter unto the king of Israel."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. NAAMAN HEALED</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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'?"</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. NAAMAN'S GRATITUDE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>But he said, "As the Lord liveth, before whom I +stand, I will receive none."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said unto him, "Go in peace."</p> + +<p>So he departed from him a little way.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. PUNISHMENT OF GREED AND DECEIT</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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.'"</p> + +<p>And Naaman said, "Be content, take two talents."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And Elisha said unto him, "Whence comest thou, +Gehazi?"</p> + +<p>And he said, "Thy servant went no whither."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he went out from his presence a leper as +white as snow.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§88. Mysterious Capture of the Syrian Soldiers</b> +(II Kings 6:8-23)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE SYRIANS' FEAR OF ELISHA</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may +send and fetch him."</p> + +<p>And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in +Dothan."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE UNSEEN ARMY OF THE LORD</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he +saw them, "My father, shall I smite them? shall I +smite them?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§89. Elisha's Last Counsel</b> (II Kings 13:14-19)</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>And Elisha said unto him, "Take bow and +arrows." And he took unto him bow and arrows.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And he said, "Open the window eastward." +And he opened it.</p> + +<p>Then Elisha said, "Shoot." And he shot.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And he said, "Take the arrows." And he took +them.</p> + +<p>And he said unto the king of Israel. "Smite upon +the ground." And he smote thrice, and stayed.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>326 (§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?</p> + +<p>327 (§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.</p> + +<p>328 (§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?</p> + +<p>329 (§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.</p> + +<p>330 (§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?</p> + +<p>331 (§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.</p> + +<p>332 (§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?</p> + +<p>333 (§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.</p> + +<p>334 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>PATRIOTS IN TROUBLOUS TIMES</h2> + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXI_NEHEMIAH_THE_BUILDER">XXXI.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Nehemiah, the Builder</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXII_ESTHER_THE_PATRIOT_QUEEN">XXXII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Esther, the Patriot Queen</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXIII_JUDAS_THE_HAMMERER">XXXIII.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Judas, the Hammerer</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXIV_DANIEL_AND_HIS_FRIENDS">XXXIV.</a> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daniel and His Friends</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXXI_NEHEMIAH_THE_BUILDER" id="XXXI_NEHEMIAH_THE_BUILDER"></a>XXXI. NEHEMIAH, THE BUILDER</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§90. Nehemiah's Plans</b> (Neh. 1:1-4, 11. +2:1-9, 11-13, 16-18)</p> + +<p class="center">A. NEHEMIAH'S SORROW FOR JERUSALEM</p> + + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.)</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE KING'S PERMISSION TO REBUILD</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>Then the king said unto me, "For what dost thou +make request?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting +by him,) "For how long shall thy journey be? and +when wilt thou return?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king granted me, according to the good +hand of my God upon me.</p><br> + +<p class="center">C. NEHEMIAH'S ARRIVAL IN JERUSALEM</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And they said, "Let us rise up and build." So +they strengthened their hands for the good work.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§91. Nehemiah's Difficulties</b> (Neh. 4:1-4, 6-9, +16-20; 6:1-9)</p> + +<p class="center">A. SCORNFUL JEALOUSY OF THE ENEMIES</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. CONSPIRACY OF THE ENEMIES</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. PLOTS OF THE ENEMIES</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§92. Nehemiah's Success</b> (Neh. 6:15, 16; 7:1-3; +12:27, 31, 38, 40, 43; Ps. 122:2,3)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE COMPLETION OF THE WALL</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Our feet are standing<br ></span> +<span class="i0">Within thy gates, O Jerusalem,<br></span> +<span class="i0">Jerusalem, that art builded<br ></span> +<span class="i0">As a city that is compact together.<br></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>337 (§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).</p> + +<p>338 (§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?</p> + +<p>339 (§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 (§§3, 5). Note that the +Governor traveled with a body guard. What did he do first +in Jerusalem?</p> + +<p>340 (§90D). The people who had lived so long in the +ruined city were discouraged. How did Nehemiah cheer +them? How did they respond?</p> + +<p>341 (§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?</p> + +<p>342 (§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?</p> + +<p>343 (§91C). What plots did the enemies devise? How did +Nehemiah meet the plots?</p> + +<p>344 (§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?</p> + +<p>345 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<br> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXXII_ESTHER_THE_PATRIOT_QUEEN" id="XXXII_ESTHER_THE_PATRIOT_QUEEN"></a>XXXII. ESTHER, THE PATRIOT QUEEN</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§93. Esther Made Queen</b> (Esther 1:1, 5, 7, 9, 11-13, 15, +16, 19, 21; 2:1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 15-18, 20)</p> + +<p class="center">A. QUEEN VASHTI DEPOSED</p> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the saying pleased the king and the princes; +and the king did according to the word of Memucan.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE SELECTION OF ESTHER</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§94. The Plot against the Jews</b> (Esther 3:1, 2, 5, 6, +8-13; 4:1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 11-17)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE ENMITY OF HAMAN</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. MORDECAI'S APPEAL TO ESTHER</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So Mordecai went his way, and did according to +all that Esther had commanded him.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§95. Esther's Brave Intercession</b> (Esther 5:1-5; 7:2-6, +9, 10; 8:1-8, 9, 11, 15-17; 9:1, 2, 5, 20-23, 32)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE DANGEROUS INTERVIEW</p> + +<p>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 <a name="Esther" id="Esther"></a>the kingdom."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/il377.jpg" width="450" height="204" alt="From Price, The Monuments and the Old Testament +" title="" > +<span class="caption">From Price, "The Monuments and the Old Testament"</span> +</div> +<p class="ccaption">ESTHER'S PALACE</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then the king said, "Cause Haman to make +haste, that it may be done as Esther hath said."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>And Esther said, "An adversary and an enemy, +even this wicked Haman."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>And the king said, "Hang him thereon."</p> + +<p>So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had +prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's +wrath pacified.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE DELIVERANCE OF THE JEWS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE FEAST OF THE DELIVERANCE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And the commandment of Esther confirmed these +matters of the feast of Purim; and it was written +in the book.</p><br> + + +<h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>347 (§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?</p> + +<p>348 (§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.</p> + +<p>349 (§94A). The villain of the story is Haman. What high +place did he hold? How did Mordecai offend him? What +revenge did he plan?</p> + +<p>350 (§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?</p> + +<p>351 (§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?</p> + +<p>352 (§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?</p> + +<p>353 (§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?</p> + +<p>354 (§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?</p> + +<p>355 (§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?</p> + +<p>356 (§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.</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>Recall Mordecai's suggestion to Esther (p. 356). In the +days of chivalry knights had a motto: <i>Noblesse oblige</i> +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: <i>Noblesse oblige</i>.</p> + +<br> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXXIII_JUDAS_THE_HAMMERER" id="XXXIII_JUDAS_THE_HAMMERER"></a>XXXIII. JUDAS, THE HAMMERER</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§96. The Tyrant and the Heroes</b> (I Macc. 1:41-50, +54-57; 2:1-7, 14, 15, 17-25, 27, 28, 44, +45, 48-50, 64-66, 70)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE TYRANNY OF ANTIOCHUS</p> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE OLD HERO AND HIS FIVE SONS</p> + +<p>In those days rose up Mattathias the priest, who +dwelt at Modin. And he had five sons, John, Simon, +Judas who was called Maccabæus (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?"</p> + +<p>And Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, +and put on sackcloth, and mourned exceedingly.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 Maccabæus, he hath been strong and +mighty from his youth: he shall be your captain, +and shall fight the battle of the people."</p> + +<p>And he blessed them, and was gathered to his +fathers. And all Israel made great lamentation for +him.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§97. The Great Deliverance</b> (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)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE VICTORIES OF JUDAS</p> + +<p>And his son Judas, who was called Maccabæus, +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Now when he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly +upon them, and Seron and his army were discomfited +before him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE TEMPLE CLEANSED</p> + +<p>Judas and his brethren said, "Behold, our enemies +are discomfited; let us go up to cleanse the +holy place and to dedicate it afresh."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. THE OLD WORSHIP RESTORED</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE DEATH OF JUDAS</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>359 (§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?</p> + +<p>360 (§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?</p> + +<p>361 (§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?</p> + +<p>362 (§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.</p> + +<p>363 (§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?</p> + +<p>364 (§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?</p> + +<p>365 (§97C). Note how happy they were when they could +worship once more in the house of God. Describe the celebration.</p> + +<p>366 (§97D). One can imagine how greatly the Jews would +honor such a deliverer as Judas. How did they mourn for +him at his death?</p><br> + + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<br> +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXXIV_DANIEL_AND_HIS_FRIENDS" id="XXXIV_DANIEL_AND_HIS_FRIENDS"></a>XXXIV. DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY</h3><br> + +<p class="center"><b>§98. The Training of the Young Men</b> (Daniel 1:1-19)</p> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§99. The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace</b> +(Dan. 3:1, 2, 4-30)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE WORSHIP OF THE GOLDEN IMAGE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. THE THREE JEWS DEFY THE KING</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. DELIVERANCE FROM THE FIERY FURNACE</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>They answered and said unto the king, "True, +O king."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, +and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.</p><br> + + +<p class="center"><b>§100. Daniel and the Lions</b> (Dan. 6:1-28)</p> + +<p class="center">A. THE DECREE OF KING DARIUS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the +decree.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">B. DANIEL AT HIS PRAYERS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>The king answered and said, "The thing is true, +according to the law of the Medes and Persians, +which altereth not."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p><br> + + +<p class="center">C. DANIEL DELIVERED FROM THE LIONS</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><br> + + +<p class="center">D. THE PROSPERITY OF DANIEL</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, +and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.</p> + + +<br><h3>THE MEANING OF THE STORY</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>368 (§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.</p> + +<p>369 (§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?</p> + +<p>370 (§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.</p> + +<p>371 (§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.</p> + +<p>372 (§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.</p> + +<p>373 (§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 <i>Tom Brown at Rugby</i>? 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.</p> + +<p>374 (§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?</p> + +<p>375 (§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?</p><br> + + +<h3>WRITTEN REVIEW</h3> + +<p>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.</p> + +<br> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2>REVIEW</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XXXV_SEVEN_HEROIC_NAMES">XXXV.</a> <td align="left"><span class="smcap">Seven Heroic Names</span></td></tr> +</table></div><br> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="XXXV_SEVEN_HEROIC_NAMES" id="XXXV_SEVEN_HEROIC_NAMES"></a>XXXV. SEVEN HEROIC NAMES</h2> + + +<p>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. (§79; I Kings 5:2-6.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>)</p> + +<p>377. What great prophet was the champion of +pure religion? Tell the story of the test at Mount +Carmel. (§82; I Kings 18:20-24.)</p> + +<p>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? +(§84; I Kings 21:17-23.)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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. (§91; +Neh. 6:15, 16.)</p> + +<p>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? (§95; Esther +4:13-17.)</p> + +<p>382. We studied about one hero, whose story is +not in the Old Testament. What did his surname +Maccabæus mean? How did he deliver his people? +(§97.)</p> + +<p>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. (§100.)</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h2>Footnote</h2> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> 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.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> 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.</p></div> + +<h3>CONSTRUCTIVE BIBLE STUDIES</h3> + + +<p><b>Kindergarten Series</b></p> + +<blockquote><p><b>The Sunday Kindergarten: Game, Gift, and Story.</b> By <span class="smcap">Carrie S. +Ferris</span>. Teacher's manual, $1.25 net; postpaid $1.40. 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Teacher's manual, $1.00 net; postpaid $1.10, +Pupils notebook, 25 cents net; postpaid 29 cents.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>The Life Of Jesus.</b> By <span class="smcap">Herbert W. Gates</span>. Teacher's manual, +75 cents net; postpaid 83 cents. Pupil's notebook, 50 cents net; +postpaid 58 cents.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>Paul Of Tarsus.</b> By <span class="smcap">Louise Warren Atkinson</span>. Teacher's manual, +$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.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>Heroes of Israel.</b> By <span class="smcap">Theodore G. Soares</span>. Pupil's textbook, $1.00 +net; postpaid $1.13. Teacher's manual, $1.00 net; postage extra.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>Studies in the Gospel according to Mark.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ernest D. 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Pupil's textbook, $1.00 net; postpaid $1.12.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="center"><b>Published by +THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS +CHICAGO, ILLINOIS</b> +</p> + +<p><b>CONSTRUCTIVE BIBLE STUDIES</b></p> + + +<p><b>Adult Series</b></p> + +<blockquote><p><b>Christianity and Its Bible.</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry F. Waring</span>. $1.00 net; +postpaid $1.12.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>Great Men of the Christian Church.</b> By <span class="smcap">Williston Walker</span>. +$1.25 net; postpaid $1.37.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>Social Duties.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charles Richmond Henderson</span>. $1.25 net; +postpaid $1.37.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>A Handbook of the Life of the Apostle Paul.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ernest D. +Burton</span>. 50 cents net; postpaid 54 cents.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>A Short Introduction to the Gospels.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ernest D. 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Chamberlin</span>. 50 cents net; postpaid 53 cents.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>The Book of Job, or the Problem of Human Suffering.</b> By <span class="smcap">William +R. Harper</span>. 25 cents net; postpaid 27 cents.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>The Four Letters of Paul.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ernest D. Burton</span>. 25 cents net; +postpaid 27 cents.</p></blockquote> + +<blockquote><p><b>The Origin and Religious Teaching of the Old Testament Books.</b> +By <span class="smcap">Georgia L. Chamberlin</span>. 50 cents net; postpaid 54 cents.</p></blockquote> + + +<p> +<b>Published by<br > +THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS<br > +CHICAGO, ILLINOIS</b><br> +</p><br> + + + +<p class="trnote">Transcribers Note:<br> +<a href="#shekels">skekels changed to shekels</a><a name="skekels" id="skekels"></a><br> +<a href="#thou">thuo changed to thou</a><a name="thuo" id="thuo"></a><br> +<a href="#Elijah">Eljiah changed to Elijah</a><a name="Eljiah" id="Eljiah"></a><br> +Scripture references have been standardised as this example (Gen. 21:2, 3; 22:1-19)<br> +Punctuation moved inside end quote on the following lines:-<br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a name="Drink_my_lord" id="Drink_my_lord"></a><a href="#Drink">Drink, my lord</a>:" Sect. 9 B</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a name="Lest" id="Lest"></a>"<a href="#Lest_2">Lest peradventure the people repent when they + see war, and they return to Egypt:</a>"</span><br> +Word hyphenation has been standardised.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Heroes of Israel, by Theodore Gerald Soares + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEROES OF ISRAEL *** + +***** This file should be named 36956-h.htm or 36956-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/9/5/36956/ + +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 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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