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diff --git a/old/63047-0.txt b/old/63047-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ed8ac9f..0000000 --- a/old/63047-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3718 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Bible, Volume 1, by Myles Endicott - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Stories of the Bible, Volume 1 - The People of the Chosen Land - -Author: Myles Endicott - -Release Date: August 26, 2020 [EBook #63047] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE BIBLE, VOLUME 1 *** - - - - -Produced by Bryan Ness, Steve Read and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - STORIES OF THE BIBLE - - THE PEOPLE - - OF THE - - CHOSEN LAND - - BY - - MYLES ENDICOTT - - ILLUSTRATIONS FROM DORÉ AND OTHER EMINENT ARTISTS - - VOLUME I. - - EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY - - BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO - - - - - COPYRIGHTED - - By EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY - - 1897 - - - - -[Illustration: CREATION OF LIGHT] - -[Illustration: CREATION OF THE SUN AND MOON.] - - - - - STORIES OF THE BIBLE. - - THE CREATION. - - -Many, many years ago there was no earth. There were no plants, nor -animals; no sun; no moon; neither were there any people. - -All was darkness. - -Then God looked into the darkness and said, "Let there be light." And -light came. And out of the new light God created the blue sky, the deep -sea, the beautiful grass-covered earth, the plants, the trees, and the -many-colored flowers. - -[Illustration: THE CREATION OF ANIMALS. (_Raphael._)] - -And in the blue sky he placed the golden sun, the silver moon, and the -stars that shine like jewels in the sky. - -Then, in the water he placed the fishes; on the earth, the animals; and -in the tree tops the birds sang their praises. - -"This shall be for a home for man," the Creator said; and so, one -morning, there woke to life in the Garden of Eden a man and -woman--beautiful and good and pure. - -To the animals God had given strength and speed, and fur for protection -from the wind and rain. To the birds he had given plumage, brilliant and -warm. To the fishes, fins and scales. - -Then man came; and to him was given intelligence, and reason, and power -to grow in wisdom; for by these was he to protect himself from the -elements and gain dominion over all the earth,--the fishes, the birds, -and the animals thereof. - -Then God blessed everything he had made; for he loved what he had made, -and surrounded it with all that was beautiful and good. - -"Of every tree in the garden ye may eat," He had said to Adam and Eve, -"except the tree of Knowledge-of-Good-and-of-Evil. Of that eat not lest -ye die." - - -THE CREATION. - - - The spacious firmament on high, - With all the blue ethereal sky, - And spangled Heavens, a shining frame, - Their great Original proclaim. - The unwearied sun, from day to day, - Does his Creator's power display, - And publishes to every land - The work of an almighty hand. - - Soon as the evening shades prevail, - The moon takes up the wondrous tale, - And nightly to the listening earth - Repeats the story of her birth; - Whist all the stars around her burn, - And all the planets, in their turn, - Confirm the tidings as they roll, - And spread the truth from pole to pole. - - What though in solemn silence all - Move round this dark terrestrial ball! - What though no real voice or sound - Amidst their radiant orbs be found!-- - In reason's ear they all rejoice, - And utter forth a glorious voice; - Forever singing as they shine, - "The hand that made us is Divine." - - --_Joseph Addison._ - - -[Illustration: CREATION OF TERRA FIRMA. (_Raphael._)] - - - - -THE GARDEN OF EDEN. - - -When Adam and Eve looked out upon the world round about them; when they -saw the flowers and the grasses; when they heard the splashing of the -sun-lit waters, and the rustling of the soft branches,--then their -hearts were filled with love for each other, for their home, and for the -Father who had made all this joy for them. - -For a long time they wandered up and down the Garden of Eden, singing -songs, and ready always to hear the voice of God when he spoke to them -in the soft winds that played among the tree tops. - -Now, there was a wicked angel, named Satan. He had been cast out from -heaven, down, down from the blue sky. And in his own unhappy home he -dwelt now, alone, wretched and revengeful. And when he saw this happy -man and woman, so good and pure, their hearts bounding with love to God -and joy in right doing, his cruel face grew black. - -"Such happiness shall not last," he said. So he crept into the Garden, -took on the form of a serpent and spoke to Eve. - -"Eat of the fruit of this tree," he said, "and give it to Adam that he -may eat too." - -"But we are forbidden," Eve said. - -"The fruit is like no other. Eat! Ye shall not die," the serpent -answered. - -[Illustration: THE EXPULSION OF ADAM AND EVE FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. -(_Dore._)] - -Then Eve gathered the fruit and ate of it. It was sweet, even as the -serpent had said. Then she gathered more, and Adam, too, ate of it. - -Then darkness fell upon the earth. A great wind arose, the thunder -rolled, and God drove Adam and Eve out from the Garden of Eden; and at -the entrance He placed cherubims and a flaming sword for no one who had -sinned could dwell in a land so beautiful and free from sorrow. - -But God pitied these children of his; and, although they had sinned -against him, he saw that, after long years of suffering, One should be -born, who would bring back to earth the joy and peace and happiness that -had once been theirs, and which would have been to all their children in -all the time to come, had not these parents sinned. - -And so Adam and Eve went out into the world to work and struggle and -build homes for themselves. - -[Illustration: ADAM AND EVE. (_Raphael._)] - -By and by two baby boys were born to them,--Cain and Abel. Pure and kind -and good these children should have been. But now they were born into a -world of sin, and of the nature of sin they too partook. - -When these children were grown men, Cain hated his brother. He grew -sullen and revengeful towards him. The serpent that had tempted Adam and -Eve now tempted him. He listened; and one day, when they were at work -together in the field, Cain slew Abel and hid him in the earth. - -Then a great storm gathered across the sky; and a voice said, "Cain, -where is thy brother?" - -Cain trembled with fear; for he knew it was the voice of God. But he -raised his wicked face towards the heavens and cried, "Why should I -know? Am I my brother's keeper?" - -And the voice said, "Thou art thy brother's keeper." - -Then God put a brand upon the brow of Cain, and drove him forth into the -wilderness, to be a fugitive and a vagabond. - -[Illustration: STATUE OF CAIN. (_Giovanni Dupre._)] - - - - -THE CURSE OF CAIN. - - - O, the wrath of the Lord is a terrible thing!-- - Like the tempest that withers the blossoms of spring, - Like the thunder that bursts on the summer's domain, - It fell on the head of the homicide Cain. - - And, lo! like a deer in the fright of the chase, - With a fire in his heart, and a brand on his face, - He speeds him afar to the desert of Nod,-- - A vagabond, smote by the vengeance of God! - - All nature, to him, has been blasted and banned, - And the blood of a brother yet reeks on his hand; - And no vintage has grown, and no fountain has sprung, - For cheering his heart, or for cooling his tongue. - - The groans of a father his slumber shall start, - And the tears of a mother shall pierce to his heart, - And the kiss of his children shall scorch him like flame, - When he thinks of the curse that hangs over his name. - - --_Knox._ - -[Illustration: THE DOVE SENT FORTH FROM THE ARK.] - - - - -THE FLOOD. - - - Earth shall be ocean! and no breath, - Save of the winds be on the unbounded wave! - Angels shall tire their wings, but find no spot: - Not even a rock from out the liquid grave - Shall lift its point to save, - Or show the place where strong despair hath died, - After long looking o'er the ocean wide - For the expected ebb which cometh not; - All shall be void, destroyed. - - --_Byron._ - -It was many, many years after Adam and Eve were driven out from the -Garden of Eden that the flood came. - -There were thousands of people in the world now, and they were scattered -here and there through the fertile valleys and along the rivers of the -country far and wide. - -There were rich farms everywhere, and shepherds watched their flocks on -the hillsides. There were towns and cities; many of them where people -dwelt together and made their laws and appointed their law-givers. - -But in all these years the people had been growing more and more away -from the simple, honest life that God had first shown Adam and Eve. - -They had grown selfish and greedy; they were cruel to each other; they -cared nothing for the rights and comforts of the community; and more -than all this, they had forsaken the simple faith of their fathers and -become worshippers of idols. - -There was one good man dwelling among these people, many, many years -before, whose name was Enoch. Now, it was not the will of God that Enoch -should suffer for the sins of the people; and so, when the flood was -about to come upon the earth to destroy them, God came and stood by -Enoch and said, "Come with me." - -Now there was another good man upon the earth, a great grandson of -Enoch's, and a man who had never forgotten God, and who had reared his -children always in the simple faith which had been his own. - -Although God meant to send a flood that should destroy the cities, and -separate the people so that the wickedness of the earth might be -destroyed, still it was not his wish that the race should perish wholly. -And so again God went down to the earth, and said to this good man, -Noah, "Build thou an ark, and into it bring all thy family, and also two -of every kind of bird and beast and animal. For a great flood shall come -upon the earth, and those in the ark only shall be saved." - -Noah was a simple hearted man. It was a strange thing for him to be told -to build an ark and place within its shelter his family and two of -every living thing upon the face of the earth. - -[Illustration: NOAH BUILDING THE ARK. (_Raphael._)] - -He told the people what God had said to him; and he urged them to do -likewise. But the people only laughed at him, and called him a fool. - -But Noah doubted not the word of God and set to work at once,--his three -sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth helping him to build an ark, and to gather -together the birds and beasts and animals of the earth. - -Every morning the four men set out as soon as the sun had risen, and -kept at their work until darkness fell at night. - -At last the ark was finished, and Noah, with his wife, his three sons -and their wives, journeyed to the mountain side. The people in the -valley laughed at them and threw stones at them, but the trustful little -band kept on their way and entered the ark, taking with them, as they -had been told, two of every kind of bird and beast. - -Then the clouds began to gather in the south,--great black rolls of -cloud. The wind rose, the clouds scattered over the whole sky; and so -black and thick were they that the light of the sun was shut out. It was -like night. - -[Illustration: THE DELUGE.] - -Then the rain fell. In great sheets, like rivers, it poured upon the -valleys. The thunders rolled, the lightnings flashed, the rivers -overflowed their banks. The winds howled, and great trees were torn up -by the roots. - -For forty days this storm continued--forty days and forty nights. Every -living thing left upon the face of the earth was drowned. But the ark, -with its inmates, was borne up by the waters in safety. At last, one -morning when Noah and his people awoke, they could see that the storm -had ceased; the clouds were separating, and the sun was sending its rays -down through the mist upon the flooded earth below. - -Then came the beautiful rainbow, spanning the heavens -in the west, and reflecting its wonderful colors in the great sea below. - -[Illustration] - - -THE RAINBOW. - - - Triumphal arch, that fill'st the sky - When storms prepare to part, - I ask not proud philosophy - To teach me what thou art. - - Still seem as to my childhood's sight, - A midway station given, - For happy spirits to alight - Betwixt the earth and heaven. - - How glorious is thy girdle cast - O'er mountain, tower, and town, - Or mirror'd in the ocean vast, - A thousand fathoms down. - - As fresh in yon horizon dark, - As young thy beauties seem, - As when the eagle from the ark - First sported in thy beam. - - For faithful to its sacred page, - Heaven still rebuilds thy span, - Nor lets the type grow pale with age, - That first spoke peace to man. - - --_T. Campbell._ - -Never was rainbow so beautiful! Then the voice of God spoke from out the -skies to Noah, "This shall be to you a bow of promise. Never again shall -the earth and the people be destroyed by water." - -[Illustration: NOAH AND THE DOVE (_Schopin._)] - -But nowhere, as far as eye could reach, was there any sign of land; -there was only the peak of Ararat with the ark upon it, standing out -above the water. - -Noah sent out first a raven, and it returned not. Then he sent out from -the ark a dove; and the dove came back after a long, long flight across -the waters and fell fluttering at Noah's feet. - -Seven days went by. Then again Noah sent out a dove; and this time it -returned with an olive leaf. Noah knew now that the flood was subsiding, -and that he might lift the cover of the ark and step out upon the -mountain top. - -Then Noah and his family went forth, together with all the creatures -that had gone into the Ark with them. - -And so thankful was Noah that he built a great altar, and he and his -family offered sacrifices to God in gratitude for his loving care of -them. - -[Illustration: COMING FORTH FROM THE ARK. (_Raphael._)] - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE TOWER OF BABEL. - - -Children were born to Ham, Shem, and Japheth; and when these children -became men and women, children were born to them, until, after many, -many years, the valley was again filled with people,--all descendants -from Noah and his three sons. - -Now, there came a time, long after Noah had died, and so could guide his -people no longer into the paths of right, that the people again grew -wicked and selfish to one another. - -They boasted of their power, and said among themselves, "We will build a -tower that shall reach into heaven itself. Then who in heaven or earth -shall be greater than we?" - -[Illustration: CONFUSION OF TONGUES.] - -Now, God was angry that these people should have forgotten the God of -their fathers, and that the trustful, humble soul of Noah should so have -departed from them. - -So, while all the people were at work upon the tower, now risen above -the trees and hill-tops, God touched them; and behold, from that instant -each spoke a language of his own; nor could one of them understand any -other. - -Confusion followed, the building of the tower was forsaken, the people -scattered up and down the valley; and so the tower of Babel was left to -crumble into ruins. - -[Illustration] - - - - -ABRAHAM. - - -In the pleasant valley of Mesopotamia there lived a good man, whom the -people loved, and who was called Abram. - -Now, the people of this valley were idolaters, and though Abram often -pleaded with them to return to the faith in one God, they would not -listen to him. "Go thou your way, and we will go ours," they would say. - -But God would not permit it to be that Abram's life should be spent upon -a people who cared not for the good spirit that Abram shed everywhere -about him. So He called to him and said, "Leave this valley. Go thou -with thy people to the land of Canaan. There a son shall be born to -you, and your descendants shall govern the land of Canaan." - -Abram, simple hearted and trustful like Noah, gathered his possessions -together, and with his wife, Sarah, and his nephew, Lot, set forth -across the country towards the land of Canaan. - -Now, Abram was a man of great wealth. He had silver and gold, and -camels, and sheep and cattle, and armies of servants. - -Lot too had great wealth; and when the two families came into Canaan, -Lot declared there was not land enough for them all. So Lot went on -towards Jordan, where there were fertile valleys and broad rivers. - -"Here," said Lot, "shall I find pasturage for my flocks and food for my -servants." - -"But God bade us dwell here," said Abram; and he was grieved that so -great greed should have fallen upon Lot. - -Lot went to live in the city of Sodom, a city so wicked that God finally -visited it with fire and destroyed it. - -Lot was not happy in Sodom. The people were idolaters, and laughed -bitterly at Lot for his religion. For, though Lot had disobeyed God, he -still kept the worship of Abram. - -By and by a great king besieged the city of Sodom, and stole away its -riches. Lot himself was made prisoner, and his wealth was divided among -the soldiers of the conquering king. - -Abram, living happily in the land of Canaan, heard of the downfall of -Sodom, and of Lot's imprisonment. So he gathered together his own great -army and marched against the king. He recaptured the wealth of Sodom, -returning it to its rightful owners, and freed all the people from -prison. - -"Wilt thou come now to dwell in Canaan?" Abram asked of Lot. But Lot was -stubborn and would not. - -Then Melchizedek, the ruler of Salem, came out to meet Abram, bringing -bread and wine. For Melchizedek was a priest as well as a ruler; and, as -he poured the wine, he said, "Blessed be Abram of the most high God, -possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be the most high God, who -hath delivered thine enemies into thy hands." - -Then Abram gave to Melchizedek one tenth of all his wealth, in token of -his love for him; and after that he rode back into his own Land of -Canaan. - -[Illustration: ABRAHAM AND THE THREE ANGELS.] - - - - -ABRAHAM'S VISIONS. - - - Angels of life and death are His; - Without his leave they pass no threshold o'er; - Who, then, would wish or dare, believing this, - Against his messengers to shut the door. - - --_Longfellow._ - - -One night Abram went out beneath the sky and looked up at the stars. -Then God's voice spoke and said, "Thy descendants shall be in number -like the stars." - -Now, Abram had no children, and had his faith been less firm he might -have doubted the words he heard. But he had never forgotten the promise -that in the Land of Canaan a child should be born to him, and that from -him should descend a nation. - -And that same night God spoke again to Abram in a vision. He showed him -an altar with a burning lamp. And he said to Abram, "For four hundred -years your descendants shall journey in a strange land and suffer -affliction; but, at the end of that time, they shall again come into -Canaan and possess the land." - -Then the Lord changed the name of Abram to Abraham, which means Father -of a People. And his wife's name he changed to Sarah, which means a -Princess. And again God said unto Abraham and Sarah, "A child shall be -born to you; and he shall be great among the nations of the earth." - -A third time God came to Abraham; and he told him that the destruction -of Sodom was near at hand, because of its wickedness. - -Then Abraham thought of Lot, and prayed to God to save the city for -Lot's sake. - -And God answered, "If ten righteous people only be found in the city, I -will not destroy it for Lot's sake." - -But ten righteous people were not to be found in the city, and so the -angels of destruction were sent down upon it. - -Lot sat in the gateway of the city and looked out upon the country. And -when he saw the angels of destruction, he rose and led them to his house -and gave them food. - -Then the angels said, "Whatsoever thou hast in this city bring out; for -we are come to destroy this place." - -Then Lot went and told his people; but none of them would listen to him. -In the morning the angels came and woke Lot and his wife and said to -them, "Arise, and hasten from the city. Escape for thy life, and look -not behind thee." - -So Lot and his wife and their two daughters fled from the city; and the -shower of fire came down to purify it. But when they were far out on -the plain, Lot's wife, still loving her old home, turned back to look -upon it. Too late the angels' words came back to her, "Look not behind -thee." - -[Illustration: THE FLIGHT OF LOT.] - -Her feet were rooted to the spot; her voice refused to come; sight left -her; sound was shut out; and in one instant she was changed to a pillar -of salt. - -Then Lot and his two daughters hurried on. They reached a great cave, -and ran and hid themselves in it. The city was now a blackened ruin. -Lot's wealth was destroyed. He had no silver, no gold, no cattle, no -home--only the cave, and grateful was he that he had even that. - -[Illustration: DEPARTURE OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL.] - - - - -HAGAR. - - - Who can speak a mother's anguish, - Painted in that tearless eye, - Which beholds her darling languish, - Languish, unrelieved, to die! - - -It was not very long after the destruction of Sodom that there was born -into the home of Abraham and Sarah a beautiful little baby boy--even as -God had promised. - -There was great rejoicing among the people of Abraham's household. -Feasts were held, sacrifices were offered up, and Abraham gave the child -the name of Isaac. - -One of Sarah's maids, whose name was Hagar, had a son, too, called -Ishmael. One day this boy mocked at Isaac, and Sarah said he and his -mother must be sent away. - -So Abraham called Hagar and told her she must go, and he gave her some -bread and a bottle of water, and sent her forth into the wilderness. - -[Illustration: HAGAR AND ISHMAEL IN THE DESERT.] - -Poor Hagar and her child sorrowfully set forth in the burning heat; but -when all their water was gone, her little one began to droop; he grew -weaker and weaker, and she thought he would die. She laid him in the -shade and went away to weep. The mother could not bear to see her poor -boy die. - - She looked above--the heavens shone still - Unclouded, bright and clear; - She listened but not fount nor rill - Poured music on her ear. - Thence once again her child she eyed-- - His cheek wore death's pale hue; - "Alas! and is it thus," she cried; - "Doth God forsake me too, - And with my earthly foes combine - To work such ill for me and mine?" - -The Angel of God heard her and told her not to fear, but to take up -Ishmael and hold him in her arms. Then she saw, all at once, a well near -her; she gave the child a drink, and soon he grew strong and well. - -[Illustration: THE TRIAL OF ABRAHAM'S FAITH.] - -[Illustration] - - - - -ISAAC. - - -Isaac grew up a fine, healthy, noble boy loved by all his father's -people; and to his, father and mother, now old people, he was their joy -and life. Never a day passed that Abraham and Sarah did not offer thanks -to God for their beautiful child. Most carefully they taught him the -religion of his people, and bade him follow it all the days of his life. - -"When God speaks, obey, O my son!" the old father would say. And one day -there came to Abraham, and Isaac too, a trial of their faith. - -A vision came again to Abraham. And in the vision the Lord spoke, -saying, "Arise, Abraham, and go and prepare an altar upon the mountain. -And when the altar is ready, place thy son Isaac upon the altar; for I -would that he be sacrificed--a burnt offering--to me." - -Poor old Abraham! There was nothing in all the world so dear to him as -this child, Isaac; but although his heart was sore and heavy, the old -man rose and did as he was bid. And when the altar was ready, he called -Isaac and told him what the vision had said. - -For a minute the brave boy's cheek grew pale; his heart beat fast. Then -he permitted his father to bind him hand and foot and lay him upon the -altar. Abraham lifted the knife to slay the boy; when, lo! his hand was -held, and a voice said, "Harm not the lad; for now I do know that thou -lovest God more than all else beside." - -With trembling hands Abraham unbound the cords that held Isaac, and the -boy leaped down from the altar. Then, with tears of gratitude, they -knelt and thanked God for his mercy. Then the voice spake again: -"Because you have done this thing I will bless thee; and all nations -shall be blessed through thy children." - -One day Abraham's wife, Sarah, lay down and died, and Abraham bought the -field of Machpelah and made for her a burial place. - -"Now," said Abraham to Isaac, "it is right that you should find a wife -and bring her to dwell in our tent. But take not a wife from the people -of Canaan, for they are idolaters. Go rather to Mesopotamia, and there -take the wife that God may allot thee." - -So a trusty old servant was sent into Mesopotamia to find a wife for -Isaac,--a woman who should be beautiful and good, and whose faith was -like that of Abraham. - -[Illustration: REBEKAH AT THE WELL. (_Goodall._)] - - - - -REBEKAH. - - - His house she enters, there to be a light, - Shining within, when all without is right. - - -It was just upon the edge of the village, and just as the sun was -sinking, that the servant came to the well from which the village folk -drew water. And there, with a pitcher in her hand, stood a maiden, as -beautiful as ever maiden could be. - -"Whose daughter art thou?" the servant asked. - -And the maiden answered, "I am Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, of the -house of Abraham." - -Then the servant was glad; for he knew now that the maiden was as good, -and her religion as pure, as she was beautiful. So he went to the home -of Bethuel, and told his errand into Mesopotamia. He told Bethuel of the -godly life Abraham had led, and of the noble youth, Isaac. And he asked -that he might choose Rebekah for Isaac's wife and carry her back with -him to Canaan. - -The heart of Bethuel was glad; and Rebekah, too, was glad to go; for -already she loved the brave lad, Isaac, so proudly had the old servant -told the story of his brave deeds and godly life. - -So Rebekah, arrayed in a fine raiment, was placed on a camel, and beside -her walked her nurse and maids. - -The old servant then hurried on, and reached the home of Isaac while yet -the maiden and her companions were not beyond the limits of their own -land. - -He told Isaac all that had happened, and how beautiful and good the -maiden was, and that she was of the noble house of Bethuel. - -Then Isaac loved the maiden; and, as she came near to Canaan, he hurried -forth to meet her, and to bring her to his home and to his people. Old -Abraham was glad when he saw the maiden, for he knew God's blessing -would rest upon the union. - -Abraham was now one hundred and seventy-five years of age; and when he -came to die, Rebekah and Isaac laid him beside Sarah in the field of -Machpelar, and Isaac took his father's place in the household. - -Isaac and Rebekah lived to an old age. They were good people, and the -Lord blessed them; and when they came to die, their two sons, Esau and -Jacob, wept over them, and laid them, also, beside Abraham in the field -of Machpelar. - - - - -JACOB AND ESAU. - - - We barter life for pottage; sell true bliss - For wealth or power, for pleasure or renown; - Thus, Esau like, our Father's blessing miss, - Then wash with fruitless tears our faded crown. - - --_Keble._ - - -Esau was the older son, and to him belonged the honors of the family. It -was his duty, too, to offer sacrifices and serve as the high priest in -the home; for such was the custom of the times. - -But Esau cared little either for honor or religious services. And so, -one day when he came home from the hunt, hungry and thirsty, he sold his -birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of pottage that Jacob sat -eating before the door of his home. - -Now, Isaac loved this son better than he loved Jacob, and was grieved -and disappointed that he should have sold his birthright so foolishly; -for now to Jacob rather than to Esau would fall the blessings of God. - -But it could not now be helped, and Jacob took up the office of high -priest in the house of Isaac. - -As Isaac grew old, to him was given the gift of prophecy; and whomsoever -he blessed, honor and prosperity was sure to follow. When Rebekah knew -this, her heart was filled with but one desire,--that Isaac's blessing -should fall upon Jacob rather than upon Esau; for she knew how unworthy -Esau was in spirit, and how little he would strive to honor God when the -household became his own. - -So, one day when Esau was away upon the hunt, she called Jacob to her -and bade him go kneel beside his old father and ask his blessing. - -But Jacob said, "Behold, Esau, my brother, is a hairy man and I a -smooth man. My father, perhaps, will feel me, and I shall seem to him as -a deceiver." - -[Illustration: ISAAC BLESSING JACOB.] - -Rebekah said, "Obey my voice, my son." And Jacob yielded. - -Then Rebekah took some clothes belonging to Esau and put them upon -Jacob; and she put the skin of the kids that he had brought her upon his -hands and upon the smooth of his neck. - -Then Jacob knelt before his father, whose eyes were dimmed with old age, -and said, "Bless me, my father." - -And Isaac said, "Who art thou, my son?" - -And Jacob said, "I am Esau, thy first born." - -Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near, that I may feel whether thou be my -very son Esau or not." - -So Jacob went near to his father, and the father felt of him; and he -said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." - -Then Isaac, thinking it was Esau who knelt, blessed him as his -first-born, and said, "The Lord bless thee, and give thee plenty of corn -and wine. Let the people serve thee; and be thou lord over all thy -brethren." - -And all this came to pass; for Jacob's children came into possession of -the rich land of Canaan. - -By and by, Esau entered the tent and knelt beside his father. "Thy -blessing, O father Isaac," he said. - -The old man stretched out his hands. "Who art thou?" he cried. - -"I am Esau, your first-born. Know you not that I am Esau?" - -"Who was it then that came just now and received my blessing?" Isaac -asked. - -Then Esau knew that to him was lost the blessing as an eldest son. - -The old man wailed. "Alas! alas! my son," he said, "much wealth can I -yet bestow upon thee; still the greater honors are now with Jacob." - -Now Esau's heart was filled with rage. He would have slain his brother; -but Rebekah, knowing this, sent Jacob away. - -When night came on Jacob lay down upon the cold ground and placed a -stone beneath his head. And as he slept God sent a beautiful vision to -bless him. - -He saw a ladder set upon the earth, whose top reached to Heaven. Holy -angels were going up and down the ladder, and, above them all, stood -God. - -[Illustration: JACOB'S DREAM.] - -And a voice said, "I am the God of Abraham and of Jacob. I will give the -land where thou liest to be a possession to thy children. I am with thee -and will keep thee in all thy places, and bring thee again into thy -land." - -Then Jacob awoke. "This is God's place," he said, "and I knew it not. -This is the House of God and the Gate of Heaven." - -Then he took a stone and poured oil upon it and blessed it. "This place -shall be called Bethel," he said; "Bethel, which means the House of God, -for here God appeared unto me." - -From Bethel Jacob went on to the land of his uncle Laban; and there he -dwelt for many years, keeping the sheep. - -But the time came when Laban looked with jealousy upon Jacob. The Lord -came again to Jacob and bade him take his wife, Rachael, and his -children and go back to Canaan. Jacob obeyed, and, driving his great -flocks before him, he set out again for his old home. - -[Illustration: JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL.] - -As he neared the village of Seir, where Esau dwelt, he sent messengers -ahead to tell Esau that he was returning, and to beg him to forgive the -past that they might meet each other in brotherly love. - -The servants came back and told him that Esau was coming to meet him -with four hundred men. Then Jacob was in great fear, for he thought Esau -meant to kill him. - -He prayed to God to keep him safe. At night an angel came and wrestled -with him till break of day, but could not overcome him. And when morn -came, the angel said, "Let me go, for it is break of day." Jacob said, -"I will not let thee go till thou bless me." Then the angel blessed him, -and he saw him no more. This was a sign from God to Jacob that, as he -was a match for an angel, he need not fear men. - -He took some of his cattle and sent them as a gift to Esau. He set them -in droves, so that when Esau met them, and asked whose they were, the -men should say, "They are Jacob's. It is a gift he has sent to my lord -Esau." Each man who drove the cattle was to answer in this way, so that -Esau might feel that Jacob had come as a friend. - -All at once Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming. Then he called his -eleven sons and Rachel and Leah to go with him and meet Esau. - -When he met Esau he bowed down to the ground seven times. Then Esau ran -to him and put his arms round his neck and kissed him, and they both -wept. - -Esau led Jacob to his home and there feasted him for seven days. And -when he was rested Jacob set forth again, driving his herds before him, -to make a home for his people in the land of Canaan; for he was an old -man now, and wished only to rest in the land of his fathers, and to see -his twelve sons comfortably placed in homes of their own, with their -wives, their children, and their flocks about them. JOSEPH. - - "Now let us thank the Eternal Power; convinced - That Heaven but tries our virtue by affliction, - That oft the cloud which wraps the present hour - Serves but to brighten all our future days." - - -Jacob had twelve sons; but the one dearest to the old father's heart was -Joseph, a lad of only seventeen years when Jacob came back into the land -of Canaan. - -The older of these sons were selfish, cruel men; and more than that, -they had forsaken the God of Abraham, and were worshipping graven -images. Poor old Jacob's heart was heavy! - -"Go now to Bethel," said a voice to him one night in a dream. "Make an -altar there to thy God." - -Jacob obeyed; and when the altar was built, he called his sons together -and told them the visions he had had. He told them the stronghold God -had always been to him in his life, and begged them to forsake their -idols and turn again to the true God. - -Then Jacob went on to Hebron, where Abraham had lived, and where Isaac -still lived, an old, old man, nearly two hundred years old. - -It was a joyous meeting--this meeting between Isaac and Jacob. Esau, -too, came, and Isaac blessed them both and bade them love each other. -Isaac died very soon after, and Jacob, an old man now himself, sat in -the door of the tent of his fathers. - -To Joseph, Jacob had given a coat of many colors, as a token of his -great love for him. And because of this Joseph's brothers hated him only -the more. Jealousy burned in their hearts, and they plotted together to -slay the boy. - -One night Joseph had a vision. In the dream eleven stars came and stood -before him and bowed themselves to the ground. And a voice said, "So -shall your brothers one day bow before you." - -Joseph told his vision to Jacob and to his brothers. The father observed -the sayings, but the brothers were made only the more angry. - -Now, his brothers spent their days upon the hillside tending their -flocks. And one day Jacob said to Joseph, "Go, my son, and see if any -evil has befallen your brothers." - -So Joseph set out. It was a long way to the pasture lands, and the boy -was tired and footsore. And when he reached the place no sign could he -find of his brothers. - -"Tell me," asked Joseph of the men upon the plains, "where are my -brothers that watch their sheep here upon these hillsides?" - -The men answered, saying, "Your brothers have gone to the place called -Dothan, which is many miles from here." - -Then Joseph, after resting, started on towards Dothan. There his -brothers saw him, and recognized him afar off by the bright colors of -his coat. - -"Here comes our dreamer," sneered one brother. - -"He who shall reign over us," sneered another. - -Then the face of the oldest brother grew black and bitter. "Let us kill -him," he said, "and cast him into some pit." - -"No," said Rueben, "we need not stain our hands with his blood. Let us -only cast him into the pit, and then tell our father Jacob that a wild -beast has slain him." - -This plan seemed most pleasing to them; and when Joseph came near, -they fell upon him, tore his coat from him, and made ready to throw him -into a pit. - -[Illustration: JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN.] - -But just then there came along the highway a company of merchants, bound -for Egypt. They had a long train of camels, and these were loaded with -fruits and spices. - -"Let us sell Joseph to these merchants," said one of the brothers. And -when the merchants came up, they pushed Joseph towards them and sold him -for twenty pieces of silver. - -Then they killed a kid, and dipped the coat in the kid's blood, and went -back with it to Jacob. - -"O father Jacob! This coat have we found by the wayside, and we know not -whether it be the coat of Joseph or not!" - -The old father looked at the coat. He saw the blood upon it; then he -bowed his head and groaned. Too well did he know it to be the coat of -his dear son, Joseph. - -[Illustration: DESPAIR OF JACOB. (_Schopin._)] - -All day long the old man wept, refusing to be comforted. "I will go down -into my grave unto my son mourning," he said. But the sons cared not for -his grief. It was enough that they were rid of the brother whom they -hated. - -[Illustration] - - - - -PHARAOH'S DREAM. - - -Poor Joseph was carried into Egypt, and there sold again to a rich man, -whose name was Potiphar. Potiphar was very proud of his new slave, so -tall and strong and beautiful was he; and for a time Joseph dwelt most -happily in his new home. But Potiphar's wife was a bad woman. And -because he refused, at her desire, to do evil, she had him thrown into -prison; and to Potiphar she told such stories about the boy that for a -time Potiphar himself was deceived, and so permitted Joseph to be in -prison, giving him no opportunity to prove to his master how untrue -these stories were. - -Now, in prison with Joseph were servants of King Pharaoh. One morning, -when Joseph went to them, they were downcast and sad. - -"Why look ye so sad?" said Joseph. - -"We have dreamed dreams, and we have no one to interpret them," they -said. - -"It is God who sends dreams," said Joseph. "Tell them to me. It may be I -can interpret them for you." - -Then one of the servants told his dream. "I saw in my dream a vine; and -in the vine were three branches. They budded, the flowers came, the -fruit ripened. Then I took Pharaoh's cup, gathered the grapes and -pressed them in the cup, and gave it to Pharaoh." - -"Take courage, my brother," said Joseph, "for it is a good dream. The -three branches are three days. The dream means that in three days -Pharaoh will liberate thee, and thou shalt give the cup into his hands. - -"And do not forget me when thou art again free. For I have been sold -into bondage and stolen away from Canaan. Neither have I deserved to be -thrown into this dungeon. Speak then to Pharaoh for me, and beg him to -free me from this prison." - -Then the other servant told his dream: "I had three baskets of meat upon -my head. They were baked meats for Pharaoh. The birds came and ate the -meat from the baskets." - -"Alas!" said Joseph, "the meaning of thy dream is this: In three days -Pharaoh shall hang thee upon a tree; and the birds shall come and eat -thee." - -Now, as it proved, Joseph had interpreted the dreams aright; for the -power of vision had been with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob before him. - -[Illustration: JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM.] - -But the servant who went back into Pharaoh's home forgot Joseph when -once he was free himself; and so for two long years Joseph lay in -prison. - -Then Pharaoh himself had two strange dreams, and no one in the land -could interpret them. Then the old servant, remembering how Joseph -interpreted his dream for him so long before, told Pharaoh of him; and -Pharaoh at once freed him from prison and bade him come before him to -interpret his dreams. - -"I dreamed," said Pharaoh, "that I stood beside a river. Seven fat kine -came out from it and fed in the meadow. Soon seven more came out, thin -and bad. Then the seven lean kine ate up the seven fat kine. - -"Then I awoke. But when I slept again, I dreamed that seven good ears of -corn came out upon one stem. And soon after, seven more, thin and bad. -And the seven bad ears ate up the seven good ears." - -"The dreams, great king," said Joseph, "mean this: There shall be seven -years of great fruitfulness in the land. Then shall come seven years of -famine. And the seven years of famine shall eat up all the fruitfulness -of the first seven years. - -"Now let Pharaoh take warning. Let him hoard up all the corn that can be -spared in these first seven years. Then, when the years of famine come, -there will be corn for all who dwell in the land." - -Pharaoh was pleased with the wisdom of Joseph. He appointed him at once -to have charge over the corn, and commanded the people to obey him in -all that he bade them do. Then the king gave him a ring and a chain of -gold to wear upon his neck. He dressed him in fine linen and made him a -golden chariot. And the people loved Joseph and obeyed him. - -Then followed seven years of fruitfulness, such as even the fertile -valley of Egypt had never known before; and the people hoarded their -corn until their store houses were full to bursting. - -And when every house was full, then began the drought and famine; and no -food grew for the people in all the seven years that followed. Great -indeed might have been the suffering; for no rain came, no corn grew, -and everywhere the people were crying to Joseph for food. - -And the famine spread even into the country of Canaan; and Joseph's own -people were starving. - -[Illustration: JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.] - -[Illustration] - - - - -JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. - - -The brothers of Joseph heard that in Egypt there was corn stored away in -plenty; so they went down into Egypt to beg for it. - -They came before Joseph, and bowed low before him, even as in the vision -so long ago it had been foretold that they would bow before him. - -"Who are you?" said Joseph; for he wished to try his brothers and see if -they would speak the truth. - -"We are the sons of Jacob," said they; "and we are come from the land of -Canaan." - -"Have you any other brothers?" asked Joseph. - -"We have one younger brother at home," they said. - -"How do I know if you speak truly? Go to your homes--I will give you -corn--and bring to me your youngest brother. Meanwhile I will hold one -of you here as prisoner until you return. Then shall I know if you are -honest men." - -So the nine brothers went back to Canaan and told Jacob what had -happened; but they did not know it was Joseph they had seen. - -And when they told Jacob what the man in Egypt had said, and that Simeon -had been left a prisoner, the old father lifted up his voice and wept. -"Never," said he, "shall ye carry Benjamin into Egypt. Joseph ye have -lost to me, and now Simeon! And if mischief befall Benjamin by the way -in which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to the -grave." - -But when all the corn was eaten and there was no more food, Jacob was -obliged to send Benjamin into Egypt with his brothers; for they dared -not go without him. - -Joseph saw them coming, and his heart was glad when he saw his brother -Benjamin with them. - -So he spoke to his servants and bade them make ready a feast for the ten -men who had come from Canaan. Simeon he freed from prison, and all were -received into his own home. - -They came into the banquet hall, and again they all bowed low before -Joseph, as in the dream it had been prophesied they should do. - -"Is thy father well?" Joseph asked of his brothers. - -And the brothers answered, "Jacob is well." - -Then the tears came into the eyes of Joseph, and he looked with -tenderness upon them all. But they knew him not. And in the morning of -the next day they set out again for Canaan, their bags filled with corn. - -But when they were departing, Joseph said to his steward, "Put my silver -cup into the sack of the youngest; and when they are well out upon the -road, overtake them, make a pretence of searching them for it, and bring -back him in whose sack you find the cup." - -The servant did as he was bid; and Benjamin, in whose sack, of course, -the cup was found, was brought back to Joseph. Ashamed, the other -brothers too came back and fell at Joseph's feet. - -"Weep not," said Joseph. "Do you not know me? I am your brother Joseph, -whom, so many years ago, you did sell into bondage." - -Then the oldest brother fell upon his face before Joseph; and Benjamin -fell upon his neck and wept tears of joy. - -"Go back now to Canaan. Take with you wagons and horses. Tell my father -that I am rich and happy; that I am governor over the province; and that -I send these wagons to bear him to me, that I may look once more upon -his face." - -Great was the rejoicing in Canaan when the sons brought the good tidings -from Joseph. And straightway Jacob and all his family set forth for the -land of Egypt. - -Eagerly the old father pressed forward to meet his son. And when Joseph -saw him afar off, he rode out in his own chariot to meet him. They fell -upon each other's necks and kissed each other; and Jacob lifted his face -in prayer to God, who had permitted him to see again the son he loved. - -[Illustration: JACOB GOETH INTO EGYPT.] - -Then Joseph led them to his own palace, and a great feast was held. - -For seventeen years Jacob dwelt in Egypt with his children, and most -happy were they, now all together once more. - -But Jacob was now one hundred and forty-seven years old; and when he -knew his end was near, he called his twelve sons to him and blessed them -all. He told them many wonderful things which sometime would come to -them; and when he had finished prophesying, he kissed them all, then lay -back upon his bed and died. For seven days they mourned for him; and -then they carried him to Canaan and buried him in the field of -Macphelar. - -Joseph returned to Egypt, where he lived a long and happy life; and when -he died, he too, we trust, was carried back and laid in the burial-place -of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. - -[Illustration: THE FINDING OF MOSES. (_Paul Delaroche._)] - - - - -THE STORY OF MOSES. - - - Gently slumber'd on the wave - The new-born seer of old, - Ordained the chosen tribes to save; - Nor deem'd how darkly roll'd - The waters by his rushy bark, - Perchance e'en now defiled - With infant's blood for Israel's sake, - Blood of some priestly child. - - What recks he of his mother's tears, - His sister's boding sigh? - The whispering reeds are all he hears, - And Nile, soft weltering nigh, - Sings him to sleep, but he will wake, - And o'er the haughty flood - Wave his stern rod; and lo! a lake, - A restless sea of blood! - - -Joseph had been dead now many, many years. Pharaoh too had died, and a -new Pharaoh was on the throne. - -And all these years the children of the twelve brothers had grown up and -passed away. Many children had been born to them; and these too had -grown up and passed away, leaving their children now in the land of -Egypt. - -The children of the twelve brothers had been called Israelites, because -to Jacob had been given the name Israel. From out the clouds had God -spoken to him and said, "Thou shalt henceforth be called Israel." - -Now, the Israelites had always been a people apart from the Egyptians. -They had kept the faith of their fathers in the midst of the idolatry of -the land in which they lived. - -The new Pharaoh hated these Israelites and made slaves of them. He gave -them all manner of hard work to do; and at one time ordered them, on -penalty of their lives, to make for him bricks without straw. - -At another time he sent out his soldiers, and bade them slay every -little Israelitish boy in the land, that thus the race might be -exterminated. - -But this was not to be. For, you remember, it was prophesied away back -in the days of Abraham, that, though the Israelites should go out from -their land and live for 400 years, yet again the time would come when -they should return to Canaan, the land the Lord had blessed to them. - -Now, at the time Pharaoh sent out the cruel command, there was among the -Israelites one mother, of the family of Levi, who had a beautiful little -baby boy. - -"My baby shall not be slain," she said. So she took him down to the -river, made a little basket, placed him in it, and hid him in the -bulrushes. - -Every day, and many times a day, she went down to see that he was -comfortable and to carry him food. - -But one day the daughter of the king came down to the water to bathe. -Straight towards the place where the baby was she came, while Miriam, -the baby's sister, hid among the bulrushes, trembling with fear. - -"See this poor little baby!" said the princess; and the tears came in -her eyes. "It is one of the children of the Israelites," she said, -"hidden here from the cruel soldiers." - -Then the kind woman lifted it from its little basket and held it close -to her heart. - -Now, Miriam was a wise little girl; and when she saw that the princess -was kind, she came out from the bulrushes and said, "Shall I not bring -you a good woman to nurse the little baby for you?" - -Then the princess bade her go with speed, for already the baby was -beginning to cry. - -Miriam ran and brought the baby's mother. - -"Take this child, good woman," said the princess, "and bring it up as -your own. It shall be my child, and I will name it Moses, because I drew -him out of the water." - -And so the little baby was taken back to its old home, and every day the -princess sent to know if it were well; and often she came herself, -bringing gold for its nurse and fine linen for the child. - -When the baby grew to be a boy the princess sent him to the wisest -teachers in the land, that he might himself grow wise and great. - -But the true mother of Moses had taught him the religion of his fathers, -and had told him the story of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph. -She had told him, too, of the promise of God, that sometime the -Israelites should again possess the land of Canaan. - -To Moses this was a wonderful story; and he wished often that he might -be the prophet that was to deliver his people. - -One day Moses saw an Egyptian cruelly beating an Israelite. His heart -burned with indignation, and he fell upon the Egyptian and slew him. - -Then Moses fled out into the wilderness; for he knew he had offended -against the law. - -On through the wilderness he pressed, till he came into the field where -a priest named Jethro lived. Jethro gave him food and shelter; and it -came about that Moses became one of Jethro's family. For a long time he -dwelt among these people, tending their flocks, and thinking about his -poor people, suffering in their bondage to the Egyptians. - - - - -MOSES' VISION. - - - Far out across the sandy wild, - Where, like a solitary child - He thoughtless roamed and free, - One towering thorn was wrapped in flame-- - Bright without blaze it went and came, - Who would not turn and see? - - --_Keble._ - - -One day, as Moses tended the sheep on Mt. Horeb, there appeared beside -him a bright light. And in another instant a bush near by leaped with -red flames. - -The branches crackled; the tongues of flame streamed up against the sky; -but still the bush was not consumed, nor did it wither. - -"This is strange," Moses thought; and he went up to the bush. - -"Moses! Moses!" called a voice from out the flames. - -[Illustration: MOSES COMING DOWN FROM MOUNT SINAI.] - -Then Moses knew it was the voice of the Lord; and he fell upon his knees -before the bush. He was afraid. - -"The place where thou standest it is holy-ground!" said the voice again. -"I am God, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob." - -"I have seen my people's sorrow. I have heard their cry. I am come to -send thee to Pharaoh. And thou shalt bring my people out of Egypt." - -"Who am I, O Lord," Moses cried, "that I should be chosen to go to -Pharaoh?" - -"Fear not," said the voice of God again. "I will be with thee. Go, and -tell thy people that I sent thee. If Pharaoh disobey my command, then -will I send punishment upon him. Plagues will I send upon Egypt, and I -will bring out my people safely." Still Moses was afraid. It was a -great duty that had been laid upon him. He dared not believe he could do -all that the Lord bade him to do. What if the people refused to believe -him? - -"Throw thy rod upon the ground," God said to Moses. For he knew the fear -that was in the heart of the man, and he meant to give him courage. - -Moses threw the rod upon the ground, and behold, it was changed into a -serpent. - -"Take the serpent in thy hand," commanded the voice from the burning -bush. - -For a moment Moses hesitated; for it was a terrible serpent, with fangs -having deadly poison; and even the heart of the bravest man might well -quail at such a command. - -But Moses knew the Lord would not allow it to harm him. So he seized it -by the tail--when lo! it changed again to a rod. - -"Now," said the voice from the bush, "go to the people of Israel. Tell -them these signs I have given to you that they may believe that I have -sent you." - -Still Moses feared. "O Lord," he cried, "I cannot speak well. My tongue -is slow; I have no words." - -But the Lord said, "Who hath made thy tongue dumb? Have not I, the Lord? -Go; obey my command and I will instruct thee what thou shalt say. Take, -too, thy brother Aaron with thee; and I will teach both Aaron and thee -what to say." - -Then Moses obeyed. Timid was he still; but the Lord gave him strength, -and he set out from the house of Jethro to deliver the people of Israel. -And as he journeyed towards the city, the Lord spoke, too, to Aaron, -and bade him to go out to meet Moses. - -Then Aaron and Moses met; and when they met, they fell upon each other's -necks and wept. - -Then they told each other what the Lord had said to them, and together -they went into the presence of Pharaoh and said, "Behold the Lord hath -told us to come to thee, and bid thee set free the people of Israel." - -But Pharaoh sneered and said, "I know not the Lord of the Israelites, -nor shall I set the people free." - -Instead, Pharaoh called together his governors and bade them oppress the -Israelites more heavily still; to give them more work and less pay; to -punish them; and in every way to do those things to them that would make -their yoke still harder to bear. - -The governor obeyed. Then the poor Israelites blamed Moses and Aaron. - -Moses went to God with the great burden of care now upon him. He was now -eighty years of age, and the care weighed upon him most heavily. - -"All this I do know," the Lord said. "But have trust in me. I have heard -the groanings of my people. I remember the covenant that I made with -Abraham, and I will bring the people out from Egypt into the land of -Canaan." - -[Illustration: MOSES AND AARON BEFORE PHARAOH.] - - - - -THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. - - - Yet think not thou, amidst thy warlike bands, - They lie beyond redemption in thine hands. - The God in whom they trust may help them still, - They know He _can_ deliver, and He _will_: - Whether by life or death afflicts them not; - On His decree, not thine, they rest their lot. - - --_Montgomery._ - - -God gave to Moses and Aaron power to do wonderful things, miraculous -things, that through them Pharaoh might know that the power of God was -with them. - -Aaron went before Pharaoh, and, throwing down his rod before him, it -turned to a serpent. - -But Pharaoh only laughed. "My wise men can do as much," he said. So he -called them. They also did in like manner, but the rod of Aaron -swallowed up the rods of Pharaoh's wise men. - -Now, it is the river Nile that makes Egypt the fertile, fruitful country -that it is. Without it Egypt would be a burning desert. The Egyptians -well knew this. One day Moses went down to the waters, and, stretching -his rod out over them, turned them to blood. The people were frightened. - -The fish died; and no man could drink of the water. - -Then Moses stretched out his rod again across the water; and behold -thousands upon thousands of frogs came up out of the water. They -infested the land. The houses were full of them. They sprang upon the -banquet table of the king; and when he went to bed they were there also. - -Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and said, "Take away these horrible frogs, -and I will set thy people free." - -Moses raised his rod again, and the frogs disappeared. There was rest in -the land again. - -But when they were gone, Pharaoh hardened his heart again. He would not -let the Israelites go. - -"Stretch forth thy rod again," came the word of God to Moses. He -stretched forth his rod, and another plague fell upon the country. The -ground was covered with lice, and the lice swarmed upon the animals and -upon the people. - -Then Moses went to Pharaoh and said, "Let my people go; but if thou wilt -not, I will send flies upon thee and upon thy people; but I will send no -flies upon the Israelites." - -But Pharaoh would not listen. And the flies came--wasps and biting -insects. But none of these came near the Israelites, though about the -homes of the Egyptians they swarmed until Pharaoh, beside himself with -torment, called upon Moses to deliver him from the plague, promising -again to free the people of Israel. - -Again this plague was lifted; and again Pharaoh perjured his soul. For -no sooner was he free, than again he refused to let the people go. - -Then the Lord sent Moses again into the presence of the king. "If thou -wilt not let the people go," said Moses to Pharaoh, "then a plague shall -fall upon the cattle; and not one shall be left alive to all the -Egyptians; but those of the Israelites shall be free from harm." - -Pharaoh made no answer; and on the morrow the plague fell, and not only -the cattle but the magicians were covered with boils. Besides this, a -terrible storm came. The trees were broken down, and the crops in the -fields were destroyed. - -Pharaoh was terrified. Famine he knew now would follow; for they had -neither meat nor corn for food. And again he promised freedom to the -Israelites. - -But when the storm had ceased, and the crops were again growing, he -forgot his terror, and freed not the people. - -Then the locusts came, millions upon millions of them. They swarmed upon -every bit of green in all the land and devoured it,--the leaves, the -grass, and the newly-growing crops. Not a leaf nor a blade was left. And -again famine sent terror into the soul of Pharaoh. And again he promised -freedom to the Israelites; and again he refused, when the plague was -lifted, to keep his promise. - -[Illustration: THE PLAGUE OF DARKNESS.] - -Then came a terrible darkness upon the country,--a darkness that no -light could penetrate. - -"Go, Moses," said Pharaoh again. "Go out from the land to the land thou -lovest. Go; but leave behind thee thy cattle and thy possessions. Those -belong to Egypt." - -Now, to have set out with the great company of the Israelites without -cattle and corn for food would have been worse than useless for -starvation would have come upon them. - -Therefore Moses answered, "No, Pharaoh, the Israelites go not forth from -Egypt without their cattle and corn and all that belongs to them." - -Then Pharaoh was angry, and he drove Moses forth from him, saying, -"Never more let me look upon thy face!" - -[Illustration: THE FIRST BORN SLAIN.] - -Moses went out from the palace and told all that had happened to the -Lord. - -The darkness ended in three days. Then God said, "Now will I send -another and a greater plague upon Pharaoh; and after this, he will let -the people go." - -So God sent an angel to smite the first-born of all the Egyptians. This -Moses told to his people, and bade them put a mark upon their own -doorsteps, that the angel might pass by the homes of the Israelites, and -leave their children unharmed. - -This the Israelites did; and in the night-time the angel came. Not one -house of the Israelites did he enter; but in every house of the -Egyptians, when the sun rose, there lay the dead body of the oldest -child. - -Then a groan went up from the people. There was wailing in the streets. -Pharaoh himself could bear no more. He sent for Moses and Aaron in the -night time and said to them, "Rise up, you and the Israelites and all -their children. Take all that you have and be gone." - -Then Moses and Aaron told the people, and bade them make haste lest -again Pharaoh repent. But Pharaoh's heart was too heavy. At last his -proud spirit was subdued, and Moses and Aaron, with 600,000 Israelites, -set out for the land of Canaan. - - - - -THE DESTROYING ANGEL. - - - He stopped at last, - And a mild look of sacred pity cast - Down on the sinful land where he was sent - To inflict the tardy punishment. - - "Ah! yet," said he, "yet, stubborn king, repent, - Whilst thus unarm'd I stand, - Ere the keen sword of God fill my commanded hand; - Suffer but yet thyself and thine to live: - Who would, alas! believe - That it for man," said he, - "So hard to be forgiven should be, - And yet for God so easy to forgive!" - - Through Egypt's wicked land his march he took, - And as he march'd the sacred first born strook - Of every womb: none did he spare, - None, from the meanest beast to Pharaoh's purple heir. - - Whilst health and strength and gladness doth possess - The festal Hebrew cottages; - The blest destroyer comes not there - To interrupt the sacred cheer: - Upon their doors he read, and understood - God's protection writ in blood; - Well was he skill'd i' the character divine; - And though he passed by it in haste, - He bow'd and worshipp'd, as he pass'd, - The mighty mystery through its humble sign. - - --_A. Cowley_ - - -[Illustration: THE EGYPTIANS DROWNED IN THE RED SEA.] - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE RED SEA. - - -When the Israelites were gone, peace settled down upon Egypt and all -things prospered. This was because Pharaoh had given freedom to the -people of Israel, and so had caused the displeasure of God to be removed -from the land. - -But Pharaoh did not think of it in that way. He began, rather, to think -that he had done a most foolish thing in allowing 600,000 faithful -workmen and slaves to go out from the land. The Egyptians needed their -help in brick making, and in the planting and reaping of the heavy -crops. - -The more he thought of it, the stronger grew his determination to bring -the Israelites back. He had forgotten the suffering that had come to his -people; and perhaps he began to think this suffering might more easily -have been kept away. - -So what do you suppose the foolish, hard-willed, stubborn-hearted -Pharaoh did? He gathered together a great army and started out in -pursuit of the Israelites. - -"If only we can overtake them before they reach the Red Sea," he -thought, "we shall easily drive them back into Egypt." - -Now, the Lord heard the wicked plotting of Pharaoh, and although he -allowed him to set forth, he allowed no harm to come to his chosen -people. - -A great cloud he had placed behind them and all around them as they -traveled by day, so that by it they were shielded from the view of any -enemy that might be lurking in the neighborhood of their march. - -And by night this cloud became a pillar of fire, that by its light they -might be guided through the strange wilderness. - - When Israel, of the Lord beloved, - Out from the land of bondage came, - Her fathers' God before her moved, - An awful guide in smoke and flame. - By day, along the astonished lands - The cloudy pillar glided slow; - By night Arabia's crimson sands - Returned the fiery column's glow. - There rose the choral hymn of praise, - And trump and timbrel answered keen; - And Zion's daughters poured their lays, - With priest's and warrior's voice between. - -But when Pharaoh came upon the Israelites, with his great army of horse -and men and war chariots, they were resting beside the waters of the -Red Sea. - -When the Israelites saw the army, they were stricken with fear. They -forgot that God had led them thus far, and that he had promised to guide -them and bring them at last, safe, into the promised land of Canaan. - -They rose in terror; and many of them began to cry out against Moses, -who had allowed this danger to come upon them. - -"Be not afraid!" said Moses. And just then the pillar of cloud moved -around so that it blinded the Egyptians. They could not see the -Israelites. They could hardly see each other; for it was like a dense -fog fallen upon them. - -"Stretch out thy rod across the sea," said the voice of God to Moses. -Moses obeyed. The waters parted, and the Israelites passed over to the -other side unharmed. - -But when they were half across the cloud lifted, and the Egyptians saw -the Israelites. - -Down into the water-parting they plunged,--men, horses, chariots, all; -and on they dashed in quick pursuit. - -Foolish Pharaoh! Did he not know that the parting of the water was not -for him? Had not he yet learned that God was with the Israelites? - -The Israelites were now across the sea. They were climbing the opposite -bank. The last man had reached the top. Then Moses raised his rod again, -and the waters of the sea came together with a great rushing sound. They -foamed and seethed, and the great army of the Egyptians sank beneath the -great pillars of water that closed over them on either side. All were -drowned; and the Israelites were at last freed from Pharaoh, king of -Egypt. - - "Fly, Misraim, fly!"--From Edom's coral strand - Again the prophet stretched his dreadful wand:-- - With one wild crash the thundering waters sweep, - And all is waves--a dark and lonely deep; - And strange and sad the whispering breezes bore - The groans of Egypt to Arabia's shore. - -Then the Israelites halted in their march and held a festival of -thanksgiving; for they were now free from their old enemy. - -Then they went on into the wilderness. And Miriam, the prophetess, the -sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women event out -after her with timbrels. And Miriam said, "Let us sing to the Lord, for -He hath triumphed gloriously." - -They offered sacrifices, they prayed and sang, and danced. - - - - -MIRIAM'S SONG. - - - Sound the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea! - Jehovah has triumphed--His people are free! - Sing!--for the pride of the tyrant is broken: - His chariots, his horsemen, all splendid and brave,-- - How vain was their boasting!--the Lord hath but spoken, - And chariots and horsemen are sunk in the wave. - Sound the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea! - Jehovah has triumphed--His people are free! - - Praise to the Conqueror, praise to the Lord! - His word was our arrow, His breath was our sword! - Who shall return to tell Egypt the story - Of those she sent forth in the hour of her pride? - For the Lord hath looked out from his pillar of glory, - And all her brave thousands are dashed in the tide. - Sound the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea: - Jehovah has triumphed--His people are free! - - --_Moore._ - - -[Illustration: MOSES STRIKING THE ROCK IN HOREB.] - - - - -IN THE WILDERNESS. - - - So led He them, in desert marches grand, - By toils sublime, with test of long delay, - On, to the borders of that Promised Land, - Wherein their heritage of glory lay. - - -Wonderfully they were being led. Surely one would suppose they could -never doubt God again, nor Moses, the leader God had chosen for them. -But alas! there were many among them who seemed little better than the -Egyptians, their oppressors. - -They had gone only a few miles when they came to the waters of Marah, -which were bitter. They were tired, and longed to encamp for the night. -Then they began to groan and to cry aloud, "O, why have you brought us -into a land where there is no water?" - -But Moses, never failing in trust and patience, cast a tree, which the -Lord had shown him, into the waters, and lo! they became sweet. The -people drank and were satisfied; and there they encamped and rested. - -When God gave them the sweet water to drink, he said to Moses, "If thou -wilt obey me I will be with thee always. I will keep, and bless, and -strengthen thee, thee and all thy people. And there shall come to thee -neither disease nor plague." - -When the people heard these words, they were comforted and meant never -to doubt again. But a few days after this, when they had come into the -heart of the wilderness, and there seemed no way of finding food, again -they complained to Moses that he had led them into the wilderness to -starve. - -But God heard their murmurings and sent great flocks of quails on which -to feed them. Thousands and thousands were there of them, and they -covered the ground, the trees, and the tents, so great were their -numbers. The Israelites caught them and ate them, and their hunger was -appeased. - -"But what shall we do in the morning?" the fretful, faithless ones said. - -And in the morning the ground was covered with tiny round loaves of -sweet bread, the manna that had been sent from heaven; for so were the -children of Israel fed in the wilderness. And when, by and by, again -there was no water to drink, Moses struck a great rock with his rod, and -the water poured forth. - -The children of Israel had now come into the wilderness of Sinai, and -had pitched their tents at the foot of the mountain. Moses was -commanded by the Lord to go into the mountain, while the people rested -in the valley below. And when Moses had reached the top, God spoke to -him. - -"Go and tell the Israelites how great a thing God has done for them, in -bringing them through the Red Sea and freeing them from the cruel king, -Pharaoh. - -"Tell them to remember that they are my chosen people, and that I will -be their God always. - -"Bid them prepare themselves for the third day; for on the third day -will I come down upon this mountain and speak with them. They shall not -come up into the mountain. Whosoever touches the mountain top shall be -put to death. But when the trumpet sounds, then will I speak, and they -shall all come up into the mountain." Moses went down into the valley -and gave these words to the people. So they all made ready for the third -day. - -When the morning of the third day came, the Israelites looked up towards -the mountain top. Behold, a heavy black cloud hung over it, and fire and -smoke poured out from it, and the whole mountain shook! - -The people were frightened, and ran and hid themselves. But the trumpet -sounded, and God descended upon the mountain. - -And a voice called to Moses: "Again say to the people that they shall -not come up into the mountain. But thou, and Aaron with thee, come thou -up into the mountain." - -And Moses and Aaron obeyed. And there, upon the mountain top, they -beheld the glory of God, like a great cloud of glory. - -Then Moses and Aaron went down into the valley to tell the people what -they had seen. And when they had told the people, Moses went back into -the mountain; for God had told him to come there alone, that he might -tell him how to guide the great multitude that had been given to his -charge. - -[Illustration: MOSES BREAKING THE TABLETS OF THE LAW.] - -It was from Mt. Sinai that God gave to Moses the tablets upon which were -written the Ten Commandments; for Moses was in the mountain forty days -and forty nights, listening to the words that God spoke to him. - -And when so many days had gone by and Moses did not return, then the -people began to be frightened. - -"Moses has gone away and left us," they wailed, "and we have no gods to -guide us. Let us make a golden calf and set it up before us that we may -worship it." And so they built an altar, and placed the golden calf upon -it, and held a great feast. - -They were in the midst of their feast when Moses came down from the -mountain, the tablets in his hands. - -"What is this?" he thundered, as he drew near and heard the music and -saw the dancing and the feasting. - -The people were frightened. Some of them ran to hide; and so angry was -Moses that he hurled the tablets of stone from him and broke them in -pieces. - -"Why didst thou allow this thing to be done?" asked Moses of Aaron. - -"The people gave me their gold to melt, and it came out from the fire a -golden calf," answered Aaron weakly. - -Then Moses took the calf and ground it to powder; and the 3,000 -idolatrous men among them he commanded to be slain. - -Then Moses went again up into the mountain, and again wrote the ten -commandments upon tablets of stone, and again carried them to the -people. - -And now that the children of Israel might have a place for worship, the -Lord commanded that the people should make a tabernacle, and that in it -should be kept the sacred tablets. - -So the people went to work, and every man woman and child had a part in -the building of the tabernacle. - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE TABERNACLE. - - -The tabernacle was made of boards, with bars put across; and these bars -and boards were made of shittim wood and covered with gold. Within the -tabernacle, under the upper end, were four more pillars; a beautiful -covering, called the vail, was hung over them; and this hid the inside, -which was the most holy place, "the Holy of Holies," it was called. None -could go in there but the High Priest; and he went only once a year. In -the Holy of Holies was placed the ark. The ark was a chest, or box, made -of shittim wood, covered with gold; and there were rings in the sides -for poles to be put in when the ark was moved. The top of the ark was -called the mercy-seat; two golden angels, called cherubim, were placed -one on each side of the mercy-seat; they looked over it, and their wings -covered the top. In the ark were afterwards kept the tables of the -commandments, Aaron's rod, and afterwards a golden pot full of manna, -which God commanded to be put there. Outside the vail was the altar, on -which the holy bread, called shew-bread, was placed, and the great gold -candlestick. The tabernacle stood in a large open court; pillars of -brass surrounded it, and curtains were hung upon them. The brazen altar -for burnt offerings, and the great laver where the priests washed, stood -in this court. There were coverings and curtains to the tabernacle and -court. - -Over the boards of the tabernacle was thrown a covering of fine linen, -beautifully worked in scarlet, and purple, and blue; over the linen was -a covering of goat's hair; over this, a covering of ram's skins dyed -red; and another covering of thick skins was over all. The people were -not allowed to go into the tabernacle; but the priests went in every -morning to offer incense, and every evening to light the lamps; and on -the Sabbath, to take away the old shew-bread from the table, and to put -on new. The sacrifices were offered in the court, where the people -stood. - -Now, when the tabernacle was set up, Moses made Aaron the High Priest -and clothed him in the sacred garments of his office,--the coat, the -girdle, the robe, the ephod, the breastplate, and the mitre. The coat -was a long linen robe, with sleeves, and having a girdle worked in blue -and purple and scarlet. The robe was a long, blue linen garment, without -sleeves. - -Around the skirts were golden bells, which sounded whenever the High -Priest went into the Holy Place. - -The ephod was a short robe, worked also in blue, purple and scarlet; and -around the waist was worn a girdle of gold. - -The breastplate was made of cloth, and was very thick. It had four rings -to join it to the ephod, and twelve beautiful stones were set in it; and -on these stones were cut the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, that -is, the twelve sons of Jacob. - -The mitre was a linen turban; and on the front of it were the words, -_Holy of Holies_! - -When all was ready, the children held a sacred feast, and Moses anointed -Aaron with oil. - -The tabernacle established, the Israelites were now ready to move on -towards Canaan. - -[Illustration: RETURN OF THE SPIES FROM THE LAND OF PROMISE.] - - - - -THE PROMISED LAND. - - -Twelve men were chosen, one from each tribe, and sent ahead to see what -manner of place Canaan was, if there was land enough, and if the people -dwelling there were friendly. - -The twelve men set out, and after forty days came back again to the -camp, bringing rich fruits which they had gathered there. "The land of -Canaan is a beautiful country," they said, "and it is filled with fruits -and corn; but we fear the people there, for they are fierce and -warlike." - -At this many of the Israelites were frightened. Again they forgot God's -promises and began to upbraid Moses for having taken them from their -comfortable home in the wilderness. - -Then God was angry with them; and he spoke to them in tones of thunder, -telling them that for their wickedness they should never be permitted to -see the promised land of Canaan; that they should die in the wilderness; -and that only the children and the few faithful elders should live to -reach the Promised Land. - -This was a most grievous punishment to the people; but in a few days -they had forgotten it, and again rebellion arose among them. - -Three men, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, grew jealous of the power of Moses -and Aaron, and asked why all glory should be theirs. - -Moses, worn with the faithlessness of his people, fell upon his face and -wept when these jealous men spoke thus to him. His heart ached with the -injustice of it, and he despaired ever of teaching his people. - -The next day Korah and all his people came and stood before the -tabernacle, as Moses had bid them. Then the voice of the Lord spoke, -bidding the people move away from the tabernacle, leaving the three -doubting men and their families standing alone. - -Then there came a burst of thunder; the earth rocked and groaned; then a -great gulf opened beneath the feet of Korah and Dathan and Abiram, and -they, with all their children, were swallowed up. - -Then God commanded Moses to take twelve rods; and upon the rods to write -the names of the twelve tribes. On the rod of the tribe of Levi he was -to write the name of Aaron, because Aaron was of that tribe. - -"Place now the rods in the tabernacle; and the rod bearing the name of -him I appoint High Priest shall bud and blossom." - -[Illustration: DEATH OF KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM.] - -And when the morning came, behold the rod of Aaron had budded and -blossomed. Then the people were content; and the rod was kept ever after -in the tabernacle. - -For a time peace was in the camp, and more than once the Israelites came -near unto the Promised Land. But it had been said they should never -reach it; and so many, many times they fell back and turned away. - -Over and over again they rebelled at Moses and Aaron, until the patience -of those two was exhausted. They forgot themselves to ask for guidance, -and once, unable to endure greater trial, they cried out, "O ye rebels! -ye rebels!" and there was anger in their hearts as they spoke. - -By and by the time came for Aaron to die. So Moses took the priestly -garments from him and gave them to Eleazer. Then Aaron died, and the -Israelites mourned for him thirty days. - -Then the people wandered on and on. Once they were bitten by serpents; -and that they might be healed, Moses lifted a brazen serpent in the -wilderness and bade the suffering ones to look upon it and live. - -But now the forty years were nearly at an end; Canaan, too, was very -close; and, although the elders knew that it was not for them to see the -Promised Land, yet their children would; and so there was joy in the -camp. - -But now the death of Moses was at hand. He was one hundred and twenty -years old, and had wandered forty years, leading the rebellious -Israelites in the wilderness. So God said to Moses, "Come thou up into -Mt. Pisgah. From there thou shalt see the fair land of Canaan spread out -before thee, although thou mayst never go thither." - -So Moses called his people together and told them that his end was at -hand. He told them of all God had done for his people, and how -wonderfully they had been led forth from bondage. He then bade them take -Joshua for their leader; for he it was who should lead them into the -Promised Land. - -The people wept most bitterly, and many prostrated themselves before the -good man who had borne so much for them. - -Then Moses turned and went up into Mt. Pisgah. There lay the fair land -of Canaan at his feet, with its fertile valleys and rich fruits and -abundant harvests of corn. - -Upon this fair scene Moses gazed; then, raising his face towards God, -thanked Him that the wanderings of the children of Israel were now at an -end. - -Then he laid himself down and died. The Lord buried him, but no man -knew how or where. - -And when the children of Israel knew he would come no more to them, they -wept too for him thirty days upon the plains of Moab. - - - - -THE BURIAL OF MOSES. - - - By Nebo's lonely mountain, on this side Jordan's wave, - In a vale in the Land of Moab there lies a lonely grave. - And no man knows that sepulchre, and no man saw it e'er, - For the angels of God upturned the sod, and laid the dead man there. - - That was the grandest funeral that ever passed on earth; - But no man heard the trampling, or saw the train go forth-- - Noiselessly as the daylight comes back when night is done, - And the crimson streak on ocean's cheek grows into the great sun. - - Noiselessly as the spring-time her crown of verdure weaves, - And all the trees on all the hills open their thousand leaves; - So without sound of music, or voice of them that wept, - Silently down from the mountain's crown the great procession swept. - - Perchance the bald old eagle, on gray Beth-Peor's height, - Out of his lonely eyrie looked on the wondrous sight; - Perchance the lion stalking, still shuns that hallowed spot, - For, beast and bird have seen and heard that which man knoweth not. - - But when the warrior dieth, his comrades in the war, - With arms reversed and muffled drum, follow his funeral car; - They show the banners taken, they tell his battles won, - And after him lead his masterless steed, while peals the minute gun. - - Amidst the noblest of the land we lay the sage to rest. - And give the bard an honored place, with costly marble drest, - In the great minster transept where lights like glories fall, - And the organ rings, and the sweet choir sings along the - emblazoned wall. - - This was the truest warrior that ever buckled sword, - This the most gifted poet that ever breathed a word; - And never earth's philosopher traced, with his golden pen, - On the deathless page, truths half so sage as he wrote down for men. - - And hath he not high honor,--the hillside for a pall, - To lie in state while angels wait with stars for tapers tall, - And the dark rock-pines like tossing plumes, over his bier to wave, - And God's own hand, in that lonely land, to lay him in the grave? - - --_Alexander._ - - -[Illustration: THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CROSSING JORDAN.] - - - - -THE STORY OF JOSHUA. - - -Then Joshua led the Israelites forth; but when they came to the River -Jordan, again their courage failed them. - -Although they had been led through the Red Sea in the times of their -fathers, and though all their lives they had been told of that wonderful -deliverance, still, when now they came to the River Jordan, their hearts -grew heavy, and fear took possession of them. But there lay the country, -fair and beautiful. They could see it; and, with Joshua so brave and -true to lead them on, they gathered up their courage, and the great -company marched down to the river banks. - -Again the miracle of the parting of the waters was repeated; for the -waters roared and rushed, and heaped themselves, like great walls, on -either side while the Israelites passed through. - -Meantime Joshua had sent forward two men into the city of Jericho to -learn what manner of people were there; for Jericho was one of the -cities upon which the Israelites must make war. These people of Canaan -were not likely to give the country into the hands of a new people -without a struggle. That the Israelites well knew. Then, too, these were -in the days when all nations were at war with each other, and the -possession of a country was always a matter of force and strength,--one -people overcoming the other. - -When the two Israelites came into Jericho, they sought the house of a -woman named Rahab; and from her learned all those things about the city -that they needed to know. - -But the king of Jericho heard that two Israelites were in the city, and -at once he suspected them of being spies. Accordingly he sent messengers -to seize them and put them in prison. The messengers came, bearing with -them the authority of the king; but the two men were hid away by Rahab, -and the messenger went away. - -"I know," Rahab said, "that this land belongs to you; that God hath -promised it to you; for I have heard of the wonderful things that God -hath done for you and your people. Because of this I have hidden you -beneath the flax on the housetop; and now, when your people come to take -the city, forget not me. Tell your people the protection given you in -this house; then shall your soldiers spare me in the downfall of the -city." - -Then the Israelites promised that, in the ransacking of the city, this -woman Rahab should be spared. - -"When we are gone," they said, "fasten a red cord upon the window of the -house. Then, when we enter the city, the house in whose window the red -cord is, shall be spared." - -At night the woman let the Israelites down from the roof of the house by -a rope, and they hurried away to join the Israelites. - -In a few days the army of the Israelites appeared before the walls of -Jericho. The gates were closed, and the king's armies within were ready -to resist the attack. - -What were the Israelites to do? Should they attack the city with -battering rams and meet the people with spears and swords? - -This was the way of besieging cities in those days; and it was for this -kind of an attack that the people within were prepared. But this was -not the way the Israelites were to do their work; for God had told them, -even while in the wilderness, that the walls of Jericho were to be -beaten down in a way most strange. They were to take their Ark up to the -walls of the city. They were to draw up their soldiers in line. The -priests were to bear the Ark, and together all were to march around the -city, the priests blowing their trumpets as they passed before the Ark. - -Not a spear was to be thrown; not a sword was to be drawn. For seven -days they were to do this; but on the seventh day they were to march -seven times around the city. Then, amid the shouting of the people and -the blowing of the trumpets, the walls would fall; and so the city would -lie open before them. All this the Israelites did; and on the seventh -day it came about even as Joshua said it should,--the walls fell with a -terrible crash. Then the Israelites marched in and took the city. The -house of Rahab they did not forget. They brought her and all her family -out from the burning city and placed her in safety among their own women -and children. - -[Illustration: THE WALLS OF JERICHO FALLING DOWN.] - -Great loads of gold and silver and brass and iron they took from the -city. All of this they saved for the building of a temple; for they had -been warned to save no part of the city's wealth for their own use. - -In all this the Israelites obeyed, save one man. He, Achan, thinking no -one saw him, took some of the riches and carried them away and hid them. -Now, Joshua knew nothing of all this; but the next day, when the army -went against the little city of Ai, behold the Israelites were driven -back defeated. Even Joshua's heart was heavy. He could not see why it -should have been; but when he knelt before God, God said to him, "Never -can I fight for my people while there is sin among them. Go find Achan; -he hath hidden gold in the tent. Accuse him before the people and put -him to death. Then again shall success be with the Israelites." - -Joshua went before his people and told them what God had said to him. -Then Achan was called before the Israelites and put to death. - -"Now," said Joshua, "let us go against the city of Ai again." They went; -and this time the city was taken, and the people bowed before the power -of the Israelites, acknowledging them as their masters. THE GIBEONITES. - - The sun stood still, the moon it stayed - Till Israel's vengeance was allayed - Upon his enemy, - Pausing all that awful day - And glowing brilliantly. - - -While these cities were being taken, the Gibeonites had heard of the -coming of the Israelites and of their great conquests. Now, these -Gibeonites were a strong people; and so, when they heard these things, -they made preparations for the attack which they feared. First, they -sent messengers to Joshua. - -"We wish to make peace with you," the messenger said. - -"If you are Canaanites," said Joshua, "we can make no peace with you." - -"But we are not Canaanites," the messengers said. "Behold we come from -a great distance. Do you not see how dry our bread is, and how broken -our bottles are? Our shoes, too, see how they are worn! All these were -new when we began our journey; but we have been so long on the road, -they are worn. We have heard of your coming, as have all the kings round -about our country. We know how great is your power; and that is why we -have come to beg you to be at peace with our people." - -Now, this story was in no wise true; but Joshua believed it, and the -Gibeonites went away pleased indeed that they had succeeded so well. - -But a few days after, Joshua learned that these Gibeonites had been -untrue to him, and that they dwelt in the very midst of the country of -Canaan. - -"Why have you deceived us?" he asked of their leaders. - -The leaders could make no reply. They could only say, "But you promised -not to slay us." - -"That is true," Joshua replied. "And we will not break our promise. We -will not slay you; but we will take all prisoners, and you shall serve -us as slaves all the days of your life." - -The Gibeonites were heavy hearted indeed. They had fallen into their own -pit; for they would rather have died than become slaves. But now there -was no hope for them, and they could only bow their proud heads beneath -the yoke. - -Hardly had the Israelites and the Gibeonites made peace with each other -in this way, when down came the Amorites upon the Gibeonites to fight -them. - -[Illustration: JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SUN TO STAND STILL.] - -The Gibeonites, frightened at the appearance of the great army, fled to -Joshua for help. - -"We shall protect you as our servants and slaves," was the answer. And -so, when the Amorites came, it was the Israelites that marched out -against them. - -A terrible battle followed. For a time no one could have told which army -was to be victorious. Many were falling among the Amorites; still their -army was pressing forward. - -If only the day would not come to an end! If only the darkness would not -fall! If only they might keep on with the battle till the Amorites, -exhausted, should fall back! To give up the battle and begin again in -the morning would be to give the Amorites opportunity to regain strength -and courage. - -Then the thought came to Joshua, "Why _should_ night come? Why should -not the sun and the moon stand still in the heavens until this battle is -finished and the Amorites are driven back?" - -[Illustration: DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMY OF THE AMORITES.] - -And as he thought, lo! the prayer was answered, and the sun and the moon -did stand still. - -Hour after hour passed; the two armies fought on; the Amorites grew -weaker and weaker. Why did not the sun go down? Why did the darkness not -come to give them rest? - -At last the Amorites could hold out no longer. The army turned and fled. -The Israelites pursued. The kings hid themselves in a great cave. But -Joshua pursued these still. He rolled great stones up before the cave -and held them there prisoners. Then, when the Amorites had been -scattered, Joshua came back to the cave, brought out the offending -kings and slew them all. - -So the contention for the possession of the land of Canaan went on. One -by one the tribes were overcome; and at last Canaan was in the control -of the Israelites. - -But now Joshua had grown to be an old man. He knew that the end of his -life was near at hand. So he called the people together and told them, -even as Moses had told them, of all the wonderful things that had -happened to God's chosen people in all the four hundred years since they -had come out of Egypt. - -Then he appealed to them in the name of God, who had led them safely -into the land of Canaan; he begged them never to forget that they were -the Children of Israel, and that the religion of the people into whose -land they had come, an idolatrous religion, was not for them. Then the -people all promised to be true to the religion of their fathers; and -Joshua, taking the great book of the law, wrote their promise in it. -More than that, he rolled a great stone up beneath an oak tree and said, -"Look at the great stone. It has heard your promise that you will serve -always the one God. Guard that stone; and let it be a remembrance to you -of the promise you have made." - -The people went away sad at heart; for they knew they should never look -again upon their patient leader and teacher, who had been so faithful -and true to them in all the years he had been with them. - -[Illustration: DEBORAH] - - - - -EHUD AND DEBORAH. - - -For a few years the Israelites remembered their promise; but alas! they -were very prone to sink back into the idolatry which surrounded them. -And it was not very long before they were worshipping idols, even as -were the heathen tribes round about them. - -And again God sent cruel enemies to fight against them; again they cried -to Him, and He heard them. For eighteen years they served Eglon, the -cruel, wicked king of Moab. But at last God sent the Israelites a man to -help them, whose name was Ehud. - -Ehud told them to send a present to Eglon, and he would be its bearer. -The Israelites did this, and Ehud, making a dagger, and hiding it under -his clothes, went to Moab. When he came to the king he said, "I have a -secret to tell and must see the king alone." So Eglon sent away his -servants. When they were alone, Ehud took out his dagger and thrust it -into the king's body. Then Ehud ran out from the room, locked the doors -after him, and so escaped. - -No one saw Ehud go; and when the servants found the doors locked, they -thought their master had fallen asleep, and so they made no attempt to -go in. Many hours passed. At last the servants began to wonder why the -king did not send for them. Night came on. Still the king did not awake; -and so, at last, they took a key and opened the door. - -What did they see? There lay the king upon the ground,--dead! - -Ehud, meantime, had come back again, bringing many soldiers with him; -and the Israelites fought against the Moabites and conquered them. - -For some time after this the people held firmly to their faith, and Ehud -led them. But Ehud died; and then the Israelites again rebelled against -God. Again God, to punish them, sent Jabin, king of Canaan, to fight -against Israel; and he conquered them. This king was very cruel, and -they suffered much under his power for twenty long, terrible years. Now, -there was a very good woman living at that time, named Deborah. She -dwelt under a palm tree, between Ramah and Bethel. There she prayed and -sang, and talked to, and taught all the people who came to see her. -Deborah was a very wise woman and had the gift of prophecy. And so it -came about that, when the Israelites began to cry to God, Deborah, at -His command, sent for a brave man named Barak, and said to him, "Go now -and call men out of the tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali, and take them to -fight against Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army. God promises to give -us the victory." Barak said, "If thou wilt go with me, I will go." So -Deborah, with Barak and 10,000 men, went to fight against Sisera. "Do -not kill Sisera," Deborah said; "for God will give the wicked captain -into the hands of a woman." - -So Barak and his army went and fought against Sisera. Very soon the -Israelites won the victory, for it was as Deborah had prophesied. Then -Sisera came down from his chariot and fled from Barak. - -There was a man named Heber, who was at peace with Jabin; and Sisera ran -to Heber's tent for safety. When the man's wife, Jael, saw Sisera -coming, she went out to meet him and said, "Come in, come in, and fear -not." So Sisera came in and lay down; and Jael covered him with a -mantle. He asked for water; and she gave him milk, which he drank; and -then he lay down again. - -"Stand by the door," he said, "and if any one ask if I am here, say -'No.'" Then Sisera fell asleep, for he was weary with fighting and -running so far; and when he was asleep, then Jael went very softly, took -a large nail and a hammer, and hammered the nail into Sisera's head and -down into the ground. - -After this war forty years passed most happily and safely. The -Israelites lived in the fear of God, and he kept them in peace and gave -them rest from their enemies. - -But when the forty years were passed, the Israelites again loved evil; -and again, too, sorrows and punishments came upon them. - -First, the Midianites came to be their enemies. They came in great -numbers; they brought their camels and their cattle with them, and -pitched their tents in the land of the Israelites. The Israelites left -their pleasant houses and fields, and ran to hide in dens and caves, for -fear of the cruel Midianites. - -The pleasant land became barren and desolate. Then the Israelites cried -again to the Lord, for they knew that He could deliver them, and He -alone. - -God sent an answer to them by a prophet: "Thus saith the Lord, 'I -brought you safely out of Egypt and delivered you from the cruel -Egyptians, and drove away your enemies, and gave you the land of Canaan -for a possession; and I commanded you to obey and serve Me, and not to -worship the idols of the people who live near you; but you have not -obeyed My command.'" Then the prophet went away. THE STORY OF GIDEON. - - -Now, there was a man (living at Ophrah,) whose son was named Gideon. -Gideon was a true servant of the Lord; but his father was an idolater -and a worshipper of Baal. One day Gideon was threshing wheat in a hidden -place, lest the idolaters should see him and come and take his corn from -him. Gideon's heart was full of sorrowful thoughts as he threshed the -wheat; but, as he looked up, he saw an angel near him, sitting beneath -an oak. And Gideon heard him say, "The Lord is with thee." - -When Gideon heard the angel speak, he looked up with wonder. "Is the -Lord with us?" he cried. "Then why does He let the Midianites come and -destroy us? Why does He not work miracles for us, as He did for our -fathers, and deliver us from our enemies?" But the angel said again, "Go -now, I send thee to save Israel from the Midianites." - -Gideon was frightened; he had faith, but his faith was weak and small. -He could not believe that he could save Israel. - -"How can I save my brethren?" he said. "I am poor; all my family are -poor, and I am least in my father's house." But the angel said again, "I -will be with thee; I will give thee power to smite the Midianites." - -Gideon wondered. Could it be an angel that was talking to him? An angel -could give him power to conquer his enemies! - -"Wilt thou give me a sign that I may know who thou art?" he asked. "Stay -till I come again, and bring my offering with me." - -Then Gideon hurried away and made ready a kid and cakes of flour. He put -the flesh into a basket and the broth into a pot, and brought all out to -the oak tree where the angel waited. - -Now, the angel did not need food to strengthen him, but he accepted -Gideon's offering, and told him to lay the flesh and cakes upon the -rock, and to pour out the broth. Gideon hardly knew why, but he obeyed; -and then the angel of the Lord touched with his staff the flesh and the -cakes, and fire came out of the rocks and consumed them. - -The angel went away. Gideon knew not how or where; but he knew who the -angel was. Then Gideon cried with fear, "O, Lord God! for I have seen an -angel of the Lord face to face." - -And a voice answered, "Peace be unto thee; fear not, thou shalt not -die;" and Gideon named the place, "Jehovah-shalom," or "The Lord send -peace;" and he built an altar there to the Lord. - -Again the angel of the Lord God spoke to him. "Take thy father's bullock -and throw down the altar of Baal which thy father has. Build there an -altar unto the Lord and offer the bullock in sacrifice upon it." - -Now, Gideon's family all worshipped this Baal, and they would be very -angry if the idol altar was thrown down; it might be they would kill -Gideon. But Gideon rose and went at once to destroy Baal's altar, lest -the men of the city should try to prevent him if he waited until morning -came. - -When the people rose next day, they wondered to see Baal's altar thrown -down, the new altar to God ready built, and a bullock offered upon it. -"Who did all this?" they asked. Gideon was not afraid to confess the -truth. He was bold, because he knew God was with him. But the people -were angry with Gideon. "Bring out thy son," they said to Joash, "that -we may slay him!" - -Before Gideon began to fight, he prayed; "Give me now a sign, that I may -know that Thou wilt be merciful to the Israelites. I will put a fleece -of wool upon the ground to-night; in the morning I will look at it, and -if I see the fleece wet with dew, and all the ground dry, then I shall -know that Thou dost promise to save us from our enemies." - -Gideon put the fleece of wool upon the ground, for God had heard his -prayer. In the morning, when Gideon looked at it, it was so wet that he -wrung from the fleece a bowlful of water, though there was no dew upon -the ground. - -[Illustration: GIDEON CHOOSING HIS SOLDIERS.] - -The next night Gideon again tried the fleece. "To-night let the fleece -alone be dry, and all the ground wet, and then I shall know that Thou -wilt save Israel," he prayed. The next morning all the ground was wet -with dew, and the wool alone was dry. And now Gideon was convinced. He -asked no further proof. - -Gideon had many thousand men to fight with him. But God wished to teach -the Israelites that He alone could save them. So he told Gideon to say -to the soldiers, "Those who are afraid may return home and not come into -the battle." Gideon did as he was told; and 22,000 of the soldiers, -struck with fear, went away, leaving only 10,000 to meet the foe. But -God said, "I do not want even so many; if all these soldiers go the -Israelites will say that their own power and courage gained the victory. -Bring the 10,000 men down to the water and let them drink. Notice the -men who lap the water like a dog and put them on one side; and the men -who kneel down to drink water, put on the other side; and I will tell -thee whom I will choose to fight against the Midianites." - -Gideon obeyed. He brought the soldiers to the water and told them to -drink. Three hundred of them lapped, putting their hands to their -mouths; but most of them stooped down on their knees to drink. Then God -said, "By the 300 men who lapped the water will I save you; let all the -others return home." - -Gideon had a very, very small army now. The Midianites were in great -numbers, the Israelites only 300. It was the night before the battle. -To-morrow Gideon and his army must fight against their cruel enemies, -the Midianites. - -When Gideon was lying down to rest, and his 300 soldiers by him, he -heard a voice calling to him. Was it an enemy come to kill him and his -little army? No, it was the voice of God. "Arise, go down to the army of -the Midianites," the voice said. "If thou fear to go alone, take Phurah, -thy servant, with thee. Go, and hear what the Midianites are saying; for -afterwards thou shalt feel strengthened to go down to the army." - -So Gideon and his servant, Phurah, went as God had commanded. The tents -of the Midianites and the Amalekites covered the whole valley. The -soldiers were sleeping in the tents, and their camels lay by them. So -many were they that Gideon could not count them. But the Midianites were -not all asleep; some were making ready for the morrow, some were -talking; but none of them saw Gideon and his servant. - -There were two men, Midianites, talking together, and Gideon and Phurah -went near to them. "I dreamed," said one, "that I saw a cake of bread -tumble into the hosts of the Midianites; I saw it fall upon a tent, and -the tent was overturned and thrown down." "That cake," his friend -answered, "is Gideon, the commander of the Israelites; he will fall upon -us and destroy our army, because God is with him." - -When Gideon heard this tale, he rejoiced. He now felt sure of the -victory. Then he and Phurah went back to the Israelites, and Gideon -said, "Arise, for God gives the Midianites into our hands." - -Then Gideon divided his army into three companies, and gave to every man -a trumpet and a pitcher, with a lamp in every pitcher. They had no -swords, nor spears, nor bows, nor arrows. Then Gideon said, "Come with -me and do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, you must blow too, and cry, -'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.'" It was still night when Gideon -went again with his soldiers to the camp of the Midianites. The soldiers -stood around the camp, and when Gideon commanded, they blew with the -trumpets, and broke the pitchers, and cried aloud, "The sword of the -Lord and of Gideon." The Midianites heard the noise and the shout, and -were struck with fear. They knew not what to do. They ran like mad men. -They fell one upon another, killing their own friends, and fathers, and -brothers; and those who were not killed fled away; and the Israelites -followed after these and killed them. - -The Israelites were grateful for what Gideon had done for them. "Come -and rule over us," they said, "and be our king, and we will serve and -obey thee." But Gideon was not an ambitious man; he wanted neither -power, riches, nor possessions. So, when the Israelites asked Gideon to -be their king, he said, "No, I do not wish to rule over you; the Lord -only is your king; obey Him. But give me if ye will the earrings and -gold chains that were taken from the enemies." - -[Illustration: THE MIDIANITES PUT TO FLIGHT.] - -"Yes, we will willingly give them," the people said. And they spread out -a large garment and threw into it all the earrings and chains they had, -and with them purple garments and many more beautiful things. Gideon -made them into an ephod like Aaron's ephod; and this he took into his -own city Ophrah. The ephod Gideon made in remembrance of his victory. -After Gideon was dead, the Israelites again forgot God, and worshipped -idols. - -[Illustration: DEATH OF ABIMELECH.] ABIMELECH. - - -Gideon had many sons, but they were not like him. The name of one was -Abimelech. He was a most ambitious man, and aspired to be king. He went -to Shechem and asked to be made king over that city. The men of Shechem -were pleased with Abimelech, and they attended to what he said, and gave -him much gold, promising to make him king. - -Then he went home to Ophrah, and, cruel, ambitious man that he was, he -called his brothers together and killed them,--all but the youngest, -named Jotham, who hid himself and escaped. Now, why did Abimelech kill -his brothers? It was because they might wish to reign too, and he was -determined to reign alone. - -The men of Shechem made Abimelech king. But the people in that city soon -grew tired of their king. He was cruel and greedy and unjust. They -rebelled, and refused to obey Abimelech. So Abimelech came and fought -against them and conquered them. Some of the Shechemites escaped to an -idol temple, and hid there. But Abimelech and his soldiers cut down the -boughs from the tree and put the boughs under the place where the people -were hid, and set it on fire; so that the people were all burned to -death. - -Then Abimelech went to a city named Thebez, and tried to take it. The -people in Thebez had gone up to a high, strong tower. Abimelech was -under the tower fighting against it, when a woman on the top of the -tower took a large mill-stone and threw it down upon Abimelech's head. -Abimelech was severely crushed by the stone. When he knew he must soon -die, he cried to a soldier near him, "Thrust thy sword into me and slay -me; for I will not let the people say that a woman killed me." So the -soldier thrust his sword into him, and Abimelech fell down dead. - -At this time there was a man in Gilead named Jephthah. He was most brave -and warlike; but his brothers hated him. They would not let him live -with them, but sent him away. Some years after, when the Ammonites came -and fought against Israel, the men of Gilead were frightened, and they -sent for Jephthah to help them conquer their enemies. When Jephthah -heard what the messengers said, he answered, "Why do you come to me now -when you are in trouble?" But the Gileadites promised to make Jephthah -their captain if he would come; so Jephthah forgave their past -unkindness and went to their aid. - -The Ammonites were very wicked people. They had always been enemies to -Israel. Jephthah told the Ammonites that God had commanded that they be -destroyed, and had promised to give their possessions to the Israelites; -but they would not listen. Then Jephthah made ready to fight against -them. But before he went to the battle, he asked God's help, and made -this promise: "If Thou wilt give me the victory, then the first thing I -meet at the door of my house, when I return in peace, shall be the -Lord's; and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering." - -Then Jephthah went into battle; the Ammonites were conquered, and very -many of them killed. But when the battle was ended, Jephthah went home -again to Mizpah. Jephthah had one child, a daughter, who was very dear -to him. This little daughter loved her father, and when she heard of the -victory, she knew she should soon see her dear father. So she waited and -watched for him, and when she saw him coming, she ran out to meet him, -dancing and singing for joy. Alas! alas! Jephthah rent his clothes and -cried, "O my daughter, my daughter! I have made a promise to the Lord, -and I cannot break my vow!" But the daughter said, "My father, do not -weep; if thou hast made a vow to the Lord, do as thou hast promised. God -has been very merciful to us, and I am ready and willing to help bear -all thou hast vowed to do." - -Jephthah thought now of his foolish vow, and O how sorry he was that he -had made it! He must give up his dear daughter and never see her again! -But when he told her what he had vowed, she asked to be allowed to go -upon the mountains to mourn there with her friends. After two months she -came home again, and Jephthah did with her as he had vowed. - - * * * * * - - Though the virgins of Salem lament, - Be the judge and the hero unbent; - I have won the great battle for thee, - And my father and country are free. - When this blood of thy giving has gushed, - When the voice that thou lovest is hushed, - Let my memory still be thy pride, - And forget not I smiled as I died. - - - - -THE STORY OF SAMSON. - - - Would any strive with Samson for renown, - Whose brawny arm can strike most pillars down? - Preserve he then unstained in his breast - A milk-white conscience; let his soul be blest - With simple innocence; this sevenfold shield - No dart shall pierce; no sword shall make it yield;-- - Well guarded with himself he walks along, - When most alone, he stands a thousand strong. - - -After this Jephthah judged Israel six years and then died. And now again -the people began to sin against the Lord; and He, to recall them again, -gave them up to their enemies, the Philistines, for forty years. This -was a long time to be in sorrow and trouble; but did not the Israelites -deserve their punishment? - -There was a good man in the tribe of Dan, named Manoah. One day an angel -of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife and said, "Soon God will give -thee a son, who shall deliver Israel from the Philistines. No razor must -come upon him, for he shall be a Nazarite unto God." Now, the Nazarites -were people who had made a vow to give themselves to God. They did not -drink wine, nor any strong liquor; and they never cut their hair or -shaved their beards. - -Manoah's wife wondered very much to hear what the angel said, and she -went and told her husband. It seemed very strange; still Manoah knew -that nothing was too wonderful for God to do; and he was thankful for -God's promise to deliver Israel. But Manoah, fearful lest he and his -wife might forget what the angel had said and not bring up their child -rightly, prayed God to send the angel to them again. - -A few days after, the woman was sitting alone in the field, and she -looked up and saw the angel again standing by her. She ran and called -her husband; and Manoah, following his wife, came to the angel and -asked, "What shall we do to the child when he is born?" The angel -repeated what he had told the woman before. Then Manoah said, "Stay here -till we have made ready a kid for thee." The angel answered, "I will not -eat of thy bread; and if thou wilt offer a sacrifice, offer it to God." - -Manoah wondered who the angel was; so he asked again, "What is thy -name?" But the angel answered, "Why dost thou ask my name? It is a very -secret and a very wonderful name." Then Manoah offered a kid in -sacrifice to the Lord upon the rock, and God sent fire upon the -sacrifice to consume it. - -Manoah and his wife looked at the angel, and they saw him going up to -Heaven in the flame of fire. Then they both fell upon their faces in -holy fear and wonder; and Manoah said, "Now we shall die, because we -have seen God." The woman said to her husband, "Do not be afraid. God -has shown us wonderful things; he has accepted our sacrifice, and surely -he cannot wish to hurt or frighten us." - -Manoah and his wife never again saw the angel of the Lord; but God -remembered His promise, and very soon there came to them a little son, -whom they called Samson. Samson's parents were very careful to attend to -God's commands regarding him. They remembered that he was to be given to -God; that he was to be a Nazarite; that he must drink no wine; that he -must not shave his head, nor cut his hair. - -Samson grew to be wonderfully strong. Great strength had been given him -because he had much to do; for he was to deliver Israel from the -Philistines. When Samson was grown up, he went to Timnath with his -father and mother, to marry a young woman who was a Philistine. As he -passed the vineyards at Timnath, a lion rushed out of the woods and -roared at him. But Samson was a very bold man. He ran at the lion and -tore it in pieces, without stick, or sword, or spear--by his own great -strength alone. Samson said nothing of this to his father or mother, but -went on and came to Timnath. - -After a time Samson passed again along the place where he had killed the -lion, and it came to him to go and look at the dead body of the animal. -He saw a strange sight. Some wild bees had made their home in the -lion, and Samson found much honey there. He took it and ate it, and -gave some to his father and mother; but he did not tell them where he -had found it. - -[Illustration: SAMSON SLAYING A LION.] - -Once Samson made a feast at Timnath; and when the company were all -talking merrily together, he said, "I will give you a riddle to guess; -if you guess right, I will give you thirty sheets and thirty garments; -but if you cannot guess, you shall give me thirty sheets and thirty -garments." Then the people said, "Tell us the riddle, and we will try to -guess it." So Samson said, "Out of the eater came forth meat; and out of -the strong came forth sweetness." Now, the eater was the strong lion; -and the meat was the sweet honey Samson found in it; but no one knew the -story of the lion, and they could not guess the riddle. They tried six -days, and then they called in their friend, Samson's wife, and said, -"Ask Samson to explain the riddle to thee, else we will burn thee and -thy father's house with fire." - -The woman then begged so hard and long for her husband to tell her that, -at last, he explained the riddle to her; and she forthwith went and told -the Philistines. Then they came to Samson and said, "What is so strong -as a lion, and what is so sweet as honey?" But Samson quietly said, "My -wife told you, else you could never have guessed my riddle." - -Samson was obliged, however, to give what he had promised to the men who -found out the riddle. But he got the garments in a strange way. He went -down to Askelon and killed thirty men of the Philistines and took from -them the things he wanted to give to the men who told the riddle. Soon -after, Samson's wife went away from him, and it was then that Samson -began his war upon the Philistines. He caught 300 foxes and tied -firebrands to their tails, and drove them into the corn fields belonging -to the Philistines. All the corn and vineyards and olives were burned of -course. - -Then the Philistines asked, "Who did this?" The people said, "Samson did -it, because his wife has been taken away." Then the Philistines went and -burned Samson's wife and her father with fire. Samson was now still more -angry. He killed a great number of the Philistines, and then went to the -top of a rock and lived there alone. - -The Philistines now went to fight against Judah. "We must have Samson, -and bind him, and take him prisoner," they said. The people of Judah -were frightened; they ran to Samson and said, "We are come -to bind thee; we will not kill thee; but we will give thee into the -hands of the Philistines." Then they bound him with two new ropes and -led him away. But Samson had strength to break the ropes, and he soon -escaped; then, picking up the jawbone of an ass, which he found on the -way as he ran, he killed 1,000 men of the Philistines with it. - -[Illustration: SAMSON DESTROYING THE PHILISTINES -WITH THE JAWBONE OF AN ASS.] - -After this slaughter, Samson was most thirsty. He cried to God and asked -for water, that he might not die of thirst. Then water sprang up like a -well, and Samson drank and became strong again. - -Samson had been raised up to deliver his country from the Philistines, -and so to him was given great strength, and boldness and courage to do -it. - -Soon after, Samson went to Gaza. The people heard he was there, and -they waited quietly for him all night. "In the morning we shall kill -him," they said. But Samson arose in the night and went to the gate of -the city, and took it up, and the posts, and the bar, and carried them -upon his shoulders to the top of the hill near Hebron. - -Samson had now another wife. Her name was Deliah. The Philistines needed -very much to know wherein Samson's great strength lay. So they went to -Deliah and said, "Ask Samson what makes him so strong. Learn how we can -bind him; and we will each give thee 1100 pieces of silver." Deliah did -not love her husband as she loved money; so she went to Samson and -begged him to tell her what made him so strong. Samson did not mean to -tell her; so he deceived her, and said, "Let them bind me with seven -fresh green withes." Deliah told the Philistines, and they brought the -withes, and she bound Samson with them, while the Philistines were -hiding in the room. - -Then Deliah cried, "The Philistines are upon thee, Samson!" Samson -bounded up, broke the withes, and the defeated Philistines ran away. -Again Deliah asked Samson to tell her what made him so strong; and he -said, "Let them bind me with new ropes." Deliah bound him with the ropes -and cried again, "The Philistines are upon thee, Samson!" Then Samson -sprang up, broke the ropes like little threads, and escaped again. - -Then Deliah said, "Now do not deceive me; but tell me the truth. How can -I bind thee?" He said, "Weave the hair of my head with the web." when -Samson was asleep, Deliah wove his hair and fastened it most strongly. -Then she said, "The Philistines are upon thee!" And he awoke, bounded -up, and went away with the pin, and the beam, and the web. - -[Illustration: SAMSON AND DELIAH.] - -Then Deliah said, "Why hast thou deceived me these three times? Tell me -now where thy great strength lies." Samson was tired of his wife's -asking him so often; so he said, "I am a Nazarite to God! I have never -shaven my head; but, if my hair is cut off, then I shall become weak -like other men." - -Then Deliah sent to the Philistines and said, "Come once again; Samson -has told me the truth; I know now what it is makes him so strong." The -lords of the Philistines were glad enough to think that soon they might -have their enemy in their power. They came at once, and brought money -with them to give to Deliah. Then the cruel wife, when Samson was -asleep, called a man and told him to shave off Samson's hair. When he -had finished, Deliah cried, "The Philistines are upon thee, Samson!" - -Samson arose, but alas, his strength was gone! He could not defend -himself now! His enemies came and took him, and put out his eyes, and -bound him in chains, and carried him to Gaza, and made him work hard in -the prison there. - -Samson was now in prison at Gaza, alone and blind, without any friend to -comfort him. When he first went to prison, his strength was all gone; -but, after a time, his hair began to grow, and his strength came again. -Now, the Philistines worshipped an ugly idol, shaped like a fish, and -named Dagon. They made a great sacrifice to Dagon and praised him, -because they thought he had given Samson into their hands. They were -very merry, playing, and laughing, and feasting, and praising their -idol; and they said, "Let us call Samson, and we will play with him, and -laugh at him, and make merry." - -Then poor Samson was led in. He could not see his cruel enemies, and -they all laughed at him, because he was blind and weak and in their -power; and they made him stand between two pillars. The house in which -they were feasting was very large and full of people. Three thousand of -them were upon the roof, looking and wondering at Samson. Samson asked -the boy who led him in to let him rest against the pillars on which the -house stood. Then he seized one with his right hand and the other with -his left hand. "Lord, give me now strength to conquer my enemies; Let -them die, and let me die with them," Samson said. Then he bowed -himself down with all his might and broke the pillars. They fell, and -the house with them; and the people who were upon the roof were crushed; -and Samson died with them. - -[Illustration: DEATH OF SAMSON.] - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE STORY OF RUTH AND NAOMI. - - -There dwelt in Bethlehem in these days a good man named Elimelech, with -his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. All their days -these people had dwelt in the land, and always faithful had they been to -the God of Israel. - -But there came into the land a great famine. For days and weeks no rain -fell; the trees were dropping their leaves; the grasses were dry and -brown; and the corn lay wilted in the fields. - -Everywhere there was suffering among the people; starvation was upon -them, and the fathers of the little children could bring no food to -them. "My wife and children must have food!" Elimelech cried. And so it -came about that, when this famine was abroad in the land, Elimelech and -his family went to Moab to live. And when they had come into Moab, -Mahlon and Chilion chose for their wives Ruth and Orpah from the women -of Moab, idolaters though they were. - -It was not very long before Mahlon and Chilion, and Elimelech, too, -died, and Naomi was left alone with Ruth and Orpah. - -They were kind to Naomi, for they loved her well. Still, Naomi's heart -longed for her own old home and for the people she had left there; and -so (the days of mourning over) Naomi said to Ruth and Orpah, "Dear -daughters, now will I return to my own land. You have been very kind to -me, and gladly would I take you with me." - -[Illustration: NAOMI AND HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.] - -Then Ruth And Orpah wept and begged her to stay with them. But when they -saw she would not, then they wanted to go with her. - -Naomi would have been so happy to take them with her! But she feared -they might be sorry by and by should they go into a new land. So she -said, "No, my daughters go not with me. Live here in your own country -and among your own people. Here are your parents and your friends; and -may God deal kindly with you as you have dealt with me." - -Then Naomi kissed them and bade them good-bye; but they went out from -the village with her, saying, "Surely we may go with thee to Bethlehem." - -But when they were far out across the country, then Naomi turned again -and bade them return now to their people. - -Then Orpah kissed Naomi and turned back to her own city. But Ruth begged -to be allowed to go a little farther. - -"Nay, nay," Naomi said; "go back, Ruth, with Orpah. See, she is already -far back upon the road." - -But Ruth fell at Naomi's feet and cried aloud. "O, send me not away from -thee! Let me follow thee! Where thou goest, I will go. Thy people shall -be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest I will die, and there -will I be buried. Death only shall part thee and me!" - -Then old Naomi's heart grew glad; for she loved Ruth and longed to take -her with her. Then the two women walked on, and in time they came into -the village of Bethlehem. - -And as they neared Bethlehem, the old friends of Naomi came out and -said, "Can this be Naomi?" - -For Naomi had gone out from the city happy, with her husband and sons -with her. But now they were all dead; and Naomi was returning, a lonely, -sad woman. - -It was the harvest time when Naomi and Ruth came into Bethlehem; and, -when Ruth saw the gleaners at work, she said, "Let me not be idle; let -me go forth into the fields to glean." - -Now, Ruth knew no one among the gleaners; but, when she came into the -field, and the gleaners looked upon her sweet face, they loved her at -once and gladly took her into the field with them. - -This field in which Ruth gleaned belonged to a rich man, named Boaz; -and, when Boaz saw Ruth at work, he said kindly, "Stay here with my -maidens and glean in my field. Follow them and glean after the reapers. -And when thou art thirsty, then go and drink of the water which my -servants have brought." - -[Illustration: BOAZ AND RUTH.] - -Ruth wondered at the kindness of Boaz and said, "Why dost thou show such -kindness to me, a stranger?" - -And Boaz smiled kindly upon Ruth and said, "Because I have heard of thy -love for Naomi; and that thou hast left thy home to come with her and -live among her people. May God bless and reward thee!" - -By and by it came the time when all the gleaners stopped their work and -ate their noonday meal. Kindly the maidens took Ruth with them, and they -ate together. But when Ruth had had her share given her, she laid aside -a part and carried it home to Naomi. - -"Where hast thou gleaned to-day?" Naomi asked. - -And when Ruth told her she had gleaned in the field of Boaz, and how -kindly he had welcomed her, then Naomi was filled with gladness; for -Boaz was of the family of Elimelech; and she knew that now he would be -kind to them and not allow suffering and hunger to come to them. - -All the long beautiful autumn Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz; and -each day Boaz loved Ruth more and more, so gentle and kind was she. - -Then, when the harvest was over, Boaz came to Naomi and told her that in -Canaan there was land that belonged to Elimelech; and that he would buy -this land and take Ruth and Naomi to his home. - -Then Ruth and Boaz married; and by and by a little child was born to -them. How much Naomi loved this little baby! How tenderly she nursed -it; and how carefully she taught it as it grew into boyhood! - -And so these people lived together until Naomi grew old and died. Then -Ruth and Boaz, who had loved her and cared for her all these years, -mourned for her, and buried her tenderly beside her own people in the -land that had been her father's--the land she had loved so well. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: SAMUEL PRESENTED TO ELI. (_Opir._)] - - - - -THE STORY OF SAMUEL. - - -At Mount Ephraim there dwelt a man, named Elkanah, with his good wife, -Hannah. - -These good people had one son, Samuel, whom they loved with great -tenderness. He was their only child; but, though they loved him so, they -carried him when he was yet a tiny boy to the temple and left him with -the holy priests. - -"Here is my child," the good mother said. "I give him now to our God, -the God of Israel. So long as he lives shall he be the Lord's." - -Then the priest, Eli, took the child and blessed it, and blessed the -mother too; and Samuel grew up a true, honest boy, and came in time to -be himself a holy priest. - -One night, when Samuel lay upon his bed, he heard a voice calling, -"Samuel, Samuel!" - -"Here am I, Eli," Samuel answered; for he thought it was the voice of -the priest. - -But Eli said, "No, my son, I did not call thee." - -And Samuel went and lay down upon his bed again. - -Again the voice called, "Samuel, Samuel!" - -And again Samuel ran to Eli's bedside, saying, "Here am I, Eli." - -A third time, even, the voice called. A third time Samuel ran to Eli's -bedside. - -"Samuel," Eli said, when the lad came a third time, "it may be it is the -voice of the Lord. Go back to thy bed; and if it speaks again, say, -'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.'" - -Samuel obeyed; and a fourth time the voice called. - -Then Samuel answered as Eli bade him. And the voice then said, "Lo, I am -about to punish Eli and his sons; for the sons are wicked and Eli -punishes them not." - -Now, these sons were priests in the temple with their father, and Eli -knew full well that they were wicked men. Still, because they were his -own sons, and he loved them, he had not driven them forth from the -temple. - -Poor old Eli was sad when Samuel told him what the voice had said to -him; but he bowed his head and said, "It is the voice of God that hath -spoken. Let him do with me what seemeth to him wise and good." - -Then came a great battle between the Philistines and the Israelites; and -in this battle the Israelites were beaten, and the two sons of Eli -slain. - -Eli was too old to go himself into the battle, and so he sat at the gate -of the city and waited with the people for news of the battle. - -At last a man came running. His clothes were rent, and there was dust -upon his head, and from this the people knew that he brought sad news -only. - -Then they set up a weeping and wailing; and old Eli, whose eyes were dim -with age, said, "What is this noise I hear? Why do the people cry?" - -Then the messenger said, "I have just come from the battle-field." - -Eli's heart beat fast. "Tell me," he cried with trembling voice, "what -has happened there?" - -The messenger dreaded to tell the old priest the sad news; but he said, -"Alas! alas! the Israelites are conquered! Your own sons have fallen; -and even the Ark which the Israelites carried into battle has been -taken!" - -Poor old Eli! This was more than he could bear. The Ark taken! And the -old man threw up his hands and fell back, dead. - -Now, the Ark was taken by the Philistines to one of their own heathen -temples, and one of their idols was set upon it. - -The Philistines thought the Ark was one of the gods of the Israelites, -just as their idols were their gods; so they set it up on their altar, -and it was their chief god, Dagon they called it, that they set beside -it. - -But when the Philistines went into their temple the morning after the -battle, there lay Dagon upon the floor. - -"This is strange!" they said; and they put the idol back upon the Ark -again. - -The next morning, again was the idol found upon the floor, its hands and -its head broken. - -Then a dreadful plague settled upon the people. "It is the idol of the -Israelites that has done all this!" the people cried. "Let us send it -away!" - -So the Ark was sent to Gath; but there a plague fell upon the people. - -"We will not have it among us!" the people of Gath cried; so they sent -it on to Ekron. - -But when the people of Ekron saw it coming, they cried out, "Take away -this idol of the Israelites! We fear the plague that is sure to come -with it!" - -At last the Philistines said, "We will not have it in our land." So they -placed it upon a cart, and they fastened two cattle to the cart. Then -they set the cart upon a road leading towards Bethshemesh and bade the -oxen go. - -The oxen, obedient, carried the Ark out upon the road, turning neither -to the right nor to the left, and straight into the village of -Bethshemesh. - -Now, the people of the village were at work in their fields, for it was -harvest time. - -They heard the coming of the cart and looked. "It is the Ark! It is the -Ark!" they cried; and the Levites came and took the Ark and set it upon -a great stone. - -Then followed a day of great sacrifice and rejoicing. And the Israelites -later repented of all their sins, and came to Samuel and asked him what -they should do. - -[Illustration: RETURN OF THE ARK TO BETHSHEMESH.] - -Samuel called them all to him at Mizpah, and there he prayed for them -and taught them wisely and well. - -But as he was teaching them and offering sacrifices, lo! a great army of -Philistines drew near. They had come again to fight the Israelites. - -But Samuel bade them have no fear; for this time it was the Philistines -that were to be conquered and not the Israelites. - -So the Israelites made ready for battle; but, before they were ready, a -great black cloud rolled up across the sky. The winds blew, the hail -fell, and the skies blazed with terrible lightnings. - -Never had such a storm been known either to Philistines or Israelites. - -"Fear not," Samuel said; "this is God's hand." And the Philistines fled -in terror. - -Then, when the storm was over, and again the sun shone out, Samuel took -a great stone and set it up near Mizpah; and the stone at Mizpah was for -a sign to the Israelites that "God shall watch ever over thee and me." - -And Samuel named the stone Ebenezer--which means, a stone of help. - -For many years now Samuel had been judge over Israel; and so long as the -people obeyed him they were safe and happy. - -But there came a time when Samuel was an old, old man. Then the -Israelites came to him and said, "Thou art very old; thy sons, who now -judge over us, are not like thee. Let us have a king." - -But Samuel said, "God only is the king of the Israelites." - -The people would not listen to the words of Samuel. "We will have a -king," they said. "We will be like other nations. We will have a king, -and he shall go into battle with us." - -And so it came about that from out their number a king was chosen. - -Now, there was a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who had a son, named -Saul. - -Saul was a tall, strong, brave, young man, and of him the Lord said to -Samuel, "If the Israelites have a king, let this man Saul be that king." - -One day it chanced that the cattle belonging to Kish, Saul's father, -strayed away; and Kish said to Saul, "Take a servant with thee and go -and seek the cattle that have strayed." - -So Saul took a servant, and they searched the country round about, going -great distances; still the cattle could not be found. - -At last Saul said to the servant, "I am tired with this search. Let us -go back and tell my father all we have done." - -Then the servant said, "There is a prophet living near this place into -which we have come. Let us seek him; for I am told he is most wise. -Perhaps he may help us to find our cattle." - -"Let us go to him," Saul answered readily; and so the two men came into -the city where Samuel dwelt; for it was he they sought. - -As they drew near the city, they met two young women coming to a well to -draw water. - -"Tell me, is the prophet here?" Saul asked. - -And the young women said, "Yes, to-day he offers sacrifice in the city. -First, he blesses the sacrifice, and then the people feast; and now he -is going towards the temple. Make haste and you will see him." - -Saul and the servant hurried on towards the gate of the city; and there -they saw an old man, sitting alone. - -"Tell us," said Saul, "where we may find the prophet Samuel." - -And the old man answered, "I am Samuel. Come and feast with me; and -to-morrow thou shalt go. Grieve not about the cattle; already they are -found. But come with me, for I have much to tell thee. The desire of all -Israel is upon thee and upon thy father's house." - -Then Saul said, "Why dost thou speak so to me? Knowest thou not that my -family is one of the least of the tribe of Benjamin?" - -But Samuel knew; and he led Saul to his house and feasted him. And when -the feast was over, Samuel said to Saul, "The people of Israel desire a -king; and it is thou, Saul, whom the Lord has chosen to be that king." - -[Illustration: SAMUEL BLESSING SAUL.] - -Then, when morning came, Saul and his servant set out upon their journey -home; and Samuel went with them, even unto the city gates. Then Samuel -said to the servant, "Go on before. I would speak once more with Saul -alone." And when he had gone, Samuel poured oil upon the head of Saul -and kissed him, saying, "God has chosen thee to be king to rule over his -people in Israel." - -Then Samuel went back to his home, and Saul went on his way. It was to -him a strange journey back to his home, for God had already given him -great wisdom and power. Already the gift of prophecy was his; and when -he met a company of prophets, he too prophesied with them of things to -come. - -And the people wondered to hear Saul uttering prophecies. "What does -this mean?" they cried. "Is Saul also a prophet?" - -But now Samuel called all the tribes of Israel together at Mizpah. "It -is your wish," he said, "that a king should be chosen to rule over you -and lead you forth into battle. Now, God is not pleased that you should -choose a king; for he was himself your king. Still, because it is your -wish, a king shall be chosen by God. And that man chosen shall be Saul." - -"But where is Saul?" the people asked; for nowhere was Saul to be found. - -Then the Lord told the people that Saul was hiding; and he bade them go -and search for him in that place which God should name. - -The people obeyed, and Saul was found and brought before the people. - -"Is this the man?" the people asked. And the Lord said, "This is the -man." - -Then the people shouted, and Saul was made king over the Israelites. - -Then Samuel said to the people, "Behold I am an old man. My hair is -white with age. All my life I have been with you, from the time when I -was a little child until now. Tell me, have I ever oppressed you, or -have I ever taken anything from you?" - -And all the people shouted, "No! No! Never! Never have you oppressed us -or wronged us in any way!" For the people all loved Samuel, from the -oldest to the youngest. - -"Wait, then," said Samuel, "and hear what I would say to you. Many years -ago God brought your fathers out of Israel and gave this land to them -for a possession. - -"Often your fathers rebelled against God; and as often he sent -punishment upon them that they might turn back to him. Sisera and the -Philistines and the Moabites God sent to fight against the Israelites; -but whenever they repented and turned back, then He forgave them. Many -good captains He sent them,--Gideon, Jepthah and Samson. - -"And now you have asked for a king, and God has given you one. And so -long as the king and his people are true to the one God, so long shall -His blessing be upon you." - -And so ended that time in the history of the children of Israel when -they were content to be ruled over by Judges chosen by God; and of these -Judges, Samuel was the last. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes - -Various punctuation errors corrected - -Multiple spellings of biblical and place names left unaltered - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Bible, Volume 1, by Myles Endicott - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE BIBLE, VOLUME 1 *** - -***** This file should be named 63047-0.txt or 63047-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/0/4/63047/ - -Produced by Bryan Ness, Steve Read and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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