,illustration3 ,front ,cover ,illustration3 ,frontispiece3 ,,joseph ,,sold ,,into ,,captivity4 ,,mother ,,stories ,,from ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,a ,book of the ,best ,stories from the ,old ,testament ,that ,mothers ,can ,tell ,their ,children ,with ,forty-five ,illustrations ,,philadelphia ,,henry ,,altemus ,,company ,,altemus' ,,mother ,,stories ,,series ,,mother ,,stories ,a ,book of the ,best ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,nursery ,,rhymes ,,and ,,tales ,a ,book of the ,best ,nursery ,rhymes and ,tales that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,fairy ,,tales ,a ,book of the ,best ,fairy ,tales that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,nature ,,stories ,a ,book of the ,best ,nature ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,stories ,,from ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,a ,book of the ,best ,old ,testament ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,stories ,,from ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,a ,book of the ,best ,new ,testament ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,bedtime ,,stories ,a ,book of the ,best ,bedtime ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,animal ,,stories ,a ,book of the ,best ,animal ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,bird ,,stories ,a ,book of the ,best ,bird ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,,mother ,,santa ,,claus ,,stories ,a ,book of the ,best ,santa ,claus ,stories that ,mothers can tell their ,children ,profusely illustrated and handsomely bound in cloth1 with ornamentation in colors #a4jj ,,per ,,volume ,,copyright #aijh ,,by ,,howard ,e4 ,,altemus ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america ,,contents4 ,,page ,,adam ,,and ,,eve #g ,,cain ,,and ,,abel #h ,,the ,,flood #aj ,,the ,,tower ,,of ,,babel #ab ,,lot',s ,,flight ,,from ,,sodom #ad ,,abraham ,,and ,,isaac #af ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,rebekah #ah ,,joseph ,,and ,,his ,,brethren #bb ,,the ,,finding ,,of ,,moses #bh ,,the ,,flight ,,from ,,egypt #cj ,,moses ,,striking ,,the ,,rock #cb ,,the ,,ten ,,commandments #cd ,,bezaleel ,,and ,,aholiab #cf ,,the ,,brazen ,,serpent #ch ,,passage ,,of ,,the ,,jordan #dj ,,the ,,captain ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,host #db ,,how ,,jericho ,,was ,,captured #dd ,,achan',s ,,sin #df ,,the ,,altar ,,on ,,mount ,,ebal #dh ,,the ,,cities ,,of ,,refuge #ej ,,joshua',s ,,exhortation #eb ,,gideon ,,and ,,the ,,fleece #ed ,,the ,,defeat ,,of ,,the ,,midianites #ef ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,samson #eh ,,ruth ,,and ,,naomi #fj ,,boaz ,,and ,,ruth #fb ,,hannah ,,praying ,,before ,,the ,,lord #fd ,,eli ,,and ,,samuel #ff ,,death ,,of ,,eli ,,and ,,his ,,sons #fh ,,playing ,,on ,,the ,,harp ,,before ,,saul #gj ,,david ,,and ,,goliath #gb ,,nathan ,,reproving ,,the ,,king #gd ,,david ,,and ,,araunah #gf ,,elijah ,,fed ,,by ,,ravens #gh ,,ploughing ,,in ,,canaan #hj ,,the ,,shunammite',s ,,son #hb ,,the ,,little ,,captive ,,maid #hd ,,jonah ,,at ,,nineveh #hf ,,hezekiah ,,and ,,sennacherib #hh ,,the ,,brave ,,hebrew ,,boys #ij ,,daniel ,,and ,,the ,,lions #ib ,,esther ,,before ,,the ,,king #id ,,david ,,and ,,jonathan #if ,,old ,,testament ,,stories ,,adam ,,and ,,eve4 ,in the beginning ,god made the heaven and the earth ,he also made the sun1 moon1 and stars2 trees1 flowers1 and all vegetable life2 and all animals1 birds1 fishes1 and insects4 ,then ,god made man4 ,the name of the first man was ,adam1 and the first woman was ,eve4 ,both were placed in a beautiful garden called the ,garden of ,eden1 where they might have been happy continually had they not sinned4 ,but ,god forbade them to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil4 ,satan tempted ,eve to take the fruit of this tree4 ,she ate1 and gave to ,adam1 and he ate also4 ,thus they sinned1 and sin came into the world4 ,then ,god called to ,adam and said1 ,where art thou8 ,before this1 ,adam and ,eve had been happy when ,god was near1 now they were afraid4 ,why8 ,because they knew they had done wrong4 ,so sin makes us afraid of ,god4 ,god rebuked them for the evil they had done2 and then drove them out of the ,garden of ,eden1 placing an angel to keep watch over the gate so that they could not return4 ,,cain ,,and ,,abel4 ,what a sad story the ,bible tells us in the fourth chapter of ,genesis6 ,cain and ,abel were brothers1 the sons of ,adam and ,eve4 ,how they should have loved each other6 ,yet we find that ,cain killed ,abel4 ,why did he do this8 ,cain was a husbandman1 who tilled the ground2 ,abel was a shepherd1 who kept sheep4 ,one day each offered a sacrifice to ,god4 ,cain brought fruit1 and ,abel brought a lamb4 ,god accepted ,abel's offering1 but not ,cain's4 ,why8 ,well1 ,i am not quite sure1 but ,i think it was because ,abel offered his sacrifice according as ,god had commanded1 and had faith in a promised ,saviour2 but ,cain simply acknowledged ,god's goodness in giving him the fruits of the earth4 ,god had probably told them1 too1 that when they came to worship ,him1 they were to bring a lamb or a kid as a sacrifice for their sins2 this ,abel had done1 but ,cain had not4 ,cain was angry because ,god had accepted ,abel's offering and not his2 and he hated his brother ,abel4 ,god knew the evil thought ,cain had towards his brother1 and asked him1 ,why art thou wroth8 and said1 ,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted8 ,but ,cain did still more wickedly4 ,when out in the field he killed his brother4 ,was it not a cruel deed8 ,they were alone when this murder was committed1 yet one eye saw it all4 ,god saw it1 and said to ,cain3 ,where is ,abel1 thy brother8 ,we cannot sin without ,god knowing it6 ,cain told ,god a lie4 ,he answered1 ,i know not4 ,but he did know4 ,god was angry with ,cain for his sin1 and sent him as a fugitive and vagabond to wander on the earth4 ,illustration3 ,,abel',s ,,sacrifice4 ,,the ,,flood4 ,about fifteen hundred years had passed since ,cain slew ,abel1 during which time man had become more and more wicked4 ,at length ,god saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth1 and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually4 ,then ,god said1 ,i will destroy man whom ,i have created from the face of the earth4 ,but one man was righteous and served ,god4 ,his name was ,noah4 ,god told him that the world would be drowned by a flood because of the wickedness of the people1 and commanded him to build a great ark to float upon the waters4 ,in this ark ,god promised to preserve alive ,noah and his family2 and also two of each of every living thing on the earth--animals1 birds1 and creeping things4 ,all the rest were to die4 ,noah built the ark as ,god commanded4 ,it took him a great many years1 during which time the people were warned to forsake their sins and turn to ,god1 but they did not do so4 ,at last the ark was finished1 and ,noah1 with his wife1 and his sons with their wives1 and the animals1 birds1 and creeping things1 as ,god had commanded1 all entered into it4 ,what a long procession it must have been6 ,then ,god shut them in1 and they dwelt in safety while the rain came down1 and the waters rose up and covered the earth4 ,all were drowned except those in the ark4 ,a year afterwards1 when the waters were dried up1 ,noah1 and all that had been with him1 left the ark4 ,then ,noah built an altar1 and offered sacrifices to ,god1 in thankfulness for ,god's goodness to him and his family4 ,illustration3 ,,entering ,,the ,,ark4 ,,the ,,tower ,,of ,,babel4 ,babel means confusion4 ,was it not a strange name to give a tower8 ,how did it get this8 ,after ,noah left the ark1 ,god made a promise to him that ,he would no more destroy the earth by a flood1 and blessed him and his sons4 ,in course of time many little children were born1 baby boys and girls1 who grew up to be fathers and mothers having children also4 ,in this manner a great many people dwelt again on the earth4 ,for more than one hundred years they all spoke the same language1 and as1 in course of time1 they journeyed onward1 they came to a large plain in the land of ,shinar1 near to where ,babylon was afterwards built4 ,here they said they would remain and build a great city1 with a high tower ascending to heaven4 ,now ,god1 when he blessed ,noah1 had said to him1 ,be fruitful1 and multiply1 and replenish the earth2 meaning that the people were to scatter abroad1 so that the world might become inhabited again4 ,but these men wanted to keep together1 and found one great empire1 the centre of which should be the great city with the lofty tower4 ,so they made bricks and burnt them1 and took a kind of pitch for mortar1 and began to build4 ,some learned men say they took three years in getting the materials1 and were twenty-two years building the tower4 ,it was very great and high1 but it was never finished4 ,the people did wickedly in building it1 and ,god1 who saw all they were doing1 confounded their language1 so that one could not understand another4 ,thus they left off building the tower1 and that is why it is called ,babel4 ,then ,god scattered them abroad to re-people the earth4 ,illustration3 ,,building ,,the ,,tower ,,of ,,babel4 ,,lot',s ,,flight ,,from ,,sodom4 ,in ,palestine1 the land in which ,jesus dwelt when ,he was upon earth1 there is an inland sea1 called the ,dead ,sea4 ,its waters are very salt1 and no trees grow upon its shores4 ,many long years before the birth of ,jesus ,christ1 two cities stood upon the plain which the waters of the ,dead ,sea now cover4 ,these cities were named ,sodom and ,gomorrah4 ,their inhabitants were very wicked1 so ,god destroyed their cities by raining brimstone and fire upon them4 ,before ,god destroyed these cities1 ,he sent two angels to ,lot1 ,abraham's nephew1 who dwelt in ,sodom1 commanding him to flee from it1 taking his family with him4 ,the angels hastened him1 saying1 ,arise1 take thy wife1 and thy two daughters1 which are here2 lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city4 ,then the angels took all four by the hand and led them out1 and said to ,lot1 ,escape for thy life2 look not behind thee1 neither stay thou in all the plain2 escape to the mountain1 lest thou be consumed4 ,lot pleaded that he might take refuge in a little city1 named ,zoar1 not very far distant2 and having obtained the angels' permission to do so1 he took his wife and daughters1 and hastened away4 ,in our picture we see him and his daughters entering ,zoar1 and ,sodom burning in the distance--but what is that strange figure standing on the plain8 ,alas6 that is ,lot's wife2 the angel had commanded them that none were to look back1 but she did so1 and was turned into a pillar of salt4 ,lot did wrong in dwelling in such a wicked city as ,sodom1 and lost all his property when he escaped for his life4 ,illustration3 ,,lot ,,entering ,,zoar4 ,,abraham ,,and ,,isaac4 ,abraham feared ,god and obeyed ,his commandments2 and ,god promised to bless ,abraham very greatly4 ,he gave him riches in cattle1 and silver1 and gold2 and said that the land of ,canaan should belong to him and his descendants4 ,god also gave him a son in his old age1 whom he loved1 very dearly and named ,isaac4 ,but ,god intended to try ,abraham1 to see if he loved ,him above all else4 ,one day ,god told ,abraham to take his son ,isaac1 and to journey into the land of ,moriah2 there to build an altar and offer ,isaac as a sacrifice upon it4 ,it was a strange command1 but ,abraham knew that ,god would not bid him do what was wrong1 and believed that even if he slew his son1 ,god was able to raise him to life again4 ,so he rose early in the morning1 saddled his ass1 took two of his young men1 and wood for the fire2 and then1 accompanied by ,isaac1 started on his journey4 ,on the third day they came near the place ,god had pointed out1 and ,abraham left the young men with the ass1 while he and his son journeyed up the mountain alone4 ,as they went along1 ,isaac--who carried the wood1 while his father carried the knife and the fire1 said3 ,my father4 ,and ,abraham replied1 ,here am ,i1 my son4 ,then ,isaac said3 ,behold the fire and the wood3 but where is the lamb for a burnt offering8 ,abraham answered3 ,my son1 ,god will provide ,himself a lamb for a burnt offering4 ,the altar was built1 ,isaac was bound and laid upon it1 and ,abraham's arm was uplifted to strike the blow that was to take his son's life away4 ,then ,god called to ,abraham1 ,lay not thine hand upon the lad1 neither do thou anything unto him2 for now ,i know that thou fearest ,god1 seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son1 thine only son from ,me4 ,abraham looked up1 and behind him saw a ram which was caught in a thicket by its horns2 this he took and offered as a sacrifice to ,god4 ,so ,god tried ,abraham2 and also ,himself provided the lamb for the burnt offering1 as ,abraham had said4 ,illustration3 ,,abraham ,,and ,,isaac4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,rebekah4 ,when ,abraham had grown old1 he desired that his son1 ,isaac1 should take a wife4 ,but he did not wish him to choose one from among the women of ,canaan1 for they worshipped idols4 ,so he called his oldest servant1 and commanded him to make a journey to ,abraham's own country1 and there to choose a wife for ,isaac4 ,then the man took ten camels1 together with food and other goods for the journey1 and set out for the city of ,nahor4 ,when he came to the walls of the city he spied a well1 and1 as it was evening1 the young women were coming out to draw water4 ,then he asked ,god to help him to choose a wife for ,isaac1 saying1 ,let it come to pass1 that the damsel to whom ,i shall say1 ',let down thy pitcher1 ,i pray thee1 that ,i may drink1' and who shall reply1 ',drink1 and ,i will give thy camels drink also2' let her be the one ,thou hast chosen for ,thy servant ,isaac4 ,illustration3 ,,rebekah ,,giving ,,drink ,,to ,,abraham',s ,,servant4 ,before he had done speaking1 there came out a beautiful young woman1 whose name was ,rebekah4 ,she was the grand-daughter of ,nahor1 ,abraham's brother4 ,she carried a pitcher upon her shoulder1 and went down to the well and filled it4 ,then ,abraham's servant ran to her and asked her for a drink from her pitcher4 ,she said1 ,drink1 my lord1 and held the pitcher for him1 and afterwards drew water for his camels also4 ,then he took a golden jewel and a pair of gold bracelets1 and put them upon her1 and asked whose daughter she was1 and if her father could lodge him and his company4 ,when she told him who she was1 he was glad1 and worshipped ,god1 for he was sure then that he had been led to the house of ,abraham's brother4 ,then ,rebekah called out her friends1 and they took the man in to lodge him for the night1 and set food before him4 ,but he would not eat until he had told them his errand1 and how he believed ,god had chosen ,rebekah for ,isaac's wife4 ,he then asked the parents to say whether they would give their daughter or not1 but they said3 ,it has been ordered by ,god2 we cannot give or refuse her4 ,rebekah is before you4 ,take her and go4 ,let her be ,isaac's wife1 as the ,lord hath spoken4 ,when the man heard these words1 he again praised ,god1 and then he brought out rich clothing1 and jewels of gold and silver1 and gave them to ,rebekah4 ,he also gave presents to her mother and brother4 ,when they asked ,rebekah if she would go with the man1 she said ,yes1 and took leave of her friends1 who blessed her4 ,then1 with her nurse and her maids1 she rode upon the camels1 and followed the man1 for she believed that so ,god had ordered it4 ,isaac dwelt by the well ,lahai-roi1 and one evening he walked into the fields to meditate4 ,as he lifted up his eyes he saw the company of camels coming towards him4 ,at the same time1 ,rebekah lifted up her eyes and saw ,isaac4 ,when the man told her it was his master ,isaac1 she alighted from the camel1 and covered her face with a veil1 according to the custom of the ,east4 ,when the man told ,isaac all he had done1 ,isaac was pleased1 and welcomed ,rebekah1 and gave her the tent that had been his mother's4 ,and she became his wife4 ,illustration3 ,,rebekah ,,journeying ,,to ,,isaac4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,joseph ,,and ,,his ,,brethren4 ,how wonderful is the way in which ,god works for those who fear ,him6 ,the history of ,joseph teaches us this truth4 ,joseph had one younger and ten elder brothers4 ,the name of the younger brother was ,benjamin4 ,jacob was the father of them all2 and ,rachel was the mother of ,joseph and ,benjamin4 ,jacob loved ,joseph more than all his other sons1 and made him a coat of many colours2 but his elder brothers hated him1 and one day1 when far away from home1 proposed to kill him4 ,they cast him into a pit instead1 and afterwards sold him as a slave to some merchants who were travelling from ,gilead to ,egypt4 ,when they returned to their father1 they took ,joseph's coat of many colours1 which they had dipped in blood1 and brought it to ,jacob1 saying3 ,this have we found3 know now if it be thy son's coat or no4 ,jacob knew the coat2 and thought ,joseph had been killed by some wild beast1 and mourned for him greatly4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,meeting ,,of ,,isaac ,,and ,,rebekah4 ,the merchants carried ,joseph into ,egypt1 and sold him to one of the king's officers1 named ,potiphar4 ,but1 though a slave1 he was not forsaken by ,god4 ,no1 ,god was with him1 and made all that he did to prosper4 ,his master placed him over all his house1 but his mistress wanted him to commit a great sin4 ,when he refused1 she accused him unjustly to his master1 and ,potiphar had him cast into prison4 ,god was with ,joseph in the prison1 and gave him such favour with the keeper that he set him over all the other prisoners4 ,among them were two2 one who had been the king's butler1 and the other his baker4 ,both had dreams which troubled them much1 but ,joseph was enabled by ,god to interpret their dreams for them4 ,by-and-by ,pharaoh1 the king1 dreamed a dream4 ,he was standing on the banks of a river1 and saw seven fat cows come up out of the water and feed in a meadow2 afterwards seven very lean cows came up and devoured the fat ones4 ,then ,pharaoh awoke2 but he dreamed again1 and saw that seven very poor ears of corn devoured seven that were full and good4 ,in the morning he was greatly troubled4 ,what could the dreams mean8 ,he called for the magicians and the wise men1 but they could not tell4 ,at last it was told him how ,joseph had interpreted the dreams in the prison2 so he sent for ,joseph1 who came from the prison1 and stood before the king4 ,pharaoh said1 ,i have dreamed a dream1 and there is none that can interpret it2 and ,i have heard say of thee1 that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it4 ,joseph answered1 ,it is not in me3 ,god shall give ,pharaoh an answer of peace4 ,then ,joseph told ,pharaoh that the dreams had been sent by ,god1 to show him that after seven years of great plenty had passed there would come seven years of famine4 ,he also advised ,pharaoh to lay up corn in cities during the years of plenty1 so that the people might be fed during the years of famine4 ,pharaoh saw what great wisdom ,god had given ,joseph1 and made him ruler over all the land of ,egypt4 ,the corn was stored up2 and after the years of plenty the famine came4 ,illustration3 ,,joseph ,,before ,,the ,,pharaoh4 ,during all this time ,jacob and his sons had been dwelling in ,canaan2 where1 through the famine1 they were now in want of food4 ,so ,jacob sent his sons to ,egypt to buy corn4 ,the ,bible tells us1 in the book of ,genesis1 how they came to ,egypt1 and all that befell them there2 and how at last ,joseph1 the ruler of the mighty kingdom1 made himself known to them as the brother they had cruelly sold for a slave4 ,but he forgave them1 and sent to fetch his father ,jacob1 saying that all were to come into ,egypt1 where he would provide for them4 ,jacob could not at first believe the good news his sons brought2 but when he saw the waggons which ,joseph had sent to carry him and the little ones1 he said1 ,it is enough2 ,joseph my son is yet alive2 ,i will go and see him before ,i die4 ,so he journeyed to ,egypt1 with his sons1 and all that he had2 and as he drew near ,joseph went to meet him4 ,when ,joseph met his father1 he fell on his neck1 and wept there4 ,and ,jacob said1 ,now let me die1 since ,i have seen thy face1 because thou art yet alive4 ,he was so full of joy that it seemed to him there was nothing else worth living for4 ,afterwards ,joseph presented his father to ,pharaoh2 and ,jacob blessed ,pharaoh2 who allowed him and his family to dwell in the land of ,goshen4 ,illustration3 ,,jacob ,,presented ,,to ,,pharaoh4 ,,the ,,finding ,,of ,,moses4 ,pharoah1 becoming alarmed at the increasing power and numbers of the ,israelites in ,egypt1 ordered that every male child who might be born to them should be cast into the river1 and drowned4 ,but the wife of a man named ,levi felt that she could not give up her babe1 and for three months she hid him4 ,when she could hide him no longer1 she prepared a basket of rushes1 and coated it with pitch1 so that it would float upon the river and keep out the water4 ,in this ark she placed her infant son1 and hid the ark among the flags and bulrushes on the river-bank1 and set the child's sister to watch it4 ,now it happened that the daughter of ,pharaoh came with her maidens to bathe in the river2 and when she saw the basket she sent one of her maids to fetch it4 ,and when she looked at the child he wept1 and she had compassion for him1 and said1 ,this is one of the ,hebrews' children4 ,then the child's sister came forward and said to ,pharaoh's daughter1 ,shall ,i call to thee a ,hebrew woman that she may nurse the child for thee8 ,and when the princess said1 ,go6 she1 the maid1 went and called her own mother1 to whom ,pharaoh's daughter said1 ,take this child and nurse him for me1 and ,i will give thee thy wages4 ,and the woman took the child and nursed him4 ,and when he had grown1 his mother took him to the princess1 who adopted him as her son1 and called his name ,moses1 which means drawn out1 because she took him from the water4 ,afterwards he grew to be a great man3 he was learned in all the wisdom of the ,egyptians2 and we are told1 he was mighty in words and deeds4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,finding ,,of ,,moses4 ,,the ,,flight ,,from ,,egypt4 ,when ,moses was forty years old he had to flee from ,egypt4 ,he went to ,midian1 where he dwelt for forty years2 at the end of which time ,god appeared to him1 and instructed him to return to ,egypt2 where he was appointed by ,god to lead the ,israelites from bondage to the land of ,canaan4 ,moses and ,aaron went to ,pharaoh1 king of ,egypt1 and delivered to him ,god's command to let the people of ,israel go2 telling him that if he disobeyed terrible plagues would come upon his land4 ,pharaoh hardened his heart against ,god1 and refused to let the people go2 so ten dreadful plagues were sent1 the last of which was that the firstborn of every ,egyptian should die1 whether it were man or beast4 ,but not a single ,israelite was to suffer harm4 ,this plague ,god said should come in the night2 when an angel would pass through the land1 destroying the ,egyptians but sparing the ,israelites4 ,each family of the ,israelites was commanded1 on the evening that ,god had appointed1 to kill a lamb1 and to dip a bunch of hyssop in its blood1 sprinkling this blood upon the top and side posts of the door4 ,all the houses thus marked ,god said would be spared when the destroying angel passed through the land4 ,in the night1 while the ,israelites were1 according to ,god's command1 eating the lambs that had been slain1 all ready to depart1 a great cry arose among the ,egyptians4 ,in every house1 from the palace downwards1 the eldest child lay dead4 ,then the ,egyptians arose1 and thrust the ,israelites out2 and they left ,egypt1 and journeyed towards the ,red ,sea4 ,illustration3 ,,sprinkling ,,the ,,blood4 ,,moses ,,striking ,,the ,,rock4 ,after the ,israelites left ,egypt they crossed the ,red ,sea1 whose waters divided so that they passed through on dry land4 ,then they travelled through the wilderness toward ,mount ,sinai4 ,passing onward1 they wanted water and food2 and forgetting the great things ,god had already done for them1 they began to murmur4 ,at a place called ,marah they found the water too bitter to drink2 so they grumbled1 saying to ,moses1 ,what shall we drink8 ,he asked ,god2 who showed him a tree1 which1 when cast into the water1 made it sweet4 ,next the people murmured for food1 and ,god sent them manna1 which they gathered every day except the ,sabbath2 but with all ,god's care and kindness the ,israelites continued to grumble whenever any difficulty arose4 ,journeying forward1 they entered another wilderness1 called the ,desert of ,sin1 and came to a place named ,rephidim1 where they found no water4 ,they were very thirsty1 and came to ,moses murmuring and saying1 ,give us water that we may drink4 ,how could ,moses do that8 ,he was grieved with them1 and said1 ,why chide ye with me8 wherefore do ye tempt the ,lord8 ,but the people grew so angry that they were ready to stone him4 ,then ,moses told ,god all the trouble1 and ,god showed him what to do4 ,he was to go before the people1 taking the elders of ,israel with him1 and his rod1 and ,god would stand before him on a rock among the mountains of ,horeb4 ,this rock he was to strike1 when water would gush forth4 ,moses did as ,god commanded4 ,he went forward with the elders1 struck the rock with his rod2 and the pure1 clear water gushed out1 so that all the people were able to drink4 ,illustration3 ,,striking ,,the ,,rock4 ,,the ,,ten ,,commandments4 ,the ,israelites journeyed onward and encamped before ,mount ,sinai4 ,there ,god talked with ,moses1 and instructed him to remind the people of the great things ,he had done for them2 and to say that if they obeyed ,him1 and kept ,his covenant1 they should be a peculiar treasure to ,him above all people1 and a holy nation4 ,when the people heard ,god's message1 they answered1 ,all that the ,lord hath spoken we will do4 ,how happy would they have been if they had always kept this promise6 ,but1 alas6 they did not do so2 and great punishments came upon them in consequence4 ,god also said that on the third day ,he would descend upon ,mount ,sinai2 and commanded the people to prepare themselves for that great and solemn event4 ,none were to approach the mount1 for if they did so they would die4 ,on the third day1 according to the command1 the people gathered before ,mount ,sinai4 ,a thick cloud covered the mountain1 which smoked and quaked1 and there were thunders and lightnings2 a trumpet also sounded exceeding loud1 so that all the people trembled4 ,then ,god spake from the midst of the fire1 and gave the people the ,ten ,commandments4 ,these you will find in the twentieth chapter of ,exodus2 and little folks with sharp eyes can read them in our picture4 ,we are told that all the people saw the thunderings1 and the lightnings1 and the noise of the trumpet1 and the mountain smoking2 and when they saw it they were so much afraid that they stood afar off4 ,how holy is ,god's law1 and how careful should we be to obey it6 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,ten ,,commandments4 ,,bezaleel ,,and ,,aholiab4 ,after ,god had given the ,ten ,commandments1 ,he called ,moses up into the mountain2 where he remained forty days and forty nights4 ,during that time1 ,god told him to speak to the ,israelites1 asking them to give gold1 silver1 brass1 blue1 purple1 fine linen1 oil1 precious stones1 and other things1 to make a tabernacle or sanctuary1 where ,god would dwell among them4 ,god showed ,moses the pattern of this tabernacle1 with its coverings1 its holy place and most holy place1 its ark of the covenant with the cherubims and mercy-seat1 its table for the shewbread1 golden candlestick1 and altar of incense1 and the garments for ,aaron and his sons1 etc42 everything was accurately described by ,god4 ,then ,god instructed ,moses as to who could do the work ,he had commanded to be done1 and named two to whom ,he had given special wisdom and skill3 these two were ,bezaleel and ,aholiab4 ,when ,moses came down from the mountain he called ,aaron and all the people of ,israel1 and told them what ,god had commanded4 ,the people willingly brought gifts1 till more than enough was provided4 ,then ,bezaleel and ,aholiab1 and other wise-hearted men1 worked diligently until the tabernacle and all things belonging to it were made exactly as ,god had instructed4 ,some worked in gold and silver1 others in brass and wood2 wise women spun cloth of blue1 purple and scarlet1 and fine linen2 precious stones were set for the high priest's ephod and breastplate2 and1 at last1 all was finished4 ,then we are told ,moses did look upon all the work1 and1 behold1 they had done it as the ,lord had commanded4 ,then ,moses blessed them4 ,illustration3 ,,bezaleel ,,and ,,aholiab4 ,,the ,,brazen ,,serpent4 ,jesus ,christ says that ,as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of ,man be lifted up4 ,what did ,jesus mean8 ,nearly forty years had passed since ,god gave ,his law from ,mount ,sinai2 and frequently the people had sinned during that time4 ,through their disobedience they were compelled to wander in the wilderness for many long years1 instead of going straight to ,canaan4 ,while thus wandering they passed round the land of ,edom1 and became grieved and impatient because of the dreariness and difficulty of the way4 ,they murmured against ,god and against ,moses1 and said1 ,wherefore have ye brought us up out of ,egypt to die in the wilderness8 ,for there is no bread1 neither is there any water2 and our soul loatheth this light bread4 ,they meant the manna which ,god gave them daily4 ,god allowed fiery serpents to come among the people because of their sin1 which bit them1 and many died4 ,then they came to ,moses1 saying1 ,we have sinned 444 pray unto the ,lord that ,he take away the serpents from us4 ,moses did so2 and ,god told him to make a serpent of brass and to put it on a pole2 and said that all who looked to the serpent should live4 ,the serpent of brass could not heal them1 but ,god healed them as they obeyed his command to look to the serpent4 ,it was look and live4 ,now ,i think we see what ,jesus means4 ,god has said that all must die because of sin2 but those who look to ,jesus and trust in ,him will have their sins pardoned1 and will live with ,him in glory forever4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,brazen ,,serpent4 ,,the ,,passage ,,of ,,the ,,jordan4 ,having wandered for forty years in the wilderness1 the ,israelites drew near to the river ,jordan1 at a place opposite ,jericho4 ,moses was dead1 and ,joshua was now the leader of the host4 ,god told him that the time had come when the people of ,israel were to enter ,canaan2 to which land they had all this long time been travelling1 but which previously they had not been permitted to enter on account of their sin4 ,a description of this sin is given in the ,bible1 in the fourteenth chapter of ,numbers4 ,but the people were now to cross the ,jordan and enter ,canaan4 ,they were a very great multitude1 and the river lay before them4 ,how were they to cross8 ,god told them6 ,he commanded ,joshua that the priests were to take the ark of the covenant and to go before the people2 who were to follow a short distance behind4 ,could the priests and the people walk across the deep water8 ,no4 ,but as soon as the priests reached the river1 and their feet were dipped in the water1 ,god divided the ,jordan into two1 leaving dry ground for the ,israelites to cross upon4 ,the priests carried the ark into the middle of the bed of the river and then stood still1 and all the people passed on before them4 ,when all were over1 the priests carrying the ark moved forward also1 and the waters returned to their proper place again4 ,but before they did so1 ,joshua commanded twelve men1 one from each tribe1 each to take a stone from the river's bed2 and these stones were set up as a memorial of the marvellous manner in which ,god had brought the ,israelites across the ,jordan into ,canaan4 ,illustration3 ,,crossing ,,the ,,jordan4 ,,the ,,captain ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,host4 ,news of the miraculous way in which the ,israelites had been brought across the ,jordan spread rapidly among the ,canaanites1 and when they heard what ,god had done1 they were very much afraid4 ,we are told that their heart melted1 neither was there spirit in them any more1 because of the children of ,israel4 ,god had said to ,joshua that the land of ,canaan was to be taken possession of by the ,israelites2 and had commanded him to ,be strong and of a good courage1 and had strengthened him by saying1 ,be not afraid1 neither be thou dismayed1 for the ,lord thy ,god is with thee whithersoever thou goest4 ,joshua and the people were now in ,canaan1 and before them lay a stronghold of the ,canaanites1 named ,jericho1 having high walls and strong gates4 ,this city the ,israelites had to capture2 but the inhabitants closed the gates1 and prepared to fight fiercely to prevent ,joshua and his warriors from getting in4 ,as ,joshua was alone at this time1 near ,jericho1 he looked up1 and saw a man standing with a drawn sword in his hand4 ,joshua went to him and asked1 ,art thou for us or for our adversaries8 ,the man answered1 ,nay2 but as captain of the host of the ,lord am ,i come4 ,do you know who it was8 ,was it an angel8 ,i think it was more than an angel4 ,it was the ,lord6 ,joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped1 saying1 ,what saith my ,lord unto ,his servant8 ,then the ,lord told ,joshua1 as before he had told ,moses1 to take his shoes from his feet1 for the place on which he stood was holy2 and instructed him how ,jericho was to be captured4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,captain ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,host4 ,,how ,,jericho ,,was ,,captured4 ,when men in olden times attacked a city1 they tried to batter down the walls with heavy beams of wood1 having heads of iron1 called battering rams2 but ,god did not instruct the ,israelites thus to capture ,jericho4 ,they were to remember that it was not by their own power they could conquer the ,canaanites1 but only as ,god gave them the victory over their enemies4 ,so ,god commanded ,joshua to lay siege to ,jericho in a very strange way4 ,he said that seven priests1 each having a trumpet1 were to go before the ark4 ,in front of them the armed men of ,israel were to march2 and behind the ark the people were to follow4 ,in this way they were to go round the city once each day for six days1 the priests blowing their trumpets each time4 ,the seventh day they were to go in the same manner round the city seven times2 and ,god said that when the priests blew their trumpets the seventh time1 the people were to give a great shout1 and the walls of the city would fall down4 ,joshua and the people did as ,god commanded4 ,they marched round the city carrying the ark1 the priests blowing their trumpets2 and on the seventh day they marched round seven times4 ,the last time1 when the priests blew their trumpets1 the people shouted with a great shout1 and the walls of the city fell down flat4 ,then the ,israelites went up and took possession of it4 ,thus ,god delivered ,jericho into the hands of ,his people4 ,all the inhabitants were killed except ,rahab and her relatives4 ,these were spared because ,rahab had been kind to the spies whom ,joshua had sent4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,jericho4 ,,achan',s ,,sin4 ,god commanded the ,israelites to destroy ,jericho2 and all the gold1 silver1 and other riches found there were to be devoted to the ,lord4 ,if any disobeyed this command then a curse was to rest upon all1 and they were not to prosper4 ,the ,israelites were to conquer the ,canaanites1 and drive them out of the land4 ,so ,joshua prepared to attack a city named ,ai4 ,three thousand of his men went to capture it1 but the inhabitants came out and drove them back1 killing some of them4 ,joshua was greatly grieved4 ,he knew that unless ,god made the ,israelites victorious1 the ,canaanites would be able to overcome them1 and ,god had appeared to fail them this time4 ,oh6 he was sorry4 ,but he told ,god the trouble1 and ,god showed him the cause of it4 ,one of the ,israelites1 named ,achan1 saw among the spoil of ,jericho1 a handsome garment1 some silver1 and a bar of gold1 and coveted them4 ,he stole these things and hid them away in his tent1 thinking that no one saw him2 but ,god knew it all4 ,achan's sin was the cause of ,israel's defeat6 ,god showed ,joshua how the man who had done the wickedness was to be discovered4 ,each tribe was to be brought before ,god1 then each family of the tribe ,he chose1 then each household of the family taken1 and lastly each man of the family chosen4 ,finally1 ,achan was pointed out by ,god4 ,joshua bade him confess what he had done1 and he said that he had taken the ,babylonish garment and the gold and silver4 ,messengers were sent to his tent1 who brought what ,achan had hidden2 and he1 with his sons and daughters1 his cattle1 and all that he had1 and the garment1 silver1 and gold1 were taken to a valley near by1 where the people stoned them1 and burned them with fire2 and then raised over all a great heap of stones1 which remained as a memorial to warn others against sinning as ,achan had done4 ,illustration3 ,,achan ,,confessing ,,his ,,sin4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,altar ,,on ,,mount ,,ebal4 ,before ,moses died he called the ,israelites together1 and urged them to faithfully serve ,god2 also directing that when they entered ,canaan1 they were to build an altar of rough stones1 covered with plaster1 on ,mount ,ebal1 and to write the words of ,god's law upon this altar4 ,then six of the tribes were to stand on ,mount ,gerizim1 and six on ,mount ,ebal1 and1 in the hearing of all the people1 the blessings for obedience and the cursings for disobedience were to be proclaimed4 ,mounts ,ebal and ,gerizim are two rugged mountains that face each other in ,samaria4 ,when the ,israelites advanced thus far1 they remembered the words of ,moses4 ,joshua built the altar as directed1 on which he offered sacrifices to ,god1 and wrote a copy of the law upon it4 ,all ,israel stood1 half of them over against ,mount ,gerizim1 and half of them over against ,mount ,ebal1 and ,joshua read all the words of the law1 the blessings and cursings1 according to all that is written in the book of the law4 ,then the loud voices of the ,levites were heard from the mountain sides1 declaring1 in the hearing of all the people1 the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience1 as ,god had commanded4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,altar ,,on ,,mount ,,ebal4 ,,the ,,cities ,,of ,,refuge4 ,revenge is contrary to the teaching of ,jesus ,christ1 ,if thine enemy hunger1 feed him1 says the ,saviour2 but among the ,israelites and other eastern nations a different practice prevailed4 ,if one slew another1 the kinsman of him that was slain felt bound to avenge his relative1 and to slay him that had done the deed4 ,sometimes people were killed by accident1 when it was clearly unjust that he who had unwittingly killed another should be slain4 ,to guard against the innocent thus suffering1 ,god commanded that cities of refuge should be appointed1 to which the slayer might flee1 which killeth any person at unawares4 ,these cities were six in number3 ,kedesh1 ,shechem1 and ,kirjath-arba1 on the west of ,jordan2 and ,bezer1 ,ramoth1 and ,golan1 on the east of that river4 ,they were so arranged that a few hours' rapid flight would bring the slayer from any part of the land to one of the cities of refuge4 ,jewish writers say that the roads leading to these cities were always kept in good repair1 and that guide-posts were placed at every cross road with ,refuge6 ,refuge6 written upon them4 ,but the man that wilfully killed another was not sheltered4 ,he was given up to the avenger to be slain4 ,in our picture we see the slayer running to the city gate2 the avenger close behind1 shooting arrows at him4 ,he has thus far escaped1 and two or three more steps will place him in safety4 ,but1 once within the city1 he must not quit its refuge until the death of the high priest4 ,if he do so and the avenger find him he may be slain4 ,but upon the death of the high priest he will be allowed to return home1 to dwell in peace again4 ,illustration3 ,,fleeing ,,to ,,the ,,city ,,of ,,refuge4 ,,joshua',s ,,exhortation4 ,exhortation seems a hard word1 but it simply means to strongly urge to good deeds1 and this is what our artist shows ,joshua to be doing4 ,joshua is now an old man1 and the ,israelites are settled peaceably in ,canaan4 ,he has called them before him1 with their elders1 and heads1 and judges1 and officers4 ,he tells them that he is old and about to die1 and reminds them of the land that has already been conquered and divided among them1 and of that which still remains to be conquered2 urging them to be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of ,moses1 that they turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left4 ,he bids them take good heed therefore unto themselves1 that they love the ,lord their ,god2 and warns them that if they go back and do wickedly1 the anger of the ,lord will be kindled against them1 and they will perish quickly from off the good land which ,god has given them4 ,in his address1 ,joshua said1 ,ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls1 that not one good thing hath failed of all the good things which the ,lord your ,god spake concerning you2 all are come to pass unto you1 and not one thing hath failed thereof4 ,how faithful is ,god6 ,he never fails in ,his promises3 and we are told ,he is unchangeable1 so that whatever ,he promises now ,he will fulfil1 and whatever warnings ,he gives will surely come to pass4 ,how good is it to have this holy and wise ,god for our ,father1 and to know that ,he promises abundantly to bless all those that trust in the ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,but let us take heed of the warnings against sin given in ,god's ,holy ,word4 ,illustration3 ,,joshua ,,exhorting ,,the ,,people4 ,,gideon ,,and ,,the ,,fleece4 ,after the death of ,joshua1 the ,israelites turned away from ,god1 and served idols4 ,therefore the evils came upon them of which they had been warned by ,moses and ,joshua4 ,but at different times ,god1 seeing their distress1 raised up judges to deliver them from their enemies1 and to judge over them4 ,the first of these judges was named ,othniel4 ,he was ,caleb's nephew4 ,the last was ,samuel4 ,one that lived about one hundred years before ,samuel was named ,gideon4 ,the ,israelites were at this time in great trouble4 ,they were hiding in dens and caves because of the ,midianites1 who had conquered them and overrun their country4 ,when their corn was ripe these enemies came and destroyed it1 so altogether they were in sad plight4 ,one day ,gideon was threshing wheat in a secluded place1 so as to escape the notice of the ,midianites1 when an angel from ,god appeared to him1 bidding him to go and save the ,israelites from their foes4 ,gideon obeyed the command3 but before commencing the battle he much desired a sign from ,god showing that ,he would give the ,israelites the victory4 ,the sign ,gideon asked for was1 that when he laid a fleece of wool on the ground1 if the victory were to be his1 then the fleece should be wet and the ground dry4 ,he placed the wool on the ground1 and taking it up the next morning found it wet1 although the ground was dry4 ,so he knew ,god had answered him as he desired4 ,but he was not quite satisfied4 ,he begged ,god for a second sign4 ,this time the ground was to be wet and the fleece of wool dry4 ,god gave him this sign also3 and then ,gideon felt sure that the ,israelites would be victorious over the ,midianites4 ,illustration3 ,,examining ,,the ,,fleece4 ,,the ,,defeat ,,of ,,the ,,midianites4 ,large numbers of the ,israelites gathered around ,gideon1 prepared to fight against the ,midianites1 who were encamped in a valley1 like grasshoppers for multitude4 ,how ,gideon's host was reduced till only three hundred men remained1 and the wonderful dream he heard related1 when he and his servant went down as spies into the enemy's camp1 are recorded in the seventh chapter of ,judges4 ,it was not by their own bravery or power that the ,israelites were to overcome their enemies4 ,god was to give them the victory3 and ,he chose ,gideon and three hundred men to overcome the great and mighty host of the ,midianites4 ,gideon divided his three hundred men into three companies1 and put a trumpet in every man's hand1 and gave to each a pitcher with a lamp inside4 ,then he said1 ,look on me1 and do likewise3 when ,i blow with a trumpet1 ,i and all that are with me1 then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of the camp1 and say1 ',the sword of the ,lord and of ,gideon4' ,gideon and the hundred men of his company approached the enemy's camp by night1 and the other two companies drew nigh also1 so that the ,midianites where surrounded4 ,then all blew their trumpets1 broke their pitchers1 held up their lamps 7torches71 and cried out as they had been commanded4 ,the ,midianites heard the trumpets' blast and the cry1 and saw the lights4 ,they were thrown into confusion1 and one fought against another2 then they fled1 and were pursued by the ,israelites1 great numbers of whom gathered together and followed after their flying enemies4 ,thus the ,midianites were overcome1 and ,israel had peace during the lifetime of ,gideon4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sword ,,of ,,the ,,lord1 ,,and ,,of ,,gideon4 ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,samson4 ,samson's birth was foretold by an angel4 ,he was to grow up a ,nazarite1 forbidden to drink strong drink1 neither was his head to be shaved4 ,his strength was very great2 but his marriage was sinful1 and his doings with the idolatrous ,philistines terrible4 ,though an ,israelite and a judge1 ,i fear much he sinned greatly against ,god4 ,on one occasion he went to ,gaza1 a city of the ,philistines4 ,the inhabitants tried to take him1 but he arose at midnight and carried away the gates of their city4 ,in our picture though he looks so strong1 yet we see chains on his legs1 and he is blind6 ,how came he to lose his sight and be made a prisoner8 ,i think it was owing to his sin and folly4 ,he became acquainted with a wicked woman1 who enticed him to tell her in what his great strength lay4 ,three times he told her falsely1 but at last he said that if the flowing locks of his hair were removed his strength would depart4 ,while he slept these locks were cut off1 then the ,philistines burst in upon him1 and when he arose to resist them1 he found that his strength was gone4 ,then his eyes were cruelly put out1 and he was bound with fetters of brass4 ,our artist shows him blind1 brought out to make sport at the ,philistines' feast4 ,he is very sorrowful1 and1 ,i think1 angry4 ,he asks the lad beside him to place his hands upon the pillars supporting the house2 then1 his great strength returning1 he bows himself with all his might2 the pillars break1 the house falls1 and ,samson1 with very many of the ,philistines1 is crushed amid the ruins4 ,was not this a terrible end to what might have been a noble life8 ,illustration3 ,,samson ,,making ,,sport ,,for ,,the ,,philistines4 ,,ruth ,,and ,,naomi4 ,naomi was the wife of a ,jew named ,elimelech1 who left his own city of ,bethlehem to go into the land of ,moab1 because there was a famine in ,canaan4 ,some time afterwards he died1 leaving ,naomi a widow with two sons1 all dwellers in a strange land4 ,her sons married two young women belonging to ,moab1 whose names were ,orpah and ,ruth4 ,after living there about ten years ,naomi's sons died also1 leaving ,orpah and ,ruth widows1 along with their widowed mother-in-law4 ,then ,naomi determined to return to her own land4 ,orpah and ,ruth accompanied ,naomi some distance on her journey2 then she bade them to leave her1 telling each to go back to her mother's house in ,moab1 while she would pursue her way alone to the land of ,judah4 ,they were unwilling to do so1 saying they would go with her to her land and people2 but she urged them to depart1 assuring them that they would gain nothing by leaving their own country to accompany her1 and that they had better return to their own homes4 ,then the story informs us--you will find it in the ,bible1 in the ,book of ,ruth--that ,orpah kissed her mother-in-law and departed2 but ,ruth clave unto her1 saying1 ,whither thou goest1 ,i will go2 and where thou lodgest1 ,i will lodge2 thy people shall be my people1 and thy ,god my ,god2 where thou diest1 will ,i die1 and there will ,i be buried3 the ,lord do so to me and more also1 if ought but death part thee and me4 ,so ,ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law1 and journeyed with her until they reached ,canaan4 ,then they both dwelt in the city of ,bethlehem1 in the land of ,judah1 where we shall meet with them again4 ,illustration3 ,,ruth ,,and ,,naomi4 ,,boaz ,,and ,,ruth4 ,when ,naomi returned to ,bethlehem she was poor4 ,the poor were allowed at harvest time to follow the reapers2 gleaning or gathering up the stray ears of corn4 ,one day1 ,ruth obtained permission from her mother-in-law to go gleaning1 and went to glean in the field of a rich man named ,boaz1 who happened to be a kinsman1 or relative of ,elimelech4 ,but ,ruth did not know of this relationship4 ,boaz saw ,ruth gleaning1 and asked one of his servants who she was4 ,the servant replied1 ,it is the ,moabitish damsel that came back with ,naomi out of the country of ,moab4 ,then ,boaz spoke kindly to ,ruth1 telling her not to go to any other field to glean1 but to stay with his maidens and glean in his field4 ,she fell on her face before him and bowed herself to the ground1 and asked1 ,why have ,i found grace in thine eyes1 that thou shouldest take knowledge of me1 seeing ,i am a stranger8 ,boaz was pleased with her because of her kindness to ,naomi1 so he replied1 ,it hath fully been showed me all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband4 ,he also bade her to eat and drink with his servants1 and told his reapers to let some handfuls of grain fall on purpose for her4 ,so ,ruth gleaned that day quite a large quantity of barley1 which she took home to ,naomi4 ,then she learned that ,boaz was her kinsman4 ,she continued gleaning until the end of harvest2 and afterwards became the wife of ,boaz and grandmother of ,jesse1 the father of ,david4 ,jesus ,christ descended from ,david2 so we see what high honour was bestowed upon ,ruth for her kindness to her mother-in-law4 ,illustration3 ,,boaz ,,showing ,,kindness ,,to ,,ruth4 ,,hannah ,,praying ,,before ,,the ,,lord4 ,the ,tabernacle1 which had been set up by the ,israelites in the wilderness1 was after the conquest of ,canaan erected at ,shiloh1 a city about ten miles south of ,shechem4 ,there it remained for more than three hundred years4 ,no ,temple was at ,jerusalem in those days1 so the ,jewish priests offered sacrifices to ,god in the ,tabernacle at ,shiloh4 ,one day1 ,hannah1 the wife of a priest named ,elkanah1 came to the ,tabernacle to worship4 ,she was grieved because she had no children2 and especially sad because she had no son4 ,so she knelt down and prayed to ,god1 and asked ,god to remember her sorrow and to give her a son2 promising that if ,god granted her request1 she would give that son to ,him all the days of his life4 ,as ,hannah prayed1 ,eli1 the high priest1 saw her4 ,she did not speak aloud1 but prayed in her heart2 her lips moved1 but no voice was heard2 so ,eli thought that a drunken woman had come before the ,lord4 ,he reproved her saying1 ,how long wilt thou be drunken8 ,put away thy wine from thee4 ,but ,hannah had not drunk wine4 ,she answered ,eli1 ,no1 my lord1 ,i am a woman of a sorrowful spirit4 ,i have drunk neither wine nor strong drink1 but have poured out my soul before the ,lord4 ,then ,eli bade her ,go in peace1 and the ,god of ,israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of ,him4 ,hannah left the ,tabernacle4 ,her face was no longer sad4 ,she believed ,god had heard her prayer2 and ,he had done so4 ,in due time a son was given her1 whom she named ,samuel4 ,samuel means ,heard of ,god1 which name ,hannah gave him in remembrance of ,god's goodness in hearing her prayer4 ,illustration3 ,,hannah ,,praying ,,before ,,the ,,lord4 ,,eli ,,and ,,samuel4 ,elkanah went up to ,shiloh yearly to offer sacrifice3 and when ,samuel was old enough1 ,hannah went with her husband and took her little boy with her4 ,they came to ,eli the high priest1 and ,hannah said3 ,oh1 my ,lord1 ,i am the woman that stood by thee here praying4 ,for this child ,i prayed2 and the ,lord hath given me my petition4 ,therefore also have ,i given him to the ,lord4 ,then she left ,samuel with ,eli4 ,samuel assisted ,eli in the ,tabernacle service1 and wore a linen ephod like a priest4 ,his mother came yearly to see him1 when she accompanied ,elkanah to the sacrifice at ,shiloh1 and each time brought with her a little coat1 which she had made for her son4 ,eli was an old man1 who had two wicked sons4 ,these he had not restrained as he should have done4 ,so ,god was displeased with him and them on account of their sins4 ,one night1 while the lamp in the ,tabernacle was burning1 and ,eli was resting1 ,samuel was sleeping4 ,a voice came to him calling1 ,samuel6 ,he rose1 and ran to ,eli saying1 ,here am ,i4 ,but ,eli had not called1 so ,samuel lay down again4 ,a second time the same voice called1 ,samuel6 ,he went to ,eli and said1 ,here am ,i2 for thou didst call me4 ,but ,eli replied1 ,i called not1 my son2 lie down again4 ,the call was repeated a third time2 then ,eli told ,samuel it was the ,lord who called him2 and bade him answer if the voice came again1 ,speak1 ,lord1 for thy servant heareth4 ,again ,god called1 and ,samuel answered as ,eli had commanded him4 ,then ,god told ,samuel what terrible things should befall ,eli and his sons through their wickedness4 ,illustration3 ,,samuel ,,coming ,,to ,,eli4 ,,death ,,of ,,eli ,,and ,,his ,,sons4 ,in the morning ,samuel feared to tell ,eli what the ,lord had shown him2 but ,eli bade him do so1 saying to ,samuel1 ,god do so to thee1 and more also1 if thou hide any thing from me of all that ,he said unto thee4 ,so ,samuel told ,eli all ,god had said1 keeping nothing back1 and ,eli answered1 ,it is the ,lord3 let ,him do what seemeth ,him good4 ,afterwards there was war between the ,israelites and the ,philistines1 and both sides prepared for battle4 ,they fought2 the ,israelites were defeated1 and many of them slain4 ,then they sent to ,shiloh and fetched the ark of the covenant out of the ,tabernacle1 carrying it to the camp1 and thinking that if the ark were with them they would overcome their enemies4 ,but the ark only signified ,god's presence in their midst2 it was not ,god ,himself1 to give them victory4 ,it was very sinful of them thus to use what ,god had made so holy2 and ,god suffered them again to be defeated4 ,the ark was taken by the ,philistines1 and many of the ,israelites were slain4 ,eli1 who was then ninety-eight years old1 and nearly blind1 sat by the wayside1 trembling for the safety of the ark1 and waiting for messengers to bring news of the battle4 ,presently a messenger came who told him the ,israelites had fled before the ,philistines1 that his two sons ,hophni and ,phinehas were slain1 and that the ark of ,god had been taken4 ,when he heard that the ark had been taken1 he fell backward from off his seat and died4 ,thus ,god's judgment upon ,eli and his sons came to pass4 ,in our picture we see the messenger1 who has just come from the field of battle1 telling ,eli the sad tidings that caused his death4 ,illustration3 ,,eli ,,receiving ,,the ,,evil ,,tidings4 ,,playing ,,on ,,the ,,harp ,,before ,,saul4 ,we are not told much in the ,bible concerning the early life of ,david4 ,he was born in ,bethlehem4 ,we have seen who his father was1 but ,i do not find that his mother's name is given4 ,his own name means beloved4 ,what a happy name6 ,he must have been much loved by his parents1 and we know he was loved by ,god4 ,like many other youths in ,canaan1 he acted as a shepherd to his father's flocks4 ,he was a fair1 open-faced boy2 ruddy1 and of a beautiful countenance1 and goodly to look at1 so the ,scriptures say4 ,he was a good musician1 knew how to sling stones at a mark1 and was so brave that when a lion and a bear came to attack the lambs of his flock he went after them and killed them both4 ,one day a strange and most important event happened4 ,samuel1 the prophet1 came from ,ramah1 and pouring some very precious oil upon the head of ,david1 anointed him to be the future ,king of ,israel4 ,saul was then ,king1 but on account of his wickedness ,god had rejected him1 saying that another should reign in his stead4 ,soon after this event ,saul became very wretched4 ,an evil spirit troubled him1 we are told4 ,his servants advised him to get a man that could play skilfully upon the harp1 so that music might drive away his misery4 ,some one suggested ,david2 and ,david was sent for4 ,he brought sweet strains from his harp1 and ,saul was soothed4 ,saul was pleased with ,david4 ,we are told that he loved him greatly1 and that ,david became his armour-bearer4 ,but he soon grew jealous1 and twice threw a javelin at ,david1 seeking to smite him to the wall and kill him4 ,this1 however1 he was not able to do4 ,illustration3 ,,david ,,playing ,,on ,,the ,,harp ,,before ,,saul4 ,,david ,,and ,,goliath4 ,how attentively ,david looks at the stones in his hand4 ,his sling is on his arm1 and his bag by his side4 ,what is he about to do with those stones8 ,and who is that tall man in armour1 strutting about with such a long spear in his hand8 ,two armies were drawn up in battle array4 ,they were the armies of the ,israelites and ,philistines4 ,the camp of the ,israelites was on one hill1 and that of the ,philistines was upon another2 a valley lying between4 ,for forty days these armies had been facing each other1 but yet the battle had been delayed4 ,the ,philistines had on their side a giant of great height and strength1 encased in armour1 who daily came out1 challenging the ,israelites to send a man from their camp to fight with him4 ,but no man among them dared to go against ,goliath1 the ,philistines' champion4 ,meanwhile ,jesse had sent ,david to the ,israelites' camp to see after his brethren4 ,he heard what the giant said1 and offered to go out against him4 ,saul was informed of ,david's offer1 and sent for him4 ,saul told ,david he was not able to fight the giant1 but he boldly replied1 ,the ,lord which delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear1 ,he will deliver me out of the hand of this ,philistine4 ,david trusted not in his own power1 but in ,god6 ,then ,saul said1 ,go1 and the ,lord be with thee4 ,he went1 slung one of the smooth stones he had chosen out of the brook1 smote the ,philistine in the forehead so that he fell to the earth1 and then ran and cut off his head4 ,thus ,god enabled this ruddy youth to overcome the giant ,philistine1 and to slay him with a sling and a stone4 ,illustration3 ,,choosing ,,smooth ,,stones ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,brook4 ,,nathan ,,reproving ,,the ,,king4 ,david was now ,king4 ,he had great riches and honour1 and a palace had been built for him4 ,he had brought the ark from ,kirjath-jearim1 and placed it in the tabernacle prepared for it at ,jerusalem1 and he now reigned over all the people of ,israel and ,judah4 ,but ,david did a very wicked thing4 ,he took the wife of ,uriah the ,hittite for his wife1 and caused ,uriah to be slain4 ,god was displeased at what he had done1 and sent ,nathan the prophet to reprove him4 ,nathan's reproof was given by a parable4 ,it was a story of a poor man who had one dear little lamb4 ,it grew up in his house1 played with his children1 and was very precious to him4 ,but one day a traveller came to a rich neighbour1 who possessed great flocks and herds1 and this neighbour1 instead of killing one of his own lambs and setting it before his guest1 sent and took the poor man's lamb and killed it4 ,david heard the story1 and was very angry4 ,he said the rich man should die1 and the lamb taken away should be restored fourfold4 ,then ,nathan1 looking at the ,king1 said3 ,thou art the man6 ,he showed ,david how greatly he had sinned1 and told him that trouble and sorrow would come upon him for what he had done4 ,god had given him riches and honour1 and all that he could wish for2 yet he had taken the one precious thing of ,uriah's1 even his wife1 and had caused him to be slain4 ,david was sorely grieved when he saw how wickedly he had acted4 ,he confessed his sin to ,god1 and ,god forgave it2 but great trouble came upon the ,king afterwards through this crime4 ,illustration3 ,,thou ,,art ,,the ,,man4 ,,david ,,and ,,araunah4 ,after ,david had reigned may years1 he numbered the people of ,israel4 ,this was wrong2 and ,god sent a pestilence which destroyed seventy thousand men4 ,david was grieved1 and prayed that ,god would punish him and spare the people4 ,god stayed the hand of the destroying angel2 who stood by the threshing-floor of ,araunah1 whither ,david was told to go and offer sacrifice4 ,david went4 ,he purchased the threshing-floor of ,araunah1 also oxen and wood and offered a burnt sacrifice to ,god4 ,the following verses describe the scene3-- ,beside ,araunah's threshing-place ,the awful angel took his stand1 ,when from high heaven came words of grace-- ,it is enough2 stay now thine hand4 ,for ,david's penitential prayer ,had enter'd ,god's compassionate ear2 ,and where the angel stood1 even there ,god bade the ,king and altar rear4 ,araunah offered ground1 and wood1 ,and oxen for the sacrifice3 ,david stood noble wish withstood1 ,and bought them all at full price4 ,his answer has a royal ring2 ,its lesson high shall not be lost3 ,burnt offerings ,i will never bring ,unto ,jehovah without cost4 ,the altar rose1 the victims died1 ,the plague was stayed1 and lo1 there fell-- ,token that ,heaven was satisfied-- ,a fire from ,god1 and all was well4 ',twas like a finger from the skies-- ,that falling fire--to show ,god's will1 ,that here the ,temple should arise ,and crown ,moriah's sacred hill4 ,and still ,god marks the faithful prayer1 ,the careful work1 the costly pains2 ,the ,spirit's fire descendeth there1 ,and there1 as in a shrine1 remains4 ,,richard ,,wilton1 ,m4,a4 ,illustration3 ,,david ,,and ,,araunah4 ,,elijah ,,fed ,,by ,,ravens4 ,god was displeased with ,king ,ahab1 and sent ,his prophet1 ,elijah the ,tishbite1 to say unto him1 ,as the ,lord ,god of ,israel liveth there shall not be dew nor rain for years in all ,israel4 ,god knew that these words would make ,ahab angry with ,elijah1 so ,he commanded ,elijah to get out of ,ahab's way4 ,get thee hence1 and turn thee eastward1 and hide thyself by the brook ,cherith1 that is before ,jordan4 ,and it shall be1 that thou shalt drink of the brook2 and ,i have commanded the ravens to feed thee there4 ,elijah went1 and the ravens brought him bread and meat1 morning and evening1 and he drank of the brook4 ,but after many days the brook dried up1 and ,god told him to go to ,zarephath1 where a widow would sustain him4 ,so he arose and went to ,zarephath4 ,when he came to the gate of the city he saw the widow gathering sticks2 and called to her1 saying1 ,bring me1 ,i pray thee1 a little water in a vessel1 that ,i may drink1 and a morsel of bread in thy hand1 that ,i may eat4 ,the widow turned and said1 ,as the ,lord thy ,god liveth1 ,i have not a cake1 but only a handful of meal1 and a little oil in a cruse2 and1 behold1 ,i am gathering a few sticks1 that ,i may go in and bake it for me and my son1 that we may eat it before we starve to death4 ,elijah told her not to fear1 but to make a cake for him1 and1 afterwards1 one for her son and herself1 for ,god had said that neither her handful of meal nor her cruse of oil should fail until ,he again sent rain upon the earth4 ,so she did as ,elijah told her1 and there was always enough oil and meal for their daily food1 according to the word of the ,lord which ,he spake by ,elijah4 ,illustration3 ,,elijah ,,fed ,,by ,,ravens4 ,,ploughing ,,in ,,canaan4 ,in ,scripture frequent mention is made of the husbandman and his work4 ,ploughing the land1 sowing the seed1 reaping the harvest1 and winnowing the grain are often referred to4 ,our picture shows an ,eastern husbandman ploughing4 ,how different it is to ploughing in our own land6 ,there is no coulter2 and instead of the broad steel plough-share we see a pointed piece of wood4 ,and the long handles with which our labourers guide their ploughs--where are they8 ,the strong horses1 too1 harnessed one behind the other1 are missing4 ,yes6 none of these were used in ,canaan4 ,small oxen drew the plough2 and the husbandman guided it by means of a single handle1 as we see him doing in the picture4 ,thus their method of ploughing was a slow one1 and unless the land had been very good their harvests would have been poor4 ,often these husbandmen had to wait until the rain made the ground soft enough for their ploughs to enter it1 consequently many had to toil in cold1 stormy1 winter weather4 ,to this the proverb alludes which says3 ,the sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold2 therefore shall he beg in harvest1 and have nothing4 7,prov4 xx4 #d47 ,perhaps it was just such a plough1 drawn by just such oxen as we see in our picture1 that ,elisha was using when ,elijah passed by and cast his mantle upon him2 thereby calling ,elisha to be his servant and successor4 ,we are told that ,elisha took a yoke of oxen1 and slew them1 and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen1 and gave unto the people1 and they did eat4 ,then he arose1 and went after ,elijah1 and ministered unto him4 ,illustration3 ,,ploughing ,,in ,,canaan4 ,,the ,,shunammite',s ,,son4 ,many interesting stories are told in the ,bible1 few of which are more touching than that of ,elisha the prophet1 and the ,shunammite woman4 ,this story we find in the fourth chapter of the ,second ,book of ,kings4 ,we read of the prophet journeying to and fro1 and resting in the little chamber that the kind ,shunammite had built for him on the wall of her house4 ,we see its bed1 table1 stool1 and candlestick2 and the joy beaming upon the good woman's face when a tiny infant son was given her4 ,how she loved him6 ,and as he grew up how carefully she watched over him4 ,but a sad time was coming4 ,the golden corn was in the field ready for reaping1 for the harvest time had come4 ,the hot sun shone overhead1 and the little lad was out with his father in the field1 probably running about among the corn4 ,suddenly he felt a violent pain1 and cried out1 ,my head1 my head6 ,then joy was changed to sorrow4 ,the father saw his son was ill1 and bade a lad carry the little boy to his mother1 on whose knees he sat till noon1 and then he died4 ,next we see the mother leaving her dead son1 and journeying to find the prophet4 ,elisha sees her coming1 and sends ,gehazi to inquire if all is well4 ,then she falls down before the prophet and tells him her trouble2 and he sends his servant with his staff to lay it upon the dead child4 ,the story closes by stating how ,elisha follows ,gehazi1 goes to the chamber where the dead boy lay1 prays to ,god that the life may be restored1 and finally has the joy of giving the lad1 alive and well again1 into the arms of his mother4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,shunammite',s ,,son ,,restored4 ,,the ,,little ,,captive ,,maid4 ,naaman was a great general in the army of the ,king of ,syria1 who esteemed him highly1 because it was ,naaman that led the ,syrians when ,god gave them victory over the ,israelites4 ,but in spite of his bravery and his high position1 he was miserable1 because he suffered from a terrible disease called leprosy4 ,now1 among the captives whom the ,syrians had brought back from war was a little ,israelitish maiden1 who was appointed to wait upon ,naaman's wife4 ,she had heard of the wonderful things which ,elisha did in the name of ,god2 and she told her mistress that if ,naaman could only see this prophet1 who was in ,samaria1 he could be cured4 ,and the ,king was told what the maid had said1 and he sent a letter to the ,king of ,israel commanding him to cure ,naaman of his leprosy4 ,but the ,king of ,israel was afraid1 and thought the ,king of ,syria sought this way to quarrel with him4 ,when ,elisha heard of the ,king's fear1 he sent and desired that ,naaman should be brought to him4 ,so ,naaman came in his chariot1 and stood at ,elisha's door4 ,but the prophet instead of coming to him1 sent a message directing ,naaman to wash in ,jordan seven times1 when his leprous flesh would be restored to health4 ,naaman had thought that ,elisha would have received him with much ceremony and touched him1 bidding the leprosy to depart2 so he was angry and said1 ,are not the rivers of ,damascus better than all the waters of ,israel8 ,may ,i not wash in them and be clean8 ,therefore he went away in a rage4 ,but his servants persuaded him to carry out the prophet's injunction1 and he went and dipped seven times in ,jordan1 and was made whole4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,little ,,captive ,,maid4 ,,jonah ,,at ,,nineveh4 ,jonah was commanded to go to ,nineveh1 and cry out that the city should be destroyed on account of the wickedness of its inhabitants4 ,but instead of obeying ,god's command he fled in a ship that was bound for ,tarshish4 ,then a great storm arose1 and the shipmen cast ,jonah into the sea1 believing that the storm had been sent through his disobedience4 ,god saved ,jonah by means of a large fish1 and brought him safely to land again4 ,a second time ,god said to ,jonah1 ,arise1 go unto ,nineveh1 that great city1 and preach unto it the preaching that ,i bid thee4 ,so ,jonah arose and went as ,god had directed him4 ,now ,nineveh was a very large city1 about sixty miles in circumference1 and ,jonah went some distance inside and then cried out1 ,yet forty days and ,nineveh shall be overthrown6 ,it was a strange and terrible cry which sounded throughout the city1 and as the ,ninevites heard it they feared ,god1 proclaimed a fast1 covered themselves with sackcloth1 and every man was commanded to forsake evil4 ,so they hoped ,god would forgive them and spare their city4 ,god saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways1 therefore ,he spared their city4 ,when ,jonah saw that ,nineveh was spared he was very angry1 and prayed ,god to take away his life4 ,he made a booth and sat under it to see what would become of the city4 ,then ,god sheltered him from the sun by a gourd1 and afterwards taught him by it how wrong he was in being displeased because ,nineveh had been spared4 ,nineveh was afterwards overthrown1 and has remained since then but a heap of ruins4 ,illustration3 ,,jonah ,,at ,,nineveh4 ,,hezekiah ,,and ,,sennacherib4 ,sennacherib1 the ,king of ,assyria1 invaded the land of ,judah1 and threatened to lay siege to ,jerusalem4 ,then ,hezekiah took counsel with his princes and mighty men1 and repaired the broken walls1 and made them higher4 ,he made many other preparations for the defence of the city1 and went among his people1 exhorting them to trust in ,god1 and be of good courage4 ,but ,sennacherib sent messengers to induce those that guarded the walls of the city to revolt against ,hezekiah1 saying1 ,do not believe this ,hezekiah when he tells you that your ,god will deliver you2 hath any of the nations against which ,i have made war been delivered by their gods8 ,when ,hezekiah heard these words he went into the house of the ,lord1 and sent messengers to ,isaiah1 asking for his prayers4 ,isaiah said to them1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 ',be not afraid of the words with which the ,king of ,assyria hath blasphemed ,me4 ,i will send a blast upon him1 and he shall return and shall fall by the sword in his own land4' ,afterwards the ,king of ,assyria sent a letter to ,hezekiah1 in which he repeated his sneers at the power of ,god4 ,when ,hezekiah read it1 he went into the house of the ,lord1 and spreading the letter before the ,lord1 prayed for ,his help4 ,god answered1 by the mouth of ,isaiah1 that the ,king of ,assyria should not enter ,jerusalem1 nor shoot over it1 but be turned back the way he came4 ,and the same night the angel of the ,lord went into the camp of the ,assyrians1 and smote one hundred and eighty-five thousand4 ,then ,sennacherib returned to ,nineveh1 and as he was worshipping in the house of his god1 there came to him two of his sons1 who killed him4 ,illustration3 ,,hezekiah ,,laying ,,the ,,letter ,,before ,,god4 ,,the ,,brave ,,hebrew ,,boys4 ,brave boys and girls6 ,we all wish to be brave1 do we not8 ,then we must learn to say ,no1 when tempted to do wrong4 ,these ,hebrew boys were young nobles who had been carried captive from ,jerusalem to ,babylon2 but though in a strange land1 subject to the mighty king ,nebuchadnezzar1 they feared not to refuse his food and wine when they knew that the taking of it would cause them to sin against ,god4 ,they were well educated ,hebrew youths1 and the ,babylonish king had commanded that they should be taught the learning of the ,chaldeans2 also1 to keep them in health and with beautiful countenances1 he had ordered that the meat and wine from his table should be given them4 ,their names were ,daniel1 ,hananiah1 ,mishael1 and ,azariah4 ,daniel seems to have been their leader4 ,we find he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat1 nor with the wine which he drank4 ,so he begged the king's servant the feed him and his three companions on plain food and pure water2 but the servant feared to do so1 lest the king should find them worse looking than those who ate his meat and drank his wine1 and the servant should lose his head in consequence4 ,a trial was made1 however1 for ten days1 at the end of which time they were found to be better looking than the boys fed on rich food and wine4 ,therefore1 the servant let them live plainly according to their request2 and at the end of three years1 when they stood before the king1 we are told that for wisdom and understanding none were found like ,daniel1 ,hananiah1 ,mishael1 and ,azariah4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,brave ,,hebrew ,,boys4 ,,daniel ,,and ,,the ,,lions4 ,when ,darius came to the throne1 upon the death of ,belshazzar1 he set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes4 ,over these he appointed three presidents1 of whom ,daniel was first4 ,now the princes and other presidents were jealous of ,daniel1 and sought to find some fault against him2 but could not1 as he was a faithful servant of the ,king4 ,then they tried to injure him because of his praying to ,god4 ,so they came to the ,king1 and said1 ,king ,darius live for ever3 all the great officers of thy kingdom have consulted together to establish a royal law1 that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days1 save of thee1 ,o ,king1 he shall be cast into a den of lions4 ,the ,king signed the writing and established the law4 ,but ,daniel still knelt and prayed three times a day as before4 ,his enemies saw him praying1 and told the ,king1 urging him to carry out the law4 ,but the ,king was angry with himself that he had agreed to such a law1 and tried to think of some way to save ,daniel4 ,then these men urged that the law could not be altered4 ,so ,daniel was cast into the den of lions1 and a stone was put over the mouth of the den1 which was sealed by the ,king and the lords4 ,but the ,king had said to ,daniel1 ,thy ,god whom thou servest will deliver thee4 ,the ,king passed the night fasting1 and could not sleep4 ,in the morning1 very early1 he arose and went to the den of lions1 and cried with a lamentable voice1 ,o ,daniel1 servant of the living ,god1 is thy ,god able to deliver thee from the lions8 ,then ,daniel said1 ,o ,king1 live for ever4 ,my ,god hath sent ,his angel and shut the lions' mouths4 ,illustration3 ,,daniel ,,and ,,the ,,lions4 ,,esther ,,before ,,the ,,king4 ,ahasuerus reigned over the vast empire of ,persia1 and ,esther1 the adopted daughter of a ,jew named ,mordecai1 was ,queen4 ,none in the palace knew she was a ,jewess1 for ,mordecai had charged her not to make it known4 ,he abode in the king's palace1 and was one of the king's servants4 ,ahasuerus promoted ,haman1 one of his courtiers1 a cruel and wicked man1 to be over all his princes and officers2 and all bowed down to ,haman and did him reverence except ,mordecai1 the ,jew4 ,then was ,haman filled with wrath against ,mordecai and his people1 and obtained from the king a decree ordering that all the ,jews throughout his dominions should be slain4 ,mordecai informed ,queen ,esther of this decree1 and bade her go to the king and plead for her people4 ,now it was one of the laws of the palace that no one should approach the king in the inner court unless he had been previously called2 the penalty for not obeying this law being death1 unless the king should hold out the golden sceptre to the offender so that he might live4 ,esther knew the danger of approaching the king uncalled for1 but she bade ,mordecai to gather the ,jews so that they might spend three days in fasting and prayer1 while she and her maidens did the same1 and1 said she1 ,so will ,i go in unto the king1 which is not according to the law1 and if ,i perish1 ,i perish4 ,esther went in4 ,the king graciously held out the golden sceptre to her1 accepted her invitation to a banquet1 and finally ordered the wicked ,haman to be hanged1 and measures to be taken to preserve the lives of the ,jews4 ,illustration3 ,,esther ,,before ,,the ,,king4 ,,david ,,and ,,jonathan4 ,jonathan was the son of ,saul1 the king4 ,he loved ,david greatly1 and regretted that his father1 through jealousy1 sought ,david's life4 ,david1 after the last attempt of ,saul to smite him to the wall by a javelin1 fled away1 and meeting with ,jonathan said3 ,what have ,i done8 ,what is mine iniquity1 and what is my sin before thy father that he seeketh my life8 ,jonathan sympathised deeply with his friend1 and tried to save him4 ,he promised to ascertain whether ,saul fully intended to kill ,david1 and1 if so1 to inform him1 that he might escape4 ,meantime ,david was to remain in hiding1 but on the third day ,jonathan was to return with the required information4 ,before they parted they entered into a solemn covenant1 one with the other1 to remain firm friends during life2 and ,david promised to show kindness to ,jonathan and his children1 after ,god should make him king4 ,at the time appointed1 after ascertaining that ,saul still sought ,david's life1 ,jonathan went to the field where ,david lay concealed4 ,jonathan took with him his bow and arrows and a little lad4 ,shooting an arrow beyond the lad1 he cried1 ,make speed1 haste1 stay not6 ,these words were intended as a warning to ,david to flee quickly4 ,when the lad had gone1 ,david arose from his hiding place and came to ,jonathan1 bowing three times before him4 ,then they kissed each other1 wept1 and again pledged themselves to be faithful2 after which ,david fled1 and ,jonathan returned to the city4 99 99 99 99 99