,."^.. ^'^W ^.'^. .v^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) WJ.. 1.0 I.I 1^ lis lllllio 1.8 1.25 1.4 J4 -^ 6" — ► / ., v Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 S> Jf^' • . 60 FOURTH TERM. THE DAYS OF SOLOMON 78 FIFTH TERM. THE DAYS OF THE PROPHETS. 95 SIXTH TERM. THE DAYS OF JEREMIAH . 118 SEVENTH TERM. THE DAYS OF EZRA ...... I38 T.^E SIX CENTURIES FROM JUDAh's FALL TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST . 164 'f r'ltinitiiiltiiil I I xii CONTENTS. THE PSALMS IN THEIR HISTORICAL SEQUENCE . EIGHTH TERM. THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN THE GOSPELS IN THEIR HISTORICAL SEQUENCE. NINTH TERM. THE DAYS OF S. PAUL ..... SECOND SERIES OF QUESTIONS GENERAL INDEX INDEX TO THE PSALMS ..... PAOB • 335 • 337 INTRODUCTION. "The word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision."— I Sam. iii. i. " The Bible is an interpretation of the eternal, intelligible to every man through all time in the language in which he was born.' — Dr. Westcott, Bishop of Durham. " Let us read every word, ponder every word, first in its plain human sense ; then if, in after years, we can see any safe law or rule by which we may find out its hidden meaning, let us use it, and search into the deep things of God, not from men's theories, but from His own words." — Canon Kingsley. GOD is silent now as He was in the days of Eli, and for us there is no open vision. In one sense, indeed, He is ever revealing Himself as "the thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns." With fresh insight into Nature we gain fresh knowledge of His ways, while the course of History is constantly showing us more and more of His will concerning man. But His supreme revelation was when He " spoke unto us in His Son," whom the heaven has now received until the times of restoration of all things (Acts iii. 21, R.V.) ; and since that Divine voice is heard no longer among us, most " rare " and " precious " is the Book that contains its words, with all the Prophetic teaching that led up to them and all the Apostolic teaching that flowed out of them (Heb. i. i, ii. 3, 4). We are Christians because we believe in Christ, not because we believe in the Bible. Our faith is centred in a Person, not in a book. But, being Christians, we prize and study the Bible, because we can abundantly prove that in the Gospels we have the authentic record of Christ's life and teaching, that He has set His seal upon the Old Testament as " the Scriptures of the prophets which cannot be broken " (Matt. xxvi. 56; John x. 35 ; FIFTH TERM. The Days of the Prophets. Decline and Fall of the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, n.c 915 — 697. the accessions of Jehoshaphat and Ahab to the death uf Ucztkiah From p. 95. SIXTH TERM. The Days of Jeremiah. Decline and Fall of tlie Kingdom of Judah. n.c. 697 — 588. From the death of Hezekiah to the Fall of Jerusalem . . . . p. 118. SEVENTH TERM. The Days of Ezra. The Restoration and the Second Temple, b.c. 606 — 397. From the Fall of Jerusalem to the close of the Old Testament Canon . . p. 138. EIGHTH TERM. The Days of the Son of Man. The Gospel preached to the Jews, b.c 6 — a.d. 51. From the coming of Christ to the Conference at Jerusalem p. 213. NINTH TERM. The Days of S. Paul. The Gospel preached to the Gentiles, a.d. 51—97. From the Conference at Jerusalem to the close of the New Testament Canon . . p. 278. 9 l\\ i GENERAL PLAN OF THE CHRONOLOGICAL SCRIPTURE CYCLE. DIVIDING the Bible, which contains 1189 chapters, into nine portions of about 132 chapters each, we read it through in 3 years, 36 months, 1095 days, or nine terms of four months, taking one chapter a day and an extra chapter in the course of every 12 days. The section for; each term is headed by (a) A title showing the main subject of the term's reading ; (d) The dates marking off its period of history ; (c) The names of the books and parts of books to be read ; (d) A motto for the Bible student, talr. Marcus Dods). Man .seeking God is the origin of other religions. God seeking man is the origin of the Christian religion. Slov/ly and gradually, as wc shall see, did God make Himself known by new Names and new dealings with men. Yet our revelation of " the glory of the Eternal Trinity " is not only in harmony with, but was dimly adumbrated by, the earliest manifestations of the God of Israel. Vni. Man's Relation to God in Worship. — The history of religion is the history of man's response to these manifestations. This will lead us through Sacrifice and Prayer in their most general form, to the Mosaic Ritual, the Tabernacle, the two Temples, and the organisation of the Church. Here too we notice the ever-recurring tendency to some form of idolatry. For the first two terms illustrative passages are in- dicated. After this we come to periods fully elucidated by contemporary Psalms. In the later sections we note how sacred history is corroborated by secular history. IX. Thirty-two Questions.— These are not intended as a test of memory at the end of the term's reading, but of observation and thought from day to day. Many of them are planned to suggest topics and modes of research. At first sight thoy may seem full of unknown things, but though some are more difficult than others, the most difficult are less difficult than they appear. That they demand care and accuracy rather than much previous knowledge has been proved by the following fact. In our classes, although the best papers are always sent in by those 14 GENERAL PLAN OF THE who take the most pains, they are not always sent in by those who have had most educational advantages. Every examination paper follows out the term's reading in order, and winds up with some questions glancing through the whole of it. Early in each term, those Students of the College by Post who have sent in answers to the questions of last term receive the loan of a MS. containing the com- plete Answers to compare with their own and copy. They thus get the full benefit of the questions they were not successful over themselves as well as the benefit of having their work corrected by our teachers. These Answers are not always exactly in the same form as those expected from students. A mere reference sometimes stands for the statement asked for, and in order to supply information not readily accessible to students, explanations or quotations are added in other cases to the actual reply. The figure at the end of each question represents the marks to be gained by answering it completely. The maximum of marks for each term's paper is 400, and for all the nine papdrs, 3600. Most of those who have been through the C.S.C. once wish to go through it again. At their request a second series of questions and answers more advanced than the first has been prepared (see p. 309). Thesp "^hould in no case be attempted until the first serie.« hd^ been worked out. Some of those who have found the C.S.C. course useful and stimulating are helping me to form a Prize Fund, by means of which we are able to reward those of our students who work out all the nine papers well. Those who obtain over 3000 marks choose as a First Class prize a book or books to the value of \Q)S. 6d. ; those who obtain over 2400 marks choose a Second Class prize to the value of ys. 6d. ; and those who obtain over 1 800 marks choose a Third Class prize to the value of 5^. The names of prize-winners are published in my annual Letter to our Students. Over 100 students have already won these rewards, and the number promises to increase steadily. Pos.sibly .some readers of " Clews to Holy Writ " who are indc^pendcnt of such aid as our classes give, and desire to encourage systematic Bible study, may feel kindly disposed to con* CHRONOLOGICAL SCRIPTURE CYCLE. »5 tribute towards these hardly earned and greatly appreciated prizes. Let me conclude with twelve practical suggestions to C.S.C. students, and to others who adopt the C.S.C. scheme. I will word them abruptly for the sake of brevity. What we read Hcb. iv. 12 ; 2 Peter i. 20, 21. Why we read .... Luke i. 4 ; 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. C Acts xvii. 1 1 ; Prov. ii. 4, 5 ; How we should read. . •< i Cor. ii. 13; James i. 21 ; ( I Thess. ii. 13. We must i Critically, in order to know What to Believe, read ■< Devotionally „ „' WJiom to Love, the Bible ( Practically „ „ How to Live. L Provide yourself with the following books : — {a) The Authorised Version of the Bible, with references. {b) The Revised Version, which may now be had for tcnpence. This is most helpful to the student, not only because of its greater accuracy and marginal information, but also in discriminating poetry from prose, and substi- tuting for the little " verses " that are so largely responsible for the " collection of texts " view of Scripture, a first-rate system of paragraphs. Read the two prefaces to it care- fully. Look out the A.V. references, and study the daily chapter in both A.V. and R.V. Striking differences between them might be underlined in the latter. {c) Helps to the Study of the Bible (Frowde, Clarendon Press, IS. and 3^-. 6d.). This you need not get if you already have "The Oxford Bible for Teachers." It is referred to here as " Oxford Helps." Those who wish for more books will find the following useful : — {a) "The Bible Handbook," by Dr. Angus (Religious Tract Society, 5^.). {b) The Student's Old Testament History and The Student's New Testament History (each 7s. 6d., Murray). {c) Concise Dictionary of the Bible, 2\s., or smaller Bible Dictionary, by Dr. Smith, 7s. 6d. (Murray), or Cassell's Bible Dictionary, ys. 6d. i6 GENERAL PLAN OF THE % (■!1 {d) Student's Edition of the Speaker's Commentary, in six volumes {js. 6d. each, Murray). (e) Bishop Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, in eight volumes {zis. each, Cassell). if) A good Concordance, say Eadie's Cruden. But unless you can give much more than half an hour a day to C.S.C, you will find your whole time occupied by right use of the three books named as absolutely necessary, and of " Clews to Holy Writ." A single chapter will claim more and more of your time with growing interest and knowledge. If you not only "read," but "mark, learn, and inwardly digest " (four distinct processes), you will probably feel inclined to diminish rather than increase the quantity of your reading as you improve its quality. II. Pray daily ere you read your chapter, in such words as Psalm xxv. 4, 5, or Psalm cxix. 18, or Eph. i. 17-19, for the Holy Spirit's aid. Could we have greater help towards understanding a difficult book than the power of speaking constantly with its author ? Pray also after j^ou have read, for every precept may be turned into petition, and every promise into praise. " Young men," Professor Beck of Tiibingen used to say to his students, " let me remind you that theology without the Holy Spirit is not only a cold stone, but absolute poison." III. Mark one striking text in each chapter, and look at yesterday's marked text ere you begin to-day's reading. There are many advantages in using always one copy of the Bible, so mark it neatly or you may regret not having done so hereafter. IV. Find for each Old Testament chapter a New Testa- ment quotation or allusion or precept or illustration. The references will help you here. V. Ask daily after you have read your chapter, " What does it teach me concerning {a) God, {b) Man, {c) Christ, who is the Son of God, the very image of God's substance as the Incarnate God ; who is the Son of Man, made like unto His brethren in all things as the Divine Man ? " Ask also what practical lessons you may gain from it for your own daily life. Treat the Bible as a matchless temple, wherein we may increase our awe and excite our devotion CHRONOLOGICAL SCRIPTURE CYCLE. »7 to God (I quote Robert Boyle's fine simile). For we suffer great spiritual loss when we regard it merely as an arsenal for weapons of defence and offence ; when we only take our own views to it for confirmation and other people's views to it for condemnation. Controversy is both easier and more exciting than humble search for truth, and there- fore it pervades so much of the so-called "religious" writing and talking of the day. But if we would really benefit by the study of God's Word, we must, as Bible readers, avoid this spirit of contention altogether. Of the three kinds of study indicated in the table above, " Clews to Holy Writ " deals mainly with Critical study, not because we regard it as the most important, but because the Bible must appeal to the intelligence ere it can appeal to the heart and will. Critical study is a means to a higher end which we do not ignore, but lead up to — viz., those Devotional and Practical applications of our study in which others can help us least, since we must each of us make them for ourselves, if they are to be worth anything. VI. Commit to memory at the rate of one or two verses a day, some specially beautiful and important passages in the term's reading. We cannot store up what we take in too carefully, since we know not how soon we may be called upon to give it out. VII. The C.S.C. scheme is not meant to be tried for a term or two, but to be followed throughout. Hence all should begin at the beginning, and do each month's reading in the month and each term's in the term. If one term's work is interrupted, another term should be given to it, as it is far better to extend the whole course over more than three years than to break the continuous chain of study ; for each section takes all the preceding sections for granted and is closely linked with the following sections. The tabular schemes should be used throughout together with the chapters headed " Periods and Dates." As the course is planned for any three years, particular months cannot be considered, but since three years contain thirty-six months, and the Bible contains 1189 chapters, the average number of chapters read each month will be -g|-=33, as shown in the arable numerals on the tabular schemes. A second chapter can be read on any day that there is more time tnUM^ jfc tri if ! ;1 r' III i8 CHRONOLOGICAL SCRIPTURE CYCLE. and when the first chapter is very short or a mere list of names. VIII. Set up a note book or a sheaf of loose sheets fastened at the corner, for working out subjects as you read, and accumulating material for answers to the questions, which should be before you throughout the term. IX. Towards the end of the term, begin to prepare a fair copy of your answers. Boiling down several pages of notes into a few lines of terse and concentrated information is a most instructive process. Let it become familiar to you, for you will lighten your teachers' work not a little by sending them concise, clearly arranged, and clearly written answers instead of diffuse and confused ones. X. Answer some questions if you cannot answer all, and remember that since no answer can win more than maxi- mum marks, nothing is gained by giving more than you are asked for. Write on both sides of the paper, leaving a margin, and number your answers in the margin. Give your name and address at the end of your paper. It will be corrected if ' it reaches your teacher at the time appointed. XI. Remember (i) That if the chapter is difficult, the difficulties will probably disappear as you read on. There are few which cannot be traced, if we are honest, either to Prejudice, Presumption, Ignorance.or Carelessness. " When two texts contradict one another, a third will be found to reconcile them," was the helpful rule of the Rabbi Ishmael. (2) That if the chapter seems barren, your Biblical know- ledge and spiritual insight is still imperfect, and also that forced applications are a fruitful cause of errors. (3) That to the reader of devout heart and holy life God reveals what is hidden from mere ability and learning (John vii. 17, Matt. V. 8). XII. Finally, will you pray for all who are following this scheme that to them, as well as to you, the C.S.C. may be not only an intellectual interest, but a means of growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? FIRST TERM. The Days of the Patriarchs The Chosen Family. B.C. 4004 — 1490. Genesis. Job. Exodus, (132 chapters.) '* Moses took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people." — ExoD. xxiv. 7. 1st MONTH (33). 1 3rd MONTH (33). Genesis I.— XXXIII. 1 Job XVII.— XLII. 2nd MONTH (33). Genesis XXXIV.— L. Exodus I.— VII. Job I.— XVI. 4th MONTH (33). Exodus VIII.— XL. I. General Summary. THE keynote of Gen. i. is God said. As regards Nature, His will is fully carried out (Psalm xxxiii. 9). The keynote of Gen. iii. is Hai/i God said ? As regards Man, His will is thwarted (Eccles. vii. 29). Gen. iii. 17-19 is the declaration, not of a threat or of an arbitrary punish- ment, but of an inevitable result, brought about by man himself, and working in accordance with God's great natural laws. Far heavier would have been the doom of living on for ever, sinful and idle. The rest of the Bible unfolds the Divine plan whereby God's purpose is notwithstanding accomplished, and man redeemed. Throughout God calls, tests, and chooses for special privilege not Cain, but Abel ; not the rest of man- kind, but Noah's family ; not Japhet the elder, but Shem the younger (Gen. x. 21, ix. 26) ; not the eldest brother Haran's son, but the younger brother Abraham (Isa. 19 I J! i^l I' H 20 FIRST TERM. li. 2) ; not Ishmael, but Isaac ; not Esau, but Jacob ; not Reuben, but Joseph (i Chron. v. i, 2); not Manasseh, but Ephraim (Gen. xlviii.) ; not Aaron, but Moses (Exod. iv. 16) ; not Nadab and Abihu, but Eleazar (Num. xx. 28). From the whole race God chose one family, who.se training is described in Genesis. When it had suffered sf^ severely that it had become utterly helpless, God sent a twofold message through Moses ; to Israel, a promise, " I will deliver you," which was received with faith and worship ; to Pharaoh, a command, " Let My people go," signified by (i) Word, (2) Signs, (3) Judgments; and received with (i) Scornful refusal, (2) Defiant imitation, (3) Unwilling recognition of the Divine power, and notwith- standing continued hardness of heart (Job xxxiii. 14; Isa. xxvi. 9). Then God brought that family from Africa to Asia ; from the garden of Egypt to the desert of Sinai ; from slavery to freedom ; and not orly a great nation, but " History itself was born on that night when Moses led forth his countryn^en from the land of Goshen " {Bunsen). This chosen nation (Deut. vii. 6 ; Amos iii. 2 ; Rom. ix. 3, 4) were not the substitutes for, but the representatives of, all mankind. They were not blessed merely for their own sake, so their nal.jnal history, unlike any other national history, is of interest and importance for all the world. II. Books to be Read. (See " Oxford Helps," § v.) This term we read one great poem, and two of the historical books of Moses, which contain four archaic frag- ments of Hebrew verse and two magnificent odes — viz., {a) Lamech's Sword-song (Gen. iv. 23, 24). (^) Noah's Prophecy concerning his sons, an epitome of universal history (Gen. ix. 25-7). {c) Jehovah's Prophecy concerning Rebekah's sons, an epitome of Israel's history (Gen. xxv. 23). {d) Isaac's Prophecy concerning his sons, an amplification of ic) (Gen. xxvii. 27-9, 3c,, 40). (J) Jacob's Benediction, giving the destinies of the Twelve Tribes (Gen. xlix.). (/) Moses' Song of Victory, in three stanzas, the grandest BOOKS TO BE READ. 31 national hymn ever sung to the glory of Jehovah and to liberty, and the first specimen of responsive choral music (Exod. XV. 1-18). Genesis is not only the oldest complete book in the world, its earlier chapters appear to embody records far more ancient than Moses, going back to the very beginning of human history (Luke i. 70). About these there is nothing distinctively Hebrew, their simplicity of treatment and subject belongs to the dawn of civilisation, and they have interesting features in common with the earliest Egyptian and Chaldean literature. It is not, however, a mere compilation of old annals, but a religious history, whose unity and symmetry show that it was penned throughout with a definite design. Genesis falls into twelve natural divisions beginning Gen. i. i, ii..4, v. i, vi. 9, x. i, xi. 10, xi. 2^^ XXV, 12, XXV. 19, xxxvi. i, xxxvi. 9, and xxxvii. 2, all save the first headed by " These are the genera- tions [?>., " offspring " : comp. Matt. iii. 7, A. V. and R. V.] of " The first five portions refer to General, and the last seven to Church History ; and their relative lengths are very significant. Its keynote is Called and chosen (Matt, xxii. 14 • I Peter iii. 9). Job, undoubtedly an historical character, probably lived before Moses, as his patriarchal length of days indicates ; and after Abraham, since his friends refer to the destruc- tion of Sodom. The question whether the Book of Job is a veracious record of his actual words, brought by Moses from Midian, or a truthful general picture of his character and life, shaped by a poet of Solomon's age and made the groundwork of a lesson for all time, does not affect its canonicity. All Scripture is divinely inspired and true in the highest sense. But its loftiest truths are clothed not in the barely literal, but in the poetical form that contemplates everything in its permanent and typical aspect. Whatever view we take of the date and authorship of Job, we read it now to fill the century that divides Gen. 1. from Exod. i. ; because it illustrates individual before we pass to national religion, the Patriarchal before we pass to the Mosaic age, God's dealings with a Gentile before we pass to His deal- ings with Israel. Its keynote is Fear the Almighty and Tr7tst the All- Wise and All-Loving Incomprehensible ; 22 FIRST TERM. i i (Rom. xi. 33, viii. 28, v. 3,4). Natural instinct, strcnp;thcncd by simple faith in God, connects happiness with goodness. Obedience to God's law must lead to the blessedness He means His creatures to enjoy. This is o\xx first thoiigJU^ exemplified in the speeches of Job's friends and in Psalm i. Experience of the imperfections and contradictions of life shows that too often the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. How then can God be all-wise, all-powerful, and all-loving? This is our second thought, and this is what Satan tempted Job to think. Mature conviction, growing out of closer study of God's law and man's nature, teaches us that through man's free-will the my.sterious power of evil makes exceptions to God's law, which is a general law connecting goodness and happiness. This is our third thought, and third thoughts are best and truest. We may go on to say concerning these exceptions : — (i) God's ways are past our comprehension, but we have good cause to believe that His wisdom, power, and love arc infinite. This is the answer to the problem given in Job. (2) In the next life all wrong will be completely redressed. This answer is suggested in Psalm Ixxiii. (3) The righteous may not be happy, but they are blessed even in the midst of sorrow. " 111 that Thou blessest is our good. And unblest good is ill ; And all is right that seems most wrong, If it be Thy sweet will." — Faber. This answer is suggested in Psalm xvii. 14, 15. in the Fourth Term we shall have a striking example of " unblest good," and in the Seventh and Ninth Terms of " blest ill." But these two last answers could not be fully worked out until after the anguish of the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection. Job remains true as one solution, no longer the only solution, of the problem. It falls into five sections : — {a) i. — ii. Prose Prologue stating the Problem concern- ing Affliction. The trouble and temptation of unproved Job. {b) iii. — xxxi. Discussion of the Problem from the human point of view, by Job who regards Affliction as an unfathomable mystery (" Wherefore hidest Thou Thy nOOKS TO BE READ. 23 face?" xiii. 24); and by his three friends who, as dof;ged defenders of the traditional popular belief, regard Affliction as a punishment for sin (" Who ever perished, being innocent?" iv. 7). {c) xxxii. — xxxvii. Exposition of the Problem from the point of view of one divinely enlightened, by Klihu who regards Affliction as a merciful discipline for our instruction (" God, who tcacheth us more than the beasts," XXXV. 1 1). id) xxxviii. — xlii. 6. Solution of the Problem by Jehovah Himself, who shows that Affliction is a test of integrity towards and trust in Him ("Though He slay me yet will I wait for Him," xiii. 15, is followed by "My servant Job . . . him will I accept," xlii. 8). {e) xlii. 7-17. Prose Epilogue. The blessing of proved and trustful Job. Exodus continues Genesis, begins the national history of Israel, and contains the first portion of the Mosaic Law. Its keynote is Redeemed of the Z6»/'^(Luke i. 68 ; i Peter i. 18, 19; Gal. iv. 4, 5). According to a continuous stream of credible tcstimonj^ from the earliest days of Israel's history, we have attributed the Pentateuch to the fifteenth century before Christ, and no book has had more external evidence to its authorship. One school of modern critics, however, professing to be guided by internal evidence, declares that its account of the Creation is unscientific, and contradicts facts ascertained by recent investigations ; that its records are legendary ; and that instead of being contemporary history, it is a compilation made many centuries after Moses. We cannot enter into the question at length, but one or two suggestions may be made in passing. (i) It is one thing to have a reasonable faith, another to be able to answer all the hard questions concerning it that could be asked. (2) If, as regards isolated passages, there are difficulties in believing the Bible to be a Divine and human book, there are still more serious difficulties in believing it to be a merely human book as a whole, which is the alternative. (3) Gen. i. was not intended to satisfy the scientific 24 FIRST TERM. "Ml ■ w t i! curiosity of the learned few, but to instruct the mass of mankind, for whom it would have been utterly unintelligible had it been written in technical scientific terms. (4) When the exact translation is ascertained, and the rash interpretations of prejudiced opponents of the faith and also of half-learned apologists for it are swept away, this oldest of all books proves to be almost the only non- scientific book in the world that does not contain one incorrect statement about natural facts ; while at the same time it accounts for things that science confesses itself unable to account for. See Liddon's " Elements of Religion," Lecture II. (Longmans, is. 6d.). (5) Geology shows that the general order of the Creation must have been that of Gen. i. (6) Ethnology points to the Euphrates Valley as the probable cradle of the race, and traces its dispersion thence under conditions entirely compatible with those described in Genesis. (7) Archaeology proves, from records of the past long hidden, but now uncovered in many unexpected ways and places, the minute accuracy of the Biblical description of ancient Egypt. (8) The Ordnance Survey of the Sinaitic Peninsula examined, some 25 years ago, the geography of the Exodus and the Wanderings, demonstrating that the story in the Pentateuch could only have been written by a contem- porary and eye witness. (9) Many converging arguments show that it is not only possible but probable that the Deluge took place. Before all this positive evidence of an early date, in- genious speculations as to a late date based mainly on linguistic considerations that may be entirely fallacious, do not look very satisfactory. To those who wish to pursue these subjects further, I recommend Sir J. W. Dawson's " Modern Science in Bible Lands " (Hodder & Stoughton, 6s.), t''e work of an eminent scientist who speaks with authority ; and I know of no more profound or masterly treatment of the relation of modern science to revelation as a whole, than " Can the Old Faith live with the New?" by Dr. George Mathcson, of Edinburgh (Black- wood, ys. 6d.). \ PERIODS AND DATES. 25 III. Periods and Dates. The whole history of the human race, now nearly 6000 years of age, may be divided into three great periods ac- cording to three successive phases of God's dealings with man. Each is about 2000 years long. (a) The Patriarchal Dispensation, or Probation of all men under the Law of Conscience, during which God mani- fested His Power. B.C. 4004 to 1921, from Adam to Abraham (Gal. iii. 16), 2083 years. {p) The Jewish Dispensation, or Probation of one Chosen People under the Law of Moses, during which God mani- fested His Righteousness. B.C. 192 1 to A.D. 70, from Abraham to the Fall of Jerusalem, 1990 years. {c) The Christian Dispensation, or *■ Times of the Gentiles " (Luke xxi. 24), under the Law of Christ, during which God manifests His Love. A.D. 70 onwards. Some would, however, bring {a) down to 149 1, i.e., to Moses (see Rom. v. 13, 14), and would date {c) from B.C. 625, ix., from the founding of the Babylonian Empire, the first of the mighty Gentile powers that prepared Christ's way. In this case {b) overlaps both {a) and {c). The scanty records of the 2514 years we study this term leave its chronology uncertain. Here we follow the com- monly received dates as given in " Oxford Helps," § vii. 430 years {i.e., 1921 — 1491) is spoken of in Exod. xii. 40, 41, as the whole period of the sojourning or pilgrimage of the Chosen Family, during which j\braham and his children were homeless wanderers. S. Paul reckons 430 years (Gal. iii. 17) from the promise given in Ur to the law given at Sinai. Rather more than 400 years elapsed between the vision of Gen. xv. (which foreshadowed the whole history of Israel) and the Exodus (Gen. xv. 13 ; Acts vii. 6). (i) B.C. 4004--2348 (1656 years). From the Creation to the Deluge. Probation of the whole human race. Gen. i.— viii. (2) B.C. 2348— 1 92 1 (427 years). From the Deluge to the Call of Abraham. Probation of the descendants of Noah. Gen. ix.— xi. (3) B.C. 192 1 — 1 49 1 (430 years). From the Call of 26 FIRST TERM. Abraham to the Exodus. Probation of the Chosen Family. (a) 1921 — 1706 (215 years). The Sojourning in Canaan. Gen. xii.— xlv. (d) 1706 — 1491 (215 years). The Sojourning in Egypt. Gen. xlvi.— 1. ; Job ; Exod. i. — xii. (4) B.C. 149 1 — 1490 (one year). From the Exodus to the erection of the Tabernacle. Redemption of the Chosen People. (a) From Passover to Pentecost, 1491 (seven weeks). The great Deliverances. Exod. xiii.— xviii. (b) From Pentecost 1491, to Passover, 1490 (10 months and 10 days). The Revelation at Sinai. Exod. xix.— xl. P III IV. Geography. (See " Oxford Helps," Maps I., II., III., IV., and VIII., ' and §§ ix., xxx.) Geology demonstrates that before the Deluge a con- siderable portion of what is now the Persian Gulf was land. Immediately after the Deluge, a considerable portion of what is now land was swallowed up by the Persian Gulf Through this once high and well-wooded, then submerged, and now low and marshy country, flows a broad tide, fed by four great rivers — viz., the Euphrates ; the Hiddekel, or Tigris ; the Gihon, or Choaspes, watering not the African, but Nimrod's Cush ; and the Pishon or Pasitigris rising in mountains rich in mineral products, and descending through a fertile country where the beautiful Persian capital of Shushan (Esth. i. 2) afterwards was (see Map VIII.). Here our story begins, for here (as Sir J. W. Dawson shows in an argument too long to quote) was Eden ; hither, as to their cradle, Noah's descendants made their way south- eastwards (Gen. xi. 2) from the mountains where the Ark grounded ; and hence therefore, according to Indian, Persian, and Chaldean tradition, mankind originated. In the plain of Shinar also they built the city whose name runs all through the Bible from Gen. x. to Rev. xviii. Prof Sayce identifies Mughcir immediately to the west of \ GEOGRAPHY. 27 the Chosen I Durning in )urning in ,. i. i. — xii. 3 ixodus to J Hon of the - pi (seven s. Exod. 1490 (10 elation at i f- fc fx d VIII., i^j je a con- ' was land. )ortion of i ■sian Gulf. -■.1 ibmerged, 1 tide, fed ddekel, or 2 African, 5 rising in g through capital of I.). Here shows in her, as to ay south- the Ark ) Indian, ated. In ose name dii. le west of Ercch with Ur Wi.cncc Abraham set forth. Others, however, identify Ur with Orfah or Edcssa in Mesopotamia, much higher up the river, which an abundant sprmg and high crag prove even now to have been a well-watered and well-protected place for an early settlement. He went on to Haran, the headquarters of Laban's family, whence the two great caravan routes to the Euphrates and Tigris diverge ; and then to Damascus, the oldest city now exist- ing ; and through Palestine (whose geography we take next term) to Egypt, a most fertile, thoroughly cultivated, and thickly populated country, w .lich was to the wandering tribes of Asia then what Italy has since been to Gauls and Goths. For it was the home of the earliest civilisation in the world, which archaeology traces back beyond B.C. 3000 ; of a race skilled both in the fine and the mechanical arts, loving nature, honouring women, deeply impressed with the seriousness of life on both sides of the grave, and exer- cising an influence, whose whole power we are only now beginning to estimate, upon the two nations of antiquity, the Hebrews and the Greeks, to whom we ourselves owe most. The Valley of the Nile (which is the true Egypt) is unlike any other part of the world. It has neither Alpine grandeur nor pastoral softness, nor variety of plain and upland, meadow and forest. Its hills have neither heather nor pine upon them, in its rainless sky there is neither cloud nor mist. The Nile (worshipped as "The Hidden One," because until the middle of this nineteenth century its source was a mystery) rises once a year and covers the whole valley and plain, so that from desert to desert, river and country are one (Amos viii. 8, R.V.). Thus the soil is renewed and fertilised for its three annual harvests. Egypt is the land of light, of glowing sunshine, and of moonshine and starshine so brilliant that night is but a softer day. From the time that Israel's ancestors went down thither, it has drawn men of every clime with a resist- less fascination. From Egypt, the scene of our story shifts to the Wilder- ness (Hos. xi. I ; Jer. ii. 2), not an uninhabited place, for two powerful nations, the Kenites and the Amalekites, were there ; but a place wild and desolate, and shut out from the rest of the world. As Israel advanced, the mountains vl 2$ FIRST TERM. m I < I r f* closed round them : they found themselves in an avenue of lofty rocks at the end of which, rising immediately out of the level plain, towered massive Sinai, like a huge altar in a vast sanctuary, whence every form of life, animal and vegetable, was withdrawn. To them the rugged and deso- late grandeur of the scene must have suggested that they had reached the end of the world, as they waited there for the revelation of their God. V. Heroes. C Abraham, i John v. ^ Keynotes/ Joseph. 2 Peter i. 5-7. \_Job, James i. 12. We see in Abraham the great Bedouin sheikh, the prince of the desert, leading a vast caravan of servants, flocks, and herds, and wandering homeless for exactly a century in the land promised to his heirs ; the saint whose unflinching loyalty won him the title of " God's friend," and who, putting God first in all the relations of life, became also " the father of the faithful " : in Joseph the able statesman, vicegerent of the greatest monarch of his age, wielding almost absolute power in a highly civilised foreign land, fearing God, and therefore fearing nought else : in Job the patriarch dwelling amidst his own people, as father and ruler of a pastoral tribe, proved in the fire of manifold temptations, to the glory of God and the comfort of God's suffering servants in all ages. The Bible gives us much valuable teaching through con- trasted types of character. Besides these almost perfect heroes we have the mixed character o{ Jacob, erring greatly, and yet through the teaching of adversity proving that " Men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things." — Tennyson. Mark these seven stages of his life: (i) Gen. xxv. 31, (2) xxvii. 35, (3) xxviii. 20-22, (4) xxxi. 5,(5) xxxii. 10, (6; xxxii. 28, (7) xlix. 18. Side by side also with the three ancestors of the Chosen People, who inherited the blessing, are three others, and the more nearly these are related to those in the flesh the more widely are they separated from them in the sight of God. From the begin- THE COMING MESSIAH. 29 ning the wheat .md tares grew together, and men often found it hard to discriminate them (Matt. xiii. 30). Lot, Abraham's nephew, who is called a righteous man, started at God's command for the Promised Land. Mercy as well as judgment was predicted for his descendants in the end (Jer. xlviii. 47, xlix. 6), and Ruth, one of them, was Christ's ancestor. But, more worldly than Abraham, he com- promised his religion for the sake of wealth, enjoyed neither happiness nor influence in this world, lost all he had in it, barely saved his own soul as through fire " (i Cor. iii. 15), and was forefather of nations expressly shut out from the Lord's congregation (Deut. xxiii. 3). IshmaeL Isaac's half-brother, whose personal character is not de- scribed, was received into covenant with God (Gen. xvii.), and his descendants have never been destroyed. But he and they were outcasts, and are regarded as representatives of those who have only a form of religion according to the spirit of bondage, instead of its living power according to the spirit of adoption (Gal. i^'"*. Esau, Jacob's twin brother, who is called a profane pv. son, was born heir to God's blessing. He despised his birthright, bartered it away, and defied God by marrying heathens. Thus he turned the greatest blessing into the most irreparable loss. God hated him (Mai. i. 3), and called his descendants " the people of My curse " (Isa. xxxiv. 5). So we first learn the lesson that S. Paul finally sums up in his Epistle to the Romans. There is nothing arbitrary in God's ways : the greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility. By abusing the blessings He freely bestows we earn curses that were never intended for us. VL The Coming Messiah. " Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day!* John viii. 56. Many histories look back to a golden age which is past and gone. Jewish history looks forward (Heb. xi. 40 ; Acts xxvi. 6, 7). And just as we teach children first from pic- tures, and afterwards from the printed page, so early in the Old Testament we find many Types and few Predictions, and later on many Predictions and few Types. All the six 30 FIRST TERM. |i|li 4 kinds of Types occur this term ; but leaving ordinances^ acts, and offices to be considered with the Mosaic Law generally, we note as typical events, the offering of Isaac and the Exodus ; as typical things, Jacob's Ladder (access through Christ, Eph. ii. i8), the Pillar of Cloud and Fire (presence of Christ, Matt, xxviii. 20), the Manna (Christ the Bread of Heaven, John vi.), the Smitten Rock (Christ's gift of Living Water, John iv.) ; and as typical persons, Adam, Enoch, Noah, Mclchizedek, Isaac, and Joseph. The first of these, a type by contrast, is worked out below ; the working out of the last, a type by comparison, forms one of our Questions. The First Adam (i) Was created in the image of God. (2) Was of the earth. (3) Became a living soul. (4) Was made to have dominion over all. (5) Was appointed to subdue the earth. (6) Was overcome by desire of pleasure in a garden. (7) Yielded to the lust of the ilesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life (Gen. iii. 6 ; i John ii. 16). (8) Excused himself when justly accused. (9) After the fall God pronoimced judgment on the Serpent, judg- ment on the Woman, judgment on the Man ; of sorrow, weariness, and death (Gen. iii. 14-19). (10) By his one trespass death reigned. The Second Adam (i) Is the very image of God's sub- stance (Heb. i. 3). (2) Is of heaven (i Cor. xv. 47). (3) Became a life-giving spirit (i Cor. xv. 45). (4) Is Lord of all (Phil. ii. 11). (5) Will subdue all things (i Cor. xv. 25). (6) Overcame by endurance of pain in a garden (Matt. xxvi. 36-44). (7) Conquered the lust of the flesh (Luke iv. 3), the lust of the eyes (Luke iv. 5), and the vainglory of life (Luke iv. 9). (8) Was silent when unjustly accused (Matt, xxvii. 12). (9) Destroyed the serpent (Rev. xii. 9, 10) ; was born of woman (Gal. iv. 4) ; endured sorrow (Isa. liii. 3, 4 ; Matt. viii. 17), weariness (John iv. 6) and death (Psalm xxii. 15). (10) By His one act of righteousness grace reigned unto eternal life (Rom. v.) Observe these parallels also : — Gen. i. Heaven and earth Rev. xxi. Heaven and earth created, renewed. Gen. ii. H Dd with man in a Rev. xxi. God with man in garden. a city. THE COMING MESSIAH. 31 iteousncss John vi. Eat and live. Rev. xxii. Tree of live given. 2 Peter iii. Earth destroyed by fire. Acts ii. Gift of Tongues. (4) Gen. xviii. 18 ; Definite promises of Gen. ii. Eat not lest thou die. Gen. iii. Tree of life withheld. Gen. viii. Earth destroyed by water. Gen. xi. Confusion of Tongues. To us, all these Types speak far more plainly than they did to those who first saw them, but to that age were also given nine Predictions of growing fulness and clearness. The Coming One would be the descendant of Eve, of Seth, of Noah, of Shem, of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, of Judah. (i) Gen. iii. 15. An enigmatical prophecy that he (or they) who are born of v/oman should suffer from, and yet in the end triumph over, the power of evil. (2) Gen. ix. 26, 27. A dim announcement of blessing to Shem, and to Japhct through him. (3) Gen. xii. 3 (5) Gen. xxii. 18 ; (6) Gen, xxviii. 14. blessing through Abraham's descendants to all nations. (7) Gen. xlix. 10. A promise which for the first time centres in one Person, a ruler descended from Judah. (8, 9) Job xix. 25-7 ; Job xxxiii, 23, 24. Trustful aspirations rather than direct predictions, and made outside the Chosen Family, therefore on a different footing from the others, even if wc regard this as their chronological place. Besides types and predictions, there are in the Old Testament three special lines of preparatory revelation concerning the Divine Nature of the Coming One, not to be associated with the expectation of the Messiah, until, in the course of many ages, as we shall see, the conception of the Messiah rises above that of a merely human deliverer. The Divine Son is called (i) the Wisdom of God (i Cor. i. 24), anticipated by Prov. vii_. (2) The Word of God ; the opening statement of Genesis that in .he beginning God created through His Word, is repeated and filled with new meaning as the opening statement of S. John's Gospel. (3) The Messenger or Angel of God (Mai; iii. i. ; Job xxxiii. 23, R.V. ; John xx. 21 ; Heb. i. 2). All through the Old Testament we see an Angel of God's Presence (or Counten- ance), who is worshipped as God and yet seen of men ; who is not only commissioned by Jehovah, but represents Him so directly and fully that when He speaks or acts God 32 F/RST TERM. I ' 'I M Himself is felt to speak or act. Comparison of John i. i8, X. 30 ; 2 Cor. iv. 6 ; Acts vii. 2>^ ; i Cor. x. 4, 9 (R.V. margin); Judc 5 (R.V. margin) leads to the inevitable inference that in this Angel there is a mysterious fore- shadowing of the Incarnation. IVIore than half the allusions to Him occur this term. See Gen. xvi. 7, 13, xviii,, xxi. 17-19, xxii. II, 12, xxxi. II, 13, xxxii. 24, 29, 30 {cp. Hos. xii. 4, 5), xlviii. 15, 16; Exod. iii. 2, 6, 14, iv. 5, xiv. 19, xxiii. 20-23, xxxii. 34, xxxiii. 2, 14 ; Num. xxii. 23, 32, 35 ; Josh. V. 15, with vi. 2 ; Judg. ii. i, v. 23, vi. 11, 12, xiii. 3,6, 18; comp. Rev. xix. 11-13 ; i Kings xix. 7, 9; Isa. Ixiii. 9 ; Zech. i. 11, iii. 5, xii. 8. " There was One desig- nated, not as an epithet but as a description of his being, the Angel of the Lord, in whom God accustomed His crea- tures to the thought of beholding Himself in human form. Whether it was God the Son who so manifested Himself beforehand (this was the common belief of the early leathers) or not, yet there was One, known as the Angel of the Lord, distinct from and above all the rest." {Pusey.) VH. God's Revelation of Himself to Man. Wrong ideas about God lie at the root of every form of error and superstition (Psalm 1. 21 ; Acts xvii. 29). Hence the need of His gradual self-manifestation. This came first, through the negative declaration that He is invisible and incomprehensible (Deut. iv. 14-19), whose result was that to the heathen world Israel seemed to have a religion with- out a God. But " let those who wish to understand the hidden wisdom of the Second Commandment, study the history of ancient religions. No argument can prove that there is anything very wrong in all these outward signs and symbols. To many people we know they are ev'cn a help and comfort. But history is sometimes a stronger and sterner teacher than argument, and one of the lessons which the history of religions certainly teaches is this, that the curse pronounced against those who would change the invisible into' the visible, the spiritual into the material, the Divine into the human, the infinite into the finite las come true in every nation on earth." {Max Miiller.) ;i-Qcondly, God manifested Himself through that positive declaration of His attributes which forms the Old Testament Creed GOD'S REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO MAN. 33 (Kxod. xx\iv. 5-7). To Israel, unable to know Him in His absolute and unapproachable majesty, and forbidden to make unworthy representations, each fresh and lasting revelation came in a new Name, gathering up what was shown of God's character, working, and will from age to age. Throughout the Old Testament we shall trace these names, and observe the different circumstances I'.nder which different names are used. Here we note the four earliest : — (i) Elohim, a title, meaning "the Mighty One" and translated " C ,d" is used in those passages which speak of the God jf nature, and of the world as under a genera^ Divine influence {e.g., in the account of the Creation and of heathen nations). It is a plural word, understood and used as a singular. This had a present reference to the polytheism (worship of many gods) of the nations around, showing that the God of Israel united in Himself all the various powers and attributes of Deity. It had also a future reference to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, foreshadowed in Gen. i. 26, iii. 22, xi. 7. The singular of Elohim forms part of many names {i.e., " Daniel "), and we find it in Matt, xxvii. 46, and know it well in its Arabic form, " Allah." (2) El Shaddai, meaning " God Almighty," the above title qualified, was the special, but not the only name by which God was known to the Patriarchs, in whom He sought to create and to cherish the sense of personal dependence on a strong Helper. It only occurs in the Pentateuch and in Ezek. x. 5, but we find Shaddai {i.e., the Almighty) in Num. xxiv. 4, 16, and often in Job. (3) Adonai, a title, meaning " lords " (plural of majesty), translated " Lord," and probably the same word as the name of the Egyptian god " Aten " ; is used in Gen. xv. 2, XX. 4, etc., and occurs in many proper names. (4) Jehovah, a proper name, meaning " He Who Is " (Rev. i. 8 ; Heb. xiii. 8), used in those passages which speak of the God of the covenant, and of the world as under a supernatural overruling Power demanding our adora- tion {e.g., in the history of the Chosen People). It is " a declaration of the simplicity, unity, and self-existence of the Divine Nature, exactly opposite to all the multiplied forms of idolatry, human, animal and celestial, that prevailed, so I M i I 34 F/NST TERM, far as wc know, everywhere else " {Staniry), and " a mani- festation of the Ktcrnal who makes Himself known in time ' {Westcott). In the French Bible it is well translated by L'Kternel." It was occasionally used in Patriarchal times (Gen. iv. I, 26), but its frequent use dates from the Exodus. Kuenen reckons that about 190 Old Testament personal names are compounded with it, including those of fourteen out of the nineteen kings of Judah. The contexts in which it and Elohim respectively occur should always be noted (^.,^., Psalm xix. i, 14). In later times a feeling of reverence (founded on Lev. xxiv. 16), which became a superstition, led the Jews to replace Jehovah by Adonai. Hence our English Bible translates it Lord and some- times God (R.V. Preface, p. 2). In Psalm Ixviii. 4, Ixxxix. 8 (R.V.) ; Isa. xxxviii. 1 1 (R.V.), etc., we have a shortened form, which also occurs in HalleUi^V?/;. The name Ehyeh (Exod. iii. 14, 15, R.V. margin) is from the same root, and has the same meaning. Summing up, we may say, outside Israel God is anony- mous, to Israel He is Jehovah, to the Church He is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost {Saphir). VIII. Man's Relation to God in Worship. Ever since Adam left Eden men have tried to approach God through Sacrifice. This may be of two kinds : — (rt) A thank-offering for God's favour in the past, or a gift to secure His favour for the future, generally in the form of fruits of the earth. Such was the sacrifice of Cain, who worshipped Elohim the Creator, as the type of the Dc'st, and whose form of religion finally degenerated into mere nature worship. It was, however, not only the incomplete character of his offering, but the spirit in which it was offered that caused its rejection (Prov. xv. 8). ip) An expiation for sin, generally in the form of an unblemished creature whose blood is shed (Heb. ix. 22). Such was the sacrifice of Abel, who worshipped Jehovah, and looked for the coming Redeemer, as the type of the Christian, and whose form of religion finally degenerated into worship of subordinate redeemers and intercessors. All the various religions of the world go back to those two primaeval altars ; and since animal food is first permitted in MAN'S E ELATION TO GOD IN WORSHIP. 35 Gen. ix. 3, Gen, iii. 21 may indicate that sacrifices, such as Abel's, were divinely instituted. Elsewhere also in Genesis we find the germ of those Mosaic institutions which we shall consider next term. The offeriii'j^ of Isaac is sometimes misunderstood, and criticised as if it were an example of human sacrifice for sin. So far from sanctioning, it condemns such sacrifice. For {a) Abraham had committed no particular sin, and appre- hended no special danger. (^} It was not a sacrifice to atone for sin, or to propitiate God, but a burv.t offer- vtg, the meaning of which throughout the Bible is dedica- tion of oneself to God, and perfect obedience to His will. It was not made in the spirit of Mic. vi. 6, but of Acts xxi. 13. {c) Isaac is a type of humanity devoted to death, but not actually slain. The ram, divinely provided and slain in his stead, is a type of the Lamb of God. Prayer is first mentioned in Gen. iv. 26 ; we have the first specimen of prayer for others in Gen. xvii. 18, xviii. ; and of prayer for oneself in Gen. xxxii. (omitting Lot's hasty request in Gen. xix. 18, 19). No grander examples could be given of its true nature, and of its power with God. (See " Oxford Helps," § xii.) Passages illustrating Genesis. — i Chron. i. i — ii. 6; Psalm cv. 1-23 ; Josh. xxiv. 2-4; Neh. ix. 7, 8 ; Hos. xii. 2-5, 12 ; Acts vii. 2-16; Heb. xi. 3-22. Passages illustrating Exodus.— i Chron. ii. 18— viii. ; Psalm cv. 24-45 \ Josh. xxiv. 5-7 ; Neh. ix. 9-20 ; Hos. xii. 13; Acts vii. 17-44; Heb. xi. 23-9; i Cor. x. i-ii ; Psalm Ixxvii. 14-20, Ixxviii. 1-54, Ixxxi., cxiv., cvi. 7-13, 19-23, cxxxv. 8, 9, cxxxvi. 10-16; Judg. v, 4, 5 ; Hab. iii. 3-13 ; Isa. Ixiii. 11-14. Here we pause, but if we have entered into our First Terms reading we cannot stop here. We are but half through the career of a man who has had a greater influ: nee upon the world than any other man we could name, except S. Paul. We reserve the full consideration of his character and work till we finish the story of his life next term. The Chosen People are wandering in the Wilderness. What will their destiny as a nation be after this long training ? The Tabernacle has been set up. What is the nature and meaning of the worship for which it is established ? 36 FIRST TERM. ■\ ¥ ' ! I; IX. Questions (Sec pp. 13, 18.) [Questions I., VII., XI., XIV., XXIII., XXIV., and XXVIII. may be answered with help of any books. The other 28 (luestions should be answered with the help of a reference Bible and the R.V. only.] I. Explain fully the mcaning.s of these words as .shown by their derivations : — Bible, Scriptures, Canon, Testament, Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus. (14.) II. Classify the books of the Bible in four groups, as (a) History, (d) Biography, (c) Letters, (d) Poetry. (4.) III. Give t/iree references to prove each of these state- ments : — (a) God spoke through Old Testament writers, (d) God spoke through New Testament writers ; (r) Christ insisted upon the importance and authority of the Old Testa- ment, (^) The first Christians studied it diligently. (12.) IV. Specify the three acts of creation recorded in Gen. i. What further act of creation is mentioned by S. Paul ? (4.) V. Show by Old Testament and New Testament refer- ences that the world and all in it was created by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. (6.) VI. On what were the first three curses pronounced ? (3.) VII. What brought about the Deluge? State its extent and duration. What wero the dimensions of the Ark ? What did it contain? Name three new precepts and two promises given after the Deluge. (20.) VIII. Illustrate Heb. xi. 9 by a brief summary of Abraham's wanderings in Canaan, noting his four chief halting-places. (12.) IX. Discuss the charactei* of Abraham, with special reference to New Testament allusions to him, and justify from Scripture his two titles, {a) Friend of God, {b) Father of the Faithful. (14.) X. Prove that Abraham's immediate ancestors, and also that his descendants in Egypt, worshipped false gods. (3.) XI. Name four important descendants of Esau in the New Testament, in whom his striking but cruel, worldly, and unstable character was reproduced. How was the prophecy that he should first serve, and then have dominion over his brother, fulfilled in his descendants ? (6.) QUESTIONS. S7 groups, as liese statc- XII. Consider Joseph as a type of Christ in character and circumstances. (14.) X J 1 1. Name the i.rst two possessions of Abraham's family in Canaan. To whom did they ultimately belong? (6.) XIV. Reconcile Gen. xlvi 27 and Acts vii. 14. (6.) XV. Mention two incidents in the life of Ephraim. (4.) XVI. How old was Noah's father when Adam died? I low old was Abraham's father when Noah died ? How old were Jacob and Ksau when Abraham died? How old was Joseph when Isaac died? (12.) XVII. On how many occasions are we told of God speaking to man in Genesis ? To whom did He speak ? (15.) XVIII. What allusions to Job are there in Scripture outside the Book of Job ? Find a New Testament quota- tion from Job. (3.) XIX. Summarise the four parts of Elihu's discourse. (14.) XX. Quote two passages proving that Amram was a pious man. (N.B. He is not actually named ' 1 either.) (2.) XXI. Give the seven reasons Moses gave for not going before Pharaoh, and God's answers to them. How many interviews had Moses with Pharaoh? (14.) XXII. What were the four compromises Pharaoh tried to make ? Give the names of the magicians who withstood Moses. (6.) XXIII. Make a list of the ten plagues of Egypt, showing the object or victims, duration, significance, and immediate result of each. (20.) XXIV. Explain the following passages : — Gen. vi. 2, 6; Job iv. 18, xix. 25, xxvi. 5, 6, xxxi. 26, xxxvii. 16, xxxviii. 31 ; Exod. iii. 22, ix. 12. (30.) XXV. Where, whcr, by whom, and with what result was the battle of Rephidim fought ? (4.) XXVI. Have we Biblical warrant for speaking of the ten Commandments ? Show from Genesis that each of the ten was recognised before they were given on Sinai. (22.) XXVII. Give the passages in which the first mention is made of the following :—(i) A Prophet, (2) a Priest, (3) a King, (4) a Covenant, (5) Believing in God, (6) a " Righ- teous Man," (7) Musical Instruments, (8) a Tombstone, (9) Moncy,(io) a City, (11) Egypt, (12) more wives than one, (13) written History, (14) the written Word of God, (14.) ..[-i\ i 38 F/A'ST TEA'Af. XXVI I I. What are the meanings of the following names ? — Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ishmael, Isaac, Edom, Jacob, Israel, Judah, Joseph, Ephraim, Manasseh, Moses, Abimelech, Pharaoh. (20.) XXIX. How many New Testament allusions can you find to Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Lot, Sarah, Ha^ar, Esau ? (20.) XXX. What do you know of the following? — A.senath, l^ashemath, Deborah (of Maran), Eliezer of Damascus, Hur, Iscah, Jochcbed, Kezia, Oholiab, and Shiphrah. (20.) XXXI. Make a list of all the names of God that you can find in Genesis, Job, and Exodus. (30.) XXXI I. Give reference.; for the following passages occurring in this term's reading : — (a) " Where art thou ? " (/;) " Be thou a blessing." (0 " Submit thyself" {(i) " I withheld thee from sinning." (e) " I have filled him with the Spirit of God." (/) " Remember this day." (^) " Stand still." {/i) " Go forward." (?) " I fear God." (J) " I am not worthy." (k) " I abhor myself" (/) " Teach Thou me." (w) *' Let us make us a name." (//) " We desire not the knowledge of Thy ways." (0) "Come, let us slay him." (/) " For we are brethren." ( 1 if I . .1 HEROES, 49 V. Heroes. C Moses, 2 Cor. xii. 15. Keynotes < Phinelins, Gal. i. 8. \ Joshua, I Cor. xvi. 13. During forty years Moses grew from an exceeding fair child into a studer •: at the most learned university, and a prince at the most brilliant court of his age. His wisdom must have been acquired at On, the mother unu'ersity of the world ; and, according to Joscphus, he became general of the Egyptian army and won renown by his victory over the Ethiopians. Then having shown himself an ardent patriot, he endured, for another forty years, exile, through which he became acquainted not only with the desert in which he was- to guide a nation, but with the will of God, which he was to declare as it had never been declared before (Psalm ciii. 7). Then after this long training he came forward for a third period of forty years, as the God-sent deliverer, daunt- less 'eader, enlightened lawgiver, and victorious commander, judging sin, yet pleading for the sinner ; bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things for his discouraged, dis- affected, and erring people. And mighty not only in his works, but in his words, he was for the Hebrews the father both of poetry and history. He died at last with his heart's prayer ungranted, leaving others to enter into his labours, beholding from Pisgah the goodly land which he would not enter until, after a lapse of fifteen centuries, he talked upon another high mountain with the Christ of whom he wrote (Matt. xvii. 1-3 ; John v. 46). Abraham and David are both called prophets incidentally (Gen. xx. 7 ; Acts ii. 30). But never, either before or after, were the lofty thought of the prophet and the bold action of the ruler joined as they were joined in Moses. Beside Moses stood the eloquent Aaron (Exod. iv. 14), greater in office, less great in character ; and the dignified Hur (husband of Miriam, according to Josephus), who seems to have been the head of those seventy elders in whom some trace the origin of the Sanhcdrin (Exod. xxiv. 9, 14; Num. xi. 16). Eor our other heroes, however, we take rather his minister Joshua, and his grand-nephew Phinehas. PhinehaSy third high priest of Israel, is the first example of the 11 I -: 'I ^1 1 \M i « i I. [ :i ■ 1 1 I 50 SECOND TERM, uncompromising warrior-ecclesiastic, who will not only maintain truth, but punish error with the sword, whose staunchness is rewarded by that " covenant of everlasting priesthood," through which (if we except the period between Eli and Solomon) all the high priests of Israel were his descendants until the Fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Joshua is the first example of the God-fearing soldier, simple, straightforward, undaunted ; strong, yet gentle ; devout, yet practical ; one who had learned how to command by obeying ; as a servant, jealous for his master's honour ; as a ruler, jealous for God's honour ; never putting himself forward, never seeking aught for himself until all had received their portions, this greatest of Ephraimites stands forth as one of the few Old Testament worthies whose memory is blameless, and as the first who bore that name which was to become the Name above every name (Hcb. iv. 8, R.V. margin ; Phil. ii. 9, 10). . VI. The Coming Messiah. " Christ having come a high priest of the good things to comCy through the greater ami more perfect Tabernacle . . . through His own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption." — Heb. ix. II, 12 (R. v.). No period is richer in Messianic Types. Moses is the one person to whom, as a Prophet, our Lord directly com- pares Himself; Aaron is His great type as a Priest ; Joshua, His namesake, foreshadowed Him both as Servant of God and as victorious King ; and Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer whom Job foretold. The Tabernacle, God's holy dwelling-place set in the midst of the people, is a type of Christ as God Incarnate (Heb. viii. 2, 5, ix. 1 1, x. 5 ; Dan. ii. 34 ; Col. ii. 9 ; John i. 14, R.V. margin ; Rev. xiii. 6, xxi. 3). Each of its contents has spiritual significance. Its Door (John x. 9) and its Veil (Heb. x. 20) are typical ; Christ is foreshadowed in the Table of Shewbread as the Bread of Life and the King ; in the Golden Candlestick as the Light of the World and the Prophet ; in the Altar of Incense as the Intercessor and Priest ; in the Ark as the Fulfiller of all God's will ; in the THE COMING MESSIAH. Si' at only 1, whose :rl.isting between were his ; soldier, gentle ; ommand honour ; g himself all had cs stands es whose hat name [nc (Heb. tJiings to ^abernacle ''or all into nptionr — Mercy Seat as the Propitiation for our sins through whom we have our access to the Father (Eph. ii. i8). In the Laver wc see our Regeneration through Him who came by water as well as by blood, to renew as well as to justify (Titus iii. 5, R.V. margin ; i John v. 6) ; while the Bni::en Altar points to the Cross, where He not only offered Himself as Priest, but suffered as Victim (Heb. xiii. 10-12). Each of the five Sacrifices there made showed a different aspect of the one " full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world." I give them in the order in which they were offered. The Sin Offering — made monthly and yearly for the congrega- tion, and occasionally for individuals, partly burned on the altar, and, in two special cases, partly burned outside the camp, in other cases partly eaten by the priests ; the only sacrifice whose blood was poured at the base of the altar, and the most fundamental of all — shows Christ's Atonement for the sin of the world, for " the fault and corruption of the nature of every man " (Article IX.), for our unconscious sinfulness (Isa. liii. 12; John i. 29; 2 Cor. v. 21). The Trespass or Guilt Offering — only made occasionally for individuals, partly burned on the altar, and partly eaten by the priests, and accompanied by confession, restitution, and a special ransom — shows Christ's Expiation for the particular sins of particular sinners, for our known sins (Isa. liii. 1 1 ; I John iii. 5, i. 7-9). The Burnt Offering— made daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly for the congregation, and occasionally for individuals, wholly burned upon the altar, the earliest kind clearly discriminated, the commonest, and the most comprehensive in its meaning — shows Christ's Satis/action for man's rebellion and disobedience when He gave Himself up without blemish and without spot before God in perfect self-consecration as our Representative (Isa. liii. 10; John x. 17, 18; Eph. v. 2; Heb. x. 6-9). The Meal Offering — made daily and on special occasions for the congregation, and occasionally for individuals, partly burned on the altar, and partly eaten by the priests, and pervaded throughout by oil, type of the Holy Spirit ; in one sense the earliest, since its name is given to the offerings of Cain and Abel, though only Cain's was, strictly »±M 'i i: 52 SECOND TERM. speaking, a meal offering, — shows Christ's acceptable Oblation of a perfectly holy human character and life before men (Isa. liii. 9; Matt. iii. 17; i Peter ii. 22; Rom. v.). The Peace Offering — made both for the congre- gation and for mdividuals on many occasions, always after othei. sacrifices, partly burned on the altar, partly eaten by the priests, and partly eaten by the people — shows Christ's Reconciliation of man to God (Isa. liii. 5 ; Eph. ii. 14 ; Col. i. 20 ; John xiv. 27). Summing up, these offerings embody three main ideas : — [a) Expiation in the Sin and Trespass Offerings, made/^r (i.e., to obtain) communion with God, never accompanied by meat and drink offerings, and consumed in token of wrath. Sacrifices of this type were the creation of the Mosaic Law (Rom. iii. 20), though they had been imper- fectly anticipated already. Their whole meaning is brought out for the first time in the Epistle to the Hcbrew^s, after the great Antitype had died. (J?) Self-devotion in the Burnt Offering. Christ dedicating Himself for us, we daily dedicating ourselves to Him (Rom. xii. i), was its teaching, the deepest of all, which links all the five Jewish sacrifices together, and constitutes the chief difference between them and the heathen sacrifices. We see from the prophets also that this teaching was the one most often ignored, (tr) Thanskgiving in the Meal and Peace Offerings (see p. 34). Burnt, Meal, and Peace Offerings were all made in {i.e., having obtained) communion with God, were of a sweet savour, and were burned in token of acceptance. (" Consumed "and "burned" are here used to represent two quite different words in the Hebrew.) Note in conclusion these three special sacrifices, with their New Testament explanations : — {a) The annual Peace Offering of the Paschal Lamb, i Cor. v. 7. (b) The annual Sin Offering of the Goat for Azazel, Heb. ix. 7. (c) The occasional Sin Offering (made but seven or nine times in all Israel's history, said the Rabbis) of the Red Heifer, Heb. ix. 13. At the base of the whole Levitical worship conception that only Blood, the inaterial vehicle immaterial thing which we call Life, can atone cover) human sin, whose inevitable result is death. lay the of that for {i.e.. Thus it %■■ GOnS REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO MAN. 53 taught that nothing short of the Death of Christ could retrieve man's Fall (Lev. xvii. 1 1 ; Heb. ix. 22 ; Acts xx. 28 ; I Peter i, 1 5-20). Before He came, the Jews clearly recognised the reference of their sacrifices to the coming Messiah, and since He was rejected by them, sacrifice has disappeared from their worship. For the meanings of the High Priest's Robes, and of the other ordinances and acts of the Mosaic ritual, and for fuller working out of those suggested above, reference must be made to the New Testament, and especially to the Epistle to the Hebrews, an inspired commentary upon the Mosaic Law that students would do well to learn by heart at the rate of 2^ verses a day, if possible, in the course of this term. One typical event of our period is referred to by Christ (John iii. 14), and another by S. Paul (i Cor, x. 4). Lastly, this term's reading contains two Predictions. {a) Num. xxiv. 17-19, wherein, looking forward to the future triumph of the Hebrew race and their King, the heathen seer, like Caiaphas hereafter, condemned himself This had partial fulfilment in David's conquest of Moab ; its complete fulfilment will be when Christ rules as King (Matt. ii. 2 ; i Cor. xv. 25). {b) Deut. xviii. 15-19. This occurs in a book which proved the sheath whence Christ thrice drew the sword of the Spirit for His own use (Matt, iv.), and was expounded by Him of Him.self when He taught as a Prophet (John v. 45-7 ; Acts iii. 22). All that was per- manent in the new relation established by Moses between God and Man is here transferred to a future Lawgiver. m Vn. God's Revelation of Himself to Man. This term's reading speaks less of new names of God, and more of a new relation of God to man. As the uncon- scious freedom and innocence of childhood gives place to the deeper seriousness and independence of manhood, so the direct and familiar, but occasional intercourse of God with the Patriarchs ceased when Moses no longer spake face to face with Him. Joshua was the first man who received for his guidance a copy of the Scriptures, which are mentioned for the first time in connexion with him (Exod. xvii. 14 ; Josh. i. 8). ■ I' li: ■ ■ i'ii' U ' 54 SECOND TERM. This fuller revelation was associated with a sterner law Jehovah was the unseen King and Head of Israel then, just as Christ is the unseen King and Head of His Church now. Theocracy (government by God) is a word used by the Jewish historian Josephus, and commonly applied to the 400 years between the Exodus and the reign of Saul. Strictly speaking, however, Israel's constitution was a theocracy always, whether its human ruler was a prophet like Moses, or a priest like Eli, or a king like David. God was always their supreme King (i Sam. xii. 12 ; Isa. vi. 5, xxxiii. 17), and they were called then, as the Church is called now, to be His special people for a special reason (i Peter ii. 9). Observe how the threefold form of the Aaronic Bene- diction anticipates a clearer revelation of the Triune God (Num. vi. 24-6). VIII. Man's Relation to God in Worship. Two cardinal truths were uttered at Sinai : {a) That the people of Israel were set apart as a holy nation, which explains why the Ceremonial Law was given at first to separate them, and abrogated later on when their privileges were to be shared by others. {b) That their God was " eternal, incorruptible, invisible," which explains but does not excuse their besetting sin. The various laws of Moses may be classified under three heads, (i) Moral, referring to our duty to ourselves. All sin wrongs ourselves in the first place, while most sins wrong others also. These laws are the same in all ages (Matt. V. 17-48). (2) Political, Civil, and Criminal, refer- ring to our duty to our neighbour. Of these laws, changed social conditions have altered the details though not the principles (Mark x. 5). (3) Religious and Ceremonial, referring to our duty to God. These laws, so far as they referred to outward observances, were modified after the more perfect manifestation of God in Christ. (Contrast Lev. xi. and Deut. xiv. with i Tim. iv. 4 and Rom. xiv. 20, 21.) In spite of the written Law, a people constantly engaged in war or agriculture would have sunk into ignorance and MAN'S RELATION 70 GOD IN WORSHIP. 55 barbarism had not a leisured and learned class not wholly- dependent on their own toil been set apart to teach it to their fellows (2 Chron. xxxi. 4j. Such were the Levites (see Exod. xxxii. 26-9, which explains the contrast between Gen. xlix. 5-7 and Deut. x. 8, 9, xxxiii. 8- 11). They had neither political power nor personal wealth, and were free to devote themselves to the maintenance of public worship. In time they became chroniclers and psalmists also. The Israelites proved too "carnal" (i Cor. iii. i) to understand the worship of an unseen God and King. Hence Idolatry became their great national sin until the Babylonian Captivity. There were two kinds of idolatry, which must be carefully distinguished throughout the Old Testament. {a) Transgression of the First Commandment, worship- ping false gods instead of or together with Jehovah. This apostasy formed the sin of Israel at Shittim (Num. xxv.), of Joash the Abiezrite (Judg. vi.), and of King Ahab. {b) Transgression of the Second Commandment, worship- ping Jehovah, the one Creator, under the symbolic likeness of a created thing (2 Kings xviii. 22, xvii. 41). These un- lawful " aids to devotion " formed the sin of Israel at Sinai (Exod. xxxii.), of Micah (Judg. xvii.), and of King Jeroboam I. Passages illustrating Leviticus, etc. — i Chron. ii.-viii. ; Neh. ix. 21-31; Psalm xHv. 1-3, Ixxviii. 55-8, xcv. 8- II, cvi. 13-18 and 24-48, cxiv., cxxxv. 10-12, cxxxvi. 16-22; Micah vi. 4-0; Acts vii. 45, xiii. 18-20; Hebrews. Whitfield's " Tabernacle, Priesthood, and Offer- ings of Israel " (Nisbet, 5^.) deals with the symbolism of the Mosaic ritual in a simple and popular way. Again we pause, but what we have read only stimulates us to read on. When and how will a strong nation be formed out of this chaos of warring tribes? Will the Israelitish dodecarchy give place to monarchy as the English heptarchy did ? Will Shiloh continue to be the capital, and Ephraim the leading tribe ? Will the struggle with their heathen neighbours for independence, nay for existence, pass into an assured mastery over them ? Who is this David, whose ancestry has been so fully described ? §1 II '■ i I i.l.! $6 SECOND TERM, IX. Questions. (See pp. 13, 18.) [Questions I., II, XII,, XXL, and XXIV. may be answered with help of any books. The other 27 questions should be answered with the help of A.V. and R.V. only.] I. Draw, with fine pen and ruler : — {a) A ground plan of the Tabernacle, showing the relative size and position of the Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies, and also their contents. {b) A ground plan of the Camp of Israel, showing the positions of the three companies of Levites and of Moses and Aaron with regard to the Tabernacle, and stating the leader, number, and charge of each ; and secondly, the positions of the twelve tribes, naming their leaders. Mark the points of the compass on both plans. (25.) II. Quote one description of the wilderness from the Psalms, and two from the Prophets, which indicate the hardships of those who wandered there. (3.) III. Enumerate seven occasions on which the Israelites murmured. (7.) IV. Show from several passages that they transgressed the First as well as the Second Commandment in the wilderness. (6.) V. Quote a conversation between B'^laam and Balak on the subject of the sacrifices that are pleasing to God, and prove from the Second Book of Kings that human sacrifici was not unknown among the Moabites. (4.) VI. Give the total number of the children of Israel {a) in B.C. 1706 ; {b) in B.C. 1490 ; {c) in B.C. 1452, Which tribe increased and which tribe decreased most between 1490 and 1452 ? (8.) VII. " Let me die the death of the righteous ! " Was this aspiration fulfilled in the case of the man who uttered it? (2.) VIII. Quote three New Testament precepts enforcinrj each of the Ten Commandments. (30.) IX. "Of all the ancient lawgivers, Moses alone endea- voured to mitigate the evils of slavery as a domestic institution " {Mihnan). Point out some of these mitiga- tions. (8.) .% t > t' r( Ci is ai QUESTIONS. 57 li help of lof A.V., ig the ce, and ing the Moses ing the ly, the Mark om the ate the sraelites •gressed in the alak on od, and jacrifici Israel Which jctwcen \ Was I uttered [forcing 1 endea- )mestic litiga- X. Name the five kinds of animals that might be offered in sacrifice, stating for which of the five kinds ot sacrifice each was available. (8.) XI. Mention {a) The one offering that need not be unblemished ; (J?) the one fast ?»,ppointed5iby Moses. (2.) XI I. What were the three great annual festivals? By what various names are they called ? How were they observed ? What was their significance in relation to {a) The seasons of the year ; {b) the history of Israel ; {c) the Gospel of Christ ? What additional annual f":stivals were instituted after the Captivity ? (30.) XIII. "Nazirite" means "one separated." From what was the Nazirite separated ? Name some famous men who were Nazirites. (6.) XIV. Point out the differences in privilege, garb, function, etc., between the high priest and the priest, and between the priest and the Levite. (10.) XV. Find in the Gospels or Acts of the Apostles an exemplification of each of the following passages : — (i) Exod. XXX. 7, 8; (2) Exod. xxxviii. 26; (3) Lev. x. 6, ?cxi. 10 ; (4) Lev xi. ; (5) Lev. xii. 3 ; (6) Lev. xii. 8 ; (7) Lev. xiit. 45, 46 ; (8) Lev. xiv. 3, 4 ; (9) Lev. xx. 10; (10) Lev. xxiii. 3 ; (11) Deut. xvi. 16 ; (12"! Deut. xix. 15 ; (13) Deut. xxi. 23 ; (14) Deut. xxiii. 25 ; (15) Deut. xxv. 1-3 ; (16) Deut. XXV. 5. (16.) XVI. In Deuteronomy, Israel is bidden to remember twelve times. Give references, and name the things to be remembered. (11.) XVII. Quote a verse in Deuteronomy where God is called Israel's Father. His love to us, and our love to Him is a thought running all through that book, which thus anticipates Christ's teaching. Trace this out carefully. ( 1 2.) XVIII. Where is Moses called (i) a prophet, (2) a prie.it, (3) a king, (4) a leader, (5) a lawgiver, (6) a shepherd of God's flock, (7) a man of God, (8) a man mighty in his words and works ? Show by a genealogical table his relationship to Levi and to Bezalel. What do we know to the discredit of one of his grandsons ? (15.) XIX. Dean Stanley suggests "heedless of self" as the exact meaning of the word rendered " meek " in Num. xii. 3. Discuss the character of Moses, showing how this trait was 58 SECOND TERM. impressed upon all his actions from first to last. How often did he intercede successfully for I'^is people ? (i2.) XX. Mention a speech and two actions of Moses recorded in Hebrews and not in the Old Testament. What do we learn from the New Testament as to his motive in throw- ing in his lot with Israel ? Consider Moses as a type of Christ. (15.) XXI. The exhortation, " Be strong" occurs more than twenty times in the Bible. Give as many references as you can. (10.) XXII. How and when was the curse in Josh. vi. 26 fulfilled ? What New Testament allusions are there to Jericho ? (4.) XXIII. "They asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord." What were the circumstances and the results of this omission ? Give other instances of enterprises under- taken with and without prayer. (12.) XXIV. Draw on card or drawing paper a map of Canaan as divided among the tribes, indicating the portion 01 each, and marking the six cities of refuge in red. Mark also the Sea of Chinnereth, the Dead Sea, the Anion, the Jordan, the Kishon ; Hermon, Carmel, Ebal, Gerizim, Tabor, Dan, Beersheba, Bethel, Jericho, Ai, Gibeon, and any other cities you please which are mentioned in this term's reading. N.B. — Rule margins, latitudes, and longitudes ; outline in pencil, then in ink with a very fine pen ; then colour in transparent washes, and lastly print the names. (25.) XXV. Sketch the character and career of Phinehas. In what words, six times repeated, is the character of Caleb summed up? (10.) XXVI. Prove that the mother and grandmother of David's grandfather were not Israelites. (5.) XXVII. Illustrate i Chron. v. i, 2, by showing very briefly — {a) that up to the days of Samuel, Ephraim and Manasseh were the leading tribes ; {b) that from Samuel to the Captivity, Judah was the leading tribe ; {c) that Reuben made an unsuccessful attempt to claim the right of the firstborn. (15.) XXVIII. Where, when, by whom, and with what result were the following battles fought? — Hormah, Jahaz, Edrei, Bethhoron, Merom, Megiddo, (24.) QUESTIONS, 59 How ^ . ordcd io we hrow- ^pe of ; than ces as vi. 26 ere to of the ults of undcr- Canaan 01 each, also the Jordan, )r, Dan, er cities "?•• • ithne in ilour in as. In Caleb Ither of XXIX. How many New Testament allusions can you find to Aaron, Joshua, Korah, Balaam, Rahab, Barak ? (10.) XXX. What do you know of the following ? — Achsah, Adoni-bezek, ChiMon. Eldad, Heber, Hobab, Jair the Manassite, Mahlah, Mishael, Shamgar, the Kenites, Chit- tim ? (24.) XXXI. Show how the following attributes of God are revealed in this term's reading : — Living, Holy, Jealous. Where is He called the Rock five times, and in what book is He called " God of the spirits of all flesh " twice ? (5.) XXXII. Give references for the following: — (a) "A mother in Israel." {b) "Children in whom is no faith." (c) " The land ye have rejected." {d) " Because ye believed not in Me." {e) " Every man in his place." (/) " Every man straight before him." (g-) " Every man shall be put to death for his own sin." (/i) Be sure your sin will find you out." (?) " Wroth with me for your sakcs." (J) " My son, give glory to the Lord." (k) " Let us go up at once." (/) " Whithersoever thou sendest us we will go." (w) " Come thou with us." («) " A full reward be given thee of the Lord." (o) " I am come forth for an adversary." (/) " I am not among you." ($') " I dwell in the midst of the children of Israel." (r) " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (s) Thou shalt be altogether joyful." (/) " The Lord your God proveth you." (?^) " That ye go not about after your own heart and your own eyes." (v) " It is not too hard for thee." (w) " The secret things belong unto the Lord our God." (x) " What hath God wrought ! " {y) " He is thy life." {3) " He hath known thy walking through this great wilderness." (26.) For Second Series of Questions, see p. 309. I very im and uel to eubcn of the ,1 It result I, Edrei, THIRD TERM. The Da of wid. The Chosen Na-X' v rr-nER One King. B.C. 125. iUl/ Judges VI. — XVI . I Samuel. 2 Samjiell. — XXIII. i Chronicles I.— XX. Psalms II.— XXV. XXVII. XXIX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVIII.—XLI. LI.—LXIV. LXVIII.—LXX. LXXVIII. CI. CVIII— ex. CXXXVIII. CXL.— CXLIIl. (146 chapters^ " The law of the Lord is perfect, . . . . the precepts of the Lord are right, pure, . . . the judgments of the Lord Psalm xix. 7-9. 9th MONTH (35). Judg. VI.— XVL I Sam. I.— XVII. Psahiis VIII., XIX., XXIII., XXIX. I Sam. XVIII. Psalms CXL., CXLI. loth MONTH (37), I Sam. XIX., XX. Psalms LIX..XIII., XL I Sam. XXL Psalms LVL. XXV. i Sam. XXH. CXLIL, LVII XXIII. LVIIL, XVII. XXX L Psalms XXXIV., LII. I Sam. XXVI. Psalms XXXV., LIV., VII., I Sam. XXVII.— I Chron. I.— X. nth MONTH 2 Sam. I.— (37). V. 16, I Chron. XL 1-9, XIV. 1-7. 2 Sam. XXIII. 8-39. 1 Chron. XL 10-47, XII. Psalm LXXVIII., . . the testimony of the Lord is sure, , . . the commandment of the Lord is are true and righteous altogether." — nth MONTH Continued. Psalm XVL 2 Sam. VI., VIL 1 Chron. XIIL, XV.— XVII. Psalms CL, XXIV., XV., CX., CXXXVIII. 2 Sam. V. 17-25, VIIL— XL I, XII. 26-31, XXI. 15-22. I Chron. XIV. 8-17, XVIIL— XX. Psalms XX., XXL, LX., CVIIL, IX., II., XVIIL 2 Sam. XXIL Psalm LXVIII. 1 2th MONTH (37). 2 Sam. XL 2— XII. 25. Psalms LL, XXXIL, VI., XXXVIIL, XXXIX., XLL, XL., LXX.. V. 2 Sam. XIII —XV. 12. Psalms X., XIL, XIV., LIIL, LXIL, LXIV. 2 Sam. XV. 13— XVII. Psalms CXLIIL, LXIIL, XXVIL, LV., CIX., LXIX, XXIL, XXXL, LXL, III., IV. 2 Sam. XVIIL— XXL 14. I. General Summary. THE Promised Land has been claimed, but secure pos session can only be won through conflict with all tht neighbouring nations (see " Oxford Helps," § xxx.). Syrians, 60 GENERAL SUMMARY. 61 I., VII. XVII. ex., 17-25. 26-31, XIV. Psalms I., IX., XXII. I Psalms LVIII., :x..v. I Psalms Ilxil, -XVII. I.XIII., .XIX, [I., IV. re pos [all tht Brians, Moabites, and Canruinites have already been defeated, and a preliminary encounter with the Philistines (Judg. iii. 31, X. 11) has taken place. Three greater struggles remain, whose story occupies us throughout this term. At its beginning we find Palestine overrun by hordes of Midianites and Avialekitcs from the desert, and the Israel- ites fleeing for their lives to mountains and caves. Their signal deliverance from this extremity is often referred to afterwards (Psalm Ixxxiii. 9-12 ; Isa. ix. 4, x. 26). Eighty years later came the Ammonite invasion, and lastly the Hundred Years War with the Philistines (Gen. x. 14). A pastoral tribe of that name occupied the fertile plain of South- West Palestine in Abraham's days (Gen. xx., xxi.). By 1 49 1 they had become a formidable military and com- mercial nation with five strongholds (Exod. xiii. 17, xv. 14) who had already given Israel cause to fear them (i Chron. vii. 2022, viii. 13). When their territory was assigned to Dan and Judah, they contested these invaders' succession and obtained the mastery for a period of forty years known as "the days of the Philistines" (Judg. xiii. i, xiv. 4, xv. II, 20). Shamgar and Samson began to deliver Israel from them (Judg. iii. 31, xiii. 5), and it was probably to avenge the crowning exploit of the latter that they put themselves in array against Israel at Aphek, and inflicted a defeat which seemed to destroy her national existence. This overthrow was referred to as " the day of the captivity of the land " (Judg. xviii. 30 ; Psalm Ixviii. 18), and the catastrophe which desolated Shiloh can only be paralleled in Israel's history with the Fall of Jerusalem in B.C. 588 and in A.D. 70. Hence the murderous fury which Jeremiah's allusion to it provoked. The rout of Israel under priests whose " sin was very great before the Lord " was retrieved on the same spot twenty years later by the blameless prophet Samuel (i Sam. vii. 13). Then Israel asked for a king to strengthen their hands, and Goa gave them Saul (i Sam. ix. 16, xiv. 52). Central Palestine had now become a Philistine country, and its heirs had passed over Jordan again. He turned the tide of war, but because he rejected the word of the Lord his great victory at Michmash ended in defeat on the scene of Gideon's triumph over Midian. Final deliver- ance came through the faithful King David^ who fought .k li i i i i 6a T/J/A'D TERM. his first battle in 1064, and his last battle some thirty years later, against the Philistines. He carried the war into the enemy's country, captured their strongholds, and made them tributary (2 Sam. iii. 18, xix. 9). Not until the disastrous reign of wicked Jehoram (889 — 885) shall we meet with them again ; but in " Palestine " (z>., " Philistia "), the most familiar name of the land of Israel, they left a lasting trace of their long domination. David's wars were the summary and the conclusion of the whole contest (Acts vii. 45). The victories of Barak and Gideon over the Canaanites and Midianitcs were final ; but it was David who, besides subduing the Kdoinitcs, finally vanquished the Syriatis, Moabitcs, Amalckites, Am- monitcs, and Pliilisthies. And so " the heathen perished out of God's land " at last (Psalm x. 16), and Israel became united, independent, and strong (Josh. xxi. 45). Of the 330 years between Joshua's death and Saul's acces- sion, III were passed by some portion, sometimes a large portion, of God's People in servitude. This was not part of God's plan for them, but the result of their own worldli- ness and disobedience, and pursuit of what they considered expedient and not of what was right. (Observe these four stages: Judg. i. 21, iii. 5, xxi. 25, x. 6.) They sought to serve their own true God and the false gods of their neigh- bours as well ; they wanted to have both God and God's enemies for their friends (Psalm cvi. 34-6). Now those who live wholly for the world may be happy, though not in the highest way ; those who live wholly for God must be happy in the highest way. But those who try to serve God and the world at once must be miserable. That is our lesson from those ancient wars. What was their result for Israel ? Nine hundred years elapsed between the Exodus and the Babylonian Captivity -viz., 400 years of irregular government by fifteen judges, and 500 years of monarchy. The progress and prosperity of the nation under David and Solomon fully justified the establishment of monarchy, which we have now to consider. Two hundred.years after the death of Moses they offered an hereditary crown to Gideon. He refused it, and the power of his son was too limited to warrant us in calling him the first King of Israel. 150 years later, under Philis- BOOKS TO BE READ. 63 acccs- a large 3t part vorldli- sidcred se four aght to ncigh- God's sc who in the happy ind the n from "? s and egular archy. David archy, )ffcred id the Icalling 1 Philis- tine pressure, the need for a permanent guarantee ot national unity again asserted itself with irresistible force. Different judges had ruled different tribes; Samuel for the first time ruled all Israel (i Sam. iii. 20), and when Shiloh lay desolate and Jerusalem was still a Jebusite city, his abode at Ramah became the national centre. Events were ripe for more settled political institutions than the casual rule of men who claimed uncertain allegiance during their lives, and left certain confusion at their deaths (Judg. xvii, 6, xviii, I, xix. i,xxi. 25). Monarchy, though not established by Moses, was clearly contemplated by the Mosaic Law (Deut. xvii. 14-20). But wilfully and defiantly the people demanded a king, that they might be *' like all the nations," ignoring their peculiar position as the People of God. And God, who sometimes allows us to mete nut our own punish- ment when we importune II im to give according to our own will, not His (Psalm cvi. 15), gave them a king after their own heart of the tribe of Benjamin. When they had learned that " unblest good is ill," He gave them a king after His own heart of the tribe of Judah, and established his dynasty for ever (Acts xiii. 21, 22). II. Books to be Read. (See "Oxford Helps," § v.) This *term our time is divided between four of the his- torical and one of the poetical books of the Old Testament. The larger number of appointed chapters docs not represent more work. For we have already made some acquaintance with I Chron. i.-viii., and several of the following chapters are almost verbal repetitions of chapters in Samuel ; many of the Psalms are very short, and four of them occur twice over. We are in the age of one of the greatest poets of the world, and, with two exceptions, the follv'»wing poems are all from his hand : — {a) The Song of Hannah, the earliest " hymn " properly so-called, a first outpourinL;" of individual as distinct from national devotion (i Sam. ii. i-io; comp. Luke i. 46-55). {b) David's Song of the Bow, from the Book of Jashar, the finest and the most ancient of all dirges, mourning Saul with the harp that had so often soothed him, and, full 1 ^ \ m i ! !i 64 TH/HD TERM. of charity as It is of poetry, sayin^j nought but good of * David's enemy, while commemorating David's friend, the mighty archer of the archer tribe, in words destined to be used by David's own tribe as they learned to handle the archer's weapon (2 Sam. i. 19-27). {c) David's Elegy over Abner, a brief outburst of grief for the sudden and violent end of a great prince (2 Sam. iii. 33, 34). {d) David's Song of Praise on the greatest day of his life, when he was at once conqueror and king, poet and musician. Two liturgical psalms, added to the Psalter after the Captivity, were founded upon it (Psalm cv. 1-15, xcvi., cvi. 47, 48), as our Prayer Book makes general use of the three canticles in S. Luke (i Chron. xvi. 7-36). {e) David's Song of Victory, recalling his conflicts with all his enemies from the first and most implacable, and ascribing his success wholly to God (2 Sam. xxii. ; comp. Psalm xviii.). (/) David's La.st Words, one of his most notable psalms. It sums up all his life's experience of the faithfulness of God (2 Sam. xxiii. 1-7). (We read this next term, but note it now to complete the list.) Sixty-one Psalms, all, save one, by David ; see p. 180. I and 2 Samuel with i and 2 Kings are spoken of in the Septuagint as " the four books of Kings." They form one historical compilation based upon the writings of Samuel, Nathan, Gad, Isaiah, and others (i Chron. xxix. 29), and, it seems, completed and finally edited by Jeremiah the prophet immediately after the Captivity. They were written by Prophets with all the freshness and fulness of contemporary records. They are political, military, and poetical, and contain the history of all Israel. Only they insert accounts of the reign of Saul, of David's wanderings and of his fall, and of the rebellions of Absalom and Adonijah. Their keynote is The Throne of the Lords Anotnled (John i. 41, 49, xii. 13, xviii. 33-7). I and 2 Chronicles are called in the Septuagint, " The history of the things left out." They are based upon the public records first instituted by David (i Chron. xxvii. 24), but were edited after the Captivity, probably by Ezra the priest, some 1 50 years later than Kings. They cover the Icrings and \ords I" The )n the |ii. 24), ra the IX the PF.RmnS AND DATES. 6$ whole period of the four liooks of Kinc^s, vvhirh they are evidently designed to supplement. In contrast to Kings, they were written by Priests and Levites, with the dis- passionate judgment befitting records of events long past. They are ecclesiastical, genealogical, and prosaic, and contain the history of Juclah (i Chron. v. 2, xxviii. 4). Only they insert complete genealogies from Adam, com- plete statistics of David's kingdom, full descriptions of his preparations for the Temple, and henceforth of everything relating to its worship. Their keynote is The Lord dwellcth in Jerusalem (i Chron. xxiii. 25, R.V. ; Matt. ; 35 ; John iv. 20; Rev. xxi. 2, 3). III. Periods and Dates. The chronology becomes more definite as this period of 238 years draws to a close, but several very perplexing questions are connected with it. S. Paul's statement in Acts xiii. 20 (but see R.V.) agrees with the result of adding up the periods of servitude and judgeship named in Judges, but it cannot be reconciled with the assertion in I Kings vi. i, that 12 periods of forty years elapsed between the Exodus and the erection of the Temple. Some, therefore, regard this assertion as an erroneous in- terpolation and throw the Exodus back 140 years ; others more reasonably recognise that thr periods in Judges are not successive but overlap each other. For instance, Judg. xi. 26 indicates that Jephthah's rule began in 11 52, and since Samson's cannot have begun later than 11 36, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon must have been contemporary in another part of Palestine with one or other of these two. Thus in a period only extending over 130 years, 450 years are accounted for. (l) B.C. 1256 — 1 136 (120 > ars). From the Midianite oppression to the beginning of Samson's rule. Israel under eight Judges. (a) Seven years' oppression of the Midianites and Amalekites in Central Palestine (1256 — 1249), and rule of Gideon, Abimelech, Tola, and Jair. Judg. vi. — x. 5. (d) Eighteen years' oppression of the Ammonites I, I I i. .•I«f,i 66 THIRD TERM. \ ' : f? on the cast (1170 — 1152), and rule of Jcph- thah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon (and EH ?) Judg. X. 6 — xii. (2) B.C. 1 1 36 — 1096 (40 years). From the beginning of Samson's rule to the accession of Saul. Israel under the last three Judges. " The days of the Philistines." (a) 1 1 36 — 1 1 16. The rule of Samson and Eli, and defeat at Aphek. Judg. xiii. — xvi. ; 1 Sam. i. — iv. (F) 1 1 16 — 1096. The rule of Samuel and victory at Ebenezer. 1 Sam. v, — vii. (3) B.C. 1096 — 1056 (40 years). From the accession of Saul to his death. Israel under Samuel and Saul (a) 1096 — 1064. The probation of Saul through prosperity. 1 Sam. viii. — xv, (/') 1064 — 1056. The probation of David through adversity 1 Sam. xvi., xvii. ; Psalms viii., xix., xxiii., xxix. ; 1 Sam. xviii. ; Psalms cxl., cxli. ; 1 Sam; xix. ; Psalm lix. ; 1 Sam. xx. ; Psalms xiii., xi. ; 1 Sam. xxi. ; Psalms Ivi,, xxv. ; 1 Sam. xxii. ; Psalms xxxiv., cxlii., Ivii., lii. ; 1 Sam. xxiii.— xxvi. ; Psalms Iviii., xxxv., liv., vii., xvii. ; 1 Sam. xxvii. — xxxi. ; 1 Chron. i. — x. (4) B.C. 1056 — 1018 (38 years). From the death of Saul to the choice of a site for the Temple. Israel under David. {a) 1056 — 1049. His reign at Hebron over Judah. 2 Sam. i. — iv, {1j) 1049 — 1036. His reign at Jerusalem over all Israel. His victories, glory, and prosperity. 2 Sam. V. 1-16 ; 1 Chron. xi. 1-9, xiv. 1-7 ; 2 Sam. xxiii. 8-39; 1 Chron. xi. 10-47, xii.; Psalms Ixxviii., xvi. ; 2 Sam. vi., vii. ; 1 Chron. xiii., XV. — xvii. ; Psahns ci,, xxiv., xv., ex., cxxxviii. ; 2 Sam. V. 17-25, viii.— xi. 1, xii. 26-31, xxi. 15-22; 1 Chron. xiv. 8-17, xviii. — xx. ; Psalms xx., xxi., Ix., cviii., ix., ii., xviii.; 2 Sam. xxii.; Psalm Ixviii. {c) 1036 — 10 1 8. His sin and suffering. 2 Sam. xi. 1 — xii. 25; Psalms li,, xxxii., vi., xxxviii., xxxix., xii., xl., Ixx., v.; 2 Sam. xiii. — xv. 12; GEOGRAPHY. 67 Jcph- Judg. ing of under ines." d Eli, - xvi. ; victory ;ion of Saul tirough hrough ii., xix., .., cxli. ; Psalms ; 1 Sam. 1 Sam. v., vii., — X. ath of cmplc. Judah. )vcr all |sperity. 2 Sam. Psalms in. xiii.t ^xxviii. ; )\, xxi. 1ms XX., xxii. ; I2 Sam. tviii., Ixv. 12; Psalms X., xii., xiv., liii., Ixii., Ixiv., 2 Sam. xv. 13— xvii. ; Psalms cxliii., Ixiii., xxvii., Iv., cix., Ixix., xxii., xxxi., Ixi., iii., iv. ; 2 Sam. xviii. — xxi. 14. IV. Geography. (See "Oxford Helps," Maps V. and VI.) We have already studied Palestine, the scene of all this term's events, and although Jerusalem is characterised as "the city where David encamped" (Isa. xxix, i), there are several good reasons for postponing its topography to the reign of David's son, who was " King in Jerusalem " (Eccles. i. i). How much of the whole land which God promised was possessed by Isra.cl ? This geographical question now calls for solution. By God Himself to Abraham, through Moses to Israel on leaving Egypt, and again through Ezekiel to Israel during the Babylonian Captivity, a territory was promised to the Chosen People, which was 2| times as large as Great Britain and Ireland, or 300,000 square miles in extent. Speaking generally, it lay between the Nile and the Euphrates, the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf or the Syrian Desert. Solomon for a short time ruled the whole of it as King of Israel and suzerain of Israel's neighbours. But, omitting the Trans-Jordanic provinces whose occupants soon ceased to have any close connexion with their compatriots, we find that what they actually possessed lay between Beershcba and Dan, the Mediter- ranean and Jordan, and was little larger than Wales. Did Isiacl's sin make void the promise, or will it be fulfilled hereafter? Jer. xxxii. 37-42 ; Amos ix. 15 ; Rom. xi. 29. Careful comparison of the following passages with each other and the maps will show the exact boundaries : — Gen. xiii. 14, 15, xv. 18; Exod. xxiii, 31 ; Num. xiii. 21, xxxiv. 2-8 ; Deut. xi. 24 ; Josh. i. 3, 4 ; i Kings iv. 21, 24, viii. 65 ; 2 Chron. vii. 8, ix. 26; Psalm Ixxii. 8, Ixxx. 11, Ixxxix. 25; Isa. xxvii. 12 (R.V.) ; Ezck. xlvii. 13-21; Zech. ix. 10, ^ i ( ■'I 68 THIRD TERM. On the north, Mount Hor (that is, cither Mount Casius on the Bay of Antioch, or the Lebanon Range generally), the crtering in of Hamath to Zcbad, and the River, or the Great River, that is, the Euphrates. On the eeist, the Euphrates and Syrian Desert, or else the Orontes, Jordan, the Salt (or Dead) Sea, and Red Sea. On the south, the deserts of Paran and Zin, called " the ends of the earth," to " the brook of Egypt " (that is, the Wadi I'Areesh or Rhinocolura). The Nile, or " river of Egypt," is only mentioned in Gen. xv. i8. On the west, the Great, Hinder, or Western Sea, or Sea of the Philistines, that is, the Mediterranean, V. Heroes. f Gideon, Phil. iv. 13, 17 (R.V.), Sa Keynotes < Samuel, Eph. vi. 18. (. David, Eph. vi. 6. Each of this term's heroes stands out sharply contrasted with a contemporary in a way that throws much light upon him. Gideon is the most heroic character in Judges, and he wrought the greatest deliverance there recorded. Mighty in faith, he recalls the past greatness of Joshua ; courteous, forbearing, and humble, he anticipates the future grace of David. His disinterested patriotism finds a modern parallel in George Washington. He yields to none of the judges in dignity ; Samuel only, who rose above his superstitious devotion, excels him in holiness. The crown he set aside was seized by the rash and unscrupulous Abimelech, the one judge who performed no public service. Samson and Samuel were about the same age. Both were Nazirites from birth ; both were raised up to deliver Israel, and received a special call and a special training for their work. Samson's extraordinary physical power enabled him to strike terror into the Philistines and encourage Israel, but his wayward inconsistency and uncontrolled passions wasted that power on isolated feats, and he carried out no organised plan of national defence and founded no national institutions. Samuel's extra- ordinary moral power was an outcome of the holy and HEROES. 69 or Sea Both ieliver lining [power V, and V and consistent life of one who had served the Lord from his youth. He and S. John are the great Scripture examples of inward, silent, unbroken growth in grace from childhood, as Jacob and S. Paul are of sudden and decisive conversion in mature years. Note that the same religious surround- ings which aided this growth in him only hardened the sons of Eli. Warrior, ruler, counsellor, intercessor, and prophet, Samuel was neither king nor priest nor poet. He was not, like Moses, the originator of new institutions, nor, like Jeremiah, the upholder of old ones. To him was committed the hardest task of guiding his country safely through a time of transition, when new conditions brought new needs. He was the last judge, and the first of that long succession of prophets who will claim our chief attention later on. And as the Levite son of Zachanas was forerunner of the Son of David, so the Levite son of Elkanah was forerunner of David. Chosen of the Lord (2 Sam. xxi. 6, R.V.), endowed with the Spirit, with Samuel for his counsellor and David for his friend, Saiilw^s favoured in all his circumstances. But his fierce Benjamitc temper was ungoverned, his better impulses were guided by no steady principle, his religion did not influence his moral nature. Ever and always he did accord- ing to his own will, and sought what was right in his own eyes. God put him to a test less severe than those which Abraham and Gideon had undergone triumphantly. Eirst, by a trial of endurance under pressure from the enemy (i Sam. xiii.). In his rash superstition and impatience he broke through the restraint imposed upon him by Samuel. Secondly, by a trial of obedience under pressure from the people (i Sam. xv.). In blind self-confidence he dis- regarded God's plain command to him. These failures proved him unfit for the trust committed to him, so, in mercy to Israel, God first took the kingdom away from his family, and secondly rejected him from being king. His third and crowning sin was asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit in defiance of the law of Moses (i Chron. x. 13, 14). Suicide, possibly completed by the hand of one of those Amalekites concerning whom he had sinned, was the dark close of a career that might have been full of light. So he perished, self-willed king of a sclf- : !■ i- ' ill iilr'l II'. 7C THIRD TERM. Iisr I t \ willed people ; and, though fits of madness came over him as they have come over more than one unhappy monarch whose imperious will has been unchecked by either prin- ciple or circumstances, we cannot assert that he was not responsible for his own destruction (2 Peter ii. 21). David and S. Paul stand alone among the characters of Holy Writ in leaving writings through which we can look into their heart of hearts, and, of all the heroes of the Old Testament, David is the one we know best ; 1 3 1 of its chapters have him for their theme or their author, and he is frequently mentioned in Scripture elsewhere. His daring courage, his quick sagacity, the prudence that never deserted him, his prompt resource in difficulty, his singular mixture of tenderness and severity, his inborn power to rule, his skill to plan and enterprise in carrying out his plans, remind us of the champions of the past. V\h intellectual gifts link him to the " wise men " of the age which suc- ceeded his. For, while we speak of the rod of Moses, the spear of Joshua, the sword of Gideon, and the mantle of Samuel, we refer to the harp of David. As Moses the Prophet anticipated Samuel, so Moses the Psalmist ant'.i- patcd David, who was the greatest of Israel's poets, and the first of all poets to give utterance to man's deep jov in nature's beauty and man's deep lonr.L-'gs after com- munion with God. "David" means "bel;". i,' and no one ever gave or received more passionate and 'evoted love than he, from the day the young her;- of Ephes- Dammim was the nation's darling, to the day the aged king bowed the hearts of all as the heart of one man (i Sam. xviii. i, 3, 5, 16, 20, 22, 28, 30 ; 2 Sam. xix. 14). His was that highly emotional nature that feels pleasure and pain and is conscious of the good and evil in others to a very rare degree. The versatility and complexity of character and gifts which we note in many of the tribe of Judah reached their climax in David, and the training for his ^'fe work was unusually complete. The early years of pj. toi'pl s'>litude and meditation ; the camp and court, first of Israel, then of Philistia the great military power of the day ; the College of Prophets at Ramah, in which we may ii. :ACi i germ of the un' /ersities of Christendom ; the life of li.i''d.'-".hp anc". risk in tne wilderness where David aged man 14). easure others ty of tribe aining years court, power which dom ; David HEROES. 71 gathered followers, not as a mere rebel against Saul, but as an independent chieftain, destined to be king, fighting Israel's foes, and having with him Abiathar, the High Priest, and Gad, the prophet of God ;— in all these he learned, above every other lesson, to know God, to trust Him wholly, and to commune with Him daily and hourly, "Servant of God " is the title given to him oftener than any other, which he shares with Moses and Joshua only of all Old Testament saints in the New Testament, the title in which S. Paul, the greatest of all the sons of Abraham, gloried. " The way of David " becomes as proverbial as " the way of Jeroboam " afterwards, and God, who rejected Saul, made with David an everlasting covenant (2 Sam. xxiii. 5). But, it may be said, surely the shortcomings of David were even more grievous than those of Saul. When his throne was established in peace and prosperity, despite the generosity and chivalry, the self-control and faithful friend- ship which had hitherto distinguished him, he was hurried away into shameful sin against God and man. It is not enough to reply that we cannot judge a Jewish king by a Christian standard, since his temptations were greater and his restraints fewer than ours. His crimes would, it is true, have been thought little of by contemporary monarchs, but then he had the law of Moses. To his disregard of one clear precept in it (Deut. xvii. 17) may be traced not only all the evils and troubles in his own family, but his successor's apostasy and the consequent disasters to his house and to Israel. Yes, like Saul, David sinned, and many men have been more blameless than he. Yet few have been so good, for notwithstanding his sin it remained the habit of his life to fulfil God's will from his heart (i Kings xv. 3-5 ; Acts xiii. 22), and therefore, unlike Saul's sins, his sins were followed by fullest acknow- ledgment, deepest contrition, and meekest endurance of the appointed chastisement. David's " heinous sin, hearty repentance, and heavy punishment " (to quote Fuller's expressive phrase) is recorded for our everlasting in- struction. From the record wc learn these three things. That the noblest intellectual gifts, the greatest religious privileges, the fullest knowledge of the truth, and the highest spiritual attainments cannot keep us from the most r- 'k m [r i lip. li Ji THIRD TERM. i !l I i' flagrant transi^jrcssions if we cease to depend humbly upon God and to use diligently all the means of grace (i Cor. X. 12), That repentance means much more than penance and much more than remorse, and that "the forgiveness of sins," in which we so continually profess our < belief, is free, final, and abundant (with Isa. xliii. 25 compare i Kings xiv. 7, 8). Lastly, we learn that in this life we must reap the natural consequences even of for- given sin. David's own words of self-vindication in Psalm vii. 3-5 were terribly taken in earnest, although death, the legal penalty he had incurred, was remitted ; and from the Psalms he wrote beyond Jordan, ten years later, we perceive that there is anguish worse than death ; it can never be with us as it would have been if we had not sinned. VI. The Coming Messiah. " How then dotJi David in the Spirit call Him Lord?" Matt. xxii. 41-5 (R.V.). Each of the "saviours" whom God gave Is' ael (Neh. ix. 27) was a more or Ir -s perfect Type of Him whom the angel named jESUS (Matt. i. 21). Gideon sets aside the crown, Jcphthah gives his dearest a willing sacrifice to free her country from a terrible obligation, Samson dies with the Philistines for Israel, Samuel prays without ceasing for his people. Rut " the '^ood things to come " were most distinctly foreshadowed in " the man whom God raised on high" (with 2 Sam. xxiii. 1 comp. Acts v. 31) as His Anointed. The whole history of David is a type of the militant kingdom of Christ, and all his utterances in the Psalms find their deepest and highest application as iiie utterances of Ms greater Son (Luke xxiv. 44, and P- 177)- That our Lord would spring out of Judah had been already foretold. This term we learn to add " Son of David" to "Son of Abraham" (Matt. i. i). Three Pre- dictions in the historical books give more definite shape than had been given heretofore to the hopes which reached their highest pitch just 1000 years after David. {ii) I Sam. ii. 10, which makes first mention of the Lord's Anointed (Luke ii. 26 ; Acts iv. 26, 27, R.V.). GOD'S REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO MAN. 73 {b) I Sam. ii. 35. The original allusion is to Zadok, whose descendants held the high-priesthood till the Fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, but it finds complete fulfilment in Christ (Heb. ii. 17). {c) 2 Sam. vii. 12-16; i Chron. xvii. 11-14. Here again the immediate reference is to Solomon, but even without David's own comments on the promise in 2 Sam. xxiii. 3-5, and in the Psalms, the words "for ever" show for the first time that the Messiah would not only be a King, but that He would be more than human (Isa. Iv. 3 ; Luke i. 31-3; Acts ii. 30, 31, xiii. 34; Heb. i. 5). This being so, we may sec in the " house for God's name " the earliest mention of the Church of Christ (i Tim. iii. 15 ; Heb. iii. 6). Henceforth there was an ever-growing expectation of a second David greater than the first (Ezek. xxxvii. 24, 25 ; Amos ix. 11). Vn. God's Revelation of Himself to Man, To the Patriarchs God was known as El Shaddai ; to Moses as Jehovah. Now in a fresh crisis of His people's history. He reveals Himself again by a new name, Jehovah Sabaoth (i Sam. i. 3, 11, xvii. 45), first publicly proclaimed by David on the day he brought up the Ark to Zion (2 Sam. vi. 2, 18, vii. 26; Psalm xxiv.). Sabaoth, like " host," is used both of the stars of the material heaven and of the angels of the invisible world, and this name means " Lord of Hosts or Armies," i.e., of all the intelligent creatures who perform the Divine will in heaven and earth (i Kings xxii. 19 ; Neh. ix. 6 ; Dan. iv. 35 ; Psalm ciii. 21 ; Matt. vi. 10 ; Luke ii. 13), and is translated in the Septuagint by a Greek word which in 2 Cor. vi. 18, and nine times in Revelation, is rendered " Almighty," but which should rather be rendered " All- sovereign." To the newly settled fabric of Church and State it was a pledge of victory and glory, and while it indirectly rebuked idolatrous worship of the host of heaven (Acts vii. 42), it answered to the wider range of vision opening on Israel with a new epoch of her civilisa- tion. Jehovah Sabaoth remained the chief name of God throughout the monarchical period. It occurs over 260 !l 1^1 i S ' '4' 1" '< --m \m 1^1 II ,}■' a; ^1 I 74 TH//^D TERM. times in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testa- ment (Rom. ix. 29 ; James v. 4), and is used to-day all over Christendom when " the holy Church throughout all the world " echoes the songs of heaven in her grandest hymn of praise. Observe how David's enumeration of the God of Israel, the Rock of Israel, and the Spirit of the Lord (2 Sam. xxiii. 2, 3) points on to future manifestation of the Three in One. VIII. Man's Relation to God in Worship. We have seen how the days when every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judg. xxi. 25 ; Deut. xii. 8, 28) ended in a corrupt priesthood, a desolate sanctuary, and a captive Ark. The Ark never returned to the dis- honoured Tabernacle in ruined Shiloh, but during the succeeding age of political change and religious confusion both were carried from place to place, and worship seems to have been offered at each. Meanwhile the people relapsed again and again into the two forms of idolatry explained last term, and the practice of various unauthor- ised superstitions prevailed (Judg. xviii. 24-7 ; i Sam. xv. 23, R.V., xix. 13). But at length God chose c place for His abode (i Chron. vxiii. 25,R.V. ; Psalm Ixviii. 16, Ixxviii. 6y, 68, Ixxxvii. 2, cxxxii. 13, 14), and it was the desire of David's heart there to build a House for Him who had so long been served in a roving tent. How David prepared for that House, and how Solomon reared it, we shall learn next term. IX. Questions. (See pp. 13, 18.) [Questions III., IV., V., VI., XV., XVI., XVII., XXV., and XXIX, ni.iy be answered with the help of any books. The other 23 questions should be answered with the help of A.V. and R.V. only.] I. " The Lord sent Jerubbaal and Jephthah and Samuel." Complete the quotation, and show in a few words for what purpose each was sent, and how he carried out that purpose. (6.) QUESTIONS. 75 XIX. Ihould and few Iricd II. Make a chronological table of the fifteen Judges, stating where they ruled, how long they ruled, and what they did for Israel. Which of them are commended for their faith in the New Testament ? (30.) III. At what times and in what ways was the judgment upon Eli's house completely fulfilled ? (5.) IV. Prove from Jeremiah and the Psalms that Shiloh was desolated after the capture of the Ark. (3.) V. Show without reference to the books bearing his name that Samuel was a prophet, acceptable to God, and a man of faith and prayer. (6.) VI. What do we know to the credit of one of Samuel's grandsons ? (4.) VII. Give examples of the vehement vows that were one characteristic of the age between Moses and David. (8.) VIII. Sketch briefly the history of Saul's persecution of David, and trace David's wanderings. (20.) IX. Why did David commit his parents to the King of Moab ? Did he keep the oath recorded in i Sam. xxiv. 21,22? (4.) X. Rehearse briefly the chief incidents in the career of Jonathan, and illustrate his faith, courage, patience, generosity, unselfishness, and piety. (15.) XI. How may we account for the conduct of the men of Jabesh Gilead to Saul, and for that of Joab to Abncr ? (4.) XII. Prove that each of the following tribes furnished Israel with at least one ruler between B.C. 1500 and B.C. 1000: — Levi. Judah, Zebulon, Issachar, Dan, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Benjamin. (12.) XIII. How often was David anointed? (2.) XIV. Give as full an account as you can of David's nephews, omitting Joab. (14.) XV. Which of Solomon's great-grandfathers is parti- cularly described in the Psalms ? (3.) XVI. Where is David called (i) a prophet, (2) a patriarch, (3) " David the King," (4) " a leader and com- mander," (5) "the man of God," (6) " the servant of God," (7) God's " firstborn," (8) God's " anointed," (9) " a man after God's own heart," (10) "one chosen out of the pecple," (11) "the sweet psalmist," (12) inventor of instru- ments of music, (13) "light or lamp of Israel," (14) father If SIM t 1 I ,! ( iH 76 THIIU) TERM. of the Messiah ? On what occasion did he wear the dress and perform the office of a priest ? (i6.) XVII. Find six New Testament references to David as inspired, and ten to him as the ancestor of the Messiah. On how many occasions was our Lord addressed as " Son of David " ? What events in David's Hfc are alluded to in the New Testament ? (22.) XVIII. What does "Samuel" mean? Show how the lives of Samuel and David illustrate the power of prayer. (15.) XIX. Consider David as a type of Christ in character and circumstances. (15.) XX. Briefly relate the history of the Ark of God from iJ.C. 1451 till it "had rest" in B.C. 1041. (15.) XXI. Trace the application of i Chron. xvi. 20-22 to Abraham, Jacob, David, and the Ark. (8.) XXII. " The Lord was with him." Find 14 passages in which this is said of David. (14.) XXIII. Is there any evidence that Absalom's effeminate vanity caused his death ? (2.) XXIV. Name three heroes who slew lions. (3.) XXV. Explain the Old Testament historical allusions in the following passages in the Psalms : — ii. 7, iv. 7, vii. 4, xi. 6, xxi. 3, li. II, Iv. 3, 12-14, 1'^- 6-9, Ixi. 2, Ixviii. 11, 29 R.V., Ixxviii. 60-68, ex. 4. (28.' XXVI. Show by New Testament quotations that the.se ten Psalms refer to Christ : — ii., viii., xvi., xxii., xxiv., xl., xli., Ixviii., Ixix., ex. (20.) XXVII. By whom and to whom was the oldest letter whose contents are on record written ? Who uttered the oldest parable, and who invented the oldest riddle extant ? To whom was the first temple mentioned in Scripture dedicated ? (4.) XXVIII. Name the first instance of a foreigner holding high office in Israe', and the first instance of a ruler who owed his elevation wholly to popular suffrage. (4.) XXIX. Illustrate Acts x. 35 by naming representatives of the nations whom -God bade Israel destroy or shun among the friends and followers of David. (8.) XXX. Where, when, by whom, and with what result were the following battles fought? — Harod, Oreb's Rock, r I S( fil QUFSTIONS. 77 K.'irkor, Arocr, Aphck, Ebcnczcr, Michmash, ITavil.-ih, Ephcs-D.'unmim, Gilboa. (40.) XXXI. What do you know of the following? — Ahitub, Chimham, Gaal, Hushai, Ichabod, Ittai, Merab, Purah, Shcba, Ziba, the Chcrcthitcs, and Pclcthitcs. (24.) XXXII. Give references for the following: — {a) "Thy people offer themselves willingly " ; {b) " I have looked upon My people " ; (c) "The Lord seeth not as man seeth " ; (d) " Who daily bearcth our burden " ; (c) " Go in this thy might " ; (J) " God is gone out before thee " ; (g-) " God is for me " ; (/i) " Them that honour Me I will honour " ; (/) " That they might set their hope in God " ; (/) " God was entreated of them because they put their trust in Him " ; (>(•) " I have no good beyond Thee " ; (/) " Thou knowest Thy servant"; (m) "vStrengthen me only this once"; («) " O that Thou wouldest keep me from evil ; (o) " Blessed be tlie Lord that hath kept back His .servant from evil " ; (/) " Thou art worth ten thousand of us " ; ( i:;. ii mm m IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) <- 1.0 I.I _|2£ |25 ■ii Hi 12.2 £ lit " Hi lit IL25 i 1.4 1.6 iffi- ■a ■':«: ^.^- PhotDgTdphic Sciences Corporation •N? \ ^^ .^ \\ rv ;\ <«^ 93 WIST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 FOURTH TERM. The Days of Solomon The Chosen Nation Centre of an Empire. The First Temple. B.C. 1018 — 915. 2 Sam. XXIII. 1-7, XXIV., i Kings I.— XVI. 28, i Chron. XXL— XXIX. 2 Chro7i. I.— XVI. Song of Songs, Proverbs, Ecclesiastcs, Psalms /., XXVI., XXVIII., XXX., XXXVI., XXXVII., XLIL, XLIIL, XLV., XLIX., L., LXXII., LXXIII., LXXVII., LXXXL, LXXXIL, LXXXIV, LXXXVI., LXXXVIIL, LXXXJX., XCI., CXI., CXIL, CXXVIL, CXXVIII., CXXXL, CXXXII., CXXXIII., CXXXIX., CXLV. (123 chapters.) "Blessed is the man . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord." — Psalm i. 2. 13th month (29). I Psaln^s XXXVI., XXXVII., CXXXIII. 2 Sam. XXIV. I Chron. XXL— XXIX. 22. Psalms XXVI., XXVIII., XXX., CXXXIX., CXXXL, LXXXVI., CXLV. 2 Sam. XXIII. 1-7. I Kings I.— V. I Chron. XXIX. 23-30. 2 Chron. I., II., Psalms LXXIL, XLV. 14th month (31). I Kings VI.— IX. 9. 2 Chron. HI.— VII. Psalms CXXXII., I., CXXVIL, CXXVIII., L., LXXXL, LXXVIL, LXXXIL, XLIL, XLIIL, LXXXIV. I Kings IX. 10 -X. 14th month Continued. 2 Chron. VIIL— IX. 28. The Song of Songs. iSth MONTH (31). Proverbs. 1 6th MONTH (32). I Kings XL 2 Chron. IX. 29-31. Ecclesiastes. Psalms LXXXVIIL, XLIX., LXXIII., CXI., CXIL, XCL, I Kings XIL 1-19. 2 Chron. X. 1 Kings XIL 20— XIV. 2 Chron. XL, XII. Psalm 1.XXXIX. I Kings XV. 1-8. 2 Chron. XIII. i Kings XV. 9-24. 2 Chron.. XIV.— XVL I Kings XV. 25— XVL 28. I. General Summary. SAUL had been little more than the pastoral chief of amal- gamated tribes, ruling Central Palestine only. David succeeded to a kingdom distracted by civil dissensions, 78 GhJSiERAL SUMMARY. 79 Imal- )avicl tions, without a capital, almost without in army, but loosely knit together, and everywhere surrounded by powerful and victorious enemies. He founded an hereditary monarchy, shaped its institutions, and left a compact and united state, not only independent but powerful, and rapidly rising to a prosperity that had every prospect of permanence. His kingdom became Solomon's empire, which extended over the whole territory promised to the Chosen Nation. For the first and last time it took its place among the great powers of the East, its history culminating just as Greek history was beginning. We may institute a threefold com- parison between this Hebrew golden age and England's golden age under Elizabeth and James I. {a) Politically. Just as the old world of the East and the new world of the West were thrown open to Elizabethan exploration, and the way was thus prepared for the " Greater Britain " of to-day ; so eastern Ophir and western Tarshish were sought out by Solomon's subjects, which resulted in a vigorous foreign policy, far-reaching com- mercial enterprise abroad, and wealth and splendour hitherto unknown at home. {b) Intellectually. Just as the widened Elizabethan horizon stimulated patriotism, and nourished our greatest English literature and earliest English research ; so Israel's enlarged knowledge, new sympathies, and grander ideals found expression in a profounder and more highly finished literature, whose finest specimens we still have, and in a new interest in botany and natural history, of which only the record survives, since it is not the object of Holy Writ to chronicle scientific discovery of Nature's wonders. {c) Religiously. Just as the outward ceremonial of our national worship was reconstructed in a more spiritual and less superstitious form in Elizabeth's days ; so Israel reared an abode for God as worthy as human skill and lavished wealth could make it, and Solomon uttered Israel's creed in its highest form at the dedication of this long-desired House. The main interest of this period, unlike that of the pre- ceding, is ecclesiastical and political rather than personal, and its history forms the most secular chapter of the sacred record. Because the glory of Solomon was after the fashion f I 8o FOURTH TERM. of this world it passed away (i Cor. vii. 31), and no story is more disappointing than the talc of how its fair promise was blighted. There are but three allusions to Solomon in the New Testament, and they are keys to his whole history. He attained much, yet he fell short of ^QriccXXon, politicaily, in spite of his splendour (Matt. vi. 29) ; intellectually, in spite of his wisdom (Matt. xii. 42) ; religiously, in spite of the noble fabric he reared (Acts vii. 47, 48). Judged by Dcut. xvii. 14-20, he violated every principle of the Hebrew Constitution ; and he left an insecure throne, a discontented people, and formidable enemies upon his frontiers. On the surface, the Disruption that took place imme- diately after his death was due to the thoughtless self-will of Rehoboam and the revolutionary ability of Jeroboam ; ultimately, it was to be traced to national luxury, pride, self- confidence, and godlessness ; also to Solomon's impoverish- ing lavishness ; Egypt's jealousy of Israel's prosperity ; and the revival of old tribal heartburnings as one result of David's sin (2 Sam. xx.). Rachel's children owned the most fertile tracts of Palestine ; Shechem and Shiloh, chief seats hitherto of secular and religious greatness ; and the historic cities of Jericho, Gilgal, Bethel, and Ranah. From them had sprung Gideon, Jephthah, Ehud, Jair, and Abdon, among the judges ; Deborah and (by birth though not descent) Samuel among the prophets ; Abimclech and Saul, the first kings ; Joshua, Jonathan, and Abner. So they had always been inclined to resent the domination of Judah ere they broke into open and final revolt. Hence- forth we deal with two struggling kingdoms, weak halves of what had once been a strong whole. The lesson plainly is that nations and individuals may miss an opportunity God will not give them again, if they reject His counsel for them (Luke vii. 30, R.V. ; Psalm Ixxxi. 13-16). '■■A- II. Books to be Read. (See "Oxford Helps," § v.) This term two-thirds of our reading is literature, and only one-third history. In contrast to our Third Term, we read a smaller number of chapters than the average, because that literature demands special care and thought. The ind wc luse BOOKS TO BE READ. 8i historical books we continue call for no further comment. For the thirty Psalms of this period, see p. 194. Three other works depict in a threefold philosophy of life, the development of Solomon's character and of the thought of his Ti^o.. The Song of Songs is pure poetry, idyllic or pastoral as regards its subject, and lyric and dramatic (though scarcely a drama) as regards its form. (If the composition of the Book of Job, the nearest approach to an epic in the Bible, is rightly referred to Solomon's reign, all the three great species of poetry are represented in this age.) The only survivor of his 1005 songs, doubtless the finest of them all, this Song pictures the brilliant promise of Solomon's youth. It evidently describes ideal human love, and its keynote is Love is strong, indestructible, and priceless (2 Cor. v. 14 ; Rom. viii. 35-7 ; i John iv. 10, 11). It has been variously explained, but the following summary of its purport is at once reasonable and widely accepted : — The scene of i. 2 — iii. 5, and of viii. 5-14, is laid in a wooded district of Northern Palestine, where Solomon is spending part of the summer in tents ; the scene of iii. 6 — viii. 4 is the royal palace at Jerusalem. There are two chief speakers and three choruses — viz., Shelomoh or Solomon (i Chron. xxii. 9), the King of Israel ; Shular.imith, a village maiden of Northern Palestine, whom he woos in the guise of a shepherd ; Chorus of young men, his companions (iii. 6-1 1); Chorus of virgin.s, her companions (i. 2-4, i. 8, i. II, V. 9, vi. I, vi. 10, vi. 13, vii. 1-5, viii. 5 a) ; Chorus of Shulammith's brothers (viii. 8, 9). The King's 13 speeches are the following: i. 9, 10, i. 15, i. 17, ii. 2, ii. 7, iii. 5, iv. 1-15, v. I, vi. 4-9, vii. 6-9, viii. 4, viii. 5 b, viii. 13. The rest is uttered by the Bride. The alternate speeches should be marked off before one reads the poem in the R.V., which gives each a separate paragraph. R.V. is to be preferred throughout for this book. First Canto. The King seeks and wins the Bride and brings her to Jerusalem (" My Beloved is mine," ii. 16). (se, yet prose of a highly poetical cast. A period of literary stagnancy succeeds. The reasons given for assigning the book to a later age than Solomon's do not amount to con- vincing proofs, so we act upon the time-honoured view that it represents the repentance of his sorrowful old age. " Many go through David's sins without his repentance, and Solomon's experiences without his conclusions, and these are the men who rail at both " {Ker). This saddest book of the Bible is often misunderstood by those who fail to perceive in it the utterances of two voices in a single soul. The lower voice is that of the man of the world, who tries every form of earthly pleasure, base and noble, and finds that none can satisfy the heart of man ; who goes the whole round of human speculation seeking to read the riddle of the world before he has been chastened by submission and elevated by trust in God. It is a voice of doubt, sinking into despair, and we have its keynote in the phrase Under the sun, which occurs here 29 times and nowhere else. The higher voice is that of a divinely taught man, who desires to teach others through his own painful experience. He cannot solve all the perplexities of life, but he can point out the path of true blessedness. Its keynote is God is in heaven, ruling the whole earth and rewarding those who serve Him. (i Cor. XV. 58). The sections of Ecclesiastes are : — {a) i., ii. The search after Happiness and its failure. {V) iii. I — vi. 9. Nature's harmony and man's discord. ic) vi. 10 — viii. 15. Life as a whole is unsatisfying, yet t shall be well with the godly. 84 FOURTH TERM. id) viii. i6 — xii. 14. The highest good attainable is being what God means us to be. Observe that in Proverbs "wisdom" means "piety" ; in Ecclesiastes " sagacity " and " know 'edge." III. Periods and Dates. The dates for these 103 years are those given in " Oxford Helps." Some good authorities make them one year later throughout. Henceforth a table of Reigns, which form most convenient landmarks, will be given each term for constant reference. Observe that the reign of David fills 93 chapters, that of Solomon 89 chapters ; also that the reigns of Saul (1096 — 1056), David (1056 — 10 '6), and Solomon (1016 — 976) each occupy 40 years ; and that Asa was contemporary with all the first seven Kings of Israel. (i) B.C. 1018 — 1004 (14 years). From the choice of a site for the Temple to its Dedication. The House of God that Solomon built, (a) 1018 — 1016. David's Preparation. Psalms xxxvi., xxxvii., cxxxiii, ; 2 Sam. xxiv. ; 1 Chron. xxi. — xxix. 22; Psalms xxvi., xxviii., xxx., cxxxix., cxxxi., Irxxvi., cxlv. ; 2 Sam. xxiii. 1-7. (d) 1016 — 1012. Solomon's Preparation. 1 Kings i.— V. ; 1 Chron. xxix. 23-30 ; 2 Chron. i., ii. ; Psalms Ixxii., xlv. (c) The Building and Dedication (1012 — 1004), 1 Kings vi. — ix. 9 ; 2 Chron. iii. — vii. ; Psalms oxxxii., i., cxxvii., cxxviii., 1., Ixxxi,, Ixxvii., Ixxxii., xlii., xliii., Ixxxiv. (2) B.C. 1004 — 976 (28 years). From the dedication of the Temple to the revolt of the Ten Tribes. T/ie Glory and Declension of Solomon. 1 Kings ix. 10 — X.; 2 Chron. viii. — ix. 28; Song of Songs; Proverbs; 1 Kings xi. ; 2 Chron. ix. 29-31; Ecclesiastes; Psalms Ixxxviii,, xlix., Ixxiii., cxi., cxii., xci. ; 1 Kings xii. 1-19 ; 2 Chron. x. (3) B.C. 976—955 (21 years). From the revolt of the Ten Tribes to the death of Jeroboam. Tke religious Schism and political Disruption. 1 Kings xii. 20 — GEOGRAPHY. 85 tvu., of The 10— brbs ; (alms xii. the tious JO— ziv. ; 2 Chron. xi., xii. ; Psalm Ixxxix. ; 1 Kings xv. 1-8 ; 2 Chron. xiii. (4) B.C. 955 — 91 5 (40 years). From the death of Jeroboam to the accessions of Jehoshaphat and Ahab. The Strife between Israel and Judah. 1 Kings xv. 9-24 ; 2 Chron. xiv. — xvi. ; 1 Kings xv. 25 — xvi. 28. Three Kings of Judah. Six Kings of Israel. Rehoboam, 976—959. Abijah, 959—956. Asa, 956—915. Jeroboam I., 976 — 955. Nadab, 955—953- Baasha, 953— 931. Elah, 931 — 929. Zimri, seven days. Omri, 929 — 917. IV. GEOGRAPflY. (Sec " Oxford Helps " ...aps VI., Vll., and IX., and § xxxiii.) About the middle of the mountain ridge, or rather, high uneven plateau, which traverses Palestine froni che Plain of Jezreel to the Desert of Paran, rise two hills, Zion on the west (2540 ft. above the sea), with the lower height of Acra or Millo to its north, and Moriah on the east (2435 ft.), with the lower height of Be/etha to its north. The Tyropaean Valley divides them. They form an almost impregnable natural fortress (2 Sam. v. 6, 7, R.V. margin ; Psalm cxxv. i), round three sides of which the deep ravines of Hinnom and Jehoshaphat or Kidron wind like a continuous natural fosse. Other mountains surround them, of which the chief is Olivet (2724 ft.), " the mount before Jerusalem " (i Kings xi. 7). The climate of this high region is more healthy, equable, and temperate than that of any other part of Palestine. Upon these twin hills, the " rock of the plain or table land " (Jer. xxi. 13), clusters the city of Jerusalem^ " beautiful in elevation " (Psalm xlviii.), which God chose for His abode. They mark its twofold character as a political centre from the time when David set up his throne on " Zion " (which means " the sunny mount "), and as a religious centre from the day the Temple rose on " Moriah " 86 FOUkTH TERM. (which means "the mount provided by Jehovah"). After tlic Disruption, and still more after the Babylonian Captivity, when little was left of corporate national life, it was Moriah rather than Zion that formed Israel's focus. Jerusalem at its largest in the days of Agrippa was rather more than four miles in circumference. If we set aside the probable but not certain identification of it with the Salem of Gen. xiv. i8, and the Moriah of Gen. xxii. 2, we find fir.st mention of it in Josh. xv. 8, and the first incident in its history was, like the last, a destructive siege (Judg. i. 8 ; Luke xix. 43, 44). In the sixteen centuries between its capture by Judah and its capture by I tdrian, it was besieged at least 25 times and twice razed to the ground. No other city has had such a fate. David chose it for his seat of government, as strong, central (Ezck. v. 5), brilliantly captured, and common property of Judah and Benjamin. Judah's capital henceforth, like Judah's dynasty, was un- changed. It surpassed every other city both in its glory and its humiliation. For ere human sin and Divine love found their lowest and highest exemplifications there (Rev. xi, 8) it had been at once the Holy City, Ariel (" the hearth of God," Isa. xxix. i, R.V.), and the unholy city, shrine of foul and horrid idols. The old Jebusite worships clung to its soil, and were never thoroughly rooted up. So at the base of Mount Zion, which has given a name to heaven (Heb. xii. 22), lay Gi-hinnom (in Greek, Gehenna), that defiled vaUey where ever-burning fires consumed the refuse of the city (Isa. xxx. 33, R.V. margin), whose name the Jews borrowed for hell (Mark ix. 43, R.V.). V. Heroes. Keynote, Solomon^ i Cor. i. 19, 20. A number of men of unusual power and influence for good or evil had made David's age, and he was greatest among the great. The calm prosperity of his latter days and of his son's reign moulded no such grand characters as those which had made the building of the Temple possible. Of the men who first worshipped in it, Solomon only stands out in bold relief during an age notable for its works rather than its heroes. No one occupies so large a HEROES. «7 hat use the space in .sacred history of whom we have so few personal details. He seems to have inherited the beauty and fascina- tion of both his parents, and some of his rare sagacity may be traced to Ahithophcl (2 Sam. xii. 24, xi. 3, xxiii. 34). His great intellectual powers were strenuously cultivated with a view to his filling the post of heir (i Kings i. 30) left vacant by Absalom's death when he was aoout ten years old. David had united the genius of a poet and the insight of a prophet with the prudence of a man of action. In Solomon we see a new intellectual type (i Kings ii. 6, 9, v. 7). He was the first of " the wise " of whom we often read hereafter (Prov. i. 6 ; Isa. xxix. 14 ; Jer. xviii. 18). The wisdom he sought and obtained of God was that of Ecclesi- astes rather than of Proverbs, and was displayed in the administration of justice (i Kings iii. 28 ; Prov. xxix. 4, 14, XXV. 5), and in ardent pursuit of knowledge (i Kings iv. 29-34). Finally, God was with him (i Kings i. 37, iii. 28 ; 1 Chron. xxii. 11, 16, xxviii. 20; 2 Chron. i. i), took him for His own son (2 Sam. vii. 14; i Chron. xvii. 13, xxii. 10, xxviii. 6), and gave him a great work to do. Such were the gifts and privileges of Solomon. Never had earthly glory and human wisdom a greater opportunity, never was their insufficiency for man's goodness and happi- ness more strikingly shown. He and his people instead of influencing their heathen neighbours were influenced by them. Like that other brilliant young man for whom Christ longed (Mark x. 21), Solomon loved the world more than he loved God. He knew the good, and chose the evil. He expounded a father's duties, and apparently spoiled his own son ; he painted ideal marriage (Prov. v. 18, 19), and crowded his harem with foreign women against whose wiles his wisdom was as powerless as Samson's strength (Neh. xiii. 26). He preached justice, yet practised oppression (i Kings xii. 4). He was sagacious and equit- able, yet he actually thought to thwart God's purposes by slaying his appointed successor. With one hand he reared the Temple of the God of Israel ; with the other, pursuing an unlawful, short-sighted, and disastrous policy of tolera- tion, he raised long-enduring altars (2 Kings xxiii. 13) for the shameful worship of the PhcEnician Ashtoreth, the cruel worship of the Ammonite Molech, and even for that worship 88 FOURTH TERM. of the Mo.'ibitc Chcmosh or n.i.ilpcor whose terrible punish- ment in the wilderness (Num. xxv.) ou^ht to have made its revival impossible (2 Cor. vi. 16). We will not add one to the divers speculations as to the final destiny of this man who sinned apiinst so much li'^ht, but we note that the utterances of his God-^iven wisdom are not shut out from the Book of God because his crime was as j^reat as his genius, nor was his dynasty supplanted because he had done his best to throw away a rare heritage of loyalty. Heir to a kingdom whose strength depended ujion its unity, and whose unity depended upon its faith, he had made shipwreck of both. VVe speak of the trial of adversity. It was prosperity which led even a David astray and which destroyed a Solomon (sec Ecclus. xlvii. 12-23). VI. The Coming Messiah. " One greater tJuiii the Teuiple is here. . . . A greater than Solomon is here!' — Matt. xii. 6, 42. As the militant kingdom of Christ in the present is typified by the reign of David, so the triumphant kingdom of Christ in the future is typified by the reign of Solomon (Isa. xi., xxxii. ; Rev. xix. 16), the peaceful kiiig whom God called His son, who ruled Israel, and extended his dominion over the heathen ; the wise prophet, who taught the fear of the Lord ; ihc priestly prince who offered prayer for his people, who entered the Temple Court with sacrifices (2 Chron. viii. 12, 13), and even burned incense in the Holy Place (i Kings ix. 25); who also performed the highest sacerdotal act in solemnly blessing the people (2 Chron. vi. 3). The Psalms which celebrate his glory are only entirely true of the one Son of David who fulfilled all the con- ditions of God's covenant with him (Luke i. 32), and so realised the ideal not realised by Solomon, and obtained God's infallible (Num. xxiii. 19) promises to David and his seed, which Psalm Ixxxix. reiterates, in order to point the mournful contrast between what might have been and what was. Of direct Prediction our period contains little. Under the secularising spell of Solomon's reign, Israel's great GOD'S REVELATION OF IflMSELF TO MAN. 89 Hope WIS in abeyance. The Jewish Talmud regarded the Son^ of Sonf^s as an allej^ory of the dcahnj^s of Jehovah with Israel, and Christian theology has from very early times found a key to it in Eph. v. 25-32, and expounded it of Christ as the Bndej^room of the Church (not of the individual soul, that is only the unscriptural fancy of un- wise mystics). While we learn from it what His love is, and what our devotion to Him should be, we must beware of fantastic application of details, for the colouring is local and Oriental throughout. Canto I. typifies His First Coming to dwell with us (Psalm cxxxvi. 23 ; 2 Chron. vi. 18 ; John i. 14) ; Canto H. typifies Hia Second Coming to take us to Himself when He has made our earth His (Heb. ix. 28 ; I Thess. iv. 17). The Rabbis referred Prov. x. 25 to the Messiah (Isa. xxviii. 16), and it is impossible not to sec ultimate reference to truths yet to be revealed in Prov. xxx. 4 (Col. i. 13-19; I Cor. i. 24 ; John i. 1-4), and in Prov. viii., which anticipates the doctrine of the Incarnation by teaching that the Wisdom of God dwelt with men (i Cor. i. 30; Col. ii. 3). hdcr Ircat VII. God's Revelation of Himself to Man. Jehovah, El Shaddai, and Jehovah Sabaoth had expressed God's Eternity, God's Omnipotence, and " the Majesty of His Glory." Solomon's Dedicatory Prayer is far in advance of its age in its intensely spiritual apprehension of His Infinitude and in placing Prayer above Sacrifice. The profounder thought of this period, ever looking within, recognising that the external things of life are not its most important things, and uttering itself in the Sapiental Books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and perhaps Job, found rest in apprehending God's Wisdom (Prov. viii.) and God's Holiness. He is first spoken of as the Holy One \i\ Job vi. 10; Prov. ix. io(R.V.), xxx. 3 (R.V.) ; Psalm Ixxvl:". 41, Ixxxix. 18 (the word used in Deut. xxxiii. 8 and Psalm xvi. 10 is different). This name, occurring very often in the prophets of later times, reminds us of that threefold assertion three times over of God's holiness, which may be directly connected with the doctrine of the Three in One (Psalm xcix. 3, 5, 9, R.V. ; Isa. vi. 3 ; Rev. iv. 8). 90 FOURTH TEJiM. VIII. Man's Relation to God in Worship. At Solomon's accession, Zion and Gibeon were both centres of national worship. This dual system ended when Solomon had spent 7^ years in carrying out the plan David received (as Moses received the plan of the Taber- nacle) from God Himself, His Temple only existed 34 years in its original splendour, but Israel's history ramifies from it as a centre henceforth. The boundary between Judah and Benjamin passed through it. So it belonged to no one tribe, but was for the whole nation forum, fortress, sanctuary, and university. Imagine a massive stone building about 45 ft. high, cased in cedar without, .^o that it resembled a log house, ind overlaid with gold within, so that it shone like the sun, in three divisions, {a) The Porch, 15 ft. deep and 180 ft. high, supported upon two pillars of richly ornamented capitals, and hung with shields (2 Chron. xxiii. 9). In every view of the Holy City, this must have been the most con- spicuous object, {b) The Holy Place (60 ft. by 30 ft.), where the priests ministered. It contained the Table and Altar of Incense, and was lighted by ten lamps. Round it clustered 30 small chambers in three stories, forming three terraces, and, seen from without, not unlike the side aisles of a church, (c) The Holy of Holies (30 ft. square), where only the high priest ministered. It contained the Ark with its guardian Cherubim, and was dark save for the Shechinah. Outside this structure was the Court (612 ft. square), where the people worshipped round the great Brazen Altar, which stood on the natural surface of the rof'k, once Araunah's threshing floor. The irregular mass of that rock may still be seen beneath the Kubbet es Sakhra (miscalled " the Mosque of Omar "), together with some of the mighty and highly finished masonry of Solomon's outer wall. Solomon's Temple differed (a) from the Tabernacle, for it exactly doubled all its dimensions, and was far more per- manent and splendid ; (/;) from Herod's Temple, whose area was 1000 ft. square, ii, being smaller and more primitive, and in having no separate courts fc Gentiles and for women ; (c) from Pagan Temples, in that it contained QUESTIONS. 91 for )er- lose lore land Ined no statue or sacred animal to represent the indwelling divinity ; (d) from Christian sanctuaries, in that it was smiller than many parish churches, in that its holiest place was at the west end, and in that it was intended only for the priests, and surrounded, not b> a quiet cloister, but by a court crowded with sacrificing priests, worshipping people, sheep, and oxen. Observe that when the externals of public worship were most sumptuous and imposing, the most flagrant example of apostasy in high places was given. The national unity so recently achieved has been broken up for ever. That portion which has Ephraim for its leader (Hosea xiii. i, R.V.) and Samaria for its capital has already departed from the true worship, and is ready to depart from the true faith. Its history v/ill be our chief subject next term, while Judah, its more faithful and longer-lived rival, will occupy us wholly during our Sixth Term. How the Ten Tribes difl"ered from the Two in character, position, and destiny must be our first consideration. IX. Questions. (See pp. 13, 18.) [Questions I., V., XV., XVII., XXI., XXIV., XXVII., and XXX. may be answered with the help of any books. ] I. How did David sin in numbering the people? (10.) II. Show that David and his people endured each of the calamities specified in i Chron. xxi. 12. (6.) III. {a) God loved Solomon ; (b) Solomon loved God ; (c) God loved Solomon's people ; {d) Solomon's people served God. Give 07te reference for each of these asser- tions. (4.) IV. Name the two tribes that furnished architects for the Tabernacle and the Temple. What allusions to the Tabernacle are there in the history of Solomon ? (6.) V. Draw a ground plan of Solomon's Temple. (15.) VI. Consider Solomon's Prayer of Dedication as a prophecy of Israel's future history, (to.) VII. What was the only recorded conquest of Solomon's reign ? What three incidents of Bathsheba's life are recorded in this term's reading? (4.) 92 FOURTH TERM. i, ii •t t. !ji VIII. Describe the condition of the original inhabitants of Palestine during Solomon's reign. (6.) IX. Give a brief account of the three occasions on which God spoke to Solomon. (6.) X. Consider Solomon as a type of Christ. (15.) XI. Does the name of God occur in the Song of Songs ? GxM^four New Testament references to justify the Christian allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs. (6.) XII. Illustrate by two examples from Scripture history the truth of each of the following sayings : — Prov. i. 7, i. 32, iii. 6, V. 22, ix. 8, x. 24, xi. 2, xi. 10, xi. 21, xii. 19, xiv. 32, XV. I. (24.) XIII. What may \v^e learn from Proverbs as to the right and as to wrong use of the lips ? Give twelve references on each sabject. (12.) XIV. Prove that the teaching of the Incarnate Wisdom of Goci >vas anticipated by the teaching of Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, by writing out short Gospel parallels to as many passages as you can in Prov. i. — ix. (30.) XV. Show that " Under the sun " is a key to Ecclesi- aste:., by proving from other passages of Scripture that the following statements are not absolutely true in thcm- .selves, but only relatively true from the speaker's point of viev/ : — Eccles. i. 4, i. 8, i. 9, 10, i. 15, ii. 1 1, ii. 16, iii. 19, vi. 8, viii. 1 5, ix. 5. (20.) XV r. Find nine allusions to a life beyond the grave in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Psalms read this term. (9.) XVn. Briefly explain the allusions or metaphors in the fdlowing passages: — i Kings i. 5 ; Cant. i. 5, ii. 5 ; Prov. iii. 2c>, XXV. u, 23 ; Eccles. xii. 6 ; Psalm xlii. i. (24.) XVIII. For each of the following Psalms give two references to Proverbs, Job, or Ecclesiastes, tracing the resemblance between the Psalter and the Sapiental Books : — i., xxxvii., xlix., 1., Ixxiii., Ixxxviii., xci., cxi., cxii., cxxxix. (20.) XIX. How often does " vexation of spirit " occur in Ecclesiastes ? How docs R.V. render it ? (4.) XX. What aliasion'can you find in the Psalter to the office of the Korahit'^s described in i Chron. xxvi. 12-19? (2.) XXI. Point out the probable allusions to contemporary 19. ve in (9.) the rov. two the mtal cxi., ir in rary QUESTIONS. 93 or earlier history in Psalm Ixxii. 8, xlv. I2, cxxxii. 6, Ixxxi. 5, y. Describe the probable occasion of Psalm Ixxxix. (lo.) XXII. What relation was Rehoboam's favourite wife to him? What do you know about her? (5.) XXIII. What historical associations guided Jeroboam in choosing Bethel and Dan for religious centres? (10.) XXIV. Show clearly what constituted "the sin of Jero- boam, the son of Nebat." (9.) XXV. What king was named as a reformer 300 years before he lived ? Mention another monarch named in prophecy long before he was born. (2.) XXVI. Where, when, by whom, and with what result were the battles of Zemaraim and Mareshah fought ? (8.) XXVII. What do you know of the following places? — Cabul, Ezion-geber, Gezer, Gibbethon, Ophir, Sheba, Tadmor, Tarshish, Tirzah. (27.) XXVIII. What do you know of he following people? — Adoram, Asaph, Ethan, Hadad, Jonathan son of Abiathar, Lemuel, Rezon, Tibni. (16.) XXIX. Make a complete list of the prophets who were sent to Israel and Judah during this period. (14.) XXX. What allusion can you find in the prophetical books to {a) David, {b) Solomon's molten sea, {c) the schismatic worship at Bethel, {d) the enmity between Ephraim and Judah, {e) Omri ? (10.) XXXI. Make a list of the names of God in the Psalms of this period. (30.) XXXII. Give references for the following: — {a) "A bag of gems in a heap of stones." (d) " The dance of Mahanaim." (c) " Rest on every side." (d) " The lamp of the wicked is sin." (e) " They walk to and fro in darkness." ^ f) " Ex- tortion maketh a wise man foolish." (g-) " He that uttereth a slander is a fool." (k) " He abhorreth not evil." (i) " The way of him that is laden with guilt is e/ceeding crooked." (j) " Death shall be their shepherd." (^') " Weary not thyself to be rich."' (/) " Follow after faithfulness." (m) " Let thy garments be always white." (n) " Of thine own have we given Thee." {0) " In all labour there is profit." (/"> " Your work shall be rewarded." (g) " I was by Him as a master workman." (r) " He shall have pity 94 FOURTH TERM. on the poor and needy." (j) " Then they will be thy servants for ever." (/) " A man is tried by his praise." («) " It was brought about of God." {v) " The early rain covereth it with blessings." {w) " God seeketh again that which is driven away." (x) " Whoso offereth the sacrifice of' thanksgiving glorifieth Me." (j/) " She laugheth at the time to come." (^) " God hath set eternity in their heart." (26.) For Second Series of Questions, see p. 309. \\ FIFTH TERM. The Days of the Prophets. Decline and Fall OF the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes. B.C. 915— 697. 1 Kings XVI. 2Q—XXIL, 2 Kings I.—XX, 2 Chron. XVIL— XXXII. Psalms XXXIII, XLVI., XLVII, XLVIII, LXV., LXVL, LXVII., LXXV., LXXVL, LXXX., LXXXIII., LXXXVIL Jonah. Amos. Hosea. Joel. Isaiah I.— XXXIX. Micah. Nahum, (133 chapters^ "Should not a people seek unto their God? ... To the law and to the testimony ! " — Isa. viii. 19, 20. 17th MONTH (34). 1 Kings XVI, 29— XXII. 49. 2 Chron. XVIL— XX. Psalms XXXIIL, LXXXIII., XLVL, XLVIL, XLVIII. I Kings XXII. 50-53. 2 Kings I.— VIII. 24. 2 Chron. XXI. 2 Kings VIII. 25— IX. 2 Chron. XXII. 1-9. 2 Kings X., XI., 2 Chron. XXII. 10— XXIIl. 2 Kings XII. — XIII. 9. 2 Chron. XXIV. 2 Kings XIII. 10— XIV. 2 Chron. XXV. 18th MONTH (33). Jonah. Amos. Hosea I. — IV. 2 Kings XV I-12. 2 Chron. XXVI. Joel. Isa. VI. 2 Kings XV. 13-38. 2 Chron. XXVII. Isa. II.— V. 2 Kings XVI. 2 Chron. XXVIII. Micah I., II. Isa. I. 19th MONTH (33). Isa. VII.— X. 4, XIV. 28-32. XXVIIL 2 Kings XVIL, XVIIL 9-12. Hosea V.— XIV. Psalm LXXX. 2 Kings XVIIL 1-8. 2 Chron. XXIX.— XXXL Micah III. — VII. 2 Kings XVIIL 13. 2 Chroa. XXXII. I. Isa. XXXVI. I, X. 5— XIL 2 Kings XX. i-ii. 2 Chron. XXXII. 24. Isa. XXXVIIL 2 Kings XX. 12-19. 2 Chron. XXXIl. 13, 25-31. Isa. XXXIX. PsalmLXXXVlL Isa. XIII.— XIV. 27. 20th MONTH (33). Isa. XV.— XXVII. Nahum. 2 Kings XVTIL 14— XIX., XX. 20,21. 2 Chron. XXXIL 2-22, 32, 33. Isa. XXXVI. 2-22, XXXVIL, XXIX.— XXXV. Psalms LXXV., LXXVL, LXV., LXVL.LXVII I. General Summary. LOOKING at the extent and fertility of its territory and its material resources, the kingdom of the Ten Tribes promised to be greater and more prosperous than 95 •' 96 FIFTH TERM. that of the Two, which had only half its population. Looking at guarantees for political endurance and religious welfare, Judah had the capital chosen for God's abode (Psalm Ixxxvii. 1-3), the Temple with the visible sign of His presence (i Kings viii. 11), the Priests and Levites (2 Chron. xi. 13, 14), the accumulated treasure of Solomon, and sovereigns reigning by Divine right. Nineteen kings, of nine different families, ruled Israel during 255 years. Nineteen kings, all of the House of David, ruled Judah during 388 years. The turbulent usurpers who seized Israel's crown never gained that stable power which came naturally to the monarchs of a long hereditary line, associated with Divine promises of permanence and glory. The very smallncss of Judah's kingdom strengthened it by concentrating its interests about one dynasty and one city. Not one of the kings who received Israel's allegiance did right in the eyes of the Lord ; and since no worthy people is ever ruled for centuries by unworthy kings, this was an effect quite as much as a cause of the estrangement from God which proved that nation's destruction (Hos. xiii. 9, R.V.). Seven of Judah's kings could be commended for piety, and though their people in her last evil days sinned as deeply against the First Commandment as Israel had done, throughout her history they kept the Second Com- mandment better (see p. 55). We must sometimes follow the common usage of calling the Northern Kingdom " Israel " (i Kings xii. 20), which strictly includes too much ; as " Ephraim," a frequent name for it in later prophets, strictly includes too little. The popular use of the term " Jew.s," i.e., men c*^ Judah (a term which first occurs in 2 Kings xvi. 6), for thv. whole nation before the Captivity, is misleading. The first half-century of Israel's history was occupied by a desultory war with Judah, in which Judah not only gained the day, but weakened her neighbour until their powers were about equal (Prov. xviii. 19). This struggle was followed by an alliance as fatal to Judah as the war had been to Israel, and by a century of peace till Amaziah's rash vanity provoked fresh strife, in which Judah was worsted. The Syrian wars, with their varied fortune, form a back- GENERAL SUMMARY. 97 ground to the history of the 40 years of Omri's dynasty, Israel's king being practically Bcnhadad's vassal at one time (i Kings xx. 2, 3, 34). The vigorous rule of Jehu's house for i he it III. Periods and Date.s. We divide these 218 years into four periods, of which the last two overlap by five years that we may have a complete view of Hezekiah's reign. Isa. xxxviii. 6, and 2 Kings XX. 13, compared with 2 Kings xviii. 15, arc among .several proofs that the true order of its events is given below. Observe that Chronicles emphasizes («), Ir.aiah (c) and {d), and Kings {e). Assyrian records show that the first of the two Assyrian I04 FIFTH TERM. invasions, that in 713, took place in the reign of Sargon (Isa. XX. i). Sc;inacherib may have acted as his Hcutcnant in it. Our information about the Kings of Assyria is still fragmentary, and all their dates as given below arc more or less uncertain. All in italics are named in Scrip- ture, throughout. (0 The tabic of reigns should be before the student B.C. 915 — 883 (32 years). From the accessions of Jehoshaphat and Ahab to those of Athaliah and Jehu. Ths Mission of ElijaJi and Elisha. First conflict with Baalism. 1 Kings xvi. 29 — xxii. 49; 2 Chron. xvii. — xx. ; Psahus xxxiii., Ixxxiii., xlvi., xlvii., xlviii. ; 1 Kings xxii. 60-53 ; 2 Kings i. — viii. 24 ; 2 Chron. xxi. ; 2 Kings viii. 25 — ix. ; 2 Chron. xxii. 1-9. (2) B.C. 883 — 770 (113 years). From the accessions of Athaliah and Jehu to the death of Zechariah. (The readings carry us to 756 in the history of Judah.) EpJiraim's best days tmdcr Jehu's House. Second conflict with Baalism. 2 Kings x., xi. ; 2 Chron. xxii. 10 — xxiii. ; 2 Kings xii. — xiii. 9 ; 2 Chron. xxiv. ; 2 Kings xiii. 10 — xiv. ; 2 Chron. xxv. ; Jonah ; Amos ; Hosea i. — iv. ; 2 Kings xv. 1-12 ; 2 Chron. xxvi. ; Joel ; Isa. vi. (3) 77*^ — 721 (49 years). From the death of Zechariah to the Fall of Samaria. Ephrainis Decline and De- struction. 2 Kings XV. 13-38 ; 2 Chron. xxvii. ; Isa. ii. — V. ; 2 Kings xvi. ; 2 Chron. xxviii. ; Micah i., ii. ; Isa. i., vii. — x. 4, xiv. 28-32, xxviii. ; 2 Kings xvlL., xviii. 9-12 ; Hosea v. — Jv. ; Psalm Ixxx. (4) B.C. 726 — 697 (29 years). From the accession to the death of Hezekiah. Judalis Reformation and Deliver- ance under her greatest King. {a) The great Passover (726 — 713). 2 Kings xviii. 1-8 ; 2 Chron. xxix., xxx., xxxi. ; Micah iii. — viii. (^) The Invasion of Sargon (713). 2 Kings xviii. 13 ; 2 Chron. xxxii. 1 ; Isa. xxxvi. 1, x. 5 — xii. (/) Hczekiah's sickness (712). 2 Kings xx. 1-11; 2 Chron. xxxii. 24 ; Isa. xxxviii. PERIODS AND DATES. 105 {d) The Babylonian Embassy (71 2— 701). 2 Kings XX. 12-19 ; 2 Ghron. xxxii. 23, 25-31 ; Isa. xxxix. ; Psalm Ixxxvii. ; Isa. xiii. — xiv. 27, xv.— xxiii. (Oracles concerning tenof Judali's neighbours.) Isa. xxiv. — xxvii. (Prophecy concerning the whole earth.) Nahum. {e) The Invasion of Sennacherib (701 — 697). 2 Kings xviii. 14 — xix., xx. 20, 21; 2 Chron. xxxii. 2-22, 32, 33; Isa. xxxvi. 2-22, xxxvii., xxix.— XXXV. (Prophecies during Inva.'^ion.) Psahns Ixxv., Ixxvi., Ixv.. Ixvi., Ixvii. Ten Sovereigns of Judah. Jehoshaphat Jehoram Ahaziah Athaliah Joash . , Arnaziah Uzziah . . . Jotham ... Ahaz Hezekiah 915—889 893-885 885—883 883-877 877-838 838—808 808—756 756—742 742 — 726 726 — 697 Thirteen Kings of Israel. Ahab Ahaziah Toram ... Jehu Jehoahaz Jehoash Jeroboam 11. 917—898. 898—897. 897—883. 883-855. 855-838- 838-823. 823-782. Itiierre^ntim. Zechariah Shallum Menahem Pekahiah Pekah ... 771—770. One month. 770 — 761. 761—759. 759—739- Interregnum. Hoshea 730—721. The last nine Kings of Assyria. Pul Tiglath-Pileser II. Shabnaneser IV. Sargon Senfiacherib Esarhaddon I. Assur-bani-pal Assur-etil-ilani-ukinni. Sin-sarra-iskun (or Saracus). 770—? 745—727 727 — 722 722—705 705—681 681—668 67c — 630? io5 FIFTH TFRM. IV. GEOGRArHY. (Sec " Oxford Helps," Maps vii., vili., and IX.) The kingdom of Israel was 9375 square miles in extent, or a little less than Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cumberland. Jeroboam II. extended it from Hamath on the north to the Valley of Willows, between Moab and Edom, on the south. When it broke up, large portions to the cast and south-cast of Jordan fell to Uzziah (2 Chron. xxvi. 10). The kingdom of Judah was 3435 square miles in extent, or a little less than Northumberlan-J, Durham, and West- moreland. Besides Benjamin, South Dan and Simeon were reckoned in it, but early sank into insignificance. Samaria \\'as the only city in Palestine created, like Alexandria and Constantinople, by a monarch for his capital. It clustered on the side of a long flat-topped hill, rising in the centre of a wide basin-shaped valley, encircled by the mountains of Ephraim. Rather more than 20 mi'.cs to the north-east, on a hill gently swelling from the plain of Esdraclon (the Greek form of " Jezreel "), beautiful with trees and springs, stood /^,::/Yr/, "the Versailles of Israel's Paris." With Jonah we embark for the first time in sacred history on the Mediterranean, and cross the desert to the banks of the Tigris. Assyria was the oldest of those great empires of history of which the British Empire is the youngest. At its largest, its sway stretched from Ethiopia to India, and it extended from the Halys and Mediter- ranean on the west to the Caspian Sea and the great Salt Desert on the cast, from Armenia on the north to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Desert on the south. It included peoples as diverse as those in the modern Turkish Empire, and the Assyrians themselves were an amalgam of three races, yellow-skinned Shemites, dark-skinned Cushites, and fair-skinned Chaldeans of Mongolian origin Nineveh, once the chief centre of commerce, and the largest and richest city in the world, was so utterly destroyed that only shapeless mounds of earth and rubbish marked its site until Botta, Layard, and others lifted its shroud of sand between 40 and 50 years ago. Since then Sir Henry Rawlinson and other archaeologists, unriddling the secret of the HEROES. 107 Keynotes cuneiform character, have read on countless clay tablets the story of its remote past. V. Heroes. 'Elijah, Acts xxvii. 23. Elisha, Gal. vi. 10. JchosJiaphaty i Peter ii. 13, 14. Jchoiada, Mai. ii. 7. HezekicJi, Psalm cxlvi. 3-5. Jsaiak, Gal. i. 11, 12. The Kingdom of the Ten Tribes produced the grandest character of this age, the greatest prophet since Moses. Elijah, like Mclchizcdek, is " without father, without mother, without genealogy." The Rabbis said that in him the uncompromising Phinehas returned to earth, and for centuries the Jews believed that he would come again to restore and relieve (John i. 21). Improbable conjecture makes him a native of Thi.sbc in Naphtali. He was a sojourner am.ong the brave but rude shepherds of Gilcad, which was to Jerusalem and Samaria what the Scottish Highlands were to the Lowlands a century ago. Some five or six times he appeared among men, disappearing as suddenly. Bold and swift as David's Gaditc allies (i Chron. xii. 8), stern and lofty, of fiery zeal and unflinch- ing courage, he stood forth as a witness (a) For the dis- established worship of Jehovah ; his name means " Jehovah is my God." {b) For the national unity, apparently shattered for ever (i Kings xviii. 31). {c) For the moral law (i Kings xxi. 20) trampled under foot by the weak apostate Ahab, who, not wholly without conscience but wholly without resolution, became a tool in the hands of that most relentless and unscrupulous of women who was the very embodiment of lawless paganism and the first persecutor of the Church. The characteristic words after- wards adopted by his successor (i Kings xvii. i, xviii. 15 ; 2 Kings iii. 14, v. 16 ; Luke xxi. 36) give us the secret of his power ; and his .short, urgent petitions afford glimpses into a life of unbroken communion with God. Lest, how- ever, we should feel only the distant awe with which he inspired his contemporaries when he came among them io8 FIFTH TERM. in the all-constraining influence of a divinely guided life (i Kings xviii. 7), we arc allowed to hear that one un- answered prayer for death, wrung from him when, after facing Ahab and 850 false prophets, he fled from Jezebel, mind and body alike over-wrought (i Kings xix. 3, R.V, margin). Round him the prophets rallied as they had not rallied since Samuel ; and our next hero is his successor, a contrast to him at every point. Elijah, the prophet of the desert, living with God apart from men, the solitary champion of truth (i Kings xviii. 22, xix. 10, 14) "ordained for reproofs, whose word burned like a lamp" (Ecclus. xlviii. i-ii), who came to denounce and destroy, to challenge the world's standards of thought and action, to rebuke boldly and directly vain-glorious luxury and popular sin, was the type of Christ's Forerunner, the predecessor of the hermit, the monk, the ascetic, and the Puritan. Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah in Manassch, giving up considerable wealth to be the servant of God (i Kings xix. 19), dwelling in cities among men, the life and soul of the patriotic party (as Isaiah and Micah were later), the friend and counsellor and father (2 Kings vi. 21, xiii. 14) of all men, ever ready to comfort the sorrowful and succour the poor, is the type of Christ Himself (Matt. xi. 18, 19; Acts x, 38), and thus, though less in personal grandeur, he is greater because more Chiist-like in spirit than Elijah. He was the first Hebrew prophet who became an oracle and monitor of other nations. His whole ministry covers 65 years, and of its last 50 years there is little record. Miracles, mainly of mercy, are more prominent in it than in that of Elijah. No rxpress teaching of either is handed down, but their successor Jonah begins the line of literary prophets. Judah's heroes this term are two kings, one priest, and one prophet. JcJiosJiapJiat is the most like David in character of all her kings (2 Chron. xvii. 3-5 ; i Kings xxii. 43). His zeal for God's law, his personal piety, his righteous administrat'on and vigorous foreign policy raised his kingdom to the highest point reached since the Disruption. Jchoiada, who was born in the reign of Solomon and lived to see eight sovereigns of Judah and eleven sovereigns of Israel, reared again the stem of HEROES. 109 heir and in the of and of David, when it had been cut down to the very roots. In his person the priesthood took a more important place than it had ever done before, so he is reckoned its second as Aaron was its first founder. The power thus gained it never wholly lost afterwards. Public-spirited integrity was the most noteworthy characteristic of this faithful guardian of Church and State. Hcz:kiah, whose character is thrown into strong relief by those of his father and his son, is more unreservedly commended than any other king of Judah, and no xing had a more lofty sense of his mission. His reign and its literature fills "jy chapters of the Bible. Possibly grandson of one prophet (2 Chron. xxvi. 5 ; Isa. viii. 2 ; 2 Kings xviii. 2) and son-in-law of another (tradition makes Hcphzibal' isaiah's daughter, 2 Kings xxi. I ; Isa. Ixii. 4), he reigned during a period of the strongest prophetic influence since Elijah. No sickness is so pathetically recorded in Scripture as that which threatened to leave Judah without an heir to the throne and defence- less before the fell swoop of the Assyrian. In Hezekiah's great reformation he cared equally for the restoration of true worship and the preservation of true doctrine (2 Chron. xxix. 25 ; Prov. xxv. i), and sought, like David, to gather all Israel about him in th*^ bond of a common faith (2 Chron. xxx. i). With one hand he cultivated the arts of peace, and was, like David, a poet ; with the other he strengthened Judah for war, and, like David, defeated on their own ground the Philistines, who in the days of Ahaz had again become formidable foes (2 Chron. xxviii. 18 ; 2 Kings xviii. 8). God delivered him from the power which defied all human might, and since he guided the Jews through that great crisis of their history which determined whether they would trust in God or in man, to him Judah owed in no small degree the con- tinuance of her existence for another century. But by his side throughout there stood his trusted kinsman Isaiah, the first Jewish prophet of whom we have personal details. Save the facts named in 2 Chron. xxvi. 22, xxxii. 20, 32, and the tradition that he was sawn asunder under Manasseh (suffering martyrdom for an alleged contra- diction between Exod. xxxiii. 20 and Isa. vi. i ; see Heb. xi. ly), all we know about him is from his own book. i ! ^1 no FIFTH TERM. The turning-point of his life was the vision described in Isa. vi. Henceforth the great powers of intellect, imagina- tion, enthusiasm, and will of the young descendant of David were consecrated to the service of God and his country. For 60 years he guided the affairs of the nation, and he has since influenced Christendom more than any other Old Testament author with the possible exception of David. The abrupt and impassioned utterances of his predecessors gave place to his magnificent rhythm and sustained grandeur of expression, while at the same time his inspired genius uttered loftiest thoughts with a direct- ness and simplicity that provoked the satire of the inflated rhetoricians of the age (Isa. xxviii. 9-13), but won then as now many an ear and heart to attend to the things of God. VI. The Coming Messiah. " TJiis is of a tiutJi tJic PropJictP " Isaiah . . . saza His glory and spake of Hun." — John vi. 14, xii. 41. Three successive prophets present to us one complete Type of Christ. The two greatest Old Testament miracles are the raising of the poor Gentile's son by Elijah, and the raising of the rich Israelite's son by I'llisha. The story of Elijah's Assumption is the grandest Old Testament asser- tion that for the righteous departure from this life is gain, and though Elislia died like other men, "after his death (to quote the Apocrypha) his body prophesied" (Ecclus. xlviii. 13). These miracles were typical of that moral resur- rection from Israel's darkest days which made her pros- perity under Jeroboam II. possible. But also, together with the story oi Jonah, whose meaning Christ Himself expounded, they foreshadow the ascension, resuryection^ and death of Him who is the Life (i Cor. xv. 22). Types we have often met with already, but (always excepting the Psalms) Predictions have been few, brief, and isolated hitherto. Now in the Days of the Prophets, when the hopes first raised by the Hebrew monarchy are fast waning, we discern, according to the fine metaphor of Delitzsch, one star of promise describing a path from above downwards — " Jehovah will come to save His people and THE COMING MESSIAH. Ill in pys rief, lets, lare Ir of love ind reign for ever " ; and another describing a path from below upwards — " The anointed Son of David, greater than David himseir, will reign over a regenerate Israel." The first promise found a preliminary fulfilment in the Restoration as we shall sec, the second in Hczekiah. But we cannot examine them carefully without perceiving that they ulti- mately involve a more personal coming and a more extended reign of the Lord, and that the kingdom of David's Son would be more than earthly and human. The kingship no less than the priesthood of the Old Covenant made nothing perfect. It is when these two stars merge in one light that the twilight of the Old Testament vanishes before the glorious day of the Gospel. There are two more allusions to the Promise to David in the historical books, 2 Kings viii. 19; 2 Chron. xxi. 7. Nahum is the only one of the 16 prophetical books that contains no clear Messianic reference. The following summary of those in this term's Prophets are explained (like those in the Psalms) by New Testament references, (i) Joel ii. 28-32; Acts ii. 16-21 ; Rom. x. 12, 13. (2) Joel iii. 2 ; Matt. xxv. 31-46. (3) Amos viii. 9, 10 ; Luke xxiii, 44, 45, 48. (4) Amos ix. 11-15 ; Acts xv. 15-18. (5) Hosea iii. 5 ; Matt. xxi. 9 ; John i. 49. (6) Hosea vi. 2 ; i Cor. xv. 4 ; Matt. xx. 17-19. (7) Hosea xi. i ; Matt. ii. 1 5, 20. (8) Hosea xiii. 14 ; Heb. ii. 14 ; i Cor. xv. 54. (9) Micah iv. 1-7 ; Luke i. 33 ; xxiv. 47 ; Rev. xxi. 24. (10) Micah V. i ; Matt, xxvii. 30. (11) Micah V. 2-5 ; Matt. ii. i, 5, 6 ; Eph. ii. 14. (12) Micah vii. 20; Luke i. 68-75. Isaiah has been called "the Gospel Fiophet" and "the Fifth Evangelist." Six of the 16 prophecies in chapters i. — xxxix. are directly quoted in the New Testament. (13) Isa. ii. 2-4 ; Rev. xi. 15. (14) Isa. iv. 2-6 ; Matt. xi. 28 ; Rev. vii. 15 (R.V.). (15) Isa. vi. 13 ; Gal. iii. 16. (16) Isa. vii. 14-16 ; Matt. i. 22, 23 ; John iv. 34. (17) Isa. viii. 14 ; Matt. xxi. 42-4 ; i Peter ii. 8. (18) Isa. ix. 1-7; Matt. iv. 14-16; Luke ii. 11, 32; Heb. i. 8. 112 FIFTH TERM. (19) Isa. X. 27 ; Acts x, 38. (20) Isa, xi., xii. ; Acts xiii. 22, 23 ; Rom. xv. 12. (21) Isa. xiii. 12 ; i Peter ii. 7. (22) Isa. xvi. 5 ; Luke i. 32. (23) Isa. xxiv. 23 ; Matt. xix. 28. (24) Isa. XXV. 6-8 ; i Cor. xv. 54-7 ; Rev. xxi. 4. (25) Isa. xxviii. 16 ; Matt. xxi. 42 ; Rom. ix. 32, x. 1 1. (26) Isa. xxix. 18-24 ; Luke vii. 22 : John. iii. 2. (27) Isa. xxxii. ; Rom. xiv. 17 ; Acts ii. (28) Isa. XXXV, ; Matt. xi. 5 ; John xiv. 6, 'ill r Mi VII. God's Revelation of Himself to Man. On the spot where Moses had been taught "the Old Testament Creed " (Exod. xxxiv. 5-7) Elijah received a still higbi^; revelation of God. More than in the wind which drovc the Red Sea before it ; more than in the earthquake which .shattered the walls of Jericho ; more than in the answering fire on Mount Carmel, God is to be heard in the voice of His Word (John i. 14, 18), and " declares His almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity." Elijah was also taught then to dis- criminate from that Israel of the Called who had aposta- ti.sed, an Israel of the Chosen (Matt. xxii. 16), who held and preserved invincible truth. This doctrine of a Rem- nant (Rom. xi. 1-5), of an Invisible Church, first enunciated to him, was further developed by Isaiah (Isa. vi. 13, x. 20, 21, xi. II, 16, xxviii. 5, Ixv. 8, 9), and so passed into the New Testament. Isaiah also was privileged to Iiear (as S. John heard 850 years later) echoes of the adoration offered by the unfallen company of heaven to the Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity. (With Isa. vi. i, 3, 8, com- pare John xii. 36, 41 ; Acts xxviii. 25, 26 ; Rev. iv.). Each of the Prophets conveys some characteristic revela- tion. " God of Heaven," which became common when the Restoration brought Jew and Gentile into a new relation, is anticipated once in Jonah. " Jehovah," the special name under which God made a covenant with Israel, occurs 33 times in /oi-rs brief exhortation to return to Him. "God of Hosts" occurs nine times in Amos, and only once else- where, i.e., in the contemporary Psalm Ixxx. In Hosea (the MAN'S RELATION TO GOD IN WORSHIP. "3 Old Testament exemplification of the wondrous Divine yearning over man which culminates in Luke xix. 41) the Lord not only declares Himself the Saviour and invites Israel to call Him "my God," but in the term " Ishi" uses a yet tenderer metaphor, occurring again in Jeremiah's last plead- ings with Judah (Hos. ii. 16; Jer. iii. 14). The God of Vengeance, described in Micali i. 2-4, and NaJium i. 2-6, may be contrasted with the God of Nature, described in Amos iv. 13, v. 8, 9, ix. 6. Isaiah contains at least 40 names of God, some peculiar to himself, some having striking New Testament parallels. He speaks of " the Holy One " about 30 times, and of the " Lord of Hosts " about twice as often. im- ited 21, I the (as don the VHL Man's Relation to God in Worship. From the earliest times there had been High Places all over the land of Israel : that is, altars on v/hich oil, honey, flour, incense, and sometimes animals were offered to God. They were sanctioned by the Patriarchs, by Samuel and Elijah, and by some of the most pious kinjs, notwithstand- ing Lev. xvii. 8, 9, and Deut. xii. 10-27 J but at last Hezekiah removed them, for exactly the same reason that our Re- formers swept away many mediaeval usages, originally devout in intention, but inseparably connected at length with error and superstition. Two of these High Places became centres of idolatrous and schismatic worship of the True God under Jeroboam I., who led Ephraim at its worst, as Joshua had led it at its best. His great sin led to the far greater sin of Ahab, who disestablished the worship of Jehovah in favour of the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth or Astarte, Phoenician gods whose counterparts are easily recognised in every other heathen system. Solomon had already reared altars to them, and their worship is named among the sins of Israel's last days 2 King xvii. 16. (Asherah denotes Ashtoreth's wooden symbol.) But only for one evil period of 34 years (917 — 883) did Ephraim offend in Baal (Hos. xiii. i) to the extent of constituting Baalism the state religion. Jehu, who combined the furious zeal of the fanatic with the cold-hearted remorselessness of the scheming politician, made a partial reformation, but there was no one to re-construct the true worship 8 •1 iii 114 FIFTH TFRM. when he had destroyed the false, and neither he nor any one of tlic son of Ncbat's successors was free from liis sin of idolatry. Not arbitrary favour for Judah, but Israel's persistent sin accounts for the different fates of the two kintjdonris (Hos. xi. 12). ^ In Judah we read of seven Apostasies of kin^; and people, and of four Reformations, the full consideration of which we reserve for next term. Israel's day of grace is gone, her vine is "burned with fire and cut down." Will Judah, newly reformed and delivered, learn once for all the lessons of her sister's fall ? IX. QUKSTIONS. (See pp. 13, 18.) [Questions XV., XXII., XXIII., XXIV., and XXV. may be answered with the help of .iny books.] I. Name the successive capitals of Northern Palestine from 1426 to 721. How many capitals had Judah? (8.) II. Mention the exact duration of the drought foretold in I Kings xvii. i. (2.) III. Illustrate i Kings xviii. 24 by quoting 12 previous occasions on which God " answered by fire." (12.) IV. Can you name any of thj 7000 spoken of in i Kings xix. 18? (4.) V. Had Elijah any message for the House of David ? (2.) VI. Briefly discuss the character of Elijah, and point out some striking parallels between his life and those of Moses and our Lord. (15.) VII. To how many kings living in her own lifetime was Jezebel nearly related? Was Ahab's marriage to her sinful ? (6.) VIII. "The Syrian prophet said to the King of Israel, Ms thy servant a dog that he .should do this thing?'" Criticise the historical accuracy of this illustration in the speech of an English Cabinet Minister. (3.) IX. Make i list of Elisha's miracles, naming for each a parallel or a contrast among the miracles wrought by our Lord. Explain 2 Kings ii. 9. (16.) X. What noted preacher of " total abstinence " assisted a royal reformer ? (2.) .ings ;timc her each our listed QUESTIONS. "5 XI. Name the only subject buried in the royal sepulchre at Jerusalem, givin<^ the reason for this special honour. (2.) XII. Two calamities not alluded to in Kings or Chronicles took place in Uzziah's reign. One is described in a contemporary prophet, the other is mentioned by two contemporary prophets, and by a prophet 250 years later. What were they? (4.) XIII. When and how did the King of Israel try to put a usurper on the throne of David ? (2.) XIV. {(i) How many kings of Israel were there? {!>) Which had the longest and which had the shortest reign ? U) Which founded the longest-lived dynasty "^ {(i) Which took Jerusalem ? {e) Of which only is the expression "all his might" used? (/) Which were wounded by Syrian bowmen ? (^) Which died violent deaths? {h) Name the best, the worst, and the greatest of them all. (16.) XV. Explain the following allusions in Hosca : — {a) " The blood of Jczreel " ; (/?) " The valley of Achor " ; (c) " Their staff declareth " ; (d) " The new moon shall devour them " ; (c) " A cake not turned " ; (/) "The wickedness of Samaria" ; (^') " The calves of Bethaven " ; (//) " The calves of our lips " ; (/) " Memphis shall bury them." (18.) XVI. What allusions are there in the prophets to the fall of Samaria ? (6.) XVII. Make a complete list of the prophets sent to Israel and Judah between 915 and 697. (12.) XVIII. Point out the probable allusions to contem- porary or earlier history in Psalms xlviii. 7, Ixvi. 6, Ixxvi. 5, 1 1, Ixxxiii. 5, 9, II, Ixxxvii. 2. What occasioned Psalms xlvi., xlvii., and xlviii. ? Explain by Pentateuch references Psalm Ixxx. i, 2, 8. (14.) XIX. Draw out a genealogical table of the Kings of Judah down to Hezekiah, showing their descent from Solomon and relation to one another. (12.) XX. Make a list of the chief names of God in the prophets of this period. (32.) XXI. What allusions do they contain to (a) the Garden of Eden, (d) Adam, (c) Abraham, (d) the destruction of the Cities of the Plain, (e) Jacob, (/) Moses, (^4') Miriam, (/;) Israel's sin at Shittim, (z) Israel's idolatry in the Ii6 FIFTH TERM. !l vvtIdLMiicss, {f) luloni's conduct to Isr.u-I, (/•) the hatllr of Ik'thhoroii (/) (jidcoii's victories? (15.) XXII. What d(jcs Isaiah mean by (r/) "th-* crown of pride," {b) "the valley of vision," ic) "the rod of God's an^jjer," (Ji) " the land of the rustlin<; of win^s," (<•) " the wilderness of the sea," (/) " the isles of the sea " ? (6.) XXIII. Explain briefly the following passages in Isaiah: —{(i) vi, 13, (/O vii. 16, (t) xiv. \2,{d) xvi. i,(f) xxii. 22, (./) XXX. 7, {g) XXX. 33, (/f) xxxiii. 14, (/) xxxiv. 16, (J) xxxviii. 12. (30.) XXIV. Explain fully Nahum's reference to "populous No." (4.) XXV. Give as many instances as you can of worship beinjj; offered at High IMace.s. (15.) XXVI. Under what names and how often is the Tentateuch referred to in Chronicles ? What was the first instance after the days of Moses of God's commands being committed to writing and regularly taught? (12.) XXVII. What took place at Jerusalem on the first Sabbath day of which we have a detailed account ? (2.) XXVIII. What do you know of the following? — Amaziah the priest, Azariah the priest, Bidkar, Gomer, Jehosheba, Mattan, Shear-ja.shub, Shebna, Zedckiah son of Chenaanah, Zichri. (20.) XXIX. Where, when, by whom, and with what results were the following battles of this period fought? — Aphek, Ramoth-Gilcad, Tckoa, Desert of Edom, Zair, Valley of Salt, Beth-shcmesh, Gaza. (32.) XXX. How many New Testament allusions can you find to Elijah, Elisha, Jezebel, Uzziah, Zechariah son of Jehoiada, Jonah, and Joel ? How many New Testament quotations are there from Amos, Hosea, Micah, and Isaiah i. — xxxix. ? (40.) XXXI. Illustrate the following passages from the history of this period : — James v. 10 ; 2 Cor. vii. 10 ; 2 Cor. vi. 14-16; Phil. iv. 17 ; Matt. x. 41. (10.) XXXII. Give references for the following: — {a) "The fjricvousncss of war." (/;) " That sing idle songs." {c) " Swift to do righteousness." (c/) " Sudden destruction upon the strong." ie) "The twilight that I desired." (/) "The king's son shall reign." (^g) " Reproaches shall not depart." I IS ,? ri. QUESTIONS. 117 (//) " There shall be no ^loom to her that was in an^^uish." (/) " Her rulers dearly love shame." {J) " I Icr pillars shall be broken in pieces." {k) " The man of God wept." (/) " Take your pleasure and be blind." (///) "Flis sin is laid up in store." (//) "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy ? " {o) " Let the feasts come round." (/>) " Answer him not." {q) " 1 fear the Lord from my youth." {r) " He Thou my surety." {s) Our eyes are upon Thee." (/) " I writ(^ My law in ten thousand precepts." {ii) " The word of the Lord is with him." (?') " ICvery work that he be<»an he did with all his heart." {10) "Thy worthies are at rest." (.1") "He departed without beinj^ desired." {y) "They became abominable like that which they loved." {a) " When he was stroni; his heart was lifted up." (26.) For Second Scries of Questions, sec p. 309 SIXTH TERM. The Days of Jeremiah. Decline and Fall of the Kingdom of Judah. B.C. 697—588. 2 Kings XXL— XXV., 2 Chron. XXXIII.— XXXVI. 21. Psalms XUV, LXXI, LXXIV., LXXIX., CXXIX, CXXX. IsaiaL XL.— LXVL, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Ezekicl 1. — XXIV. Lamentations, Obadiah. {lyn chapters^ "All My words . . . receive in thine heart and hear with thine ears." — EzEK. iii. 10. 2ist MONTH (33). 2 Kings XXI. 2 Chron. XXXIII. 2 Kings XXII.— XXIII. 30. 2 Chron. }iXXIV., XXXV. Zephaniah. Jer. I.— VI. 2 Kings XXIII. 31-7. 2 Chron. XXXVI. 1-5. Tsalm XLIV. Habakkuk. Jer. XXV L 1-7. VH.-X., XXVI. 8-24, XL, XIL, XIV.-XX. 22nd MONTH (32). Jer. XXII., XXIH. 2 Kings XXIV. 1-17. 2 Chron. XXXVI. 6-10. Psalm LXXI. Jer. XLVL— XLIX. 3^, XXXV., XXV., XXXVL, XLV., XIII. 2 Kings XXIV. 18-20. 2 Chron. XXXVI. II. 16. Jer. XXIV., XXIX., XLIX. 34-9, XXVIL, XXVIIL, L., LI. Ezek. I.— XIL 23rd MONTH (33). r.zek. XIII.— XXIII. 2 Kings XXV. 2 Chron. XXXVL 17. 21. Jer. XXI. Ezek. XXIV. Jer. XXXIV., XXXVII. , xxxiL, XXX., xxxr., XXXIII.,XXXVIH., XXXIX. 15-18. I -14. LII. Psalms LXXIV., LXXIX. Lamenta- tions. Obadiah. Jer. XL., XLL 24th MONTH (32). Jer. XLII— XLIV. Psal-ns CXXX., CXXIX. Isaiah XL. —LXVL I. General Summary. OUR story of the newly delivered jQwish Kingdom during its last century is one of unfulfilled promise and lost opportunity, similar to the story of ancient Israel in 118 GENERAL SUMMARY. It9 bns 'iv. tsc in Psalm cvi. 12, 13. It is among those deep disappointments of history that demand most thoughtful consideration. The fifteen years of life for which Hezekiah prayed gave him an heir to whom the throne of David owed its destruction. Of the incidents of Manasseh's long reign we know little ; though the Prophets supply many details about its idolatries. But its terrible result is plainly stated in Jer. xv. 4, and Jewish tradition places Manasseh beside Jeroboam and Ahab as having no part in the life to come. " Too late " was written on all Josiah's gallant efforts ; and the four weak and wicked kings (Isa. iii. 4, R.V.) who followed him were mere puppets (three of them actual nominees) of the two powers who acted like two huge beasts of prey, seeking to devour each other, but turning aside from time to time to snatch at the frightened creature who crosses their path. Foolish Judah clung still to the friendship of Kgypt. In vain her later prophets denounced this treacherous alliance as Isaiah had done. His words (Isa. xxx. 7, R.V.) were justified when Pharaoh's feint of raising the siege of Jeru- salem ended in retirement, without a battle, leaving it to its fate (Jer. xxxvii.). Yet, when all was over, they fled from their own ruin to Egypt, in spite of the warning that in so doing they would only share her ruin (Jer. xlvi. 17). For Egypt had now a mightier rival than even Assyria, and Judah, after defying Sennacherib, could only quail before Nebuchadnezzar. Nineveh had been taken in 606 (625 according to some authorities), and on its downfall rose the Babylonian Empire which overthrew, and the Persian Empire which restored the Jewish State. Isaiah had strenuously preached resistance tp Assyria. Jeremiah as strenuously, but less successfully, advocated submission to Babylon as the foreordained conqueror of Judah. Now, as Israel represents the Church, Dr. Arnold takes Egypt to represent in its milder, and Babylon in its darker aspect, that world in which the Church has to bear her witness and do her work. If it is so, we may find this lesson here. Dallying with the world's better side ends in destruc- tion by its worse side. They will never win it for God who give it the trust and affection due to Him alone (James iv. 4). ' Jeremiah's policy may symbolise the teach- ing of Christ, and His practice in refusing to head a nation 120 SIXTH TERM. \ t of insurgents (Matt. v. 39, xxv.. 52 ; John vi. 15, xviii. 36; 2 Cor. X. 4). Ob.servc how the Prophets fill in the historian's brief outline. They show us Jchoiakim alarmed for once and proclaiming a fast before the Lord. But when God's, gracious response is brought to him, sitting in that luxurious palace whose builders are wrongfully left unpaid, he defies and destroys the written Word, and, in vain dependence on his Egyptian suzerain, meets vith sceptical effrontery the predictions about the Babylonian host that was actually approaching his gates ; and so we understand why he is omitted from S. Matthew's genealogy of Christ (Rev. xxii. 19), together with the wicked son of Jezebel's daughter (Psalm cix. 14), and Joash and Amaziah, who began well but ended ill (Ezek. xviii. 24). The prophets show us also the crooked intrigues of Zedekiah, and his treacherous folly in making compacts on all sides only to break them. Such were the last of that grand line of kings whose crown for four and a half centuries had passed, in a way unparalleled in any other dynasty, from father to son in regular succession (i Chron. iii. 10-16), without one civil war or one interregnum, save Athaliah's brief usurpation (i Kings XV. 4). Moreover, for 250 out of 388 years Judah had been ruled by pious sovereigns, and had enjoyed unusual peace and prosperty. Ere we leave these kings of long ago I may help the reader to think of them as more than mere names, by suggesting, from the most familiar pages of modern history, one or two monarchs whom they resembled. Compare for instance, David with Robert Bruce, Solomon with Henry VIII., Rehoboam with Ethelred the Unready (that is, "deaf to good advice"), Asa with Edward III., Jehoshaphat with David I., Joash with Richard II., Amaziah with James IV., Hezekiah with Alfred the Great, Josiah with Edward VI., and Jehoiakim with Charles II. From the three sieges of Jerusalem, which Nebuchad- nezzar took three times, date three periods of seventy years or ten Sabbatical years, which it is helpful to discriminate. {(i) 606 — 536. The Servitude. In 605 King Jehoiakim seems to have been released and suffered to remain on his GENERAL SUMMARY. \1\ throne as a tribute ry prince, but much of the treasure of the Temple, scvertl members of the royal family, and perhaps others, were carried off. (^) 599 — 529- The Exile. In 599 King Jeconiah, with the royal family, the princes, nobles, artificers, and warriors, and much Temple and palace treasure, followed them to Babylon. (J) 588—518. The Desolations. In 588 Judah's Cap- tivity was completed by the deportation of King Zedekiah, the rest of his people, and the remaining spoil of the Temple. A wretched handful was left in Palestine, who might, however, have become the nucleus for a regathering of Israel without break on their own soil. For they were taught by Jeremiah, and ruled by the able and generous Gedaliah. The reckless violence of a scheming Jewish prince broke up this little community, and the Jews rightly regarded Gedaliah's assassination as a calamity great enough to be annually commemorated by a fast (Zech. vii. 5, viii. 19). And now the House of God has been sacked ; the City of God has been burned ; His " Anointed " is a mutilated prisoner in a foreign land ; prince and priest have fallen by the sword, and Judah is numbered among the nations no longer. Successive troops of captives have been driven by weary marches into the Eastern land, whence their father Abraham was called out. Others have found their way as fugitives to the Western land, whence God brought out their ancestors. A yet greater v;atastrophe calls forth their loudest lamentations, one which involves all the rest. Jehovah, who once chose them and crowned them with blessings, has now, after long provocation, cast them out from His Presen< e (2 Kings xxiv. 20, xiii. 23 ; Jer. xxiii. 39). That they can ever be a nation again is contrary to all proba- bility and all analogy. Against it is the might of the vastest empire the world has ever seen, ruled by its greatest conqueror. Against it is the fact that their own wilfulness has rendered their destruction even more complete than he meant it to be ; and that their moral and spiritual degrada- tion seems past hope. But for it there is the promise of a faithful God. 122 SIXTH TERM. II. Books to ije Read. (See " Oxford Helps," § v.) This term more than half our period is represented by only two chapters. For the Prophets supply ]Hths of our reading, and they were silent during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon. Of the six prophets who form the second group, we read all save Daniel, whose book stands it idway between the second and third group, as it stands midway between history and prophecy. For the six Psalms of this period, see p. 203. Isaiah, Pari /., is a mixture of narrative and prediction : its pulses throb with all the hopes and fears, the terror and defiance and exultation of the changeful age in which it was written. Isaiah, Part II, is one majestic and sym- metrical poem in three cantos — viz., (rt) xl. — xlviii. Concerning Cyrus and the restoration of Israel as a nation, (J)) xlix. — Ivii. Concerning the Servant of JCx.ovah and the salvation of many nations through Him. {c) Iviii. — Ixvi. Concerning Zion's Light, through which all nations shall see God's glory and worship Him. Ruined Judah and desolate Jerusalem form the fore- ground of its picture, though Isaiah cannot long have survived the able and prosperous King who reconstifuted the state and fortified the capital. All the 66 chapters of Isaiah were universally ascribed to one author until some recent critics, observing this difference in their points of view, put forth the theory that while the son of Amoz wrote the first Book of Denunciation and Woe, the second Book of Consolation was penned 160 years later, by a rr.'^mber of the school of prophets which Isaiah founded (Isa. viii. 16), the whole being called after his name, as the whole Psalter is called after David. Were this proved, we might still receive Isa. xl. — Ixvi. as part of the Canon. But it is not proved. The literary argument from alleged diffeicnces of vocabulary and style is far from conclusive, and though prophets generally speak of the future revealed to them from the standpoint of the present, there is no in- superable difficulty in conceiving that Isaiah may have been BOOKS TO BE READ. 123 I way forc- havo ifutcd :rs of some Its of lITIOZ ;cond |by a mdcd IS the , wc But legcd [isivc, :alcd in- Ibccn inspired vividly to imagine and depict the Captivity he had already foretold. Eleven New Testament quotations from chaps, xl. — Ixvi. are directly referred to Isaiah, and no other prophet capable of penning thoughts so high and deep has ever been heard of. Their author was an incomparably greater man than any man of the Post-Exilian age ; and had he been contemporary with Ezra, it is inconceivable that his name and personality should have been wholly forgotten. Minute study of Jeremiah also indicates that Isa. xl. — Ixvi. had been already written. But we recognise it as a legacy to posterity rather than a gift to contemporaries (Isa. xlviii. 4-7), and therefore read it in connexion with the later age for which it was no longer a sealed book (Dan. xii. 9). Observe its frequent reference to "all nations," and these recurring notes in its glorious song, " Hearken," " Listen," " Keep silence," " Cry," " Awake," " Remember," " Fear not." Zcphaniah, son of Cushi, and perhaps great-great-grand- son of King Hezckiah. (630 — 610. Concerning Judah. In the reign of Josiah.) His keynote is The pure worship required by God (Matt. iv. 10 ; Phil. iii. 3), and he predicts judgments and blessings for Gentiles as well as Jews. Habakkuk, probably a Levite if not a priest, and one of the Temple choir. (609—599? Concerning Judah. In the reign of Jehoiakim?) His keynote is Life by faith (Gal. ii. 20 ; Heb. xi. 6), and the perplexities which he faces and solves are those of the individual soul rather than of the nation. His Prayer, which recalls the finest lyrics of earlier times and expands Isa. 1. 10, is considered by Bishop Lowth " one of the most perfect specimens of the Hebrew ode." It is preceded by a dialogue between the Prophet (i. 2-4, i. 12 — ii. i) and the Lord (i. 5-1 1, ii. 2-20), concerning the approach- ing Chaldean invasion. That is blended here with the Scythian invasion about the middle of the seventh century B.C., which was the earliest recorded movement behind their mountain barrier in Asia of those Northern nomadic tribes who ultimately swept away the Roman Empire and built up modern Europe on its ruins. (See p. 140, and comp. Zeph. ii. 4-6 ; Jer. i. 13-15, vi. 3-5 ; Col. iii. 11.) Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah (perhaps the high priest of 2 Chron. xxxiv.), a priest of Anathoth. (627 — 588. Concern- ing Judah. In the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and mr r i 1 124 SIXTH TERM. Zcdckiah.) Continue in sin, and it will prove its own punish- ment ; Confess, and ye shall find mercy is his keynote (Rom. vi. 21 ; I John i. 9). Like Nehemian's history, his prophecy is interspersed with short and urgent prayers, and charac- teristic expressions recur again and again, such as, " Lord, Thou knovvest " (xxix. 23, R.V.), " I swear by Myself," "The days come," "Not a full end." Twice (xxv. 11, xxix. 10) he clearly foretells the exact duration of the Captivity which Isaiah first announced (Dan. ix. 2). Isaiah soars like an eagle to behold with undimmed eye the source of light. Jeremiah sits in shadow like a dove to mourn over his fallen people with infinite pathos and tenderness. " Jeremiah is my favourite book now. It has taught mc more than tongue can tell," writes Kingsley in 1850. Obadiali. (588. Concerning Edom. In the reign of Zcdekiah.) Its resemblance to Jer. xlix. 7-22 ; Lam. iv. 21 ; Ezek. xxxv. ; and Psalm cxxxvii. 7 suggests that it is of the same period, and most probably it was written shortly before Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Edom in 583. Judgment without mercy to the merciless is its keynote (James ii. 13). "It expresses/' says Stanley, " the Divine malediction on the sin most difficult to be forgiven, the desertion of kinsmen by kinsmen, of friends by friends, the readiness to take advantage of the weaker side, hounding on the victorious party, and standing on the other side in the day of the sorest need." (Comp. Isa. xxxiv. 5.) Ecekiel, son of Buzi, a priest carried captive in 599, who prophesied by the banks of the Chebar in Northern Meso- potamia, 200 miles from Babylon, and who is not mentioned outside his own book. (594 — 574. Concer ;ng Judah. In the reign of Zcdekiah.) Tradition says that he was put to death by his fellow-exiles for rebuking their idolatry. His differs from former prophetical books in being chronological throughout, for in him the author preponderates over the seer, the poet, and the statesman. His prose is, however, always poetical, and the Dirge of the Kings (xix.), the Lay of the Sword (xxi. 8-17), the Dirge of Tyre (xxvii., xxviii.), and the Dirge of Egypt (xxxi., xxxii.) are actual poetry. His keynote is Knowledge of God {a) by Israel (Hos. ii. 20 ; John iv. 22), (p) by the Gentiles (Isa. xxvi. 9 ; Acts xi. 18 ; BOOKS TO BE READ. 125 who [eso- lioned In mtto His )gical ir the l^ever, Lay [viii.), petry. 20 ; 18: Matt. viii. 11); and he develops more fully the doctrine, found in germ in Jeremiah, of the responsibility of the individual soul .' s separate from the collective nation. The independence of man from man is brought out by such a calamity as the fall of Jerusalem, and no prophet; teaches this great moral lesson so simply. Observe these recurring phrases : " A rebellious house," " I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it," " I will recompense the sinner's way on his own head." Of the three parts into which Ezekiel's book falls, we read this term only Part I. (chaps, i. — xxiv.), Exhortations to Repentance before the Fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel has been called " the Old Testament Apocalypse," and the parallels between it and Revelation are very close and numerous. Miss E. S. Elliott's " Prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel " (Morgan & Scott, 6d.) is a helpful analysis of both books. The Lamentations of Jeremiah, sixth and latest poetical book of the Old Testament, was written, perhaps at Mizpah immediately after the Fall of Jerusalem. It consists of four independent acrostics (see p. 176), and a concluding poem, not acrostic, and may be thus divided : — L {a) The Prophet's Lament, (i. i-ii.) Lament of Jerusalem, (i. 11-22.) Prophet's Lament, (ii. 1-19.) Lament of Jerusalem, (ii. 20-22.) Prophet's Personal Sorrow, (iii.) Prophet's Lament, (iv. 1-16.) People's Lament, (iv. 17-21.) Prophet's Consolation, (iv. 22.) People's Prayer, (v.) Its keynote is God chastens unwillingly and only for ou> good (2 Cor. vii. 10 ; Heb. xii. 5-1 1). In Jewish synagogues it is still recited every year on the anniversary of the Temple's destruction. " Never did city suffer a more miserable fate, never was ruined city lamented in language so exquisitely pathetic" {Milman). It is probable that Jeremiah also wrote several of those Psalms of the Cap- tivity which succeed, at the interval of a century, the jubilant Psalms of Hezekiah's reign. Their long wail best e>:presses the woe of Judah's fall. {b) The II. {a) The \b) The III. The IV. (a) The {b) The {c) The V. The / Ii 126 SIXTH TERM. III. Periods and Dates. I follow the common chronolocjy as usual, but some c^ood authorities extend this period of 109 years to 112 years by placing Manassch's accession in 698 and the Fall of Jerusalem in 5.86. (i) P.c. O97 — 640 (57 years). From the death of Heze- kiah to the ac'cssion of Josiah. Judah's Utidovij^ through Mai ssch. 2 Kings xxi. ; 2 Chron. xxxiii. (2) B.C. 640 — 606 (^34 years). From Josiah's accession to the First Siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. JudaJCs last true King, and First Subjection, to Egypt. 2 Kings xxii. — xxiii. 30 ; 2 Chron. xxxiv,, XXXV. ; Zephaniah ; Jer. i. — vi. (Commission, Expos- tulation, and Vision of coming invasion). 2 Kings xxiii. 31-7; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 1-5; Psalm xliv.; Habakkuk; Jer. xxvi. 1-7, vii.— x., xxvi. 8-24 (Denunciation in the Temple Court). Jer. xi., xii. (Prophetic Tour and Conspiracy against Jeremiah). Jer. xiv. — xvii. (the Drought ; approaching Fall and Restoration ; the Sabbath). Jer. xviii. — xx. (the Potter's House and Valley of Hinnom). Jer. xxii., xxiii. (the Three Kings, the Rulers, and Prophets). (3) i'..c. 606 — 599 (7 years). From the First Siege to the Second Capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Judaic s Second Subjection, to Babylon. 2 Kings xxiv. 1-17 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 6-10 ; Psalm Ixxi. ; Jer. xlvi. — xlix. 33 (concerning the Nations). Jer. xxxv. (the Rechabites). Jer. xxv. (the Cup of God's fury). Jer. xxxvi., xlv. (Jeremiah's Roll). Jer. xiii. (the Journey to Euphrates). (4) B.C. 599 — 588 (11 years). From the Second Capture of Jerusalem to its Third Capture and the Flight into Egypt. JudalCs Destruction and Dispersion. 2 Kings xxiv. 18-20 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 11-16. 598. Jer. xxiv., xxix., xlix. 34-9 (Those taken and those left. Elam). 595. Jer. xxvii., xxviii. (the Yokes. Hananiah). 1., li. (Babylon). 594. Ezek. i. — vii. (opening Visions and Signs) GEOGRAPHY, "7 'light those liah). 593. Ezek. viii. — xix. (Judah's Apostasy and its result). 592. Ezek. XX. — xxiii. (against the Elders, the Land, the Princes, the King, and the Capital). 590. 2 Kings XXV. ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 17-21 ; Jer. xxi, (Zcdekiah's Inquiry just before the siege began). Ezek. xxiv. (Prediction of Jerusalem's Fall). Jer. xxxiv., xxxvii. (last Offer of Mercy during a pause in the siege). 589. Jer. xxxii., xxx., xxxi., xxxiii. (Promise of Restoration). 588. Jer. xxxviii., xxxix. 15-18 (Imprisonment and Rescue of Jeremiah). Jer. xxxix. 1-14 (the Fall of Jeru- salem). Jer. lii. (Supplement to Jeremiah, by another hand probably). Psalms hxiv., Ixxix ; Lamentations ; Obadiah ; Jer. xl. — xliv. (the Flight to Egypt). Psalms exxx., exxix. (the Sorrow). Isa. xl.— Ixvi. (the Hope). Seven Kings of JndaJi. Manasseh Amon Josiah Jeh'"ahaz ... Jehoiakim Jeconiah ... Zedekiah ... IV. Geography. (See " Oxford Helps," Maps iv., vil., VIII., and IX.) Next term we shall follow Judah into the land of her captivity. We now leave her disobedient remnant, in defiance of a very ancient command (Deut. xvii. 16), and fulfilment of as ancient a prophecy (Deut. xxviii. 68), forcing one of Israel's last great prophets back into the Egypt from which their first great prophet had brought them out (Jer. xliii. 7). We infer from Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Josephus that most of these fugitives perished there, or were carried to Babylon later ; but from that day to this, a Jewish colony has existed in Egypt. 250 years after- wards Alexandria became a centre of Judaism only second in importance to Jerusalem (Acts ii. 10, xviii. 24). The site of TahpanheSy clearly an important frontier town (Jer. ii. 16, xliii., xlvi. 14; Ezek. xxx. i8), whither the fugitives 697 — 642. 642 — 640. 640 — 609. Three months. 609—599. Three months. 599—588. 198 SIXTH TERM. I ' went, lonfT bjifflcd inquirers. Within the last year or two, Dr. Minders Petric has found, in the lonely desert sands near the mud swamp of Pelusium, below a lofty mound lonj^ known in the Arab speech as *' The Castle of the Jew's daughter," the palace of Pharaoh Hophra, and the court- yard where Jeremiah hid " in mortar in the brickwork " the symbols of Nebuchadnezzar's capture of this building. Its newly uncovered ruins tell plainly that th? fiery destruction predicted for it by the prophet came to pass. V. Heroes. Keynotes V^^^ ^^^V^""' ^^- \Jerciniahy 2 Cor. xn. 9. fosiah was the only one of Judah's last seven kings who served the Lord. We blame Joash and Manasseh the more because they were impious in spite of their circum- stances. We admire Josiah the more because amid utterly corrupt princes, priests, prophets, and people, he resolved to serve God himself, and to do all he could to recall the nation to His service also. He reformed with little support and little hope, and therefore he reformed fiercely and vehemently. The sunset light of Judah's history plays round him, and no death in her annals is so lamentable as that of her last royal hero. Hezekiah had Isaiah beside him ; Josiah had Jeremiah, not only able as a prophet to proclaim, in season, out of season, in palace and strset, in venerated Temple and abhorred Gi-hinnom, the most unwelcome and unpalatable truths ; but also able as a poet to pour out the mournfullest of dirges over imprisoned king, captive people, ruined sanctuary, and desolate city, when all had been said in \ ain More than half our reading this term is from Jeremiah's pen (for he was in all probability editor of the earlier, and author of the later parts of I., II. Kings), and he is "the one grand immovable figure which alone redeems the miserable downfall of his country from triviality and shame." He was the last sccr who was also a statesman and coun- .scllor of kings. He was the first who uttered his inspired counsel in that epistolary form afterwards made so illus- trious by S. Paul. Like S. Paul also, we find him the /lEROF.S, 129 \miah, mt of and Ltablc fullest luined vain liah's and '" the the lame." Icoun- tpired illus- the centre and life of a trroup of devoted friends and faithful adherents, who were 'irect inheritors of the traditions of Josiah's reit^n ; such as his brother Getnariah ; his uncle and aunt SI .ilium and Huldah, with their son Hanamel ; Dclaiah and Urijah, the sons of Shcmaiah ; Hanan the son of I^daliah ; Zephaniah the son, and Seraiah and Baruch the t^randsons of Maaseiah. Baruch was his Timothy and his Tcrtius, and as the first notable Scribe who committed God's word to writing, may be regarded as the predecessor of Ezra. And Jeremiah, forbidden to seek the love of wife and child, needed the sympathy and affection of friends not a little. At once priest and prophet (a rare combina- tion), he could not, like Ilosea, fall back upon Judah, though despairing of Israel ; he could not, like Isaiah and Amos, fall back upon her prophets, though despair- ing of her priests ; he saw that priest and prophet were alike corrupt, and he was called upon to declare it (Jer. xxiii. 11). Hence the rancorous hostility of both orders to their noblest representative. Jeremiah the priest was excluded from the Temple (Jer. xxxvi. 5). Jeremiah the prophet was persistently traduced and persecuted as a liar and traitor by the smooth-tongued uttercrs of popular predictions. And his was one of those gentle, sensitive, and highly strung souls for which the trust and love of others is the very breath of life. No prophet reveals himself so clearly in his writings. By nature shy, timid, shrinking, hesitating, and desponding, suffering deepest sorrow of heart at seeing things as they are, and called to the hard task of proving that all Judah most relied upon would avail her nothing, and of preaching submission and repentance to a self-willed and hardened people bent on resistance ; by God's grace and his own manful resolve, he was bold, fearless, unflinching, determined, and even hopeful, through that faith tried in the fire which enabled him to read in the bright possibilities of the future a balance for the difficulties and distresses of the present. After forty years of courageous testimony, he refused the favour of the greatest of monarchs, and " gladly clung " (says Josephus) " to the ruins of his country, and to the hope of Hving out the rest of his life with its surviving relics." Here history leaves him {? Chron. xxxv. 25, xxxvi. 12, 21, are the only i\ H I30 srxrii T/:u,ir. t Hihlical mc-ntioiis of him outsidi" his own book), atul coii- llictiiu; tr.'ulitions sjuak oi a pcaccriil ciul in l?iil))'l()n, and a (K-alh by sttmiii^ in Ki^ypt at the hands of his i\|)robatc countrynu'ii. Afterwards they reckoned hijii not a whil behinil tlic very chiefest [irophets, and daily expected that he. like Klijah, woiilil return as the restorer of Israel (IMatt. xvi. 14 ; John i. 21). VI. TiiK CoMiNd Mr.ssiAii. " Lon/, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? " Acts i. 6. Isa. xl. — Ixvi., which may have been penned durinj^ the first persecution of the true faith in Jerusalem, contains the greatest Messianic Predictions of the Old Testament. A Messiah winning through much tribulatit)n a kingdom not of this world, is a promise as appropriate to the igc of Juclah's l''all as the promise of a triumphant and !.;lorious JNlessiah was to the age of David and Solomon. Isaiah's prophecies were fulfilled by Jews whose eyes were blinded to this asjiect of the Coming One. The predictions about Cyrus in xH. 2, 25-7, have an ultimate fulfilment in Him who was to all mankind spiritually what Cyrus was to captive Judah politically. There are also nine great and detailed predictions, eight of which arc quoted in the New Testament. Notice that the section about " the Servant of the Lord " is followed by one that speaks often of " the servants of the Lord " (Rom. v. 1 5-19). (i) Isa. xl. I- 1 1 ; Matt. iii. ; John x. (2) Isa. xlii. ; Matt. xii. 17-21 ; Luke ii. 32. (3) Isa. xlix. ; Acts iv. 27 (R.V.), xiii. 47 ; Phil. ii. 7. (4) Isa. 1. 4-7 ; Hcb. v. 8 ; Matt. xxvi. 67 ; John xvi, 32. (5) Isa. Hi. 13 — liii. 12 ; Acts viii. 27-35. (6) Isa. lix. 20, 21 ; Rom. xi. 26 ; Matt. i. 21. (7) Isa. Ix. 1-3 ; Matt. ii. ; John viii. 12 ; Eph. v. 14. (8) Isa. Ixi. 1-3 ; Luke iv. 17-21, iii. 22 ; John xii. 28. (9) Isa. Ixii. 10 — Ixiii. 6; Matt. xxv. 19, xxi. 5 ; 2 Thess. ii. (10) Zcph. ii. 7 ; Luke i. 68. (11) Zeph. iii. 8-20 ; John. i. 49, iv. 24 ; Acts viii. 27-38. (12) Hab. ii. 3 ; Heb. x. n. (13) Hab. ii. 14 ; i John ii. 13, iv. 16, v. 20. (J of 8,: oti Ps; i. 32. less. n. ■38. r.oDs i^'A rr ATioN or iiimsf.t.f to mas. n\ (14) Hah. iii. 13 ; 2 Cor. v. 19 (but .sec R.V.). (15) Jer. .wiii. 5, 6 ; Kom. i. 3 ; 1 Cor. i. 30. (16) Jer. .\x.\. S, 9, 21, 22 ; Acts ii. 29-32 ; IK:!), ii. 14-17. (17) Jer. xxxi. 2J ; Luke i. 2f)-35. (18) Jer. XX xiii. 15-17, 21,22 ; Actsxiii. 22, 23; 2Tim. ii. 8. (19) Ob.'id. 17-21 ; kev. xi. 15-17. (20) l''/ek. xvii. 22-.}. ; kev. xxii. 16; Matt. xiii. 31, 32. (21) IC/.ck. xxi. 27 ; John xviii. 36, 37 ; Matt, xwiii. 18. Lamentations is read both in the l<2nt;Hsh and the Latin Church cUniuLj the week in which we commemorate the sufferini^s of our Lord (Lam. i. 12). Compared with Isaiah's, Jeremiah's Messianic predictions are few. Hut through him wc hear, for the fust time, that the Old Covenant or Testament, which forms the theme of the first part of the Bible and ^ives it a name, was to be superseded. Nebuchadnezzar had just re-formed his sie^c for a final assault upon the famine-stricken city, when Jeremiah's sorrowful pleadings and warnings gave place to a joyous message of blessing for Israel's latter end (xxxi. 31-6). After a dim pre.sage of the Incarnation (vcr. 22) he pa.sses to a clear announcement of a New Covenant, looking more than 500 years beyond the Restoration (contrast Jer. Nxxi. 32 and Hag. ii. 5) to that Upper Room (Luke xxii. II, 12 ; Acts i. 13, R.V., ii. i), which became the birthplace of the Church of Christ, and in which each of the four clauses of this Royal Charter was reiterated and ratified. The promise is fourfold (see Kcb. viii. 6-13, x. 9-18) : — (rt) Remission of Sins (Matt. xxvi. 27, 28, R.V.). ij)) A New Law (John xiii. 34, xiv. 23, 26, xv. 13, 14). ic) A New Relationship (John xv. 15, 16, xvii. 6, 9, II). {d) A New Fcllow.ship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John xiv. 7, 9, 17; i John i. 3, ii. 20). See Miss Elliott's " Jeremiah and Ezekiel." VII. God's Revelation of Himself to Man. Again we note characteristic revelations in the Prophets of our period. Twice over from Isaiah we learn (Isa. xiii. 8, xlviii. 11) that the glory of God can be shared by no other being. Yet in Isa. ix. 6, 7 (as in Micah v. 2, 4 ; Psalm xiv. 6, 7, ex. ; and Jer. xxiii. 5, 6), two Divine and ii m 13' SIXTH TERM. Eternal Rcin^s arc spoken of; and in Isa. xlviii, i6, Ixi. 1-3 we have still plainer pre-Christian enumeration of the Co- eternal Three who ever live and reign One God. ZephaniaJiy the earliest of the group of prophets whose great theme will be God's judgment, seen in the convulsion and over- throw of all the kingdoms of that age, proclaims that He is righteous (iii. 5), Habakkuk humbly adores Him as the mysterious and awful Holy One (i. 12, 13, ii. 20). JeremiaJi delivers the terrible message recalling the Name by which He had made Himself known to Israel (xliv. 26). He is henceforth " God of all flesh," " God in the Heavens " (cp. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 23), *' King of the Nations," and, 65 times, " Lord of Hosts." Yet He has been in Jeremiah also *' Jacob's Portion," " Israel's God and Hope and Holy One," and the " God of all Israel's families." Obadiah's message is from Adonai Jehovah, recalling Amos and Micah. Fzckiel, worldwide rather than national in his outlook, revives the ancient patriarchal name of El Shaddai (x. 5), which we met with last in Exodus. " God of Israel " occurs once, and in striking contrast to Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel contains no other name save " Jehovah." VIII. Man's Relation to God in Worship. Eight of Judah's kings led their people into seven Apostasies. Save Rehoboam, who repented in time, each was visited with a personal punishment in addition to the national punishment that followed the national sin. (i) Rehoboam : hence Egyptian Invasion (2 Chron. xii. i ; 1 Kings xiv. 21-6). (2) JcJiorani : hence Philistine and Arabian Invasion (2 Chron. xxi. ; 2 Kings xi. 18). {'^)Joash: hence Syrian Invasion (2 Chron. xxiv. 18-23). (4) AmaziaJi: hence Israelite Invasion (2 Chron. xxv. 14, 20-22). (5) AJiaz : hence Invasion by Israelites, Syrians, Philis- tines, Edomites, and Assyrians (2 Chron. xxviii. 2, 19, 25 ; 2 Kings xvi. 2-4). (6) ManasseJi : hence Assyrian Invasion (2 Chron. xxxiii. 3-11 ; 2 Kings xxi. 1-16). (7) JcJioiakhn and Zedckiah : hence IBabylonian Invasion (2 Chron, xxxvi. 8, 14; Jer. xi. 13, xvii. 2, xix. 5). QUESTIONS. t33 til. I ; lasion ■23)- XXV. [hilis- p5; bcxiii. lasion (i) and (2) may both be traced to the influence of a queen of foreign extraction. (4) is the only one of which we are not told that worship of Ashtoreth was set up. In (2), (5), (6), and (7) special mention is made of the worship of Baal. In (6) the worship of Jehovah was actually disestablished, and the true faith, for the first time in Judah, persecuted. Amaziah, Manasseh, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah were taken captive, Jehoram and Joash were smitten with sickness, and Ahaz was ruined with his people, (i), (2), (5), and (6) were followed by Reformations, (3) and (4) being less flagrant, and (7) past reforming, save by the stern discipline of the Captivity. These Reformations, by which evil was for the time overcome of good, and ruin averted, were through {a) Asa, completed hy J eJioslmphat. \U) Jehoiada in the reign of Joash. {/) Hezekiah. id) Josiah. Students would do well to work out fully this brief summary of Judah's religious history, for it has many lessons to teach us, as a nation, as a church, and as individuals. We leave the Chosen People ruined, as Moses had warned them they might be ruined (Deut. xxix.), by serving false gods. Our next two terms will show them purged from this gross idolatry and restored, only to fall into a subtler idolatry which, under the outward forms of the true religion, will lead to another rejection of God and a yet more terrible fall. But before we resume their story we shall glance round at Nebuchadnezzar's work elsewhere as pictured by the Hebrew prophets. IX. Questions. (See pp. 13, 18.) [Questions III., XIII., XVII., XVIIL, XIX., XX., and XXVI. may be answered with help of any books.] I. Where, when, by whom, and with what results were the battles of Megiddo and Carchemish fought ? (8.) II. Complete the genealogical table of the Kings of Judah from Hezekiah onwards. (7.) I ! > J34 SIXTH TERM. III. Reconcile Jer. xxxii. 4, 5 and xxxiv. 2, 3 witn Ezek. xii. 13 ; also Jer. xxii. 28, 30 with Matt. i. 12. (6.) IV. la) How many sovereigns of Judah were there? {U) Which had the longest and which had the shortest reign ? {c) Which attained the greatest age ? {d) Which of them made war with Israel ? {e) Of which of them is it said that the Lord was with them ? (/) Which of them were taken captive by their enemies? {g) Which died violent deaths? (Ji) Name the four best, the four worst, and the four greatest of them all. (/) Which of them is called King of Israel ? (y) Which of them were buried in the royal sepulchres ? (24.) V. Make a complete list of the prophets sent to Judah between 697 and 588, and name three false prophets of the period. (8.) VI. V/hat do you know of Shaphan the scribe, and of four sons and two grandsons of his mentioned in the Bible ? (7.) VII. What do you know of the following? — Elnathan, Irijah, Ishmacl son of Ncthaniah, Jaazaniah son of Azur, Jehudi, Nehushta. (12.) VIII. "We will not ride upon horses." Explain this vow by quotations from Isaiah and Ezekiel. (3.) IX. What circumstances recorded by Jeremiah and Ezekiel account for Nebuchadnezzar's relentless policy to Jerusalem the third time he took it, though he had spared it twice before ? (5.) X. Show that Jerusalem was captured and the Temple pillaged at least eight times between 976 and 588. (12.) XI. Give a brief summary of the chief incidents in Jeremiah's life. (10.) XII. Quote ten prayers in the Book of Jeremiah, giving references only. (10.) XIII. What does Jeremiah mean by {a) " The throne of God's glory," (/;) " God's footstool," (c) " The mountain in the field," {(/) " The joy of the whole earth," (e) " The King of Sheshach," (/) "The king . . . my servant," (^) " God's battle axe," (/;) " The hammer of the whole earth," (/) "The iron furnace," (j) "The sword of the wilderness," (k) " The queen of heaven," (/) " The breath of our nostrils " ? (12.) QUESTIONS. 135 this XIV. Point out 20 coincidences of thought and expres- sion between the Psalms read this term and Jeremiah's writings, (ic.) XV. To whom was the promise made that their life should be given them for a prey ? (3.) XVI. Consider Jeremiah and Ezekicl as types of Christ. (15.) XVII. Enumerate four signs (or prophecies through symbolic acts done by the prophet) shown by Jeremiah to Israel, indicating what each signified. (8.) XVIII. Enumerate six signs shown by Ezekiel, indica- ting what each signified. (12.) XIX. Give short historical explanations of the vision of Ezek. viii., ix., and the parables of Ezek. xvii., xix. (8.) XX. What may be gathered by comparison of Ezekiel with Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, and Revelation as to the appearance and nature of the Cherubim and Seraphim? (10.) XXI. Find 20 allusions to the Holy Spirit in Ezek. i. — xxiv., and Isa. xl. — Ixvi. (10.) XXII. Prove by quotations that Isa. xl. — Ixvi. speaks of Judah's Captivity as past and not future, and account for this, (io.) XXIII. Illustrate Acts viii. 28-38 by finding 20 New Testament quotations or references for Isa. Hi. 13 — liii. 12. (10.) XXIV. Find 25 other New Testament quotations from Isa. xl. — Ixvi., 6 from Jeremiah, and 5 from Habakkuk. (18.) XXV. " The word peace runs as a golden thread through the tissue of the whole Book of Isaiah." Illustrate this. (10.) XXVI. Explain briefly the following passages : — Zeph. i. 4, 5, II ; Hab. ii. 11 ; Jer. ii. 30, xii. 5, xxii. 10 ; Ezek. xviii. 4; Isa. Ixv. 3,4, II. (16.) XXVII. How often is God spoken of as King in the literature of this period? Give some of the other chief names of God in Jeremiah and Isa. xl. — Ixvi. (24.) XXVIII. What may wc learn from the prophets of this period as to {a) the wages of sin, {b) the forgiveness of sins, {c) God's desire to save, {d) God's power to '^'.ve. I 136 SIXTH TERM. Do not give more {e) guidance by God, (/) rest in God ? than 36 references altogether. (36.) XXIX. What allusions do they contain to {a) the Creation, {b) the Garden of Eden, {c) Noah, {it) Job, {e) Abraham, (/) the destruction of Sodom, (^g) R chel, (Ji) Moses, (/) the Plagues of Egypt, (7) the '.^.xodus, (Ji) Israel in the Wilderness, (/) Samuel ? (14.) XXX. Illustrate the following passages from the history of this period. Psalm cxix. 71 ; Jame^ v. 1-6 ; Heb. xiii. 3 ; Luke ix. 24 ; i John ii. 11 ; i Cor. vii. 29-31. (12.) XXXI. Indicate briefly the contexts of the following : — (i) "I am against them," " I am with thee." (2) " I have made thee despised," " I will glorify them." (3) " There is no healing for thee," " I will heal him." 1 will make this city a curse," " A blessing IS (4) in it." (5) " They shall be weary," " They shall net be weary." (6) " The nations weary themselves for vanity," " Thy work shall be rewarded." (7) " Take ye no rest," " Ye shall find rest." (8) " Wilt Thou be angry for ever ? " "I will not keep anger for ever." (9) " Remember not former iniquities," " I will not re- member thy sins." (10) "We walk in darkness," "I will make darkness light." (11) "We are called by Thy name," " I have called thee by thy name." (12) " Come ye," " We come unto Thee." (24.) XXXII. Give references for the following; — {a) "O deadly wounded wicked one ! " ib) " The false pen of the scribes." (c) " O nation that hath no shame ! " {it) " Neither could they blush." {e) " He whose might is his god." (/) " His boastings have wrought nothing," (if) *' New every morning." (k) " Satisfied with My goodness." (z) "At peace v/ith Me." (j) "A nation before Me for ever." (%) " Mighty to save." (/) " Plenteous redemption." (m) " Abundance of peace and truth." (n) " Why will ye die ? " (p) " Seek meekness." (/) " Eat ye that which is good." ((/) " Keep not back a word." (r) " Begin at My sanctuary." (s) " I said, Ikhold Me." (/) " I made him QUESTIONS. 137 "O the tthcr kd." [cw less." for Son." ]l ye 111 is My Ihim many." (ti) " Because thine heart was tender, I have heard." {v) " He knoweth the secrets of the heart." (zv) " Foolish prophets that follow their own spirit." (x) " They turned in fear one toward another." (y) " He shall come as a rushing stream." (z) " My sleep was sweet." (26.) For Second Series of Questions, see p. 309. ■i|: SEVENTH TERM. The Days of Ezra. The Restoration and the Second Temple. B.C. 606 — 397. 2 Chron. XXXVL, 22, 23. Psalms LXXXV., XCII.—C, CIL— CVIL, CXm.—CXXVI., CXXXIV.—CXXXVII., CXLIV., CXLVI. — CL. Ezckiel XXV. — XLVIII. Daniel. Ezra. Esther. Nchemialu Haggai. Z.ochariah. Malachi. {i2() chapters.) " All the people went their way ... to make great mirth, because ihey had understood the words that were declared unto them." — Neh. viii. 12. 25th MONTH (32). Ezek. XXV. — XLVIII. Dan. I. — IV., VII., v., VIII., IX. 26lh MONTH (32). Dan. VI. 2 Chron. XXXVI. 22, 23. Ezra I. — III. 7. PsalmsCII.— CVIL.CXXXVH. CXX. — CXXII., LXXXV. Ezra III. 8-13. Ezra IV. r-5. Dan. X.— XH. Ezra IV. 6- VI. 13. Haggai. Zech. I.— VIII. 27th MONTH (33). Ezra VI. 14-22. Esther. Ezra VII.— X. Zech. IX.— XIV. Neh. I.— VII. Psalm CXXIIL— CXXVI. Neh. VIII., IX. 28th MONTH (32). Neh. X. CXLIV.. CXXXVL Psalms XCV.— c, Neh. XII. CXLVI. — CL. 4-31. Malachi Psalms XCIV., CXXXIV. — Neh. XL— XII. 26. XCIL, XCIIL, CXIIL— CXVIH. 27 — XIII. 3. Psahn Neh. XIII. Psalm CXIX. I. General Summary. THAT God is the God of Gentiles as well as of Jews is the first note of this term's reading. The world's history has been divided into three great epochs. (i) Priviceval History., from the dawn of civilisation in Egypt to the Fall of Babylon, the first capital of the world, in B.C. 538. Here the Semitic races predominate, but Israel is the only one of which we have more than a fragmentary account. (2) Classical History, from B.C. 538 to the Fall 138 GENERAL SUMMARY. 139 II. 26. Iciii., :vin. Fsalm XIII. ;xix. Jews world's lion in ]\vorld, Lsracl Icntary Fall of Rome, the second capital of the world, in A.D, 4/6. Here the Aryan races predominate. (3) Medicuval and Modern History, from A.D. 476 onward. Here history deals with all mankind. We now approach the end of the first epoch, and sacred and secular history, hitherto quite distinct, begin to mingle. Israel influences and is influenced by Gentile powers, and thus the way is prepared for the mystery revealed to S. Paul (Eph. iii.), the subject of our Ninth Term's work. In the first epoch the ruling power is physical, in the .second intellectual, in the third spiritual. Of physical power, Nebuchadnezzar, the last of the Primaeval conquerors, was the greatest representative. He was used to bring about the new historical epoch, and the Hebrew prophets were used to point out the significance of his work. " Like the great tragic chorus to the awful drama which was unfolding itself in the Eastern world," they uttered their' sublime funeral anthems over the falling Primaeval monarchies, and summed up the everlasting lesson of " the ruins of time " (see Isa. xl. 6-8). Joel, Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Obadiah, and Ezckicl picture the falls of Israel and Jiidah, descendants of Jacob ; the Edoviites, descend- ants of Esau ; the Arabians, descendants of Ishmael ; Moab and Amman, descendants of Lot ; the Syrians and Elamites, descendants of Shem ; the Philistines, Tyrians, SidonianSy and Ethiopians, descendants of Ham ; also of the Ef^yptianSy and finally of the Chaldeans, when Babylon drank of the cup she mingled for others (Jcr. xxv. 17-26). (They are named above according to the nearness of their relation to Israel. Students are advised to look them out on the map, to read about them in § xxx. of " Oxford Helps," to find the references in the Prophets, and to observe that for Israel, Judah, Moab, Ammon, Elam, and Egypt, mercy as well as judgment was predicted.) The political reconstruction of the world was then the Prophets' theme, surely a grand enough one to claim our attention. Yet they looked beyond that. Daniel com- ■ pletcd their predictions with an announcc.ncnt of the spiritual kingdom which would supersede and transcend for ever all the kingdoms founded on force. A recently discovered inscription of Nebuchadnezzar's I40 SEVENTH TERM. '»< i M runs thus : " I li.ivc made completely strong the defences of lii^bylon. May it last for cvei." But on the north side of the mountain barrier that crosses the world from the Himalaj'ps to the Pyrenees, lived fierce races who have more than once swept down upon the fertile south side, and dispossessed its less hardy inhalntants. Such a descent thence of a great Aryan tribe the Hebrew prophets had long foretold. History calls it the Mcdo-Persian conquest of Babylon. Its leader was Cyrus, the first of the ancient conquerors who was more than a despot and a destroyer, the first great man in Scripture who spoke a language akin to our own ; referred to more honourably in Hebrew prophecy by Isaiah than any other Gentile ; and in Greek literature by Xenophon than any other " barbarian " prince. His people went on and prospered till they met a still stronger Aryan race in Greece, and then the conquering Ahasuerus of the Hebrew Book of Esther became the conquered Xerxes of Greek history. And now " the set time to have pity on Zion " had come (Psalm cii. 13 ; Dan. ix. 2). Her Captivity in Babylon was not, like that in Egypt, the personal bondage of individuals, but the political subjection of a nation. In Greek it is described by a word meaning " transportation " or " migra- tion." The exiles were allowed to dwell together in con- siderable bodies, and to acquire property (Jer. xxix. 4-7). Yet we see the anguish of their exile not only through its Hebrew name which means "stripped bare," but through Isaiah, Lamentations, Ezckiel, and the Psalms. Its litera- ture has a permanent interest, because it expounds "the sweet uses of adversity," and the power of the consolation that comes from God. The highest comfort offered to them, through Isaiah, was a picture of that supreme suffering of supreme Love, which was to ennoble suffering for ever, and console our sorrowful hearts again and again (see Isa. liii.). Their Restoration, an event without parallel in history, was regarded as a second birth, a second Exodus. But from Egypt there came out, by the extraordinary inter- position of God's power and in spite of an earthly sovereign, an entire people, bound together by common descent and common suffering, to take possession of a promised king- GENERAL SUMMARY. 141 )rcme fcring I again fstory, But lintcr- [rcign, It and king- dom and assort their national indcpciidfiice. I'Vom liabylon there came out, b)' the ordinary working of God's provi- dence, and through the action of an earthly sovereign, some 50,000 out of a whole nation, to form the central part of a scattered church, to hear the last words of prophecy, and to recognise in the writings of the past the abidini; lessons of God. For the mass of the exiles had accumulated property to the amount of ;^4,ooo,ooo (Esth. iii. 9) in their new homes, and preferred to retain their faith, but sacrifice their patriotism ; types of those who, ceasing to watch against sin, leave a higher ^-^r a lower religious life, and though distressed at first by tiic change, learn by degrees to find more pleasure in the world and less pleasuic in the things of God. These Jews (known as " the Dispersion " : sec John vii. 35, R.V.) gradually spread far and wide, until, according to Josephus, there was scarcely a corner 'of the Roman Empire where they might not be found. The Greek conquest opened the way for this, and Greek rule neutralised many of the evils by which it was attended. In A.D. i there were three great sections of the Dispersion, the Babylonian, Syrian, and Egyptian. They still prided themselves on the purity of their descent, and a spiritual bond still united them. Jerusalem, no longer the centre of a nation and the capital of a royal race, became the holy city of a church and the capital of a creed, whose monotheism and Alessianic hope, had a far-reaching influence. Never again was the race to be confined within the borders of Palestine, and its name of Hebrew or Israelite henceforth gives place to the name oi Jew, " born," says Josephus, " on the day they came out of Babylon." But all alike looked to the Temple as their religious centre, and contributed largely to its funds. No rival sanctuary disputed its place henceforth, though every- where it was supplemented by synagogues. Other results of the Captivity may be summed up thus : — (i) Hitherto Israel had been constantly led away into the old idolatries that still clung to their soil. Henceforth, after close contact with heathenism in its fullest develop- ment at Babylon, they hated idolatry with a fanatical hatred, (See Psalm cxv.) (2) Hitherto they had stumbled through too frank an i * 'I' I I 'I ':. 143 SEVENTH TERM. intercourse with other nations. Henceforth their reh'gion became intensely national and exclusive, and they held that a man who read foreign books risked his hopes of eternal life. Yet their dispersion among other peoples made them perforce more cosniupolitan in their ideas, and this dispersion, with the ac ompanying stern purification from heathenism, fitted their faith to become the secdplot of the one truly universal religion of the world. (3) Hitherto they had been ruled by kings. Henceforth they were ruled by priests. (4) Hitherto they had paid little heed to the written word of God. Henceforth they regarded it with a well-nigh exaggerated reverence. Contrast Elijah, who was almost exclusively a preacher, with Ezekicl, who was almost exclu- sively an author. (5) Hitherto the external ceremonies of religion had been all important, and their religious life mainly corporate. Henceforth reading the Scriptures, preaching, and above all prayer, became the essential things in public worship, and there was a new sense of individual responsibility, and of the grandeur of being true to one's convictions in the face of the whole world. (6) Hitherto the Hebrew in which the Old Testament is penned had been a living tongue, written in the old Phoe- nician characters. Henceforth it gradually became a dead tongue, and at some unknown date before B.C. 300 the square characters now used were adopted. At the Restora- tion the Jews were bilingual. The last of their prophets still wrote in Hebrew, but the language of daily life and of all their .subsequent literature was Aramaic or Chaldean (2 Kings xviii. 26, R.V.), the kindred tongue of the land of exile. Jer. x, 11, Dan. ii. 4 — vii. 28, and parts of Ezra (see R.V.), all of which refer to the Gentiles, are in Aramaic, and it is called " Hebrew " in Acts xxii. 2. (7) Hitherto they had been an agricultural people. Henceforth they became what they are now, a trading people, their commercial enterprise finding a first outlet at Alexandria. The nation had returned, but not to be what it had been. The opportunity for proving a leader among the peoples as God's People, once lost, did not recur. Its humbler ti nCOKS TO BE READ. >43 mt IS Phoe- dcad the 5tora- )hcts of Idcan Ind of (see Imaic, jople. iding :at I been, topics mbler career henceforth teaches the sad lesson that in this life an evil past can never be entirely retrieved. The moral of the whole Captivity, which Jeremiah had foretold, is given by Ezekiel where he points to a restoration and renewal, not of national glory, but of individual goodness through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God. II. Books to be Read. (See " Oxford Helps," § v.) This term history, psalmody, and prophecy are repre- sented in almost equal proportions. The three historical books cover only one of the six centuries between Judah's Fall and the Birth of Christ. Of the first seventy years we glean particulars from psalms and prophecies ; of the last 393 from the Apocrypha. For the forty Psalms of this period, see p. 204. The life of Daniel, the last prophet of the second group, bridges the age of the Captivity. The three Post-Exilian prophets forming the third group close the Canon. They give us the result of former teaching rather than nev/ doctrines. Part I. of Ezekiel has already been uttered as a final message to Judah before her fall. Part II. (xxv. — xxxii.) proclaims God's Judgments upon seven foreign nations, and was written between the besieging and the capture of Jerusalem (with the exception of xxix. 17 — xxx. 19, the date of which is 572). Part HI. (xxxiii. — xlviii.), all written immediately after the capture, is a glorious Promise of Restoration, culminating in a vision of the Temple re-built and the land re-peopled. Daniel, of *;he royal house of David (603 — 534). Chaps, i. — vi. are h '^ry mingled with prophecy. Chaps, vii. — xii. are prophecy written with the detail of history. There is no other book in the Bible with which this unique book can be classed. The Jews put it among the " Scriptures," not among the "Prophets." (See "Oxford Helps," § v.) Its Hebrew is strikingly like that of Ezekiel ; there are many traces of its literary influence upon each of the Post-Exilian prophets, and many close parallels between it and Revela- tion. The narrative is interspersed, like Nehemiah's, with characteristic utterances of personal devotion. That its % I 144 SEVENTH TERM. history is authentic is proved by contemporary and later references to its incidents. That its prophecies are inspired communications from God is attested by our Lord's reference to Daniel. That it may have taken its present form after Daniel's death is possible, and according to some authorities probable. Its keynote is GotVs supreme and everlasting ktMn^doin (Mark i. i 5 ; Rev. xi. i 5), and it forms the first philosophy of history, " the first recognition of the continuous succession of ages, of the instructive fact that the story of humanity is that of a regular development of epochs, one growing out of another, cause leading to effect, race following race, and empire following empire, in a majestic plan in which the Divine economy is as deeply concerned as in the fate of the Chosen i^coplc " {St(Vi/ev). Ezra and Nehentia/i, which in many ancient MSS. form one book, arc probably a compilation by various authors in continuation of Chronicles, which they closely resemble in style. Ezra i. (whose chronological place is between Dan. ix. and x.) is probably by Daniel ; and Ezra ii. — iii. I, and Neh. i. — vii. and xii. 27 — xiii. 31, by Nchcmiah. Ezra iii. 2 — iv. 5 and iv. 24 — vi. may be by Haggai. Cer- tainly Ezra vii. — x., and probably Neh. viii. — x. are by Ezra. Ezra iv. 6-23 is probably a later addition by Ezra, and the statistics in Neh. xi. i — xii. 26, which are brought down to B.C. 330, were probably prepared under Nehemiah's direction and added to after his death. Esther is probably from the pen of Mordecai, and may have formed part of those Persian official records to which it alludes more than once. The story of how Haman gives to Mordecai \v