A
OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY
L.E.ABRAHAMS., B.A.
LONDON::
TRUBNER & COLUDGATE HILL.
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
THE
HOLY LAND
as allotted. Try
A
A MANUAL OF
SCRIPTURE HISTORY
FOR USE IN
JEWISH SCHOOLS AM) FAMILIES
LOUIS B. ABRAHAMS, B.A.
SEVENTH EDITION
LONDON
TRUBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL
1887
\_All rights reserved}
/
PEEFACE.
THE place which this volume should occupy in the curriculum
of study is easily denned. It should serve as an introduction
to the Bible. The Sacred Volume itself was never intended
to serve as a text-book for Scripture history. It is un-
doubtedly the repository of our national history ; but it is
very much more than this. It is the treasure-house of our
religious beliefs, the digest of our civil and criminal code,
the guide to our ceremonial observances. To select its
historical passages, to place them together so as to form a
connected whole, to reconcile their apparent difficulties, has
ever proved to the busy teacher an anxious and wearisome
task. The want of such a work as the present has accor-
dingly long been felt, and acting upon tbe suggestion of
many of my colleagues, I have endeavoured to satisfy it.
Intended for the use of children in Standards III. to VI.
of our schools (ages 9 to 13), the book has been written in
simple yet progressive language. Throughout, the very
2107643
IT PREFACE
words of the English Version have been frequently intro-
duced, so that they may prove a link between this volume
and the Bible itself.
I desire to express my grateful acknowledgments to the
Rev. the Chief Rabbi and to the Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler,
who were good enough to read my manuscript, and to favour
roe with many valuable hints.
L.B. A.
CONTENTS.
MM
GEOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION ....!
PART I.
FROM THE CREATION TO THE DEATH OF JOSEPH.
CHAP. I. The Creation . 6
II. Eden Man's First Sin and Punishment .... 5
III. From Adam to Ncah G
IV. Noah The Flood 7
n V. The Tower of Bahel 8
VI. The Life of Ahraham 9
VII. Life of Abraham (continued) The War of the Kings . 11
VIII. Life of Abraham (continued) Birth of Ishmael Destruc-
tion of Sodom and Gomorrah . . . . .12
,, IX. Life of Abraham (continued) Birth of Isaac The offer-
ing on Mount Moriah Death of Abraham . . 14
X. Life of Isaac ......... 16
,, XI. Life of Jacob 18
XII. Life of Joseph His Captivity in Egypt .... 21
XIII. Life of Joseph (continued) Joseph made Governor of
Egypt 23
XIV. Death of Jacob and of Joseph 25
PART II.
FliOM THE DEATH OF JOSEPH TO THE DEATH OF MOSES.
CHAP. I. Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt The Call of Moses . 27
II. The Ten Plagues The Redemption from Egypt . . 29
vi CONTENTS.
PAGB
CHAP. III. Passage of the Bed Sea Battle with the Amalelutes . 31
IV. The Decalogue 33
V. The Golden Calf The Tabernacle . . . . . 34
VI. The Priesthood -Nadab and Abihu 36
VII. The Spies 3i
,, VIII. The Bebellion of Korah 40
,, IX. Death of Miriam and of Aaron . . . .42
X. Balak and Balaam ........ 43-
XL The People Numbered Punishment of the Midianites . 46-
XII. The Last Days of Moses 47
PART III.
FROM THE DEATH OF MOSES TO THE CHOICE OF SAUL.
CHAP. I. The Spies sent to Jericho Passage of the Jordan . . 4
II. Fall of Jericho Achan's Sin Capture of Ai . . .51
,, III. The Gibeonites The Five Kings of Canaan . . .53
IV. Wars with the Canaanites Division of Palestine Death
of Joshua ........ 54
V. The Judges Othniel to Deborah .... ,56
VI. The Judges (continued) Gideon .... ,58-
VII. The Judges Gideon (continued) Abimelech Tcla
Jixir 60
VIII. Jephthah Samson ...... ,62
,, IX. Samson (continued) ... 4 .. 65
X. Micah Destruction of Giboah Ruth . . . .60
XI. Eli Birth of Samuel His Dedication to God's Service G'J
., XII. War with the Philistines Capture of the A rt Death of
Eli and his Sons ....... 71
PART IV.
FROM SAUL'S KINGSHIP TO THE DEATH OF SOLOMON.
CHAP. I. Saul made King His First Offence . . . .73
II. Saul's Wars with the Philistines and Amaleldtes David
Anointed King ..>., 74
CONTENTS.
vii
CHAP. III. Saul jealous of David He seeks to kill him The Love of
David and Jonathan ...... 77
IV. David an Exile -His Wanderings Death of Samuel . . 79
V. Saul and the Witch of Endor Death of Saul ... 81
VI. David King over Judah and Ishbosheth over Israel The
Ark brought to Jerusalem ...... 83
VII. David's various Wars His Sin with Bathsheba , T . 85
VIII. Absalom's Rebellion David's Flight and Return
Absalom's Death 87
IX. The Last Days of David The Psalms . . . .89
X. Solomon ascends the Throne He builds the Temple . . 91
XI. Solomon's Greatness and Death . . ... 94
PART V.
THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL.
CHAP. T. Jeroboam Nadab ........ 90
II. Baasha Elah Z'trnri Oinri Ahab Elijah . . . 97
III. Ahab Elijah and the Priests of Baal . . . .99
IV. Ahab Elijah Benhadad . . . . . . 101
V. Naboth's Vineyard Elijah Deatb of Alub Ahaziah . 102
VI. Elijah Elisha Jehoram ...... 104
VII. Elisha's Miracles .,.... 106
VIII. Jehorara War with the Syrians Death of Benhadad .108
IX. Jehu Death of Jezebel Jehoahaz Death of Elisha .110
M X. Jeroboam II. to the End of the Kingdom . . . .112
PART VI.
THE KINGDOM OF JUDAJI.
CHAP. I. Rehoboam Asa Jehoshaphat . . .
II. Joram Ahaziah Interregnum Joash Amazuh
III. Uzziah Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah ,
IV. Hezekiah (continued) llanasseh Amon . .
V. Josiah Jehoahaz ......
VI. Jehoiakin- Jehoiachin Zcdekiah . . a
. 115
. 117
. 119
. 121
. 123
. 125
viii CONTENTS.
PART VIL
THE CAPTIVITY. THE RESTORATION.
C0AP. I. Gedaliah Ishmael ....... 128
II. The Captivity Daniel 129
,, III. Daniel Belshazzar 130
IV. End of the Captivity The Temple Rebuilt . . .132
V. History of Esther 133
,, VI. History of Esther (continued) . . . . . .135
,, VIL Ezra Nehemiah .... 136
APPENDIX I.
Chronological Tables ....* 139
APPENDIX IT.
The Jewish Year Its Festivals and fast* ...... 144
GEOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.
THE country which was the scene of the chief events related
in the Bible, is situated in the south-west portion of Asiatic
Turkey. It forms a part of the province of Syria, and is under
the rule of the Sultan. It is now inhabited mostly by Turks,
but there are large Jewish communities at Jerusalem, Tiberias,
Hebron, Safed and Joppa. A considerable number of Christians
dwell in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Acre, &c.
Names. This country is known by many different names,
the principal of which are :
1. Canaan, after the youngest son of Ham, whose offspring
dwelt in the parts between the Jordan and the Medi-
terranean.
2. Palestine. This name was derived from the Philistines
who dwelt along; the western coast.
8. The Land of Israel, from the name bestowed upon Jacob,
and afterwards adopted by his seed.
4. The Land of Judah. This name was first applied to the
kingdom of Judah, but was in later times extended to
the whole country.
5. The Land of Promise, from the promise made to Abraham
that his offspring should possess it.
6. The Holy Land, because it was the seat of the worship of
the true God, and because the Lord revealed himself there
to his prophets.
Boundaries. North by the Mountains of Lebanon; west
by the Mediterranean Sea ; south by Arabia ; and east by the
ranges of Hermon and Bashan, and the Syrian Desert.
Extent. Length from N. to S. 185 miles, breadth from W. to
E. about 70 miles. Area u ; ooo square miles. It is about the
size of Switzerland.
Population. In the time of David the population was pro-
bably about 5,000,000.
B
2 GEOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.
Divisions.
On the N. Asher. Cliief towns: Accho, Achzib.
Naphtali Kadesh, Hazor, Hamatli.
Zebulun Tiberias.
Tn the Middle. Manasseli Megiddo, Oprah, Dothan, Betlislmn.
Issachar Endor, Shunem, Jezreel, Gilboa.
Ephraim Samaria, Tirzah, Gilgal, Shechem,
Shiloh, Timnatb Serab.
In tbe South Dan Modin, Ekron, Ajalon, Tiinnah,
Esbtaol, Joppa.
n Benjamin Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethel,Ai,Gibeon,
Ramah, Michmash, Kirjath-Jearim.
Judah Bethlehem, Makkedah, Libnah, He-
bron, Adullam, Engedi Tekoah,
Lachish.
Simeon Beer-sheba, Askelon, Gaza.
On the East of Jordan :
Manasseh Ashtaroth-Karnaim, Golan, Edrei.
Gad Succoth, Matanaim, Peniel, Ramoth-
Gilead, Rabbah, Mizpah.
Reuben Heshbon, Dibon, Medeba.
Mountains. Palestine is a very mountainous country, though
the peaks are not as a rule high. The principal ranges are :
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon in the north j principal height Mount
Hermon, 11,000 feet. Mount Tabor, in Zebulun. Mount Gilboa
in Issachar. Mount Carmel in Manasseh. Mountains of Ephraim,
principal heights Ebal and Gerizim. Mount of Olives in Benjamin.
Mountains of Judab. Mount Gilead in Gad. Mountains of Abarim,
with Mount Nebo and Mount Pisgah in Reuben.
Plains. The Plain of Jezreel in Manasseh and Issachar;
Sharon, on the west coast j Esdraelon in Issachar ; Plain of the
Jordan on both sides of that river j Hinnom and Jehoshaphat
near Jerusalem j Ajalon in Dan.
Bivers. The .Jordan, forming the eastern boundary, rises
in Lebanon and flows into the Dead Sea ; the Kishon through
Issachar and Manasseh into the Mediterranean Sea j River Jabok
through Dan into the Jordan ; River Kidron through Judah into
the Dead Sea. Smaller rivers are Besor in Judah, Cherith in
Benjamin, and Arnon in Gad. Besides these there are many
mountain streams which are almost dry in summer.
Lakes. Merom and Chinneroth between Naphtali and Eastern
Manasseh ; the Dead Sea between Benjamin, Judah, and Reuben.
Climate. The Holy Land enjoys a variety of climates. The
GEOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION. 3
hilly regions are cool and even cold, while the sheltered plains and
valleys are as hot as the tropics. It is an easy matter to pass in
an hour's journey from spring to summer. There are two rainy
seasons. The first rains fall in the month of Chcshvan (November),
and the latter rains in Nisan (April). The dews are very heavy,
and compensate in great measure for the absence of rain
during the droughty summer.
Soil. In Biblical times Palestine was very fertile, "a land
flowing with milk and honey." The land is less productive now,
owing especially to the destruction of the forests, and the conse-
quent washing away of the soil. Much of its ancient fertility
could he restored by replanting trees and covering the hill slopes
with earth.
Minerals. Iron and copper in the Lebanon range " a land
whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig
copper" salt and bitumen on the borders of the Dead Sea ; sul-
phur in the vale of Siddim ; nitre.
Vegetables. Wheat, barley, rye, cucumber, hyssop, manna,
pulse, many spices, flax, melon.
Trees. Cedar, almond, cypress, palm, oak, olive, poplar, acacia,
sycamore, terebinth, vine, willow, myrrh, galbanum.
Fruits. Apricot, almond, date, fig, grape, olive, pomegranate.
Flowers. Rose, lily.
Animals. Wild and tame ass, leopard, ox, sheep, goat, bear,
lion, camel, wild bull, deer, wolf, bee, ant, locust, scorpion, dove,
owl, quail, stork, raven, ostrich.
Original Inhabitants. When the children of Israel entered
the Holy Land under the leadership of Joshua, they found it
inhabited by seven tribes ; the Canaanites, Hivites and Perizzites
dwelt in the north, the Jebusites in the centre, the Hittites and
Amorites on the south and east. The Girgashites occupied the
eastern side of the Sea of Chinneroth.
Neighbouring Nations. The western sea-coast from Raphia
to Joppa was occupied by the Philistines. To the north of these
dwelt the Phoenicians. To the south-west lay Egypt. On the-
east of the Dead Sea stretched the land of Ammon and Moab.
Syria (Aram) lay due north, while east of the Syrian Desert
were Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Persia and India.
Commerce. Trade has existed from the period when men
first formed themselves into communities. In the history of
Abraham we read of money current with the "merchant." In
the time of Jacob we hear of well-ordered caravans trading
between distant countries. The Jews were chiefly agriculturists.
B 2
4 GEOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION.
Although there is no doubt that they bartered and traded with
the neighbouring peoples, still they cannot be said to have had
a foreign trade till the reign of Solomon. He imported many
commodities from Egypt, the most important being horses,
chariots and fine linen. To pay for these he obtained gold and
precious stones from India and Arabia. He fitted out fleets
that traded regularly with foreign countries. Starting from Ezion-
gaber and Elath at the head of the Red Sea, they sailed to India,
Ceylon and the East Coast of Africa, probably carrying corn and
oil ; and returned laden with gold, silver, precious stones, peacocks,
apes, various rare woods, and ivory. Palestine from its position
was well placed for purposes of trade, being the highway between
Egypt and other African countries on the one hand, and Assyria,
Persia and India on the other.
PART I.
FROM THE CREATION TO THE DEATH OP JOSEPH.
CHAPTER I.
The Creation.
The World Created. In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth. On the first day He made the light, on the
second the heavens, on the third the dry land. On this day He
commanded the earth to bring forth herbs, grasses, and trees. On
the fourth day He made the sun, moon, and stars : the sun to
give light by day, the moon and stars to light up the night. On
the fifth day Recreated fish and fowl. On the sixth day He made
all cattle, creeping things, and beasts of the earth. Lastly, all
things having been formed ready for his use, God created man in
His own image and breathed in his nostrils the breath of life. On
the seventh day God rested from all His work. " And God blessed
the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested
from all His work, which God created and made."
CHAPTER II.
Eden Man's First Sin and Punishment.
Eden. God planted a garden in Eden in the eastern part of the
world, and placed in it the man. Adam, whom He had made. God
caused to grow in this garden every tree that was pleasant to the
sight and good for food, and in the midst of the garden He placed
the tree of life, and also the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. Four rivers went forth from Eden to water the country
round about ; they were named Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and
Euphrates. When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, He
gave him one command. He said to the man, " of every tree in the
garden thou mayest eat ; but of the tree of the knowledge oi
good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, for on the day thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die."
Eve. God created the first woman to be a proper help foi
the man. And Adam called his wife's name Eve (Chavuh),
because she was the mother of all living.
6 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
The First Sin. Now the serpent was more cunning than any
beast of the field, and he tempted Eve to break the only command
which God had then given. Going- to the woman he persuaded
her to eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. But Eve answered
him that she dared not eat of the fruit for fear of the punishment
of death. Then the serpent told her that she would not die ; but
that on the day she and Adam eat of it, their eyes should be opened,
and they should become as God, knowing good and evil. Eve upon
this allowed herself to be persuaded. She ate of the fruit of the
forbidden tree, and gave some of the fruit also to Adam, and he
did eat. Thus did the first man and the first woman commit the
first sin.
Adam and Eve driven from Eden, Later in the day Adam
and Eve heard the voice of God in the garden. Knowing they
had done wrong, they tried to hide themselves. But God at once
charged them with their guilt. Adam laid the whole blame of the
sin upon Eve ; Eve, in her turn, blamed the serpent for tempting
her. But God would not allow these excuses. They were all
guilty alike ; and punishment quickly followed. The serpent was
to become the lowest and most despised of animals. Adam and
Eve were to be driven out of the garden of Eden. They were to
learn what pain and sorrow and suffering meant. Instead of living
in ease upon the fruits of the garden, they were to labour and toil
for their daily bread. " In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat
bread, till thou returnest unto the ground, for out of it wast thou
taken : for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." In
these words was their doom spoken. Then, lest they should take
of the tree of life, and eat thereof and live for ever, God drove
Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, and to prevent their
return, He placed at the gate the awful Cherubim, and the flaming
sword to guard the way to the tree of life.
CHAPTER III.
From Adam to Noah.
Cain and Abel. Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel.
Cain was a tiller of the ground, and Abel was a keeper of sheep.
The two brothers brought offerings unto God Cain of the fruit
of the ground ; Abel of the best of his flocks. God was pleased
with Abel, and with his offering- ; but to Cain and to his offering
He showed no respect. This made Cain very angry, and one
day, being with Abel in the fields, he rose up against his brother
and slew him. After this the Lord said un to Cain, " Where is
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 7
thy brother Abel?" and Cain answered, " I know not, am I my
brother's keeper ?" But God showed him that He knew of his
crime. Cain became a wanderer upon the face of the earth, and
afterwards settled in the land of Nod, eastward of Eden. Plere
a son was born unto him, whose name was Enoch. The fourth
descendant from Enoch was called Lamech. He had two wives,
Adah and Zillah. Adah was the mother of Jabal, who was the
first to dwell in tents, and to study the art of rearing cattle. She
also had a son Jubal, who invented the harp and flute. Zillah
too bare a son, whose name was Tubal-cain, who first used
instruments made of copper and iron. To Adam and Eve was
now born a third son, named Seth.
There were ten generations from Adam to Noah, viz. : Adam,
Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah,
Lamech, Noah.
CHAPTER IV.
Noah The Flood.
The Flood. During the life of Noah the people on the earth
became very wicked. So great was their evil-doing that God
repented that He had made man on the earth. And the Lord
said He would destroy the whole earth on account of the wicked-
ness that existed in it. But Noah did not follow the bad example
of those around him, he did what was right in the sight of God,
and found grace in His sight. Noah had thi-ee sons, Shem, Ham,
and Japheth. And the Lord said to Noah, " The end of all flesh
is come. I will destroy the earth with all the men in it."
But Noah and his family were to be saved. So God told Noah
to make an ark of Gopher wood, 300 cubits long, 50 broad,
and 30 high. Into this he and all his family went, taking with
them seven pairs of every clean animal and fowl, and two pairs
of the unclean, with sufficient food for all. Noah entered the ark
when he was six hundred years old.
Then God caused it to rain upon the earth forty days and
forty nights the fountains of the great deep were broken up,
and the windows of heaven were opened, the waters kept on
increasing upon the earth until they stood fifteen cubits above
the highest mountains. And all flesh that were on the dry land
died. After the flood had lasted 150 days the water began slowly
to decrease. In about six months more, the ark having by this
time rested on Mount Ararat, Noah sent forth a raven to see if
the lower land were yet dry. But the raven gave him no sure
sign. He then sent forth a dove, but she returned because the
8 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
waters had not yet left the surface of the earth. He waited seven
days more, and then sent her forth again, and she returned with
an olive leaf in her mouth. He waited yet seven days and again
sent forth the dove, but she returned to him no more. Then
Noah knew that he might safely venture forth. The flood had
lasted one year and ten days. .
On coming from the Ark, Noah and his sons and their wives
offered up a sacrifice of thanks unto God. And God said that the
earth should no more he destroyed by a flood, and as a sign of
this promise He set the rainbow in the clouds.
Noah's Sons. After this Noah began to cultivate the earth,
and he planted a vineyard. God gave to Noah the permission to
eat of the flesh of animals. But He strictly charged him not to
eat of the flesh that had been cut from the living- animal, for this
cruel practice had prevailed before the flood. God also forbade the
crime of murder and suicide, and stated the punishment in these
words, " Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be
shed ; for in the image of God made He man."
Ham, one of Noah's sons, behaved so badly that he drew upon
himself his father's anger ; " cursed be Canaan (Ham) ; a servant
of servants shall he be unto his brethren." But Shem and
Japheth did what was right in their father's eyes, and Noah
loved and blessed them. Noah lived after the flood three hundred
and fifty years. And all the days of Noah were nine hundred
and fifty years j and he died.
CHAPTER V.
The Tower of Babel.
The Oldest Nations. The tenth chapter of Genesis is a very
important one, as from the names and places mentioned in
it we can trace the origin of most of the nations of ancient
and modern times. This is not the place to enter into a long
examination of the subject; it will be sufficient to give a few
of the facts which have been established by the study and re-
search of modern scholars.
The descendants of Shem occupied the central portions of the
great eastern continent of the world. They were divided into
the following nationalities : Hebrews, Assyrians, Sabceans, Ly-
dians, Aratneans, Mysians, &c.
The sons of Ham inhabited the southern portions of the conti-
nent, and spread themselves freely over Africa. From them sprung
the various tribes of Africa ; and also the Arabians, Babylonians,
Egyptians, Libyans, Philistines, Phoenicians, and Canaanites.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 9
The children of Japheth settled in the northern and western
portions of the great continent. They gave rise to the Scythians,
Medes, Greeks, Cypriots, &c. The larger portion of the nations
of Europe are descended from this branch.
The Tower of Babel. And the people said, " Let us huild
us a city, and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven ; and
let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the
face of the whole earth." At this time the whole earth was of
one language and used one kind of words. In spite of God's
promise, the fear of another deluge was strong in the minds
of the people, and they resolved to guard themselves against a
second destruction of the human race. In the course of their
wanderings they came to the plain of Shinar, between the
Euphrates and the Tigris, and here they determined to carry out
their plan. They set about building a tower, the top of which
was to reach to heaven, and which was to afford them a sure
refuge in case of another flood. But God was angry with the
people for their pride and want of faith, and hindered the
building of the tower. The Lord confounded the language of the
people, so that one did not understand the other's speech. And
the Lord scattered them over the whole surface of the earth, so
they left off building the city, which was called Babel, meaning
confusion of tongues.
As there were ten generations from Adam to Noah, so
there were ten generations from Shem to Abraham, viz. : Shem,
Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nabor, Terah,
Abraham.
CHAPTER VI.
The Life of Abraham.
Descent of Abram. Terah had three sons Abram, Nahor,
and Haran. Haran, who died in his father's lifetime, had a
son, Lot, and two daughters, Milcah and Iscah. Nahor married
Milcah, while Abram took to wife his niece Sarai, who was
ten years his junior. And Terah took Abram, and Sarai and Lot,
and went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees to go into the
land of Canaan ; and they came to Haran in Mesopotamia, and
dwelt there.
Abram's Wanderings. When Abram was seventy-five years
old God said unto him, " Get thee out from thy country, and
from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, into a land that I
will show thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I
will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and thou shalt be a
io MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
blessing." Without a murmur Abram broke up his household,
and taking with him his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, passed
into the land of Canaan and sojourned there. Again setting
out on his travels he arrived at the village of Sichem, where he
built an altar and " called upon the name of the Lord." By
this is meant that Abram for the first time taught the in-
habitants of Canaan the belief in the one true God, the only
Creator and the Governor of the world. While at Sichem, God
renewed his promise to Abram that his seed should become
great and should in later days inherit the land in which he was
dwelling. Abram next pitched his tent at Beth-el, where he
again "called upon the name of the Lord." After this Abram
continued his wanderings, always going in a southerly direction.
Now a famine came upon the land of Canaan, and Abram went
down into Egypt to sojourn there until the famine should cease.
While dwelling in Egypt, Abram waxed very rich, and became
the owner of many sheep and oxen and asses, menservants, maid-
servants, and camels.
Lot. The famine having abated, Abram returned to the South
of Canaan. During the whole of his travels his nephew Lot
accompanied him. Lot had also greatly prospered, no doubt
through the help and example of Abram. In fact, so large had
the flocks and herds of the two camps become, that no sufficient
pasture in any one place could be found for them. Owing to this
difficulty quarrels were frequent between the herdsmen of Abram
and the herdsmen of Lot. This state of things was not pleasing
to Abram, who was, above all things, a man of peace. And
Abram said to Lot, " Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between
me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for
we are brethren." He then asked Lot to choose which part of the
land he would like to have for himself: "If thou wilt take the left
hand, then I will go to the right, or if thou depart to the right
hand, then I will go to the left."
Lot chose the fertile plain of Jordan, and encamped near the
wicked city of Sodom.
Again did God renew his promise to Abram, " I will make
thy seed as the dust of the earth. . . . Arise and walk through
the land in the length and in the breadth of it, for I will give it
unto thee." Abram now removed his tent to the plain ofMumre,
wLich is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 11
CHAPTER VII.
Life of Abraham (continued) The War of the Kings.
Chedorlaomer. At this time there reigned over Elam (a dis-
trict in Persia) a mighty king- named Chedorlaomer. He had
conquered many princes, among whom were the rulers of Sodom,
Gomorrah, Admah, Zehoiim and Bela, or Zoar, all cities in tho
Jordan plain. For twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, but
in the thirteenth year they rebelled. The next year Chedor-
laomer, having made a league with the kings of Shinar, Ellasar
and Goyim, invaded the south and east of Canaan, and after
gaining many battles, prepared to reduce the kings who had
thrown off his sway. The five kings took up a strong position
in the valley of Siddim, which, being full of slime pits, offered
great difficulties to the enemy. But the plan failed, for the
five kings were beaten in battle ; many of their men fell into
the pits, while the rest escaped to the mountains. Chedorlaomer
then marched to Sodom and Gomorrah, which he captured and
despoiled. He took for a prey all the substance of these cities,
and seizing Lot and all his possessions, carried him away with
him.
Abram Bescues Lot. Abram learned from the mouth of a
messenger, who had escaped from Sodom, all that hud befallen.
Hastily gathering together his servants to the number of three
hundred and eighteen, he armed them and set out in pursuit of
the victorious kings. Three princes of the land, Mamre, Eshcol
and Aner, friends of Abram, assisted him with men. Abram
made a rapid inarch of 130 miles to Dan in the extreme north
of Canaan, and there came up with the enemy. Abram not only
showed bravery in pursuing an army many times larger than his
own, but also skill in his plan of attack. The four kings were
overthrown, and driven another 50 miles as far as Hobah, to
the west of Damascus. Lot and all his belongings were rescued.
On his return from the campaign, Melchizedek, king of Salem,
priest of the most High God, came forth and blessed Abram.
Although Abram had captured much spoil, he would not keep
even a shoe-lace for himself, but restored all of it to the right-
ful owners j Eshcol Aner and Mamre taking a share for their
assistance.
Abram's Vision. After these events, the Lord appeared unto
Abram in a vision, saying, " Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield
and thy exceeding great reward." In spite of these repeated
12 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY
promises, Abram's spirit was sad, for he had no child, and a ser-
vant in his house would inherit all he possessed. God now gave
him the hope that he would have a son, and renewed His promise
that his seed should be as numerous as the stars of heaven. And
God gave unto Abram a sign meant to confirm His pledge.
God told Abram to take a heifer, a she-goat, a ram, a turtledove,
and a pigeon ; to divide all but the birds, and to lay the pieces
opposite each other. Abram faithfully carried out these com-
mands. " And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell
upon Abram." And God showed unto His servant what would
happen to his offspring ; that they should be oppressed by a
foreign people for 400 years, that the nation whom they served
should be judged, and that in the end they should return to their
land with great riches. God further said,to Abram, "Thou shalt
g-o to thy fathers in peace ; thou shalt be buried in a good old
age." In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram,
saying, " Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river oi
Egypt (Nile) to the great river, the river Euphrates."
CHAPTER VIII.
Life of Abraham (continued} Birth of Ishmael
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Birth of Ishmael. Abram was still childless, though he had
reached the age of eighty-six. Now Sarai had an Egyptian maid,
whose name was Hagar, and whom she gave to Abrarn for a second
wife. This act led to great jealousy between Sarai and Hagar,
and at last Hagar fled from the house of Abram. But an angel
appeared unto her, and told her to return unto her mistress. He
further said unto her that she should bear a son, whose name
would be Ishmael, because the Lord had heard her affliction.
" And he shall be a wild man, his hand will be against every
man, and every man's hand against him." Hagar returned to
the tent of Abram, and bare him a son, whose name was Ishmael,
as the angel had foretold.
Abraham. Thirteen years passed away. Abram being now
ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared unto him, saying,
" I am the Almighty God ; walk before Me. and be thou perfect."
Abram fell on his face in reverence. God again renewed His
promise to make his offspring numerous. And the Lord gave him
a sign. " Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram,
but thy name shall be ABRAHAM, for a father of many nations
have I made thee. And I will make thee exceedingly fruitful,
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 13
and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
And I will give unto thee and thy seed the land of Canaan, and I
will be their God. And thou shalt keep My covenant, thou and
thy seed after thee. This is- My covenant, Every man child
among' you shall be circumcised."
God also changed Sarai's name to Sarah (queen). And the
Lord said, '' I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her." But
Abraham doubted, as both he and Sarah were now grown very old.
God thereupon renewed the promise in these words, " Sarah, thy
wife, shall bear thee a son indeed, and thou shalt call his name
Isaac. And My covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah
shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year." Then
Abraham circumcised himself, and Ishmael, and all the males of
his household.
The Visit of the Angels. In the heat of a summer's day,
Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent, when he saw three
men travelling towards him. The patriarch, always ready to
show kindness to strangers, invited them to rest and eat in his tent.
The men did so. After the meal the travellers, who were angels,
asked for Sarah, and being told she was in the tent, repeated
God's promise that she should have a son. Sarah, who now
heard the news for the first time, laughed within herself. One of
the angels blamed her for this, saying, " Is anything too hard for
the Lord ?" Then the men rose up and set out towards Sodom,
and Abraham went with them a little on the way.
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Now the Lord was
about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, because of their great
wickedness. On making known His design to Abraham, the
patriarch's grief was sore, and he feared, lest the innocent might
suffer with the guilty. He therefore begged the Lord to spare the
city if fifty good men could be found in it. God mercifully
hearkened to the prayer of Abraham, and promised to spare the city
if fifty good men could be found in it. But Abraham, fearing that
such a number might not exist, asked further that the city might
be spared if it contained forty good men. Again the Lord con-
sented, and again Abraham sought to reduce the number, till at
length God promised to spare the city if only ten good persons
could be found in it. But, alas ! among the thousands who dwelt
in Sodom, there could not be found ten who deserved the name of
righteous. And so the wicked city went to its fate.
The strangers who had partaken of Abraham's kindness, had a
mission to perform. They were sent by the Lord to destroy the
wicked cities of the plain. Two of them reached Sodom at even.
14 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Lot, Abraham's nephew, who had learnt the duties towards the
stranger from his uncle, pressed them to stay in his house
overnight. The travellers accepted his offer. Before they lay
down to rest the men of Sodom gathered round the house intent
on harming the strangers. It was in vain Lot went out to calm
their evil passions. The crowd " pressed sore upon him, and
came near to break the door." The angels now pulled Lot within
the house, and smote the men outside with blindness, so that
they wearied themselves to find the door.
Then the angels told Lot that they would destroy the city next
day. They therefore urged him to leave at once, together with
his wife, daughters, and other relatives. As the morning dawned
the angels hurried Lot to go at once, lest they should perish with
the city, and because he lingered they actually drove him away.
As they were going the angels said to him, " Escape for thy life j
look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain, escape
to the mountains, lest thou be consumed." But Lot pleading
that the mountains were too far off, received permission to take
refuge in the little town of Zoar. No sooner had Lot departed
from the doomed city, than the Lord rained fire and brimstone
upon Sodom and Gomorrah, utterly destroying them. Lot reached
Zoar in safety, but his wife, who had disobeyed the command of
the angel, and looked back upon the burning cities, was changed
into a pillar of salt
CHAPTER IX.
Life of Abraham (continued). Birth of Isaac. The offering
on Mount Moriah. Death of Abraham.
Birth of Isaac. The crowning joy in the life of Abraham was
the birth of a son borne to him by his wife Sarah. Abraham
called his son Isaac. "And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac,
being eight days old, as God had commanded him." But now
a fresh trouble arose in the patriarch's tent. Sarah saw Ishmael, the
son of Hagar, mocking. " Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast
out this bondwoman and her son j for the son of this bondwoman
shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac." But Abraham
grieved to do anything so evil. Then God appeared unto him, and
bade him hearken to the voice of Sarah, foretelling at the same time
that Ishmael should give rise to a mighty nation. The next day
Abraham gave unto Hagar bread and water, and sent her forth, and
she wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. And when
the water was spent, she cast the child under a bush, and went and
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 15
fiat down at the distance of a bow-shot, saying " Let me not see the
death of the child." And she lifted up her voice and wept. But
God in His mercy heard her weeping and showed her a well of
water, which was the means of saving her life and that of her son.
At this period Abraham made a covenant of peace with
Abimelech, king of the Philistines, at a place called Beer-sheba.
Abraham's Trial. Now God desired to prove His servant
Abraham, and therefore told him to proceed to the land of Moriah,
and there on ahill to offer Isaac as a burnt-offering. Abraham, with-
out a moment's hesitation, obeyed the word of God. He rose earty
in the morning, and taking his only son Isaac, and a sufficiency of
wood, set out for the place appointed. After three days' journey
they arrived at the spot, and Abraham, having built an altar and
arranged the wood, bound Isaac and laid him on the pile. While
his hand, holding the fatal knife, was stretched forth, an angel
called to him from heaven, and said to him, " Lay not thine hand
upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him, for now I know
tnat thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son, from Me." Abraham, lifting up his eyes, saw a
ram caught in a thicket by his horns, and Abraham offered
the ram instead of Isaac. God blessed Abraham, saying-, " In thy
seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed j because thou
hast obeyed My voice."
Nahor, the brother of Abraham, had married Milcah. They
had several children, one of them being Bethuel. Bethuel also
begat Rebekah, she was thus grand-niece to Abraham.
Sarah died in Kirjath-Arbah, being one hundred and twenty-seven
years old. She was buried in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron,
which Abraham bought for a burying-place of Ephron the Hittite.
Abrahapr and Eliezer. Abraham was now old and well
stricken in years, and the Lord had blessed him in all things. He
had one fear, lest Isaac should marry a daughter of a heathen
family. So Abraham called unto him Eliezer, his chief servant,
and made him swear that he should not take a wife for Isaac of
the " daughters of the Canaanites." " But thou shalt go unto
my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son."
But Eliezer said, perhaps the woman whom I select will not
come hither. Then Abraham bade him trust that God would
bring his desire to pass; and so the servant swore to do the
command of his master. Eliezer, taking with him a goodly store
of camels and presents, set out for the city of Nahor, in Mesopo-
tamia. When he reached a well in the outskirts of the city, he
prayed to God for direction, saying, that if any damsel came to
16 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
the well and offered to draw water for himself and his camels,
this should be a sign that the damsel was to be the future wife
of Isaac. Scarcely had he finished when Rebekah, the daughter
of Bethuel, came to the well, and offered to draw water for Eliezer
and his camels. The pious servant offered thanks to God for
His help ; and, after laying the nature of his errand before
Bethuel the father, and Laban the brother, of Rebekah, they
agreed to the proposal of Eliezer that Rebekah should become the
wife of Isaac. But the damsel's consent had still to be obtained.
They asked her, " Wilt thou go with this man '<"' and she said,
" I will go." So the caravan set out on its homeward journey,
and Rebekah became the wife of her cousin Isaac.
Abraham took unto him another wife, and her name was Keturah.
Abraham, having given the bulk of his possessions to Isaac, died
full of years, being one hundred and seventy-five years old.
" And his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him in the cave of
Machpelah." Ishmael had a large family of sons, whose names
are mentioned in the Bible. Twelve of them were princes. He
died at the age of one hundred and thirty-seven.
CHAPTER X.
Life of Isaac.
Esau and Jacob. " And it came to pass after the death of
Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac j and Isaac dwelt by
the well Lahai-roi." Isaac was forty years old when he married
Rebekah. She bare him two sons, Esau and Jacob. " And the
boys grew. Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field ; and
Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." Isaac loved his first-
born Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. One day, Jacob was
cooking some lentils when his brother came home, tired and
hungry, from hunting. Esau begged of Jacob a portion of the
food. But Jacob would not give him any unless he received Esau's
birthright in exchange. Esau agreed to this, and sold his birth-
right for a mess of pottage.
A famine now broke out in the land, and to avoid it Isaac
took up his abode in Gerar, in the land of the Philistines.
Here the Lord appeared unto him, and blessed him. Isaac
tilled the land and became very rich, having many flocks and
herds and servants. The Philistines envied nim, and stopped up
all the wells of water that his father Abraham had dug. He,
therefore, to avoid strife, left Gerar, and dwelt in the open plain.
Here he due: fresh wells.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 17
Esau being now forty years of age, took unto himself two
Hittite women for wives. This act caused great grief to Isaac
and Rebekah.
Jacob obtains Isaac's Blessing. When Isaac was old, his
eyes grew dim, so that he could not see. He called unto him
Esau, his elder son, and asked him to prepare him a meal of veni-
son, so that he might bless him before he died. Esau took his
bow and arrows into the fields to slay a deer and bring- it to his
father. But Rebekah had overheard what passed, and being
anxious that Jacob should receive the blessing, she called him
and told him how he should act. She bade him go to the flocks
and take two kids. These she would cook, and then Jacob was
to take them in to his father and thus receive the blessing-.
Jacob was willing to obey his mother, but was afraid that his
father might find him out if perchauce he felt him, for Esau was
a hairy man, but Jacob's skin was smooth. Rebekah thereupon
told him to put pieces of the skin of the kids upon his hands and
neck, and dressed him in Esau's clothes. Thus prepared, Jacob
carried the savoury meats to his father. And he said, " My
father j" and he said, "Here am I, who art thou, my son?" And
Jacob said unto his father, " I am Esau, thy firstborn ; I have
done according as thou badest me ; arise, I pray thee, sit and eat
of my venison, that thy soul may bless me." And Isaac said
unto his son, " How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my
son ?" And he said, " Because the Lord thy God brought it to
me." And Isaac said unto Jacob, " Come near, I pray thee, that
I may feel thee, whether thou be my very son Esau, or not." And
Jacob went near unto Isaac, his father; and he felt him and said,
" The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands arc the hands of
Esau." And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy,
as his brother Esau's hands ; so he blessed him. And he safd,
" Art thou my very son Esau," and he said, " I am." Having
eaten of the food, Isaac blessed his son Jacob, praying God to
give him of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of wine and corn.
" Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Cursed
be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth
thee."
And it came to pass, when Isaac had made an end of blessing
Jacob, and Jacob had left his father's presence, that Esau returned
from hunting, not knowing what had taken place durino- his
absence. He hastened to prepare savoury meat, and brought it
to his father, begging Isaac to give him his blessing. And
Isaac, his father, said unto him, "Who art thou?" And he
c
18 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
said, tl I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau." Isaac hearing these
words, trembled very much, and told Esau that his brother had
been there before him and had already received the blessing.
Then Esau cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said
unto his father, " Bless me, even me also, my father." And
Isaac said, "Thy brother came with subtility and hath taken away
thy blessing." But Esau cried and begged so hard that at
length his father blessed him also, telling him that he should
live by the sword, but yet he should serve his brother, " and it
shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, thou
shalt break his yoke from off thy neck."
Jacob's Flight. Esau hated Jacob for depriving him of the
blessing, and resolved to kill him after their father's death.
This intention coming to Rebekah's ears, she advised Jacob to
flee to the house of Laban, his uncle, in Haran, there to dwell
until his brother's anger should have passed away. Before
setting out, Jacob received his father's blessing, and the command
not to marry a daughter of the Canaanites, but to take a wife of
the daughters of Laban. " And Isaac sent away Jacob, and he
went unto Padan-Aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian,
the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother."
Esau, seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not his
father Isaac, took as another wife Mahalath, the daughter of
Ishmael, and granddaughter of Abraham.
CHAPTER XT.
Life of Jacob.
Jacob's Dream. "And Jacob went out from Beersheba,
and went towards Haran." At the nd of his first day's
journey he lay down to rest in the open plain, using a stone for
his pillow. That night he had a dream. He saw a ladder
stretching from earth to heaven, and angels of God were ascend-
ing and descending on it. And the Lord stood above it and said,
" I am the Lord God of Abraham thy Father and the God of
Isaac ; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to
thy seed." God further promised Jacob to protect him during
his travels, and to bring him back to the country he was leaving.
When Jacob awoke in the morning he was afraid, saying, ll How
dreadful is this place ! this is none other than the house of God,
and this is the gate of heaven." He anointed the stone upon
which he had slept with oil, and changed the name of the place
from Luz to Beth-el (House of God). Jacob made a vow that
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 19
the Lord should be his God, and that he would give to His
service a tenth-part of all his possessions.
Jacob with Laban. Jacob continued his journey till he
reached a well in the land of Haran. While resting there,
Rachel, one of the daughters of Laban, led a flock of sheep to
the well to water them. Jacob made himself known to Rachel,
and returned with her to her father's house. After dwelling
there a month, Laban asked Jacob what wages he would desire
for serving him. Now Laban had two daughters, Leah and
Rachel. Rachel was beautiful, but Leah was not so well-favoured
as her sister. Jacob loved Rachel, and told Laban that he
would serve him seven years for her. Laban consented. At
the end of the seven years he gave him Leah to be his wife in-
stead of Rachel. Jacob, finding himself deceived, agreed to serve
another seven years for Rachel. Zilpah and Bilhah, the hand-
maids of Leah and Rachel, were also given unto Jacob as wives.
Leah bare unto Jacob six sons : Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judab,
Issachar and Zebulun, and one daughter Dinah. Her handmaid
Zilpah bare him two sons, Gad and Asher. Rachel was the
mother of two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Her maid Bilhah
also had two sons, Dan and Naphtali. After the birth of Joseph,
Jacob wished to return to his native land. But Laban was not
willing to lose the services of so faithful a shepherd, and begged
him to remain. Jacob agreed to stay with Laban on the condition
that he was to receive as wages all the cattle, sheep, and goats,
that were born speckled or spotted. Laban was quite willing that
Jacob should stay on these terms, and found that his possessions
increased under the watchful care of Jacob, his son-in-law. But
Jacob prospered still more, and he " had much cattle and maid-
servants, and menservants, and camels and asses.
Jacob returns Home. The sons of Laban grew jealous of
Jacob's well-doing ; they spoke against Jacob, saying that all
he was worth rightly belonged to their father. These speeches
had effect upon Laban, who began to look upon Jacob with dis-
favour. This made Jacob resolve to return at once to Canaan.
He spoke to Leah and Rachel, and gaining their ready consent,
took the opportunity of Laban's absence to carry out his intention.
Placing his wives and children upon camels, and driving his
large flocks and herds before him, he set out on his way home-
wards. Three days after, Laban heard of Jacob's flight. IP
hot haste he gathered his relations, and hurried after the
patriarch, and came up with him at Mount Gilead, after seven
days' pursuit. Jacob was in danger of the Syrian's anger, but
c a
20 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
the Lord appeared unto Laban, and warned him not to harm
Jacob. When the two men met harsh words passed between
them, but Jacob showed how for twenty years he had served
Laban with faithfulness, although his wages had been changed
many times. At length a covenant of peace was agreed upon,
and a heap of stones set up as a witness, and called Galeed and
Mizpah. Early next mornjng "Laban rose up and kissed his
sons and his daughters, and blessed them, and Laban departed
and returned to his place."
Jacob meets Esau. Freed from one peril, Jacob had to face
another. He was approaching the dwelling- of his brother Esau,
and dreaded the meeting which must take place. To calm his
brother, he sent on servants in advance bearing a peaceful
message. These returned soon with the dread tidings that Esau
was marching towards him with four hundred men. Jacob was
sore afraid, yet he set about calmly to make the best preparations
he could. He divided his following into two camps, so that if
Esau came upon one the other might escape. Then having offered
up a fervent prayer to God, he prepared a rich present of sheep,
goa f s, camels and kine, and sent them forward to meet his
brother. That night after everything had been arranged, a
strange event happened to Jacob. lie was alone when a man
appeared and wrestled with him till morning. The stranger,
finding he could not prevail, struck Jacob in the hollow of his
thigh and made him lame. Day breaking, the man wished to
depart, but Jacob would not let him go till he had learned the
stranger's name. He that wrestled with Jacob was no man, but
an angel, and instead of telling his own name, he changed that of
Jacob to ISRAEL (Prince of God) u for as a prince hast thou power
with God and with men, and hast prevailed." The angel blessed
him and departed. In remembrance of this event " the children
of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the
hollow of the thigh unto this day, because he touched the hollow
of Jacob's thigh in the sinew which shrank."
The meeting between the brothers was now at hand. Jacob
beholding Esau's approach went towards him, bowing to the
ground seven times. But lo ! instead of hate there was
love, for " Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell
upon his neck and kissed him ; and they wept." And so the
brothers were reconciled after their long separation. Soon after
they parted. Esau accepting Jacob's present returned to the
land of Seir, while Jacob crossing the Jordan travelled almost
due west unto Succoth. He then journeyed to Shechem,
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 21
where, having- bought a piece of land, he pitched his tent, and
raised an altar to God.
Death of Rachel. But Jacob's wandering's were not yet
finished. After clearing his camp of the idols his servants
had brought with them, he set out and reached Beth-el, where
he built an altar. Here the Lord appeared unto Jacob, and con-
firmed his change of name. And God said "Be fruitful and
multiply} a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee,
and kings shall come out of thy loins." Jacob, afcer a time, set
out again from Beth-el, and when there was but a little way from
Ephrath, Rachel his best beloved wife, died in giving birth to
Benjamin. Her grave exists to this day. At length Jacob
reached Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. He
found his father still alive, but Rebekah had gone to her rest.
CHAPTER XII.
Life of Joseph. His Captivity in Egypt.
Joseph's Dreams. Of all Jacob's sons Joseph was the one
whom he loved best, and, as a proof of his love, he made him
a garment of many colours. But when the brethren saw this
they hated Joseph, and could not speak peaceably to him. Joseph
dreamt a dream and told it to his brethren. He thought they
were all binding sheaves in the field, that his sheaf stood upright,
while the sheaves of the brethren bowed down to it. Hearing
this the brothers hated him still more. He dreamt again that the
sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to him. He
told the dream to his father and to his brethren, and his father
rebuked him saying, " Shall I and thy mother, and thy brethren
bow down to thee ?" And the brethren hated him still more.
Joseph sold into Egypt. One day the brethren went to
pasture their sheep in Sheehem, and Jacob sent Joseph to inquire
after their welfare. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, he found
his brethren had gone on to Dothan, and he followed them
there. Now, when the brethren saw Joseph approaching, they
made up their minds to slay him, and cast him into a pit ; and, to
hide their sin, they resolved to tell their father that a wild beast
had devoured him. But Reuben, more merciful than the others,
tried to save him, and he persuaded the brothers not to kill
Joseph, but merely to put him into a pit, with the intention of
taking him out again when the others had gone away. First
stripping Joseph of his coat of many colours, the brethren put him
into a pit. Shortly after, a company of merchants passed by, going
22 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
from Gilead to Egypt, and bearing with them balm and myrrh
and other spices. Judah saw the means of saving- his brother's life.
He advised his brethren to sell Joseph as a slave to the merchants.
Joseph was taken out of the pit, sold for twenty pieces of silver,
and carried down to Egypt.
Eeuben, who had been absent for a time, now returned
to the pit, and, finding Joseph was not there, he rent his
clothes. The brethren then killed a goat, and dipping the coat of
many colours into the blood, sent it to Jacob, saying, " this
have we found." Jacob at once knew it as Joseph's garment ;
and thinking Joseph had been killed by a wild beast he " rent his
clothes, and clothed himself in sack-cloth, and mourned for his
son many days, and refused to be comforted."
Joseph in Egypt. On reaching- Egypt, Joseph was sold to
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, and captain of
his guard. The Jewish slave prospered in the house of his
master, who soon made him overseer over his household. Shortly
after, Joseph, although he had never done any wrong, fell into
disgrace, and was thrown into the prison where the king's prisoners
were bound. But even here he found favour, and was put in
charge over his fellow captives.
It came to pass after these things, that the chief butler and
the chief baker of the King of Egypt offended their master, and
they were placed in the same prison with Joseph. They each
dreamt a dream, and begged Joseph to explain them. Joseph
replied that the explanation of dreams belonged to God, still he
asked them to tell him their dreams. The butler dreamt he
saw a vine, and the vine had three branches loaded with ripe
grapes, and he pressed the juice into Pharaoh's cup which lie
held in his hand. And Joseph explained the dream to mean,
that in three days the butler would be restored to his office and
to the king's favour. Joseph begged the chief butler to think of him
when restored to power, and to show his kindness by getting him
released from prison. " For indeed I was stolen away out of the
land of the Hebrews ; and here also have I done nothing that
they should put me into the dungeon." The baker then spoke.
He dreamt he had three white baskets on his head, and in tha
uppermost there were all kinds of bakemeats for Pharaoh, and
the birds came down and eat them. Joseph explained the dream
to mean that in three days the baker should be hanged, and the
birds should eat his flesh. And it fell out as Joseph had foretold :
the butler was restored to his office, and the baker was hanged.
" Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him."
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 23
CHAPTER XIII.
Life of Joseph (continued}. Joseph made Governor of
Egypt.
Pharaoh's Dreams. Two years passed. At the end of that
time Pharaoh dreamt that he stood by the river. And there came
up out of the river seven fat cows, and they fed in a meadow.
Then there came up seven lean and ill-favoured cows, who ate
up the seven fat cows; and Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamt a
second time. This time he saw seven ears of good corn come up
on one stalk. Then seven thin ears sprang up, and swallowed
the seven good ears ; and Pharaoh awoke. The next morning
the king's spirit was troubled to know the meaning of his
dreams. He sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt ;
but none could explain them. Then the chief butler told Pharaoh
that while in prison a Hebrew young man, servant to the captain
of the guard, had interpreted his and the baker's dreams in a
way that proved true. Pharaoh immediately ordered Joseph to
be brought before him. The captive was hurried from prison
into the presence of the mighty king, who told Joseph he had
heard of his skill, and asked him to explain his dreams. But
Joseph, with native modesty, replied, " It is not in me ; God shall
give unto Pharaoh an answer of peace." Pharaoh then related
his dreams. Joseph told the king that his dreams were one, and that
God had repeated them to show Pharaoh what He was shortly
about to do. The dreams foretold that there were to be seven
years of plenty in Egypt j but that those seven years were to
be followed by seven years of famine so severe, that they would
cause the seven years of plenty to be forgotten. Joseph then
advised the king to make good use of the years of plenty, by
storing up an abundance of corn throughout Egypt. Pharaoh,
struck with the wise counsel of Joseph, at once appointed him
ruler over Egypt, second in power to himself alone. Pharaoh
called Joseph by the Egyptian name of Zaphnath-paaneah, and
gave unto him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah,
priest of On. She bare Joseph two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Joseph was thirty years old when he explained Pharaoh's dreams.
And now began the seven years of plenty, when the land brought
forth by handfuls. Joseph gathered up all the corn of Egypt " as
the sand of the sea, and laid it up in storehouses." Then came
the seven years of dearth over all the earth ; but while the other
nations suffered through the want of food, there was plenty of
24 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
corn in Egypt. And they caime into Egypt to Joseph for to
buy corn, " because that the famine was so sore in all lands."
Joseph's Brethren in Egypt. The famine was sore in Canaan
also, and Jacob sent his ten sons to Egypt to buy corn, keeping
Benjamin at home with himself. The brothers presented
themselves in due course before Joseph, who knew them, but they
knew him not. Joseph resolved to try his brothers. He there-
fore spoke roughly to them, and called them spies. In vain
the brothers told the Egyptian ruler that they were honest men
only come to buy corn, and that they had left their youngest
brother at home. Joseph pretended not to listen to them j but, at
last, to prove them, he told them to send for their brother. After
placing them in prison three days, he allowed them to depart,
keeping Simeon as a hostage for their return. Joseph always
spoke in Egyptian before his brothers, and, as they could not
understand that tongue, an interpreter had to be employed. But
the brothers spoke to each other in Hebrew ; and when Reuben
blamed his brethren, saying that this evil had come upon them
through their ill-treatment of Joseph, the latter, who of course
understood what they were saying, could scarcely restrain his tears.
Joseph provided his brothers with a good supply of corn, and
placing their purchase money in their sacks, sent them on their way.
On their return Jacob was filled with grief. He had lost Joseph
and Simeon, too, he feared, but he would not part with Benjamin.
Benjamin sent to Egypt. The famine, however, grew more
severe in Canaan. The corn the brothers had brought back with
them was nearly all gone. Jacob again bade them go to Egypt
for more. But the brothers hung back. How could the\ r face
the lord of Egypt unless Benjamin were with them ? Then
Judah, the foremost of the brethren, entreated the aged patriarch
to part with Benjamin, saying, " I will be surety for him j if I bring
him not unto thee, then let me bear the blame for ever." At
length Jacob yielded to the pleadings of Judah. He prepared a
E resent for the ruler of Egypt, and sent double money to pay for
oth supplies of corn. He also gave Benjamin into their charge;
and, praying to God to guard them all, sent them on their journey.
The brothers again stood before Joseph, who invited them to a
feast in his palace. They were troubled in mind, for they did
not understand why the ruler of Egypt should appear to take
such interest in them. They sought the steward of the Viceroy's
house, and explained to him how they had found the purchase-
money in their sacks when returning to Canaan. This money
they had brought again, besides other money to buy food. The
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. s 5
steward bade them fear not, and restored Simeon unto them. In
the evening Joseph received them at a feast. He anxiously asked
of the brothers it their father was alive. Seeing Benjamin, his
true brother, his firmness gave way. His heart yearned towards
him, and he was obliged to shed in secret the tears that gushed
from his eyes.
Joseph's Cup. The next day Joseph ordered his stewards
to supply the brothers with the corn they required, to put each
man's money into his sack, and to place his silver cup in the sack of
Benjamin. The brothers loaded their asses, and set out on their
journey homeward. They had not gone far when the steward
overtook them, and accused them of stealing his lord's silver cup.
The brothers, knowing nothing of the matter, declared they were
innocent of the charge made against them, and even went so far
as to say, that if the cup should be found in the possession of any
one of them, he should be put to death, while the others should
become slaves. But the steward replied that he would be
content that the culprit should be made a slave, while the others
should be blameless. Then the sacks were opened, and the ciip was
found in Benjamin's sack. The brothers rent their garments with
grief, and at once returned to Egypt. Joseph blamed them for their
ingratitude. The brothers threw themselves upon the earth, and
could speak no word. Then Judah, who had made himself answer-
able for the safety of Benjamin, exclaimed, " What shall we say
unto my lord ? what shall we speak ? or how shall we clear our-
selves ? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold
we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the
cup is found." But Joseph replied that he could not let the
innocent suffer for the guilty ; " the man in whose hand the cup
is found, he shall be my servant ; and, as for you, get you up in
peace unto your father."
Then Judah drew near, and in most pathetic words, begged
that Benjamin might be spared. He said that their father was un-
willing to let Benjamin go down to Egypt, and that should the
brethren return without him, the old man would die of grief.
He explained that he himself had become surety for his brother's
safe return ; and how, he asked, can I return to my father, " and
the lad be not with us, seeing his life is bound up in the lad's life."
He offered, therefore, to become the Viceroy's servant, so that
Benjamin might return to his aged father.
Joseph reveals Himself. Joseph, overcome by these moving
words, could no longer restrain himself. He ordered all strangers
to withdraw j then, bursting into tears, he told the brothers that
26 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
he was Joseph. The brothers drew back in dismay, remembering
how cruelly they had treated him. But Joseph lovingly brought
them unto him ; spoke words of peace and of comfort to them ;
and told them that all they did was for the best. True, they had
sold him into Egypt ; but by that very act many thousands of
persons had been saved alive. Then he wept over Benjamin, and
kissed all his brothers. Loading them with presents, and sending
numerous waggons with them, he bade them return to Canaan,
and bring his father and their families down to Egypt. A joyous
journey was that. They came to their father Jacob, and told him
how they had found Joseph ruler over Egypt. " And Israel said,
It is enough, Joseph my son is yet alive, I will go and see him
I ,. T T )>
before I die.
Jacob in Egypt. Jacob, his sons, and all their households,
set out on their way to Egypt. Arriving at Beersheba, God
appeared unto the patriarch and assured him of His protection.
At length they reached that part of Egypt called Goshen, which
had been set apart for them. Here at length, after twenty-two
years' separation, father and son were again united.
The patriarch and his family numbered in all seventy souls.
Pharaoh had given a willing consent to all that Joseph had done
with regard to his family. Desiring to see the patriarch, Joseph
brought his father, then 130 years old ; into the presence of the
king, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
The famine was not yet over : the Egyptians still had to buy
corn at Joseph's store-houses. When they had parted with all
their money, Joseph gave them corn in exchange for their land.
By this means Pharaoh became possessed of the whole of the land.
CHAPTER XIV.
Death of Jacob and of Joseph.
. Jacob's Blessings and Death. Jacob's earthly life was now
drawing to an end. Joseph, always a good son, visited his father,
taking- Manasseh and Ephraim with him. These Jacob blessed,
laying his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, and his left hand
on Manasseh, the elder. He also blessed Joseph. Jacob then
called all his sons around him, to tell them what should befall
them in the last days. Reuben should not excel because he was
" unstable as water." Simeon and Levi should be divided in
Jacob and scattered in Israel. From Judah should spting the
future kings of the nation, and, greater honour still, the future
Messiah should come of his tribe. Issachar should live at peace
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 27
in a pleasant land. Dan should give birth to one of the greatest
of Israel's judges. Gad should be conquered, but should triumph
in the end. Asher should enjoy the daintiest things of earth.
From Naphtali should come the poet and singer. Joseph should
be crowned with many blessings, " blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that lieth under." Benjamin should produce
the soldier and hero. These words spoken, Jacob commanded
his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah ; then, yielding
up his spirit, he was gathered unto his people. He had lived one
hundred and forty-seven years.
" And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him,
and kissed him." The body was then embalmed and carried up to
Canaan, amidst a great assemblage of mourners, Israelites and
Egyptians. They buried the patriarch in the cave of Mach-
pelah, having mourned for him seven days. Joseph and his
brethren then returned to Egypt, where they lived in perfect
peace and love.
Joseph's Death. Joseph felt life drawing to a close. Calling
his brethren around him, he reminded them of God's promise
to bring them out of Egypt into the land "which He sware
to Abraham, Isaac, and to Jacob." Joseph then made his
brethren swenr that, when their descendants left Egypt, they
should carry his bones up with them to Canaan. " So Joseph died,
being an hundred and ten years old ; and they embalmed liim ; and
he was put in a coffin in Egypt."
PAET IT.
FROM THE DEATH OP JOSEPH TO THE DEATH
OP MOSES.
CHAPTER. I.
Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. The Call of Moses.
The Israelites in Bondage. After the death of Joseph, and
all his brethren, and all that generation, the children of Israel
were very fruitful, and increased so much that the land was tilled
with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew
not Joseph. Fearing that the Israelites might in time become
mightier than the Egyptians, he resolved to deal t( wisely" with
them. So he set over them taskmasters to afflict them, and they
built treasure cities for Pharaoh viz., Pithom and Raamses. But
the more they were afflicted the more they grew j so the Egyptians
28 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
increased their burdens, and made their lives bitter with hard
bondage. To stop the increase in their numbers, Pharaoh ordered
all the new-born male children among- the Israelites to be put to
death, while the daughters might be saved alive.
Moses. Now Amram, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, had
taken to wife Jochebed, also of the tribe of Levi. Two children,
Miriam and Aaron, had been born unto them. Shortly after
Pharaoh's cruel edict, Jochebed gave birth to another son;
and seeing- he was a goodly child, she hid him for three
months. When she could no longer hide him, she made a little
ark of bulrushes, and smearing it with pitch, placed the
infant in it, and laid it among the reeds of the Nile. Miriam
placed herself a little way off to see what would happen.
Presently, the daughter of the King of Egypt came down
to bathe. Seeing the little ark, she had it brought to her.
" When she had opened it, she saw the child : and behold the babe
wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, " This is one of
the Hebrew's children." At this moment, Miriam came forward
and offered to find a nurse for the infant. Pharaoh's daughter
consented, and the child was placed in the care of its own mother.
The child grew, and he became unto Pharaoh's daughter as her
son, and she called his name Moses, because " She drew him out
of the water." Moses, thus reared in the king's palace, reached
manhood ; but, though he was trained at the royal court, he kept
up a close intimacy with his oppressed brethren. One day he saw
an Egyptian smiting an Israelite. In righteous anger he slew the
tyrant, and hid the body in the sand. Shortly after he saw two
Israelites striving. He wished to make peace between them ; but
the wrongdoer cried out, " Who made thee a prince and a judge
over us? Intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian f '
Moses, finding that the thing was known, and also that the king-
was seeking his life, fled eastward round the head of the Gulf of
Suez to the land of Midian, in Arabia. Resting by a well, he helped
some shepherdesses to water their flocks. They proved to be the
daughters of Jethro (also called Reuel and Hobab), priest of
Midian. Moses dwelled with Jethro, and took his daughter Zip-
porah to wife. And she bare him two sons, Gershon and Eliezer.
Moses was forty years old when he fled to Midian.
In process of time, the King of Egypt died. This event brought
no relief to the oppressed children of Israel. Their burdens grew
heavier, and they cried to God " by reason of their bondage. And
God heard their groaning; and God remembered his covenant
with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 29
Call of Moses. Moses kept the flock of Jethro, and one day
he led them to the mountain of God. even Horeb. And an angel
of God appeared unto him in a burning- bush, and he looked and
behold the bush burned with fire and yet was not consumed. The
Lord spake unto Moses from the bush, saying that He had seen the
affliction of the children of Israel in Egypt, and had come down to
deliver them and to bring them to the promised land of Canaan.
Furthermore God announced to Moses that He had chosen him to
lead his brethren out of Egypt. But Moses, who was the meekest
of men, did not wish to undertake this great work, and tried to
make excuses. But God commanded him to obey, telling him
that Pharaoh would not at first let the children of Israel go, but
that in the end they should depart from Egypt with great riches.
Moses still held back, but God gave him two signs to show unto the
Israelites, should they doubt the divine mission of Moses : first,
the rod that was in Moses' hand was changed into a serpent ; and
secondly, the hand of Moses became leprous and immediately after-
wards healed again by merely thrusting it into his bosom. Moses
made one more appeal : he complained that he was not fit to plead
with Pharaoh because he was not eloquent The Lord replied
that Aaron, who could speak well, should go with him and should
be his spokesman. Moses then yielded. He and his household
at once returned to Egypt. Moses and Aaron gathered their
brethren together, and told them that the hour of deliverance
was at hand. And the people believed, and they bowed their Leads
and worshipped the Lord.
CHAPTER II.
The Tea Plagues. The Redemption from Egypt.
The Plagues. Moses and Aaron at length stood before
Pharaoh, and gave him God's message. But the proud-hearted
king scoffed at them, saying, " Who is the Lord, that I should
obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the Lord, neither will
I let Israel go." The only result that followed was that the lot of
the Israelites grew worse, for now they were not given straw
to mix with the clay of their bricks. So they were compelled to seek
for straw and yet to make the same number of bricks as before.
The Egyptian taskmasters also reviled Moses and Aaron, saying-
that they hindered their brethren from working. Moses com-
plained to the Lord that since he had spoken to Pharaoh the burden
of His people had been increased. God re-assured him and bade him
fo again to Pharaoh and show him a sign that God had sent him.
Loses was now eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three.
3 o MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
The brothers once more stood before Pharaoh and demanded
the release of their brethren. Aaron, to show that God had sent
them, threw down his rod, which was instantly changed into a
serpent. Pharaoh's magicians, upon this, threw down their rods,
and they were also changed into serpents, but Aaron's rod swallowed
their rods. Pharaoh still would not hearken, and God sent ten
plagues upon the Egyptians. They were : i, The water of the
rivers and ponds turned into blood ; 2, Frogs ; 3, Lice ; 4, Flies ;
5, Murrain ; 6, Boils; 7, Hailj 8, Locusts; 9, Darkness; 10,
Slaughter of the first-born.
The Passover. Before the last plague was brought upon
the Egyptians, God instituted the Passover. The month of
Nisan, or Oviv (green ears), was made the first month of the
year. On the tenth day of that month the head of every Jewish
family was to select a lamb of the first year without blemish.
This was to be kept till the evening of the fourteenth day and
then killed. The blood was to be taken and sprinkled on
the door-posts of the houses ; while the body of the lamb was to
be roasted and eaten. The blood upon the houses was to be for a
sign, so that the destroying- angel should pass over those houses
when he smote the first-born of Egypt. The anniversary of that
event was to be observed through all time by the eating of
unleavened bread.
The Exodus. The children of Israel were ordered to prepare
to leave Egypt at a moment's notice. The night arrived when
God's final judgment was to take effect upon the stubborn king and
his people. At midnight a cry arose throughout all Egypt, for God
had smitten all the first-born, "from the first-born of Pharaoh
that sat on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive that was
in the dungeon." Pharaoh, calling hastily for Moses and Aaron,
begged them to depart at once with the children of Israel. The
Egyptians also pressed them to go. The Israelites at once set
out on their journey, taking with them the dough they were
preparing for bread before it was leavened "their kneading
troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders." The
Egyptians loaded their former slaves with many presents,
"jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment."
Thus came to an end the four hundred and thirty years fore-
told to Abraham as the period during which his descendants
should dwell in a strange land, and thus was the nation whom the
Israelites had served "judged" by the Lord.
The Israelites, to the number of six hundred thousand men,
and probably three times as many more women and children,
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 31
setting out from Raamses, marched in an easterly direction to
Succoth. The nearest way to Canaan would have been along the
shores of the Mediterranean Sea and through Philistia. But
God would not let His people take that route, as they, from their
long- servitude, were not fit to cope with the warlike Philistines.
Moses, not unmindful of the oath exacted by Joseph, carried the
patriarch's bones up with him. For forty years they were borne
by the Israelites through all their wanderings, until they found
a final resting-place in the Holy Land.
From Succoth they journeyed still eastward to Ethan in the
wilderness. "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar
of a cloud, to lead them the way ; and by night in a pillar of fire,
to give them light; to go by day and night."
CHAPTER III.
Passage of the Red Sea. Battle with the Amalekites.
The Red Sea. The children of Israel now resumed their march
in a south- easterly direction, and reaching the head of the Gulf of
Suez, an arm of the Red Sea, encamped near Migdal. It had
taken them three days to reach the sea. Pharaoh, already re-
Denting that he had let the Israelites go, collected his army, and,
with all the chariots of Egypt, set out in hot pursuit The
Israelites, finding themselves between the Egyptians and the im-
passable sea, were sore afraid and cried out unto God. But the
Lord bade them be of good cheer. " The Lord shall fight for you,
and ye shall hold your peace." Then, causing a strong east wind to
blow, God divided the waters of the Red Sea. u And the children
of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground :
and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on
their left." The Egyptians pursued the Israelites ; but, while they
were in the midst, God caused the waters to return to their place ;
so the whole host of Egypt was drowned. " There remained not
so much as one of them." Then Moses and the children of Israel
sang a song of thanks to God, "saying, I will sing unto the Lord,
for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he
thrown into the sea." Miriam and the women, taking timbrels,
answered the joyous song.
The Israelites enter the Desert. Journeying south, down the
eastern side of the Gulf of Suez, the Israelites entered the wilder-
ness of Shur, and they marched three days without finding water.
Reaching- Marah they found water, but it was too bitter to drink;
but Moses pointed out a tree to them, which, being cast into the
32 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
water, made it fit for use. Going- still southward they reached
Elim, which abounded in wells and palm-trees, and encamped
there. On leaving- Elim they entered the wilderness of Sin
t>n the fifteenth day of the second month after they left Egypt.
Here the children of Israel murmured against Moses and
Aaron, saying, " Would to God we had died by the hand
of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-
pots, and when we did eat bread to the full ; for ye
have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole
assembly with hunger." In answer to this cry, God caused
large numbers of quails to come up round the camp every evening*.
He also rained down manna from heaven for forty years until
the people entered the land of Canaan. Each man was told to
gather every morning as much manna as he required for his family.
None of it was to be left for the next day. There were those,
however, who saved some from one day to the next, and they
found that it turned bad and bred worms. On the sixth day, how-
ever, a double portion was to be gathered, to serve for that day
and the Sabbath, for none was to be found on the seventh day.
At the same time the children of Israel were commanded to bake
and seethe on the sixth day the food intended to be eaten on
the Sabbath. The manna which was thus saved always kept
sweet, and was fit for food. Those who went to look for it on
the Sabbath never found any. God commanded Moses to fill an
omer measure with manna, and to save it as a memorial of the way
in which He fed his people in the desert.
Journeying still south and east, the children of Israel reached
Rephidim, and encamped there. Finding no water to drink the
people quarrelled with Moses, saying ll Wherefore is this that
thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children
and our cattle with thirst." The Lord hereupon told Moses to
take his rod and to smite a rock out of which water should How.
Moses did so, and called the place Massah and Meribah, meaning
" temptation and strife."
Battle with tlie Amalekites. While still at Rephidim the
Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites, who were descended
from Esau, and who dwelt in the south of Canaan, and in
Arabia Petraea. Moses ordered Joshua to choose out men to fight
with Amalek, whilst he himself would stand on the top of a hill
with the rod of God in his hand. Joshua led the fighting men
of Israel against the enemy, whilst Moses, Aaron, and Hur went
to the top of the hill. " And it came to pass, when Moses held
up his hand, that Israel prevailed : and when he let down his
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 33
hand Amalek prevailed." The hands of Moses growing weary,
Aaron and Hur held them up until the going down of the sun.
Joshua defeated the Amalekites with great slaughter. God told
Moses to write an account of these events in a book, and to
rehearse it to Joshua, <l for I will utterly put out the remem-
brance of Amalek from under Heaven." Moses built an altar and
called it " Adonai-nissi," meaning '' God is my banner."
CHAPTER IV.
The Decalogue.
The Israelites at Sinai While Moses was pleading the cause
of God's people before Pharaoh, he had sent back Zipporah, his
wife, and his two sous, Gershom and Eliezer, to their native land.
But when Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, heard of all that
the Lord had done for Israel, and how the Lord had brought
His people out of Egypt, he took his daughter and her children
and travelled to where the Israelites were encamped. Jethro,
although he was the priest of a strange religion, " rejoiced for all
the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel;" and he
praised the God of Israel, saying, " Now I know that the Lord is
greater than all gods; for in the thing wherein they dealt
proudly He was above them." Seeing how difficult was Moses'
task in ruling and judging the whole people, Jethro advised him
to choose out of the tribes able and righteous men to share the
work. Moses took the wise advice of Jethro, and chose able
men, who judged the people, " the hard causes they brought to
Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. And
Moses let his father-in-law depart ; and he went his way into
his own land."
Breaking up their camp, the Israelites again travelled in a south-
eastern direction, till they reached the foot of Mount Sinai.
This was in the third month of their going forth from the land
of Egypt. And now the Lord commanded Moses to prepare the
people for the greatest event in their history the giving of the
Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Three days were allowed
to the people to get themselves ready for the dread event. The
Israelites were told to sanctify themselves and to forbear going
up the Mount, or even drawing near to it. " And it came to pass
on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and
lightnings, and a thick cloud on the Mount, and the voice of the
trumpet exceeding loud, so that all the people that was in the
camp trembled." The Lord coming down in His glory on the top
of the Mount, spoke those words which form the basis not only of
Judaism, but or every civilized form of religion.
34 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Moses on the Mount. When the people saw the thunderings
and the lightnings they were afraid, and stood afar off; but
Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. He
remained on the top of the mountain without food for forty days
and forty nights, while God shewed him all the laws he should
teach the children of Israel. God also gave Moses full directions
as to the building and erection of the tabernacle, the form and
material of the holy vessels, and of the priestly robes, &c. The
three important festivals of the year viz., Pesach, the feast
of unleavened bread ; Shovuos, the feast of the harvest ; and
Succous, the feast of the ingathering at the end of the year were
also appointed. At the end of the forty days, God gave unto
Moses u two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with
the finger of God."
CHAPTER V.
The Golden Calf The Tabernacle.
The Golden Calf. When the people found that Moses
delayed coming down from the Mount, they grew uneasy ; and
going in a body to Aaron, they said, " Up, make us gods which
shall go before us ; for as for this Moses, the man that brought
us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of
him." Aaron commanded them to bring him the golden orna-
ments of their wives and daughters. With these he made a
molten calf, probably like those he had seen worshipped in Egypt.
When the people saw it they cried out, " These be thy gods,
Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." Aaron
built an altar before it and proclaimed a feast. And the people
rose up early in the morning and offered burnt-offerings, and
eat and drank, and rose up to play.
And the Lord commanded Moses to go down at once to the people
who had so quickly turned aside from the right path, and had
already begun to worship idols. " And the Lord said unto
Moses, I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiff-necked
people. Now, therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may wax
not against them, and that I may consume them; and I will
make of thee a great nation." But Moses begged and entreated
the Lord to spare the people whom He had brought out of
Egypt with such mighty wonders. He prayed the Lord to
remember His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that
their seed should inherit the promised land for ever. The
Erayers of Moses prevailed, and the Lord spared the people who
ad ginned so grievously.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 35
The People Punished. Then Moses turned and went down
the Mount, and the two tables of stone were in his hands. But
when he came nigh unto the camp and saw the calf and the
dancing', his wrath waxed hot, and he threw the two tables
down and broke them beneath the Mount. Moses severely
blamed Aaron for his share in the people's sin. Taking- the calf,
he burnt it in the fire and ground it to powder, and strewing
the dust upon the water, made the children of Israel drink of it.
Then he issued a command that all who were on the Lord's side
should come to him. The sons of Levi at once gathered them-
selves to him. And now a terrible punishment was to befall the
wrongdoers. Moses, in the name of God, ordered the Levites to
take their swords and to pass through the camp, slaying the
sinners, and not sparing brother or friend. The children of Levi
obeyed Moses, and slew of their brethren about three thousand
men.
The following day Moses again besought the Lord to forgive
the sin of His people, desiring that his own name might be
blotted out of the book of life if the people were not pardoned.
But God said, " Whoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot
out of My book."
God's Attributes. The Lord then commanded Moses to lead
the people towards the promised land, a land flowing with milk
and honey. God further said that He would not be with the
children of Israel in their journeyings, for they were a stiff-necked
people. On hearing these evil tidings, the Israelites mourned ;
and to show their grief and submission, they stripped themselves
of their ornaments. Moses prayed of the Lord not to withdraw
His countenance from them " for wherein shall it be known here
that I and Thy people have found grace in Thy sight ? is it not in
that Thou goest with us ? so shall we be separated, I and Thy
people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth."
God listened to the words of Moses, and promised to shew unto
him His glory.
The Lord commanded Moses to hew two tables of stone like
the first, upon which God would write the Ten Commandments.
Moses prepared the tables, and the following day he went up
with them to the top of Sinai. i( And the Lord descended in the
cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the
Lord." " The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-
suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and that
will by no means clear the guilty ; visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto
D 2
36 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
the third and to the fourth generation." Moses hearing God thus
speak, bowed down and worshipped. God at that time made a
covenant to do marvels for Israel, to drive out the inhabitants of
Canaan, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and
the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. He cautioned
Moses and the people not to make a covenant with those wicked
nations, and not to be led away by their worship of idols.
After another sojourn of forty days, Moses came down a second
time from the Mount bearing: the tables with him, when his face
shone with the glory of God. Moses ever after wore a veil over
his face, save when he was speaking- to the people.
Building of the Tabernacle. Moses told the people to bring;
free-will offerings for the construction of the Tabernacle. The
children of Israel willingly brought offerings of gold and silver,
and brass, and precious stones ; fabrics of blue and purple and
scarlet, and dyed skins of the goat, the ram, and the badger ;
oil for the light, and spices for the incense. All the skilled men
gave their services to make the various parts of the Tabernacle.
" And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their
hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and
of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen." The chief direction
of the work was given to Bezaleel, of the tribe of Judah, and
Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan.
When all things were prepared, Moses set up the Tabernacle
on the first day of the first month of the second year from the
going out from Egypt. Having erected the walls and arranged
the coverings and the hangings, he set the altars, the laver,
the candlestick, the ark, and the mercy-seat in their appointed
places. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, " and
the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle."
CHAPTER VI.
The Priesthood Nadab and Abihu.
Aaron the High Priest.- The work of setting up the Taber-
nacle having been finished, the Lord appointed Aaron and his sons
to be priests, to minister in the service of the Most High. Aaron
was ordained " High Priest," and very important duties with
regard to sacrifices and public worship were allotted to him. On
ihe day of his consecration a dreadful misfortune overtook him.
Two of his sons, Nadab and Abihu, took their censers and offered
incense before the Lord, " which He had commanded them not.
And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and
they died before the Lord." Aaron mourned the death of his sons.
MANUAL OF SCRIP TURE HIS TOR Y. 3 7
"Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord spake,
saying 1 , I will he sanctified in them that come nigh unto Me, and
before all the people I will he glorified. And Aaron held his peace."
The son of an Israelitish woman and of an Egyptian father
blasphemed the name of the Lord. Such an offence had not been
committed before, so there was a doubt what his punishment
should be. Therefore, " They put him in ward, that the mind of
the Lord might he shewed them." The Lord commanded that
the blasphemer should he stoned in the sight of the whole congre-
gation ; and this was accordingly done.
The People Numbered. On the first day of the second month
of the second year of the coming- out from Egypt, God commanded
Moses to number the men of Israel, " after their families, by the
house of their fathers." Those only were to be numbered who
Averc twenty years old, and able to bear arms. The number proved
to be 603,550. The tribe of Levi was not included in this census,
but was counted separately. It contained 22,000 males of the age
of a month and upwards. To make up the number of the
twelve tribes, the tribe of Joseph was divided into the children
of Ephraim and the children of Manasseh. The tribes varied
greatly; the largest, Judah, containing 74,600 men fit for war;
the smallest, Manasseh, 32,200. The order in which the Israelites
were to march in the desert was also settled by Divine command.
The division led by Judah, and which included Issachar and
Zebulun, was to march first. It numbered 186,400 men. Their
place in camp was towards the east. Next came the division of
Reuben, with whom were joined Simeon and Gad. It numbered
151,450. Their place in camp was on the south. Then came
the Levites, bearing the Tabernacle, and all its sacred vessels.
Next followed the division of Ephraim, which included Ma-
nasseh and Benjamin, and consisted of 108,100 men. These
camped on the west. Lastly marched the division of Dan,
together with Asher and Naphtali, to the number of 157,600.
They pitched their camp on the north. So guarded, the Taber-
nacle was carried through the wilderness.
The Camp Broken up. Moses had now prepared the people
in every way for their long and toilsome journey through the
desert, and had tried to persuade his father-in-law Jethro, who
had returned to him, to accompany them and act as guide. At
length, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud floated
from off the Tabernacle, as a sign that they were to depart. So they
broke up their camp, and travelled for three days in the wilderness
of Parau. "And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that
Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered ;
38 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested,
he said, Return, Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel."
The People Murmur. Again the people complained. To
punish them the Lord sent a fire which burnt among- them. The
people now cried out unto Moses. Moses prayed unto the
Lord, and the fire was quenched. The place was called Taberah,
which means burning-.
The mixed multitude who travelled with the children of Israel
longed for meat to eat, and the Israelites also wept, saying,
" Who shall give us flesh to eat ?" They called to mind all the
pleasant things they had enjoyed in Egypt, and complained
that they had nothing to eat but manna. And the anger
of the Lord was kindled against the people; Moses also was
displeased. The divinely appointed leader broke down under
this fresh proof of his people's wickedness. In touching
words he craved permission to lay down the burden which
he could no longer carry. " I am not able to bear all this
people alone, because it is too heavy for me." The Lord
hearkened to the cry of his faithful servant, and told him to
choose "seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest
to be the elders of the people and officers over them ; and bring
them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may
stand there with thee ; and I will come down and talk with thee
there ; and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will
put it upon them ; and they shall bear the burden of the people
with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone." God further said
that He would give the people flesh to eat, not for one day, nor
two, nor five, nor ten, nor twenty days, but for a whole month,
until they should sicken at it. Even Moses expresses doubt that
the Lord could feed such a host with flesh in the desert. "And
the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short ? Thou
shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not."
Seventy Elders chosen. Moses went out and told all these
things to the Israelites. He gathered seventy of the elders and
placed them round the tabernacle. The Lord caused His spirit to
descend upon the elders so that they prophesied. But two of the
elders, Eldad and Medad, who had remained in the camp, also
prophesied. This was told to Moses, upon which Joshua, his
servant, jealous of the honour of his master, exclaimed, " My lord
Moses forbid them." But Moses showed his true greatness in his
reply, " Enviest thou for my sake ; would God that all the Lord's
people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His spirit
upon them !"
Quails in the Camp. The next day God caused a strong wind
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 39
to blow, which brought up such a multitude of quails that they
lay round the camp to the distance of a day's journey on each side.
The people hastened to gather them, so that they might satisfy
their lusting 1 . But while the flesh was yet between their teeth,
the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and the Lord
smote them with a great plague. And the place was called
Kibroth-hattaavah, " because there they buried the people that
lusted." The people then journeyed to Hazeroth arid dwelt there.
CHAPTER VII.
The Spies.
Miriam's Sin. Miriam and Aaron spoke against their brother
Moses, because he had married an Ethiopian woman, and they said,
" Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses ? Hath He not
spoken also by us ?" Now the man Moses was very meek, above
all the men which were upon the face of the earth. The Lord
heard these words, and speaking suddenly unto Moses, Aaron, and
Miriam, bade them go to the tabernacle. God then rebuked Aaron
and Miriam, but praised Moses, whom He called His " faithful"
one. When the Lord had finished speaking with them, behold
Miriam was covered with leprosy. Aaron besought Moses that
Miriam might be cured. Moses prayed to the Lord, and the leprosy
was after seven days removed. The people then removed from
Hazeroth, and pitched their camp in the wilderness of Paran.
The Twelve Spies. At God's command Moses sent twelve
men to spy out the land of Canaan, taking one man from each
tribe. The men went up and searched the land from Zin unto
liehob, and pushed on as far north as Hebron. And when they
reached the brook of Eshcol they cut down a vine branch and
one cluster of grapes of such a size that two men had to carry it
between them, slung on a pole ; they also gathered of the pome-
granates and the figs. After searching the land for forty days
they returned. They showed the assembled congregation the
fruit they had culled, and praised the richness and fertility of the
land which, they said, flowed with milk and honey. They,
however, reported that the indwellers were strong, the cities
walled round, and very great, and that the giants, children of
Anak, dwelt there. This evil report frightened the Israelites;
but Caleb, one of the spies, encouraged them, saying, " Let us go-
up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." The
people, however, would not be comforted, but they lifted up their
voice and wept all night. They murmured against Moses and Aaron,
u Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would God
40 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
we had died in the wilderness." It was in vain that Moses and
Aaron, Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun, tried
to calm the rebellious people. They were almost stoned for their
pains. Again the Lord was about to destroy the whole people for
their wickedness, and again Moses interceded for and saved them.
But the Almighty decreed that none of them save only Joshua and
Caleb should enter the promised land. The rest should die in
the wilderness during the thirty-eight years' wandering, but their
children should inherit Canaan.
The next day the people, having repented, were eager to set out
towards Canaan. Moses warned them to desist, as the Lord was
not with them. They disobeyed their leader's command, and
departed out of the camp. And the Amalekites and Canaanites
smote them and discomforted them to Hormah.
The Sabbath-breaker. While the children of Israel were in
the wilderness they found a man gathering sticks upon the
Sabbath-day. The man was brought before Moses and Aaron, who
ordered him to be put in ward, " because it was not declared what
should be done to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, The
man shall be surely put to death : all the congregation shall
stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congrega-
tion brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones,
and he died ; as the Lord commanded Moses."
CHAPTER VIII.
The Rebellion of Korah.
Koran's Revolt. Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of
Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram of the tribe of
Reuben, raised a rebellion against Moses. With Korah were
joined two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, "famous
in the congregation, men of renown." They complained that
Moses and Aaron took too much upon themselves ; that all the
congregation were holy, and that therefore it was wrong for any
man to lift himself up above his fellows. Moses was filled with
grief at hearing these words, but he proposed a simple test, by
which it might be shown whom the Lord had chosen u to come
near unto Him." He bade Korah and all his company take their
censers on the morrow, to put fire in them, and to stand before the
Lord. Hoping still to move the hearts of the rebels, he reminded
them how God had bestowed special favours upon the tribe of
Levi. He blamed their desire to obtain more power than properly
belonged to them. Moses then sent for Dathan and Abiram, but
MANUAL OF SCKIPTUKE HISTORY. 4!
they refused to go to him. The next day the whole congregation
were assembled before the door of the tabernacle. Korah and his
followers were there, each man with his censer in his hand. The
spirit of mutiny among the Israelites grew so strong that the
Lord waxed wroth and would have destroyed them all ; but
Moses and Aaron prayed on their behalf. Moses now bade all the
people separate themselves from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan,
and Abiram, who in defiance were standing at the entrance of their
tents. Then spake Moses : " Hereby ye shall know that the Lord
hath sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of
mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all
men .... then the Lord hath not sent me. But if the Lord
make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow
them up with all that appertain unto them, and they go down,
quick, into the pit ; then ye shall understand that these men have
provoked the Lord. And it came to pass as he had made an end
of speaking all these words that the ground clave asunder that
was under them. And the earth opened her mouth and swal-
lowed them up and their houses, and all the men that appertained
unto Korah and all their goods .... and they perished from among
the congregation." And there came out a fire from the Lord
and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Of the censers themselves broad plates were made as a covering
for the altar.
The People again Murmur. On the morrow, " all the
congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses
and against Aaron, saying, " Ye have killed the people of the
Lord." Instantly a plague broke out among the people, and
many were struck down in all parts of the camp. Again the
heart of Moses yearned towards his people. He bade Aaron take
his censer and hasten to make an atonement for the sinners.
Aaron did so, and stood between the living and the dead, so
that the plague was stayed. And there died of the plague fourteen
thousand and seven hundred.
Aaron's Rod Blossoms. God wished to give His people a
further and lasting proof that He Himself had selected Aaron to
minister unto Him. The head of each tribe was commanded to
take a rod, upon which the name of his tribe was to be written,
and to lay it in the tabernacle of the congregation. The name
of Aaron was to be written upon the rod of the tribe of Levi. And
it should be that the man whose rod blossomed was the one
chosen by God, and so an end would be put to the continual
murrnurings of the children of Israel. The rods were accordingly
laid in the tabernacle. And it came to pass on the morrow that
42 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
the rod of Aaron "was budded, and brought forth buds, and
bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." Aaron's rod was kept
" before the testimony as a token against the rebels."
CHAPTER IX.
Death of Miriam and of Aaron.
Death of Miriam. The Israelites now entered the wilder-
ness of Zin, which they traversed for the next thirty-eight years,
until the whole generation coming out of Egypt had perished.
These wanderings over, we find the people again encamped at
Kadesh, in the first month of the fortieth year from the Exodus.
" And Miriam died there, and was buried there."
Meribah. At Kadesh there was a scarcity of water. The
people again murmured against Moses, saying, " Would God we
had died when our brethren died before the Lord." The Lord
told Moses to take his rod and bid Aaron to assemble the people.
They were then to speak to the rock, and it should give forth
water. Moses and Aaron gathered the people before the rock, and
Moses exclaimed, " Hear now, ye rebels j must we fetch you water
out of this rock ? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod
he smote the rock twice, and the water came out abundantly."
And the Lord rebuked Moses and Aaron, in that they had
disobeyed His command in striking the rock instead of speaking
to it. This was their punishment, that they should not lead the
people into the promised land.
The waters were called Meribah, because the children of Israel
strove with the Lord.
Messengers sent to Edom. Moses now sent messengers unto
the King of Edom, asking permission for the Israelites to pass
through his land. Moses promised for the people that they should
not pass through the fields nor the vineyards, nor drink the water
of the wells, but should keep to the king's highway, turning
neither to the right nor to the left. But the King of Edom
refused, and even threatened them with war if they tried to force
a passage. Again Moses proffered his request, and again he was
refused. The Israelites were compelled to choose another way,
and travelling to the westward of Edom, reached Mount Hor.
Death of Aaron. The Lord said unto Moses, " Take Aaron
and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto Mount Hor. And
strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son j
and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
And Moses did as the Lord commanded ; and they went up into
Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses
stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 43
son ; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount ; and Moses
and Eleazar came down from the mount. And when all the con-
gregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron
thirty days, even all the house of Israel." The death of Aaron
occurred on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year
of the Exodus. He was one hundred and twenty-three years old.
Ilorm ah. Arad, king* of the Canaanites, having heard of the
matter of the spies, fought with Israel, and took some of them
prisoners. Subsequently the Canaanites were overthrown at a
place called Hormah, and many of their cities destroyed.
The Brazen Serpent. The Israelites resumed their painful
journey from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea. They were thus
compelled to retrace their steps, as the way through Edom had
been barred to them. " The people spake against God and against
Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in
the wilderness ?" " And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the
people, and they bit the people ; and much people of Israel died."
This punishment brought the Israelites to their senses. They
humbled themselves before Moses, entreating him to pray to the
Lord on their behalf j and Moses prayed for the people. God
told Moses to make a serpent of brass and to put it upon a pole.
" And it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he
beheld the serpent of brass he lived."
Messengers sent to the Amorites. Israel now sent mes-
sengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, asking for permission to
pass through his land. Again Moses promised that the people
should keep to the king's highway. Sihon not only would not
grant this request, but gathering an army fought a battle with
the Israelites at Jahaz. " And Israel smote him with the edge
of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabak."
And Israel also captured many of the Amorite cities, such as
Heshbon and Jaazer, and dwelt in them.
War with Bashan. The people now " turned and went up by
the way of Bashan ; and Og the king of Bashan went out against
them, he and all his people, 1 ' andfought a battle at Edrei. " And
Israel smote him and his sons and all his people, until there was
none left him alive ; and they possessed his land. 1 '
CHAPTER X.
Balak and Balaam.
Balak and Balaam. The children of Israel continued their
journey till they reached the plains of Moab on the eastern side
of Jordan near Jericho. Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, had
heard of Israel's successful war with the Amorites. Feariny
44 MANUAL OF SCRIP TUfiE HISTORY.
the fate of Sihon and Og, he spoke to a neighbouring 1 people, the
Midianites, complaining- of the strength and numbers of the Israel-
ites, and entering- into an alliance with them in case of war. But
he called another power to his assistance. He sent messengers to
Balaam the son of Beor, who lived at Pethor in Mesopotamia,
asking- him to come and curse Israel. The fame of Balaam was
very great. Balak seems to have helieved in his power, for he
said I know " whom thou hlessest is blessed, and he whom thou
cursest is cursed."
The elders of Moab and of Midian set out therefore on their
long- journey to Pethor, carrying- with them larg-e rewards. Having
delivered their message, Balaam desired them to remain that night,
and in the morning- he would tell them what the Lord had spoken
to him. In the night the Lord asked Balaam what the men were
who were staying- with him. Balaam replied that they were men
whom Balak had sent to fetch him to curse Israel. And God
said to Balaam, " Thou shalt not g-o with them ; thou shalt not
curse the people; for they are blessed." In the morning- Balaam
said unto the princes of Balak, " Get you unto your land ; for
the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with 3*011." So the men
returned home.
But Balak would not he denied. Again he sent to Balaam
princes more honourable than the first ones, with promise of great
reward and promotion.
Balaam replied to them, that if Balak filled his house with silver
and gold he could not go beyond the word of the Lord God, to
do less or more. Still he asked the messengers to remain that
night, that he might know what the Lord would say to him
more. The Lord then appeared nnto Balaam and gave him per-
mission to accompany Balak's princes, but he was to say only what
the Lord should put into his mouth.
The next morning-, Balaam saddled his ass and set out for
Moab. But God's anger was kindled against him because he
went j and the angel of the Lord stood in the way to oppose him.
JVow the ass upon which Balaam was riding saw the angel of the
Lord standing in the way with a sword in his hand ; so she turned
aside and went into the field, and Balaam smote the ass to turn her
into the path again. Then the angel placed himself in a path in a
vineyard with a wall on each side. When the ass saw the angel she
crouched against the wall and bruised Balaam's foot, and he
smote her again. The angel now went further off and stood in a
narrow place, where there was " no way to turn either to the right
hand or to the left." *' And when the ass saw the angel of the
Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled,
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 45
and he smote the ass with a staff." The Lord now opened the
mouth of the ass and she said unto Balaam, ''What have I done
unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times '{" The
Lord opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel standing- in his
way with a drawn sword in his hand. The ang-el hlamed Balaam
for desiring- to act contrary to God's will. Balaam acknowledged
his sin and desired to turn back. But the angel said, " Go with
the men, hut only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that
thou shalt speak." So he went on his way.
Hearing- of Balaam's approach, Balak went forth to meet him,
and brought him to Kirjath-huzoth. But at the first moment of
meeting-, the prophet told the king- that he could only speak the
word the Lord put into his mouth. Nevertheless, Balak did
not lose hope ; but on the morrow he took Balaam up into a
high place dedicated to the worship of Baal, whence he might
obtain a view of the people of Israel.
At Balaam's request, Balak built on that spot seven altars,
and they offered on each a bullock and a ram. The word of
the Lord came to Balaam, but instead of cursing Israel he blessed
him, saying, " Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the num-
ber of the fourth part of Israel ? Let me die the death of the
righteous, and let my last end be like his." Balak, in anger,
carried Balaam to another place, hoping he might curse Israel
there. Again were the altars built, and the victims offered.
Again the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and again he
uttered blessings. " He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob,
neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel ; the Lord his God
is with him, and the shout of a king is among them
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up him-
self as a young lion : he shall not lie down till he eat of the prey,
and drink the . blood of the slain." Balak, hearing these words,
so different from what he had hoped, cried out, " Neither curse
them at all nor bless them at all." Still he thought there might
be one chance more. Leading Balaam to the top of Peor, the
altars were built again, and the offerings made. Balaam did not
wait this time for the divine inspiration; but, lifting up his
eyes upon the people encamped below, he exclaimed, " How
goodly are thy tents, Jacob ; and thy tabernacles, Israel !
.... Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that
curseth thee." And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam,
and he said, " I called thee to curse mine enemies : and behold,
thou hast blessed them these three times." Balaam, however,
reminded the king that he had said he could only deliver God's
message. Balaam now broke forth into a further strain of pro-
46 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
phecy. He showed, in glowing 1 words, the future greatness of
Israel. " There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre
shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and
destroy all the children of Sheth." Edom, Amalek, the Kenites,
all should be subdued by Israel. A time, however, should come
when Israel should bow the neck to Assyria ; but, in the end,
Assyria herself should be conquered by those coming in ships
from the coast of Chittim (Cyprus). Then Balaam rose up and
went to his place, and Balak also went his way.
CHAPTER XI.
The People Numbered. Punishment of the Midianites.
The People Worship Idols. While the Israelites abode in
Shittim, they offered sacrifices to strange gods, being tempted to
this sin by the women of Moab. At God's command, the ring-
leaders were hanged : 24,000 Israelites died of the plague for
this transgression.
One of the children of Israel, in company with a Midianitish
woman, openly sinned in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of
all the congregation, who stood weeping before the Tabernacle.
But Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, filled with
righteous anger, took a spear and slew them both. As a reward
for this zealous deed, God established the priesthood in the family
of Phinehas for ever.
The People Numbered. Again the sum of the people from
twenty years old and upwards was taken. They proved to be six
hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty, or 820
fewer than at the previous census. Moses and Eleazar completed
the numbering in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, near Jericho.
Among them there was not a man of them whom Moses and
Aaron had numbered in the wilderness of Sin, except only Caleb
the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Appointment of Joshua. The Lord bade Moses ascend the
mount of Abarim, from whose summit he might view the land
promised to the children of Israel. After he had seen it, he was
to be gathered to his people as Aaron had been gathered. They
were not permitted to enter the promised land, because they had
transg'ressed God's command at the waters of Meribah. Moses
devoutly submitted to God's command, but prayed that a fitting
successor might be appointed. God told Moses to take Joshua the
son of Nun, to place him before Eleazar the priest, and to endow
him with some of his command, so that the people should obey him.
i The Midianites Punished. The evil wrought by the Midian-
ites now called down divine punishment. At God's bidding,
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 47
Moses chose a thousand men from each tribe, and sent them
together with Phinehas and the sacred vessels against the
Midianites. " And they warred against the Midianites as the
Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. They
also slew the king of Midian, and five tributary kings; Balaam
also, the son of Beor, they slew with the sword." And they
burnt all their cities and took very great spoil, which was divided
among those who fought and those who remained in the camp.
The Two and a Half Tribes. The tribes of Reuben and Gad
possessed a great multitude of cattle, and the land in which the
Israelites were now dwelling was well fitted for grazing. These
two tribes therefore came to Moses, and requested that they
might be allowed to remain where they were, and not be re-
quired to pass over the Jordan to the promised land. Moses
was wroth with the two tribes, and said, "Shall your brethren go
to war, and shall ye sit here I" He blamed them for trying to
discourage their brethren from undertaking the conquest of
Canaan. He reminded them that their fathers had been guilty of
similar conduct, when the spies were sent from Kadesh-barnea.
The Reubenites and the Gadites at once saw that Moses had not
rebuked them unjustly. They therefore offered to build cities for
their families and sheepfolds for their sheep in the land they de-
sired to occupy, and then to join their brethren in crossing the
Jordan and in subduing their enemies, adding, " We will not return
unto our houses until the children of Israel have inherited every
man his inheritance." To this Moses assented. He gave unto the
children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of
Manasseh the kingdoms of Sihon and Og. From the river Arnon
unto Mount Gilead was given to Reuben ; thence northward to the
sea of Chinneroth belonged to Gad; whilst a more northward
portion leading to Mount Hermon was possessed by the half tribe
of Manasseh. The promise given by these tribes to Moses was faith-
fully carried out. They fought side by side with their brethren,
and did not settle on their lands till the Israelites had taken
possession of Canaan.
CHAPTER XII.
The Last Days of Moses.
The Journeyings of the Israelites. In the thirty-third
chapter of Numbers an account is given of the Journeyings of the
children of Israel, from the departure from Egypt to their arrival
in the plains of Moab, near Jericho. These Journeyings occupied
forty years, and the Israelites pitched their camp forty-two times.
Settlement of the Promised Land. Mosea now told the
48 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
children of Israel what -were to be the boundaries of the land they
were about to possess. He then appointed Eleazar the priest,
and Joshua the son of Nun, together with a prince from each
tribe, to superintend the division of Canaan, which was to be
by lot. The Levites were to have certain cities allotted them
for their own use. Six cities of refuge were also to be built, three
on the east of the Jordan and three on the west, whither the slaver
might flee "which killeth any person unawares."
The Repetition of the Law. The life of Moses was drawing
to a close, yet he charged himself with one great task to read
to the assembled people the whole book of the Law. " In the
fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month,
Moses spake unto the children of Israel according unto all that
the Lord bad given him in commandment unto them." The place
chosen was the eastern side of Jordan, in the land of Moab. Here, .
where had occurred many of the most important events in the lives
of the patriarchs, Moses recited the past history of the people, and.
the code of laws which God had given for their government. This
great work being ended, Moses commanded the people that as soon
as they had passed the Jordan they were to set up great stones
on Mount Ebal, to plaster them over, and to write upon them all
the words of the Law. A portion of the people were to stand upon
Mount Gerizfm, to bless the people; and another portion were to
stand upon Mount Ebal, to curse those who should transgress the
Law.
The Song of Moses. In a beautiful song Moses now exhorted
the people to remain steadfast to God's word. He pointed out that
He was their Rock and God. He recounted the ingratitude of the
people, their frequent offences, and how God had always forgiven
their sins. Lastly, he spoke prophetically of the future greatness
of Israel. " Rejoice, ye nations with His people, for He will
avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His
adversaries, and will be merciful unto His land and to His people."
The Lord now bade Mcses ascend Mount Nebo, in the land of
Moab, from whose summit he might view the land of Canaan.
God further told him he should die on the mount, even as Aaron
had died on Mount Hor. The reason of their exclusion from the
Holy Land is again stated, il Because ye trespassed against me
among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh,
in the wilderness of Zin ; because ye sanctified me not in the midst
of the children of Israel."
Moses' Blessings. Moses prepared himself to obey the divine
command. But first he gathered the people together, and blessed
them according to their tribes. He prayed that Reuben might live
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 49
nnd not die, and that his men might not be few. For Judah he
prayed, " Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his
people : let his hands be sufficient for him, and be thou an help to
turn from his enemies." Levi should teach the Law for ever, and
for ever minister in God's sanctuary; " Bless, Lord, his substance,
and accept the work of his hands." He invoked the divine pro-
tection on Benjamin, and for Joseph " the precious fruits brought
forth by the sun, and the precious things put forth by the moon."
Zebulun should rejoice at his going out, and Issachar in his
tents ; " They shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of
treasures hid in the sand." Of Gad he said, " Blessed be he that
enlargeth Gad." Dan was a lion's whelp. Naphtali was to be filled
with the blessing of the Lord. He was to possess the west and
south. Asberwas to be blessed with children; " Let him be
acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil."
Death of Moses. The work of the great prophet and leader was
finished. He went up into the Mountain of Nebo, to the top of
Pisgah, and the Lord showed him all the land that the children
of Israel were about to inherit. " So Moses, the servant of the Lord
died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.
And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against
Beth-Peor, but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died ;
his eyes were not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the
children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty
days. . . . And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto
Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face."
PAET III.
FROM THE DEATH OF MOSES TO THE CHOICE OF
SAUL.
CHAPTER I.
The Spies sent to Jericho Passage of the Jordan,
Joshua takes commaad. After the death of Moses, the
Lord commanded Joshua to prepare the people to pass over the
Jordan. At the same time God promised to Joshua to be with him
in all his undertakings. He bade him " Be strong, and of a good
courage, for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance
the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them." And
again He said, " As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee j I
5 d MANUAL OP SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
not fail thee or forsake thee." Thus divinely encouraged^
Joshua prepared the people to carry out God's wish. He desired
them to lay in a stock of provisions for three days. He reminded
the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh of their
promise to assist their brethren to conquer the promised land.
The people promised a ready obedience to Joshua in these words :
" Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment,
and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest
him, he shall be put to death."
The Two Spies. The city of Jericho was situated on the
western side of the Jordan, close to where the Israelites were
about to cross. Joshua wished to find out its strength. So he sent
two men secretly to spy it out. The men entered the city, and
lodged with a woman named Rahab. It soon came to the ears of the
king that the two Israelites were in Jericho. He sent unto Rahab,
bidding her bring forth the men no doubt intending that they
should be put to death. But Rahab hid the spies among the
flax on the roof of the house, and then told the king that they
had left the city. The king's men at once set out in pursuit,
and never stopped till they came to the fords of the Jordan. That
same night Rahab went up to the men on the roof, and told them
she knew that the Lord had given them the land, for their
terror had fallen upon all the inhabitants. " For we have heard
Low the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea for you, when
ye came out of Egypt j and what ye did unto the two kings of the
Amorites that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og,
whom ye utterly destroyed." She then made them swear that
as she had done kindness to them in saving their lives, they
should show kindness to her and her family when the city was
captured. The men swore unto her that she and her household
should be spared, on condition that she kept the whole matter
secret, and that she bound a scarlet thread in the window of her
house, so that it might be easily known when the Israelites should
enter the city in triumph. Rahab's house being built upon the
walls of the city, she let them down into the open country by
a cord from her window. The men returned to Joshua, and said,
K Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land, for
even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us."
Passage of the Jordan. The next morning the people broke
up their camp at Shittim and travelled to the eastern bank of the
Jordan. At the end of three days the people set out to cross
the river. By God's command Joshua arranged the following
order of march. First went the priests, bearing the ark of the
covenant. At a distance of two thousand cubits the people fol-
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 51
lowed. This space was left so that by clearly seeing which way
the ark was going the people might know their way. The priests
then boldly marched into the Jordan. As soon as their feet
touched the stream, the upper waters of the river stood up in a
heap. The lower waters pursued their course towards the Dead
Sea. The bed of the river therefore became dry, and the whole
host of Israel passed over on dry foot. While yet the priests
were standing in Jordan's bed, Joshua commanded one man from
each tribe to take a stone from the very spot where the priests
were halting. This was done ; and the men " carried them over
with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them
down there." Twelve other stones did Joshua set up " in the
midst of Jordan," as a memorial for ever of this signal miracle.
All being finished, the priests left their station and also passed
over. Immediately " the waters of Jordan returned unto their
place and flowed over all its banks, as they did before." " On that
day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and
they feared him as they feared Moses all the days of his life." The
passage of the Jordan took place on the tenth day of the first
month. The people having encamped in Gilgal, Joshua erected
there the twelve stones that had been carried out of Jordan as a
memorial that the waters of Jordan had been dried up. The
number of the two and a half tribes who passed over to help their
brethren was forty thousand armed men.
CHAPTER II.
Fall of Jericho Achan's Sin Capture of Ai.
Circumcision of the People. The Israelites who were Lorn
during the forty years' wandering in the desert not having been
circumcised, God now ordered this ceremony to be performed.
" The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal and kept the pass-
over on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the plains of
Jericho." The manna which had fed them in the wilderness now
ceased to fall.
A vision now appeared to Joshua. Lifting up his eyes he saw
n man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand.
Joshua went up to him and asked, " Art thou for us or for our
adversaries ?" He replied, "Nay; but as captain of the Lord of
hosts am I come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and
did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his
servant, And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua,
Loose thy shoe from off thy foot, for the place whereon thou
etandest is holy. And Joshua did so."
Siege and FaJl of Jericho. Jericho was now closely
2
5 a MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
besieged by the children of Israel. At God's command the
Israelites, accompanied by the priests bearing- the ark of the
Lord and blowing upon rams' horns, walked round the city once
on each of six days. On the seventh day they walked round
seven times ; and as the priests blew the horns Joshua said
to the people, " Shout, for the Lord hath given you the city."
So the people shouted, and at once the walls that defended
the city fell flat, and the Israelites entered and captured the
place. They killed all the men and women that were in it, and
all the cattle, but Rahab and her family they saved alive. They
then burnt the city and all that was in it, only the gold and the
silver and the vessels of brass and iron they put into the treasury
of the house of the Lord, as Joshua had told them to do. And
Joshua laid a curse upon any one who should attempt to rebuild
the city.
Achan's Sin. But one of the children of Israel had dis-
obeyed the command of God, and had kept for himself a portion
of the spoil. The wrongdoer was Achan, the son of Carmi, of
the tribe of Judah. The anger of the Lord was kindled against
the children of Israel, and misfortune overtook them. Joshua
sent an army of three thousand men to capture Ai, a town to
the west of Jericho. But the children of Israel, after losing
thirty-six of their number, fled before the men of Ai, who pursued
them unto the village of Shebarim. This defeat caused the
hearts of the Israelites to melt with fear. And Joshua and the
elders rent their clothes and put dust upon their heads, and
prayed unto God. Then God revealed to Joshua the reason
of Israel's defeat, inasmuch as one of the people had secretly
taken and kept a portion of the spoils of Jericho. The next day
Joshua endeavoured to find the culprit by casting lots. The lot
fell upon the tribe of Judah, and finally upon Achan. Joshua
begged Achan to confess. And Achan said that he had sinned
against God, and had taken of the spoil of Jericho, and hidden
it in the earth in his tent. Then all Israel stoned him till he
was dead, and then buried his remains.
Capture of Ai. Israel's sin being thus purged, God com-
manded Joshua to attack Ai again, and it should be delivered
into his hands. So Joshua led an army against the city, and
captured it by a stratagem. Dividing his forces, he made one
part lie in ambush behind the city, while the other part attacked
it in front. These, pretending to fly, drew the inhabitants of Ai
after them in pursuit. The liers in wait instantly rushed into the
city, and set it on fire. The Israelites, who were pretending to
retreat, now turned upon their pursuers. The men of Ai were
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 53
thus caught between the two divisions of the Israelites, who slew
every one of them. The cattle and the spoils of the city Israel
took for a prey. And Joshua burned Ai and hanged its king
on a tree.
Ebal and Gerizim. Joshua built an altar of whole stonea
unto the Lord on Mount Ebal. and wrote upon the stones a copy
of the Law of Moses. Then, placing half the people on Mount
Ebal and half on Mount Gerizim, " he read all the words of the
La\v, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written
in the book of the Law."
CHAPTER III.
The Gibeonites The Five Kings of Canaan.
Stratagem of the Gibeonites. The remaining kings of the
Canaanite cities, having heard of Israel's successes, and fearing
lest the doom of Jericho and of Ai should overtake them, formed
a league to fight with Joshua and with Israel. But the inhabi-
tants of Gibeon sought safety by other means. Dressing them-
selves up in old and faded garments, and taking with them
mouldy provisions, they presented themselves before Joshua at
Gilgal, asking to make a covenant with the children of Israel.
The men of Israel said, " Peradventure ye dwell among us, and
how shall we make a league with you ? But the Gibeonites
replied that they had come from a distant land, and pointed to
their worn clothes and stale provisions to bear out their story.
" And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with
them to let them live. ' Three days after the Israelites found out
that they had been deceived, for by that time they had reached
the Gibeonite cities, which lay to the south-west of Ai. Yet they
respected their oath. The Gibeonites were saved alive, but were
made for ever hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house
of God.
The Five Kings of the Amorites. The act of the
Gibeonites in securing their own safety brought upon them the
wrath of another powerful section of the inhabitants of Canaan
the Amorites. One of the most powerful of their princes, Adoni-
Zedec, king of Jerusalem, banding himself with the kings of
Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, encamped before Gibeon,
and made war against it. The Gibeonites sent to Joshua at
Gilgal, praying for help. Joshua immediately answered the call,
and a great battle ensued. The Amorites were defeated, and
fleeing, were pursued by the Israelites. When they reached
Azekah, " the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon
them .... and they died ; they were more which died with
54 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the
sword." " Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the
Lord delivered up the Arnorites hefore the children of Israel, and
he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon ;
and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still
and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves
upon their enemies."
Meanwhile the five kings had fled, and hid themselves in a cave at
Makkedah, and Joshua had ordered a stone to be rolled to the
mouth of the cave, and a guard set to prevent their escape.
When the battle was over, Joshua ordered the five kings to be
brought before him, and bade his captains set their feet upon their
captives' necks. This was a sign that the power of the Amorites
was broken. The kings were then slain, and their bodies hanged
upon trees. Joshua pursued his victorious career, capturing
many cities and putting their inhabitants to the sword. He smote
all the country " from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza," and took
all the laud, "for the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel."
CHAPTER IV.
Wars with the Canaanites Division of Palestine-
Death of Joshua.
Further Wars. A fresh league was now formed against the
Israelites by the kings dwelling in the north of the Holy Land,
headed by Jabin, king of Hazor. Among the confederates were
Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Hivites. These
nations dwelt about the Lake Chinneroth, and round the foot of
Mount Hermon. Their hosts were as the sands of the sea-shore,
and they had many horses and chariots. Joshua and his people
fell upon them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and smote
them, and chased them, until they left none remaining. Thus,
king after king, and nation after nation, was defeated. Israel
took possession of the conquered lands. At this period also
Joshua cut off the Anakims, and destroyed all their cities. The
total number of kingdoms overthrown by the Israelites was
thirty-one. After this, " the land rested from war."
Division of Canaan. The Lord now commanded Joshua to
divide the land among the nine and a half tribes ; the remaining
two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh) having
chosen their possessions on the east of the Jordan. The tribe of
Levi alone received no portion of the land; "the sacrifices of
the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He
said unto them."
To Reuben was given the southernmost portion of the land
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 55
east of the Jordan. It was bounded by the river Arnon on the
south, and on the north reached a little beyond the head of the
Dead Sea. It was formerly the kingdom of Sihon.
Gad lay to the north of Reuben, and included Mount Gilead.
Manasseh was still further north, and extended to Mount
Hermon. This was formerly the country of Og, king of Bashan.
The river Jordan was the western boundary of these three tribes.
On the east they touched the desert.
The other tribes were thus placed, proceeding from north to
south Naphtali, Asher, Zebulun, Issachar, Manasseh, Ephraiin,
Benjamin, Dan, Judah, Simeon. To Caleb was given the city of
Hebron. An end having been made of the division of the land,
the children of Israel gave unto Joshua the city of Timnath-serah,
in Mount Ephraim, " and he built the city and dwelt therein."
God commanded the Israelites to appoint cities of refuge, " that
the slayer that killeth any person unawares may flee thither ; and
they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood." And they
appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in Mount Naphtali ; Shechem, in
Mount Ephraim j Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain
of Judah; Golan, in Bashan ; Bezer, in Reuben; and Ramoth, in
Gilead, to be cities of refuge.
To the Levites also were given forty-eight cities with the
suburbs thereof roundabout.
"Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the
half tribe of Manasseh, and said unto them, Ye have kept all
that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and have
obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you." He then gave
them permission to return to the east of the Jordan, where they had
chosen to dwell. He bade them " take diligent heed to do the
commandment of the Law" which Moses had commanded tnem,
and to serve God with all their heart and all their soul. " So
Joshua blessed them and sent them away." The two and a half
tribes set out on their journey eastward, and when they reached
the Jordan they built there a great altar. When the children
oi' Israel heard of it they gathered together at Shiloh to go to
war with their brethren. But first they sent Phinehas with ten
chiefs to inquire why the altar had been erected. The High
Priest came up with the two and a half tribes in the land of
Gilead and rebuked them for building an altar, and rebelling
against the Lord. But they answered that they had not built the
altar to offer thereon sacrifice, but as a perpetual witness that they
and their brethren worshipped the same God, " that your children
may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in
the Lord." And the children of Israel were satisfied with the
56 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
explanation The altar was called Ed; "for it shall be a witness
between us that the Lord is God."
Death of Joshua. Now the land had rest for a long time.
And Joshua waxed old, so he called all the elders of Israel
together and exhorted them to keep the way of God. He warned
them against serving idols ; they should not swear by them, nor
bow down to them, but they should cleave for ever unto the Lord
their God. He then recounted the history of the Israelites from
the time of Abraham until the day he was speaking to them. All
the people promised faithfully to serve God and to obey His
voice. " So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day,
and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem." Joshua
wrote these words in a book, and having set up a great stone as
a memorial, sent the people to their homes. Then Joshua died,
" being an hundred and ten years old." He was buried in
Timnath-serah, in Mount Ephraina.
The bones of Joseph, which had been brought up from Egypt,
were buried in Shechem, in the piece of land which Jacob had
bought of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred
pieces of silver. And Eleazar, the son of Aaron, died and was
buried in Mount Ephraim.
CHAPTER V.
The Judges Othniel to Deborah.
Wars with the Canaanites. Although the land of Canaan
had been divided among the tribes, its inhabitants had not yet all
been conquered. The whole of the Book of Judges is occupied
witli the wars between the Israelites and the wicked Canaanites.
At first Judah and Simeon agreed to help each other against the
common foe. " And the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the
Perizzites into their hand, and they slew -.if them in Bezek ten
thousand men." They also captured Adoni-Bezek, and they cut
off his thumbs and great toes ; for he had thus treated seventy
petty kings whom he had kept in captivity. The children of Jndah
had already captured the city of Jerusalem, and destroyed its
inhabitants.
It was during these struggles that Caleb promised his daughter
Achsah to whoever should capture the town Debir (Kirjath-sephir).
Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it and
obtained the damsel for a wife. The men of Judah next attacked
the Philistines, and conquered the districts of Gaza and Askelon
and Ekron. The other tribes also waged war with the idolatrous
inhabitants, but did not always destroy them. Hence it came to
pass that Israelites and heathens dwelt tog-ether in the same
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 57
town, This brought evil into Israel, for they were led to the
worship of idols, and to follow those wicked practices which had
brought God's judgment upon the original dwellers in Canaan.
An angel of the Lord rebuked the Israelites because they had
made friendship with the inhabitants of the land, and foretold
the troubles that would come upon them through their lapsing
into idolatry.
Idol Worship. This prediction soon proved true. After the
death of Joshua and all that generation, the people forsook the
Lord God of their fathers, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And
the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered
them into the hands of their enemies round about. Yet from
time to tune God had compassion on His people, and raised
up among them Judges, who delivered them out of the hand
of those that spoiled them. Then the Israelites would return
to the worship of God, and remain steadfast during the life of
the Judge, but on his death they would again return to their evil
ways. One reason of the continual lapsings of the Israelites was
the intermarriages which took place between them and the
Canaanites. The Bible pointedly notes that this practice led
directly to idolatry, with all its abominations.
Othniel. The anger of the Lord was now kindled against
His people, and He delivered them into the hand of Chushan-
rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, who kept them in subjection
eight years. Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord,
and He raised them up a deliverer in the person of Othniel, son
of Kennz, Caleb's younger brother. " And the spirit of the
Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel and went out to
war." He rescued his people from the oppression of the king
of Mesopotamia. Under him the land had rest for forty years.
Ehud. Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight
of God, who brought them under the yoke of Eglon, king
of Moab. The Israelites served him for eighteen years, then
the cry of their servitude rose to heaven, and the Lord inspired
Ehud, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver his
suffering people. Hiding a dagger among his raiment, and
pretending he had a secret message to deliver, EJ'ud stabbed the
king of Moab while alone with him in his summer-house.
Summoning his people by blast of the trumpet, Ehud led them
against the Moabites, defeating them with great slaughter.
"And the land had rest fourscore years."
Deborah. After the death of Ehud the children of Israel
again fell into their wicked ways. The Lord sold them into the
hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, the captain of whose host was
named Sisera.
8 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
At this time Israel was judged by a wise and brave woman, a
prophetess, Deborah, the wife ofLapidoth. She sent unto Barak,
the son of Abinoam, telling him to march towards Mount Tabor
with ten thousand men of the tribes of Naphtali andZebulun, for
that Sisera and his army should be delivered into his hands. But
Barak refused to go unless Deborah went with him. Deborah con-
sented, but told Barak that the journey would not lead to his
honour, for Sisera would fall by the hand of a woman. So they
journeyed together to Kedesh. Sisera had meanwhile gathered
his host ; " even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people
that were with him." The two armies joined battle at the brook
Kishon, and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword,
there was not a man left. Sisera himself took to flight, and drew
near the tent of his friend, Heber, the Kenite, a descendant of
Jethro. And Jael, the wife of Heber, went out to meet Sisera, and
invited him into the tent. When he had turned into the tent, she
covered him with a mantle, and gave him inilk to slake his thirst.
Telling her to conceal his presence in the tent, the tired captain
gave himself up to sleep. Then Jael took a tent nail and a hammer,
and softly approaching the sleeping Sisera, drove the nail through
his forehead, even into the ground. So he died. Jabin himself
was shortly after slain. To commemorate the great victory
at Kishon, Deborah and Barak sang a beautiful hymn of praise
unto God, " For the avenging of Israel" (Judges ch. v.). The song
ends, " So let all thine enemies perish, Lord, but let them that
love Him be as the sun, when he goeth forth in his might."
Then the land had rest forty years.
CHAPTER VI.
The Judges (continued) Gideon.
Gideon. The children of Israel fell again into their evil
ways, and the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Midian-
ites and the Amalekites, ' f and Israel was greatly impoverished
because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the
Lord." God sent a prophet to rebuke them, and to point out the
grievous sins they had committed, especially in worshipping idols.
Gideon's Call. One day Gideon, son of Joash, the Abi-ezrite,
was threshing wheat by a wine-press to hide it from the Midian-
ites, when an angel of God appeared unto him, saying, " The
Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Gideon replied,
" If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us ?"
Then the Lord told him that he'had been chosen to deliver Israel
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 59
from the yoke of the Midianites. Gideon asked, lt Wherewith
shall I save Israel ? Behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and
I am the least in my father's house." He further asked for a sign
of the truth of the prediction. Then hastening to prepare a meal
for the stranger, he brought forth unleavened cake, and flesh, and
broth, and placed them under an oak. Then the angel of the Lord
touched the food with his staff, and there rose up a great fire and
consumed it j and the angel disappeared. Gideon built an altar
on the spot, and called it Adonai-shalom, t( the Lord send peace."
The same night the Lord told Gideon to throw down the altar of
Baal, and cut down its grove, and also to build an altar unto the
true God, and to offer a bullock upon it. Gideon, taking with
him ten men of his servants, did as the Lord commanded. When
the men of the city arose next morning and found that their altar
had been destroyed, they called unto Joash to bring forth his son,
that he might die. But Joash merely replied, " Why will ye
plead for Baal ? . . . If he be a god, let him plead for himselt."
And Joash called his son " Jerubbaal," meaning " Let Baal plead
against him."
Gideon's Signs. The Midianites and Amalekites gathered
themselves together to contend with Israel in the valley of
Jezreel. Gideon sent messengers to the tribes of Manasseh, Asher,
Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning them to meet their enemies.
They obeyed the call. Now Gideon asked a sign of God that
Israel would be saved. He placed a fleece of wool upon the
floor, saying, " If the dew be on the fleece only and it be dry
upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou will save
Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so ; for he
rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together,
and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water."
Then Gideon entreated the Lord not to be angry while he begged
another sign. Again laying a fleece on the ground, he asked that
it might be dry, while upon all the ground there should be dew,
and again the prayed-for sign was vouchsafed.
The Lord said unto Gideon that the people he had gathered
were too many to overcome the Midianites, lest they should boast
" Mine own hand hath saved me." Gideon sent away all
who were afraid of the coming battle to the number of twenty-
two thousand, keeping only ten thousand with him. But the
Israelites were still too many. God told Gideon to lead the
people to a brook, and to reject all those who drank by lapping
like dogs, or by going down upon their knees. There then
remained but three hundred men, who were to take part in the
actual contest.
60 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
That same night the Lord told Gideon to attack the Midian-
ites, for they should be delivered into his hand ; but if he
were afraid to join battle with them, that he and his servant
Phurah should draw near the hostile host and overhear their
speech. Gideon and his servant approached the camp of the
Midianites, and heard one telling his neighbour he had dreamed
that " a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian,
and came into a tent and smote it that it fell, and overturned it,
that the tent lay along." The other answered, " This is nothing
else save the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash, a man of Israel :
for into his hand hath God delivered Midian and all the host."
Gideon accepted the omen. He first offered up a prayer to
God ; then, returning to his camp, he divided his three hundred
men into three companies, and he gave every man a trumpet, and
a pitcher with a lighted lamp in it. Then he told them to watch
him, and to do whatever they saw him do. He further told
them to blow their trumpets when he blew his, and to cry
out, " The sword of the Lord and of Gideon." So Gideon and his
little army stood round the enemy's camp, and, at the signal,
broke the pitchers so that the lights from the lamps flashed out
all at once. Thon they blew their trumpets and shouted their
battle cry. The Midianites, roused so suddenly from their sleep,
were thrown into confusion, and turned their swords against each
other. A.nd all fled in the greatest haste. Then Gideon sent
to Naphtali, Asher, Manasseh and Ephraim to join in the
pursuit, and many of the Midianites were killed.
The Ephraimites also captured and slew Oreb and Zeeb, two
princes of the Midianites.
CHAPTER VII.
The Judges Gideon (continued] Abimelech Tola Jair.
The Quarrel with Ephraim. The men of Ephraim quarrelled
with Gideon for not calling them to join in his war against the
Midianites. But Gideon wisely turned away their anger by
saying to them, " What have I done in comparison with you ?
Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than
the vintage of Abi-ezer ?" By these words he led them to believe
that in his opinion the most insignificant of the men of Ephraim
were of more esteem than the chief men of Abi-ezer.
The pursuit of the Midianites by Gideon and his three
hundred still continued. Gideon and his men were faint with
their toil, and coming to the town of Succoth, asked the inhabi-
tants for food. But the men of Succoth refused aid to the
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 61
Israelites, and mocked them. So also did the inhabitants of
Penuel. Gideon threatened them both with punishment, and
having at length captured the Midianitish kings he returned, and
kept his word. He flogged the elders of Succoth with briers,
and threw down the tower of Penuel.
Gideon Refuses to Rule. "Then the men of Israel said
unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and
thy son's son also." " And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule
over you, neither shall my son rule over you j the Lord shall rule
over you."
Gideon, however, begged that every man should give him the
ear-rings captured from their enemies. The people willingly gave
them, and they weighed a thousand shekels of gold. With them
Gideon made a golden ephod, and placed it in his city, and the
people worshipped it, and it became a snare to Gideon and his
house, for it led them into the wicked practices of idolatry.
Death of Gideon. The land now rested forty years. And
Gideon died in a good old age, and was buried in Ophrah. Then
the people again went astray, and worshipped Baalim, and
remembered not the Lord their God, and showed no kindness to
the house of Gideon.
Abimelech, one of the sons of Gideon, was desirous of succeed-
ing to his father's position. He joined himself with his maternal
relations, and with the inhabitants of Shechcm. Having gathered
a following, he proceeded to his father's house and slew his
seventy brothers " upon one stone." But Jotham, the youngest
son of Gideon, was left alive, for he had hidden himself. Then
Abimelech was made king by the plain of the pillar in Shechem.
Jotham's Parable. When Jotham heard this, he went to the
top of Mount Gerizim, and spoke a parable to the Shechemites.
He said that the trees wanted a king to rule over them. Thev
accordingly asked in turn the olive, the fig, and the vine ; but all
these declined the honour. Then they asked the bramble, which
replied, " If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and
put your trust in my shadow ; and if not, let fire come out of the
bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'' He then reminded
them of all that his father Gideon had wrought on their behalf:
how he had risked his life to save them from their enemies, in
return for which they had slain his seventy sons. Lastly, he said,
" If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal (Gideon)
and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and
let him also rejoice in you. But it not, let fire come out from
Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem. and the house of
Millo ', and let fire coine out from tne men of Shechem and from
62 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
the house of Millo, and devour Abimelecli." Then Jotham fled
and dwelt in Beer, for fear of Abimelech, his brother.
War with. Sheciiem. Three years passed, and the warning 1
of Jotham came to pass. The friendship, stained with crime,
that existed between Abimelech and the Shechemites was
broken. The latter chose for their leader Gaal, the son of Ebed,
who defied Abimelech and his power. A war ensued, in which
the people of Shechem were routed. A thousand of them, men
and women, took refuge in the tower of Shechem, and were there
burned to death by order of Abimelech. The victor now besieged
Thebez ; and while attacking a tower in which the inhabitants had
taken refuge, a woman threw a piece of millstone on Abimelech's
head, so that he died.
Tola, the son of Puah, of the tribe of Issachar, judged Israel
for twenty and three years. He dwelt in Shamir, in Mount
Ephraim.
Jair, a Gileadite, next judged Israel for twenty years. After
his death the children of Israel, having again resorted to the wor-
ship of idols, were oppressed by the Ammonites. In their dis-
tress they prayed unto God ; but no help came. The Lord
rebuked them for their many backslidings, and bade them cry
unto the gods they had chosen to deliver them in the time of
their tribulation. Then the people repented, and put away the
strange gods from their midst, and served the Lord, " and His
soul was grieved for the misery of Israel." The children of
Ammon gathered an army and encamped in Gilead, and the Israel-
ites assembled and encamped in Mizpeh. And the people and
princes of Gilead said one to another, " What man is he that
will begin to fight against the children of Ammon ? He shaU
be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."
CHAPTER VIII.
Jephthah Samson.
Jephthah. Now Jephthah was a mighty man of valour. His
father, Gilead, had many sons, and when they were grown up,
they thrust Jephthah from his father's house. So he dwelt in the
land of Tob, and gathered men round him. When the Ammonites
made war against Israel, the men of Gilead begged Jephthah to
become their leader. He refused unless they promised to re-
cognize him as their chief. This they agreed to do. Then
Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon, asking why he
had invaded the land. The king replied that the land was his,
and that the Israelites had taken it away by force when they
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 63
had come out of Egypt. But Jephthah answered that God had
taken the land from the Ammonites because of their cruelty to the
children of Israel during their travels in the wilderness. The
messages were of no avail, and Jephthah led his people to do
battle with the Ammonites.
Jephthah' s Vow. And Jephthah vowed a vow, saying that if
the Ammonites were defeated, then whatever came forth from
his house to meet him on his return should be the Lord's, and
should be offered as a burnt-offering; then leading his men to
the attack, the Ammonites were overthrown with a very great
slaughter. On his victorious return to his house, behold his
daughter came forth to meet him " with timbrels and dances j and
she was his only child ; beside her he had neither son nor
daughter." When Jephthah saw. her, his joy was at once turned
to mourning. He rent his clothes and told his child of the vow
he had made. But the loving daughter heard the terrible words
with pious resignation, saying, " My father, if thou hast opened
thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which
hath proceeded out of thy mouth." One favour she asked, that
she might bewail her fate upon the mountains for two months. At
the end of that time her father did with her according to the vow
which he had vowed.
Quarrel with the Ephraimites. The men of Ephraim now
quarrelled with Jephthah and the men of Gilead, because they
had not been called upon to assist in the war against Ammon.
A battle ensued in which the Ephraimites were overthrown. The
Gileadites then seized the fords over the Jordan, and slew the
Ephraimites as they attempted to pass over. The Ephraimites
not being able to pronounce the word " Shibboleth, ' this was
given to them as a test. So there fell of the men of Ephraim
that day forty and two thousand. After ruling over Israel for
six years, Jephthah died and was buried in one of the cities of
Gilead.
Ibzan. Israel was then judged for seven years by Ibzan
of Beth-lehem.
Elon. The next judge was Elon, of the tribe of Zebulun. He
ruled for ten years.
Abdon, the son of Hillel, then judged the land for eight
J-ears. Israel now fell under the power of the Philistines, who
oppressed them for forty years.
Samson. Now there was a certain man of the tribe of Dan,
named Manoah, whose wife bare him no children. One day an
angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and told her she
should have a son. He bade her not to drink wine nor strong
64 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY,
drink, and not to eat any unclean thing. For the child was to
be a Nazarite* unto God i'rom his birth, and he was destined to
deliver Israel from the Philistines. The woman told her hus-
band. Then Manoah entreated the Lord that the angel might come
again and teach him how the promised child should be reared.
God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel appeared unto
the woman and her husband and repeated his commands. Then,
when Manoah prepared a burnt sacrifice, the angel disappeared
in the flame. In course of time the woman bare a son, and called
his name Samson, " and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him."
Samson's Riddle. Although he was to prove their greatest
enemy, Samson at first was friendly with the Philistines. Going
to Timnath he saw there one of their women, and desired to have
her to wife. His father and mother were vexed at his choice,
wishing that he should marry an Israelitess. But Samson was
not to be moved ; so he and his parents went down to Timnath.
On the way a young lion came out and roared at Samson. The
spirit of the Lord came mightily upon the Nazarite, and he rent
the lion as one would rend a kid. Journeying down on a later
day to marry the woman of Timnath, he turned aside to view the
carcase of the lion and, behold, a swarm of bees had settled in it.
So he took of the honey and went on eating. The usual wedding-
feast was held. Then Samson asked a riddle of the thirty Philis-
tines who had been appointed his companions, the forfeit by the
losing side to be thirty cloths, and thirty changes of garment.
This was the riddle, " Out of the eater came forth meat, and out
of the strong came forth sweetness ;" and seven days were given
for solving it. At the end of three days the Philistines went to
Samson's wife pressing her to find out and tell them the answer,
and threatening her with death by fire if she refused. Samson's
wife wept before him, entreating him to tell her the answer. As
she wept day by day Samson at last yielded. The woman told
the Philistines, and on the seventh day they spake the answer,
"What is sAveeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion?"
Samson replied, " If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye
had not found out my riddle." Going to Ashkelon he slew
thirty of its men and gave their clothes to the Philistines. Then
he returned in anger to his father's house, while his wife was
given to another man.
* A man who had taken upon himself the vow of a Nazarite was not
permitted to partake of wine or strong drink, or to eat anything made of
the vine tree, " from the kernels even to the husk." He was not allowed
to cut the hair of his head, or to defile himself by touching a dead body.
See Numbers vi. 1-21.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 65
CHAPTER IX.
Samson (continued).
Samson's Exploits. Some time after Samson went to Tirnnath
to see his wife, and found that she had been married to one
of his companions. His anger was kindled against the Philistines.
Capturing three hundred foxes, he turned them tail to tail, and
placed a firebrand between each pair. Having set the brands
on fire he drove the foxes into the cornfields of his enemies, so
that they burned up " both the shocks, and also the standing corn,
with the vineyards and olives." The Philistines in revenge burnt
Samson's wife and her father with fire. This again roused Samson's
anger, and, after slaying many of them, he went and dwelt in the
top of the rock Etam.
The Philistines came up to fight with the men of Judah, and
demanded that they should deliver Samson into their hands.
Three thousand of the men of Judah scaled the rock of Etam,
and having bound Samson with new ropes they brought him down.
When the Philistines saw him captive they set up a great shout.
But the spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he broke his
cords, as if they were " flax that was burnt with fire." Then find-
ing a jaw-bone of an ass he slew with it a thousand men. Sore
athirst after his great work, he cried to God and the Lord clave a
hollow place that was in the jaw, and water came out.
Samson's Pall. Samson, being in Gaza, the inhabitants lay
in wait for him all night round about the city, saying, " In the
morning, when it is day, we shall kill him." But he arose at
midnight, and taking the doors of the gates of the city, with the
posts and bar, carried them up to the top of a hill near Hebron.
After a time, Samson loved a woman in the valley of Sorek,
whose name was Delilah. The lords of the Philistines offered
her a very large bribe if she would find out the secret of Samson's
strength, and how he might be overcome. Delilah, yielding to
the desire of the Philistines, begged Samson again and again to
tell her wherein lay his strength. Samson at first mocked her
by telling her that if he were bound with " seven green withs," he
would become weak and as another man. When tied with them,
he broke them as if they were tow touched by the fire. Another
time he said that if he were bound with ropes that had never
been used, he would become weak. When, however, he was so
fastened, he broke them as thread. Again he told Delilah that
if she wove the seven locks of his hair with the web, all his
strength would depart. She did so, but he walked away with
F
66 MANUAL OF SCK1PTURE HISTORY.
the pin of the beam and with the web. But as she pressed him
daily with her words, he, in an unlucky moment, " told her his
whole heart," and said that he owed his strength to his being a
Nazarite; and that if his hair were cut off he would become
utterly weak. Delilah watched till Samson was soundly asleep :
then, calling for a man, bade him shave off the seven locks of his
head. Instantly his strength went from him ; and the Philistines,
who were waiting the event, seized him, put out his eyes, and
bound him with fetters of brass. They placed him in a prison-
house, and made him grind their corn,
To commemorate their victory, the Philistines prepared a
great feast and sacrifice unto Dagon, their god. When their
hearts were merry, they sent for Samson to make sport before
them. The temple was crowded with men and women, the lords
and ladies of the Philistines, to the number of three thousand.
Samson asked the lad who led him to allow him to feel the
pillars that supported the roof, that he might lean upon them.
Then, uttering a prayer to God for help and strength, and that
he might be avenged for the loss of his two eyes, he seized the
pillars of the temple, and, bowing himself with all his might,
brought the whole structure to the ground. Thousands were
killed, Samson himself being among the number. He had judged
Israel twenty years.
CHAPTER X.
Micah Destruction of Gibeah Ruth.
Micah. There was a man of Mount Ephraim named Micah.
He stole eleven hundred shekels of silver from his mother, but
afterwards restored them unto her. She took two hundred of
the shekels and had them formed into a graven image and a
molten image, and they were placed in the house of Micah.
Shortly after, a Levite on his travels came to the house of Micah,
and was by him persuaded to remain there and act as Levite
to his gods. " In those days there was no king in Israel, but
every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Capture of Laish by the Danites. The tribe of Dan, wish-
ing to enlarge their possessions, sent five of their men to search
the land. They journeyed to Mount Ephraim, a district almost
in the centre of Palestine, and came to the house of Micah.
Resting there, they inquired of the Levite how he came thither j
and the Levite told them that Micah had hired him to minister to
his idols. Then the men begged him to inquire of God if their
expedition would be prosperous. The Levite replied, " Go in
peace - } before the Lord is your way in which you go."
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 67
The men departed, and travelling to the extreme north of
Palestine, notea the town of Laish as being 1 easy of capture, since
it was far from Zidon, the only town likely to give it help.
The spies returned to their own country, and having reported all
they had seen, six hundred Danites set out to capture Laish.
Their way took them to the dwelling of Micah, and learning
that there were in the house an ephod and teraphim, resolved to
carry them away. So they entered the house and brought out
the idols, and also persuaded the priest to accompany them.
They had scarcely proceeded on their journey when Micah and
his neighbours followed after them, demanding that the idols
should be restored. The Danites refused to give them back, and
even threatened to kill Micah if he molested them. Micah,
seeing that they were more numerous than his followers, turned
back home. The Danites, having reached Laish, captured the
city, burned it, and put the inhabitants to the sword. They then
built a city on the site and called it Dan, and dwelt there until tho
day of the captivity of the land.
The Wickedness of Gibeah. A certain Levite, who dwelt
on the side of Mount Ephraim, had a wife. After living with
him some time she returned to her father's house in Beth-
lehem-Judah. The Levite went to fetch her home. Darkness
overtaking them on the way, they turned for shelter into Gibeah,
in Benjamin, and took up their lodging in the house of an old
man. In the night the men of Gibeah ill-treated the Levite's
wife so cruelly that in the morning she died. The Levite laid
the woman upon his ass, and journeyed on to his home. He
then cut the body into twelve pieces, and sent one to each of
the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Tribes Assemble. The dreadful act sent a thrill of
horror through the land. At once the tribes assembled at Mizpeh,
even "four hundred thousand foot-men that drew the sword."
Then the Levite addressed them, and told them how sinfully
the men of Gibeah had acted. Burning with anger, the tribes
resolved to attack Gibeah. A tenth part of the men were chosen
by lot to carry out the punishment against the wicked city. But
the tribe of Benjamin took up the cause of Gibeah, and mustered
an^army of twenty-six thousand men to oppose Israel. Gibeah
also furnished seven hundred chosen men.
Benjamin Defeated. The children of Israel inquired of the
Lord who should lead them to battle ; and the Lord said,
" Judah shall go up first." When the battle was joined, Israel
were defeated, and lost that day twenty- two thousand men. The
next day Israel again inquired of the Lord and having received
* a
63 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HIS TOR Y>
an encouraging reply, once more attacked the Benjamites. They
were again worsted, and lost on the second day eighteen thousand
men. Then all the children of Israel wept before the Lord, and
" fasted that day until even, and offered burnt-offerings and
peace-offerings." Then they inquired of the Lord, and Phinehas,
the son of Eleazer, the son of Aaron, replied to them in God's
name, " Go up : for to-morrow I will deliver them into thine
hand." On the third day they captured Gibeah by stratagem, anjd
slew twenty-five thousand of the Benjamites.
But six hundred of them escaped and took refuge in the rock
Rimmon, and abode there four months. The children of Israel
turned again upon the Benjamites, and smote every one of them,
and destroyed all their cities. They then took an oath, " There
shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife "
On the morrow the Israelites "repented them for Benjamin, their
brother," and said, " There is one tribe cut off from Israel this
day. How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing
that we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them of
our daughters for wives." But they found a way out of the diffi-
culty. On numbering the army they discovered that the town of
Jabesh-Gilead had not sent a contingent. So they captured the
city and slew all its inhabitants, except four hundred virgins
whom they gave to the Benjamites for wives. The remaining
two hundred carried away some of the women of Shiloh and
married them. They then "returned unto their inheritance,
and repaired the cities and dwelt in them."
Ruth. Connected with the period of the later judges is the
story of Ruth. In the days of Ibzan there was a famine in the
land, and a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah named Elimelech,
together with his wife Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and
Chilion, went to dwell in the land of Moab. In process of time
Elimelech died and his two sons married Moabitish women, the
name of the one being Orpah, and of the other Ruth. The sons
dying also, their mother, Naomi, resolved to return to her native
land. Naomi advised her daughters-in-law to remain in their own
country. At first they refused, but after some persuasion Orpah
made up her mind to stay in Moab. Ruth, however, was steadfast.
She would not leave Naomi, saying, " Whither thou goest, I
will go ; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge ; thy people shall
be my people ; and thy God my God."
So they journeyed to Bethlehem, and when the people saw the
woman widowed and childless, they exclaimed, "Is this Naomi ?"
And she said unto them, " Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for
the Almignty has dealt very bitterly with me."
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 69
Boaz. Naomi had a rich kinsman, whose name was Boaz.
While the corn harvest was going on, Boaz showed great kindness
to Ruth, allowing her to glean after his reapers, and even bidding
his men to " let fall some handfuls of purpose for her." He hade
her also partake of the fare provided for his labourers, and not to
leave his fields all the harvest. Ruth, by her faithfulness and
modesty, so won the heart of Boaz, that he desired to take her
unto him for wife. But by the law a nearer kinsman had a
prior right to marry the damsel The kinsman, however, in the
presence of the elders of the town, waived his claim, so that Boaz
was wedded to Ruth. She bore him a son named Obed j Obed
begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
CHAPTER XI.
Eli Birth of Samuel His Dedication to God's Service.
Hannah. Now there was a certain man named Elkanah, who
dwelt in Mount Ephraim. He had two wives, Hannah and
Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had not, and
this was a cause of great grief to ker. It was Elkanah's yearly
custom to go up with his household to Shiloh, there to sacrifice
before the Lord. At this time Eli was priest and judge, and he
and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, ministered before the Ark
of God. As the years went by, Hannah's grief became greater,
and she was less able to bear the tauntings of her rival Peninnah.
Then Elkanah said to her, " Why weepest thou ? .... am I not
better to thee than ten sons ?" But Hannah went up to the
tabernacle of the Lord, and prayed and wept. And she made a
vow that if God gave her a son she would dedicate him to His
service, and he should be a Nazarite. As she continued praying,
Eli noticed her mouth ; for Hannah prayed in her heart, and
though her lips moved her voice was not heard. Then Eli said
unto her, " How long wilt thou be drunken ? Put away thy
wine from thee." But Hannah answered, " No, my lord, I am
a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor
strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord." Then
Eli answered, " Go in peace ; and the God of Israel grant thee
thy petition that thou hast asked of Him." Hannah rose up with
a joyful countenance. In course of time a son was born to her.
When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh,
together with a freewill offering of meat and flour and wine. She
brought the child to Eli, and reminded him that she was the
woman who had prayed for a son. Then she left him in the
priest's charge, saying, " I have lent him to the Lord j as long as
70 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
he liveth he shall he lent to the Lord." Hannah having- poured
out her gratitude to God in a beautiful prayer, returned with
Elkanah to their home. " And the child did minister unto the
Lord before Eli the priest."
Eli's Sons. " Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial ; they
knew not the Lord." Among- other offences was this, that they
took of the flesh of the offerings more than was their share, and
often took it by force. " Wherefore the sin of the young* men
was very great before the Lord : for men abhorred the offering of
the Lord." All this time Samuel took part in the service of the
tabernacle, being clad in a little linen ephod. And Hannah at
her yearly visits to Shiloh, brought him changes of garment.
She bare unto Elkanah three sons and two daughters.
A Prophet Reproves Eli. Eli was now very old, and full of
sorrow for the evil-doing of his sons, which had become a scandal
through all Israel. He rebuked them for their sins, but they
hearkened not to the voice of their father. And a man of God
came unto Eli, and warned him that destruction would come
upon his house because of their iniquity. He gave Eli a sign of
the truth of his prediction that his two sons should be slain on
one day. He also foretold the greatness of Zadok, saying, " I
will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that
which is in mine heart and in my mind : and I will build him a
sure house ; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever."
The Call of Samuel. In those days the word of the Lord
was precious, there was no open vision. And it came to pass one
night "when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began
to wax dim, that he could not see." "And ere the lamp of God
went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was,
and Samuel was laid down to sleep, that the Lord called Samuel,
and he answered, Here am I." The child ran to Eli, and asked
if he had called him, but Eli bade him lie down again. Again the
voice called him, and again he went to inquire of Eli. And the
Lord called Samuel a third time, and again he went to Eli. Then
" Eli perceived tht,t the Lord had called the child." Therefore
Eli advised Samuel to lie down again, and if he heard the voice
calling him, to answer, " Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth."
Again the Lord stood by Samuel and called him, and the lad
answered as Eli had taught him. Then the Lord told Samuel
of the sins of. Eli's sons, and how punishment would come upon
the house of Eli ; for that its iniquity should not be purged for
ever. In the morning Samuel opened the doors of the house of
the Lord as was his wont, but was afraid to tell Eli the vision
that he had seen. But when Eli pressed him to tell, then he
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. >ji
narrated all lie Lad heard. Then Eli answered, " It is the Lord
let Him do what seemeth Him good." After this the fame of
Samuel became very great, and he was known from Dan to
Beersheba as a prophet of God.
CHAPTER XII.
War with the Philistines Capture of the Ark Death of
Eli and his Sons.
War with the Philistines. A war now broke out between
the Israelites and the Philistines, and a pitched battle was fought,
in which the Israelites were defeated. In sore dismay they
resolved to send for the Ark of the Covenant, hoping that its
presence would help to turn the fortune of war. Hophni and
Phinehas brought the Ark unto the camp, and when the Israelites
saw it, they set up a great shout. The Philistines soon learned
that the Ark of God was in the Israelites' camp, and the know-
ledge filled them with dread. Still they nerved themselves for
their task, and in a second battle overthrew the Israelites with
great slaughter. Hophni and Phinehas were killed, and worst
of all the Ark of God was captured by the heathens. And a man
of Benjamin ran from the battle field to Shiloh, and told all the
misfortunes that had befallen them. Now when Eli heard that
the Ark was taken he bowed his head and died. He was ninety
and eight years old, and had ruled Israel forty years. The wife
of Phinehas, hearing the news, was taken in travail and bare
a son. With her last breath she named him Ichabod ; saying-,
"The glory is departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken."
The Ark among the Philistines. The Philistines took the
Ark of God and carried it in triumph to Ashdod, and placed it in
the temple of Dagon, their fish-god. In the morning, " Behold
Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the Ark of the
Lord ; and the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands
were cut off upon the threshold ; only the stump of Dagon was
left to him.'' In sore affright the Ashdodites sent the Ark away
from their town unto Gath. No sooner did it arrive there, than a
great destruction fell upon the men of the city, and they hurried
the Ark to Ekron. But the Ekronites would not suffer the Ark
to remain with them, and it was carried about the land of the
Philistines for seven months.
The Ark sent back. Acting upon the advice of their priests
and diviners, the Philistines resolved to restore the Ark to the
Israelites. To give glory to the God of Israel they sent jewels
of gold, as an offering with it. Then, placing the ark with the
jewels on an ox-cart, they let it go its way. The oxen took the
72 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
straight road to Beth-shemesh, and came to a stand-still in the
field of one Joshua. The men of Beth-shemesh were rejoiced
to recover the ark ; " they clave the wood of the cart, and offered
the kine a burnt-offering unto the Lord." Yet the men of
Beth-shemesh committed a sin, because they looked into the ark
of the Lord, and the Lord smote of the people fifty thousand and
threescore and ten. Messengers were then sent to the inhabitants
of Kirjath-jearim asking them to take charge of the ark. This
they gladly consented to do, and they brought the Ark unto the
house of Abinadab, and they sanctified Eleazer to keep the Ark
of the Lord. The Ark remained in Kirjath-jearim twenty years.
Samuel prays for the People. Then Samuel gathered all
the people unto Mizpeh and prayed for them, and the people
repented them of their evil ways. The Philistines, hearing that
Israel were assembled at Mizpeh, raised an army and pitched
against them. The Israelites were afraid, and begged Samuel to
cry unto the Lord for them. Samuel offered a sacrifice and prayed
for his people, And the Lord sent a thunderstorm upon the
Philistines, and they were discomforted, and smitten before
Israel. All the cities which they had taken from the Israelites
were restored from Ekron even unto Gath.
Samuel judges Israel. Samuel judged Israel henceforth
all the days of his life. He made it a practice every year to
travel to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, there to judge the people ;
but he made his home in Eamah, where he built an altar unto
the Lord.
The People desire a King. When Samuel was old, he made
his two sons, Joel and Abiah, judges over Israel. But his sons
did evil, taking bribes and preventing judgment. Then the elders
of Israel came to Samuel and asked him to appoint a king over
them, who should judge them, as was the custom among all other
nations. Samuel enquired of the Lord. And the Lord said,
" Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto
thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me
that I should not reign over them." Then Samuel pointed out to
the people the dangers they would run if they chose a king, how
he would make their sons his servants ; how he would raise an
army; how he would seize upon their lands and their crops and
their cattle. Nevertheless the people answered that they would
have a king who should judge them and lead them forth to battle.
Samuel, having received God's command to appoint them a king 1 ,
dismissed them to their homes.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 73
PART IV.
PROM SAUL'S KINGSHIP TO THE DEATH OF
SOLOMON.
CHAPTER I.
Saul made King His first Offence.
Saul chosen King. Now there was a man of the tribe of
Benjamin, whose name was Kish. He had a son, Saul j " a choice
young- man and a goodly," " from his shoulders and upwards he
was higher than any of his people." One day the asses of Kish
were lost, and he sent his son Saul and a servant to look for them.
The quest was vain ; and, after passing- through many lands, the
men came to a city where a prophet of God was staying, of whom
they determined to ask advice. This prophet was none other than
Samuel. He was awaiting Saul's approach, for the Lord had pre-
viously informed him of it. Saul drew near to Samuel and asked
him where the seer's house was. Samuel answered, " I am the
seer," and then he bade Saul tarry with him, and he would show
him what was in his heart. He told him also not to be concerned
about the asses, as they were found. Samuel continued, " And
on whom is all the desire of Israel ? Is it not on thee and all
thy father's house?" And Saul answered and said, "Am not I
a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel ? and my
family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?"
There happened to be a sacrifice and a feast in the city that day,
and Samuel placed Saul in the chief place, and showed him
great distinction. Next day Saul and his servant set out on
their way home, and Samuel accompanied them. Then Samuel,
having sent the servant forward, took a vial of oil and anointed
Saul, and told him that the Lord had chosen him captain over His
inheritance. Then he spoke to him of certain signs which should
prove the truth of his announcement. Lastly Samuel told Saul
to meet him at Gilgal, and so departed. And God gave Saul a
new heart, and all the signs promised by Samuel came true. One
was that he was met by a company of prophets, and the spirit of
God came upon him, and he began to prophesy. From this circum-
stance arose the proverb, "Is Saul also amongst the prophets?"
Saul's Election confirmed. After this Samuel assembled
the people at Mizpeh and told them to proceed to the choice of a
king by lot; and the lot fell upon Saul. Then Samuel said : "See
ye nim whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him
among all the people ? And all the people shouted and said,
God save the King." Samuel instructed the people as to the
74 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book. Then all Israel
went to their homes, and Saul returned to Gibeah.
Wax with the Ammonites. The qualities of Saul were soon
put to the test. Nahash, the Ammonite, besieged the town of
Jabesh-Gilead. No sooner did Saul bear of this, than he as-
sembled all Israel and Judah in Bezek to the number of three
hundred and thirty thousand men. On the morrow he overthrew
the Ammonites in a decisive battle. Then said Samuel to the people,
" Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there."
And the people went to Gilgal, and oifered sacrifices and rejoiced
greatly.
Samuel reproves the People Samuel then addressed all
Israel. First, he bade them bear witness to his own integrity
while he ruled Israel. Then he told the assembly that they had
acted wickedly in demanding a king. To show them that his
words were true he gave them a sign. Although it was wheat
harvest, the Lord, at the entreaty of Samuel, sent a thunderstorm
and rain. The people were greatly afraid, and begged Samuel
to pray for them. Samuel reassured the people and exhorted them
to walk in God's way and to serve Him in truth and all would yet
be well with them.
Saul's first Offence. There was now continual warfare be-
tween the Israelites and the Philistines. Saul, in the second year
of his reign, had raised an army of three thousand men. The
Philistines, however, came up in such multitudes that the Israelites
were dismayed and hid themselves in pits and caves. Saul was
now at Gilgal, and was waiting for Samuel who had appointed to
meet him there on a certain day. Samuel did not appear at
the time appointed, and Saul presumptuously took it upon him-
self to offer a burnt offering unto God. Immediately after Samuel
arrived, and was wroth with Saul for what he had done. He told
Saul that bis kingdom should not continue, and that the Lord
had chosen another to be captain over His people ; and so he
departed. The vast host of the Philistines remained encamped
in Michmash, and Saul and his son Jonathan together with only
six hundred men abode in Gibeah.
CHAPTER II.
Saul's Wars with the Philistines and Amalekites David
anointed King.
Overthrow of the Philistines. It came to pass one day that
Jonathan and his armour-bearer went out secretly to spy out the
Philistines. And Jonathan said "If the Philistines see us and
Bay, Tarry where you are, then we will stand still; but if they say
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 75
Come up unto us, then we will go up, for that will be a sign that
the Lord has delivered them into our hand." Directly the
Philistines beheld the two Israelites they exclaimed, " Come up to
us." Then Jonathan and his armour-bearer fell upon the enemy
and killed about twenty of them. A panic now spread among
the Philistines, increased by an earthquake, and they began to
disperse, beating each other down as they ran. Then the Israel-
ites fell upon the retreating host and discomforted them with great
slaughter. Before entering the fight Saul had made the people
swear that they would taste no food till nightfall. Jonathan, not
knowing of the oath and being very faint, partook of some wild
honey. When this was discovered Saul exclaimed " God do so
and more also j for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan." But the
people rescued Jonathan that he died not.
Saul's second Offence. Saul was now commanded to take
vengeance upon the Amalekites, because they had lain in wait
for the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. He was to
destroy them entirely and everything they had. Saul smote the
Amalekites, but spared Agag their king-, together with the best
of the sheep and the oxen and ajl that was good. Then God was
angry with Saul for saving alive anything of the Amalekites.
Samuel, at God's command, rebuked Saul for his transgression,
and turned away from him in wrath. But Saul put forth his
hand and seized Samuel's mantle and it was torn. And Samuel
said "The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee, and
hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou."
Then Samuel slew Agag with his own hand, and departed to
Ramah. He never saw Saul again, nevertheless he mourned for
his backslidings.
David chosen King. The Lord commanded Samuel to take
a horn of oil and to go to Bethlehem unto the house of Jesse, and
anoint one of his sons as king. To prevent Saul suspecting the
true cause of the journe} r , Samuel was to pretend that he was
going to offer a sacrifice. Arrived at his destination, Jesse caused
seven of his sons to pass before the Seer, but the Lord gave no
sign to Samuel that either of these had been selected for the kingly
office. Then Samuel asked Jesse if these were all his children, and
Jesse replied, " There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold
he keepeth the sheep." Samuel ordered him to be fetched, and
directly he appeared Samuel knew that this was the chosen of
the Lord. So he anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and
then departed to Ramah. " And the spirit of the Lord came
upon David from that day forward."
Saul meanwhile grew more and more despondent in his mind,
76 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
and his servants counselled him to find a harper to play before
him and soothe his troubled spirit. Now David was famed for hig
skill upon the harp, so Saul sent to Jesse, asking him to let his son
minister unto him. Jesse consented, and sent his son to the royal
camp, bearing- a present with him. When Saul saw David he
loved him greatly, and made him his armour-bearer. And when-
ever Saul grew moody, David played before him and restored him
U C I
to cheerfulness.
David and Goliath. Again the Philistines gathered together
their armies and encamped opposite the host of the Israelite?,
and there was a valley between them. Among the Philistines
there was a mighty giant named Goliath, of Gath, whose height
was six cubits and a span. He was clothed in ponderous armour-
coat and greaves, helmet and target of brass, and his spear was
like a weaver's beam. Day by day for forty days this warrior
came before the Israelites and defied anyone of them to do battle
with him, and not one of them dared accept the challenge. It
chanced one day that David arrived at the camp carrying pro-
visions to his three eldest brothers, who were serving with Saul.
As he was talking with them, behold the champion of the Philis-
tines came forth, hurling his challenge at affrighted Israel. Then
David asked what reward should that man have who fought with
Goliath. The people answered that the king would bestow
great riches upon him, and give him his daughter in marriage,
and make his father's house free from taxation for ever. But his
eldest brother rebuked David for remaining in the camp, and
bade him go home and tend his sheep. David, however, remained,
and his presence in the camp was reported to Saul, who sent for
him. Entering the king's presence, David at once offered to go
and battle with Goliath, But Saul answered, a Thou art not able
to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for thou art but a
youth, and he a man of war from his youth." Then David told
Saul how, while he was tending his father's flocks he had fought
with a lion and a bear, and had slain them. He felt sure that
the Lord who had delivered him from those animals, would deliver
him from the Philistine. And Saul said to David, " Go, and
the Lord, be with thee." Saul then placed his own armour upon
David, and girt him with his sword, but the shepherd youth
could not move under the weight, so he put them off. He
took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from
the brook, which he placed in his scrip, and armed with
these only and his sling he went out to face the giant. When
the terrible Philistine beheld David he disdained him and cried,
*Am I a dog that thou eomest to me with stones?" David
MANUAL Of SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 77
replied, " Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and
with a shield ; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of
Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."
Then slinging; a stone, David smote the Philistine in the forehead
and brought him to the earth. Running 1 up to the prostrate form
he cut off the head of Goliath with his own sword. Seeing their
hero slain the army of the Philistines fled, and were pursued by
the Israelites with great slaughter. David brought the head of
Goliath to Jerusalem, but kept his armour as a trophy.
CHAPTER III.
Saul jealous of David. He seeks to kill him. The
love of David and Jonathan-
Saul and David. A great friendship sprang up between
Jonathan, the son of Saul, and David. The character of Jona-
than is a very beautiful one, for though he saw David becoming
the idol of the people, still his soul " was knit with the soul of
David." This friendship was never broken.
Saul and David now returned in triumph from the war. The
women of Israel came out to meet them, singing and dancing.
As they played, the women answered each other and said, " Saul
hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Hearing
these words Saul grew angry, and looked upon David with great
displeasure. One day while David was striking the harp in the
royal tent, Saul cast a javelin at him twice to kill him. He also
removed the young hero from his immediate person, and made
him a captain over a thousand men.
Michal. The king, mindful of his former promise, now
offered his daughter Merab in marriage to David. But David
had no desire for the union, and therefore expressed himself as
unworthy to become the king's son-in-law. So Merab was given
to another. But Michal, the king's younger daughter, loved
David. Hearing of it Saul was pleased, for he hoped to ensnare
the young man to his death. He promised his consent to the
marriage if David would undertake to slay one hundred of the
Philistines. Saul hoped that David might be killed in the fray,
but David and his men slew two hundred of the enemy. " And
Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife."
Jonathan intercedes for David. Saul was still determined
to take the life of David, and asked his son and his servants to
aid him. But Jonathan earnestly begged his father to spare
David, who had ventured his life to hght the king's enemies.
Saul hearkened to his son, and swore by the Lord that David
should not be slain, and even received him back into his presence.
78 MANUAL OP SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Saul again seeks David's Life. The evil spirit of the Lord
was again upon Saul, and again he attempted to slay David.
David escaped to his own home. The messengers of Saul sur-
rounded the house, and Michal let him down from a window at
night. He fled to Samuel at Ramah. When Saul heard of it
he sent his servants to capture him, but when they approached
the place where Samuel was instructing the school of the
prophets, they also began to prophesy. A second attempt to
seize David led to a similar result. Then Saul himself went to
Ramah, and the spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied
also. From this circumstance also arose the saying, " Is Saul
also among the prophets ?"
David and Jonathan. Returning from Ramah, David poured
out his soul to Jonathan and said, " What have I done ? what is
mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh
my life ?" Jonathan tried to re-assure David, saying that as he was
in his father's confidence, he knew the king intended no harm.
But David was not convinced, so they devised a plan by which
they might discover Saul's real intent. The next day being' the
New Moon, and therefore a holiday, David absented himself
from the king's table. The king noticed that his place was empty,
but said nothing. The next day David was again away. Then
Saul inquired of Jonathan, " Wherefore cometh not the son of
Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor to-day." Jonathan had
prepared an answer, and at once replied that he had given David
permission to be present at a family sacrifice at his own city.
Saul could no longer restrain his anger. He loaded his son with
abuse, and ordered him to send for David immediately, for he
should surely be put to death. Jonathan exclaimed, u Where-
fore shall he be slain ? What hath he done ?" Saul in un-
controlable rage hurled his javelin at Jonathan to smite him.
Jonathan rose from the table in fierce rage, and ate no food that
day. The following day he went out into a field, as he had
arranged with David, taking with him his weapons and a little
lad. David was hidden not far off. Jonathan shot an arrow
from his bow, and when the lad went to recover it he cried out
loudly, "Is not the arrow beyond thee. Make speed, haste,
stay not." This was the signal arranged between the two mer r
in case Jonathan found that the king still sought the life of his
friend. The lad, who was not in the secret, having departed,
David arose from his hiding-place, " and fell on his face to the
ground, and bowed himself three times : and they kissed one
another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded." And
Jonathan said to David, " Go in peace, for as much as we have
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 79
Sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be
between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.
And he arose and departed : and Jonathan went into the city."
CHAPTER IV.
David an Exile His Wanderings Death, of Samuel.
David and the Shewforead. When David fled from Saul,
he took refuge with Ahimelech the priest, in the city of Nob.
Famished with his long journey, he begged Ahimelech to
give him a store of bread. But there was none at hand save the
shewbread ; and, although it was considered sacred, David, in his
necessity, did not scruple to partake of it. He then asked the
priest for a weapon, and Ahimelech gave him the sword of Goliath,
which had been preserved there behind the Ephod. It chanced
that one of Saul's servants, Doeg, the Edomite, encountered David
in the city of Nob. This chance meeting bore fatal fruit later on.
David in Philistia. The fear of Sauretill haunted David, and
he fled to Achish, king of Gath. Finding that his former hostility
to the Philistines was remembered against him, he feigned mad-
ness. But he found less favour than before, so he escaped, and
abode in the cave of Adullam, where he gathered a following of
about 400 men of those who were discontented with Saul's rule.
David's Wanderings. After a time, David went to Mizpeh
in Moab, but was warned by a prophet to return to the land of
Judah. Saul, hearing of this, reproached his servants for not
ridding him of his enemy. It was on this occasion that Doeg in-
formed the king of his meeting with David in Nob. Saul
instantly se'nt for Ahimelech, and, after reproaching- him, ordered
him to be slain. But none of Saul's followers would raise their
hand against the Lord's priest. But Doeg the Edomite had no
such scruples. He smote Ahimelech, together with eighty-five
priests, with the edge of the sword, and plundered the city
of Nob. Abiathar, with one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped,
and took refuge with David.
David's Wars with the Philistines. It was told to David
that the Philistines were raiding at Keilah. Encouraged by a
message from God, David led his men against his ancient roes
and smote them with great slaughter. Saul, hearing of this
exploit, made another attempt to capture David. But David and
his following fled, and took refuge in the wilderness of Ziph;
The Ziphites would have betrayed David into the hand of Saul,
so once more he fled, first to the wilderness of Maon, and afterwards
to Engedi. At this moment tidings reached Saul that the Philistines
had invaded the land, so he turned from his pursuit of David.
8o MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
David and Saul Reconciled. Having routed the Philis*
tines Saul again returned to his pursuit of David. On one
occasion, Saul rested in the very cave in which David and his men
lay hid. David's followers urged him to kill the King. But
David would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed, but
he cut off a portion of his robe. When Saul had left the cave
and gone on his way, David went after him and called to the
King, and bowed himself to the earth. He then showed him the
portion of his robe, and told him that he had spared his life.
David entreated the King to desist from the pursuit of one who
had never wronged him. " The Lord therefore be judge, and
judge between me and thee, and see and plead my cause, and
deliver me out of thine hand." Hearing these words, the heart
of Saul melted. He wept, saying, "Thou art more righteous
than I." Telling David that he knew he was destined by God to
succeed to the Kingdom, he bade him swear to spare his family, so
that his name should not be cut off. David sware unto Saul, and
so they parted.
David and Abigail. "And Samuel died: and all the
Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried
him in his house at Ramah."
David now abode in the wilderness of Paran. There was a cer-
tain man, dwelling in Carmel, named Nabal,who was exceeding rich
in sheep and goats. David and his followers had always protected
him ; and, hearing that he was keeping a shearing-feast, he sent
some of his young men to crave a present. Nabal churlishly refused
to give anything ; and David armed his men, to take by force what
he had previously solicited. But Abigail, the wife 6f Nabal, a
woman as wise as her husband was foolish, hastened to David
with a present of bread and wine, raisins and figs. But she said
no word to Nabal of her proceedings. She met David marching
with his men to plunder her home, and, throwing herself at his
feet, entreated him to forgive the folly of her husband. Moved
by her beauty and eloquence, David was appeased, and consented
to receive the present she had prepared. Abigail returned home,
but told her husband nothing, as he had feasted himself to
drunkenness. The next day she recounted to him her meeting
with David. The heart of Nabal fainted within him, and in
ten days he died. Afterwards David married Abigail. He also
took to himself to wife Ahimoam of Jezreel, for Saul had given
Michal, David's wife, to Phalti, the son of Laish.
Saul again in David's power. David having taken refuge
in the wilderness of Ziph, Saul went down with three thousand
men to capture him. David noticed where the King lay, and
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 81
taking Abishai, the brother of Joab, with him in the dead of night,
he stood by the side of Saul, who " lay sleeping within the trench,
and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster." Abishai
begged David to let him slay Saul with the spear ; but David
shrank in horror from the thought. Taking the king's spear and
his cruse of water, he silently left the camp, and climbed to the
top of a hill a goodly way off. Then rousing the king's host,
he reproached Abner and the other captains for their careless
watch round the king's person, showing them at the same time
the spear and cruse he had taken from the king's bedside. Then
turning to Saul he entreated him to desist from his persecution,
which had driven him " from abiding in the inheritance of the
Lord," and had forced him into exile from the Holy Land. Saul's
heart yearned to David at these words. He confessed that he
had acted sinfully, and having blessed David, they went on their
several ways.
To avoid further pursuit, David again took up his abode among
the Philistines, Achish, king of Gath, having assigned to him
the city of Ziklag. While dwelling here he made some incursions
against the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites.
CHAPTER V.
Saul and the Witch of En-dor. Death of Saul.
The Witch of En-dor. Another war now broke out between
Israel and the Philistines ; and David with his followers felt com-
pelled to take the field in the train of Achish. Yet he entertained
a secret hope, afterwards justified, that he should be spared the
bitterness of fighting against his own people. The Philistine
army was encamped in Shunem, while Israel pitched in Gilboa
Saul, looking upon the enormous hosts of the enemy, waxed
afraid. He inquired of the Lord, but " the Lord answered him
not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets." Then
Saul bade his servants find out a woman with a familiar spirit
one who pretended she could communicate with the spirits of the
dead that he might inquire of her. And they found him such
a one living at En-dor. Saul disguising himself, went to her at
night, and asked her to use her art and raise a certain person
whom he should name. But the woman answered that she dared
not use her powers, as the king punished such an offence with
death. Saul swore to her that she should sustain no harm, and
commanded her to bring up Samuel. When the woman saw the
prophet appear, she cried to the king, " Why hast thou deceived
me ? for thou art Saul." Saul asked the witch to describe the
form that had risen j and the king, recognizing it to be
a
82 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Samuel, bowed himself to the earth. Samuel sternly rebuked
Saui for disquieting 1 his rest. He further announced to the king
that God had departed from him, and had given the kingdom to
David j that the Israelites should be conquered by the Philistines,
and that Saul and his sons should be with him on the morrow.
Hearing these dismal warnings, the king fell his full length on
the floor in an agony of fear. After much persuasion he arose,
and partook of a little food, and left the place that night.
David dismissed by the Philistines. The Israelites now
moved their camp to Jezreel, while the Philistines gathered at
Aphek. A review of the Philistine army was held, and the com-
manders were troubled to see David in their midst, fearing
treachery. So David and his followers were dismissed, and they
returned to Ziklag.
David encounters the Amalekites. Here David found a
new trouble awaiting him. During his absence with the Philis-
tines, the Amalekites had made an incursion, had burned Ziklag,
and carried away its inhabitants (among whom were the two
wives of David) into captivity. David was in perplexity, for,
with his small band of six hundred men, he was afraid to pursue
after the Amalekites. He inquired of the Lord, through Abiathar
the priest, and received a favourable reply. So he turned after
the enemy ; but when he reached the brook Besor, two hundred
of his men were so exhausted that they could proceed no further.
With the remaining four hundred he came up with the hosts of
the enemy, who were spread abroad, eating, drinking, &nd dancing.
He instantly attacked them, and slew the whole army with the
exception of a few hundred men. He recovered all that the
Amalekites carried away, both the captives and the spoil, and
rescued his own wives. There was also a vast multitude of sheep
and cattle, which the Amalekites had brought with them at the
invasion, and which fell into David's hands. Retracing their way
to Ziklag, the little army came up with the men who had been
left at Besor. The more covetous of David's followers wished to
deprive these of any portion of the spoil, as they had not been
engaged in the actual fighting. But David would not hear of
this 5 so all shared alike those who went down into the battle
and those who stayed with the baggage. This became a statute
and an ordinance in Israel. David very wisely gave away a por-
tion of^iis share of the spoil unto the Elders of Judah, and to his
friends in the various cities where he had been wont to dwell.
Death of Saul. The battle so long threatened between
Israel and the Philistines was at length fought in Mount Gilboa.
The Israelites were defeated with great slaughter, and Saul's
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 83
three sons, Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua, were slain.
Saul too was grievously wounded, so he begged his armour-
bearer to slay him lest he should fall alive into the hands of the
enemy. Butjhis armour-bearer refused, " therefore Saul took a
sword and fell upon i*;" and his armour-bearer did the same.
And the men of Israel dwelling on the other side of Jordan fled
from their cities, and the Philistines took possession. On the
morrow of the battle the Philistines found Saul and his sons
among the slain. They cut off his head, and stripped off his
armour, which they placed in the temple of Ashtaroth. They
then nailed his body to the wall of Beth-shan. But some of tha
valiant inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead went at night and took the
bodies of Saul and his sons from Beth-shan, carried them tc
Jabesh and burnt them there. They buried the bones under a
tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
CHAPTER VI.
David King over Judab, and Ishbosheth over Israel The
Ark brought to Jerusalem.
David's Lament. At the time of Saul's death, David was
engaged in punishing the Amalekites. Three days after the
battle in Gilboa an Amalekite, who had escaped from the Jewish
camp, came to David and told him that the Israelites had been
worsted in the fight, and that Saul and Jonathan were dead.
David was incredulous, and asked the man for proof of his words.
The Amalekite, thinking to gain favour in the sight of David,
confessed that he himself had slain Saul at his own request. He
also produced the crown and bracelet worn by the king. Then
David rent his clothes, and mourned and wept, and fasted unto
even. Calling for the Amalekite he bade one of his followers
to slay him, for daring to lift his hand against the Lord's
anointed. Then he gave vent to his grief in his touching
lament for Saul and Jonathan. " The beauty of Israel is slain
upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen Ye moun-
tains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon
you, nor fields of offerings ; for there the shield of the mighty is
vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been
anointed with oil Saul and Jonathan were lovely and
pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided j
they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan ; very pleasant
hast thou been unto me : thy love to me was wonderful, passing
tho love of women."
o a
84 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
The Kingdom divided. The tribe of Judali at once re-
cognized the sovereignty of David. He took up his abode in
Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. While
dwelling in Hebron these six sons were born unto him viz.,
Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatrah and Ithream.
But Abner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of
Saul, and made him king over Gilead, and the Ashurites, and
Jezreel and Ephraim, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth was then
forty years old, and he reigned two years. One day the followers
of David, led by Joab, and the servants of Ishbosheth under
Abner, met by the pool of Gibeon. They soon came to blows,
and Abner and his men were routed and driven from the field.
War between the Houses of Saul and David. There was
a long war between the rival kings ; but David grew stronger as
his rival waxed weaker and weaker. But the feud was brought
to an end through a serious quarrel between Ishbosheth and
Abner, his chief supporter. Abner at once sent to David offer-
ing to place the kingdom of Israel under his rule, and as an
earnest of his intention delivered unto him his wife Michal,
Saul's daughter. A meeting soon took place between David and
Abner, and they made a league together. Abner departed to
carry out his offer. Meanwhile Joab, who had been absent from
the camp on a warlike expedition, returned, and learned that
Abner had been closeted with the king. Joab hated Abner for
slaying his brother Asahel in the fight at Gibeon. At once he
went to David and warned him that Abner was not to be trusted,
ana that he had only come to spy out the king's strength. It
seems that he could not persuade David to his belief, so he
secretly sent a messenger after Abner, asking him to return to
the camp. When Abner returned Joab went up to him as if to
speak quietly with him, and plunged a dagger in his heart.
David was shocked at this act of treachery, and proclaimed his
own guiltlessness of the deed. He mourned for Abner, calling
him a prince and a great man.
Death of Ishbosheth. The death of Abner ruined the cause
of Ishbosheth. Two of his servants conspired against him, and
slew him as he lay on his bed. They then hurried to David and
told him what they had done. David's wrath was kindled as
he heard the recital of this cruel deed, and he ordered the
murderers to be hanged.
David undisputed King. The tribes of Israel readily sub-
mitted to David. He was now thirty years old, and he reigned forty
jears. David now attacked and captured Jerusalem, a city of the
Jebusites. He fortified it and called it the City of David." "And
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 85
David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of Hosts was
with him." His fame reached the distant city of Tyre on the
Mediterranean. Hiram its king 1 sent messengers unto David,
carding with them cedar trees. He also supplied carpenters and
masons, and they built a palace for David. The king- now took
concubines in Jerusalem, and they bore him many sons and
daughters. Twice the Philistines came up " to seek David," and
twice he overthrew them and burned their idols.
The Ark of God brought to Jerusalem. David mustered
thirty thousand chosen men to fetch the ark of God from Baale
(Kirjath-Jearim). They placed the ark upon an ox-cart, driven
by Uzzah and Ahio. " And David and all the house of Israel
played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir-
wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on
cornets, and on cymbals." In a rough path the oxen stumbled,
and Uzzah laid hold of the ark to prevent its falling. For this
act he incurred God's anger, and he died there by the ark.
" David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall
the ark of the Lord come to me ?" So David found a temporary
resting-place for the ark in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite,
where it remained three months, and brought a blessing on the
household. David then brought, the ark, with music and dancing
and sacrifices, to the city of David. When Michal, Saul's
daughter, saw David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she
despised him, and jeered at him for his seeming levity. But
David sternly rebuked her, and she remained childless unto the
day of her death.
CHAPTER VII.
David's various Wars His Sin with Bath-sheba.
David wishes to Build a Temple. David was now at peace
with all the nations round him. Full of gratitude to God he
yearned to substitute a temple for the tent, in which abode tho
ark. He consulted Nathan the prophet, who encouraged his
desire. That night God appeared unto Nathan, and bade him tell
David that he should not ouild a house of God, but that his seed
after him should build a house for His name. He was also to
convey the assurance to David that his throne should be esta-
blished through his oifspring for ever. David listened to the
words of Nathan, and bowed his heart in submission to God.
David's Wars. The peace was soon broken, and David found
himself at war with various nations. He subdued the Philistines,
the Moabites, the Syrians (who had come to assist the king of
86 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Zobah). Returning with a vast booty, lie consecrated to God all
the vessels of gold, silver and brass, which he had captured from
his enemies.
Mephibosheth. David never forgot his love for Jonathan.
He made inquiries, and found that a lame son of Jonathan, named
Mephibosheth, was still living. He sent for him to his palace,
spoke kindly to him, and restored to him all the land belonging
to his grandfather Saul. He also made him eat at the kind's
table all his life.
Further Wars. The king of Ammon havingdied, David sent
a message of comfort to his son and successor, Hanun. But the
Ammonites insulted the servants of David. Fearing the king
of Israel's anger the men of Ammon made an alliance with the
Syrians. David overthrew their combined armies, and later on
defeated the Syrians again.
David and Bath-sheba. The following year David sent
an army under Joab to besiege Rabbah, a city of Ammon, while
he himself remained in Jerusalem. One evening he beheld a
beautiful woman, whom he desired to make his wife, but she was
already the wife of Uriah, one of David's captains. In spite of
this the king did not turn his eyes away from her. He sent to
Joab, bidding him place Uriah where the battle would be hottest,
and if they saw him attacked to retire from him so that he might
be killed. Joab carried out the king's instructions, and Uriah was
slain in the assault on the city. "And when the wife of Uriah heard
that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
And when the mourning was passed, David sent and fetched her
to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But
the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."
The Parable of the Ewe Lamb. The Lord sent Nathan
the prophet unto David, and he said unto him : There were
two men in one city, one rich, the other poor. The rich man
had many flocks and herds, but the poor man had but one little
ewe lamb, which he loved and tended and cherished, and which
was to him as a daughter. Now there came a traveller to the rich
man, and he spared to take of his own flock to feed the stranger,
but he took the poor man's lamb to dress for the wayfarer.
David's anger was aroused at the recital, and he exclaimed, " As
the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall die."
And Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man." Then re-
calling all the favours that God had heaped upon David, he
announced that evil should come upon the king out of his own
house. David confessed humbly that he had sinned, and Nathan
replied that the Lord would put away his sin, but that the child
MANUAL OP SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 87
that should be born to him should die. And so it came to pass,
for the child sickened unto death. David lay on the ground
and fasted, but on the seventh day it died. The servants feared
to tell the king, but from their changed demeanour he guessed
the truth. He arose from the earth and anointed himself, and
went to the house of God and worshipped, and broke his fast.
David's attendants wondered at his conduct, but he replied that
while the child was alive he fasted and wept, hoping that God
would spare it, but now that it was dead fasting was vain. " Can
I bring him back again ? I shall go to him, but he shall not re-
turn to me." Bath-sheba bare another son to David, whom he
called Solomon. The Lord loved him, and commanded that he
be called "Jedidiah."
The city of Rabbah finally fell into David's hands, and he treated
the inhabitants with great severity.
Amnon and Tamar. Amnon, one of the king's sons, did
violence to Tamar, the sister of Absalom, and his own half-sister.
Absalom hated Amnon on this account, and having invited him
to a sheep-shearing, caused him to be slain. Absalom, fearing
his father's anger, fled to Geshur, and dwelt there three years.
Joab's Stratagem. Joab perceived that the king's heart
yearned towards Absalom. He dared not propose to bring the son
into the father's presence, so he prompted a wise woman of
Tekoah to speak a parable to the king. She said she had two
sons, and that one slew the other in a quarrel. As a conse-
quence, all the family had risen against the surviving son. But
she had no desire that they should slay him, who was the only
one left to her. The king at once promised to protect him from
the violence of his kinsmen. The woman then carefully turned
the parable to meet the king's own case. David divined that
Joab's hand was in all this, and the woman confessed as much.
He sent for Joab, and bade him bring Absalom to Jerusalem, but
he could not yet bring- himself to see him. So Absalom abode
in Jerusalem for two years, after which he was fully reconciled
to his father.
CHAPTER VIII.
Absalom's Rebellion. David's Plight and Return.
Absalom's Death.
Absalom's Revolt. Absalom soon forgot the mercy shown
to him by the king. He obtained chariots and horses, and ap-
pointed fifty men to run before him. He also won the favour of
the people, by showing marked attention to those who came to
Jerusalem to" attend the courts of justice. To rouse the tribes of
83 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Israel he sent spies throughout the land, telling them to await
his signal for a general rising. Then, having obtained the king's
permission, he set out for Hebron with 200 men, and there pro-
claimed himself king. Among those who accompanied Absalom
was Ahithophel, who was renowned for his wisdom. The con-
spiracy grew stronger, as each day more men joined Absalom's
standard.
David's Flight. When the report of these doings reached
David, he at once saw that he could not resist his rebellious son.
Collecting his family and dependants, he fled towards the way of
the wilderness. Zadok the priest, with the ark of God, and
Abiathar accompanied him, but he sent them back to Jerusalem
that they might inform him what was doing there. He also com-
manded his friend Hushai to remain near Absalom's person and
defeat the counsel of Ahithophel; and as David went up the ascent
of Mount Olivet, he wept and had his head covered and went bare-
foot, and all that were with him went up weeping. When David
reached the top of the hill, he was met by Ziba, the servant of
Mephibosheth, bearing food and wine. But further on, at Bahurim,
Shimei, one of the family of Saul, came forth and cursed David,
and flung dust and stones. One of the king's captains craved
permission to slay the reviler, but David said, <( Let him alone
and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him." Absalom set
up his court in Jerusalem and received Hushai as one of his
counsellors.
Ahithophel's Advice. Ahithophel advised Absalom to pursue
David at once with an army of twelve thousand men. But Ab-
salom consulted Hushai before taking any steps. Hushai, intent
upon serving his friend David, counselled the king to reject
Ahithophel's plan, and to gather all Israel from Dan to Beersheba,
so that Absalom might place himself at the head of an invincible
army. His object, of course, was to allow David plenty of time to
escape. Absalom listened to the words of Hushai, and Ahithophel,
annoyed that his advice was rejected, hanged himself in his house.
Hushai informed David secretly of what was doing in Jerusalem.
The king fled across the Jordan to Mahanaim, where he was
kindly received. Absalom, relentless in his pursuit, also crossed
the Jordan, and encamped his army in the land of Gilead.
Death of Absalom. David divided his army of twelve
thousand men between three trusty captains. As they went
forth to join battle with their pursuers, the king entreated them
not to deal harshly with Absalom. The battle was long and
terrible, and the people of Israel were slain before the servants of
David. Absalom, mounted on a mule, fled for his life, but pass-
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 89
ing under an oak, the boughs caught him up and held him by
his beautiful long hair. Unable to extricate himself, he was
slain by Joab and his attendants. The news of the victory
was carried to David, but any joy he might have felt was
marred by the tidings of his son's death. He retired to his
chamber weeping, and as he went he cried, "0 my son Absalom,
my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son ! "
David's Beturn to Jerusalem. The grief of the king
cast a gloom upon his followers. Joab remonstrated with David,
because he had shamed the faces of the men who had saved
his life and the lives of his family. So David hid his grief,
and sat at the gate as usual. The people of Israel were now
as anxious for David's return as they had hitherto been to join in
Absalom's revolt. The king returned in triumph ; his army in-
creasing day by day. On his way back he was met by Shimei
who fell down before the king and craved his forgiveness. David
readily pardoned him . But now another trouble arose. The men ot
Judah who had remained faithful to David escorted him in triumph.
This roused the jealousy of the men of Israel, who complained
that the men of Judah had stolen the king. These latter answered
in words " fiercer than the word of the men of Israel."
Sheba's Revolt. The people were ripe for mischief; so when
Sheba, a Benjamite, raised the well-known cry, " Every man to his
tent, O Israel !" all the Israelites deserted David and followed
Sheba. David lost no time, but sent an army after him, led by
Joab. Sheba fled through all Israel, and at last took refuge in the
town Abel. Here he was besieged by his pursuers. There was a
certain wise woman in the town who parleyed with Joab, and be-
sought him not to destroy the town. Joab agreed to do so pro-
vided Sheba were given up. The woman persuaded her towns-
folk, and they killed Sheba and cast his head over the wall; Joab
and the army then returned to Jerusalem.
CHAPTER IX.
The Last Days of David The Psalms.
The Gibeonites Appeased. There was a famine in the land
for three successive years. David inquired the cause, and the
Lord answered that it was because Saul had slain the Gibeonites.
To atone for this crime David, at the request of the Gibeonites, de-
livered up to them seven men of the house of Saul, whom they
hanged. But Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, one of Saul's wives,
watched the dead bodies all through the harvest time, ' 'and suffered
neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of
90 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
the field by night." When David heard of this nohle devotion he
caused the remains to be buried. At this time, too, David removed
the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh-Gilead, and buried
them in the country of Benjamin. Several battles with the
Philistines took place after these events, in one of which David
was almost slam, so his captains would not allow him to take part
in any further encounters.
David Numbers the People. " The anger of the Lord was
kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them to say,
Go, number Israel and Judah." Joab tried to dissuade him from
committing this trespass, but the king was obstinate. So the
people were counted, " and there were in Israel eight hundred
thousand valiant men that drew the sword ; and the men of Judah
were five hundred thousand." David almost immediately repented
his rash act, and besought the Lord for forgiveness. By the mouth
of Gad the seer, the Lord gave David choice of three punishments
viz., seven years of famine in the land, or three months of flight
from before his enemies, or three days of pestilence. David chose
the latter, and seventy thousand of the people perished. The
S'ague stayed at the threshing-floor of Araunah, near Jerusalem,
avid purchased the plot of land, and building an altar thereon,
offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offence's.
David again wishes to Build a Temple. The desire to raiso
a temple to God had always been close to the king's heart, but its
gratification was denied to him. His hands were too deeply
stained with blood to be engaged in so holy a work. He charged
his son Solomon to build the house in which God should dwell,
and prepared in abundance iron, brass, and cedar wood. He set
masons to hew wrought stones. He also commanded the princes
of Israel to help Solomon in carrying out his design. David then
gathered all the priests and the Levites, and divided the service of
the Tabernacle between them in regular courses.
David makes Solomon his Heir. Adonijah, a brother of Ab-
salom, now exalted himself, saying, " I will be king." He prepared
for himself chariots and horsemen, and took Joab and Abiathar
the priest into his counsels. Nathan, alarmed at this outbreak,
induced Bath-sheba to plead the cause of her son Solomon before
the king. Bath-sheba accordingly stood before the king, informed
him of Adonijah's revolt, and entreated him to declare that
Solomon should succeed him on the throne. While she was yet
speaking, Nathan, as previously arranged, entered the king's
presence, and repeated Bath-sheba' s request. Then David swore
by the Lord that Solomon should reign after him and sit upon his
throne. Then calling Zadok the priest, and Nathan and Benaiah,
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 91
he bade them take Solomon and anoint him king at once.
" Zadok took an horn of oil out of the tahernacle, and anointed
Solomon. And they blew the trumpet, and all the people said,
God save King Solomon." When Adonijah heard that Solomon
had been proclaimed king, he feared for his life, and took refuge
at the horns of the altar. But Solomon sent for him, and told him
to go to his house in peace.
Death of David. The king's end was drawing near. He sent
for his son Solomon, and charged him to keep the way of God, and
observe his commandments as written in the Law of Moses. He
pointed out to Solomon who had been his friends and his enemies,
and while he asked that the former might be rewarded, he insisted
that the latter should not go unpunished. " So David slept
with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David." He
reigned over Israel forty years seven in Hebron, and thirty-three
in Jerusalem.
The Psalms of David. David was not only a brave warrior,
an intrepid leader, and a devoted friend, he was also the most
inspired of poets. The outpourings of his genius are found in that
section of Holy Writ called " The Psalms," consisting of 150
poetical compositions of various length. They were not all written
by David, some having been composed as late as the Captivity.
They are filled with some of the finest imagery that the human
mind has ever conceived. They glow with gratitude to God for
his abundant favours ; they are instinct with praise and prayer
with devotional fervour such as rarely moves the heart of man.
Now they rise in exultation at the achievement of victory,
spiritual or material ; now they wail of the human soul sunk in
misery, bitterness, and gloom. Some were written for special
occasions, to mark certain events which touched the history of the
nation, or affected the private life of the singer ; others are the
outpourings of the soul for God's goodness and favour to all man-
kind. The Jews have always hela the Psalms in peculiar venera-
tion and love. They are recited on all occasions of rejoicing or
sorrow, and form no small part of the synagogal ritual.
CHAPTER X.
Solomon Ascends the Throne. He Builds the Temple.
Solomon's first Acts. Solomon succeeded his father at the
age of eighteen. He was singularly gifted, and the kingdom was
at peace. He was soon obliged to show the sterner part of his
nature. The restless Adonijah demanded as his wife Abishag
the Shunamite, she who had ministered to the king's old age.
Solomon, thinking that this was only a first step on the part of
92 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Adonijah to claim the throne, ordered him to instant execution.
Following the advice of David his father, he banished Abiathar the
priest from Jerusalem, aud caused Joab to be put to death because
he had slain Abner and Amasa, captains of the host. He com-
manded Shimei to take up his residence in Jerusalem, and never
to pass over the Kidron on pain of death. It was not long before
Shimei transgressed the king's command and paid the penalty
with his life. Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh, king
of Egypt, and though he loved the Lord and walked in the
statutes of David his father, yet he burnt incense in high places.
Solomon's Vision. The king offered a great sacrifice in
Gibeon, where was the tabernacle of God, even a thousand burnt-
offerings. That night the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,
and said, " Ask what I shall give thee." Solomon expressed his
gratitude to God for all his past favours, and begged only for
"an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern
between good and bad : for who is able to judge this Thy so great
a people r" The Lord was pleased with Solomon's request, and
promised him not only wisdom, but also riches and honour, and
even length of days, if he would but keep His statutes and com-
mandments.
The Judgment of Solomon. Two women came before the king
in judgment. The first one said that she and the other woman,
living in the same house, had both been delivered of a child
within three days. The babe of the other woman having died,
its mother changed the children at night, taking the living one
and giving her the dead one. In the morning light she dis-
covered the deception, and now came before the king for justice.
The other woman, however, contradicted her, saying the living
child was hers, whilst the dead one belonged to her who had first
spoken. The king was sorely puzzled ; then he ordered a sword
to be fetched and the living child to be cut in two, so that a half
might be given to either woman. But the real mother of the
child was horrified at the idea of its slaughter, and preferred that
the infant should be given up to her rival ; but the latter
exclaimed, " Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." The
king's test had discovered the true mother, to whom the king
ordered the child to be delivered. All Israel heard of the judg-
ment and they feared the king, for they saw the wisdom of God
was in him. His fame was spread abroad through all nations as
the wisest of men. He composed three thousand proverbs (the
Book of Proverbs being a portion of them), and a thousand and
five songs. These treated of many subjects, of all trees, and
beasts, and fowl, of creeping things and fishes.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 93
Hiram's Friendship. Solomon sent to Hiram king of Tyre,
asking him to carry out the promise he had made to David, to supply
materials for building the Temple. Hiram rejoiced that Solo-
mon's heart was set upon this project, and undertook to furnish
him with cedars and firs from Lebanon. So Solomon sent
thousands of labourers to cut down trees, and to quarry and
dress stones, both plain and costly. Hiram also lent men to
assist in the work. The two kings made a league, and the peace
between them was never broken.
The Building of the Temple. " And it came to pass in the
four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were
come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's
reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month,
that he began to build the house of the Lord." Its length was
sixty cubits, its breadth twenty cubits, and its height thirty
cubits. The stones whereof it was constructed and the beams
had been previously hewn and cut and trimmed, so that in rearing
the edifice neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard.
Stone, cedar and brass were the materials employed, and he over-
laid the whole house with pure gold, even to the floor of it. Some
of its most beautiful accessories were the Cherubim, ten cubits high,
of olive wood, covered with gold, the beautiful pillars which stood
at the entrance, and the molten sea of brass standing upon twelve
brazen oxen. It took seven years building, and was finished in
the month Bui, which is the eighth month, in the eleventh
year of the king's reign. Solomon also built himself a magni-
ficent palace, which occupied him for thirteen years.
Dedication of the Temple. The house of God having been
finished, and all the vessels required in the service having been
arranged in their appropriate places, Solomon assembled in Jeru-
salem all the elders of Israel, and the leaders of the tribes, at the
feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. A
grand procession was formed, and the priests bore the ark into the
sanctuary, while the king and the people offered innumerable
sacrifices. God signified His approval 01 all that had been done
by filling the Temple with His glory. Then Solomon, in the
hearing of all the people, offered up a noble prayer to God.
He openly testified to the unity and greatness of God. He
entreated that the fane he had built might be a true house of
prayer to all Israel. He exhorted the people to make their
hearts perfect with God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His
commandments. These ceremonies being concluded, the king
feasted the whole people for fourteen days, and then dismissed
them to their homes, joyful and glad of heart.
94 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
CHAPTER XI.
Solomon's Greatness and Death.
Solomon's Second Vision. Again the Lord appeared unto
Solomon as He had done at Gibeon, and told him that his prayer
had been heard, and that the Lord would dwell perpetually in the
house he had built. He further exhorted him to obey the Lord's
commands, for then his kingdom should be established in Israel
for ever; but if he and the people should turn away from following
the Lord, then Israel should be cut off from the land, and should
become a by-word among- all people.
Hiram's Howard. When Solomon had finished the Temple
and his own house, he desired to recompense Hiram for his
splendid gifts. So he gave him twenty cities in the land of
Galilee. When Hiram inspected them he did not like them at
all, and called them " Cabul."*
The King's Navy. Solomon also built a navy of ships at
Ezion-geber, which is beside Elath on the shore of the Red Sea,
in the land of Edom. Hiram sent " shipmen that had knowledge
of the sea" to man the vessels, together with men of Solomon's
choosing. The ships traded as far as Ophir, probably in Arabia,
and brought thence large quantities of gold, sandal wood, and
precious stones.
Queen of Sheba. The fame of Solomon was not confined to
the Holy Land, but travelled to distant Arabia, whence the Queen
of Sheba set out with a great train to visit the wise king. Her
camels bore costly presents of spices, and gold and gems. When
she saw the state of the King she was overwhelmed with its
magnificence, and she blessed the God of Israel for the love He
had for His people, and because He had made Solomon their king.
Israel's Greatness. The kingdom of Israel was now at the
very pinnacle of its power and splendour. The county over which
Solomon held sway extended from the 2pth to the 36th parallel
of North latitude, and from the 34th to the 3pth degree of East
longitude. Its length was about 600 miles, and its extreme
breadth about 180 miles. Gezer of the Canaanites was a tributary
city, and Tadmor in the far-off desert was built by Solomon. His
wealth was unbounded. He had one navy trading to Ophir,
another to Tarshish (Spain?) "He exceeded all the kings of
the earth for riches and for wisdom." His people shared in
his prosperity. "The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as
* JoaejphuB explaiaa this word aa signifying " not pleasing."
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 1,5
stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that
are in the vale for abundance."
Solomon's Backslidings. But the wise king fell into folly
and sin. He loved and took to wife many strange women,
Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites ; women
with whom the children of Israel had been forbidden to hold inter-
course. They induced the king 1 to worship strange deities, so
that " his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as was the
heart of David his father." He built high places to Chemosh and
to Molech, and offered burnt incense and sacrifices unto them.
And the Lord was angry with Solomon because he had transgressed
the command not to go after other gods. Nor should his sin go un-
punished 5 for the kingdom should be rent from him and given to
his servant. Yet for the sake of his father David this calamity was
not to happen in his own days, but in those of his son. That son,
instead of inheriting the whole realm, should rule over two tribes
only, while the rest of kingdom should obey another sovereign.
His Troubles and Death. God stirred up two adversaries
against Solomon, namely, Hadad the Edomite, and Rezon, who
reigned in Damascus. They troubled Israel all the days of
Solomon. There was one of the king's officers, named Jeroboam
the son of Nebat, who by his talents had been raised to an
important post. One day when Jeroboam was going out of
Jerusalem, clad in a new garment, it happened that the prophet
Ahijah met him by the way. Seizing Jeroboam's garment he
rent it in twelve pieces, and he said to him, "Take thee ten
pieces : for thus saith the Lord the God of Israel, Behold, I will
rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten
tribes to thee." He further admonished Jeroboam to keep the
way of God, for then the kingdom should be established in his
family. Solomon no doubt got to hear of this interview, for he
sought to kill Jeroboam. So Jeroboam fled to Shishak, king of
Egypt, and remained there till Solomon's death. " And the time
that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city
of David his father ; and Rehoboain his son reigned in his stead.
j)6 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
PART V.
THE KINGDOM OP ISRAEL.
CHAPTER I.
Jeroboam. Nadab.
The Kingdom Divided. Soon after the death of Solomon
the nation was divided into two kingdoms, the kingdom of
Israel and the kingdom of Judah. The former comprised the
ten tribes located in the more northern part of the Holy Land.
Its capital was Samaria. The kingdom of Judah consisted of
the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and occupied the southern
portion of Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital.
Jeroboam. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon went to Shechem
on the death of his father for the purpose of being crowned.
Jeroboam, however, hastened up from Egypt, and was soon
joined by a large following of the people. They demanded of
Rehoboam whether he would make lighter the yoke his father
had placed upon the people. Rehoboam consulted the aged and
wise counsellors of the late king, and they advised him to yield
to the just demands of the nation. But his young and headstrong
companions gave him very different advice. When he met the
people again after an interval of three days, he said to them, " My
father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke. My
father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with
scorpions." The standard of revolt was instantly raised. Reho-
boam fled to Jerusalem, where the men of Judah and Benjamin
rallied to him, while Jeroboam was acclaimed king of Israel.
Rehoboam at once gathered an army to put down the revolt, but
the word of God came to him through Shemaiah forbidding him
to fight against the men of Israel.
Idolatry Introduced. Jeroboam was now firmly established
in his kingdom. Desirous of preventing his subjects going to Jeru-
salem to sacrifice, he made two golden calves and bade the people
worship them. The one he placed in Bethel and the other in Dan.
Jeroboam Punished. While Jeroboam was offering incense at
one of his idolatrous altars, there came a man of God who re-
buked him for his sin. The king, moved to anger, put forth bis
hand to seize the prophet, but his hand withered so tbac he could
not draw it in again. Then Jeroboam asked the prophet to en-
treat the Lord for him, and his hand was healed again. The man
of God, having fulfilled his mission, declined the proffered hos-
pitality of the king 1 , and went his way. An old prophet who
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 97
dwelt in Bethel set out after him, and induced him to return and
partake of food, although the Lord had strictly charged him not
to eat or drink in that place. A terrible punishment awaited the
disobedient servant of God, for he was torn in pieces by a lion.
Death of Abijah and Jeroboam. The king departed not
from his evil courses. At that time his son Abijah fell sick, and
Jeroboam commanded his wife to disguise herself and go to the
prophet Ahijah, in Shiloh, and to inquire whatshould become ofthe
child. Jeroboam's wife did so, and taking with her a present, came
to the house of Ahijah, who was now blind from old age. But the
prophet had been forewarned of the visit by God, so he cried out
at once : '' Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam, why feignest thou
thyself to be another ? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings."
Then recounting all that the Lord had done for Jeroboam, he
broke out in righteous indignation against his idolatry and apos-
tasy, and pronounced a heavy doom against him and against
Israel. The Lord u shall give up Israel because of the sins of
Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin." Moreover,
he told her the child should die. The wife of Jeroboam departed
and returned to her house, and when she came to the threshold of
the door the child died. Jeroboam reigned twenty-two years, and
he slept with his fathers, and was succeeded hy his son Nadab.
Nadab reigned but two years, and was as wicked as his father.
Baasha, the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired
against him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
CHAPTER II.
Baasha- ElahZimriOmriAhab Elijah.
Baasha. The first act ofthe new king was to destroy every
member of Jeroboam's family. He did evil also in the sight of
the Lord. Like his predecessors, he dwelt in Tirzah, but pro-
ceeded to build the city of Ramah, on the borders of Judah. Asa,
King of Judah, regarded this act as a menace, and made a league
with Benhadad, King of Syria, against the king of Israel. A
combined army was led against Ramah, which being abandoned
by Baasha, was utterly destroyed. After this there was continued
warfare between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah all the days
of Baasha, The word of the Lord came to Baasha, through Jehu,
reproving him for his abominations, and threatening him with the
fate of Jeroboam. He reigned twenty-four years.
Elah, his son, succeeded him. He reigned but two years, at
the end of which time he was slain by one of his officers, Zimri,
while" drinking himself drunk" in Tirzah.
H
98 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Zimri reigned only seven days. When he seized the throne,
the king's army was besieging Gibbethon, a city of the Philis-
tines. The news of Elah's murder reaching the camp, the soldiers
at once proclaimed Omri, the commander-in-chief, king. Omri
forthwith led his army against Zimri in Tirzah. He captured the
city, and, to avoid falling into the hands of Omri, Zimri retired to
the palace, set fire to it, and perished in the flames.
Omri. The whole of the people did not follow Omri. A
portion set up a rival in the person of Tibni, the son of Ginath.
Omri, however, soon subdued his competitor, and reigned un-
disputed. He transferred the capital of his kingdom to Samaria,
which he had bought of Shemer for two talents of silver. " But
Omri wrought evil in the sight of the Lord, and did worse than
all who were before him." He died after a reign of twelve years,
and was buried in Samaria.
Ahab, the son of Omri, succeeded, and reigned for twenty- two
years. He " did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were
before him." Not satisfied with his own iniquitous promptings,
he took to wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the
Zidonians, whose wickedness has become a proverb. Ahab intro-
duced the worship of Baal, and built him an altar and a temple.
About this time Jericho was rebuilt by Hiel, the Beth-elite, who
laid the foundation in his first-born, and set up the gates thereof
in his youngest son, according to the word of the Lord which he
spake by Joshua.
Elijah. One of the most remarkable men in Israel's history
now appeared upon the scene. This was Elijah the Tishbite, an
inhabitant of Gilead. Nothing is related of his early life or train-
ing, but at the command of God he suddenly appeared before Ahab,
and announced that there should be neither rain nor dew in the
land for years, but according to the word of the -Lord. Still
obeying the divine behest, Elijah turned eastward, and hid him-
self by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. Here " the
ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread
and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook." When the
stream failed owing to the drought, he arose and went to Zarephath,
which belonged to Zidon. As he entered the town, he beheld a
widow woman gathering a few sticks. The prophet begged of her
a little water and a morsel of bread. But the woman replied that
she had nothing left but a handful of meal and a little oil, of which
she and her son were about to partake before they died. But
Elijah bade her bake him a little cake, and, in God's name, fore-
told that the meal and the oil should not fail until the rain came
upon the iand. And it was so.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 99
Elijah and the "Widow's Son. After these events, the
widow's son fell sick, and there was no breath left in him. The
woman cried out unto Elijah, who carried the boy up into his
own room, and laid him on his bed. Then he prayed to God that
the lad might be restored to life, and stretched himself upon
the child three times. The child revived, and Elijah delivered
him to his mother.
CHAPTER III.
Ahab Elijah and the Priests of Baal.
Elijah returns to Ahab. Three years elapsed; then the
word of God came to Elijah, saying 1 , " Go show thyself unto Ahab,
and I will send rain upon the earth." Elijah accordingly went
up to Samaria, where the famine was sore. The governor of the
king's palace was Obadiah, a man TV^O feared the Lord greatly,
and who had sheltered and fed a hundred prophets, when the
wicked Jezebel had slain the prophets of the Lord. Ahab had
commanded Obadiah to travel through the land to see if any
pasture could be found for the. king's horses ; and while Obadiah
went in one direction, the king set out on a similar quest another
way. Suddenly Obadiah met Elijah journeying to Samaria, and
fell upon his face in reverence of him. The prophet bade Obadiah
return to his lord and say, " Behold Elijah is here." But Obadiah,
knowing how prone Elijah was to disappear without warning,
objected to carry a message which endangered his life. He told
Elijah that Ahab had sought him in vain throughout every nation
and kingdom, and that if perchance, while conveying his message,
the spirit of God should call him away, his life would be forfeit.
But Elijah swore by the Lord of Hosts that he would shew him-
self to Ahab that day. The meeting took place. Ahab no sooner
saw Elijah than he exclaimed, " Art thou he that troubleth Israel ?''
But Elijah replied, " I have not troubled Israel ; but thou and
thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of
the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim."
Elijah and the Priests of Baal. Elijah now proposed to
the king a test which should prove who was the true God. He
bade the king assemble at Carmel all the people of Israel, together
with the prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty in number, and
the four hundred prophets of the Groves, " which eat at Jezebel's
table." These being gathered together, Elijah exclaimed, " How
long halt ye between two opinions ? if the Lord be God follow
Him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people, conscious of
their sins, answered him not a word. Elijah then told them to
bring two bullocks. The prophets of Baal were to choose one, to
n 2
I0 o MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
cut it in pieces, lay it on wood, and put no fire under it ; he him-
self was to do the same to the other. Then each was to call on
his God, and the one that answered by fire was to he acknowledged
as the true God. The people assented to the proposal, and the
false prophets prepared their hullock, They called unto Baal from
morning till evening ; but there was no voice and no answer, and
in their agony they leaped upon the altar. At noontide Elijah
mocked them, bidding them cry aloud, for surely Baal was a god
perhaps he was talking, or hunting, or sleeping, and required
to be waked. Thus incited, the priests of Baal redoubled their
cries, and gashed themselves with knives and lancets according to
their wont. Their efforts were useless. As the day declined,
Elijah called all the people near to him. Taking twelve stones,
according to the number of the tribes of Israel, he built therewith
an altar, and placed on it the wood and the bullock. He next cut a
trench round the altar, and told the people to fill four barrels with
water, and pour it over the altar. This they did three times, till the
altar and the sacrifice were drenched, and the trench filled. And at
the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed to God : " Hear me,
Lord, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the
Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their hearts back again."
The words were scarcely uttered, when the fire of the Lord fell
from heaven and consumed the altar and the sacrifice, and licked
up all the water. When the people saw it, they fell on their
faces, exclaiming, "The Lord, He is the God, the Lord He is the
God." Elijah thought the moment favourable for striking another
blow at Baal worship. He commanded the people to seize the false
prophets ; " and they took them, and Elijah brought them down
to the brook Kishon, and slew them there." Eeturning to the
king, Elijah told him that rain was at hand. Ahab prepared to
return to his palace; but Elijah ascended Mount C arm el, and
bowed his head between his knees. He bade his servant look
towards the sea. The servant went and looked, and said, " There
is nothing." Elijah bade him go again even seven times. At
last the servant exclaimed, " Behold there ariseth a little cloud
out of the sea, like a man's hand." This was the rain-sign for
which Elijah waited. Presently the heavens grew black with
cloud, and the rain descended in torrents. Ahab mounted his
chariot and set out for Jezreel, and Elijah, out of respect for the.
king, ran before the royal chariot to the entrance of the city.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 101
CHAPTER IV.
Ahab Elij ah Benhadad.
Elijah's Wanderings. When Jezebel heard of these events,
she sent a messenger to Elijah threatening- his life. The prophet
fled to Beersheba, and passed from thence into the wilderness.
Overcome with weariness, he sat down under a juniper tree and
prayed : " Lord take away my life, for I am not better than
my fathers." In his sleep an angel appeared to him, saying
" Arise and eat." Waking, he beheld a loaf of bread and a cruse
of water. Partaking of these he went without further food for
forty days, journeying to Mount Horeb. Here again he com-
plained to the Lord, inasmuch as the people of Israel had forsaken
God's covenant, and slain His prophets, and that even his life was
in danger. Then God told Elijah to stand upon the Mount, and
as the seer stood, a great and strong wind rushed by him, rending
the mountains and breaking the rocks ; but the Lord was not in
the wind. After the wind there came an earthquake ; but God was
not in the earthquake. Then came a fire ; but the Lord was not
in the fire. After the fire there was a still small voice which said,
" What dost thou here, Elijah ?" Again the prophet uttered his
complaint. Then the Lord told him to perform three missions to
go to Damascus, and anoint Hazael king over Syria, to anoint Jehu,
grandson of Nimshi, king over Israel, and to anoint Elisha, son
of Shaphat, as his own successor. The Lord also comforted him
with the knowledge that there were still seven thousand in
Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal, and whose mouths
had not kissed him.
Elijah meets Elisha. Elijah departed, and found Elisha
ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen ; and as he passed Elijah threw
his mantle upon him. Elisha at once responded to the call, and
begged permission to kiss his father and his mother before fol-
lowing his master. Elisha made a hurried feast for his people ;
"then he arose and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him."
Benhadad, King of Syria, gathered an immense army, and
summoning his thirty-two tributary kings, with horses and chariots
went up and besieged Samaria. He sent messengers to Abab
claiming his treasures, his wives and his children. Ahab replied
that all he had belonged to his lord the king of Syria. Upon
this Benhadad sent further messengers, stating that his servants
should next day ransack the king's palace, taking away the
things they most desired. Ahab would not consent to this
humiliation, and sent back a defiant reply. Then Benhadad vowed
the destruction of Samaria. But Ahab answered him : " Let
102 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that
putteth it off." Fired by this taunt, Benhadad at once set his
host in battle array against the city. Then came there a prophet
unto Ahab, telling him that the Lord would destroy the Syrian
army by the hands of the lt young- men of the princes of the
provinces," who numbered two hundred and thirty-two! This
devoted band set out towards the Syrian camp at noon. Benhadad,
\vho was conversing- in his tent, being- told of their approach,
ordered them to be seized alive. But the young- men slew their
would-be captors, and a panic fell upon the Syrian host. They
fled in terror, and Israel pursued them, and Benhadad escaped
on horseback. The same prophet warned Ahab to strengthen
himself, as the Syrians would surely return the following
year. This prediction was verified. The Syrians attributed their
defeat to the belief that the God of Israel was all powerful on the
hills, and resolved to fig-ht in future in the plains. Benhadad,
gathering- a yet mightier force, went up to Aphek to encounter
the Israelites. A decisive battle was fought, in which the Syrians
were defeated with terrible loss. Benhadad fled to Aphek, and
hid himself in an inner room of a house. His servants, clothing
themselves in sackcloth, appeared before Ahab, and entreated
him to spare the life of their master. Ahab at once sent for the
fallen king and showed him great kindness and honour. Ben-
hadad promised to restore the cities captured previously from the
Israelites. The two monarchs made a covenant to this effect and
parted. Ahab set out on his way to Samaria. On the road he
was met by a prophet, who denounced his mistaken leniency :
" Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand
a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy
life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people." Ahab
returned to his palace heavy and displeased.
CHAPTER V.
Naboth's Vineyard Elijah Death of Ahab Ahaziah.
Naboth's Vineyard. There was a certain man named Naboth,
who owned a vineyard close to the palace of the king in Samaria.
Ahab greatly coveted the vineyard, and offered Naboth a better
vineyard for it, or its value in money. Naboth however refused
these offers, saying : " The Lord forbid it me, that I should givG
the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." Ahab took the refusal
to heart, and lay down on his bed, and would eat no bread.
Jezebel, learning the cause of his grief, bade him be merry,
for she would obtain him his desire. She sent letters in the
king's name unto the elders, and the nobles of the city, bidding
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 103
them suborn false witnesses who should accuse Naboth of blas-
phemy against God and the king. The elders and princes proved
the willing tools of Jezebel ; Naboth was duly accused and stoned
to death. Then Ahab set out to take possession of the vineyard.
But Elijah, who had received a message from God, met him by
the way. When Ahab beheld the prophet, he exclaimed. " Hast
thou found me, mine enemy ?" And he answered : " I have
found thee j because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the
sight of the Lord." Elijah then foretold him the terrible punish-
ment of his sin ; evil should come upon him, and upon his whole
house ; the dogs should lick his blood where they had licked the
blood of Naboth j the dogs should devour Jezebel by the wall of
Jezreel. When Ahab heard these words he rent his clothes, and
put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted. Because he thus humbled
himself, the Lord did not bring* the threatened evil in his days,
but in his son's days.
Death of Ahab. The King of Syria had not restored to
Israel the city of Ramoth in Gilead. Ahab resolved to recapture
it, and on his invitation, Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, joined
in the expedition. Before the combined armies set out, Jeho-
shaphat desired Ahab to inquire of the Lord whether success
would attend them. Ahab gathered his four hundred prophets
and asked them whether he should go up against Ramoth ; and
they told him to go up, for the Lord would deliver it into his
hand. But Jehoshaphat was not satisfied with the assurances of
these men, and asked if there were not to be found a prophet of the
Lord. Ahab replied that there was such a man, Micaiah, the son
of Imlah, but he hated him, for the prophet always spoke evil
of him. But the king- of Judah insisted that he should be sent
for. The two kings mounted their thrones, and all the false
prophets prophesied before them. One of them, by name Zede-
kiah, had made himself horns of iron, telling Ahab that with
them he should push the Syrians till he had consumed them. The
servant, who went for Micaiah, begged him to speak to the king
in the same strain as the false prophets had spoken. But Micaiah
replied that he could speak only the word of God. When
Micaiah entered the presence, Ahab asked him whether he should
g-o up against Ramoth. Micaiah mockingly replied that the
Lord would deliver the city into the hand of the king. Ahab
however pressed him to say nothing but what was true. Then
Micaiah prophesied that evil would overtake the king, and that
God had put a lying spirit into the mouths of the false prophets
to tempt Ahab to destruction. Overcome with anger, the king
ordered Micaiah to be at once taken to prison, and to be kept there
io 4 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HIST OR Y.
till he should return in peace. Micaiah answered : "If thou return
at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me."
The kings then led their forces to Ramoth, and they arranged
that Jehochaphat should fight in his royal robes, but that Ahab
should disguise himself. The king of Syria had commanded his
captains to fight with neither great nor small, save only with the
king of Israel. While the battle raged some of the Syrian
captains fiercely engaged Jehoshaphat, whom they thought was
the king of Israel ; but he saved himself by calling out his name.
However, a Syrian archer shot an arrow at random which smote
Ahab through the joints of his armour. The battle was against
the allied armies, who fled every man to his city and his own
country. Ahab died at even, and was buried in Samaria ; and
while his servants washed his chariot and his armour the dogs
licked up his blood, as the Lord had spoken.
Ahaziah, a son of Ahab, succeeded him and reigned two years.
He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and worshipped Baal as his
father had done. In his reign Moab rebelled against Israel.
Ahaziah fell out of a window in his palace at Samaria, and lay ill
on his bed. He sent to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron,
whether he should recover. But Elijah met the messengers, and
bade them tell the king he should surely die. So the men
turned back to the king, and said that a man had told them in
the name of the Lord that the king would die. Ahaziah asked
what kind of a man it was. They answei'ed : " a hairy man, girt
with a girdle of leather round his loins." The king said, " It is
Elijah the Tishbite." At once he sent an officer and fifty men to
seize him, but fire came down from the Lord and consumed the
soldiers. This happened again with another captain and his
band. The king sent a third company, and the captain entreated
Elijah to have compassion upon them and to come to the king.
Elijah, assured by the Lord that no harm should befall him, went
to Ahaziah and repeated his prediction. And the king died
according- to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken.
CHAPTER VI.
Elijah Elisha Jehoram.
Disappearance of Elijah. When Elijah was warned by the
Lord that his earthly mission was drawing- to a close, he journeyed
with Elisha from Gilgal. He had begged Elisha to remain at
Gilgal while he went on to Bethel ; but Elisha would not leave
him, so they went down to Bethel. There was a school of the sons
of the prophets at Bethel, and the pupils asked Elisha if he knew
that the Lord would take away his master that day, and he replied
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 105
that he was fully aware of it. Elijah now announced his depar-
ture for the Jordan, and entreated Elisha to remain at Bethel ; but
he answered : "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not
leave thee." The two travelled together to the Jordan, where fifty
sons of the prophets stood at a distance to see what would ensue.
Elijah, rolling up his mantle, smote the waters of the river, and he
and Elisha passed over on dry land. The solemn hour was now at
hand. Elijah asked his pupil what he should do for him, and Elisha
prayed that a double portion of his spirit might be upon him. Elijah
replied : " Thou hast asked a hard thing ; nevertheless, if thou see
me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee, but if not,
it shall not be so." And as they were talking, " behold there ap-
peared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both
asunder ; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." When
Elisha saw this, he exclaimed, " My father, my father ; " but he
saw him no more. He rent his garments as a sign of mourning ;
then, taking the mantle of Elijah, which had fallen from him, he
parted with it the waters of Jordan, and passed over to the sons
of the prophets, who acknowledged him their master. These young
men, unable to think that Elijah had finally disappeared, searched
for him three days in the wilderness, but found him not.
Elisha's first Acts. The inhabitants of Jericho complained
to Elisha that the water that supplied the city was bad, and
the land barren. Elisha cast some salt into the spring and
healed the waters. The prophet now set out on his way to
Bethel, and as he went along, the little children of the city
came out and mocked him, crying out, " Go up, thou bald
head." The man of God turned back and cursed them, and
there came forth two she-bears out of the wood and killed
forty-two of them. Elisha went on to Mount Carmel, and re-
turned thence to Samaria.
Jehoram. Jehoram now filled the vacant throne of Israel, and
reigned twelve years. He wrought evil in the sight of the Lord,
yet he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
Mesha, King of Moab, a tributary of the King of Israel, now re-
belled Jehoram made a league with Jehoshaphat, King of Judah,
and the two kings led their armies against Moab. On their way
through Edom they were joined by the king of that land with his
army. They now traversed the desert for seven days, and became
greatly distressed through want of water. Then Jehoshaphat asked
if there were not a prophet of the Lord to be found, and a servant
answered that Elisha was at hand. The three monarchs went to
him. But Elisha would have nought to say to the King of Israel,
bidding him take counsel of the prophets of his father and of his
io6 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
mother. Yet for the sake of the King- of Judah he would advise
them. Then he made a minstrel play before him, and as he
listened the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Then he bade the
kings dig ditches in the valley, and it should be that without see-
ing- wind or rain that they should have abundance of water. The
next morning, behold the ditches were full of water. As the rays
of the sun fell upon the streams, the Moabites thought they were
rivers of blood, and exclaimed : "The kings are surely slain, and
they have smitten one another ; now, therefore, Moab to the spoil."
But when they reached the camp, the allies fell upon them and
smote them with a dreadful slaughter. They passed through the
land of Moab, destroying the cities, stopping tip the wells, and
felling the trees. When the battle went against him, the king of
Moab, with seven hundred picked men, tried to break through to
where the King of Edom was stationed, but he could not. Then
he took his eldest son and offered him for a burnt offering
upon the wall. This act caused great indignation among the
Israelites, and they returned to their own land.
CHAPTER VII.
Elisha's Miracles.
Elisha and the Stnmamite. Now a certain woman of the
wives of the sons of the prophet complained to Elisha that her
husband was dead, and that a creditor had come to take her two
sons in payment of her debts. Elisha asked what she had in the
house, and she replied nothing but a pot of oil. Then Elisha told
her to borrow all the empty vessels sbe could, and, having shut
herself in, to fill them from the pot. The widow did so, and,
selling the oil thus miraculously increased, freed herself from her
creditor.
In the town of Shunem there dwelt a rich woman, and as often
as Elisha visited the place she invited him to her house to eat
bread. Taking counsel with her husband, she prepared for the
prophet a little chamber, and furnished it with a bed, a table, a
stool, and a candlestick. One day, while occupying the room,
Elisha bade his servant Gehazi call the Shunamite, and she stood
before him. Then Elisha asked what return should he make for
all her kindness ; should he speak for her to the king, or to the
captain of the host ? But the Shunamite modestly replied, " I
dwell among mine own people." Learning-, however, that she
had no children, the man of God predicted that she should bave
a son. The woman in due time bare a son, and one day, when he
was grown up, he went out to his father among the reapers. The
lad became ill, and was carried home to his mother, who nursed
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 107
him on her knees till noon, when he died. The afflicted mother
laid the child on the bed of the man of God ; then bidding one of
the servants saddle an ass, rode with all speed to Carmel. Elisha
chanced to see her at a distance, and told Gehazi to run to her and
inquire if all were well with her, her husband, and her child. She
answered, " It is well !" Then approaching the man of God, she
clung 1 to his feet, exclaiming 1 : " Did I desire a son of my lord ?
Did I not say, Do not deceive me ?" Elisha perceived that some-
thing- was amiss with the lad, although the Lord had not shown
it to him. He ordered Gehazi to haste to Shunem ; not to wait
to salute or be saluted on the way ; and to lay the prophet's staff
upon the face of the child. But the woman would not leave Elisha ;
so he arose and went with her. When they neared the house,
Gehazi came out and told Elisha that the child had not waked.
The prophet entered the chamber, and there lay the child dead
upon the bed. Closing- the door, he prayed to God, and then
stretched himself upon the child till its flesh waxed warm and it
opened its eyes. Then, sending- for the mother, he said to her,
Take thy son. " Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and
bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son and went out."
At another time, the sons of the prophets, while eating a meal,
found that a poisonous herb had been cooked with the food. But
Elisha mixed a little meal with the food, and it was perfectly
harmless. On another occasion, he miraculously fed a hundred
men with twenty loaves of barley and some ears o'f corn, and even
then a part was left.
Naaman was captain of the host of the King of Syria. He was
a great man and an honourable, but withal a leper. His wife was
waited on by a little Jewish maid, a captive ; and she said to her
mistress that if her lord would only go to the prophet in Samaria,
he would be cured of his leprosy. This speech reaching the
king's ears, he sent Naaman to the King of Israel, with a letter
bidding Jehoram cure him of his leprosy. As a recompense,
Naaman took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand
pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. When Jehoram read
the letter, he rent his garments with grief, saying that the King
of Syria was seeking a quarrel against him, in asking him to cure
an incurable disease. But Elisha, hearing of the king's distress,
bade him send Naaman to him, so that he might learn that there
was yet a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses
and with his chariot, and stood at the door of his house. Then
Elisha sent out word to him to go and wash in the Jordan seven
times, and then his flesh would be clean. But Naaman departed
in anger. He thought the prophet would have shown him some
io8 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
visible sign of his power, and would have healed him on the spot.
As for washing in Jordan, were not Abana and Pharpar, the
rivers of Damascus, better than all the rivers of Israel ? could he
not wash in them and be clean ? Yet his servants persuaded him
to try the prophet's remedy, as it was so easy to achieve. Then
he went and dipped in Jordan seven times, and was healed. Full
of gratitude, Naaman hurried back to Elisha, and said : " Behold,
now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel."
He pressed him to receive a present, but Elisha again and
again refused. Then Naaman vowed that he would never more
oifer burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the
Lord. He also asked pardon of God, when, in discharge of the
duties of his high office, he entered the temple of Rimmon, the
king leaning upon his hand, and bowed himself to Rimmon.
Then Elisha bade him go in peace, and he departed. But to
Gehazi it seemed ill that Elisha had spared the riches of Naaman.
Hurrying after him, he craved a talent of silver and two changes
of garment, in Elisha's name. Naaman generously gave him more
than he asked, and Gehazi brought the things secretly into the
house. Then Elisha asked his servant where he had been, and
Gehazi lyingly replied, nowhere. But Elisha told him he knew
the crime he had committed, and sternly rebuked him for it
"The leprosy, therefore, of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and
unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a
leper as white as snow."
After this Elisha went with the sons of the prophets to Jordan
to cut timber. As one was felling a tree his axe-head fell into
the water. The man cried out, for it was borrowed. Elisha cast
a stick into the water, and the axe-head swam, so that the man
recovered it.
CHAPTER VIII.
Jehoram Wars with the Syrians. Death of Benhadad.
War with Syria. The King of Syria again warred against
Israel. The prophet Elisha was able to render signal service to
his countryman, for he revealed to the King of Israel all the
secret counsels of his enemies. The King of Syria at first sus-
pected some of his servants of treachery, but at last he was con-
vinced that his plans were frustrated through Elisha. Learning
that the seer was staying at Dothan, he sent a great host to
capture h''m They compassed the city round about at night.
The next morning Elisha prayed to the Lord, and He smote the
host of the Syrians with blindness. Elisha then led them to
Samaria. Then the Lord opened their eyes, and they found
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 109
themselves in the midst of Samaria. Jehoram would have put
them to the sword, hut Elisha had them bountifully fed, and then
sent them away to their master. For a time there was peace
with the Syrians ; then Benhadad gathered all his armies and
laid siege to Samaria. So strict was the siege that there was a
great famine in the city, and an ass's head sold for fourscore
pieces of silver. One day the King of Israel, passing through
the town, heard two women quarrelling. The king inquired the
cause of the strife. And one of them answered : " This woman
said unto me, Give thy son that we may eat him to-day, and we
will eat my son to-morrow. So we boiled my son and did eat
him, and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son that we
may eat him, and she hath hid her son." When the king heard
this he rent his clothes. Then in his anger he vowed the death
of Elisha that day. He sent a messenger to seize him. Elisha
was forewarned by God of what was happening, and at once
announced good tidings to the city. " Thus saith the Lord, To-
morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for
a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of
Samaria." One of the courtiers laughed at the prediction, and
Elisha told him that he should see the abundance, out should not
eat of it.
Plight of the Syrians. Now there stood four leprous men out-
side the gate of the city, whom the pangs of hunger drove to seek
food at the hands of the Syrians. They rose up in the twilight, and
went to the Syrian camp, and to their amazement found it deserted.
For the Lord had made the Syrians to hear the noise of a mighty
army; and they said to one another, Lo, the Israelites and the
Hittites, and the Egyptians have leagued themselves together,
and are attacking us. So they fled in the twilight, and left oehind
them their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even their
whole camp. The lepers went from tent to tent, eating and
drinking, and carrying away gold and silver and raiment. At
last they bethought them of their starving brethren in Samaria,
and turned to tell the glad tidings in the town. The Israelites
at first feared an ambush ; but after due precaution, they sacked
the Syrian camp ; so that flour and barley became as plentiful as
the prophet had foretold. But the scoffing courtier partook not
of the good things, for he was trampled to death by the people
rushing forth through the gate.
Elisha in Damascus. Elisha now journeyed to Damascus.
Benhadad, King of Syria, lay ill, and he heard of the arrival of
the man of God. The king sent Hazael with costly presents to
EUsha, begging him inquire of the Lord whether ho should
no MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
recover. Hazael went to Elisha, with forty camels laden with the
good things of Damascus, and conveyed to him the king's mes-
sage. '"' And Elisha said unto him : " Go, say unto him, Thou
mayest certainly recover : howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that
he shall surely die." Then Elisha wept ; and when Hazael asked
the cause of his grief, he replied that he foresaw the evil that
Hazael would do the people of Israel ; he would Irarn their strong-
holds, slay their young men, and slaughter their women and
children. Hazael, greatly moved, exclaimed, " But what, is thy
servant a dog, that he should do this great thing ?" And Elisha
answered : " The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king
over Syria." Hazael returned to Benhadad, and told him that
Elisha had announced his sure recovery. On the morrow Hazael
took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and with it smothered
the king. Hazael then ascended the Syrian throne.
CHAPTER IX.
Jehu Death of Jezebel Jehoahaz Death of Elisha.
Jehu Anointed. Hazael soon led a Syrian army against the
King of Israel. He attempted to recapture Ramoth Gilead, but
failed. Jehoram received several wounds in his encounter with
the Syrians, and withdrew to Jezreel to be cured; and Ahaziah,
King of Judah, his ally, accompanied him. The army of the
Israelites remained encamped at Ramoth, and were commanded
by Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat.
Elisha, calling to him one of the sons of the prophets, bade him
take a vial of oil and secretly anoint Jehu king over Israel.
The young man hastened to Ramoth Gilead, and found Jehu
sitting with the officers. He exclaimed : " I have an errand to
thee, Captain. And Jehu said: L T nto which of all of us ?
And he said : To thee, Captain." Then, taking Jehu into an
inner room, he poured the oil on his head, and told him that the
Lord God of Israel had anointed him king over His people. He
bade him smite the whole house of Ahab, to avenge the blood of
the Lord's prophets, and the Lord's servants that had been slain.
As for Jezebel, the dogs should eat her body, for there should be
none to bury her. Then, opening the door, the prophet fled.
Returning to the captains, Jehu announced that he had been
anointed king over Israel. The people acclaimed him at once,
threw their garments on the ground for him to walk on, blew the
trumpets, and shouted, " Jehu is king !" Jehu at once ordered
that no one should leave the city or carry the tidings to Jezebel.
Mounting his chariot, and gathering a company about him, Jehu
drove furiously, as was his wont ; to Jezreel. When he approached
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. in
the city, a watchman, stationed on a tower, announced to Jehoram
that he espied a company of men. The king- sent a messenger to
inquire of the strangers if they came in peace, but Jehu bade the man
follow after him. A second messenger was served in the same
way. By this time Jehu had drawn so near that he was recog-
nized. Jehoram and Ahaziah instantly mounted their chariots,
and went out to meet him in the field of Naboth. When they met,
Jehoram exclaimed, " Is it peace, Jehu ?" But Jehu asked,
What peace could there be so long as the wicked Jezebel
and her witchcrafts were unpunished? Jehoram cried out,
" There is treachery, Ahaziah !" and turned and fled. But
Jehu drew a bow with his full strength and smote him through
the heart so that he died. Then Jehu ordered his body to be thrown
in Naboth's vineyard. Ahaziah, too, fled, but was smitten in his
chariot, and died at Megiddo. His body was carried to Jerusalem,
and buried there.
Death of Jezebel. Jehu now entered Jezreel. As he rode
through the streets, Jezebel, with her face painted and her head
dressed, looked out of a window of the palace, and taunted him
with his treachery. But Jehu, calling to some of the eunuchs,
bade them throw her down. " So they threw her down, and
some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses :
and he trod her underfoot." And the dogs devoured her
body, according to the word of the Lord by His servant Elijah.
Jehu then caused the seventy sons of Ahab to be slain, and
utterly exterminated the family and descendants of that wicked
king. Proclaiming a solemn feast to Baal, he gathered together
all the priests of that idol, and had them put to death. He burnt
the images of Baal, and broke down his temples, so that the wor-
ship of Baal ceased in Israel. Yet, in spite of this zeal against
idolatry, Jehu di^ not walk with the Lord with all his heart, for
he worshipped the golden calves in Bethel and in Dan. Still
God promised him that his fourth generation should sit on the
throne of Israel.
In the days of Jehu, Hazael, King of Syria, captured many of
the outlying parts of Israel, chiefly to the eastward of Jordan.
Jehu died, after a reign of twenty-eight years, and was buried in
Samaria.
Jehoahaz. Jehu was succeeded by his son, Jehoahaz, who
reigned seventeen years. He, too, was a wicked king, and
followed the evil example of Jeroboam, son of Nebat. In
this reign the Israelites suffered terribly through the invasions
of the Syrians under Hazael and his son Benhadad. At length
Israel was delivered from their relentless foes by the hands
112 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
of a warrior whose name is not recorded in Scripture. During
these wars the army of the Israelites was reduced to " fifty horse
men, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen."
Jehoash, or Joash, son of Jehoahaz, next mounted the throne,
and reigned sixteen years.
Death of Elisha. When Elisha was sick of the illness
whereof he died, Jehoash visited him, and wept before his face.
Elisha hade him open a window eastward and take his bow and
arrows. Then, laying- his hands on the king's hands, he com-
manded him to shoot. The whole proceeding was to indicate
that the future victories were to spring, not from human skill,
but from the assistance of God. The king discharged three
arrows, and then paused. Elisha was wroth, and told the king
he should have shot five or six times, for then he would have
utterly destroyed Syria. Then Elisha died and was buried. Some
time after the corpse of a man was hastily let down into the
same sepulchre, and when the man touched the bones of Elisha,
he revived and stood upon his feet.
The prediction of Elisha with regard to the Syrians came true.
Three times did Jehoash defeat them, and he recovered the cities
of Israel which they had previously captured.
War with Judah. Amaziah, King of Judah, challenged Israel
to a trial of strength. Jehoash answered him by a parable, saying :
" The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in
Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife ; and
there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down
the thistle." He further bade Amaziah remain at home, and not
allow his heart to be lifted up with pride because he had con-
quered the Edomites, and warned him that he might meddle in
this matter to his own hurt. Amaziah scorned the advice, and
led his army against Israel. But the men of Judah were defeated
and dispersed. Jehoash captured Amaziah, and, going to Jeru-
salem, broke down a large part of its fortifications, and carried
away to Samaria all the gold and silver in the house of the Lord,
together with the king's treasure and many hostages.
CHAPTER X.
Jeroboam II. To the End of the Kingdom.
Jeroboam II. succeeded his father Jehoash, and reigned forty-
one years. He followed in the wicked footsteps of the previous
kings. Yet he was a brave leader, for he restored the boundary
of Israel from Hamath to the Dead Sea, and carrying the war
into Syria, captured Damascus, the capital.
The prophets Jonah, Amos, and Hosea lived in this reign,
MANUAL Of SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 113
They continually reproved the people for their backslidings, and
foreshadowed the terrible punishments that would befall them.*
Zaehariah, the son of Jeroboam, at length mounted the throne.
He, too, did evil in the sight of the Lord. After a short reign of
six months he was slain by Shallum, the son of Jabesh, who
reigned in his stead. Zachariah was the last of the dynasty of
Jehu, to whom the Lord had promised that his fourth generation
should reign over Israel.
Shallum reigned but one month when Menahem, the son of
Gadi, came from Tirzah to Samaria, slew the king, and took
possession of the throne.
Menahem occupied the throne ten years. He was as wicked
as the previous kings of Israel. He inaugurated his reign by
destroying those cities which did not at once recognize his
authority. And now a new danger threatened Israel. Assyria
had gradually become a mighty empire, and Pul, its king, in-
vaded the land with a great army. Menahem purchased his
forbearance with a thousand talents of silver. To raise this sum
he levied a tax upon his wealthier subjects, exacting fifty shekels
from each. The King of Assyria, satisfied with his bribe, turned
back, and stayed not there in the land.
Pekahiah, son of Menahem, was the next king. His wicked
reign had lasted two years when he was conspired against by
Pekah, son of Remaliah, one of his captains, who killed him, and
reigned in his stead.
Pekah reigned twenty years, doing evil in the sight of the
Lord. He made a league with Rezin, King of Syria, and the
confederates made war upon Ahaz, King of Judah. The men of
Judah were defeated in an important battle, and large numbers of
them were carried captive to Samaria and Damascus. At the
earnest entreaty of the prophet Oded, Pekah restored to freedom
no less than two hundred thousand of these captives.
During a second campaign Pekah and Rezin laid siege to
Jerusalem. They failed in their attempt on the city, chiefly
because Isaiah stirred up its inhabitants to a vigorous resistance.
The siege was raised, but the Syrians deprived Judah of the
province of Elath. As a last resource Ahaz invited Tiglath-
pileser, King of Assyria, to join him against his enemies, at the
same time sending to him all the silver and gold that were found
in the Lord's house, together with his own private treasure.
* On the death of Jeroboam the throne remained vacant for ten years.
Scripture is silent as to the state of the kingdom during that interval, but
most probably it fell a prey to anarchy and confusion.
1
114 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Tiglath-pileser at once iavaded the land of Israel, devastating
Gilead, Galilee, and the land of Naphtali, and carrying the
inhabitants captive to Assyria.
Then Hoshea, son of Elah, conspired against Pekah, slew him,
and reigned in his stead.
Hoshea was the last king of Israel. His reign endured nine
years. " And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,
but not as the kings of Israel that were before him." The cup
of Israel's wickedness was now full to overflowing. There was
no sin they had not committed, no transgression they had not
perpetrated. They had forsaken the Lord, worshipped molten
images, and bowed themselves to Baal. " They caused their sons
and their daughters to pass through fire, and used divination and
enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the
Lord, to provoke Him to anger." They did all this in spite of
repeated warnings conveyed to them by the mouth of God's
inspired messengers. But the Eternal now brought upon them
the punishment of their iniquity. Shalmaneser, King of Assyria,
invaded the land, and Hoshea submitted to him and agreed to
become tributary to him. But Hoshea made an alliance with
So,* king of Egypt, and omitted to send his annual tribute
to Assyria. So in the sixth year of Hoshea's reign Shalmaneser
led an army to Samaria, and besieged it for three years. In the
ninth year of Hoshea's reign the city was taken, and Shalmaneser
" carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and
in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes."
Thus ended the kingdom of Israel. It had lasted two hundred
and fifty-three years.
The Samaritans. The cities of Samaria were afterwards
peopled with men from Babylon, Cuthath, Ava, Hamath, and
Sepharvaim by the command of Esar-haddon, King of Assyria.
These new Samaritans were idolaters, but at their request the
king sent them one of the captive Jewish priests to teach them
the religion of the true God. Yet they did not give up their
worship of graven images. History tells us nothing farther about
them till the re-building of the second Temple, when they claimed
to share in the work. Being repulsed on account of their heathen
origin and idolatrous practices, they became the bitter enemies of
the Jews, and tried in every way to hinder and delay the erection
of the Temple. Subsequently they built a temple for themselves
on Mount Gerizim. Their descendants exist to this day, and
possess a recension of the law called the Samaritan Pentateuch,
differing in many respects from the Pentateuch in our possession.
* Probably the Sevectus of Manetho, and the Sabaco of Herodotus.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 115
PART VI.
THE KINGDOM OP JUDAH.
CHAPTER I.
Rehoboam Asa Jehoshaphat.
Rehoboam, son of Solomon, was the first king of Judah. After
the revolt of Jerohoam and the division of the kingdoms he dwelt
in Jerusalem, which remained the capital of his dominions. He
was forty-one years old when he ascended the throne, and he
reigned seventeen years.
The people soon lapsed into idolatry ; they provoked the Lord
to anger by placing temples, images, and altars on every high
hill and under every green tree. In the fifth year of Rehoboam's
reign the country was invaded by Shishak, king of Egypt. He
carried away all the treasures of the Lord's house and of the king's
palace ; the golden shields made by Solomon were also taken away,
and were replaced by brazen ones. There was also continual war
between Judah and Israel during the whole of Rehoboam's rule.
Abijam, his son, succeeded, and reigned three years. He
walked in all the sinful ways of his father.
Asa, son of Abijam, next mounted the throne and reigned
forty-one years. He did that which was right in the sight of
the Lord. He destroyed the idols that his fathers had made,
but he did not remove the high places ; nevertheless his heart
was perfect with the Lord. He replaced in the Temple many
vessels of silver and gold.
War with the Ethiopians. Zerah the Ethiopian invaded
Judah, at the head of an immense army and three hundred chariots.
Asa fought a pitched battle with this mighty host at Mareshah in
the valley of Zaphethah. The Ethiopians were utterly routed and
pursued to Gerar. The victors returned to Jerusalem, bearing
with them much spoil, and sheep and camels in abundance.
War with Israel. There was war between Asa and Baasha,
king of Israel, all their days. Baasha prevailed against the people
of Judah, and invading their land built the strong place of Ramah
to overawe them. Whereupon Asa sent costly presents to Ben-
hadad, king of Syria, and invited him to form a league against the
Israelites. Benhadad readily consented, and at once invaded the
northern portion of Israel. Baasha, in self-defence, was compelled
to abandon Ramah, which was razed by order of Asa, and with
the stones thereof were built Geba and Mizpah. Asa spent the
i a
n6 MANUAL OF SCRIP TV RE HISTORV.
rest of his life in peace, though in his old age he suffered from a
disease in the feet. He died and was buried at Jerusalem.
Jehoshaphat, his son, succeeded him. He was thirty-five years
old when he ascended the throne, and reigned twenty-five years.
He was a righteous king, and walked in the ways of his father ;
nevertheless the high places were not taken away, and the people
continued to offer and burn incense upon them. Jehoshaphat was
a great and prosperous king. He built throughout his kingdom
many fortified castles and cities of stone, and caused so great a
feeling of security to prevail, that commerce flourished in all parts
of the country. He had a fleet built at Tharshish, which sailed to
Ophir to obtain gold ; but the vessels were wrecked at Ezion-
geber. In the third year of his reign he sent forth teachers to
the various towns in Judah, who instructed the people in the law
of God. By these wise and patriotic measures he established his
power, so that no foreign nation ventured to molest him, while
such inveterate foes as the Philistines and Arabians sent him pre-
sents and tribute.
Jehoshaphat paid a visit to Ahab, king of Israel, at Samaria.
A great friendship sprang up between the two kings, which was
further increased by the marriage of Joram, eldest son of Jehosha-
phat, to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. It was here that they formed
a league against Ben-hadad, king of Syria, which led to the death
of Ahab at Ramoth Gilead and the precipitate flight of Jehosha-
phat to Jerusalem. When about to enter the royal city the king
was rebuked by Jehu the seer, for helping the ungodly and loving
them that hated the Lord. As if to atone for this fault, Jehosha-
phat grew even more zealous in God's cause. He travelled
throughout his realm, exhorting the people to worship the Lord.
He placed judges through the land, and strictly commanded them
to deal out even-handed justice to all men. He appointed a
superior tribunal of priests and Levites, and of the " chiefs of the
fathers," to sit in Jerusalem, and there to dispose of the more
important lawsuits.
Bui; now danger threatened from the south. The Moabites,
the Ammonites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir came up in
vast multitudes to invade the land. Jehoshaphat greatly feared
the contest, and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. While
the people were humbling themselves in the Temple, the Lord,
speaking by the mouth ol Jahaziel the Levite, promised them a
victory over their enemies. The next day the men of Judah
marched out to meet their enemies ; but they had no occasion to
fight, for the battle was not theirs but God's. A violent quarrel
broke out in the camp of the allies, so that they turned their
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 117
swords against each other, and "every one helped to destroy
another." When the work of mutual destruction was complete,
the men of Judah loaded themselves with the richest plunder, and
returned, with joy and music, to Jerusalem. The rest of Jehosha-
phat's days were peaceful. He died at Jerusalem, and was huried
there.
CHAPTER II.
Joram Ahaziah Interregnum Joash Amaziah.
Joram, or Jehoram, succeeded his father Jehoshaphat. In-
fluenced by the example of the idolatrous Athaliah, daughter of
the wicked Jezebel, whom he had married, he departed from the
way of God and did evil in His sight. His first act was to slay
his six brothers whom his father had richly endowed. He was a
weak as well as a wicked king-, and the Edomites were not long-
in revolting* from under his hand. Joram tried to crush the
rebellion but without success. Libnah also regained its indepen-
dence. But a greater affliction was in store for him and his
people. The Philistines and the Arabians invaded Judah, and
capturing- Jerusalem they plundered the king's palace. They
carried away the king's treasures, together with his wives and
children, leaving only Ahaziah, the youngest. After this the king
fell ill of a terrible disease, and died unhonoured and unwept.
He had reigned eight years.
Ahaziah succeeded to the throne and reigned one year. He
did evil in the sight of the Lord, and his mother, Athaliah,
counselled him in his wickedness. He joined Jehoram in his
war against Hazael, king of Syria. Jehoram was wounded and
went to be healed to Jezreel. There Ahaziah visited him and
witnessed his murder at the hand of Jehu. Ahaziah fled and hid
himself in Samaria. He was discovered and put to death at
Megiddo by command of Jehu. He was buried at Jerusalem.
Interregnum. When Athaliah saw that her son was dead
she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
But one of the royal princesses saved the infant Joash, and hid
him for six years in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned
over the land. In the seventh year Jehoiada, the high priest,
raised a rebellion against her. Assembling all the Levites in
Jerusalem he armed them, together with the captains of the
army, and with them filled the Temple. Then he brought forth
the youthful Joash and crowned him and made him king. The
people received him with acclamation. Athaliah, hearing the
joyous shouts, proceeded to the Temple, and when she saw the
newly-crowned king standing at the entrance, she exclaimed,
n8 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
" Treason, treason/' Jehoiada commanded his captains, and they
carried her away from the Lord's house and slew her. Incited
by the zeal of the high priest, the people broke down the house
of Baal and destroyed his altars and images. A grand procession
was then formed and the king- was conveyed to the royal palace
amid every token of rejoicing'.
Joasli was seven years old when he mounted the throne, and
he reigned forty years. He followed the law of God so long as
Jehoiada lived to advise and counsel him. Parts of the Temple
had fallen into disrepair, and the whole building had been
pillaged by the idolatrous sons of Athaliah. The king- determined
to repair the " breaches in the Lord's house." He placed a chest
in the Temple, to receive the offerings of those who contributed
towards the expenses of the restoration. As soon as the chest
was filled, its contents were counted, and paid to the workmen,
who had been engaged in large numbers. The gold and silver
vessels used in the Temple service, were also replaced, and the
service itself was conducted with splendour and with the
greatest regularity.
Jehoiada died at the age of one hundred and thirty years.
Then the king, listening to the promptings of his young courtiers,
fell into evil ways. He forsook the worship of God, and served
groves and idols. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, denounced
this apostasy : and the people, at the king's command, stoned
him to death in the court of the Temple. Punishment soon
followed. In the same year Hazael led a Syrian host to Jeru-
salem. He would, doubtless, have captured the city had not
Joash bought him off with splendid gifts, taken from the treasures
of the Temple and of the king's house. Joash after this fell ill.
Two of his servants, taking advantage of his prostrate condition,
conspired against him and slew him. He was buried at Jeru-
salem, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Amaziah, his son, was the next king, and his reign lasted
twenty-nine years. " He did that which was right in the sight
of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." One of his first acts
was to slay the murderers of his father, but their children he
slew not, in accordance with the command, " The fathers shall
not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the
fathers : but every man shall die for his own sin." He hired a
hundred thousand soldiers out of Israel for a hundred talents of
silver but on the representations of a man of God, he dismissed
them again to their own land. Having strengthened his army,
he led them against the Edomites, whom he defeated with great
slaughter. Elated by this victory, he sent a warlike challenge
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 119
to Joash, king- of Israel, saying 1 , " Come, let us look one another
in the i'ace." Joash advised him to curb his vanity and remain
peacefully at home, lest harm should befall him. Amaziah would
not listen to reason, and the kings met in battle at Beth-shemesh.
Judah sustained a severe defeat, and Amaziah himself was taken
prisoner. Then Joash went up to Jerusalem, and broke down
the walls from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four
hundred cubits. He also plundered the temple and the palace of
all the g-old and silver and vessels they contained, and, taking
hostages with him, returned to Samaria. Amaziah, in his later
days, had lapsed into idolatry. His apostasy raised a faction
against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent
after him and slew him there. He was buried with his fathers in
the city of David.
CHAPTER III.
TJzziah Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah.
Uzziah, or Azariah On the death of Amaziah the peopld
placed his son, Uzziah, on the throne. He was sixteen years
old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years.
He walked in the ways of God, and listened to the teach-
ings of the prophets, Amos, Zechariah, Joel, and Isaiah. In
successive campaigns he conquered the Philistines and the
Arabians, while the Ammonites were glad to pay him tribute.
He repaired the walls of Jerusalem, and built fresh towers on
them. He greatly encouraged husbandry, and dug- many wella
" for he had much cattle, both in the low country and in the
plains, husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains and
in Carmel." Great in the pursuits of war and peace his heart
grew proud, and was lifted up to his destruction. Entering the
sanctuary, he dared to offer incense before the Lord. At once he
was smitten with leprosy, and being thrust out of the Temple, dwelt
apart in a separate house till the day of his death. His son Jotham
was made regent, and on his father's demise ascended the throne.
Jotham reigned sixteen years. He did what was right in the
sight of the Lord, still the people worshipped idols and were
corrupt. Jotham subdued the Ammonites and received from them
tribute of silver, wheat, and barley. lie built many cities in the
mountains of Judah, and erected the high gate of the house of
the Lord.
Ahaz succeeded his father Jotham, and reigned sixteen years.
He was an impious king, worshipping many abominations, and
burning his children on the altars of strange gods. His reign was
most disastrous. Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel.
120 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
joined their forces to besiege Jerusalem. In his distress, Ahaz
sent costly gifts to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, begging him
to hasten to his assistance. Tiglath-pileser complied with the
request. He invaded Syria, captured Damascus, and slew Rezin,
who had hurried back to its defence. Pekah, however, prevailed
against Judah. He slew in one day one hundred and twenty
thousand, all valiant men, and carried away two hundred thou-
sand men and women captives to Samaria. These would no
doubt have endured the horrors of slavery, had not Oded, a
prophet of God, interceded on their behalf so effectually that the
captives were sent honourably back to their own land. Abas,
journeyed to Damascus to visit Tiglath-pileser, and on his
return to Jerusalem introduced the worship of the Syrian gods.
In this reign also the Edomites and Philistines gained many
successes against Judah. Ahaz was buried in Jerusalem, but
not in the city of the kings.
Hezekiah, his son, succeeded, and reigned for twenty-nine
years. He was a most just and pious king, doing that which
was right in the sight of God, " according to all that David his
father did." He was unwearying in his resolve to uproot idolatry.
He destroyed the images, cut down the groves, and even broke in
pieces the brazen serpent of Moses, which had become an object
of worship. " He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after
him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any
that were before him." His first act was to cleanse the Temple
of its defilements, and restore the service of the Most High. He
exhorted the priests to assist him in this holy work, and they
willingly seconded his efforts.
Hezekiah's Passover. When the work of purifying the
Temple had been accomplished, Hezekiah resolved upon a national
celebration of the Passover. To this end he sent letters to all the
tribes of Israel and Judah, inviting them to Jerusalem to solem-
nize the festival ; which, after advice, he appointed to be held in
the second month (lyar), as there were ceremonial difficulties in
the way of keeping it in Nisan. The people of Israel mocked at
the messengers of the king, and laughed them to scorn. Never-
theless some of the men of Asher, and Manasseh, and Zebulun,
filled with a better spirit, went up to Jerusalem at the king's invi-
tation. The royal city was thronged with devout worshippers.
They carefully removed every relic of idol worship from her midst,
and on the fourteenth day of the second month commenced the
celebration of the Passover, according to the ceremonials laid
down in the Law. The priests killed the Paschal offering, and
sprinkled the blood in due course. For seven days was the
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 121
festival kept with great gladness j the priests and the Levites
praising God day by day, " singing with loud instruments unto the
Lord." The king joined in the joyous celebration with heart and
soul. A second seven days were kept with equal rejoicings, for
the sake of those who were religiously disqualified from celebrat-
ing the first seven. There had been no such Passover kept since
the days of Solomon, king of Israel. It resulted in a great
religious revival throughout Judah.
Overcomes the Philistines. Hezekiah soon found himself at
war with the old enemies of the Jewish race. He smote the
Philistines unto Gaza, and wasted all their borders.
In the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign occurred the destruction
of the Kingdom of Israel by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, as
narrated on page 114.
Isaiah the prophet was the constant friend and adviser of
Hezekiah. Micah also nourished in this reign.
CHAPTER IV.
Hezekiah (coniiwwdj Manasseh Amon.
War with the Assyrians. Hezekiah now determined to re-
lease his kingdom from the yoke of the Assyrians, and, as a first
step, he refused to pay them any further tribute. Sennacherib,
who was now king of Assyria, gathered a mighty host, invaded
Judah, and captured some of the fenced cities. Then Hezekiah's
heart failed him, and he sent to Sennacherib, saying, " I have
offended : return from me ; that which thou puttest on me I will
bear." The king of Assyria agreed to depart upon receiving three
hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold. Hezekiah,
in order to pay this fine, stripped the house of the Lord, and also
his own palace, of all the wealth they contained. He also cut the
gold from off the doors and pillars of the Temple.
The danger was averted for a time; but after a few years
Sennacherib, moved probably by an alliance between Hezekiah
and the king of Egypt, again invaded Judah. He himself laid
siege to Lachish, while his three generals, Tartan, Rabsaris, and
Rabshakeh, at the head of a powerful army, set out to besiege
Jerusalem. Meanwhile Hezekiah was not idle. He strengthened
the walls and defences of his capital, cut off the water supply from
the outlying districts, and made darts and shields in abundance.
He appointed captains over the people, and exhorted them all to
be courageous and to trust in the Lord.
The enemy was now encamped around Jerusalem, and the
Assyrian captains delivered a most insulting message from their
master, in which they scoffed at the temeritv of Hezekiah, and
122 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
railed at the God of Judah. They also addressed the men cf the
city who had crowded to the walls, bidding 1 them not to put their
trust in Hezekiah, but to place themselves at the mercy of the
king* of Assyria, who would lead them to a land of corn and wine
and oil and honey.
When the message of the Assyrian monarch was conveyed to
Hezekiah, he rent his clothes, and sent for counsel to the prophet
Isaiah. The God-inspired man bade the king- be of good courage,
and not fear the words of Sennacherib, who had blasphemed the
Lord, and whose speedy destruction would follow. "And it came
to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out and smote
in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred four score and five
thousand ; and when they arose early in the morning, behold
they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib, king of Assyria,
departed, and went and returned and dwelt at Nineveh. And it
came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch, his
god, that Adramelech and Sharezer, his sons, smote him with the
sword ; and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esar-
haddon, his' son, reigned in his stead."
Hezekiah's illness. After this Hezekiah became sick imto
death, and Isaiah bore to him this message from the Lord, " Set
thine house in order ; for thou shalt die and not live." Hezekiah
wept sore, and prayed to God, and at once Isaiah brought him
the comforting assurance that he should be healed within three
days, and thai the Lord would add fifteen years to his life. The
prophet then commanded the king's attendants to lay a plaster of
figs on the part affected, and thus it was healed. Hezekiah asked
for a sign that his life would be prolonged, and God " brought the
shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the
dial of Ahaz." Merodach-baladon, king of Babylon, moved no
doubt by the fame of this miracle, sent ambassadors bearing letters
and a present to Hezekiah. The king, in the pride of his heart,
showed the Babylonians all his riches, his gold and silver and
spices, and all his armour. The anger of the Lord was kindled
against Hezekiah. Isaiah stood before him, and foretold that the
day would come when all those treasures would be carried down
to Babylon, and that his offspring would be slaves in the palace of
the Babylonian king. One of the last acts of Hezekiah was to
build a new conduit for conveying water to Jerusalem. The king
slept with his fathers, and was buried in the chiefest of the
sepulchres of the sons of David,
Manasseh, his son, succeeded him and reigned fifty-five years.
He was a gross idolater. He built altars to strange gods in the
courts of the Temple, made his son pass through the fire, and con-
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 123
sorted with familiar spirits and wizards. The Lord warned the
people by the mouth of His prophets that terrible evils would
overtake them, but king- and people were alike deaf to these ex-
hortations. Manasseh shed much innocent blood throughout
Jerusalem, and it is traditionally related that he caused Isaiah to
be tortured to death.
Manasseh's Punishment. The Assyrian hosts again invaded
Judah, and this time with success. They took Manasseh, bound
him with fetters and carried him to Babylon. In his affliction
" he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly
before the God of his fathers." God listened to his prayers and
restored him to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. " Then Manasseh
knew that the Lord He was God." He purged Jerusalem of its
idols, and removed the altars he had erected in the Temple. He
also repaired and strengthened the defences of the holy city, and
placed captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. His long
and inglorious reign ended at last, and he was buried in the garden
of his palace.
Amon, his son, succeeded and reigned only two years. He was
an idolater like his father, but unlike his father he did not repent
of his wickedness. His servants conspired against him and slew
him. But his death was avenged by the people who put his
assassins to death. They then placed Josiah, his son, on the
throne.
CHAPTER V.
Josiah Jehoahaz.
Josiah began his reign at the tender age of eight, and his rule
lasted thirty-one years. Little is known of the early period of his
reign, but when he reached the age of sixteen he began to seek the
Lord with all his heart. The wickedness and idolatry that were
rife throughout his kingdom became an abomination to him, and
he resolved to purge the land of its iniquity. In this determina-
tion he was ably assisted by his faithful ministers Hilkiah, the
high priest, Shaphan, the scribe, and Shallum, the keeper of the
wardrobe. No less zealous to help the king were the prophets
Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Nahum, who, by their
earnest exhortations, strove to fan the flame of religious ardour
among the people. Josiah's first work was to restore the Temple
worship. He caused every vestige of idolatry to be removed from
the sacred precincts, and repaired those portions of tie House
of God that had fallen into ruin.
The Book of the Law found. While engaged in over-
looking the work in the Temple, "Hilkiah the priest found a
124 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
book of the law of the Lord given by Moses." He delivered
it to Shaphan, who read it before the king-. Josiah recognized
the sacred roll, and, overcome with grief at the neglect which
had befallen the written word of God, he rent his clothes.
He then bade Hilkiuh repair to Huldah the prophetess,
the wife of Shallum, to inquire of the Lord concerning the
words of the book that had been found. Huldah replied, that
all the punishments foretold in the book as about to befall the
people through their apostasy would surely come to pass. But
inasmuch as Josiah believed in the Lord and humbled himself
before Him, the evil would not happen in his day.
The repairs of the Temple having been finished, the king sum-
moned all the men of Judah to Jerusalem, even to the Temple ;
then, standing in his place, " he read in their ears all the words of
the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord."
Then he bound himself and all present by a solemn compact to
keep God's commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes
with all their heart and soul. After this he sent his officers
throughout the land, who removed all traces of idolatry and
exhorted the people to serve the Lord their God.
Josiah's Passover. Further to increase the people's devotion,
Josiah kept a solemn Passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem. All
the necessary ceremonies were performed with minute exactness.
" There was no Passover like to that kept in Israel from the days
of Samuel the prophet ; neither did all the kings of Israel keep
such a Passover as Josiah kept."*
Josiah's Death. The king of Babylonia gradually extended
his sway west of the River Euphrates. His successes roused
the jealousy of Pharaoh-Necho, ruler of the great Egyptian
nation. Raising an immense army, he set out to attack the
Babylonian town of Charchemish on the Euphrates. Josiah,
espousing the cause of the Babylonian king, raised an army, and
attempted to oppose Pharaoh's advance. The Egyptian monarch
sent ambassadors to Josiah begging him to desist, since there was
no quarrel between Egypt and Judah. Nevertheless, Josiah
would not alter his decision, but joined battle with the Egyptians
in the valley of Megiddo. Before entering the fray, Josiah had
disguised himself as a common soldier. But a stray arrow
* The mighty kingdom of Assyria was now in its death throes. The
Medes and Babylonians joining their forces, besieged its capital, Nineveh,
in overwhelming strength. The Assyrian king, Saracus, despairing of success
against the combined host, set fire to the palace and perished in the flames.
Thus fell Assyria according to the Word of God as foretold by His prophet^.
Babylonia and Media were founded on its ruing.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 1*5
pierced the king's body, and he called to his servants to bear him
away from the field. They hastened with him to Jerusalem, where
he died and was buried hr one of the sepulchres of his fathers.
The mourning for this truly pious king- was general throughout
Judah and Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah especially lamenting
his death.
Jehoahaz, or Shallum, one of Josiah's sons, was made king
by the people. He reigned only three months. He did that
which was evil in the sight of the Lord as most of his ancestors
had done. He soon incurred the displeasure of Pharaoh- Necho,
who loaded him with fetters and carried him down to Egypt, where
he died. The king of Egypt now fixed a yearly tribute on the
land, even a hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
CHAPTER VI.
Jehoiakim Jehoiachin Zedekiah.
Jehoiakim. Pharaoh-Necho placed Eliakim, one of the sons
of Josiah, upon the vacant throne, at the same time changing his
name to Jehoiakim. He, too, was a wicked king, doing evil in the
sight of the Lord according to all his fathers had done. In
order to pay the tribute exacted by the king of Egypt, he taxed
the land very heavily ; and although the land was groaning under
its many misfortunes he led a life of riot and extravagance.
Nebuchadnezzar. The Egyptians were at first successful
in their expedition against the Babylonians. But the aspect of
affairs was changed when Nebuchadnezzar, son of the king of
Babylon, appeared upon the scene. He was a man of unbounded
ambition, a consummate general, and an able administrator. He
inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Egyptians at Carchemish and
wrested from them all their previous conquests. Pursuing his victo-
rious career, he entered Judah and reduced its king to a state
of vassalage. For three years Jehoiakim paid him tribute, but in
the fourth year he rebelled. Nebuchadnezzar sent his captains,
who raised the Syrians, the Moabites, and the Ammonites against
him, and besieged Jerusalem. In the midst of these troubles the
king died, having 1 reigned eleven years.
Jeremiah. During the whole of Jehoiakim's reignthe prophet
Jeremiah Avas unceasing in his denunciations of the wickedness
and folly of the people. Again and again he exhorted them to
return to the Lord, lest destruction should overtake them. He
prophesied with unmistakable plainness the overthrow of Jerusa-
lem and the captivity that would follow. But his words were
unheeded, his reproofs scoffed at. His life was often in imminent
126 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
danger. He was cast into prison, and at one period was saved
from certain death only at the intercession of one or two of the
better disposed among the people. His scribe and disciple Baruch
shared with him many of these trials.
Jehoiachin, son of the last king, succeeded him and reigned
three months. He also did evil in the sight of the Lord. Nebu-
chadnezzar, who had mounted the Babylonian throne, now marched
to Jerusalem to conduct the siege in person. Jehoiachin, finding
resistance useless, surrendered the city and himself into the hands
of the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar entered the Holy City
and despoiled the Temple and the king's palace of all their
treasures. He then carried away Jehoiachin and his family, and
all the princes and the mighty men of valour to the number of
ten thousand captives to Babylon ; leaving only the poorest sort of
people to inhabit Jerusalem. Among the captives was Ezekiel,
afterwards inspired by God. He then appointed Mattamah, the
king's uncle, to reign in his stead, and changed his name to
Zedekiah. For many years Jehoiachin was treated with
great severity in Babylon, and closely confined to prison.
But in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity " Evil Merodach
king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign," took the
unfortunate king of Judah out of prison, changed his prison gar-
ments, and set his throne above the throne of the other captive
and tributary kings in Babylon. He treated him with continual
kindness and liberality till the day of his death.
Zedekiah, the nineteenth and last king of Judah, reigned eleven
years. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, nor
did he listen to the exhortations of Jeremiah who, throughout the
whole of his reign, continued to denounce the impious misdeeds
of king and people.
The People divided. There were at this time two factions
among the people : the one, headed by many false prophets,
sought alliance with the Egyptians in the hope of freeing them-
selves from the Babylonian yoke; the other, led by Jeremiah,
were in favour of acknowledging the supremacy of Babylon, and
of waiting and labouring for the time when, through a return of
God's favour, the people might regain their independence. Un-
fortunately the king threw in his lot with the Egyptian party,
and he entered into an alliance with Psammetichus II., King of
Egypt, although he had sworn fealty to Nebuchadnezzar. In
vain Jeremiah warned king and people at Jerusalem that they
were rushing to destruction ; while Ezekiel, prophesying in Baby-
lonia, denounced in unmeasured tones the perfidy of Judah. The
exhortations of the prophets fell upon closed ears, and the end, so
long and persistently foretold, rapidly approached.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 127
Siege of Jerusalem. The forbearance of the Babylonian king
was at length exhausted. In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign,
on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar besieged
Jerusalem and built walls and forts round about it. The siege lasted
two years until the people were reduced to the last extremity of
famine. The alliance with Egypt proved a broken reed. Pharaoh-
hophra, who had succeeded Psammetichus, made a feeble attempt
to divert the Babylonians from the siege of Jerusalem, but he was
defeated by Nebuchadnezzar at Gaza. No further attempt was
made to relieve the city, whose doom was hastened by the dis-
sensions which raged within its walls. Jeremiah finding his
counsels were scorned, attempted to withdraw to his native town
in Benjamin, but was thrown into prison on a charge of treason.
Meanwhile the Babylonians prosecuted the siege with redoubled
vigour.
Destruction of Jerusalem. The final catastrophe, so long
and so plainly predicted, was now at hand. In the eleventh year
of Zedekiah's reign, on the ninth day of the fourth month,
Jerusalem was carried by assault. The king, hastily collecting a
remnant of its defenders, fled by night, but was hotly pursued by
the Babylonians, who overtook and captured him in the plains of
Jericho. The unfortunate monarch was carried before Nebuchad-
nezzar at Riblah where judgment was passed upon him. " And
they slew the sons of Zedekiah before nis eyes, and put out the
eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried
him to Babylon."
For a month Nebuchadnezzar deliberated as to the ultimate
fate of Jerusalem. But on the seventh day of the fifth month
Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard to the King of Babylon
entered the sacred city. " And he burnt the house of the Lord
and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every
great man's house burnt he with fire." The walls of Jerusalem
were razed to the ground, and the remnant of her inhabitants
carried away to Babylon ; save only the poorest of the land, who
remained as vine- dressers and husbandmen. There were likewise
carried away all the sacred vessels of the Temple which Solomon
had made, those of brass and of gold and of silver. Seraiah, the
high priest, and Zephaniah, the second priest, together with other
dignitaries, were taken before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, by whose
order they were slain. But Jeremiah was spared and even treated
with honour. Permission was granted him to go down to Babylon
or to remain in Judah. He chose the latter alternative and dwelt
with his brethren until their subsequent flight into Egypt.
Thus fell the kingdom of Judah. It had endured three hundred
and eighty-seven years, and been ruled by nineteen kings.
128 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
PART VII.
THE CAPTIVITY. THE RESTORATION.
CHAPTER I.
G e daliah Ishmael.
Gredaliali.^*-Befofe returning to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar ap*
pointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Sbaphan, ruler
over the remnant of the people who had been permitted to remain
in the land of Judah. Gedaliah set up his court in Mizpah, and
there gathered unto him Jeremiah the prophet, and such of the
leading men as had escaped the general destruction. Among
them was Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, of the seed royal, a rest-
less and ambitious man, who soon formed a plot for the murder of
Gedaliah. Johanan, the son of Kareah, revealed the plot to
Gedaliah, and even offered to rid him of the conspirator. Ge-
daliah, however, turned a deaf ear to the warning. In the
seventh month of his rule he was treacherously murdered by
Ishmael and his followers, who also put to the sword all the Jews
and Chaldeans that were found in Mizpah.
Islimael. The assassination of Gedaliah was kept a secret.
On the second day after the occurrence there reached Mizpah a
band of Israelites, eighty in number, from Shechem, Shiloh,
and Samaria, to offer up their lamentations at the ruined temple
of the Lord. Ishmael, pretending to mourn with them, led them
into the midst of the city and then put them to the sword
But now terror fell upon Ishmael and his supporters. By the
murder of Gedaliah and the slaughter of the Chaldeans they had
openly rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, and they feared the
wrath of that invincible monarch. They resolved upon flight, and
Ishmael compelled the residue of the people to accompany him to
the land of the Ammonites. But Johanan, the determined
enemy of Ishmael, pursued him with a band of men, and overtook
him at the waters of Gibeon. Ishmael was immediately deserted
by the bulk of his followers, and was glad to escape to Ammon
with but eight of his men. Johanan, still fearing the wrath of
Nebuchadnezzar, led the people towards Egypt. Jeremiah en-
treated the people in God's name to return to Judah, and to dwell
in peace under the rule of the Babylonian kings, but his words
were unheeded. The Jews entered Egypt and dwelt in Tah-
panhes. Their disregard of God's command not to go down to
Egypt met with its due punishment. In course of time Nebu-
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 129
chadnezzar victoriously invaded Egypt, and revenge i himself
upon the Jews who had taken refuge in that land.
CHAPTER II.
The Captivity Daniel.
Daniel. The great mass of the Jews now dwelt in Babylon
Their lot was not an unhappy one, could they only have forgotten
their native land, with its glorious associations. They were per-
mitted a considerable amount of freedom, and some of their come-
liest youths were educated and trained at the king's expense.
Among these were Daniel, with his companions, Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azarinh, to whom were given the Chaldean names of Belte-
shazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They. received "a
daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he
drank." But Daniel would not defile himself by partaking of the
forbidden food. At his earnest request he and his companions
were fed upon pulse, and yet they appeared better nourished,
and fairer in face than those who ate or the king's meat. At the
end of their period of training, the four young Jews were presented
to the king, who was so pleased with their attainments that he
appointed them to places near his person.
The King's First Dream. Nebuchadnezzar, in the second
year of his reign, dreamed a dream, wherewith his spirit was
troubled. He called his astrologers and sorcerers, and bade them
tell him the dream and its interpretation; but they were alto-
gether unable to satisfy the king, though he had threatened
them with death in case of failure ; the secret was, however, re-
vealed to Daniel in a night vision, and he expounded the dream
to Nebuchadnezzar. The monarch had beheld a mighty image,
the head of which was of gold, the breast and arms of silver,
the trunk and thighs of brass, the legs of iron, the feet part of
iron and part of clay. In the interpretation, mention was made
of the successive kingdoms which were to arise on the downfall
of Babylon and of each other. So impressed was Nebuchadnezzar
with the wisdom and skill of Daniel that he fell upon his face
and worshipped him, exclaiming : " Of a truth it is that your God
is a God of gods and a Lord ot kings, and a revealer of secrets,
seeing thou couldst reveal this secret." Then the king made
Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and also asso-
ciated his friends with him in the affairs of government.
The Fiery Furnace. Nebuchadnezar set up an image of gold,
and bade all his people bow down and worship it. Some ot the
princes of the land, who were jealous of the promotion bestowed
upon Daniel and his companions, noticed that they disobeyed the
K
1 30 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
command, and reported their conduct to the king-. The king-
ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to he thrown into
a fiery furnace, heated seven times more than it was wont to
be heated. But Nebuchadnezzar beheld with amazement that
they stood unharmed in the midst of the furnace, and that there
was a fourth with them, like unto an angel. Bidding- them come
forth, he ordered their accusers to be cast into the flames, and
they were instantly consumed.
Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream. The king- had another
dream, and again it was expounded by Daniel. The king saw a
great tree, the leaves whereof were fair and the fruit much. And
a voice came from heaven, saying: " Hew down the tree and cut
off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit."
Daniel told the king' that he should be driven from men and
dwell with the beasts ; that he should eat grass like an ox ; and
that this condition should endure for seven years. All this came
to pass, for one day, as he was boasting- of the richness and mag-
nitude of Babylon, a sudden madness seized him, he rushed into
the forest and lived with the beasts, " till his hairs were grown
like eagle's feathers, and his nails like bird's claws." At the
end of the seven years he was restored to his reason and his
throne. Nebuchadnezzar died in the forty- third year of his
reign.
CHAPTER III.
Daniel Belshazzar.
Belshazzar. The Bible does not narrate the events of the
following twenty-three years, but resumes the history of Babylon
in the second year of the reign of Belshazzar, a descendant of
Nebuchadnezzar.
Rise of the Persians. A few lines must now be devoted
to profane history. A new power was growing- in Asia.
Leaving their mountain fastnesses, the Persians, under Cyrus,
attacked and subdued the effete kingdom of Media. Media was
incorporated with Persia, though Cyrus always treated its last
king, Astyages (also called Darius) with conspicuous honour.
Flushed with victory, the Persians next turned their conquering-
arms against Lydia, which had grown powerful under its last and
greatest king, Croesus. The struggle was short ; the Lydians
were defeated, Croesus was captured, and his kingdom annexed.
Cyrus next besieged Babylon, and despairing of carrying its mighty
battlements by assault, he determined to turn aside the waters
of the River Euphrates, which ran through the midst of the city,
and find an entry along its dry course. His soldiers laboured
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 13 1
strenuously but secretly at this work, and it was fast approaching
completion.
Belshazzar*s Vision. Belshazzar made a great feast to a
thousand of his lords. The king-, his courtiers, wives, and concu-
hines, drank wine out of the golden vessels brought from the
Temple at Jerusalem, and praised their gods of gold and silver,
of brass and iron, of wood and stone. At that moment the fingers
of a man's hand were seen writing certain words upon the walls
of the banqueting hall. Consternation fell upon the revellers
assembled. The King, who shook with fear, so that " his knees
smote one against another," summoned bis wise men and astro-
logers ; but no one could expound the mystic characters. At
length Daniel was fetched from the retirement in which he
appears to have lived for many years, and entreated to explain
the ominous writing. The prophet first rebuked the king because
he had defied the Lord of Heaven, defiled the sacred vessels of
His Temple, and praised his graven images, " which see not, nor
hear, nor know." Then, turning to the wall, he read to the king
the words, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN, and announced
their interpretation " God hath numbered thy kingdom and
finished it ;" " thou art weighed in the balances and art found
wanting ;" " thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and
Persians." As a reward for his skill, Daniel was clothed in
scarlet, and proclaimed third ruler in the kingdom.
That very night Cyrus, having turned the waters of the
Euphrates, entered through the gap in the battlements, captured
the city of Babylon, and slew Belshazzar, together with many of
his lords. Thus fell Babylonia beneath the Persian yoke. Cyrus
appointed Darius the Mede satrap of the conquered province.
Daniel in the Lion's Den. Darius appointed one hundred
and twenty princes who should be over the whole kingdom, and
above them all he placed Daniel. The princes were jealous of
his promotion, and persuaded Darius to sign a decree that no one
should ask a petition of any God or man for. thirty days, save of
the king alone. He who transgressed this command was to be
flung into the lion's den. The princes hoped that Daniel wouU
disobey the decree, and in this hope they were not disappointed,
for Daniel offered up his prayers and supplications to God, as
was his daily custom. The princes claimed judgment against
Daniel, and Darius very unwillingly consented. Daniel was
thrown to the lions, but through the mercy of God they harmed
him not. Then Darius commanded that the accusers should be
thrust into the den, when they were instantly torn to pieces.
Daniel lived, honoured and beloved, at the Persian court tor the
rest of his life. K 2
j 3 2 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
CHAPTER IV.
End of the Captivity The Temple Rebuilt.
Cyrus' Proclamation. The long captivity, so patiently borne
by the Jews, was now about to terminate. Cyrus, who deserved
the proud title of " Servant of God," issued a decree in the first
year of his reign, permitting and encouraging his Jewish captives
to return to the Holy Land. He further desired his subjects to
endow the Jews " with silver and with gold, and with goods and
with beasts/' besides giving them free-will offerings for the house
to be erected in Jerusalem. Cyrus also brought forth the
vessels of the 'house of the Lord that had been carried away by
Nebuchadnezzar, to the number of five thousand four hundred,
and restored them to the captives.
Return of the Jews. And so the joyous caravan set out on
its long march from Babylon to Jerusalem. It comprised 42,360
Jewish souls, besides whom there were 7,367 servants and 8,136
beasts of burden. Nevertheless, many of the Jews remained in
Babylon, while many more settled in Persia, keeping up communi-
cation with their brethren in Jerusalem, and going up there from
time to time. Cyrus appointed Zerubbabel as leader, and conferred
upon him the title * of " Tirshatha." The Bible states, that
among those who went up were " two hundred singing men and
singing women ;" and it is most probable that these composed
and sang some of the Psalms which refer especially to the return
from exile. The Holy Land being reached, the Jews settled
down in the cities which they had formerly occupied. In the
month of Tishri " the people gathered themselves together as
one man to Jerusalem, to celeorate the festivals." Jeshua, the
priest, and Zerubbabel the governor, set up an altar to God, and
offered thereon the prescribed sacrifices. This was not done
without a certain fear of the neighbouring idolatrous people.
They also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, with all its due
observances.
Rebuilding the Temple. The people now contributed
largely, from the wealth they had brought with them from
Babylon, towards the rebuilding of the Temple. They hired
masons and carpenters ; Tyrian and Sidonian wood-cutters hewed
down for them the cedars of Lebanon, conveyed them to Joppa
and thence to Jerusalem. In the second year of their return
they laid the foundations of the House of God, amidst the
greatest rejoicing. Yet the old men, who remembered the first
temple, wept, for they thought of its glories, which had vanished
for ever.
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 133
The Work Hindered. Troubles were not long 1 in coming.
When Shalmaneser carried the men of Israel captive to Assyria,
he transferred a considerable number of his own subjects to the
depopulated cities. These Assyrians, or Cutheans, as they are
sometimes called, now came to Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and
claimed to partake in the work in which they were engaged,
saying : " For we seek your God as ye do, and we do sacrifice
unto Him." But Zerubbabel and Jeshua peremptorily refused to
let them have any share in the work. Disappointed in their
desire, they troubled the people of Judah, and hindered them in
their plans. They also influenced Cyrus, who withdrew his
proclamation, and so the work of rebuilding the Temple was
suspended till the second year of the reign of Darius, King of
Persia, a period of -about fifteen years. The prophets Haggai
and Zechariah lived and prophesied unto the Jews that were in
Judah and Jerusalem during this time.
Dedication of the Second Temple. Zerubbabel and Jeshua
now ventured to resume the building of the Temple. The Persian
satrap of Judea asked by what authority they were proceeding
with their enterprise, and was informed that they were acting in
accordance with a proclamation issued by Cyrus. The satrap
knew of no such document ; but caused search to be made for it
in the royal records. It was found, and instantly Darius pro-
nounced a decree permitting the Jews to continue their work.
The Temple was finished on the third day of the month Adar, in
the sixth year of the reign of Darius. Ihe dedication was cele-
brated with great joy, numerous sacrifices were offered, and the
due services of the House of God were regulated according to the
law of Moses. In the following month the people went up to
Jerusalem, and kept the festival of Passover, with all its cere-
monial observances.
CHAPTER V.
History of Esther.
Ahasuerus. On the death of Darius, the throne of Persia was
filled by Ahasuerus probably the Xerxes, whose memorable
invasion of Greece is well-known to all readers of profane history.
His kingdom extended from India to Ethiopia, and embraced one
hundred and twenty-seven provinces. In the third year of his
reign he gave a grand entertainment to his nobles in Shushan
(Susa), his capital. In the height of the revelry, he commanded
his queen, Vashti, to appear at the banquet, " to show the people
and the princes her beauty." Vashti disobeyed the royal com-
mand, and was in consequence divorced by the king.
134 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Esther. After a time Ahasuerus sought another wife. All
his kingdom was ransacked to find a maiden fair enough to share
his throne. Among the Jews dwelling in Persia was a descendant
of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai. He had brought up
an orphan cousin, named Hadassah, or Esther, a maiden beautiful
to look upon, and good as she was beautiful. She was taken to
the palace with the other selected virgins, and so fair did she
appear in Ahasuerus' eyes, that he loved her "above all the
women ;" " so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and
made her queen instead of Vashti."
Esther told no one that she was of Jewish kindred, for so
Mordecai had charged her. Hadassah's elevation brought with
it the promotion of Mordecai, who is spoken of as sitting in the
" king's gate." Being thus brought in contact with the court
officials, he discovered that a plot was being hatched against the
king's life by two of his trusted chamberlains. Mordecai informed
the King, through Esther, of the conspiracy. Inquisition was made,
the chamberlains were found guilty, and hanged, and the circum-
stances were written in the Book of the Chronicles before the king.
Haman. After these events Ahasuerus promoted his favourite
to the chief post of honour in his kingdom. All the king's
officers bowed down to Haman ; "but Mordecai bowed not, nor
did him reverence." Anger and hatred filled Haman's soul, and
he resolved on the destruction, not only of Mordecai, but of all the
Tews in the Persian dominions. With the superstition of an
Oriental he cast lots to find a month unlucky to the Jews, and the
lot fell upon the month of Adar. Going to the king, Haman
spoke in harsh terms of the Jews, stigmatising them as a lawless
and exclusive people. He counselled their destruction, and
offered the king ten thousand talents of silver in exchange for
their lives. Ahasuerus, a weak and foolish monarch, sealed a
decree forthwith for the extermination of the unoffending Jews.
Messengers were despatched to all parts of the kingdom with the
king's letters commanding that all the Jews men, women, and
children should be put to death on the thirteenth of Adar, and
that their goods should be taken as a prey. The king and
Haman, well pleased with their work, sat down to a feast; " but
the city of Shushan was perplexed."
Esther's Resolution. Mordecai soon heard of the decree.
He rent his garments, and put on sackcloth and ashes. He sent a
message to Esther, bidding her supplicate the king- to spare her
unfortunate people. Esther replied that she dared not enter the
king's presence uninvited j for whoever appeared before the king
was instantly put to death, unless the king held forth his golden
eceptre as a sign of his royal favour. But Mordecai answered
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 135
that if the Jews were destroyed, Esther would most probably
perish with them. He also pointed out to her, that if she refused
her aid, help would come from another quarter, and that it looked
like the design of Providence that she should be queen at such a
time. Moved by these words, Esther commanded that all the
Jews in Shushan should fast three days and three nights ; at the
end of that time she would go to the king, although against the
law, adding : u And if I perish, I perish."
CHAPTER VI.
History of Esther (continued).
Esther's Request. The fast was held, and the queen, array-
ing herself in her gorgeous robes, stood before the king. Is'o sooner
did Ahasuerus look upon her beauteous face than he held out the
golden sceptre, and asked what request she had to make, for he
would grant it, were it even the half of his kingdom. The queen
replied by inviting the king and Haman to a banquet which she
liad prepared. The king assented. At the banquet of wine the
king again pressed Esther to prefer her request. Esther replied
by asking the king and Haman to a feast on the following night,
when she would do as the king had said. Haman went forth
more than ever elated at the signal honour shown him by the
queen ; but when he saw the unbending Mordecai in the king's
gate his heart was filled with wrath. Taking council with his
wife, Zeresh, she advised him to build a gallows fifty cubits high,
and to ask the king's permission to hang Mordecai on it.
Mordecai's Honours. On that eventful night the king could
not sleep, and to while away the time the chronicles of his reign
were read before him. When the circumstances of the plot
against his life were read, he suddenly inquired what honour and
dignity had been done to Mordecai. The king's servants replied
that nothing had been done for him. At this moment Haman
entered the royal presence to ask permission for Mordecai's exe-
cution. The king at once asked Haman what should be done to
the man whom the king delighted to honour. Hainan, thinking
that the king wished to bestow upon him some new token of his
favour, answered that the man should be arrayed in the king's
robes, with the king's cro\vn upon his head ; that he should ride
through the city upon the king's horse, and that a herald should
proclaim before him. " Thus shall it be done to the man whom
the king delighteth to honour." Ahasuerus ordered Haman to
go at once, and do to Mordecai even as he had said. The procession
being over, Haman hasted to his house mourning, and with, his head
covered. The day's proceedings seemed ominous of coming dis-
-aster. With a heavy heart he went to the queen's second banquet.
i3 6 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
Hainan's Fall. Again, at the second feast, Ahasucrus asketf
Esther what was her petition and her request. Then Esther
revealed to the king- that she was of the Jewish race, and that she
and her people were doomed to destruction. The king 1 , who had
prohably forgotten the permission he had given to Haman to
massacre the Jews, asked who it was that dared presume in his
heart to execute such a purpose. Esther replied : " The adversary
and enemy is this wicked Haman." Instantly the king's wrath
lighted on his former favourite. Harbonath, one of the cham-
berlains opportunely mentioned the gallows that had been
erected for Mordecai, and the king commanded that Haman
should be hanged on it.
Mordecai's Advancement. That very day was Mordecai in-
stalled in Haman's place. Ahasuerus, yielding to the tearful
solicitations of Esther, sent despatches to all parts of his kingdom
revoking his former edict, and encouraging the Jews to defend
themselves against their enemies. The eventful thirteenth of
Adar arrived at length. The Jews, encouraged by the king's
decree, bravely withstood the onslaught of their enemies, slaying
upwards of seventy -five thousand of their assailants. Amongst
them were the ten sons of Haman. In Shushan the attack and
resistance were repeated on the fourteenth also. In memory of this
miraculous deliverance, the Jews to this day celebrate the feast of
Purim* in its due season.
CHAPTER VII.
Ezra Nehemiah.
Ezra the Scribe. On the death of Xerxes, his son Artaxerxes
ascended the Persian throne. In the seventh year of his reign,
another body of Jews, to the number of over fifteen hundred, set
out from Persia to return to the Holy Land. The leadership of
this band was conferred upon Ezra, a descendant of Aaron the
high priest, a righteous and God-fearing man, "a ready scribe
in the law of Moses." Armed with a royal edict, and loaded with
gifts of gold and silver, he set out on his journey, in the month
of Nisan, and reached Jerusalem in the month of Av. He handed
over to the custodians of the Temple the treasures entrusted to his-
charge. Ezra was shocked and grieved to find that many of the
Jews had married heathen wives. He was determined to check
this sin with unsparing hand. He summoned the whole congre-
gation before him, and charged them with having transgressed
uod's command. He exhorted them to confess their crime before
* So called from the " lots " cast by Haman to determine in which month,
he should carry out his wicked design. Fur means " lot."
MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 137
God, and to put away the strange women from their midst. The
people acted according 1 to the advice of Ezra, and purified them-
selves from their transgression. It was at this period that Haggai
and Zechariah prophesied to the inhahitants ot Jerusalem. The
Bihle gives few further details of Ezra's work ; hut, according- to
tradition, he (i) founded the "Great Synagogue" ; (2) collected
and arranged the books of Scripture as they now exist ; (3) intro-
duced the present Hehrew characters ; (4) added the vowel
points, which are yet employed j and (5) composed portions of the
prayer hook which we still use.
Nehemiah. The work of restoration at Jerusalem was now
taken up by other hands. Nehemiah held the important post of
cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes. Learning' from some of his
brethren who had lately returned from Jerusalem, that its inhabi-
tants were in great affliction, while its walls were still in ruins,
Nehemiah determined to proceed to the Holy City, to improve
its condition. In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes' reign he
obtained permission to carry out the desire of his heart the
rebuilding of Jerusalem but promised to return to Persia in
twelve years. Armed with an edict from the king-, he set out on
his long journey, and arrived in due course at his destination.
Having viewed the city secretly by night, he set about the
rebuilding of its walls with the utmost vigour. The inhabitants
entered heartily into his views, and set about the work with
enthusiasm. The surrounding tribes, who had been hostile to the
Jews since their return, and who were led by Sanballat the
Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian,
viewed these proceedings with alarm and envy. They mocked the
Jews, taunted them with rebellion against their suzerain, and
hindered them in every possible way. So great became the
annoyance that Nehemiah had to arm the people ; so that half of
them laboured at the walls while the other halt' stood beside them
with spear and shield and bow for their protection. So the work
went on apace.
The walls rebuilt. Many of the people complained to Nehe-
miah that they had become impoverished through their brethren
taking usury of them, and that they had often been compelled
to yield up their vineyards, and even their children, to satisfy
their creditors. Nehemiah rebuked the usurers, forced them to
restore the pledges, and induced them solemnly to renounce such
practices for the future. Nehemiah himself set the people a.
noble example of disinterestedness and magnanimity. Seeing
that his people were in distress, he refrained, all the years he
was governor, from exacting the emoluments that were attached
to his office. He also fed" one hundred and fifty persons daily
138 MANUAL OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY.
at his table. Still the work of rebuilding the walls went on
in spite of unceasing 1 hostility from without. Sanballat and
his friends now sought Nehemiah's life. They repeatedly in-
vited him to a conference, where they hoped to slay him.
When this device failed they hired Shemaiah to persuade
Nehemiah that his life was in imminent danger, and that he
should shut himself up in the Temple. But Nehemiah resisted
this treacherous advice to pollute the Holy of Holies. At length
the walls were finished, in the short space of fifty-two days.
The doors were then set up, and porters were appointed with
strict injunctions to guard against surprise, especially by night.
The 'Law read. All the people gathered before the water
gate and entreated Ezra to read to them the Law of God. So,
on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra ascended a wooden
pulpit that had been made for the purpose, and began to read
aloud the Word of God. Thirteen of the most learned men at
the same time explained to the people what was read, probably
translating it into the Chaldaic tongue. The reading was con-
tinued on the second day, and then the inhabitants prepared to
celebrate the festival of Succous. They went forth to the neigh-
bouring mountains and fetched palms and myrtles, and erected
booths, as is commanded. The festival had not been so religiously
kept since the days of Joshua. On the twenty-fourth day of the
same month they kept a solemn fast, "and stood and confessed
their sins and the iniquities of their fathers."
Reform of Abuses. As Jerusalem was still under-populated,
Nehemiah chose one out of every ten of the people to dwell
within its walls, while the rest were allowed to depart to the
country. Nehemiah having thus accomplished all that he had
desired, returned to Persia. But he was soon recalled to
Jerusalem, to reform the abuses that had sprung up in his absence.
Eliashib, the high priest, had permitted his son Jorada to marry
a daughter of Sanballat, and had even allowed Sanballat to occupy
a room in the Temple. Another abuse was that the Levites had
been defrauded of the portions due to them. But what grieved
Nehemiah most was the open desecration of the Sabbath, which
was practised in Jerusalem. The Jews had also relapsed into the
sin of mixed marriages, and had allied themselves with the
women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
The prophet Malachi raised his voice again and again to de-
nounce these transgressions.
Witli a sweeping hand Nehemiah reformed all these abuses.
He exhorted the people to live by the Law of God, and to make
His word their c-uide and support through life.
139
w
<j w
" O |J
^ M <3
r^ CJ
S s
^ |>( B
5 H
^ fe w
AN O
o
the Ci\
befo
W fcQ I
<j ^ w
EH P ^
^
I
1
^f'J-
C(N
I
1
.8
o^j
"S a
PQ g
-2 d
*5
S
a * >.
LI ~
^ si
!J
till
O C^
>0 OO vo vo CO t>
OO
*
oo
>O ^O t>.
O VO t>.
0000
o o"
CO ON OOO ^o ON
tj M M N N N
O
a
^* t^*
a?o
1
^ o
^ to
tO HH to
,, , 3
U O *
I ;^
n -gl
5 2 a
B'
-s
a
a
H
140 APPENDIX /.
*3 y>
51
s
02
1 ^
', |
s
.0
e.a
't
H 1
|
O
t*> <n
^? D
o g
ft
*"3
11
i
Q
8
lage founded.
1*
.S
i-4
a
3
T3
1
o a
ffl M
5 I
tM
o . a>
01 ,2
SScS
* c'C
*~* j^
2 a
N
1
rfl
a
o S.
S
-u O
OS
<a
KM
S
pa
H <
s| 5 a s |
^^'^ H S 09 2 C <ri UH
illll 5isS
^^^n'' ^<d
Illl! Ills
f^OHi-sS Q ^= N.-I .
w
<
11 "3
<* s
N 2
Jj 5j
Ni
c\
ONVD
00 OO
XO
oo
oo
ON
r>.
oo
u-i r}-
oo oo
oo
CO
00
ON
s
8\ro
APPENDIX /.
141
00
HI
.3-S S
s w
4
tJG O Q
4 3 IMS
S c-dH^ H Q^W MM
|
O 00 oo O\ ro
o
r^f. t^ ^ ^
t-.
CO O O O vr>
1 ro i/"> m vo
fO ro ro ro to
OO
vO
ri
'^ ^ A
!*'1N -s-'l
^5 ^-S. rt
^ CO >_l A ;. _-
J
s ^ >>Q.S<J
S-ggJ 1 ^
is
O vo
to co
>'S
s-S
O C3
"S a
i
o
a
I
1!
8-
NJ
S
^
t>.vO vo vO vo
142
APPENDIX I.
2 S
s
a5
^ ^
m
S
^ m
.
o
o
PH
<
S
"If
1
"S
<S> r2
Ja
ff
T3
&
i S *
"2
9
PH .
I
H
s -S
2
o
PH
fl
^* -**
EI
bp
O
8
03 <lj
9
-g
^3
ST-g
8
3
a
^3
.1 a
43
02
'3
1
ft<
I
I
I
o
c
a 'd
oi
*A '^
*
3 2
Zo -1 T3 H
a B t>
a <D
.S
B
-2 T-*
S S 3
|_^ so "Q.
"S.
1
">> a
u '2
a C8
o
s
" 3
e 5
S *> o N
M ^ FH W
J
2 ^
:Jri ii
J g| ^
1
41
s
2 1
"il *
*i"8 *
i-a
43
O . ^>j
e "
j
c 2 tao ^
i
j
^ ..- 1 . E
3 **< .3 tj w
'11.4
S |1| 1
a
55
111
^ QJ
KO O ^.^ <J3 (^
?s
o ,g ^ <}
i<j O
^ O >i ^
O <*-l N .
* *> H " ^ ?
^8
II 1
1 |^w>
I-fS-1
^ li 1
-^ r 1 *-" O . t 17 r^
1
Jo|o S
S ..4? fe
Kingdom ofj
JEHOAHAZ (3 months), I
Egypt.
JEHOIAKIM(uyears).
Nebuchadnezzar invades Ju
JEHOIACHIX (3 months) :
Ezekiel in Babylon.
ZEDEKIAH ( 1 1 years). E
Siege of Jerusalem by the B
Zedekiah allies himself witt
Jerusalem taken. Zedekiai
burns the Temple. Com
exile. End of the Kingd<
Gredaliah made Governor at
by Ishmael. Flight to E;
Jews ii
More Jews taken captive to
Death of Nebuchadnezzar; h
Jehoiachin restored to freed
Neriglissar King of Babylon
Belshazzar King of Babylon
Capture of Babylon by Cyi
the Mede. Death of Bels
.7cws under .
Cyrus gives the Jews permis
The first band of exiles se1
babel. They commence t
The Samaritans oppose the
Obadiali.
Death of Cyrus. Camby
succeeds.
co
Jl"^ f^OO t*^*O
vO 10
w M o o\ Tfoo
\O m ON
o
O\ ONOO OO OO
OO OO
OO ^O vo l o m f o
ro to M
*o
un lovnto^
' * """
i/-, in u-i m 10*5
vn \r> u-
S
8
OOO\ ONOOO O O
to to to to to co to to
r^ i~-oo O^ ^ O
O N o ro >/->
<t Tf Ij- * Tj- *
to to co co co to
N to o\
m vn ui
to to to
APPENDIX I. M3
K *S
f
5 ,<*>
a
N
O 1 . "S a. 8 " i" o
- -S-g =
e 3 s a .2 .2r-
> t> c* K wr j
OT - "^ -* r ^ ai
f ' ( S| ll o
O II * I 1
S |
5^
S.2
t^,- 33 <" S 3 "-
g ! ^ a
Jl ^ i M s :s
.;j ri o
y 3 55
1 o
^
u
^d'l
ft . .-J
S.2 c g
'd
1
rH
" -
eS en 53 ri
o
to
f
a.*
toft 2 - 1
OQ .
.d
'S J 1^
"^ 2 ^
_s
5
s
a
Jews under Persian R
rtaxerxes (Pseudo-Smerdis) Ki
be building of the Temple st
succeeds to the Persian throne
the Temple renewed.
aygai and Zccltariak.
lie Temple finished.
hasuerus (Xerxes) King of Peri
aeen Vashti banished.
?ther Queen of Persia,
ainan's plot and death. Mord<
rtaxerxes Lougimanus King of
zra leads a band of exiles to Jeri
ehemiah's mission to the Hoi;
Avails and towers,
ebemiah returns to Persia,
arius Nothus King of Persia. JL
to Palestine,
tie Samaritans build a temple o
rtaxerxes II. King of Persia,
rtaxerxes III. King of Persia,
arius Codomaunus last Persian
lexander of Maccdon subdues
Greek rule.
<Ei
^H
-UO"
W
S<3W
H<1<JG<
VO 01
vO N
O >o ro O
OOO OO OO
ON ^i" 1000 ^" N^ Tf^^t/^O
CO CO ro CO CO fJ
APPENDIX II.
THE JEWISH YEAR-ITS FESTIVALS AND FASTS.
The Year. The Jewish year is of a double nature ; in one respect it is lunar
in another it is solar. It is lunar because its months are reckoned by the revo-
lutions of the moon ; they therefore consist, sometimes of twenty-nine days, aiid
sometimes of thirty days. If the year were always made to consist of twelve such
months, neither more or less, it would result that all our festivals and fasts would
become movable. Pesach would sometimes occur in spring, sometimes in
summer, or autumn, or winter ; and so with the other appointed times. This is
what really happens among the Mahometans, whose Kourban liairam, for instance,
happens in turn in each of their months. But as the festivals have been
appointed by Divine command to occur in certain fixed seasons Pesach, for
instance in the spring, and Succoth in the autumn it follows that though the
months depend upon the moon's revolutions, the years cannot be determined by
the same standard.
The year is solar, inasmuch as it has been made to agree with the solar cycle of
nineteen years ; in other words, every nineteen years the lunar and the solar dates
are made to agree. This is effected by adding an additional month to the twelve,
sometimes every three years, and more rarely every two years. A year of twelve
months is called nt2-1f'3 Dili' (_Shono P'shuto), an ordinary year ; while one
containing thirteen months is styled rOS-WO r\j& (Shono Arubaras), an inter-
calary or embolismic year. In a cycle of nineteen years, twelve are ordinary and
seven are intercalary. In such a period the intercalary year occurs five times
every three years and twice every two years.
Ordinary years are of three kinds : (1) Imperfect, containing 353 days ; (2)
Common, containing 354 days ; and (3) Perfect, containing 355 days. An inter-
calary year may contain 383, 384, or 385 days.
The Year .of Release. In Biblical times every seventh year was called
niSOCpn rut?, " The Year of Kekase," or " Sabbatical Year". No agricultural
work was done, the land was not ploughed, nor were the fruit or olive trees
pruned or trimmed. That which grew of itself was left to be gathered by the
Eoor and the stranger. Servants were to be set free, debtors were to be re-
;ased from their debts, and the law was to be read publicly in the hearing of
all the people. It was to be a Sabbath of rest throughout the whole land, so
that the soil itself and its cultivators should have surcease from toil.
The Year of Jubilee. Every fiftieth year that is, the end of every seven
periods of seven years was to be celebrated as a Year of Jubilee, 73i*n r\l&
It was solemnly announced on the sacred Day of Atonement by the blowing of
trumpets. It was to be a year of liberty, when every man was to return unto
his possessions. All land and houses, in unwalled cities, that had been sold or
otherwise disposed of during the preceding forty-nine years, were to revert to the
original owner. Servants and bondmen were to be set free, and even those who
were willing to continue in service were to be discharged.
Tlie Months. The year consists of twelve months :
Nisan ...,..., \&} 1.
lyar TX 2.
T
Sh-an jrp 3.
Tammuz Vin 4.
APPENDIX II. 145
The MONTHS (continued?).
Av ......... 3X 6.
Alul .......... ^X 6.
Cheshvan, or M.trclwshi-an . . JVJ'QID or Jlw'il 8.
Kislive ........ V^D3 9.
Tivise ......... n3U 10.
Sh'vat ......... B3fc? 11.
......... TJX 12.
An intercalary, or embolismic year, consists of thirteen months ; and in fluch
case a second Adar 11X}, V'adar, or, iy& 11X , Adar Shine is added on.
The ecclesiastical or religious year begins with Nlsan and then Tishri is con-
sidered the seventh month ; but the civil year is reckoned from Tishri, and then
A7m is the seventh month. The first day of a Jewish month is called
t'ljn K^NT, head of the month, and is observed as a minor festival. The short
llallel is recited in the synagogue. The day preceding is kept as a partial fast.
It is called jt3p 1133 DVi lesser Day of Atonement, and prayers of supplication
nirV^D are offered up in our houses of worship.
p'3 (Nisari). This month is called 3*3X (Ociv) whenever mentioned in the
ruble before the Captivity. It consists of thirty days, partly in March and partly in
April. It is the first month of the religious, and the seventh of the civil year. lu
the Holy Land the barley now commences to ripen, while the wheat is just
coming into ear.
In this month we celebrate the HD3, Passover, one of the three chief festivals
commanded in the Bible. When the Jews dwelt in the Holy Land it was incumbent
upon all males to go up to Jerusalem to keep the feast, and to bring their offerings
to God. The Paschal Lamb was also slain on the afternoon of the fourteenth of
Nlsan, in commemoration of the lamb which our forefathers were commanded to
kill iu Egypt, and whose blood was sprinkled on the door-posts of their houses, to
ehic'ld them from the destroying angel. ,
The Sabbath before Pesach is called 711311 D3K', the Great Sabbath. When
God was about to bring our ancestors out of Egypt, he commanded them to
choose a lamb on the tenth day of Nlsan, to keep it till the evening of the four-
teenth, and then to kill it. In the year of the Exodus, the tenth of Nisan was on a.
Sabbath. This open selection of a lamb, for the purpose of slaughter, was an im-
portant event, because to the Egyptians it was a sacred animal, and the act of the
Israelites was an unmistakable proof that the deliverance from captivity was at hand.
The fourteenth day of Nisan is called PID3 31JJ the Eve of the Passover. It
is the duty of all first-born male Jews above the age of thirteen to fast on this day,
in remembrance of the fact that when God slew all the first-born of Egypt he spared
the first-born of the Israelites. It is called D^1133~JV3J?P1 the fast of the
First-born. Should it occur on Sabbatli the fast is kept on the previous Thursday
The important festival of HD3 (Pesach), commences on the evening of the
fourteenth day of Nisan, and lasts eight days. It is also called nitfEn jn^
the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It commemorates the miraculous deliverance
of the Jews from the cruel bondage they had so long endured in Egypt. For
two Lnndred and ten years had they borne their galling servitude, but at length
the Lord led them forth from the land of their captivity with a high hand. On the
night of their departure, so great was the haste of the Egyptians to send them
a way, that they had not time to bake their bread. They were compelled to remove
their dough before it was leavened, their kneadiug-troughs being bound up in
their clothes upon their shoulders. Of this dough they afterwards baked un-
leavened bread, "for it was not leavened." Ou this account we are moat particular
L
146 APPENDIX II,
to avoid eating anything leavened during the whole of Pesach, nor do we allovr
any leaven to remain in our houses for the eight days of the festival. To carry
this into effect we very carefully remove all fermented food, such as bread, beer,
&c., from our houses before the festival. On the eve before the fourteenth of
Nisan the master of each household is in duty bound to make a most particular
search through his house, to see that all leaven has been removed. This is called
pH3 7 v, the Evening of Searching for Leaven.
The first two and the last two days of the festival must be kept as strictly as
Sabbath, with the sole exception that the preparation and cooking of food may
be performed ou those days. On the first day we offer up a special prayer that
God may send the dew to refresh our fields during the heats of summer. The
four middle days are called "IJ/IJSn pin when we may carry on our business and
engage in all urgent occupations.
The first two evenings of Pesach are marked by a most important ceremonial in
our houses, called "HD, Order. The table for the evening meal is laid out in
this manner. At the head of the table is placed a dish containing three n'WD
separated from each other by linen cloths. In another dish are placed (1) A part
of the shank bone of a lamb, roasted, which commemorates the npS jiHp
the Paschal offering; (2) a roasted egg, a symbol of the n^JH }2"ip
the usual festival sacrifice. (3) A Ihird dish contains a mixture of chopped apples,
almonds, &c., called ripViri; which is to remind us of the mortar used by our ancestors
in Egypt. (4) In a fourth dish is placed a cup of vinegar, or salt water, together
with a quantity of bitter herbs, generally the green tops of the horse-radish.
This is to call to mind the bitter oppression our forefathers endured in Egypt,
when the Egyptians " made their lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar, and
in brick, and in all manner of service in the field." Parsley and horse-radish are
also eaten in memory of our former servitude. Decanters of "IK>3 wine, and
glasses, are likewise placed upon the table.
The members of the household having taken their seats, the head of the family
commences the service by reciting the t/'-TVp, Sanctification of the Festival. The
first part of the iTUI"! (a book which relates the history of the Deliverance from
Egypt) is then read, and the ceremonies it enjoins are performed. The evening
meal is then partaken of. Lastly, the second part of the '"Or'-l a collection of
. hymns praising and glorifying God, is chanted. During the service four cupc of
wine are drunk.
The "Iftiy (Omer). During the existence of the Temple the second day of
Passover was marked by the offering of an Omer (probably half-a-gallon) of the
newly-reaped barley, as commanded in the Bible. On that day also our ancestors
commenced counting forty-nine days^or seyen complete weeks, and on the fiftieth
day they celebrated the festival of J"fUM3B> (Shovuos). Since the destruction of
the second Temple we have ceased to offer sacrifices, yet we religiously observe
the counting of the Omer, from the eve of the second day of Pesach, for forty-nine
days.
The passage of the Eed Sea took place on the seventh day of the Passover. In
memory of this miraculous event we read the portion of Scripture (x. xiii. 17 to
xv. 2G), which tells how the children of Israel passed over the Eed Sea on diy
land, while the Egyptians who pursued them were drowned. It also contains the
song chanted by Moses and the children of Israel on the occasion.
"VK (lyar). The second month is called *V*K ; before the Captivity it was
known as IT (Zif). It has always twenty-nine days, and extends over parts of
April and May. It is the season of early summer in the Holy Laud the barley
harvest is nearly over, and wheat is rapidly coming into ear.
Three minor fast days are observed in this month, called ^JK'I ^B^OH ^Jt'
the second, the fifth, and the following second day of the week that is, Monday,
Thursday, and the following Monday. These fast days are kept to atone for any
sins we may have unknowingly committed, or any religious duties we may have
neglected, during the festivities of Pesach.
APPENDIX II. 147
In Biblical times the festival of iE> HD3 or the "Second Passover," was held
i>n the 14th of lyar. It was observed by those who were unable to keep the
Passover in its due season, owing to their being on a journey, or to their having
been defiled by contact with a dead body.
The eighteenth d*y of lyar always corresponds with the thirty-third day of the
Omer. It is a minor festival. In the days of N2'ipJJ 'ZH there was a great plague
in tho Holy Land, which carried off a great many of its inhabitants. Among thoso
who died were some thousands of the Rabbi's pupils. The plague suddenly ceased
on the thirty- third day of the Omer. The day is therefore kept as a holiday by
school-children, and it is sometimes called the " Scholars' Feast." We name it in
Hebrew, "Ipiy^-jS, the letters "J"^ representing the number 33.
l] P (Sivan). This is the third month, and includes parts of May and June.
It lias always thirty days. On the sixth and seventh days we celebrate the second
of the great religious festivals, which, in Biblical times, had to be kept in Jerusalem.
The festival is called niJMO.K' (Shovuos), and is observed for two distinct reasons:
firstly, because it marks the completion of the wheat harvest in the Holy Land ;
and secondly, because it commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments ou
Mount jSinai.^ It is known under four names :
! J"lilM3&'n 3PI, Feast of Weeks, because seven complete weeks have been
counted from the^second day of Pesach.
2. D*T133H DV, Day of First Ripe Fruits, because on this day the first ears
of tho ripe wheat were offered in the Temple.
3. TXj9n jn, Harvest Festival, because it was the period of the wheat har-
vest.
4. miFl JFIO JOT The Time of Giving the Law, because on the sixth day
of Sican the decalogue was spoken by God from the top of Mount Sinai.
Shoeuos does not happen in this country at the period of the wheat harvest, but
when the flowers, with which God has so abundantly decked the earth, are most
abundant. To show our gratitude to the Giver of all good we beautify our syna-
gogues during this festival with choice flowers and shrubs, pleasant to the eye, and
fragrant with many perfumes. It is also a custom to stay up during the first night
of the festival, for the purpose of reading portions of the Law, the Prophets, &c.
The three days before Shovuos are called n?3JH *O* flK^B', Three Days of
Setting Bounds, in memory of the command enjoined upon Moses to set bounds
round Mount Sinai, previous to tho giving of tho Ten Commandments.
TISn (Tammuz). This is the fourth month, and consists always of twenty-nine
days, during parts of Juno and July. The hot season now commences in the
Holy Land.
The seventeenth day of this month, T-1BFI3 "ib'l? HiDi? is observed as a strict
fast from sunrise to nightfall, because of the grievous calamities that befell our
nation on this day. It was on the seventeenth of Tammuz that Nebuchadnez/. ir,
King of Babylon, broke down tho walls ot Jerusalem, after having besieged it
nearly two years. Thousands of our ancestors perished during the siege. King
Zedukiah was taken prisoner, his sons were slain in his presence, and then his
eyes were put out by order of Nebuchadnezzar.
On the same day of tho month, many years later, another calamity overtook our
nation. Titus, at the head of a lloman army, having besieged Jerusalem, captured
its walls and laid siege to the Holy Temple. These events were attended with
tho slaughter of many thousands of pxir ancestors.
It has been handed down by tradition that Moses descended from Mount Sinai on
the seventeenth of Tammuz, Seeing the people worshipping a golden calf, he threw
down the tables ot stone he was bearing in his hands, and broke them at the foe*
of the Mount.
for all these reasons the Fast of Tammuz is a very sad day in our history. Yet
God has promised, through his prophet Zechariah, that it shall be turned to a da j
of rejoicing : " Thus saith the Lord of Hosts ; tho fast of the fourth month, aut.
148 APPENDIX II.
the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall b
to the house of Judah joy and gladness and cheerful feasts."
3K (Av) is the fifth month. It has always thii-ty days, partly in July and
partly in August. In the Holy Land the hot season continues, and the fruits are
fceEnnning to ripen.
The ninth day of Av 3X3; TW27\ is the most mournful day in our
calendar. Both the Temples were destroyed on it the first by Nebuchadnezzar,
who, at the same time, carried the Kingdom of Judah into captivity at Babylon ;
the other, many years later, by Titus, amidst a dreadful scene of fire and death.
With this later event our nationality may be said to have ceased, and from that
time forth the Jews have been wanderers in every quarter of the globe. We
observe the day with particular sadness and self-affliction. The fast, unlike all
others, save tha Day of Atonement, lasts from sunset oa the eighth, till nightfall
011 the ninth day. Our synagogues present a desolate appearance. All ornaments
are removed, the ark is stripped of its curtain, and instead of the usual flood of
light, a dim candle flickers here and there. The congregants are seated on the
earth ; the service is chanted in a low and mournful key. The " Book of Lamen-
tations," composed by the prophet Jeremiah, is read, together with special
dirges called ni3^p all descriptive of the sufferings of our ancestors, and of the
utter woe and destruction that overtook Jerusalem. The theme of the day's
services is well expressed in the verse from Jeremiah : " How doth the city sit
solitary that was full of people ! how is she become as a widow ! she that was
great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become
tributary !" Yet a ray of comfort pierces the gloom, for this day, too, shall in the
future become a time of joy.
The period from the ninth to the thirtieth of the month is called 3X DH3P-
meaning 3K that comforts, or consoles. This expression is always used in
dating a Hebrew letter. The Sabbath before the fast of Av is called n3tJ>
Vltn because the portion of the prophets read on that day (IsaiahL) begins with
*he' words, ^JVJJty* pTH "the vision of Isaiah."
The Sabbath after the fast of Av is called 1JDn3 fi2B> oecause the portion of
the Prophets (Isaiah xl.) read in synagogue on that day, commences with the word
ICnj ; " Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God."
The fifteenth day of Av 3X3 "ItJ'y HK'pn is kept as a minor festival, in
memory of a joyous event that occurred in the early history of our people. In the
days of the latter Judges the inhabitants of Gibeah, a town in Benjamin, com-
mitted such a fearful sin that all Israel assembled to punish them. The
Bcnjamites took the part of their townsmen. Two severe battles were fought
between the Israelites and the Benjamites ; in the first the Israelites were defeated
but in the second the Benjamites were overthrown and nearly all killed. The
Israelites then swore that no daughter of theirs should ever marry a man of
Benjamin. After a time they were sorry for their oath, for if they kept to it llw
tribe of Benjamin would die out altogether. They became reconciled on the
fifteenth of Av, which day has ever since been regarded as a holiday.
Sl^>X (Alut) is the sixth month of the year. It has always twenty-nine days,
extending over parts of August and September. In the Holy Land it is the last
of the hot months ; the fruits are fully ripe, and the vintage has commenced.
This month has neither feast nor fast, yet it has a significance of its own, as it
warns us of the approach of the following mouth, containing some of our most
sacred and important days. This warning consists in the blowing of the "ISIt^,
ram's horn, in our synagogues, commencing on the first day, and extending
throughout the month, except on Sabbath. During its fourth week, which is the
week "preceding the New Year, special prayers, called JYin^p (propitiatory
prayers), ai-e offered up in our places of worship.
'"lE'Pl (ris/H-t). This is the seventh month of the religious year, but the first of
the civil year. It has thirty days, extending over parts of September and October.
Before the Captivity it was known by the name D*3JVX i'thaiiim. It is the
period of autumn in the Holy Land ; the fruits and vintage have been, gathered
iii and the land is being ploughed for the following harvest.
APPENDIX II. 149
Tishri is the most important of all the months, on account of the number of its
sacred days. These comprise the festival of flSt^n SJ'KT, or New Year, the fast
T-1E3 DV, Day of Atonement, and the festival of r~llSD, or Tabernacles.
i"13'n E>fcO. This sacred festival is celebrated on the first and second days of
Tishri. It is the festival of the New Year, and, while it is a time of rejoicing, it
is also a period of great solemnity. We believe that on these days all our actions
of the past year are reviewed by the Great Judge. It behoves us therefore to have
a becoming sense of the day's importance, and to " rejoice with trembling.' 1 Th
service in our synagogues is very impressive ; the ministers are robed in wh!tn,
and a white curtain hangs before the ark. The ram's horn 1DiB> is sounded
many times to call our attention to the duties and significance of the day, and to
remind us that the great Day of Atonement is drawing iiigh.
This festival is known by four names :
1. n3K'n E'NT, New Year, literally, " head of the year."
2. |^13-fn DV) Day of Memorial, because God calls to memory our faults and
sins of the past year.
3. inn 6V, Day of Judgment, for on these days we are on trial before the
Judge of tne wnole earth.
4. nynn OV, -A- & & y f Sounding the Horn, because we sound the ram's horn
several times during the service in our synagogues. Tradition states that on the
first day of Tishri the ram was offered instead of Isaac on Mount Moriah.
The first ten days of Tishri are called nil-U^iri i& ttJtQti Ten Da y s of Peni -
tence).- They should be spent in serious reflection over our past life, and in pre-
paration for the Day of Atonement. In our synagogues mrivD are recited during
the morning service of the week days.
The day after njtfH K>ST that is, the third day of Tishri la observed as a
fast-day. It is called -in^n? DIVi the Fast of Gedaliah. When Nebuchad-
nezzar, King of Babylon, captured Jerusalem, he led the larger number of the
inhabitants of Judah captives to Babylon. Some of the humbler classes were left
in the Holy Laud to cultivate the soil and tend the vineyards. Over these, Geda-
liah, son of Ahikam, was appointed governor. His rule lasted only some seven
months when he was treacherously slain by IshmaeL, son of Nethauiah, of the
seed royal, who aimed at obtaining supreme power in Palestine. In memory of
the death of the good Gedaliah we keep the fast which is named after him. The
Sabbath between the New Year and the Day of Atonement is called HS-ltJ'ri n2E>,
the Sabbath of Repentance.
"1-133 DV. The tenth day of Tishri is the most solemn and sacred day of the
year. It is the dread and impressive Day of Atonement, when we crave atone-
ment from God for the transgressions of the past year. It is a Sabbath of Sabbaths,
and we scrupulously abstain from any action that may not be performed upon the
Sabbath day. We observe a strict fast from sunset on the ninth to nightfall on the
tenth day a fast from which nothing can release us save dangerous illness. Tho
solemnities of ~\) S3 commence with the service in our synagogues on the eve of
the tenth day, which is called T)3 73. On "W33 itself we attend the house of
worship from sunrise till the conclusion of the fast, confessing our sins, soliciting
pardon from God, and praying for a continuance of His mercy and loving- kindness.
At nightfall the sound of the Shofur proclaims the termination of the fast, and the
conclusion of the day's sacred observances. The ten days from the New Year to
and including the Day of Atonement are called Q'tOlJ Q > P' ) Days of Awe.
t or Tabernacles, is the third and last of tho important festivals called
, the others being Pesach and SJtcvuos. It is also called Cj'pXn jn, the
Festival of Ingathering the latest products of the orchard and vineyard having
now been gathered and stored. It commences on the fifteenth day of Tishri,
150 APPENDIX II.
and lasts nine days. The first two and the lust two are kept as strictly as Sabbath,
with the exception that food may be prepared and cooked 011 them. On inter-
mediate days we may follow all necessary oc< upations.
The Feast of Tabernacles is kept in memory of our ancestors dwelling in booths
or tabernacles during their forty years' wandering in the wilderness, after their
redemption from Egypt. During the whole of that long period they had no
houses properly so called, but inhabited huts probably formed of branches of trees,
which could be easily put up, and as easily removed. It is our duty also to erect
tabernacles roofed with leaves, and to dwell in them, or at least take our meals in
them, during the first eight days of Succoits. . .
We are likewise commanded in the Bible to take branches of the palm, 3>1 7 .,
of the myrtle, D^DTH, of the willow of the brook, J"ll2"iy together "with the-
fruit of the citron, j'nriN, and to rejoice with them before the Lord. The
various branches are tastefully bound together, and with these, and the citron in
our hands, we recite the prayer called 7?n ? hymn of praise, and walk round the-
synagogue in procession, chaunting the fcOVt^in, " Hosanna."
The seventh day of JYI3p is called K3T fcOyp'in " the Great Hosanna," from
the prayers recited on the occasion. It is a festival, but of a solemn kind. In
the synagogue seven scrolls of the law are taken out, and the palm-bearing wor-
shippers walk in procession seven times round the synagogue, while chanting,
the Hosannas. Towards the termination -of the service, the leaves are beaten off
the willow branches a relic of the beautiful ceremony in the Temple, when the
Jews with joyful song strewed the altar with the willow-twigs they had used
during the festival. The previous night is spent in reading parts of the Bible.
The eighth day of the festival is called r.lVJJ > J l| Dt^, the eighth day of solemn
assembly. In our synagogues a special prayer is offered to God, entreating Him*
to send the wind and the rain in their due season.
The ninth day of the festival is called TTfifi nnpK>, the rejoicing of the law.
On every Sabbath throughout Ihe year a portion of the Law is read in the syna-
gogue. On mifl nnp'fc?, the last portion of Deuteronomy, containing the death
and burial of Moses, is recited, and immediately we commence the first section of
Genesis narrating the Creation. It is a grand fact in our religious history, that this-
unceasing recital of the Sacred Book has continued uninterruptedly for so many
centuries. The member of the congregation to whom the last section of the Law
is read, is called mifl jnn Bridegroom of the Law, and the one to whom the-
first section is read is called"" rVt>X}3 JOfl the Bridegroom of the Commence-
ment. .
JlK'CnE, or }5KT! (Cheshvan or Marclieshvan], is the eighth month of the year.
Before the period of the Captivity it was called 712 Bui. It may contain twcnty-
nine or thirty days, and extends over parts of October and November. In the
Holy Land Cheshvan is the month of the former rain, which is of a light character,
and does not hinder the sowing of wheat and barley.
During this month we observe a second set of minor fast days, called
\j^ ^pn 'pl^ the second day, the fifth day, and the following second day of
the' week; in other words, Monday, Thursday, and the following Monday. The
fasts are kept to atone for any shortcomings in our religious observances during the
preceding festival of Succous.
V^D3 (Kislice) is the ninth month of the year. It contains sometimes twenty-
nine and sometimes thirty days, and lasts over parts of November and December.
In the Holy Land Kislice is the first moutli of winter, the mountains are covered
with snow, and all the trees are stripped of their leaves.
The festival of HS-Un, dedication, commences on the twenty-fifth of
month and continued eight days. In the time of the Second Temple, about 170
K.C E , Antiochus Epjphanes, King of Syria, cruelly oppressed the Jews dwellmgm
Palestine. He hated the Jewish religion, and laboured unceasingly to uproot it.
He massacred the Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, polluted the Holy Temple bv
APPENDIX II. 151
offering on its altar the flesh of the swine, and placed within its walls the statues
of the Grecian gods. He burnt all the books of the Law his officers could find,
prohibited the keeping of the Sabbath, and punished severely those who even
attempted to retain the name of Jew. All Palestine lay crushed at the tyrant's
feet, and Jewish nationality as well as the Jewish faith seemed about to perish
together.
But deliverance was at Laud. At Modin, a village in Judah, there dwelt an
aged man of priestly family, iiarned Mattathias the Asmonean, a man of the
greatest piety. With him lived his five sons, whom he had trained in a passionate
love of their holy faith. They were all brave men, but the most noteworthy of
them was Judas, surnamed Maccabeus. It happened that some Syrian officers
visited Modin, and erecting an altar to one of their idole, bade Mattathias to
sacrifice to it. The aged patriot, filled with holy anger, slew the king's
messenger, and raised the standard of revolt. He soon gathered an army, but
died ere a blow could be struck, appointing Judas to succeed him.
For three years the Jews struggled against the Syrian hosts with varying
fortune, but in the end completely routed them in two great battles. Judas, follow-
ing his victories, drove his enemies entirely out of Palestine. Entering Jerusalem,
he caused the Temple to be purified. On the twenty-fifth of Kislive he consecrated
anew the House of God. The perpetual lamp was about to be lit when it was
discovered that there remained but one flask of holy oil, sufficient for one day
only. By a miracle of God the oil lasted eight days, till a further supply could
be prepared. In memory of the dedication of the Temple we keep the festival of
n3-13n. On the first night of Chanukah we light up in our synagogues and houses
one light ; on the second night two lights, and so on for the whole eight nights.
We also chant a special hymn, beginning with the words "VIS TWO.
n3tp. (77me) is the tenth month of the Jewish year. It has always twenty-nine
days, partly in December and partly in January. In the Holy Land it ia mid-
winter, and the coldest month of the year.
On the tenth day of Tivise 713132 JTUJ'Jf a fast is observed in sad memory of
the commencement of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.
This is.one of the fast days promised by Zeehariah to become a day of joy.
Dllti' (Sh'vat). This is the eleventh month of the year. It always has thirty
days, and extends over parts of January and February. In Palestine the worst
part of the winter is over, and the weather begins to get wanner.
The fifteenth day of this month 1331^3 ~lb>J7 H^pn is kept as a minor
festival. It is called n'l3^K^ HJB'n Vth, New Year' for the Trees. It is
supposed that about this day the sap begins to rise in the trees. The rigours of
winter are past, the spring is at hand, and we are grateful to our Heavenly Father
for having kept us alive to enjoy the approaching season of flower and fruit.
In an ordinary year the last Sabbath in this month is generally known as
C^ijtJ' nK^Sl, tu e Section of the Shekels. In synagogue is read the portion of
the Law (Exodus xxx. 11-16) which commands that the Children of Israel who were
to be numbered were to offer each of them a half shekel as " a ransom for his
soul." The money thus gathered was used in the service of the Tabernacle. At
the present time a collection is made in our places of worship on the first night
-of Purim, and the proceeds given to the poor. In an intercalary year this Sabbath
occurs in the first Adar.
T1S! (Adar). This is the twelfth month of the year. It has always twenty-
nine days, and extends over parts of February and March. In an intercalary
year the second Adar *3J? IIS has also twenty-nine days, and corresponds
with our month of March. In the Holy Land the latter rains begin, and the
.spring is now well advanced.
On the thirteenth day of Adar we keep a fast called "IFlpi* JV3J|F1, the Fast
of Esther, in memory of the fast observed by the Jews of Bhushau at the com-
mand of Queen Esther. This day is closely connected with the Festival of
Purim. If it occurs on Sabbath, the fast is kept on the precious Thursday;
152 APPENDIX II.
whereas if any of the other fast days (except the Day of Atonement) happens on a
Sabbath, it is observed on the succeeding Sunday.
The fourteenth day of Adar is kept as a joyous festival, and is called D*~V13 a
The origin of this festival is given at length in the Book of Esther. Ahasuerus
King of Persia, put away his wife Vashti, and took in her stead Esther, a Jewish
maiden, who had been reared by her cousin Mordeeai. The king's chief minister,
Haman, conceived a deadly hatred against the Jews living in Persia, because of
the advancement of Mordeeai, and because Mordeeai would not bow down to him.
He therefore resolved to obtain the king's permission to slay all the Jews in the
kingdom. Ahasuerus was very weak-minded, and granted Haman all he desired.
The latter cast lots OH-IS to determine on what month he should carry out his
cruel intention. The lot fell upon Adar, and Haman sent messengers to all parts
of Persia, bidding the inhabitants to kill all the Jews, '' young and old, little ones
and children,'' on the thirteenth day of Adar, and to plunder their property.
Mordecai, having learned what was intended by the wicked Haman, begged
Queen Esther to intercede for her people. It was the custom in Persia that when
any one appeared in the presence of the king without being called, he was instantly
put to death, unless the king held out to him his golden sceptre. Esther well
knew that, in venturing before the king without his command, her life was in
danger. Yet she was resolved to undergo the risk. She first asked all the Jews
iu Shushan, the capital, to fast three days, and she herself fasted. Then, attired
in her royal robes, she stood before the king, who immediately held forth to her
the golden sceptre. Esther pleaded so earuestlvfor her people that the wicked
Haman and his ten sons were hanged by the king's command, while the Jews
throughout Persia received permission to defend themselves against their enemies.
The fourteenth day of the month they kept as a day of rejoicing for their miracu-
lous deliverance. In Shushan the Jews slew their enemies also on the fourteenth
day, and the fifteenth day of the month was kept as a day of joy. This festival is
distinguished as a time of feasting and joy, of giving presents one to another, and
especially of bestowing gifts upon the poor. On the night and morning of Purim
the n?3D or parchment scroll in which the Book of Esther is written, is read
T : > . .
in our synagogues. The fifteenth cVvy is called DH'153 |KMB>, the Purim of Shushan.
The rejoicings are continued, but the Megillah is not read.
In an intercalary year the Fast of Esther and Purim are kept on the thirteenth,
fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the second Adar.
The Sabbath before Purim is called 113 T DnS, Sabbath of Remembrance,
because we read the section of the Law (Deut. xxv. 17-19) commencing "Ee-
tnember what Amalek did unto thee by the way when ye were come forth out of
Egypt." Haman was descended from the tribe of Amalek.
The latter part of Adar has two other special Sabbaths. One is called
ma riKHS, because the portion of the Law (Num. xix. 1-22), referring to the
observances of the red heifer is read in our synagogues.
% The other Sabbath, which is immediately before the new moon of Nisan is called
Unhn ntinS the Sabbath of the Month that is, of the month Nisan. The portion
of the law read in our synagogues (Exodus xii. 1-20) begins, " And the Lord spake-
nnto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month (Orlv or Nisan)
shall be unto you the beginning ot mouths ; it shall be the first mouth of the year
to you." This Sabbath calls our attention to the approach of Pesach.
TILE EXD
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
Los Angeles
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.
50m-7,'69(N296s4) 0-120
RN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
A 000875682 7
t>LEAf " > NOT RtMOVE
THIS BOOK CARD
go
3
3
3
X
University Reseorch Library