5. The Building of Babel. The Peopling of the Earth. Genesis ix. 1-7; x.-xi. 25. Some years after the flood many people 'settled on the plain of **Shinar. They began to build a city, and a high tower, to make themselves a 'name, that they might be thought great, and to keep them from being scattered. They all spoke 'one language. God wished them to be settled in 'different parts of the earth. To punish them, and to stop their work, God made them speak 'various languages. They were then dispersed according to the languages which they spoke. They left off building the city, and the place was called **Babel. The The descendants of Shem dwelt in ·Armenia and The East. descendants of Ham peopled Canaan, Arabia, Egypt, and "Africa. The descendants of Japheth inhabited Western Asia and Europe. A son of Ham, named Canaan, had eleven sons, they lived in different parts of the land of Canaan, and their descendants were called Canaanites. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Shinar-the level country between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Babel-the beginning of the kingdom of Nimrod; it was probably founded by him. Canaan-the ancient name of the promised land; so named from a son of Ham. This lesson teaches us that it is the duty of mankind to disperse themselves over the surface of the earth. This is the will of God, and obedience to his will ensures us his blessing. They who aim at obtaining a great name often come off with a bad name. Who hath hardened himself against God and prospered? God, who gave men the knowledge and use of language, now, in order to divide them into companies and colonies, confounds their speech; he does not take away the gift, but his interposition is just what is required to spread them abroad in the earth. 4. History of Noah after the Flood. Genesis viii.; ix. 8—27; xi. 10-14. God sent a 'wind over the earth, the waters abated, and the ark3 rested upon the mountains of Ararat. Noah sent forth a 'raven and a 'dove, that he might learn if the land was dry; the raven did not return, but the dove returned with an olive leaf in her mouth. Noah sent forth the dove again seven days after, but she returned no more. Noah went out of the ark; and he offered a sacrifice to God. God then promised that seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not cease. He promised never to destroy the earth by a flood. The rainbow in the cloud is the token of his promise. After the flood Noah planted a vineyard and he drank of the wine and was drunken. His son Ham mocked him. When Noah awoke from his wine, he foretold that the descendants2 of Ham should be 'servants to the descendants of Shem and Japheth, whom he blessed because they were 'dutiful. One of Shem's descendants was Eber, from whom the "Hebrews were probably named. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Ararat-a mountainous district near the centre of Armenia; (Les. 5.) one of the peaks is said to be 17,000 feet above the level of the sea. Hebrews-this term is generally used to denote the people who were descended from Abraham. It is derived either from Heber, an ancestor of Abraham or from Eber," from the other side," that is, of the Euphrates. EXPLANATIONS. QUESTIONS. wind-to blow the waters into their chan- What was the effect of the wind which nels once more. a raven-a large bird of the crow kind. a dove-one of the pigeon kind. not return-but fed on that which floated on the water. returned-she could not find proper food. no more-because the flood was now off the earth. sacrifice a gift of gratitude offered by fire. seed time, &c.—a general law should regu late the times and seasons. rainbow-the "bow in the cloud"; a beautiful luminous meteor. token-sign or pledge. servants-slaves; inferiors. he had erred. God sent? Who offered a sacrifice on this occasion? From whom were the Hebrews named? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. The good God who remembered Noah and his family in the ark, will not forget the humble who wait upon him. Noah waited God's own time for his release from the ark, and then offered the divinely appointed sacrifice of thanksgiving, which God graciously accepted. The assurance that whilst the earth remains seed time and harvest should never cease, enabled men to renew their industry and expect its reward. The unfilial conduct of Ham to his father, exemplifies the criminality of mirth at the faults or mistakes of the aged. 5. The Building of Babel. The Peopling of the Earth. Genesis ix. 1-7; x.-xi. 25. Some years after the flood many people 'settled on the plain of **Shinar. They began to build a city, and a high tower, to make themselves a name, that they might be thought great, and to keep them from being scattered. They all spoke 'one language. God wished them to be settled in different parts of the earth. To punish them, and to stop their work, God made them speak 'various languages. They were then dispersed according to the languages which they spoke. They left off building the city, and the place was called "Babel. The The descendants2 of Shem dwelt in Armenia and The East. descendants of Ham peopled Canaan, **Arabia, Egypt, and "Africa. The descendants of Japheth inhabited Western Asia and Europe. A son of Ham, named Canaan, had eleven sons, they lived in different parts of the land of Canaan, and their descendants were called Canaanites. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Shinar-the level country between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Babel-the beginning of the kingdom of Nimrod; it was probably founded by him. Canaan-the ancient name of the promised land; so named from a son of Ham. QUESTIONS. When was the plain of Shinar first peopled? different parts of the earth? What was the consequence to them of their speaking various languages? What is the consequence to different nations? What led them to unite under distinct governments? How were the different parts of the earth Who was the probable founder of Babel? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. This lesson teaches us that it is the duty of mankind to disperse themselves over the surface of the earth. This is the will of God, and obedience to his will ensures us his blessing. They who aim at obtaining a great name often come off with a bad name. Who hath hardened himself against God and prospered? God, who gave men the knowledge and use of language, now, in order to divide them into companies and colonies, confounds their speech; he does not take away the gift, but his interposition is just what is required to spread them abroad in the earth. 6. Family of Terah. The Call of Abram. Genesis ix. 28,29; xi. 10-xii 9. "Terah was a descendant3 of Shem. He had three sons, 'Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot. Terah lived at Ur, in Chaldea. Noah was alive when Terah lived in Chaldea. He probably lived in Armenia after the flood, and died there. Soon after the death of Noah Abram was born. Abram lived seventy-five years in Chaldea. God called Abram out of Chaldea to come into Canaan.5 He gave Abram three great promises. 1. That he should possess the land of Canaan; 2. That he should have a son 3. That the Saviour1 should be born of his descendants.2 Terah and his family first removed to "Haran. At this place Terah died. Abram obeyed the call of God, and came into Canaan, together with Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother's son. God confirmed his promises when Abram came into Canaan. Abram built an altar to God, and soon after removed to "Bethel. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Ur, Chaldea-Ur was a very ancient city in Chaldea, a country of Mesopotamia. Haran-a place to the south of Ur, in Mesopotamia. Les. 10. Bethel-this name, meaning house of God,' was given by Jacob to a place which was called Luz at first. EXPLANATIONS. Terah-he was the ninth in descent from Shem. Abram-means 'father,' he was the father of the Hebrew nation, and of several other nations also. possess,&c.-should enjoy life in it himself, and when his descendants were sufficiently numerous they should own it. Saviour, &c.-so that all nations should at last be blessed through Abraham, "the Friend of God." obeyed-he thereby proved himself a dutiful child of God. came, &c.-to sojourn as a stranger among idolaters, in a strange land. Sarai-means my princess.' Les. 8. altar-a high table of stone on which to offer sacrifice. PRECEPTIVE QUESTIONS. Who was Terah? Tell me the names of Terah's sons. What is stated of Ur, and of Chaldea? What is the meaning of Abram? Of what great nation was he the father? Who came with Abram into Canaan? What is stated respecting Bethel ? LESSONS. Abraham obeyed the call of God which brought him out of a land of idolatry; thus should we obey the call to quit evil companions however near or dear they may be to us. Abraham built an altar to the Lord wherever he rested; this is an example to us of both public and family devotion; public, since the religious services were not performed within his dwelling, and family worship, because the act was attended to more as a family duty than as a public duty. His habitation was necessary to preserve him and his family from the vicissitudes of the seasons-his altar to enable him to hold intercourse with that God who had called him. 7. History of Abram and Lot. Ishmael born. Genesis xii. 10; xiii. 1-13; xiv.; xvi. 5 There was a famine in Canaan, and Abrams went down 'into Egypt. After his return to Canaan, his 'herdsmen and those of Lot quarrelled, because there was not food enough for their cattle. Abram wished that there should be 'no strife between them. He told Lot to choose a part of the land for himself. Lot chose the "plain of Jordan, near Sodom, because it was well watered. The men of Sodom were very wicked. Four kings made war against the cities of the plain of Sodom, and took Lot prisoner. Abram pursued the four kings, defeated them, and brought Lot back. Melchizedek, king of Salem, met Abram and blessed him. Hagar was Sarai's handmaid; she despised her mistress, and fled from her. The angel of the Lord told her to return, and submit to her mistress. He said she should have a son, and that his name should be Ishmael. Soon after this Ishmael was born. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Plain of Jordan-this region, once level, fertile, and watered by the Jordan, is now the Dead Sea. Sodom-the principal of the five cities of the plain of Jordan. Lesson 8. EXPLANATIONS. famine-shortness of food. Famines often occur in countries which are not regularly cultivated. into Egypt-because the famine had not extended thither. herdsmen--they led the cattle out to pasture, and protected them from wild animals. no strife-strife between relations is most unlovely. Avoid strife. told Lot, &c.-the right of choice was Abram's for he was the elder, and the land had been promised to him. pursued-the pursuit of the kings, and the capture of Lot took Abram through the entire length of the country. Melchizedek-called in the New Testament "King of righteousness." despised-she thought herself a more honoured person than her mistress. QUESTIONS. Where was there a famine? What did the famine compel Abram and What was the character of the men of PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. From the quarrels of the herdsmen we see that great riches cause disunion in families-"Give me neither poverty nor riches." was the prayer of a wise man. From Abraham's allowing Lot the choice of the land, we are taught that self-denial may preserve peace among relatives and friends. "They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare," exemplified in the history of Lot. From Abraham's conquest of the four kings, and his recovery of Lot, we learn that "the righteous are bold as a lion," for they are sure of God's protection in what is right. was |