10. The Marriage of Isaac.

Abraham had a faithful servant named Eliezer. He sent him from Canaan into "Mesopotamia, to bring Isaac a wife from among Abraham's own kindred. He brought thence Rebekah, a daughter of Bethuel, who was a son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. The brother of Rebekah was named Laban. Isaac married Rebekah.

EXPLANATIONS.

faithful-true to his word. kindred-his relations who lived in the city of Nahor. thence—from that place. Rebekah-Abraham's

great niece; she went with him of her own good will. Bethuel-a nephew of Abraham.

married-he took her to be his wife, for he was not to take a wife from among the women of Canaan, because they did not worship God.

QUESTIONS.

Who was Abraham's faithful
servant?

What does faithful mean?
Whither was he sent?
Why did Abraham send him
What city did he come to?
into Mesopotamia ?
Whom did he obtain as a wife
for Isaac

What was she to Abraham?
How was Bethuel related to
Abraham?

Who was Laban?
Why did not Isaac take a
Canaanite woman?

Mesopotamia--a large level region of Armenia, between the Euphrates and the Tigris, called also Padan-aram or the plain of Aram. Ur of the Chaldees, in this country was Abraham's birth-plaee.

PRECEPTIVE LESSONS.

Eliezer rejoiced to fulfil his master's wishes because he was a faithful servant. He prayed to God to guide him right, and God answered his prayer. Servants should always feel glad if they are able to perform their duties, while they depend on God for his help to make them obedient and faithful.

11. The History of Job.

He

Job is said to have lived in Idumea. was a good man. He had seven sons and three daughters; he had herds, flocks, and great riches. He was sorely tried and tempted, and lost his children and his riches. He bore his trials with patience. God afterwards gave him more children and greater riches than he had at first.

EXPLANATIONS.

QUESTIONS.

What sort of man was he?
How many children had he?
What had he besides?

good-benevolent, pious, and | Who once lived in Idumea? very submissive to God. sons-grown up at that time. flocks-numbers of sheep or goats, feeding in separate companies.

riches-wealth, consisting of

gold,silver,merchandise,&c.

sorely-severely, painfully.
lost-taken from him; his
children and sheep by
death, and his cattle and
camels by plunderers.
trials-troubles, for the loss of
children and substance.
patience-calmness of spirit,
absence of discontent.

Tell me what you mean by
flocks.

What would you call the loss
of children and wealth?
But besides these trials did he
not suffer otherwise?
What does sorely mean?
Did Job retain his children and

riches as long as he lived? What did he lose by robbers? Did he become impatient? How was he rewarded for his patience?

Idumea a country to the south of Canaan, called also Edom,

PRECEPTIVE LESSONS.

If we have afflictions, such as loss of money, loss of friends, or sickness, we must remember that God afflicts the righteous for their good. We are not to say that men are wicked because they are afflieted, nor that God is unjust in afflicting the righteous.

12. The History of Isaac.

Isaac and Rebekah had two sons-Esau and Jacob. Esau was a hunter. Jacob bought from Esau his birthright for a mess of 'pottage. When Isaac was old he called Esau to bless him. Rebekah and Jacob 'deceived Isaac, so that he blessed Jacob instead of Esau. He then blessed Esau. Jacob fled to Laban, his mother's brother.

EXPLANATIONS.

QUESTIONS.

hunter-a pursuer of wild | Who were Esau and Jacob?
animals; Jacob quietly
reared flocks, while Esau
delighted in the chase.
birthright-the right to the ad-
vantages which properly be-
longed to the first-born son.
mess-a dish, or sufficient for
a meal.
pottage-probably composed of
boiled herbs and meal.
Esau-because his father did
not know that he had sold
his right to possess it.
bless this was to be the last
and greatest blessing.
deceived-cheated; a wicked
way of bringing about an
act of justice.

Which of them was a hunter?
What does a hunter mean?
What did Esau sell Jacob?
What did Esau obtain for his
birthright?

|
What does birthright mean?
Of what was the pottage
made?

Why did Isaac call Esau to
him when he was old?
What did Rebekah and Jacob
do?

What is meant by deceived?
Why did they thus act?
Was their conduct right?
Did Esau receive a blessing?
To whom did Jacob flee?
Who was Laban?

PRECEPTIVE LESSONS.

Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob, and Rebekah loved Jacob. Rebekah's partiality led her and Jacob to deceive Isaac, and also led Esau to hate Jacob, and Jacob to fear Esau. It is wrong of parents to love one child more than another. Rebekah and Jacob were punished for their deceit.

13. Jacob serves Laban, Returns to Canaan.

Jacob kept the flocks of his uncle at Padan-aram. He married Leah and Rachel, the two daughters of Laban. Jacob had many children. God blessed him, and increased his riches exceedingly. Twenty years after, he returned Canaan. On his way God changed his name to ISRAEL. Jacob met Esau, and was 'reconciled to him.

EXPLANATIONS.

kept-fed and minded.
Padan-aram-a long way from
Jacob's early home; it was
the country of his mother.
two the practice of one man
having two or more wives
was allowed, though wrong.
It is not permitted now.
riches-substance, consisting
of flocks and herds.
Canaan the country in which
he lived with his parents
before he deceived Isaac.
Israel-meaning a 'prince.'
reconciled-united again, in
friendship to one another.

QUESTIONS.

to

How was Jacob employed?
Where did Laban live?
Who were Rachel and Leah?
Who married them?
Is it right for a man to have
more than one wife?
Had Jacob any children?
How long did he stay at
Padan-aram?

Whither did he return?
What was Jacob's
changed to?

Who met Jacob and
reconciled to him?

Padan-aram-the same country as Mesopotamia. See page 12.

PRECEPTIVE LESSONS.

name

was

But

Laban selfishly deceived Jacob about his wives and his wages. God protected Jacob, as he had promised, and made him prosperous and rich, and gave him many children. God had chosen Jacob as the father of his people Israel; and God always protects and blesses those whom he chooses, and fulfils his promises to them.

14. Benjamin Born. Joseph's early History. Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son, was born at Ephrath; and Rachel, his mother, died there. Jacob loved Joseph more than his other children: but Joseph's brethren hated him, and sold him to some Midianites,37 who took him into "Egypt. He was a 'slave in the house of Potiphar. He was falsely accused, and cast into prison.

EXPLANATIONS.

QUESTIONS.

Benjamin-son of the right | Who was Benjamin ?
hand,' so called by Jacob.
loved...more-his good con-
duct was the cause of his
father's love.
Joseph-he, as well as Benja-
min, was Rachel's child, but
Joseph was sixteen years
older than Benjamin.
sold gave for money, no man
has a right to buy or sell
his fellow man.
slave one who has no liberty
to do anything but as his
owner commands.
accused-charged with crime.

What does Benjamin mean?
Where was he born?
What else occurred there?
Who was both loved and
hated?

Why did his father love him?
Who hated him?

To whom did they sell him?
Whither did the Midianites
carry Joseph ?
What is a slave ?
Is it right to hold men as
slaves?
What next
Joseph ?

occurred

to

Ephrath-in the south of Canaan, the ancient name of Bethlehem.
Egypt-an ancient and a celebrated kingdom of Africa.

PRECEPTIVE LESSONS.

Jacob's love to Joseph caused his brethren to hate him. They sold Joseph and deceived their father. They committed sin after sin, and other sins to hide their first. Their sin found them out; while Joseph was cast into prison innocent, and afterwards brought to honour, because God was with him.