wilderness, was after the conquest of Canaan erected at Shiloh, a city
about ten miles south of Shechem. There it remained for more than
three hundred years. No Temple was at Jerusalem in those days, so the
Jewish priests offered sacrifices to God in the Tabernacle at Shiloh.
One day, Hannah, the wife of a priest named Elkanah, came to the
Tabernacle to worship. She was grieved because she had no children;
and especially sad because she had no son. So she knelt down and
prayed to God, and asked God to remember her sorrow and to give her a
son; promising that if God granted her request, she would give that
son to Him all the days of his life.
As Hannah prayed, Eli, the high priest, saw her. She did not speak
aloud, but prayed in her heart; her lips moved, but no voice was
heard; so Eli thought that a drunken woman had come before the Lord.
He reproved her saying, "How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy
wine from thee." But Hannah had not drunk wine. She answered Eli, "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 bade her "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thee thy
petition that thou hast asked of Him."
Hannah left the Tabernacle. Her face was no longer sad. She believed
God had heard her prayer; and He had done so. In due time a son was
given her, whom she named Samuel. Samuel means _Heard of God_, which
name Hannah gave him in remembrance of God's goodness in hearing her
prayer.
[Illustration: HANNAH PRAYING BEFORE THE LORD.]
ELI AND SAMUEL.
Elkanah went up to Shiloh yearly to offer sacrifice: and when Samuel
was old enough, Hannah went with her husband and took her little boy
with her. They came to Eli the high priest, and Hannah said: "Oh, my
Lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here praying. For this child I
prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition. Therefore also have I
given him to the Lord." Then she left Samuel with Eli.
Samuel assisted Eli in the Tabernacle service, and wore a linen ephod
like a priest. His mother came yearly to see him, when she accompanied
Elkanah to the sacrifice at Shiloh, and each time brought with her a
little coat, which she had made for her son. Eli was an old man, who
had two wicked sons. These he had not restrained as he should have
done. So God was displeased with him and them on account of their
sins.
One night, while the lamp in the Tabernacle was burning, and Eli was
resting, Samuel was sleeping. A voice came to him calling, "Samuel!"
He rose, and ran to Eli saying, "Here am I." But Eli had not called,
so Samuel lay down again. A second time the same voice called,
"Samuel!" He went to Eli and said, "Here am I; for thou didst call
me." But Eli replied, "I called not, my son; lie down again." The call
was repeated a third time; then Eli told Samuel it was the Lord who
called him; and bade him answer if the voice came again, "Speak, Lord,
for thy servant heareth." Again God called, and Samuel answered as Eli
had commanded him. Then God told Samuel what terrible things should
befall Eli and his sons through their wickedness.
[Illustration: SAMUEL COMING TO ELI.]
DEATH OF ELI AND HIS SONS.
In the morning Samuel feared to tell Eli what the Lord had shown him;
but Eli bade him do so, saying to Samuel, "God do so to thee, and more
also, if thou hide any thing from me of all that He said unto thee."
So Samuel told Eli all God had said, keeping nothing back, and Eli
answered, "It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good."
Afterwards there was war between the Israelites and the Philistines,
and both sides prepared for battle. They fought; the Israelites were
defeated, and many of them slain. Then they sent to Shiloh and fetched
the ark of the covenant out of the Tabernacle, carrying it to the
camp, and thinking that if the ark were with them they would overcome
their enemies. But the ark only signified God's presence in their
midst; it was not God Himself, to give them victory. It was very
sinful of them thus to use what God had made so holy; and God suffered
them again to be defeated. The ark was taken by the Philistines, and
many of the Israelites were slain.
Eli, who was then ninety-eight years old, and nearly blind, sat by the
wayside, trembling for the safety of the ark, and waiting for
messengers to bring news of the battle. Presently a messenger came who
told him the Israelites had fled before the Philistines, that his two
sons Hophni and Phinehas were slain, and that the ark of God had been
taken. When he heard that the ark had been taken, he fell backward
from off his seat and died. Thus God's judgment upon Eli and his sons
came to pass. In our picture we see the messenger, who has just come
from the field of battle, telling Eli the sad tidings that caused his
death.
[Illustration: ELI RECEIVING THE EVIL TIDINGS.]
PLAYING ON THE HARP BEFORE SAUL.
We are not told much in the Bible concerning the early life of David.
He was born in Bethlehem. We have seen who his father was, but I do
not find that his mother's name is given. His own name means
"beloved." What a happy name! He must have been much loved by his
parents, and we know he was loved by God.
Like many other youths in Canaan, he acted as a shepherd to his
father's flocks. He was a fair, open-faced boy; "ruddy, and of a
beautiful countenance, and goodly to look at," so the Scriptures say.
He was a good musician, knew how to sling stones at a mark, and was so
brave that when a lion and a bear came to attack the lambs of his
flock he went after them and killed them both. One day a strange and
most important event happened. Samuel, the prophet, came from Ramah,
and pouring some very precious oil upon the head of David, anointed
him to be the future King of Israel. Saul was then King, but on
account of his wickedness God had rejected him, saying that another
should reign in his stead.
Soon after this event Saul became very wretched. An evil spirit
troubled him, we are told. His servants advised him to get a man that
could play skilfully upon the harp, so that music might drive away his
misery. Some one suggested David; and David was sent for. He brought
sweet strains from his harp, and Saul was soothed. Saul was pleased
with David. We are told that "he loved him greatly," and that David
became his armour-bearer. But he soon grew jealous, and twice threw a
javelin at David, seeking to smite him to the wall and kill him. This,
however, he was not able to do.
[Illustration: DAVID PLAYING ON THE HARP BEFORE SAUL.]
DAVID AND GOLIATH.
How attentively David looks at the stones in his hand. His sling is on
his arm, and his bag by his side. What is he about to do with those
stones? And who is that tall man in armour, strutting about with such
a long spear in his hand?
Two armies were drawn up in battle array. They were the armies of the
Israelites and Philistines. The camp of the Israelites was on one
hill, and that of the Philistines was upon another; a valley lying
between. For forty days these armies had been facing each other, but
yet the battle had been delayed. The Philistines had on their side a
giant of great height and strength, encased in armour, who daily came
out, challenging the Israelites to send a man from their camp to fight
with him. But no man among them dared to go against Goliath, the
Philistines' champion.
Meanwhile Jesse had sent David to the Israelites' camp to see after
his brethren. He heard what the giant said, and offered to go out
against him. Saul was informed of David's offer, and sent for him.
Saul told David he was not able to fight the giant, but he boldly
replied, "The Lord which delivered me out of the paw of the lion and
out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this
Philistine." David trusted not in his own power, but in God! Then Saul
said, "Go, and the Lord be with thee."
He went, slung one of the smooth stones he had chosen out of the
brook, smote the Philistine in the forehead so that he fell to the
earth, and then ran and cut off his head. Thus God enabled this ruddy
youth to overcome the giant Philistine, and to slay him with a sling
and a stone.
[Illustration: CHOOSING SMOOTH STONES OUT OF THE BROOK.]
NATHAN REPROVING THE KING.
David was now King. He had great riches and honour, and a palace had
been built for him. He had brought the ark from Kirjath-jearim, and
placed it in the tabernacle prepared for it at Jerusalem, and he now
reigned over all the people of Israel and Judah. But David did a very
wicked thing. He took the wife of Uriah the Hittite for his wife, and
caused Uriah to be slain. God was displeased at what he had done, and
sent Nathan the prophet to reprove him.
Nathan's reproof was given by a parable. It was a story of a poor man
who had one dear little lamb. It grew up in his house, played with his
children, and was very precious to him. But one day a traveller came
to a rich neighbour, who possessed great flocks and herds, and this
neighbour, instead of killing one of his own lambs and setting it
before his guest, sent and took the poor man's lamb and killed it.
David heard the story, and was very angry. He said the rich man should
die, and the lamb taken away should be restored fourfold. Then Nathan,
looking at the King, said: "Thou art the man!" He showed David how
greatly he had sinned, and told him that trouble and sorrow would come
upon him for what he had done. God had given him riches and honour,
and all that he could wish for; yet he had taken the one precious
thing of Uriah's, even his wife, and had caused him to be slain. David
was sorely grieved when he saw how wickedly he had acted. He confessed
his sin to God, and God forgave it; but great trouble came upon the
King afterwards through this crime.
[Illustration: "THOU ART THE MAN."]
DAVID AND ARAUNAH.
After David had reigned may years, he numbered the people of Israel.
This was wrong; and God sent a pestilence which destroyed seventy
thousand men. David was grieved, and prayed that God would punish him
and spare the people. God stayed the hand of the destroying angel; who
stood by the threshing-floor of Araunah, whither David was told to go
and offer sacrifice. David went. He purchased the threshing-floor of
Araunah, also oxen and wood and offered a burnt sacrifice to God. The
following verses describe the scene:--
Beside Araunah's threshing-place
The awful angel took his stand,
When from high heaven came words of grace--
"It is enough; stay now thine hand."
For David's penitential prayer
Had enter'd God's compassionate ear;
And where the angel stood, even there
God bade the King and altar rear.
Araunah offered ground, and wood,
And oxen for the sacrifice:
David stood noble wish withstood,
And bought them all at full price.
His answer has a royal ring;
Its lesson high shall not be lost:
"Burnt offerings I will never bring
Unto Jehovah without cost."
The altar rose, the victims died,
The plague was stayed, and lo, there fell--
Token that Heaven was satisfied--
A fire from God, and all was well.
'Twas like a finger from the skies--
That falling fire--to show God's will,
That here the Temple should arise
And crown Moriah's sacred hill.
And still God marks the faithful prayer,
The careful work, the costly pains;
The Spirit's fire descendeth there,
And there, as in a shrine, remains.
RICHARD WILTON, M.A.
[Illustration: DAVID AND ARAUNAH.]
ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS.
God was displeased with King Ahab, and sent His prophet, Elijah the
Tishbite, to say unto him, "As the Lord God of Israel liveth there
shall not be dew nor rain for years in all Israel." God knew that
these words would make Ahab angry with Elijah, so He commanded Elijah
to get out of Ahab's way. "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and
hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall
be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the
ravens to feed thee there."
Elijah went, and the ravens brought him bread and meat, morning and
evening, and he drank of the brook. But after many days the brook
dried up, and God told him to go to Zarephath, where a widow would
sustain him. So he arose and went to Zarephath. When he came to the
gate of the city he saw the widow gathering sticks; and called to her,
saying, "Bring me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may
drink, and a morsel of bread in thy hand, that I may eat."
The widow turned and said, "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a
cake, but only a handful of meal, and a little oil in a cruse; and,
behold, I am gathering a few sticks, that I may go in and bake it for
me and my son, that we may eat it before we starve to death." Elijah
told her not to fear, but to make a cake for him, and, afterwards, one
for her son and herself, for God had said that neither her handful of
meal nor her cruse of oil should fail until He again sent rain upon
the earth. So she did as Elijah told her, and there was always enough
oil and meal for their daily food, according to the word of the Lord
which He spake by Elijah.
[Illustration: ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS.]
PLOUGHING IN CANAAN.
In Scripture frequent mention is made of the husbandman and his work.
Ploughing the land, sowing the seed, reaping the harvest, and
winnowing the grain are often referred to. Our picture shows an
Eastern husbandman ploughing. How different it is to ploughing in our
own land! There is no _coulter_; and instead of the broad steel
_plough-share_ we see a pointed piece of wood. And the long handles
with which our labourers guide their ploughs--where are they? The
strong horses, too, harnessed one behind the other, are missing. Yes!
none of these were used in Canaan. Small oxen drew the plough; and the
husbandman guided it by means of a single handle, as we see him doing
in the picture. Thus their method of ploughing was a slow one, and
unless the land had been very good their harvests would have been
poor.
Often these husbandmen had to wait until the rain made the ground soft
enough for their ploughs to enter it, consequently many had to toil in
cold, stormy, winter weather. To this the proverb alludes which says:
"The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; therefore shall
he beg in harvest, and have nothing." (Prov. xx. 4.)
Perhaps it was just such a plough, drawn by just such oxen as we see
in our picture, that Elisha was using when Elijah passed by and cast
his mantle upon him; thereby calling Elisha to be his servant and
successor. We are told that Elisha "took a yoke of oxen, and slew
them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and
gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after
Elijah, and ministered unto him."
[Illustration: PLOUGHING IN CANAAN.]
THE SHUNAMMITE'S SON.
Many interesting stories are told in the Bible, few of which are more
touching than that of Elisha the prophet, and the Shunammite woman.
This story we find in the fourth chapter of the Second Book of Kings.
We read of the prophet journeying to and fro, and resting in the
little chamber that the kind Shunammite had built for him on the wall
of her house. We see its bed, table, stool, and candlestick; and the
joy beaming upon the good woman's face when a tiny infant son was
given her. How she loved him! And as he grew up how carefully she
watched over him. But a sad time was coming.
The golden corn was in the field ready for reaping, for the harvest
time had come. The hot sun shone overhead, and the little lad was out
with his father in the field, probably running about among the corn.
Suddenly he felt a violent pain, and cried out, "My head, my head!"
Then joy was changed to sorrow. The father saw his son was ill, and
bade a lad carry the little boy to his mother, on whose knees he sat
till noon, and then he died.
Next we see the mother leaving her dead son, and journeying to find
the prophet. Elisha sees her coming, and sends Gehazi to inquire if
all is well. Then she falls down before the prophet and tells him her
trouble; and he sends his servant with his staff to lay it upon the
dead child. The story closes by stating how Elisha follows Gehazi,
goes to the chamber where the dead boy lay, prays to God that the life
may be restored, and finally has the joy of giving the lad, alive and
well again, into the arms of his mother.
[Illustration: THE SHUNAMMITE'S SON RESTORED.]
THE LITTLE CAPTIVE MAID.
Naaman was a great general in the army of the King of Syria, who
esteemed him highly, because it was Naaman that led the Syrians when
God gave them victory over the Israelites. But in spite of his bravery
and his high position, he was miserable, because he suffered from a
terrible disease called leprosy. Now, among the captives whom the
Syrians had brought back from war was a little Israelitish maiden, who
was appointed to wait upon Naaman's wife. She had heard of the
wonderful things which Elisha did in the name of God; and she told her
mistress that if Naaman could only see this prophet, who was in
Samaria, he could be cured. And the King was told what the maid had
said, and he sent a letter to the King of Israel commanding him to
cure Naaman of his leprosy. But the King of Israel was afraid, and
thought the King of Syria sought this way to quarrel with him. When
Elisha heard of the King's fear, he sent and desired that Naaman
should be brought to him. So Naaman came in his chariot, and stood at
Elisha's door. But the prophet instead of coming to him, sent a
message directing Naaman to wash in Jordan seven times, when his
leprous flesh would be restored to health. Naaman had thought that
Elisha would have received him with much ceremony and touched him,
bidding the leprosy to depart; so he was angry and said, "Are not the
rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? May I not
wash in them and be clean?" Therefore he went away in a rage. But his
servants persuaded him to carry out the prophet's injunction, and he
went and dipped seven times in Jordan, and was made whole.
[Illustration: THE LITTLE CAPTIVE MAID.]
JONAH AT NINEVEH.
Jonah was commanded to go to Nineveh, and cry out that the city should
be destroyed on account of the wickedness of its inhabitants. But
instead of obeying God's command he fled in a ship that was bound for
Tarshish. Then a great storm arose, and the shipmen cast Jonah into
the sea, believing that the storm had been sent through his
disobedience. God saved Jonah by means of a large fish, and brought
him safely to land again.
A second time God said to Jonah, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great
city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." So Jonah
arose and went as God had directed him. Now Nineveh was a very large
city, about sixty miles in circumference, and Jonah went some distance
inside and then cried out, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be
overthrown!" It was a strange and terrible cry which sounded
throughout the city, and as the Ninevites heard it they feared God,
proclaimed a fast, covered themselves with sackcloth, and every man
was commanded to forsake evil. So they hoped God would forgive them
and spare their city.
God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways,
therefore He spared their city. When Jonah saw that Nineveh was spared
he was very angry, and prayed God to take away his life. He made a
booth and sat under it to see what would become of the city. Then God
sheltered him from the sun by a gourd, and afterwards taught him by it
how wrong he was in being displeased because Nineveh had been spared.
Nineveh was afterwards overthrown, and has remained since then but a
heap of ruins.
[Illustration: JONAH AT NINEVEH.]
HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB.
Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, invaded the land of Judah, and
threatened to lay siege to Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah took counsel with
his princes and mighty men, and repaired the broken walls, and made
them higher. He made many other preparations for the defence of the
city, and went among his people, exhorting them to trust in God, and
be of good courage. But Sennacherib sent messengers to induce those
that guarded the walls of the city to revolt against Hezekiah, saying,
"Do not believe this Hezekiah when he tells you that your God will
deliver you; hath any of the nations against which I have made war
been delivered by their gods?"
When Hezekiah heard these words he went into the house of the Lord,
and sent messengers to Isaiah, asking for his prayers. Isaiah said to
them, "Thus saith the Lord, 'Be not afraid of the words with which the
King of Assyria hath blasphemed Me. I will send a blast upon him, and
he shall return and shall fall by the sword in his own land.'"
Afterwards the King of Assyria sent a letter to Hezekiah, in which he
repeated his sneers at the power of God. When Hezekiah read it, he
went into the house of the Lord, and spreading the letter before the
Lord, prayed for His help. God answered, by the mouth of Isaiah, that
the King of Assyria should not enter Jerusalem, nor shoot over it, but
be turned back the way he came. And the same night the angel of the
Lord went into the camp of the Assyrians, and smote one hundred and
eighty-five thousand. Then Sennacherib returned to Nineveh, and as he
was worshipping in the house of his god, there came to him two of his
sons, who killed him.
[Illustration: HEZEKIAH LAYING THE LETTER BEFORE GOD.]
THE BRAVE HEBREW BOYS.
Brave boys and girls! We all wish to be brave, do we not? Then we must
learn to say "No," when tempted to do wrong.
These Hebrew boys were young nobles who had been carried captive from
Jerusalem to Babylon; but though in a strange land, subject to the
mighty king Nebuchadnezzar, they feared not to refuse his food and
wine when they knew that the taking of it would cause them to sin
against God. They were well educated Hebrew youths, and the Babylonish
king had commanded that they should be taught the learning of the
Chaldeans; also, to keep them in health and with beautiful
countenances, he had ordered that the meat and wine from his table
should be given them. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah. Daniel seems to have been their leader. We find "he purposed
in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the
king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." So he begged the
king's servant the feed him and his three companions on plain food and
pure water; but the servant feared to do so, lest the king should find
them worse looking than those who ate his meat and drank his wine, and
the servant should lose his head in consequence. A trial was made,
however, for ten days, at the end of which time they were found to be
better looking than the boys fed on rich food and wine. Therefore, the
servant let them live plainly according to their request; and at the
end of three years, when they stood before the king, we are told that
for wisdom and understanding none were found like Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
[Illustration: THE BRAVE HEBREW BOYS.]
DANIEL AND THE LIONS.
When Darius came to the throne, upon the death of Belshazzar, he set
over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes. Over these he appointed
three presidents, of whom Daniel was first. Now the princes and other
presidents were jealous of Daniel, and sought to find some fault
against him; but could not, as he was a faithful servant of the King.
Then they tried to injure him because of his praying to God. So they
came to the King, and said, "King Darius live for ever: all the great
officers of thy kingdom have consulted together to establish a royal
law, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty
days, save of thee, O King, he shall be cast into a den of lions." The
King signed the writing and established the law. But Daniel still
knelt and prayed three times a day as before.
His enemies saw him praying, and told the King, urging him to carry
out the law. But the King was angry with himself that he had agreed to
such a law, and tried to think of some way to save Daniel. Then these
men urged that the law could not be altered. So Daniel was cast into
the den of lions, and a stone was put over the mouth of the den, which
was sealed by the King and the lords. But the King had said to Daniel,
"Thy God whom thou servest will deliver thee."