tihtavy of Che t:heolo0ical ^tmxnavy PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY PRESENTED BY REV. E.^. FERGUSSON BS1140.3 .F47 1906 Fergusson, E. Morris (Edmund Morris), 1864-1934. Intermediate grade lessons f( r the Sunday school : first ye< r / JFtrst f mr l^xut 25 ttnts for tl|^ of ttft 3. a. Mxlkr. S. S. laOfi PRINCETON, N. J. ^^jf Presented byV?(£,^ . S .VT\ ,^cS.Y^dlvA S^OX^ (^ Division W Section Photo "Relief Map Palestine. George Armstrong. (of Ihe Sorv-p;*- Partv) ACTIXG SF.rRETARY TO THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND y; /;C^ v-^k' ,^« :/ i-'^::^ ./;• ~^s^^ w^ H^~ ^^-?k^^^ INTERMEDIATE Grade Lessons FOR THE Sunday School BY THE Rev. e. Morris Fergusson FIRST YEAR Part I. The Old Testament Part II. Old Testament History, Creation to David Part III. Old Testament History, Solomon to Hezekiah PHILADELPHIA THE WESTMINSTER PRESS 1906 CONTENTS PART I The Old Testament L«sson Page I. The Ancient World g II. The Ancient Empires 1 1 III. Makers of Old Testament History 12 IV. Divisions of the Old Testament 13 V. The Pentateuch 14 VI. The Books of History 15 VII. The Books of History (Continued) 16 VIII. The Books of History (Concluded) 17 IX. Poetry and Wisdom. 18 X. The Prophets 19 XL The Prophets (Continued) 20 XII. The Prophets (Concluded) 21 XIII. Review 22 PART II Old Testament History, Creation to David Lesson Page I. The Beginnings of History 27 II. Abraham, the Friend of God 28 III. The Family of Jacob 30 IV. Israel in Egypt 31 V. Moses , 32 VI. Israel in the Wilderness 34 5 6 CONTENTS Lesson Page VII. The Settlement in Canaan 35 VIII. The Tribes in Canaan 2>1 IX. The Times of the Judges 38 X. Samuel 40 XL David 42 XII. David's Empire 44 XIII. Review 45 PART III Old Testament History, Solomon to Hezekiah Lesson Page I. Solomon's Glory 49 II. David's Line 50 III. The Kingdom of Israel 52 IV. Elijah 53 V. Elisha 54 VI. Jehu's Revolution 56 VII. From Joash to Hezekiah 57 VIII. The Age of Uzziah 59 IX. The Assyrian Power 60 X. The Early Prophets 62 XL The Early Prophets (Concluded) ^z XII. Hezekiah 64 XIII. Review 66 PART I THE OLD TESTAMENT ®Ii^ WUi (StBttLvx^nt LESSON I The Ancient World The Old Testament tells the story of the Hebrew people, and how Jehovah their God took care of them and prepared them for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. This story runs for about fifteen hundred years, from the call of Abraham to the prophecy of Malachi, about four hundred years before Christ. The scene of this story lies in that part of the world now called Turkey in Asia. Find it on your school map. It is a dry, hot country, and the greater part of it has always been a desert. Near the corners of our map we notice four seas, the Caspian Sea on the northeast, the Per- sian Gulf on the southeast, the Red Sea with its two gulfs on the southwest, and to the westward the eastern end of the Mediterranean, or Great Sea. As the country is largely desert, the life of the people has always centered more or less about the rivers. Our map shows four rivers. The river to the eastward is the Ti'g-ris; the larger one, into which the Tigris empties, is the Eu-phra'tes; and the river with several mouths, flowing north and emptying into the Mediterranean, is the Nile. The little river near the Mediterranean coast, emptying into that tiny lake, is the Jordan. That lake, by the way, is forty-seven miles long. [Note. — Of course the graduates of the Junior Department know these things ; but they are put here to help those that have not studied Bible geography before.] Four countries must also be located. On the lower Euphrates, 9 THE ANCIENT WORLD 10 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS from the Persian Gulf up, was the land of Chal-dse'a or Bab-y- lo'ni-a. North of Babylonia, on the Upper Tigris, was the country of As-syr'-i-a. West of the Red Sea, along the Nile to the southward, stretched the land of E'gypt. And between the Great Sea and the Jordan, extending east of the river a few miles, was the land of Ca'naan, called in later times Palestine, the Holy Land, the land of Israel. It was guarded on the north by mountains, on the east and south by great deserts, and on the west by the sea. God chose this little land to be the home of his people. Learn I. TWELVE FEATURES OF THE ANCIENT? WORLD Four Seas, C. S., P. G., R. S., M. S. Four Rivers, T., K, N., J. Four Countries, C. or B., A., E., C. 1 What story does the Old Testament tell ? 2 Where does this story begin, and where does it end ? 3 On your school map, draw lightly four lines, inclosing the surface given in the map herewith. 4 What countries and continents lie beyond the edges of this map? 5 Around which would you sail in going from the Persian Gulf to the upper end of the Red Sea? From thence to the coast of Canaan? 6 What is the general character of the country shown on the map ? 7 Name and locate the four seas. 8 Name and trace the four rivers. What more do you know about these? ,jj 9 Name and locate the four countries. ID Other names for Canaan? 11 How was the situation of Canaan peculiar? 12 Which were the twelve features of the ancient world? Notebook Work. — Have a notebook especially for these lessons. Any good blank book will do ; but a square book, small quarto size, with stiff sides, will be found most convenient. Make the title page with care : examine printed books to see how the lines are arranged. Your name should go in as author of the book, of course ; and your Sunday-school's name may go in at the bottom, where the publisher's name is generally placed. For a frontispiece, facing the title page, draw Map i, enlarging the scale with the help of the cross-lines. Any school teacher can show you how to do this. For each lesson, write the things you learn. The answers to all the questions should be written out ; but it is better to THE OLD TESTAMENT II answer them not one by one, but in the form of a connected story, or a statement of things learned. If this makes more work than you have time for, do what the teacher assigns. Pictures appropriate for illustra- tion may be pasted in wherever they will help. LESSON II The Ancient Empires As we study Hebrew and Jewish history, we learn much of the empires that rose, one after another, each seeking to conquer and rule the lands of the ancient world. Four of these great empires influenced the Hebrew people during Bible times. The first of these was the Egyptian empire. While the Hebrews were in Egypt, growing up into a nation, the new Pha'raoh or king of Egypt, Thoth'mes HI., followed by his son, Ram'ses II., made great expeditions all over the Old Testament world, extending the power of Egypt. It was this Ramses II., probably, who oppressed the Israelites. The Pharaohs did not keep these conquests long; but during the whole of the Old Testament period, Egypt was a strong and sometimes a conquering kingdom. It was also rich, highly civilized, and full of wonderful temples and other works of ancient times. The second was the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians dwelt on the banks of the upper Tigris and eastward to the mountains of Armenia. Nineveh was their capital. Fierce and warlike, their great kings loved to conquer, plunder, and carry away captive ; and few cities ever held out against the Assyrian soldiers. Sen-nach'e-rib was the most noteworthy of the Assyrian conquerors. The third was the Chaldsean or Babylonian empire. Its country was the lower Euphrates Valley, and its capital was the great city of Babylon. The greatest king of this empire was Neb-u-chad-nez'zar, who reigned from 604 to 561 b. c. The fourth was the Persian empire, founded by Cyrus, who con- quered Babylon in 539 b. c. Persia lay east of the Persian Gulf. The greatest king of the Persian empire was Darius I., 521 to 486 B. c. After these came other empires, in the time between the Old Tes- tament and the New. In New Testament times the Bible world was ruled by the Roman empire. INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS Learn II. FOUR ANCIENT EMPIRES I. The Egyptian empire. II. The Assyrian empire. III. The Chaldaean or Babylonian empire. IV. The Persian empire. 1 Why should we learn about the ancient empires? 2 What empire ruled the Hebrews while they were beginning to be a nation ? 3 What were the kings of this empire called? 4 What did Thothmes III. and Ramses II. do? 5 Describe the country of Egypt. 6 Where did the Assyrians live? 7 What were they like? 8 What was the third empire? 9 Who was its greatest king? 10 Who founded the Persian empire? when? 11 Where did it lie? 12 In New Testament times, what empire had taken the place of these? 13 Which were the four ancient empires? LESSON III Makers of Old Testament History The Old Testament is full of stories about great men and women whom God raised up and helped, so that they did wonderful things for his cause. But among them all five men stand out worthy to be remembered as those whose lives and work helped to shape the history of God's people. Let us, therefore, learn III. FIVE OLD TESTAMENT LEADERS I. Abraham, "the friend of God," the founder of the Hebrew people, who in very early times, at God's call, migrated with his family or tribe and their possessions from Chaldaea to Canaan. II. Moses, the great leader and lawgiver, who delivered the Israel- ites from bondage in Egypt, led them in their wanderings to Canaan, and taught them the will of God as their law. THE OLD TESTAiMENT I3 III. David, the shepherd king, who organized the tribes of Israel into a nation, founded the kingdom, made Jerusalem its capital, and subdued all the surrounding countries. He was "a man after God's own heart," — a faithful follower of Jehovah the God of Israel, though not perfect as a man. IV. Elijah, the prophet of Jehovah, who faced Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, and turned back the people from following Baal. V. Nehemiah, the governor of Jerusalem in the days of Arta- xerxes, king of Persia. He rebuilt the ruined walls of Jerusalem and laid the foundations of the later Jewish state, rescuing the city both from its enemies on the outside and from the sins and mistakes of its inhabitants within. He, too, was a faithful and devoted follower of God. 1 What stories are found in the Old Testament? 2 Why are the five men of this lesson especially worth remembering? 3 What is Abraham called ? 4 What did he do ? when ? how ? 5 What was Moses? 6 From what did he deliver Israel? 7 How did he lead and teach them? 8 What was David? 9 What four things did he do for Israel ? 10 Describe his character. 11 What did Elijah do? 12 What did Nehemiah do? 13 Who were the five Old Testament leaders? LESSON IV Divisions of the Old Testament In the Junior Department the pupils learn the names of the books of the Bible, and how they are divided. It is necessary for us to go over the same ground again, because we have learned so much more about the Bible, and because we are now ready to look more deeply . into the meaning of each book. We shall need to make a few changes in the grouping of books, in order to bring together those that properly belong together. Write from memory the names of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, and then learn 14 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS IV. SEVEN DIVISIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT I. Five books of the law, which are sometimes called the Penta- teuch, or the five books of Moses. II. Three books of early history, telling of Israel before the days of the kingdom. III. Three double books of middle history, telling of Israel and Judah during the days of the kingdom. IV. Three books of late history, telling of the Jews after the days of the kingdom. V. Six books of poetry and wisdom. VI. Four long books of prophecy, containing sermons of the prophets or stories of their work. VII. Twelve short books of prophecy. 1 Why do we need to study about the books of the Bible again? 2 Write the names of the first seventeen books, in four columns, the first column having five names, the second three, the third six, and the fourth three. 3 Put a heading to each of these columns, telling what this set of books is. 4 Put a description below each column, telling something else about the set of books. 5 Write the next five names. 6 Find, among the Major Prophets, Isaiah to Daniel, one book with a title that is not the name of a man, and put it with the books of poetry and wisdom. 7 Now make up your last three columns, and put headings and de- scriptions to them as you did before. 8 Give the seven divisions of the Old Testament. LESSON V The Pentateuch Studying separately the five books of Moses, we may learn cer- tain things about V. FIVE BOOKS OF THE LAW I. Genesis, the book of beginnings. The first eleven chapters tell about the beginning of the world. The other thirty-nine chapters THE OLD TESTAMENT ^5 tell about the beginning of the Israelites. Principal character, Abra- ham, the friend of God. II. Exodus, the book of the going out. The first twenty-four chapters tell how the Israelites went out from Egypt to Mount Sinai. The last sixteen chapters tell how they made the tabernacle. Principal character, Moses, the deliverer. III. I/eviticus, the laws of the priests and Levites. It tells how the priests were to help the people to worship God. Principal char- acter, Aaron, the high priest. IV. Numbers, the wilderness book. It tells about the life of the Israelites in the wilderness during their journey between Mount Sinai and Canaan. Principal character, Caleb, the faithful spy. V. Deuteronomy, the book of the Second Law. It gives what Moses said to the people just before they entered the land of Canaan. Principal character, Moses, the lawgiver. Find, in your Bible, the first words of each book, number of chap- ters, and a verse about the principal character. In Deuteronomy, pick out a passage of five or six verses that shows Moses as a great orator. 1 What is Genesis ? 2 How is the book divided? 3 Who is the principal character? 4 What is Exodus? how divided? Principal character? 5 What is Leviticus? Of what does it tell? Principal character? 6 What is Numbers? Of what does it tell? Principal character? 7 What is Deuteronomy? What does it give? Principal character? LESSON VI The Books of History The twelve books of history which follow the books of the law are divided, as we have learned, into three books of early history, three double books of middle histor3% and three books of late his- tory. We must therefore learn VI. THREE BOOKS OF EARLY HISTORY I. Joshua, the book of the conquest of Canaan. It tells how the l6 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS Israelites entered Canaan and conquered its inhabitants. Principal character, Joshua, the general. II. Judg-es, the book of war stories. It tells how the Israelites were governed by judges before they had a king. Principal char- acter, Gideon, the deliverer. III. Buth, the story of peace. It tells about Ruth, the ancestress of David. Principal character, Ruth, the faithful daughter-in-law. 1 What is Joshua? 2 Of what does it tell ? 3 Principal character? 4 What is Judges? 5 Of what does it tell? 6 Principal character? 7 What is Ruth? 8 Of whom does it tell ? 9 Principal character? 10 Which of these three books do you like best? why? Mid-quarter Review. — Take the occasion of this short lesson to review the lessons learned so far, and to bring up your notebook work if it is incomplete. LESSON VII The Books of History, continued The books of early history prepare us for the long story of the kingdom, — first the kingdom of all Israel and then the separate kingdoms of Israel and Judah. We must now learn VII. THREE DOUBLE BOOKS OF MIDDLE HISTORY I. Samuel, the starting of the kingdom. First Samuel, chapters i to 12, tells about Samuel, the last judge. The other nineteen chapters of First Samuel tell about Saul, the first king. Second Samuel tells about King David. Principal char- acters, these three men. II. Kings, the course of the kingdom. First Kings, first half, tells about King Solomon; and he is the principal character. First Kings, second half, tells about the king- THE OLD TESTAMENT I7 doms of Judah and Israel; principal character, Elijah. Second Kings, first seventeen chapters, tells about Judah and Israel until the fall of Samaria ; principal character, Elisha. Second Kings, last eight chapters, tells about the kingdom of Judah until the fall of Jerusalem ; principal character, Josiah. III. Chronicles, the review of the kingdom. First Chronicles reviews the history until the death of King David ; principal character, David. Second Chronicles reviews the history from the reign of King Solomon until the fall of Jerusalem; prin- cipal character, Hezekiah. 1 What do the two books of Samuel give? 2 How is First Samuel divided? 3 Of what does the first part tell? the second part? 4 Of whom does Second Samuel tell ? 5 Name the three principal characters of these books. 6 What do the books of Kings give? 7 How is First Kings divided? Principal character of the first half? How many chapters in it ? 8 Of what does the second half of First Kings tell? Principal character? 9 Into what two parts is Second Kings divided? 10 Of what does the first part tell? Principal character? 11 Of what does the second part tell? Principal character? 12 What do the books of Chronicles give? 13 What does First Chronicles review? Principal character? 14 What does Second Chronicles review? Principal character? (Some of these questions may be postponed until next lesson.) LESSON VIII The Books of History, concluded The middle history of the Hebrews, or the history of the king- dom, ends with the fall of Jerusalem, 587 b. c, and the final car- rying away of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. After the books which tell of the kingdom we have VIII. THREE BOOKS OF LATE HISTORY I. Ezra, the book of the return. It tells how some of the Jews l8 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS returned from the captivit}^, rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem, and renewed the law. Principal character, Ezra, the scribe. II. Nehemiah, the book of the revival. It tells how Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and reformed the people. Principal character, Nehemiah, the governor. III. Esther, the book of God's providence. It tells about the Jews who did not return from the captivity, and how Esther saved them from destruction. Principal character, Esther, the brave queen. Be sure to find and write those three things about each book. Review and complete the work of last lesson. 1 With what event does the middle history of the Hebrews end? 2 What is Ezra? 3 Of what does it tell? Principal character? 4 What is Nehemiah? 5 Of what does it tell? 6 Principal character? 7 What is Esther? 8 Of what does it tell? 9 Principal character? LESSON IX Poetry and Wisdom The Bible, especially the Old Testament, contains a great deal of poetry, some of it very beautiful, and some very instructive. It does not rhyme like ours, and the lines are not alike in length. In our Common Version none of it is printed as poetry; but in the American Revision most of the poetry is printed in lines, and so is easier to distinguish from prose. Learn IX. SIX BOOKS OF POETRY I. Job, the book about God. It tells what Job and his friends said about God, and how God answered them. II, Psalms, the Jewish hymn book. It contains the hymns that the Jews used to sing in the temple. There are one hundred and fifty psalms, arranged in five books. THE OLD TESTAMENT IQ III. Proverbs, the wisdom book. It contains the wise things that King Solomon and others used to say. IV. Ecclesiastes, the book about man. It tells how King Solo- mon found that it does not make a man happy to be rich. V. The Song of Solomon, the love book. It tells about a beau- tiful maiden whom King Solomon loved, and teaches the power of true love. VI. Lamentations, the sorrow book. It tells how the Jews felt after they were carried away captive from Jerusalem. It comes in at the end of the Book of Jeremiah. Instead of looking for characters in these books, look for the most beautiful and helpful passage in each, and write where it is to be found. 1 How is Bible poetry different from ours? 2 What is Job? Of what does it tell? 3 What is Psalms? 4 What does it contain? how many? 5 What is Proverbs ? 6 What does it contain ? 7 What is Ecclesiastes? 8 Of what does it tell? 9 What is the Song of Solomon? 10 What does it teach? 11 What is Lamentations? Of what does it tell? 12 Where is the book of Lamentations found? LESSON X The Prophets After the books of poetry come the books of prophecy. These were written by prophets, preachers who revealed to the people the word of Jehovah. Sometimes the prophets denounced the people for their sins ; sometimes they preached against foreign nations ; sometimes they warned the sinners of coming trouble, and urged them to repent ; and sometimes they spoke words of mercy and comfort. There are sixteen books of prophecy, four long and twelve short. INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS The long books are sometimes called the Major Prophets, So we must learn X. FOUR LONG BOOKS OF PROPHECY I. Isaiah, the gospel prophet. He rebuked the people's sins and told of the coming of the Messiah, the Saviour whom God had promised. II. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. He told the Jews that God would carry them away to Babylon for their sins. The book of the Lamentations of Jeremiah comes in after his book of prophecy ; but it belongs among the books of poetry. III. Ezekiel, the exile prophet. He lived with the Jews in Baby- lonia, during the captivity, and gave them the word of Jehovah IV. Daniel, the noble prophet. It tells the wonderful things that happened to Daniel in Babylon. Write in your notebook, for each prophet, the first words and the number of the chapters ; and find a passage giving a sample of the prophet's teaching. 1 What were the prophets? 2 Name some of the subjects on which the prophets wrote. 3 How many books of prophecy are there? 4 What are the long books sometimes called? 5 Who was Isaiah? 6 Of whom did he tell ? 7 Who was Jeremiah ? 8 What did he predict? 9 What book follows Jeremiah? 10 Who was Ezekiel? 11 What did he do and tell? 12 Who was Daniel? 13 Where did he live and work? LESSON XI The Prophets, continued Besides the four Major Prophets, we have the twelve Minor Prophets, which originally formed one book. Some of these men THE OLD TESTAMENT 21 were fully as great as the first four, but their books are shorter. Let us learn XI. TWELVE I. Ho-se'a. II. Joel. HI. A'mos. SHORT BOOKS OF PROPHECY IV. 0-ba-di'ah. V. Jo'nah. VI. Mi'cah. Hosea and Amos preached to the people of Israel, the northern kingdom. Hosea rebukes Israel severely for its idolatry, but tells of God's forgiving love. Amos rebukes the selfishness and wicked- ness of Israel, and their worship of Jeroboam's calves. Jonah was also a prophet of Israel ; but the book of Jonah tells only of his preaching to the people of Nineveh. He was the first foreign mis- sionary. The other nine were prophets of Judah. Scholars are not agreed as to the time when Joel wrote. He predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit on God's people. Obadiah's short message is all about the people of Edom, south of the Dead Sea. Micah predicted that the Messiah should come forth from Bethlehem. the books of the twelve Minor Prophets originally minor I How were arranged ? 2. In what respect are they Name the first six. Which three were prophets of Israel? For what does Hosea rebuke Israel? Of what does he tell ? What things does Amos rebuke? 8 Of what does the book of Jonah tell? 9 What is uncertain about Joel ? 10 What did he predict? 11 Of whom did Obadiah write? 12 What did Micah predict? LESSON XII The Prophets, concluded VII. Na'hum. X. Hag'ga-i. VIIL Ha-bak'kuk. XL Zech-a-ri'ah. IX. Zeph-a-ni'ah. XII. Mal'a-chi. 22 INTERAIEDIATE GRADE LESSONS Of these six prophets, the first three prophesied in Judah before the captivity. Nahum comforted the people of Judah by predicting the downfall of Nineveh, the great city of their enemy, the Assyr- ians. Habakkuk was probably one of the temple singers ; he fore- told the coming of the Chaldseans. who were to take and destroy Jerusalem. Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of King Heze- kiah. He preached about God's judgment on the wicked. The last three prophets came after the captivity. Haggai and Zechariah preached to the Jews in Jerusalem after the return, and urged them to rise and rebuild the temple. Malachi rebuked the Jews for their careless worship, and foretold that Elijah the prophet would come again to prepare the way of the Lord. He wrote some- where between 450 and 400 b. c. 1 Name the last six of the Minor Prophets. 2 Where and when did the first three prophesy? 3 How did Nahum comfort Judah? 4 Who, probably, was Habakkuk? 5 What did he foretell ? 6 Who was Zephaniah ? 7 About what did he preach ? 8 When did the last three prophets come? 9 To whom and when did Haggai and Zechariah preach? 10 What did they say? 1 1 What did Malachi say ? 12 About when did he write? LESSON XIII Review Go over the lessons again, complete your notebook, and endeavor to fix in your memory the points learned in each lesson. This re- view chart will help : — I. Twelve features of the ancient world: — Four seas, C. S., P. G., R. S., M. S. Four rivers. T.. E., N., J. Four countries, C. or B., A., E., C. n. Four ancient empireS; E., A., C. or B., P. THE OLD TESTAMENT 23 III. Five Old Testament leaders, A., M., D., E., N. IV. Seven divisions of the Old Testament, 5 B. L., 3 B. E. H., 3 D. B. M. H., 3 B. L. H., 6 B. P. W., 4 L. B. P., 12 S. B. P. V. Five books of L., G. B. B., E. B. G. O., L. L. P. L., N. W. B., D. B. S. L. VI. Three books of E. H., J. B. C. C, J. B. W. S., R. S. P. VII. Three double books of M. H., S. S. K., K. C. K., C. R. K. VIII. Three books of L. H., E. B. Ret., N. B. Rev., E. B. G. P. IX. Six books of P., J. B. A. G., Ps. J. H. B., Pr. W. B., E. B. A. M., S. S. L. B., L. S. B. X. Four long books of prophecy, I. G. P., J. W. P., E. E. P., D. N. P. XL Twelve short books of prophecy : — Hos., Obad., Nah., Zech., Joel, Jon., Hab., Hag., Am., Mic, Zeph., Mai. Remember to find and write down a passage from each prophet giving a fair sample of his teaching. If the passage is longer than one verse, write the first sentence only. In each case write the reference, the place where found. PART II OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: FROM THE CREATION TO THE CLOSE OF DAVID'S REIGN Wlh (H^stamntt l^istnru, Qlr^attnn tn iamb LESSON I The Beginnings of History- All that the Bible tells us about the beginnings of history is con- tained in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. These chapters form an introduction to the history of the Hebrews, God's chosen people. The Hebrews belonged to the Semitic family of nations; that is, they were among the descendants of Shem or Sem, the son of Noah. Far to the eastward of Palestine, in the rich, hot plains through which flows the river Eu- phrates, lived the Babylonians, an ancient people, who built great cities and wrote their history on clay bricks in strange, wedge-shaped let- ters. North of these Baby- lonians, on the other great river, the Tigris, lived the As- syrians, also a great and an- cient people. It was some- where in the country watered MAP 2. THE LAND WHERE HISTORY BEGAN by these two rivers that Bible history began. Learn I. FOUR EARLY EVENTS I. The Creation of the world by God's power, in successive stages represented by days. H. The Fall of man into sin, and the banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, 27 28 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS HI. The Deluge of waters that destroyed all but the family of Noah, saved in the ark. IV. The Dispersion of the different races of men from the Plain of Shinar, or Babylonia, after the Deluge. Map Key.- Canaan; GS, Desert. I, Babylonia; 2, Assyria; 3, Padan-aram; 4, Syria or Aram; 5, Great Sea or Mediterranean; PG, Persian Gulf; AD, Arabian 1 Where in the Bible do we learn of the beginnings of history? 2 What do these chapters introduce ? 3 From whom were the Hebrews descended ? 4 Where did the Babylonians live? 5 The Assyrians? 6 What two bodies of water are named on the map? 7 Find two "seas" and a river connecting them. 8 Where did Bible history begin? 9 Name the four early events. LESSON II Abraham, the Friend of God Not far from where was once the mouth of the great river Eu- phrates lay an ancient city of the Babylonians, named Ur. In that city, or near by, lived an old man named Terah, his son Abram, and other members of his family or clan. See Genesis, ch. 12. God called Abram to leave Ur, take his father and all the family, and travel far up the great river to a country called Padan- aram. There he settled in a city named Haran, and there Terah died. By and by, God called Abram to move again; so taking his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and a large company of servants and followers, and leaving behind his brother Nahor and his family, Abram journeyed south- MAP 3. Abraham's wandering OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 2g west and came to the land of Canaan. God promised this land to him and to his descendants ; and so it is sometimes called "the Prom- ised Land." Learn II. SEVEN EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM L Migrates from XJr, journeying as already described. IL Wanders in Canaan. Being shepherds and herdsmen, and the land being dry, Abram and his company had to move from place to place to find pasture. IIL Separates from Lot, who took the fertile plain of the Jordan, while Abram chose the rocky center of the land, the "hill country." IV. Receives the promise of a son, through whom he shall have a great multitude of descendants. At this time God changes his name to Abraham, and his wife's to Sarah. V. Sends out Ishmael, the son of Hagar, who goes to the Arabian Desert and becomes the father of the wandering Arabs or Bedouin people. VL Obeys God by preparing to offer Isaac, his own son, upon an altar. God saved Isaac and provided another offering. VII. Finds a wife for Isaac at Haran— his cousin Rebekah, the granddaughter of Nahor and sister of Laban. Read the beautiful story, Genesis, ch. 24. Map Key.— I, Ur; 2, Babylon; 3, Haran; 4, Nineveh; 5, Beer-sheba. Notebook Work. — For each of these lessons, try to write out the substance in the form of a brief narrative, following your list of things learned. Watch the Sunday-school lesson papers, magazines, etc., for pictures that can be clipped and pasted in to illustrate the story. 1 Find the five cities on the map. 2 What persons lived in Ur? 3 To what city, in what land, did they go? 4 Who died there? 5 Whom did Abram take with him from Haran? 6 To what land did he come? Locate it. 30 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS 7 Why is Canaan called "the Promised Land" ? 8 Why is Abram generally called Abraham ? 9 What are the seven events in the life of Abraham? LESSON III The Family of Jacob Isaac, the son and heir of Abraham, was a peaceful shepherd, dwelling principally at Be'er-she'ba, on the southern border of Canaan. His twin sons were Jacob and Esau. Esau had the birthright, but Jacob, "the supplanter,'' bought it from him for a mess of pottage, and by a trick secured his aged father's blessing, too. Forced to flee from his brother's anger, he stopped on his way north at Bethel, where he had a vision, and then went on to the old home of his mother Rebekah at Haran. Here he lived for many years with his uncle Laban, mar- ried Laban's two daughters. Leah and Rachel, and had twelve sons. Return- ing to Canaan, he made peace with Esau, bought a field at Shechem. and continued to wander with his flocks and herds, as Abraham and Isaac had done. Of Jacob's twelve sons, the favorite was Joseph, son of his be- loved wife Rachel. This favoritism made trouble, which ended in the brothers selling Joseph into Egypt as a slave. Did you ever read the story of Joseph, for yourself? It begins at Genesis, chap- ter Z7- MAP 4. CANAAN Learn III. TWELVE SONS OF JACOB I. Reu'ben, II. Sim'e-on, III. Le'vi, IV. Ju'dah, V. Dan, VI. Naph'ta-li, VTL Gad, VKL Ash'er, IX. Is'sa-char, X. Zeb'u-lun, XL Jo'seph, XII. Ben'ja-min. OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 3I Map Key.— I, Damascus, the home of Eliezer, Abraham's servant; 2, Shechem, where Abraham built an ahar; 3, Beer-sheba, where Isaac dwelt for many years; 4, Hebron, where Abraham dwelt and where Sarah was buried; S, Bethel; 6, Dothan, where the brothers sold Joseph. 1 Where did Isaac and Rebekah live? 2 Who were their two sons? 3 Why did Jacob have to flee from home? 4 Whom did he bring with him on his return? 5 Who was Jacob's favorite son ? 6 What happened to him ? 7 Find the six places on the map. 8 Repeat the names of Jacob's twelve sons. LESSON IV Israel in Egypt Did 3'ou read that story of Joseph? If not, do it now. When Jacob was converted to God's will God gave him a new name, Is'ra-el, which means "a prince with God," So his descend- ants are often called the children of Israel. We must now follow the steps by which Jacob's family became a nation. Learn IV. FIVE STEPS IN THE MAKING OF ISRAEL I. The Rise of Joseph. The boy who was sold as a slave rose, by God's help, to be ruler of all Egypt and manager of its vast stores of grain. So, when there was famine in Canaan, it was to their own brother that the sons of Jacob came, seeking food. II. The Settlement in Egypt. Joseph finally made himself known to his brethren, and invited them to come with their fam- ilies and servants and flocks, and with old Jacob, and settle in Egypt. This they did, settling in the fertile land of Goshen, in the delta or flat country among the mouths of the river Nile. III. The Multiplying. Here they multiplied and grew, until in a few hundred years — the exact time is uncertain — they had become a great multitude. 32 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS IV. The Bondage. A new king arose; that is, a new line or d\nasty of the Pharaohs or kings of Egypt. This king, probably Ramses II., oppressed Israel, made the people toil as slaves, and tried to weaken them by ordering all male infants to be killed. V. The Deliverance from this cruel bondage, long delayed, came at length through the work of Moses, God's appointed leader of the new nation. 1 Who received the name of Israel? 2 What are his descendants sometimes called? 3 Name the sons of Jacob's family. 4 What did Joseph rise to be ? 5 Why did the brothers come to Egypt? 6 Where did the family settle ? 7 What did the family come to be ? 8 What change brought trouble on them? 9 What did Pharaoh do to them ? 10 Whom did God appoint to deliver them? 11 What were the five steps in the making of Israel? LESSON V Moses The bondage of Israel kept growing worse and worse; but God had not forgotten his people. Moses was born, and God was getting him ready. Forty years he spent in Egypt; forty more in the land of Midian; and forty more in his great work of leading and teach- ing the people. In studying his life let us picture and learn V. EIGHT SCENES IN" THE LIFE OF MOSES T. Baby. His mother, Joch'e-bed, has just placed him in the river, in a little ark or boat of bulrushes. Pharaoh's daughter finds him, adopts him, and sends his sister Mir'i-am to fetch his own mother to be his nurse. OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 33 II. Scholar. As the son of Pharaoh's daughter, we see the young man studying all the wisdom of the Eg3'ptians with the learned priests in their temple. III. Exile. At forty years of age Moses joined his people, tried to help them, and was forced to flee. We see him now, tending the flocks of Je'thro, his father-in-law, in the wilderness. IV. Commissioner. Seeing a burning bush, Moses drew near and heard God's voice. God now commissioned or appointed him to go back, find Aa'ron his brother, and deliver Israel from the hands of Pharaoh. V. Spokesman. We see him now before Pharaoh's throne, say- ing, "Thus saith Jehovah . . . Let my people go. that they may serve me." It took ten plagues to make Pharaoh willing to do this. VI. Leader. At the Red Sea we see Moses stretching forth his rod as God commanded, and leading the people out of Eg3^pt, through the sea on dry land, to the wilderness and freedom. VII. Lawgiver. At Mount Sinai we see him giving the people the Ten Commandments, and other laws of God. VIII. Prophet. After the long wanderings in the wilderness we see the aged Moses with the people gathered round him, as he tells them again God's law, and how they must observe it in their new country. Then God brought him to the top of Pisgah, showed him the land, and took him home. 1 Why were the children of Israel in Egypt tempted to think that God had forgotten them ? 2 What were the three divisions of the life of Moses? 3 Who was his mother? his sister? his brother? 4 Who adopted him and educated him ? 5 Why did he have to leave Egypt? 6 How did he become God's commissioner? 7 How did God. through Moses, make Pharaoh willing for the Israel- ites to go ? 8 By what wonderful deliverance did they leave Egypt? I) Where did Moses see the Promised Land? 10 Name the eight scenes in the life of Moses, 34 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS LESSON VI Israel in the Wilderness The ten plagues which Moses, at God's direction, called down upon Pharaoh ended with the death of each firstborn Egyptian child. This was so terrible that Pharaoh started to drive the Israelites out, instead of holding them in. But he soon repented, ordered out his army, and chased Israel into a trap, as he thought, with the moun- tains behind and to the left of them, his army in front, and the Red Sea — the upper end of the Gulf of Suez — on their right hand. From this peril God saved them by a great deliverance. This going out of Israel from Egj^pt is called "the Exodus." Learn VI. FIVE MARCHES IN THE WILDERNESS I. From Ram'e-aes to the Red Sea. On the night of the pass- over, Ex. 12 : 29-42, the people gathered and started for Rameses, continuing their journey until stopped b}^ the Red Sea. II. From the Red Sea to Mount Si'nai. After the crossing they journeyed down the coast of the Sinai Peninsula, and camped in front of "the mount of God." III. From Sinai to Ka- desh-bar'ne-a. After about a year at Sinai, they marched through the Wilderness of Pa'ran to the oasis of Ka- desh, and there sent spies up into the land of Ca'naan. IV. From Ka'desh around to Kadesh. Turned back for their sins, they lived a desert life for thirty-eight years, and then began to move V. From Kadesh to Mo'ab. After a long and hard journey, they reached the plains of Moab, near the lower end of the river Jordan. MAP 5. EGYPT AND SINAI OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 35 Map Key. — i, Rameses, in the land of Goshen; 2, the place where the Red Sea was crossed; 3, Mount Sinai; 4, Kadesh-barnea; 5, the plains of Moab. For the dotted line between the two gulfs, see Map Key to Lesson XII. 1 What was the tenth plague? 2 Into what trap did Pharaoh chase Israel ? 3 How were the people saved? 4 Who led them? 5 From what point was the first start made? 6 Along what shore was the second march ? 7 How long did they stay at Sinai ? 8 To what point did they march then ? 9 What did they do for thirty-eight years ? 10 Describe the last journey. 1 1 What were the five marches in the wilderness ? LESSON VII The Settlement in Canaan After forty years of marching and camping, Israel was at last in sight of the Promised Land. It lay just across the Jordan, with the walls of Jericho in the distance ; and beyond were the high hills of central Palestine. Israel was encamped on the plains of Moab, and evidently stayed there for some time before crossing the river. While there Moses, having given the people his last words, died, and was succeeded by Joshua, the new leader. Learn VII. SEVEN STEPS IN THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN I. The east- Jordan campaign. This began before Moses died; in fact, as soon as Israel reached the land of Moab. North of Moab. guarding the fine table-land of Gilead, was Heshbon, the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites. North of Sihon's kingdom, beyond the river Jabbok, lay the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan. All this country was conquered and subdued. Num. 21:21 to 22:1. II. The encampment at Gilgal, near Jericho. Crossing the river by a miracle, the host of Israel established itself in a forti- fied camp in the Jordan Valley. This camp became Joshua's headquarters and base of supplies during most of the war. Josh., ch. 3; 4: 19; 10:6-9. 36 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS III. The conquest of Jericho and Ai, two strong cities. Jericho at the mouth and Ai at the head of the valley which led up to the center of the hill country. When these had been captured by God's lielp the way into the land was open. Josh., chs. 6, 8. IV. The southern campaign. The king of Jerusalem, the strongest city in southern Palestine, formed an alliance of five cities to attack Gibeon, a city which had made peace with Joshua. Hearing of this, Joshua marched quickly from Gilgal up the valley to the divide, or top of the ridge, and encountered the enemy at Beth-horon, driving them south- ward with great slaughter and occupying the land, one city after another. Josh., ch. 10. MAP 6. Joshua's campaigns V. The northern campaign. In the same way the country to the north was taken, all except part of the plain of Esdraelon and the strong cities which guarded it. These v/ere still held by the Canaanites. Josh., ch. ii; Judg., ch. I. VI. The division of the land, according to God's direction, each tribe except Levi receiving its portion. Much of the land, how- ever, remained unsubdued, like the city of Jebus, or Jerusalem, which was not finally taken till the days of David. VII. The disbanding of the army. The war over, the soldiers of the three east- Jordan tribes rejoined their families, and the rest went to their allotted portions. Map Key.— M, Moab; G, Gilead; B, Bashan; E, Esdraelon; i, Heshbon; 2, Gilgal; 3, Jericho; 4, Ai; 5, Beth-horon; 6, Jebus or Jerusalem. 1 What parts of the Promised Land could the Israelites see from the plains of Moab? 2 Who now became Israel's leader? 3 What two kingdoms were first conquered ? 4 How was the Jordan crossed? 5 What was the importance of Gilgal to Joshua? OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID Zl 6 Why did he attack Jericho and Ai? 7 Who headed the league of five cities? 8 At what place did Joshua defeat them? 9 How much did Joshua conquer to the north ? 10 After the conquest, what two things remained to be done? 11 Recite the seven steps in the conquest of Canaan. LESSON VIII The Tribes in Canaan Jacob, or Israel, had twelve sons, whose names we have already learned. These are called the twelve patriarchs. Each of them had descendants. The land of Canaan was divided into twelve portions by Joshua ; and for the most part each tribe, the descendants of one patriarch, had one portion. But there were some changes and rearrangements, which will confuse us if we do not notice them carefully. The tribe of Joseph was divided between his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim was a strong and numerous tribe, and had one of the best portions. Manasseh had two portions ; his oldest son, Machir, had one, east of the Jordan ; and the rest of the tribe lived in a portion north of Ephraim and south of the mountain range of Carmel. So there were really three portions for the descendants of Joseph, although Manasseh was always counted as two half-tribes. The tribe of Simeon was never very strong. They were given the desert country south of Judah and within its boundaries. We hear very little of them after the settlement; they were practically lost in the desert, or else combined with the tribe of Judah. The tribe of Levi had no regular in- heritance, but lived in villages and cities of their own throughout the other tribes. They were the ministers of God's worship ; the Lord was their portion. MAP 7. THE TWELVE TRIBES 38 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS We must also remember that none of the tribes, when first located, had the gromid all to itself. There were many other cities and peoples, especially in the low country — the plains along the coast, the Jordan Valley, and the great Plain of Esdraelon. But Israel had the hill country pretty well in hand ; and as the years went on the tribes extended their conquests, until, at last, David brought the whole land firmly under his rule. We are now ready to learn VIII. TWELVE TRIBAL DIVISIOJxTS I. Three east of Jordan: Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Ma- nasseh. II. Two southern: Judah (including Simeon) and Benjamin. III. Two central: Ephraim, and the other half of Manasseh. Dan originally was located at the sea, west of Manasseh, but moved north. IV. Five northern: Issachar, Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan. Map Key.— J, Jerusalem; B, Beer-sheba; D,.Dan, the city to which the tribe moved; i, Reuben; 2, Gad; 3, Manasseh, east of the Jordan; 4, Judah; 5, Simeon; 6, Benjamin; 7, Ephraim; 8, Manasseh west of the Jordan; 9, Dan, as originally assigned; 10, Issachar; 11, Asher; 12, Zebulun; 13, Naphtali. Note that the land stretched "from Dan to Beer-sheba." 1 Why is there no tribe of Joseph on the map ? 2 Why are there two places for Manasseh? 3 Why do we hear so little of Simeon ? 4 What did the tribe of Levi do? 5 How was the conquest incomplete? 6 Who finished it at last? 7 Locate the tribes east of Jordan. 8 Locate the two southern tribes. 9 Locate the two central tribes. 10 Which were the northern tribes? Locate them. LESSON IX The Times of the Judg-es The history of the twelve tribes in Canaan, until the days of Eli and Samuel, is given in the Book of Judges. From that we learn OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 39 that Israel kept forgetting Jehovah their God; that when they forgot and went after other gods, God punished them through foreign oppression; and that after every oppression when they repented, he raised up a dehverer to save them. These dehverers were called judges. Twelve are named; but we will learn only those associated with the IX. SIX OPPRESSIONS UNDER THE JUDGES I. The Mesopotamian oppression. Mes-o-po-ta'mi-a means "be- tween the rivers" ; the country north of Abraham's old home, between the Euphrates and the Tigris. This oppression was broken by Oth'ni-el. II. The Moabite oppression. Mo'ab lay east of the Dead Sea. This was broken by E'hud. III. The Canaanite oppression. The Ca'naan-ites or original inhabitants held the lower parts of the land, like the Plain of Esdraelon, and had strong cities like Jcz're-el and Beth-she'an. Now they united and oppressed the northern tribes. Deb'o-rah the prophet- ess and Ba'rak led against Sis'e-ra the Canaanite general, and defeated him. IV. The Midianite oppression. The Mid'i-an-ites were A'rabs (a as in "at") from the eastern desert lands. Their oppression was broken by Gid'e-on. V. The Ammonite oppression. The Am'mon-ites lived north of Moab, east of the Jordan. It was Jeph'thah who broke this oppres- sion. VI. Last, worst, and longest was the Phi-lis'tine oppression. The Philistines had five strong cities in the plain southwest of the hill country of Judah, along the sea. Sam'son worried them, but did not break their grip, which continued, ofif and on. through the judgeships of Eli the priest, and Samuel the prophet, and the reign of Saul the king. LANDS OF THE WEST 40 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS Map Key.— D, Damascus; H, Hamath; i, the Philistines; 2, the Amalekites; 3, Edom; 4, Moab; 5, Ammon; 6, Phoenicia; 7, Zobah; 8, Hamath. There were also the Canaanites in the Plain of Esdraelon, and Midianites wandering in the desert to the east and south. Mesopotamia lay beyond the Euphrates; see Map 2. The kingdoms of Zcbah and Hamath were of uncertain extent; see I Sam. 14:47; II Sam., ch. 8. The dotted line with a double curve represents the botindary later established between Israel and Judah. 1 What does the book of Judges tell us? 2 How did God punish Israel? 3 For what sin ? 4 What was a "judge"? 5 Who broke the Mesopotamian oppression? 6 The Moabite oppression ? 7 Where were the Canaanites located ? 8 Who broke their oppression ? 9 Who delivered from the Midianites? the Ammonites? 10 Who fought against the Philistine oppression? 11 Name the six oppressions under the judges. LESSON X Samuel The times of the judges, as we have seen, w^ere times of war. The land was cut up into sections, with strong cities of the enemy lying between ; and the Philistines and other oppressors found it usually an easy prey. The sanctuary of Jehovah was at Shiloh. in the land of Ephraim. Old Eli had been priest and judge together for some years, when a child was born who was to bring the line of judges to a close. His mother's name was Hannah. His birthplace was at Ramathaim, "the two Ramahs" or hilltops, in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Samuel, "asked of God" ; and his mother gave him to God, and brotight him to the tabernacle to live with Eli. Learn X. SIX SCENES IN THE LIFE OF SAMUEL L Hearing Jehovah's voice. We see the boy Samuel kneeling, as Eli had told him to, and saying. "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." God gave him a message for Eli. I Sam., ch. 3. OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 41 II. At the death of Eli. The old man, now blind, is sitting at the city gate in Shiloh, waiting for news from the battle. His two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, liave taken the holy ark of God with the army, hoping thus to win the day against the Philistines. A messenger comes rushing in and pants out the news. "Israel is fled, . . . great slaugh- ter, . . . thy two sons . . . dead, . . . the ark of God is taken!" It was too much for old Eli ; he fell back and died. Read the story, I Sam. 4:12-18. That left young Samuel, apparently, as Eli's successor ; and he, no doubt, took charge at once. III. Judging Israel. We see Samuel assembling all Israel at Mizpah, teaching them to forsake their false gods, and then leading them victoriously against the Philistines. Ch. 7. IV. Making Saul king. Young Saul has already found Samuel and been anointed by him. Now, in another assembly of the people, also at Mizpah, he publicly presents the new king to the people. V. Rebu-iing Saul's disobedience. When Saul returned from an expedition without having done God's bidding exactly, Samuel met him and told him that God had rejected him and would find another man to take his place. VI. Anointing David. The man was found at Bethlehem, and he was but a shepherd boy. But Samuel anointed him with holy oil, and set him apart to be God's king in due time. Soon after, Samuel died ; his work was over. Map Key. — i, Ramathaim, Samuel's birthplace and probably his home; 2 Shiloh, where he lived with Eli; 3, 4, 5, Gilgal, Bethel, Mizpah, where he judged Israel; 6, Bethlehem, where he anointed David; 7, Jerusalem. MAP 9. SAMUEL S COUNTRY 1 Why did the Philistines find it easy to oppress Israel? 2 What were at Shiloh ? 3 Why did the birth of Samuel mark an era in the history of Israel? 4 What did his mother do with him? 42 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS 5 How did Samuel first hear Jehovah's voice? 6 When was he, probably, made Eli's successor? 7 What did he do as judge of Israel? 8 Whom did he make king? 9 Why did he rebuke Saul ? 10 What was his last important act? 11 Repeat the six scenes in the life of Samuel. LESSON XI David The shepherd boy whom Samuel found at Bethlehem, chosen by God to do the work that Saul had shown himself unfit for, grew to be one of the greatest kings and one of the most remarkable men in all history. The Bible tells us so much about David that we caq learn only a little of it here. The story begins at I Sam., ch. l6, and runs to I Kings, ch. 2. Learn ' XI. TWELVE CHAPTEBS IN DAVID'S LIFE These may be arranged in four books to help your memory. I. David the shepherd. II. David the slayer. III. David the sing-er. First we see the ruddy shepherd boy on the hills, ready to kill lions and bears, or sling stones hard and true, or sing and play on his harp. He comes to the camp, and there goes out in the name of the God of Israel against Goliath the giant. He is invited to King Saul's house, and soothes the troubled king with his beautiful music. This is the first stage of David's career. IV. David the comrade. V. David the candidate. VI. David the captain. While at Saul's court David and Saul's oldest son Jonathan be- come fast friends, and make a covenant of brotherhood with each other. David marries Saul's younger daughter Michal, and is looked upon as a candidate for the throne when Saul shall die. This makes Saul angry, and David has to flee for his life. Down in the desert, at the cave of Adullam, David organizes a large company of follow- OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 43 ers and becomes their captain. They lead a roving Hfe, full of ad- venture and hardship. VIL David king of Judah. VIII. David keeping quiet. IX^ David king of all Israel. While Saul and Jonathan and the army of Israel were fighting the Philistines upon Mount Gilboa, David and his band were chasing the Amalekites down in the desert. They returned victorious, to learn that Saul and Jonathan were dead. Soon after, the elders of Judah chose David as their king; and he moved to Hebron and reigned there seven years. During this period things were going very badly up in the north under Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. David might easily have conquered Ish-bosheth's kingdom, but he kept quiet ; and when Ish-bosheth was slain the northern tribes came to David of their own accord and made him king. This was what he had been waiting for. X. David's power. XL David's penitence. XII. David's poems. After David had established and extended his kingdom and empire, as we shall learn in the next lesson, he fell into a grievous sin, and God sent Nathan the prophet to rebuke him. David was penitent for this, and God forgave him ; but punishment came in his latter days in the revolt of Absalom and other troul)les. All his days David was a poet. He wrote a beautiful lament at the death of Saul and Jonathan. The Psalms of David have comforted and helped God's children in every age. I What did the shepherd boy of Bethlehem grow to be? 2. Where is his story found? 3 What did he do in the camp of Israel ? 4 How did he serve King Saul ? 5 How did he become a candidate for Saul's throne? 6 What did he do at the cave of Adullam ? 7 Recite the titles of the six chapters of David's life so far. 8 Over what tribe was he king at first ? 9 How did he get to be king of all Israel ? 10 How did he become penitent? 11 Where may David's poems be found? 12 Recite the titles of the last six chapters. 44 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS LESSON XII David's Empire When we think that the people of Israel under the judges were scattered tribes of settlers, it is hard to realize that in little more than two generations they had become a great and in many respects a civilized empire. This rapid rise was part of God's plan in the training of his people for their work. It was only one of the many wonderful providences through which they were led, down to the time when Christ, the Son of David, arose to bless the world. Having learned something about Samuel, *^aul, and David, ht us now learn XII. SEVEN STEPS IN THE BUILDING OF DAVID'S EMPIRE I. Israel united under Saul. The Philistines were still powerful, and Saul was more of a fighting chief than a king; but under him the tribes learned to work together. XL David king of Judah, which had been for many years almost a separate nation from Ephraim and the northern tribes. III. David king of all Israel, succeeded Saul's son Ish-bo'sheth or Esh'ba-al. David now conquered Jerusalem or Jebus from the Jebusites, and made IV. Jerusalem Israel's capital and sanctuary. It was and always has been a strong city for war ; it was convenient as a gov- ernment center; and when David, soon after, brought the ark there, it also became the center of Israel's religion. V. Neighboring foes subdued. Moab, Ammon, Philistia, the Canaanites, the Edomites, — all the surrounding nations, once op- pressors of Israel, now paid tribute to Jerusalem. VI. The empire organized. David organized the army, the civil government, and the religion of Israel, thus making the empire strong within. VII. The empire complete, embracing all the "lands of the west," from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates, as promised to Abram. Gen. 15: 18. OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, CREATION TO DAVID 45 This was a great empire; but it rested on the foundation of the unity of the tribes of Israel. So long as they, Judah and Ephraim and the rest, chose to live together, it would stand. Even under David it trembled more than once. Under David's son Solomon it flourished outwardly, but grew weaker within. Map Key. — The river of Egypt is shown on Map 5 by a dotted line in the desert between Egypt and Canaan. It is a wady or dry valley. 1 What great change came over Israel in little more than two generations ? ' 2 What was the great point gained by Saul's reign? 3 What was Judah like as compared with the northern tribes ? 4 How did David provide a capital for the kingdom of all Israel? 5 What three things made Jerusalem an important city ? 6 What change came over the neighboring nations? 7 What three things did David organize? 8 How far did his empire finally stretch? 9 What was its boundary on the east? on the west? 10 On what foundation did David's empire rest? 11 What were the seven steps in the building of David's empire? LESSON XIII Review Study the lessons again, and test your memory with the aid of this review drill-chart : — I. Four early events, C F., D., D. XL Seven events in the life of Abraham, M. U., W. C, S. L., R. P., S. I., O. G., F. W. I. III. Twelve sons of Jacob, R. S. L. J., D. N. G. A., I. Z. J. B. IV. Five steps in the making of Israel, R. J., S. E., M., B., D. V. Eight scenes in the life of Moses, B., S., E., C., S., L., L., P. VI. Five marches in the wilderness, R. to R. S., R. S. to M. S., M. S. to K. B., K. B. to K. B., K. B. to M. VII. Seven steps in the conquest of Canaan, E. J. C, E. G., C. J. A., S. C., N. C, D. L., D. A. VIII. Twelve tribal divisions: Three E. J.— R., G., V2 M. ; two S.— J. (S.), B.; two C.— E., ^ M., (D.) ; five N.— I., A., Z., N., D. 46^ INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS IX. Six oppressions under the judges, Me. (O.), Mo. (E.), C (D. and B.), Mi. (G.), A. (J.), Ph. (S., E., S., S.). X. Six scenes in the life of Samuel, H. J. V., A. D. E., J. I., M. S. K., R. S. D., A. D. XL Twelve chapters in the life of David : — Sh., Com., K. J., Pow., SI., Can., K. Q., Pen., Si., Cap., K. A. I., Poe. XII. Seven stages in the building of David's empire, I. U. S., D. K. J., D. K. A. I., J. I. C. S., N. F. S., E. O., E. E. We may remember the links in the history better by arranging them in three groups of five each, so that the last name in the first group will be the first name in the next group, and so on, thus : — I II III CREATION ABRAHAM SAMUEL Fall Joseph Saul Deluge Moses David Dispersion Joshua Solomon ABRAHAM SAMUEL REHOBOAM and JEROBOAM We are to learn about Rehoboam and Je ;roboam in the lessons of le next quarter. PART III OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: FROM SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH Mh ®?0tam^ttt HftBtcrg, i^oUitmin to i^tztkxulf LESSON I Solomon's Glory The great empire of King David descended to Solomon, his young and gifted son. Another son, Adonijah, tried to get it, but failed. Like his father, Solomon reigned for forty years. After establishing himself firmly on the throne, Solomon began the great works which made his name so famous in after days. Learn I. SIX WORKS OF SOLOMON L Walls. He completed the wall of Jerusalem, which David his father had begun, and fortified it with towers. He also brought water inside the walls by means of great reservoirs and aqueducts. II. Strongholds. He strengthened his country against attack by building and fortifying strong cities at all the places where an enemy might come in. III. Palaces. In Jerusalem, on the slope of the hill Ophel, he built a magnificent palace, called "the house of the forest of Leb- anon," from the forty-five pillars of Lebanon cedar which it con- tained. He also had other palaces in various parts of his kingdom. IV. The Temple. This was by far the most important work of Solomon's reign. The temple stood on the summit of Mount Moriah, above the palace. It faced eastward, looking toward the Mount of Olives. In building these great and beautiful buildings, Solomon had the help of Hiram, king of Tyre, whose people were skilled in all such work. V. Ships. By building a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber. on the Red Sea, and sending them away to Arabia and India, Solomon gathered 49 50 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS many rare and wonderful treasures for his palaces. He also estab- lished a commerce which brought in money to help pay for his great works. VI. Sayings. Solomon was wise as well as rich and powerful. Some of his wise sayings are given in the Book of Proverbs, and other parts of the Bible. 1 Who was David's successor? 2 What can you say of his reign? 3 What did he do for Jerusalem ? 4 How did he strengthen the country? 5 Where was Solomon's palace located? 6 Describe it. 7 What was Solomon's most important work? 8 Where did the temple stand? 9 Who helped in building it? 10 How did Solomon develop commerce? 11 Where can his wise sayings be found? 12 What were the six works of Solomon? LESSON II David's Line David was not only a great king himself, but the founder of a line of kings that lasted longer, per- haps, than any other such line (or dynasty) anywhere in history, and that ended with Jesus Christ, the eternal King of kings. This line of kings is called in the Bible David's "house" or "seed" ; and God promised that it should be established forever. It started off with Solomon. We learned of his glory last week ; but there was a very dark side to the picture. Solomon was a despot, oppressing his people, working and taxing them with great severity. He was also an idolater, bringing in false gods with his many foreign wives. When he died his empire "*" '°Va"°l""°S7u»"h'"''' OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 51 fell apart. The northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel ; and Solomon's son Rehoboam held only the kingdom of Judah, with part of Benjamin. This, the southern kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital, was now the land of David's line. For the times of the kingdom, the only way by which we can keep track of the historical events, the work of the prophets, etc., is by committing to memory the list of the kings. Let us there- fore learn. II. SIX EARLY KINGS OF JUDAH I. Rehoboam, son of Solomon, who lost the ten tribes. His reign began in the year 931 b. c. II. Abijam, who reigned only three years ; called in Chron- icles Abijah. III. Asa, the good king with a long reign, forty-one years. IV. Jehoshaphat, who also reigned well for twenty-five years, and made peace with Omri and Ahab, kings of Israel. V. Jehoram, who married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. VI. Ahaziah, who reigned but one year, and was slain by Jehu, king of Israel. 842 b. c. Map Key.— D, Damascus; T, Tyre; S, Samaria, the capital of Israel; J, Jeru- salem, the capital of Judah. 1 What do you mean by David's line? 2 What was remarkable about this line? 3 Who was the first king of the line, after David ? 4 What were the evils of his reign ? 5 What took place after his death, as the result of these evils? 6 What part of Canaan now became the land of David's line? 7 By what names is it called ? 8 What city was its capital ? 9 In what year before Christ did Rehoboam begin to reign? 10 In what year was Ahaziah slain? 11 Name the six early kings of Judah, from Rehoboam to Ahaziah. 12 Why is it important to reitiember these names? 52 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS LESSON III The Kingdom of Israel When Solomon died, the northern tribes made Jeroboam their leader, and asked Rehoboam to lighten their burdens. He refused, and they rebelled, forming the kingdom of Israel. This was not really a new kingdom, as after the death of Saul David reigned over the tribe of Judah only for seven years, the other tribes not accepting him. But the northern tribes now started out alone, and never joined with Judah again. The kings of Israel do not come in a regular line; there are several lines, none very long. The kingdom lasted from 931 b. c.^ the accession of Jeroboam, to 722 b. c, the fall of Samaria. Nine- teen kings reigned during these 209 years ; but we will learn only III. FIVE GREAT KINGS OF ISRAEL L Jeroboam the First, founder of the kingdom. He was trained by Solomon, and gave the kingdom a good start in worldly matters, but a very bad start in religion. He "made Israel to sin," by setting up golden calves at Bethel and Dan for the people to worship. II. Omri, builder of the capital city, Samaria. He made peace with Judah and brought in the wicked worship of Baal. His son and two of his grandsons were kings of Israel; then the line changed. III. Ahab, son of Omri and husband of Jezebel ; a wicked king. He fought with Ben-hadad, king of Syria. IV. Jehu, the bloody reformer, who killed all of Ahab's line, and rooted out the worship of Baal. His reign began in 842 b. c. We shall learn more of him in Lesson VI. V. Jeroboam the Second, the great-grandson of Jehu; a pow- erful conqueror, who reigned as long and almost as gloriously as Solomon himself. After him came six weak kings, and then the fall of Samaria, when the- people were carried captive into Assyria. I What did the northern tribes of Israel demand from Solomon's son Rehoboam ? OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 53 2 What was formed as a result of this? 3 Why was this not the beginning of the kingdom of Israel ? 4 How long did the kingdom last ? 5 Between what dates ? 6 How did the succession of kings differ from the succession in the kingdom of Judah ? 7 Tell about the founder of the kingdom. 8 Whal did Omri do? 9 Who was Ahab? 10 What was the work of Jehu? 11 Describe the reign of Jeroboam the Second. 12 Name the five great kings of Israel. LESSON IV Elijah When Omri, and after him, Ahab and Queen Jezebel, tried to introduce the foul worship of Baal into the kingdom of Israel, God raised up a great prophet from the eastern desert, Elijah, to stand for Jehovah, the true God. Let us now refresh our mem- ory by learning IV. SEVEN SCENES IN THE LIFE OF ELIJAH I. Predicting- the drought. The tall, stern prophet stands before King Ahab, utters the terrible words, and disappears for more than three years. He hides beside the Brook Cherith, where God sends the ravens to feed him, and afterwards lives with the widow at Zarephath. Ahab, meanwhile, is searching for him in vain. At length the prophet appears to Obadiah, Ahab's prime minister, meets the king himself, and appoints an assembly to be held on Mount Carmel. II. Sacrificing on Mount Carmel. Elijah stands in front of the altar of Jehovah on Mount Carmel, after the prophets of Baal have tried in vain to call down fire from heaven upon their sacri- fice. At his prayer the fire descends, proving that Jehovah is the Itrue God. " III. Praying for rain. After the, false prophets have been slain, Elijah goes up to the mountain top again and prays until -his servant reports a small cloud coming. 54 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS IV. Running before Ahab's chariot. The prophet urges the king to start for home, and runs before his chariot nearly twenty- miles to the gate of Jezreel, He lodges outside the gate, and learns next morning that the angry queen will kill him for slaying her prophets. V. Hearing God at Horeb. Fleeing from Jezebel's vengeance, Elijah goes to Beer-sheba, and from thence through the southern desert to Mount Horeb. Here God appears to him in the won- ders of nature, speaks to him in the "still small voice," and gives him new work to do, including the finding and training of young Elisha to be his successor. VI. At Naboth's Vineyard. After Ahab and Jezebel had stolen Naboth's vineyard and then murdered Naboth, Elijah ap- peared to Ahab and foretold how his family should perish in punishment for his idolatry and other sins. VII. Going up to heaven. Elijah went with his servant and successor, Elisha, over the Jordan, and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving to Elisha his prophetic mantle. 1 What was the great sin of Omri, Ahab. and Jezebel? 2 What was the great work of Elijah? 3 From what region did he come? 4 Why did he hide himself for more than three years? 5 What was the question that was settled on Mount Carmel ? 6 What did Elijah do to make Jezebel so angry? 7 What were the three stages in Elijah's journey between Carmel and Horeb? 8 What did God do for him at Horeb? 9 What did Elijah foretell to Ahab? 10 How did Elijah go up to heaven? 11 Repeat the seven scenes in the life of Elijah. LESSON V Elisha Elijah's mantle fell upon the shoulders of Elisha, whom God had told Elijah to call. Elisha appears as a quiet man of the city, a leader of the sons of the prophets, a counselor of the king, and a worker of miracles. He was a different man from Elijah, and OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 55 had a different work to do. Elijah had faced the king and won back the people to the support of the old religion of Jehovah; Elisha's work was to build up this religion by faithful oversight and training. Both Elijah and Elisha were prophets of the king- dom of Israel; their work did not include the kingdom of Judah. Elisha's life is illustrated for us in these V. SEVEN MIRACLES OF ELISHA I. Parted the waters of the Jordan on his return from seeing Elijah carried up to heaven. II. Healed the fountain at Jericho, whose waters had been bitter. III. Saved three kings, Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom, who were making an expedition against Moab. Their army was dying of thirst on the desert shore of the Dead Sea. and Elisha showed them how God would send them water. IV. Increased the oil of the poor widow, and so enabled her to save her sons from being sold for debt. V. Raised the boy to life, the Shunammite woman's son. ■ VI. Healed Naaman, the great Syrian general, who came to the king of Israel to be healed of his leprosy. VII. Captured the Syrians, who came to take him at Dothan. He smote them with blindness by God's power, marched them into Samaria, and induced the king to treat them kindly and let them go. 1 Describe Elijah's successor, Elisha. 2 What was his work for the religion of Jehovah ? 3 To which kingdom did these two prophets belong? 4 What was Elisha's first miracle ? 5 What did he do for the city of Jericho? 6 How did he save the three kings and their army? 7 How did he help the poor widow ? 8 What did he do for the Shunammite woman? 9 How did he show God's power to Naaman? 10 How did he win a victory at Dothan? 11 Which were the seven miracles of Elisha? 56 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS LESSON VI Jehu's Revolution At Horeb Elijah was commanded, among other things, to find a man named Jehu and make him king of Israel in place of the wicked Ahab. The time to do this, however, did not come at once. Years after, when Elijah faced Ahab in Naboth's vineyard, it had not been done. The man of whom God had spoken was in fact standing by the king while the prophet was speaking, and heard the words of doom. Elijah passed on to his reward, leav- ing the command to be fulfilled by Elisha. Ahab's son Ahaziah reigned but two years and then died of an accident, leaving the kingdom to his brother Jehoram, (Notice that there were also an Ahaziah and a Jehoram on the throne of Judah about this time. The two royal families were very closely allied.) Jehoram did better than Ahab; but as long as old Queen Jezebel lived, Baal would be worshiped in Samaria and in Jezreel. The time for action came at last. Jehoram of Israel had been king twelve years. Ahaziah of Judah, the son of Jehoram's sister Athaliah, had been king for a year or more. Jehoram had been fighting Syria at Ramoth-gilead, across the Jordan, and being wounded had gone home to Jezreel, where his royal nephew had come to visit him. The army of Israel was at Ramoth-gilead; and Jehu, the popular general, was with them. Elisha saw that the hour had come. How he made the move that started the great revolution is told in II Kings, ch. 9. Read that, and also ch. 10, which completes the bloody story. Jehu's revolution caused a break in the history of the kings of Judah, and nearly cut off the line; see ch. 11. In Israel it cut off Omri's line, and brought in a new line that lasted for five generations. It cleansed Israel of Baal-worship, but at the cost of so many lives that the kingdom was weakened, and did not regain strength until the days of Jeroboam the Second, Jehu's great-grandson. Learn VI. SEVEN STEPS IN THE RISE OF JEHU I. Revealed by name to Elijah at Horeb. 11. Hears Ahab's doom in Naboth's vineyard. OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH S7 III. Anointed king by Elisha's messenger at Ramoth-gilead. IV. Drives to Jezreel, surprising and slaying Jehoram and Ahaziali. V. Meets Jezebel at the palace in Jezreel, and orders her death. VI. Cuts off Ahab's line, by causing the death of all his sons at Samaria. VII. Uproots Baal-worship, by killing all the worshipers of Baal at a great feast in Samaria. 1 Why did not Elijah find and anoint Jehu at once? 2 How was Jehu connected with the scene in Naboth's vineyard? 3 What effect may this have had upon him ? 4 What two kings succeeded Ahab in Israel ? 5 Who was the principal supporter of Baal-worship at this time? 6 When did Elisha start the revolution? (Give the date accord- ing to the reign of the king.) 7 Explain why this was a favorable time. 8 How did Elisha make Jehu king? 9 How was this action ratified? 10 How did Jehu secure and hold his place as king? 11 Describe the death of Jezebel. 12 Recite the seven steps in the rise of Jehu. 13 Why is the revolution of Jehu an important event? LESSON VII From Joash to Hezekiah While Omri and Ahab vc^ere reigning in the kingdom of Israel, and Elijah was defending the true religion there, Asa and Jehosha- phat were reigning in Judah. After Jehoshaphat came two kings, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the last reigning but a year. Jehoram's wife was Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel, and very like her wicked mother. When her son Ahaziah was killed by Jehu, she seized the throne and reigned unlawfully for six years. She brought Baal- worship into Jerusalem. But the revolution under Jehoiada the 58 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS priest, in which AthaHah was slain and Ahaziah's Httle boy Joash was made king, was the beginning of a better time. We may now learn VII. SIX MIDDLE KINGS OF JUDAH I. Joash, the boy king, who repaired the temple. II. Amaziah, who challenged Jehoash of Israel, and was de- feated. III. Uzziah, or Azariah, who reigned fifty-two years. He was a good king. In his day the old prosperity began to return, and with it luxury and injustice. U/.ziah renewed Solomon's com- merce from the port of Ezion-geber. A great earthquake, which happened during his reign, was long remembered. Amos i : i. IV. Jotham became acting king while his father Uzziah was a leper. V. Ahaz forsook Jehovah, and built an altar to Baal in the temple court. In his reign and that of his father Jotham, the kings of Syria and Israel made war on Judah because it would not join their alliance against the new and powerful king of Assyria, Tiglath-pileser. VI. Hezekiah, the good king, of whom we shall learn more later. 1 What kings of Judah were contemporary with Omri and Ahab of Israel ? 2 How did AthaHah get a chance to seize the throne of Judah? 3 What brought her reign to a close? 4 What work did Joash do ? 5 What befell Amaziah? 6 Who reigned after him, and for how long? 7 Give some incidents of his reign. 8 Why did Jotham take the duties of king? 9 What evil did Ahaz do ? ID Why did Israel and Syria make war on him? 11 Who was the successor of Ahaz? 12 Repeat the six middle kings of Judah. OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 59 LESSON VIII The Age of Uzziah During the long reign THE NATIONS ROUND JUDAH of Uzziah in Jiidah prosperity returned, and with it hixury and wickedness. The nobles or rich heads of fam- ilies lived in luxury and oppressed the poor. They worshiped Jehovah, but did not live by his laws. Still, it was a good time, as times went in Judah. The great empire of Assyria, far beyond the Euphrates, was steadily growing in power and greediness, but it was not at- tacking the western kingdoms just now. In order to see how Judah was situ- ated politically at this time, let us study this map, remembering that the boun- daries of these countries kept changing, as one king conquered all or part of an- other king's country. The map represents the average shape of each country. Learn VIII. EIGHT NATIONS ROUND JUDAH I. Israel, Judah's blood relation on the north. During the reigns of Amaziah and Uzziah, Jeroboam the Second made it practically master of all the countries shown. II. PhcBnicia, which really meant Tyre, Sidon, and one or two other coast cities, and the land controlled by them. The Phoenicians were sailors, traders, and workmen, not fighters. III. Syria, or Damascus, and the country it controlled. Syria and Israel were the two strong countries in this little family of nations. IV. Moab, a grazing country, not given to fighting. V. Edom, a more warlike people, sometimes subject to Judah, and again independent. VI. Philistia. The Philistines were not the power that they had been in Saul's day; but they still had strong cities. 60 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS VII. Egypt, the great nation to the southwest. VIII. Assyria, the greater nation to the east, on the banks of the Tigris. Nineveh was its capital. Map Key. — The map is numbered to correspond with this list. Egypt and Assyria are not shown; see some larger map. D, Damascus; T, Tyre; Si, Sidon; Sa, Samaria; J, Jerusalem; G, Gaza; E, Ezion-geber, or Elath, on the Red Sea, below the map. 1 What evil began to grow in Uzziah's day ? 2 Why did the boundaries of the nations round Judah keep changing ? 3 Who was king of Israel in Uzziah's day? 4 Describe the country of Phoenicia. 5 What city was the capital and metropolis of Syria? 6 Where and what was the land of Moab? 7 Where was Edom, and how did it change? 8 How did Philistia compare with what it had been in Saul's day? 9 Which were the two strong countries among these? 10 What two greater nations lay on either side? 11 In which direction lay Egypt? Assyria? LESSON IX The Assyrian Power On the banks of the Tigris, in very ancient times, lay a city called Asshur. Its niins are now at Kalah Shergat. This city conquered and gave name to a large country which stretched from the river to the distant mountain ranges of Armenia and Persia. This country, called Assyria, was destined to play a large part in the history of the Hebrew people. About 1300 B. c, while the Israelites were in the wilderness, Assyria began to make itself a world-empire. Under Shalmaneser the First and other great kings it conquered Babylonia, to the south, and made Nineveli its capital city. The empire reached its height under Tiglath-pileser the First, about iioo b. c, in the time of the judges. After that, it declined for several centuries, so that David and Solomon could build up their empire without interference. But in the reign of King Asa of Judah, Assyria began to wake up and seek world-empire again; and from that time on there was trouble. The great object of Assyria was to conquer Egypt. To do this, she had first to subjugate the small countries that lay between. This OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 6l led to a long series of expeditions and battles, in the course of which Israel and Judah suffered severel}-, until Israel was finally- destroyed. It is worth our while, in spite of the hard names, to learn IX. FIVE ASSYRIATSr CONQUERORS I. Shal-ma-ne'ser the Second, 860 to 825 b. c. In 854 he fought the great battle of Karkar against Ahab, Ben-hadad, and other allied kings. He afterwards conquered Hazael, king of Syria, and took tribute from Jehu, king of Israel. II. Tig-lath-pi-le'ser the Second, 745 to 727 b. c. He is some- times called Pul. King Menahem of Israel paid him tribute in the days of Uzziah of Judah. Some years later King Ahaz of Judah sought his help against Israel and Syria, although Isaiah the prophet warned him not to do so. Tiglath-pileser responded to Ahaz, and on this expedition took the cities of Galilee and carried many of the Israelites away. III. Shal-ma-ne'ser the Fourth, 727 to ^22 b. c. In 725 he made an expedition to the west. Hoshea, the last king of Israel, paid him tribute at first, but soon broke off, relying on the help of Egypt. Shalmaneser promptly attacked and besieged Samaria, the capital of Israel, but seems to have died before his army had succeeded in conquering it. IV. Sar'gon, an Assyrian general, who succeeded Shalmaneser, 722-705 B. c. He finished the siege of Samaria, carried the rest of Israel away captive, and peopled the country with foreigners. In 714 he received tribute from Hezekiah, king of Judah. V. Sen-nach'e-rib, son of Sargon, 705-680 b. c. He came against Jerusalem, 701, but was defeated by God's power and forced to re- turn home. 1 How did the country of Assyria get its name? 2 Between what two boundaries did it lie? 3 When did it first become a great power? 4 When did the early Assyrian empire reach its height ? 5 What good came to Israel through its decline? 6 In the reign of what king of Judah did Assyria begin to grow great again ? 7 Why was Assyria so anxious to subjugate Israel and Judah? 62 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS 8 What kings we know fought against Shalmaneser I. ? 9 What was the result of the appeal of Ahaz to Tiglath-pileser II.? 10 Who besieged Samaria? 11 Who took it? 12 In what year did Sennacherib come against Jerusalem? 13 Repeat the names of the five Assyrian conquerors. LESSON X The Early Prophets Elijah and Elisha are described as men of action, prophets who traveled, organized bands of followers, advised with kings, and wrought miracles. The}^ wrote none of their addresses ; and their memory is preserved only in stories that were handed down until other prophets wrote them and put them into the books of Kings, where we find them. But in the days of Uzziah and Jeroboam the Second there began to be prophets who wrote down the words they spoke ; and these written prophecies are preserved for us in the Bible. From these we learn much about the history, the state of religion, and the life of the people in the prophet's day. Learn X. THREE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL I. Hosea. He prophesied, that is, preached the word of Jehovah, in the kingdom of Israel. He denounced Israel for its unfaithful- ness to Jehovah, and predicted punishment from Assyria, but said that God would not forget his people. In his book the forgiving love of God is described with wonderful power. II. Amos. He also prophesied in Israel, though a native of Judah. Amos was a herdman, a man of the common people. He denounced the wickedness of the nobles and the false worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. He was a very great reformer. III. Jonah. He was also a prophet of Israel. He lived in the days of Jeroboam IT., whose successes he predicted. II Kings 14: 25. The story of how God sent him on a mission to Nineveh is told in the book of Jonali. 1 What kind of prophets were Elijah and Elisha? 2 How has the story of their lives been preserved? OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 63 3 In the reigns of what kings did the prophets begin to write their addresses ? 4 What do we learn from such written prophecies ? 5 Where did Hosea prophesy? 6 What was his message ? 7 What is especially described in his book? 8 Who and whence was Amos ? 9 What did he preach against? 10 What did Jonah predict? 11 What is described in the book of Jonah? 12 Who were the three prophets of Israel? LESSON XI The Early Prophets, concluded While Hosea, Amos, and Jonah were prophesying in the kingdom of Israel, affairs in the smaller kingdom of Judah were equally in need of earnest words from fearless teachers. Uzziah and Jotham had been fairly upright kings, faithful to Jehovah ; but Ahaz, as we have already seen, was a follower of Baal. To please his new ally and master, the great Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, Ahaz copied a heathen altar that he saw at Damascus, had it set up in the temple court of Jehovah, and sacrificed upon it to his new god. The people, too, were evil. Many of them had become wealthy and proud in Uzziah's day, and now lived in luxurious homes, using their power to oppress the poor. Drunkenness prevailed among the princes, and even among the priests of God's house. It was a god- less age. Meanwhile, the great Assyrian power was steadily ad- vancing; every fresh expedition meant slaughter and ruin to some part of the land; terrible calamity and punishment seemed to be overhanging, — yet the people sinned. There were priests, and there were sacrifices for sin. But to these sinners such things were empty formalities ; they sacrificed, and sinned on. Learn the names of the teachers whom God sent them at this time, or later : — XI, FOUR PROPHETS OF JUDAH I. Isaiah, greatest of all the prophets. His long life as prophet began in the reign of Uzziah ; so he was contemporary with the three early prophets of Israel. Isaiah lived in Jerusalem, and in his later 64 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS years was the friend and counselor of King Hezekiah. There is some reason to suppose that he was a kinsman of the royal family. II. Micah, younger than Isaiah, but living at about the same time. His book, although much shorter than Isaiah's, contains many great thoughts nobly expressed. He predicted that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem. Micah came from Moresheth-gath, that is, Mareshah near Gath, where King Asa won a great victory over Zerah the Ethiopian. II Chron. 14:9, 10. HI. Obadiah wrote a short prophecy against the land of Edom; and he has been thought by some scholars to have written it in the days of Ahaz. Others now think it came later. IV. Joel, also, is a book without a date, and has generally, until recent years, been assigned to the same hard times as those in which Isaiah wrote. The prophet predicts terrible calamities to come upon the people, but tells of the "latter days" in which God will pour Out his Spirit upon all flesh, old and young. 1 What was needed in Judah in the days of Hosea, Amos, and Jonah of Israel ? 2 What example did the king set ? 3 What were some of the sins of the people ? 4 What danger was continually threatening the nation? 5 How did the people pretend to be religious? 6 When did Isaiah's work begin ? 7 How was he connected with Hezekiah ? 8 How was Micah's work related to Isaiah's? 9 From what town did he come? 10 Against what did Obadiah prophesy? 11 What did Joel predict? 12 Name these four prophets of Judah. LESSON XII Hezekiah Among the good kings of Judah, Hezekiah stands out as one of the best. He lived in a very dark time. It was in his sixth year that Samaria fell, and Judah's brethren of the northern kingdom, — that is, the bulk of those that were left, — were carried captive by Sargon to Assyria. Hezekiah suffered many afflictions, but God gave him OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 65 grace to come safely through them all. Throughout his long reign of twenty-nine years, the great prophet Isaiah was at hand to encour- age and counsel him. We close this quarter's history lessons by learning XII. SEVEN ASPECTS OF THE LIFE OF HEZEKIAH I. Youth. He was evidently a bright and well-trained boy. He grew up in the wicked court of Ahaz his father. Perhaps Isaiah was his teacher; if so, that explains much in his after life. II. Reformer. The moment he became king, at the age of twenty- five, as we are told in Chronicles, he called the priests and Levites and began a thorough cleansing of the temple ; after which the old sacrifices were instituted again, and all the feasts of the law were duly observed. He also destroyed the old brazen serpent which the people were superstitiously worshiping. HI. Patriot. Reversing his father's policy, he threw off the Assyrian yoke, and refused for some years to pay tribute to the great king. Meanwhile, he prepared for the siege that he knew was coming. IV. Defender. In his fourteenth year the trouble began. About thirteen years later, in 701 b. c. Sennacherib, the son of Sargon, came with an immense army, sat down before the walls of Lachish, a Philistine city, and sent his officers up to Jerusalem to demand its surrender. But the king and his people trusted in God and held out ; and the answer came in a great and sudden destruction of Sen- nacherib's army, causing him to close his campaign and hurry home to Nineveh. Jerusalem was safe. V. Sufferer. In the midst of his other troubles Hezekiah was taken very sick, so that the prophet Isaiah told him he must die. But in answer to his earnest prayer his life was lengthened fifteen years. VI. Scholar. Hezekiah's prayer is given in Isaiah, ch. 38 : 9-20, and it shows that the king was also a writer of power. His scribes edited the old proverbs of Solomon. Prov. 25 : i. He was a patron of literature. VII. Statesman. Merodach-baladan, king of Babylonia, sent am- bassadors, ostensibly to congratulate the king on his recovery, but 66 INTERMEDIATE GRADE LESSONS really to win his support as an ally against Assyria. Hezekiah re- ceived these men kindly and showed them his treasures. He thought he was doing wisely ; but Isaiah predicted that the day would come when a king of Babylon should come and carry all these treasures away. Hezekiah's reign marks the close of the kingdom of Israel, and also the close of the first period of prophecy in Judah. For about half a century after his death, during the reign of his heathen son Manasseh, the voice of God's prophets was stilled. Hezekiah died 698 B. c. seven centuries before the Christ was born. 1 What kind of a king was Hezekiah? 2 What great calamity happened in his time? 3 Who was his friend and adviser? 4 Why was his early goodness remarkable? 5 How did he show his patriotism ? 6 Tell about Hezekiah as the defender of Jerusalem. 7 Tell of his sickness, prayer, and recovery. 8 What part of the Bible did he help to make? 9 What mistake did he make as a statesman ? 10 Repeat the seven aspects of the life of Hezekiah. 11 What two things closed with his reign? 12 How long before the birth of Christ did Hezekiah live? LESSON XIII Review Use this review drill-chart in testing your memory as to the head- ings of the lessons : — I. Six works of Solomon, W., St., P., T., Sh., Sa. II. Six early kings of Judah, R., Ab., A., Jehosh., Jehor., Ah. III. Five great kings of Israel, Jer. I., O., A., Jeh., Jer. II. IV. Seven scenes in the life of Elijah, P. D., S. M. C, P. R., R. A. C, H. G. H., A. N. V., G. H. V. Seven miracles of Elisha, P. W., H. F., S. T. K., I. O., R. B. L., H. N., C. S. VI. Seven steps in the rise of Jehu, R. N., H. A. D., A. K., D. J., M. J., C. O. A. L., U. B. W. OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY, SOLOMON TO HEZEKIAH 67 VII. Six middle kings of Jitdah, Joa., Ama., U., Jo., Ah., H. VIII. Eight nations round Judah, Is., Phoe., S., M., Ed., Phi., Eg., A. IX. Five Assyrian conquerors, Sh. II., T.-P, II., Sh.IV., Sa., Se. X. Three prophets of Israel, H., A., J. XI. Four prophets of Judah, I., M., O., J. XII. Seven aspects of the life of Hezekiah, Y., R., P., D., Su., Sch., St. Review the three memory charts given in the review lesson of Part I, carrying the history down from the Creation to Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Then learn these three, covering the history we have just studied: — IV REHOBOAM Ab., Asa Jehosh. Jeh., Ah. JOASH JEROBOAM Omri Ahab Jehu JEROBOAM II. VI JOASH Amaziah Uzziah, Jo. Ahaz HEZEKIAH 1B844TE„ 835 08-21-03 321 M MS I Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries 1 1012 01277 2499