5 J Li. XX IFrnm llif lltbrarg of Srqu?atl|pli bi| I|tm to ll|p IGibrary of JPrinrrton Shpnlnntral ^rminary F\vjcW\oT\-z,e<^. The Shorter Bible CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED BEING THE HOLY BIBLE ABRIDGED AND WITH ITS WRITINGS SYNCHRONIZED FOR POPULAR READING LUCY RIDER MEYER, A.M., M.D., Editor AiTHOR OF "Deaconesses," " Fairv Land of Chemistry," "The Jewish Offer- ings," "Children's Meetings," etc. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY BISHOP JOHN H. VINCENT NEW YORK : HUNT & EATON CINCINNATI: CRANSTON & CURTS Copyright by HUNT & EATON, 1895. Composition, clcclrotyping, printing, and binding by Hunt & Eaton, ISO Fifth Ave, New York. EDITOR'S NOTE, Not to divert from, but to attract toward, the whole Bible has The Shorter Bible been prepared ; not to ignore the more difficult things, except for the moment, and in order that by so doing the way may be prepared for more intelligent study. The chronological argument of this book will, I hope, make it of some value, or at least of some convenience, to students. It is almost the only arrangement of the kind in print. The words of historian, psalmist, prophet, or letter writer are brought together, following, as nearly as possible, the order in which they were written or spoken. There has been also an abridgment of nearly two thirds. Questions of the greatest difficulty and delicacy have constantly met me. I have been keenly aware that I have been standing on holy ground. At times the feeling of insufficiency has been so over- powering that I must have abandoned my task but for a deep con- viction that there was a need of the book — that its publication would lead to more study, and more intelligent study, of that written word which contains the history of the Living Word, and that so, men " believing," might "have life in his name." Phillips Brooks, in his " Principle of the Crust," speaks of the " crust of staleness "' that has gathered over the Bible, from " count- less repetitions," and adds, " Have not you readers of the Bible wished you could rise up some morning and find the Bible a new book, fresh and strong, as if you had never seen it before ? " Does not this " crust " gather over the Bible, especially as it is popularly read ? in family worship } or upon retiring for the night } The Shorter Bible is an attempt to break through this crust, by present- ing the book to the eye as books of to-day are presented, and divest- iv Editor's Note. ing it of repetitions and of those parts which by reason of the great change of circumstances and the vast lapse of time since its compo- sition need the assistance of a commentary to be understood. That the book is free from error of judgment, as well as slip of pen, I cannot hope, though great care and attention to detail have most properly been given to a work so sacred. It has occupied what time I could command from other pressing duties during years of blessed study. That Jesus Christ, the Divine Word, the expression in human form of the Father's love, may find in this arrangement of the other word the expression in written form of the Father's love, some things that he can bless and use, is my highest wish and my most earnest prayer. L. R. M. Chicago Training School for Missions. November i, 1895. INTRODUCTION. BY BISHOP JOHN H. VINCENT. The Bible never grows old. Men write incessantly, and "of making many books there is no end." The press rolls off its wealth of literature of every class. Human genius startles the world with its new and varied productions. The books of a single week make an immense library. But in this multitude of books the Bible still holds preeminence. More men are engaged in its critical study than in that of any other book. From it are taken lessons and texts for the Sunday sermons througliout Christendom. Orators and essayists find it the richest treasure house from which to select allusions, ref- erences, and illustrations by which to illuminate and enforce the truth. Out of the book gvow volumes of polemic, ethic, and poetic literature. It is still the sun among the planets, the one book abov^e all books commanding the faith and the thought of the most pro- gressive and aggressive civilization on the planet. The story is very old, but it will never cease to be told : Walter Scott was dying. He said to his son-in-law, " Read." Turning to the library of twenty thousand volumes in Abbotsford, Lockhart asked, " What book ? " Scott replied, "There is but One." Of all the figures by which the power of the Bible is expressed within the word itself one of the most effective is that of the " sword " — vi Introduction. - - the "sword of the Spirit," the true " ExcaHbur," mightier than that which Bedivere drew forth, and which under the winter moon, " Sparkled keen with frost against tlie liilt, For all the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz lights -and jacinth work Of suhtlest jewelry." More glorious than the magic sword of Tennyson's poem is the word of God, " living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." ' Shine, O sun, among all the lights of literature ! Wave and flash, O living sword, in the right hand of One who in his divine might wields it, and who by it shall subdue the hearts of men to his dominion ! A little girl once said concerning the Bible, " I am so glad that when God made a book he made a children's book." The little critic said a wiser thing than she herself understood, for it is a fact that the Bible, which is a record of God's dealings with men, in biog- raphy and history, and which records the conduct and character of men in all the relations of life, is like all histories which embrace the heart — a book of incidents, of character study, tragedy, heroism, failure, and success. It tells things about human hearts in the early ages which human hearts in this age well understand, and with which they sympathize. There is scarcely a page of the Holy Scriptures on w^hich may not be found some fact, illustration, simile, metaphor, parable, or ethical teaching in which a child may easily be interested. Amidst the driest historical recitals of kings, armies, conquests, there is al- ways to be found some little touch of human nature which kindles an interest in the whole scene described, and in the people who take ' Hcb. iv, 12 (R. v.). Introduction. vii part in it. The characters of the Bible become familiar as the names of neighljors or the well-known characters of our present age. Cain and Abel, Enoch and Noah, Abraham and Joseph, Moses and Joshua, Samuel and Samson, Ruth and David, Solomon and Absa- lom, Elijah and Elisha, all the prophets, all the apostles, the Christ himself — from his babyhood in Bethlehem to the day that a cloud received him from the sight of his disciples who stood on Olivet — these are but a part of the great portrait gallery of the Holy Scrip- tures. In this book are found stories of pathetic tenderness, of dra- matic power, of deep ethical significance — stones sublime beyond the power of human genius to produce ; stories which have furnished material to the great artists in marble, in color, and in literature through the centuries. It would be a sad thing if in the multitudinous products of modern culture, and in the enthusiasm by these begotten, the childhood of the age should lose the old-time knowledge of this venerable and divine volume. No literature, ancient or modern, can provide such creations to inhabit silently but with impressive power the homes of youth and age. No history can transcend in splendor and value the records of the Holy Scriptures. No characters in all biography, an- cient and modern, are worthy of comparison with the characters which stand forth on the pages of Revelation. What is true of children is equally true of adults. The Bible is not only a book for childhood, but it is a bonk for mature life, and for the scholar as well as for the peasant. The study of the book in childhood is valuable for its contribution to the strength of manhood. The orator, the poet, the philosopher have all been grateful a thou- sand times for the aid which the study of the Holy Scriptures in youth has given to their professional productions. Men and women of all classes and degrees of culture and power find the teachings of the Holy Scriptures profitable not merely " for doctrine, for reproof, viii Introduction. for correction, for instruction in righteousness," but also for consola- tion in the time of affliction and in that iiour when earthly things vanish from their grasp. The word of God holds the seed of im- mortal life. The dying Perrine said at midnight to his sorrowing wife, "My dear, I have swept on and on through the universe until I seem to have reached the very limit of creation, and yet even here I see on the blackness of the sky beyond, shining in golden light, the 'exceeding great and precious promises' of God." This condensation by Mrs. Lucy Rider Meyer of the biography and history and teachings of the Holy Scriptures is commended to every home, to every child, to every parent, to every writer, and to every student with the hope that it may allure them to the more critical and spiritual study of this great book of which Professor Emslie said, " The Bible contains a message from God's heart to man's heart," and concerning which a dying saint to his brothers and sisters said, " I do not say read the Bible, but learn it, learn it." TABLE OF CONTENTS, THE OLD TESTAMENT. GENESI S. CHAPTER I. PAGE The Creation i CHAPTER H. Adam in Eden : The Fall 3 CHAPTER HI. The World Before the Flood 6 CHAPTER IV. The P'lood : The Covenant with Noah : The Confusion OF Tongues 9 CHAPTER V. The Call and Journeys of Abram : Lot ; his Separa- tion ^ROM Abram ; his Captivity and Rescue 13 CHAPTER VI. The Birth of Ishmael : The Promise of Isaac : The Destruction of the Cities of the Plain 16 CHAPTER VII. The Birth of Isaac : Abraham's Faith Tested: The Death of Sarah : Finding a Wife for Isaac 22 X Table of Contents. CHAPTER VIII. PAGE The Death of Abraham : History of Isaac : Early Life OF Jacob and Esau 29 CHAPTER IX. Jacob in Paddan-aram 34 CHAPTER X. Jacob Meeting Esau 39 CHAPTER XI. Jacob Settling in Canaan: Joseph's Dreams: Joseph - Sold into Egypt 42 CHAPTER XII. Joseph in Egypt ; the Slave and the Prince 46 CHAPTER XIII. Joseph and his Brethren in Egypt 51 CHAPTER XIV. Jacob's Descent into Egypt; his Death and Burial: Joseph's Last Days ; 59 EXODUS. CHAPTER I. The Oppression of the Israelites: Early Days and Call of Moses 65 CHAPTER II. Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh : The Ten Plagues: The Passover 71 CHAPTER III. The Exodus: The Destruction df hie Egyptians 80 Table of Contents. xi CHAPTER IV. PAGE From the Red Sea to Sinai 84 CHAPTER V. The Covenant Between God and Israel 88 CHAPTER VI. Moses in the Mountain with God : Directions for Building THE Tent OF Meeting 93 CHAPTER VII. Israel's Backsliding, Punishment, and Restoration : The Tent of Meeting Erected 98 LEVITICUS. CHAPTER I. The Jewish Offerings 104 CHAPTER II. The Consecration of the Priests: The Beginning of Worship in the Tent of Meeting: Sunday Laws. 106 CHAPTER III. The Jewish Feasts and Sacred Times: Promises and Warnings no NUMBERS. CHAPTER I. Preparations for the Journey : From Sinai to Ka- desh-barnea 114 CHAPTER II. The Great Rebellion : " The Forty Years " 119 CHAPTER III. Balaam 1 26 8 xii Taule of Contents. CHAPTER IV. PAGE Israel's Idolatry; The Plague: The Holy War: The Second Numbering : Women as Landowners : The Cities of Refuge: Joshua Charged 132 DEUTERONOMY. CHAPTER I. Moses' Parting Address to the People 137 CHAPTER II. Arrangements for the Law : Moses' Song, Blessing, and Death 145 JOSHUA. CHAPTER I. Joshua Succeeding Moses and Leading the People over Jordan 148 CHAPTER II. Keeping the Passover: Conquest of Jericho and Ai : Worship at Mount Ebal 152 CHAPTER III. Conquest of the Land : Establishment of the Na- tional Sanctuary at Shiloh: The Return of Reuben, Gad, and the Half Tribe of Manasseh. 157 CHAPTER IV. Joshua's Last Days 162 JUDGES. CHAPTER I. The Defection of the Israelites and their Oppres- sions : Their Deliverance by the Early Judges; liv DF'.borah and Barak 164 Table of Contents. xiii PAGE CHAPTER II. Gideon and his Sons : Minor Judges 169 CHAPTER III. Jephthah: Minor Judges: Samson: Dan Acquiring Land 177 RUTH. CHAPTER I. Ruth's Moabite Origin, Loyalty to Naomi, Mar- riage and Motherhood 188 parts of the books of SAMUEL, KINGS, AND CHRONICLES, WITH SELECTIONS FROM POETICAL AND PROPHETICAL BOOKS. CHAPTER I. • Samuel, his Birth and Early Years 193 CHAPTER II. The Struggle of Israel with the Philistines: Sam- uel's Judgeship 198 CHAPTER HI. Saul Chosen King ; his Early Reign 204 CHAPTER IV. David; Anointed by Samuel; Playing before Saul; Victorious over Goliath 215 CHAPTER V. David at Court; Beloved by Jonathan; Hated by Saul; David's Marriage to Saul's Daughter; Danger and Escape 222 xiv Table of Contents. CHAPTER VI. David's Persecutions and Wanderings : Slaughter of THE Priests of Nob : Covenant with Jonathan Re- newed : David Spares Saul's Life 228 CHAPTER Vn. Death of Samuel: David, and Nabal and Abigail: David again Spares Saul's Life : Battle with the Philistines : Death of Saul 236 CHAPTER VHL David's Lamentation Over Saul and Jonathan : David made King over all Israel: Removal of the Ark to Jerusalem : Organization of Worship 244 CHAPTER IX. The Temple Planned for : Successful Wars : David's Sin and Repentance 255 CHAPTER X. Successful Wars : Rebellion of Absalom 263 CHAPTER XI. Events of the Last Years of David's Reign 274 CHAPTER XII. Preparations for ihk Temple: Organization of the Levites 279 CHAPTER XIII. Last Days of David : Early Years of Solomon : Prov- erbs 283 CHAPTER XIV. The Temple Built and Dedicated 293 Table of Contents. xv CHAPTER XV. PAGE Solomon's Prosperity : The Queen of Sheba 298 THE PROVERBS. CHAPTER I. Proverbs: Other Writings: The Virtuous Woman. . . 301 PARTS of the books OF SAMUEL, KINGS, AND CHRONICLES, with selections from PROPHETICAL AND POETICAL BOOKS — CONTINUED. CHAPTER XVI. Solomon's Defection and Death : Rehoboam : The Kingdom Divided 309 CHAPTER XVII. History of Judah. History of Israel. Reign of Rehoboam: Reign of Jeroboam : Na- Egyptian Invasion : tional Idolatry : Reign of Abijah : Messages from the War with Israel 314 Lord 314 CHAPTER XVIII. Reign of Asa; his Dis- Reign of Nadab ; of EASE and Death: Je- Baasha; of Elah : hoshaphat 321 Civil War: Reign of Omri 321 CHAPTER XIX. Elijah; his Life and Ministry in Israel: Elisha Anointed 327 CHAPTER XX. War with Syria: Naboth's Vineyard 334 xvi Table of Contents. CHAPTER XXI. PAGE Alliance between Judah and Israel against Syria. . . 339 JEHOSHAPHAT Reproved; Death of Ahab: Reign HIS Ships Wrecked: of Ahaziah : Joram Judges Appointed: King : Translation of The MoABiTESAND Am- Elijah: Elisha.. 339 monites Repelled — 339 CHAPTER XXII. Alliance between Judah and Israel against Moab: A Great Victory 347 Death of Jehoshaphat : Ministry of Elisha : Ge- Reign OF Jehoram 347 HAZi Punished 347 CHAPTER XXI 1 1. Elisha and the Syrians: Samaria Besieged: Flight OF THE Syrians: Elisha and the Rulers of Syria.. 355 CHAPTER XXIV. Jehu Anointed King; Destroys All the House of Ahab, with Ahaziah King of Judah 361 CHAI'TER XXV. Athaliah THE Usurper: Jehu's Rkicn; Death: Joash Saved; Made Reign of King Jeho- King: The Temple Re- ash 3^5 paired: Joash's De- fection, Distresses, Death 365 CHAPTER XXVI. Reign of Amaziah^: Uz- Death of Elisha: Je- ziAii on the Throne. . 370 hoash'sVictoriesover Syria and Judah : Death of Jehoash: Jeroboam II: Hosf.a Prophesies 370 Table of Contents. xvii CHAPTER XXVII. pace Prophecy of Joel : A Jonah : Prophecy of Prophecy of Hosea : Amos : Death of Jero- Reign of Uzziah : Jo- boam : Reign of Zach- THAM 374 ariah ; of Shallum; OF Menahem : Hosea Prophesies : Reign of Pekahiah 374 CHAPTER XXVin. ReignofJotham : Reign Death of Pekahiah: OF Ahaz : Jerusalem Reign of Pekah : Ho- Besieged : The Imman- shea's Reign : Captiv- UEL Prophecy : Ahaz ity of Israel : Repeo- AND Assyria : Ahaz' pling the Land with Death 385 Strangers 385 CHAPTER XXIX. Hezekiah's Reign : The Temple Repaired and Rededi- cated: Keeping the Passover: Destroying Idols: Reorganization of the Temple Service : Volun- tary Offerings 392 CHAPTER XXX. Hezekiah's Prosperity : Prophecy of Micah : Heze- kiah's Illness, Restoration, and Song : The Baby- lonian Embassy 398 CHAPTER XXXI. The Assyrian Invasion : Isaiah's Messages : An Angel Slays the Assyrians : Songs of Exultation 403 CHAPTER XXXII. Death of Hezekiah: Reign of Manasseh; of Amon: Prophecy of Zephaniah : King Josiah: Restoring the Temple: Finding the Book of the Law: The Great Reformation : Passover Kept : Death of Josiah 410 xviii Table of Contents. CHAPTER XXXIII. page JOAHAz' Short Reign : King Jehoiakim and Nebuchad- nezzar: Prophecies OF Jeremiah: First Captivity OF Judah: Jehoiakim's Rebellion and Death: Coniah's Brief Reign: King Zedekiah: Messages FROM Jeremiah 417 CHAPTER XXXIV. Jeremiah's Letter to the Captive Jews: Ezekiel's Sign and Prophecy: Jerusalem Besieged: Zedekiah and Jeremiah: Destruction of Jerusalem: Final Cap- tivity OF King and People: Flight to Egypt: Final Prophecies of Jeremiah 424 JOB. CHAPTER I. Introduction 430 CHAPTER II. First Round of Discussion 433 CHAPTER III. Second Round of Discussion 439 CHAPTER IV. Third Round of Discussion 443 CHAPTER V. Job's Monologue 445 CHAPTER VI. Elihu's Monologue 449 CHAPTER VII. God's Revelation of Himself 454 CHAPTER VIII. Conclusion 457 Table of Contents. xix ISAIAH. CHAPTER I. General Messages : Woes 458 CHAPTER II. Isaiah's Call : Messianic Prophecies : Rejoicings 462 CHAPTER III. Comforting Messages : The Folly of Idolatry 466 CHAPTER IV. Comforting Messages : Return from Captivity Fore- told : Messianic Prophecies 469 CHAPTER V. Wide Invitations : Practical Exhortations : Glo- rious Prophecies 474 writings of the prophet HABAKKUK. CHAPTER I. Various Messages : A Prayer 477 writings of the prophet ZEPHANIAH. CHAPTER I. Warnings : Promises 479 writings of the prophet JEREMIAH. CHAPTER I. Jeremiah's Call: Exhortations and Warnings 481 XX Table of Contents. CHAPTER II. PACE Object Lessons: Concerning False Prophets: Jere- miah Persecuted 486 CHAPTER III. Object Lesson, the Rechabites : Jeremiah's Roll 491 CHAPTER IV. Prophecies Uttered Just Before the Captivity : Jere- miah Imprisoned, Released, Carried to Egypt: Gracious Promises 495 writings of the prophet EZEKIEL. CHAPTER I. The Prophet's Call: Object Lessons 501 CHAPTER 11. An Encouraging Vision: God's Equal Ways : The Un- faithful Shepherds : The Good Shepherd 505 writings of the prophet DANIEL. CHAPTER I. Daniel in Babylon: Daniel Telling Nebuchadnez- zar's Dream 509 CHAPTER II. The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace: Nebu- chadnezzar's Pride and Punishment 514 CHAPTER III. Belshazzar's Feast : Belshazzar's Downfall 518 CHAPTER IV. Daniel in the Lions' Den : Daniel's Prayer 521 Table of Contents. xxi EZRA. CHAPTER I. PAGE The Decree of Cyrus: The Return of the Jews: The Building of the Altar 525 CHAPTER n. Rebuilding and Rededicating of the Temple 533 CHAPTER HI. Ezra Returns to Jerusalem : A Reform 544 ESTHER. CHAPTER I. The Royal Feast: Esther made Queen: Haman's Pro- motion AND Plot against thI; Jews 548 CHAPTER n. The Distress of the Jews: Esther's Petition: The Jews' Deliverance: The Feast of Purim 552 NEHEMIAH. Nehemiah's Return to Jerusalem: The Wall Re- built AND Dedicated: Ezra's Later Reforms 559 MALACHL CHAPTER L Messages to Priests and People 568 PSALMS. Selections from the Hymn Book of the Jewish Church. 571 xxii Table of Contents. THE NEW TESTAMENT. THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST TOLD BY MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN. CHAPTER I. PAGE The Birth and Childhood of John the Baptist : Birth AND Childhood of Jesus Christ 591 CHAPTER n. The Ministry of John: Jesus Christ; his Genealogy, Early Ministry: Imprisonment of John 600 CHAPTER HI. Jesus in Galilee, Working Miracles and Teaching: Disciples Called 611 CHAPTER IV. Jesus Heals Diseases on the Sabbath Day; is Criti- cised, Persecuted: The Apostles Chosen 619 CHAPTER V. The Sermon on the Mount ; Concerning the King- dom of Heaven, The Privileges and Duties of ITS Citizens 624 CHAPTER VI. Miracles of Mercy : John's Messengers : Jesus' Mother and Brethren : Blasphemous Accusation OF the Pharisees 631 CHAPTER VII. Parables: Miracles: Jesus Rejected 638 Table of Contents. xxiii CHAPTER VIII. PAGE Teaching and Healing in Galilee : The Bread of Life: Concerning Jewish Ceremonies 644 CHAPTER IX. Mighty Miracles and Wondrous Teachings: The Transfiguration : More Miracles and Teachings. 653 CHAPTER X. Jesus at the Feast : The Man Born Blind: The Good Shepherd 662 CHAPTER XI. Mission of the Seventy: Parable of the Good Samar- itan : Other Teachings 669 CHAPTER XII. Short Teachings: A Miracle: At the Feast of Dedi- cation: Jesus Beyond Jordan : Teachings 669 CHAPTER XIII. A Group of Parables 680 CHAPTER XIV. Lazarus Raised from the Dead : A Plot and a Proph- ecy: Ten Lepers Cleansed: Teachings and Parables 685 CHAPTER XV. The Rich Young Ruler: Parables and Teachings. The Triumphal Entry 692 CHAPTER XVI. The Temple Cleansed: The Inquiring Greeks: The Voice from Heaven: Parables and Teachings: Efforts to Entangle Jesus 700 xxiv Table of Contents. CHAPTER XVII. PAGE Last Teachings, in the Temple and on the Hillside. . 707 CHAPTER XVIH. The Anointment of Love : The Plot ofCovetousness: Passovfr Preparations: The Last Passover: Insti- tution OF the Lord's Supper 715 CHAPTER XIX. Jesus' Last Comforting Discourse with his Disciples: Prayer of Jesus 721 CHAPTER XX. Jesus IN Gethsemane : Betrayed and Arrested: The Mock Trial; Before the Jewish Authorities; Before the Civil Power 728 CHAPTER XXI. Crucifixion of Jesus: The Penitent Thief: Death and Burial OF Jesus: The Sepulcher Sealed 737 CHAPTER XXII. Jesus' Resurrection : Jesus' Appearances: The Great Commission : The Ascension 742 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. CHAI'TER I. The Ascension of Christ: Tin: Descent of the Holy Spirit : A Great Revival : The Church Organized. 750 CHAPTER II. The Lame Man Hp:aled and the Gospel Preached: Persecution Overruled: The Church Prosperous. 755 Table of Contents. xxv CHAPTER III. PAGE Ananias and Sapphira : Rapid Growth of the Church : Persecution of the Apostles: Appointment of Deacons 760 CHAPTER IV. Stephen Arraigned ; Defending Himself; Martyred: The Church Persecuted 764 CHAPTER V. The Gospel in Samaria: Philip and the Ethiopian 768 CHAPTER VI. Conversion of Saul; his Early Ministry 771 CHAPTER VII. Peter Itinerating ; Carrying the Gospel to Corne- lius and the Gentiles 773 CHAPTER VIII. The Gospel at Antioch : Martyrdom of James : Im- prisonment and Release of Peter: Death of Herod 778 CHAPTER IX. Paul's First Missionary Journey 781 CHAPTER X. The Council at Jerusalem 787 CHAPTER XI. Paul's Second Missionary Journey, as far as to Corinth 790 xxvi Table of Contents. FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Loving Words: Comfort Concerning those Asleep.. . 797 from the second epistle of paul to the THESSALONIANS. CHAPTER L Admonitions TO Order AND Patience 801 THE ACTS— Continued. CHAPTER XH. Paul's Second Missionary Journey— Concluded 802 CHAPTER XHL Paul's Third Missionary Journey, as far as to Eph- esus 803 from the first epistle of PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. CHAPTER I. Introductory: Warning, Exhortation, Instruction.. 805 CHAPTER II. Personal Words: Various Teachings 811 CHAPTEF HI. Concerning Spiritual Gifts and Love 814 Table of Contents. xxvii CHAPTER IV. PAGE Concerning the Resurrection; the Collection: Con- clusion 817 THE ACTS— Continued. CHAPTER XIV. Paul's Third Missionary Journey — Continued 821 from the second epistle of PAUL to the CORINTHIANS. CHAPTER I. Personal Words : Exhortations 824 CHAPTER II. Concerning Giving: Personal Words : Conclusion 828 from the epistle of PAUL TO THE GALATIANS. CHAPTER I. Warnings: Justification by Faith: Exhortations 833 from the epistle of PAUL TO THE ROMANS. CHAPTER I. Universal Ruin by Sin 838 CHAPTER II. Perfect Salvation by Faith 841 CHAPTER III. Glorious Results; Adaptation to Israel. .. 845 3 xxviii Table of Contents. CHAPTER IV. PAGE Exhortations : Salutations : Conclusion 849 THE ACTS— Continued. CHAPTER XV. Paul's Third Missionary Journey, from Ephesus to Jerusalem 855 CHAPTER XVI. Paul at Jerusalem; his Arrest and Self-defense 859 CHAPTER XVII. Paul a Prisoner, in Jerusalem and C/ESarea 863 CHAPTER XVIII. Paul Before Festus ; Before a Noble Company 868 CHAPTER XIX. Paul's Journey to Rome: Paul at Rome 872 from the general epistle of JAMES. CHAPTER I. Works as Related to a Christian Life 877 from the epistle of PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS. CHAPTER I. Loving Personal Words : Exhortations 883 Table of Contents. xxix FROM THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS. CHAPTER I. Personal Words : Exhortations 889 FROM THE epistle OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS. CHAPTER I. Teachings : Exhortations: The Gospel Armor 893 FROM the epistle OF PAUL TO PH I LEMON. ' CHAPTER I. Concerning Onesimus, the Converted Slave 899 FROM THE first EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TI MOTH Y. CHAPTER I. Timothy in his Relations to the Church 901 FROM the epistle OF PAUL TO TITUS. CHAPTER I. Titus in his Relations to the Church 906 FROM the second EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TI MOTH Y. CHAPTER I. Loving Admonitions : A Grand Testimony : Last Words of Paul ; 908 XXX Table of Contents. FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. CHAPTER I. PAGE Exhortations and Warnings 912 from the epistle to the HEBREWS. CHAPTER 1. Jesus, the Better Messenger 919 CHAPTER H. Jesus, the Better High Priest 923 CHAPTER HI. Jesus, the Mediator of a Better Covenant 927 CHAPTER IV. Better Living: Saints Believing for Better Things. 931 CHAPTER V. Better Living 935 from THE REVELATION OF JOHN THE DIVINE. CHAPTER I. John's Vision of Jesus : Messages to the Churches — 938 CHAPTER II. The Slain Lamb: Wonderful Visions 943 Table of CoNTENTsr xxxi FROM THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE. CHAPTER I. PAGE Earnest Warning and Adivkjnition 950 from the second epistle general of PETER. CHAPTER I. Exhortations and Warnings 952 FROM THE second EPISTLE OF JOHN. CHAPTER I. Personal Words : Concerning Wise Hospitality. 956 FROM the third EPISTLE OF JOHN. CHAPTER I. Personal Words : Concerning Hospitality. , 957 from the first epistle general of JOHN. CHAPTER I. God AS Light and Love : Christians Walking in Light and Love 958 FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. EXPLANATION. The words of this book are those of the Revised Version of the Holy Bible. Those added — but they are very few — are indicated by interspaced letters, thus. The references and notes by letter, at the bottom of the pages, are mostly from the marginal notes of the Revised Version (indicated by " R. V. marg."). Those added consist of dates, with a few explana- tory suggestions. The references by figure, at the bottom of the page, indicate where the passage is to be found in the Bible. Omissions are not indicated unless they are of sufficient length to give the reader diffi- culty in following. All inversions are indicated, however, excepting inversions of words in a single verse. Inasmuch as scholars are not yet agreed upon precise dates in Old Testament history the familiar chronology of Archbishop Usher is used in that portion of the book. In the New Testament dates have been fixed with greater accuracy. The word Lord is printed in small capitals, thus, LORD, when it is a translation. of the Hebrew proper name Jehovah, the peculiar name by which God made himself known to his ancient people. THE SHORTER BIBLE. GENESIS. CHAPTER I. THE CREATION. * In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was waste and void ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ^^^ ^^' And God said, " Let there be hght," and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. And God said, " Let there be a '' firmament and let it divide the waters from the waters." And God called the firmament Heaven. And ®''°" ^^* there was evening and there was morning, a second day. And God said, " Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. And ^^ ^^' God called the dry land Earth; and the waters called he Seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, " Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and tree bearing fruit, upon the earth." And the earth brought forth grass, herb, and tree. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. And God said, " Let there be lights in the heaven to divide the day from the night." And God made the two great lights ; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars "John i, I. ^ R. V. marg., Heb. expanse. 2 The Shorter Bible [Gen. i. i6. also. And God set them in the heaven to give light upon the earth. And God saw that it was ay. gQQ^j^ And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. And God said, " Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and let ^^* fowl fly above the earth in the open * firma- ment of heaven." And God created the great sea- monsters, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth, and every winged fowl. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them. And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. And God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast ay. ^^ ^j^^ earth." And God made the beast of the earth, and the cattle, and everything that creepeth upon the ground. And God saw that it was good. And God said, " Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them. And God blessed them. And God said, " Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is fruit ; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, I have given every green herb for meat." And God saw everything that he had made, and, be- hold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all Seventh the host of them. On the seventh day God ^^y- finished his work, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because that in it he rested from all his work. " R. V. marg., Heb. expanse. Gen. 2. 8.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. CHAPTER 11. ADAM IN EDEN: THE FALL. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden ; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food ; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowl- edge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden. And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, " Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat ; rpj^g ^^.g^ but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, prohibition, thou shalt not eat. In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," 'And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and fowl of the air, and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them ; and that was the name thereof. '^ And the Lord God said, " It is not good that the man should be alone ; I will make him an helpmeet for him." ^And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept. And he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh woman thereof. And the rib, which the LORD God created, had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And the man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called ^ Woman, because she was taken out of ^Man." (Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife ; and they shall be one flesh.) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. ' Gen. ii, 19. ^ Gen. ii, 21. I " R. V. niarg., Heb. Isshah. '■' Gen. ii. 18. | *■ R. V. marg., Heb. /s/i. 4 The Shorter Bnu,E [<^en. 3. i. Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field. And he said unto the woman, emp a ion. uj^^|.|^ Qq^j sai-d, ' Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden ? ' " And the woman said unto the serpent, " Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ' Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' " And the serpent said unto the woman, "^ "Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil." And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and a delight to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat ; and she gave also unto her hus- band, and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked ; and ^ they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto the man, and said unto him, " Where art thou?" And he said, " I heard thy voice in the gar- den, and I was afraid and hid myself." And he said, " Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat ? " And the man said, " The woman whom thou Excuses. gavcst to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." And the Lord God said unto the woman, " What is this thou hast done ? " And the woman said, " The serpent beguiled me and I did eat." And the Lord God said unto the serpent, " Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field. Upon thy belly shalt "John viii, 44. ''Gen. iii, 21, Gen. 3. 14.] Chronologically Arranged. 5 thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life ; and I will put enmity between thee and The great the woman, and between thy seed and her promise, seed. It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Unto the woman he said, " I will greatly multiply thy sorrow. In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children. Thy desire shall be to thy husband ment. and he shall rule over thee." And unto Adam he said, " Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee ; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground ; for out of it wast thou taken. For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." And the man called his wife's name * Eve ; because she was the mother of all living. ^ And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said, " Behold, the man has be- come as one of us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever — " Therefore the LoRD God sent him forth from the gar- den of Eden, to till the ground from whence Expulsion he came. And he placed at the east of the [^"^ffe'e garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the erected. *= flame of a sword which turned every way, ^ to keep the way of the tree of life. " R. V. marg., Heb. Havvah, that is, Living, ox Life. ''Gen. iii, 7. ' Probably a spot, a tongue (or "sword") of flame. ^ Rev. xxii, 2. The Shorter Bible L<^'en. 4. i. CHAPTER III. THE WORLD BEFORE THE FLOOD. And Eve bare * Cain, and said, " I have gotten a man The first from the Lord ! " And again she bare his children. brother ^ Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. '^And it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and corded offer- of the fat thereof. And the LORD had re- ^^^' spect unto Abel and to his offering ; but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, "Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well — Sin coucheth at the door, and unto thee* ''is its desire. But thou shouldest rule over i t." The first ^^^^ Cain told Abel, his brother. And murder. jj- came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, "Where is Abel, thy brother? " And he said, " I know not. Am I my brother's keeper? " And he said, " What hast thou done ? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not » Hcb. Kanah, CJolten. "" 'I'liat is, A breath. Disappointment. ^First mention of sacrifices. •' From R. V. niarg. * Words printed in tiiis style are interpolated. So always in this book. Gen. 4. 12.] Chronologically Arranged. 7 henceforth yield unto thee her strength ; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth." And Cain said unto the Lord, " My punishment is greater than I can bear. Thou has driven me out, and from thy face shall I be hid. Whosoever findeth me shall slay me." And the LORD said unto him, " Whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of '-^ Nod on the east of Eden. And he builded a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. And of the seed of Cain in the fifth generation was born Lamech. Lamech took unto him two wives ; the name of the one was Adah, and of the other Zillah. And Adah bare Jabal ; he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle. His brother's name was Jubal ; he was the father of such as handle the harp and pipe. And Zillah, she bare ^^^" ^°^^" Tubal-cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of '' brass and 'iron. And Lamech, '^w h e n he saw the sword his son had made, said unto his wives : " Adah and Zillah, hear my voice ; Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech : For I will ''slay a man for wounding me. And a young man for bruising me: If Cain shall be avenged 'sevenfold,' of^t^e^Bfbfe^ Surely Lamech seventy and sevenfold." And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and be- gat a son in his own likeness, and called his rp^^g ^^^ name ^ Seth. And the days of Adam after he seed. begat Seth were eight hundred years; and he begat sons and daughters. And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years ; and Adam. °^ he died. And Seth begat Enosh ; and Enosh begat Kenan ; and "■ R. V. marg., That is, JVandering. ^ R. V. niarg., Or, copper, and so elsewhere. "= Probably. '^ From R. V. marg. '' That is, Appointed. 8 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 5. 6. Kenan, Mahalalel ; and Mahalalel, Jared; and Jared, Enoch ; and Enoch, Methuselah, and other sons and daughters. And Enoch walked with God three hundred years. Translation ^"^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^"^^t, for God took him. And of Enoch. Methuselah begat Lamech, and other sons and daughters. All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years ; and he died. And Lamech begat a son, and called his name ^ Noah, say- ing, " This same shall comfort us." And Noah was five hundred years old; and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. * R. V. maig., Heb. Nahem, To comfort. Gen. 6. 5.J CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. CHAPTER IV. THE FLOOD : THE COVENANT WITH NOAH : THE CON- FUSION OF TONGUES. And the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every thought of his heart was only evil continually ; and it grieved him ^he earth at his heart. ' And God saw the earth, and, corrupt, behold, it was corrupt. ^And the LORD said, "I will destroy man from the face of the ground ; both man, and beast, and creeping thing, and fowl of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect ; Noah walked with God. And God said unto Noah, " Make thee an ark of gopher wood ; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with ® ^^ * pitch. The length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A light shalt thou make to the ark, and the door shalt thou set in the side thereof. With lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh from under heaven ; everything that is in the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with thee. Thou shalt come into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive ; they shall be male and female. Of fowl and cattle, of every creeping thing, two of every sort shall come unto thee. B u t of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and it shall be food for thee and for them." ' Gen. vi, 12. '^ Gen. vi, 7. 10 The vShorter Bible [<^'en. 6. 22. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. And the Lord said unto Noah, " Come thou and all thy house into the ark. For yet seven days and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth." And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him. „, ^ , Noah was six hundred years old '* when the The flood. a ^ c 4. 4-u ^i rlood ot waters was upon the earth. And after the seven days, the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. And the waters increased and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth and went upon the face of the waters. And all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both fowl and cattle and beast and every creeping thing, and every man. All that was in the dry land died. Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. And God remembered Noah and every living thing with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth; the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the waters returned from off the earth; and after an hundred and fifty days the waters were decreased. And the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. And in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Leaving the Noah opened the window of the ark and ^^^- sent forth a raven ; and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated ; but the dove found no rest for the * B. C. 2348, according to the commonly received chronology, whicli will be used throughout this book. Gen. 8. 9-] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 11 sole of her foot, and she returned unto hun to the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. And he put forth his hand and took her, and brought her in unto him. And he stayed yet other seven days ; and again he sent forth the dove. And the dove came in to him at eventide ; and, lo, in her mouth an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the •earth. And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the dove, and she returned not again unto him any more. And Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the earth was dried. And God spake unto Noah, saying, " Go forth from the ark." And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him ; every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl. And Noah builded. an altar unto the LORD ; and took of every c^ean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Noah's sac- LORD smelled the sweet savor. And God "fice. blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, " Multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and ,j,^^ cove- every fowl of the air and upon all the fishes nant with r 1 • 111 11- 1 Noah. of -the sea ; mto your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you ; as the green herb have I given you all. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood, shall ye not eat. " And surely your blood, the blood of your lives will I require. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." For in the image of God made he man. And God spake unto Noah and to his sons with him, saying, " I will establish my covenant with'you ; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. * While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. ^ And this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you : I do set my bow in the cloud. It shall come to pass, when I ' Gen. viii, 22. '^ Gen. ix, I2. 12 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 9. 14. bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature ; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." And the sons of Noah, that went forth out of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, these three; and of these was the whole earth overspread. And the whole earth was of one "- language and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they Men plan- ^O"'"'*^ ^ plain in the land of Shinar ; and they ning a great dwelt there. And they said one to another, godlesscity. .. q^ ^^^ j^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^.-^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^j^^^^ thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and ''slime had they for mortar. And they said, " Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven ; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." And the Lord came down to see the city and the Language tower, which the children of men builded. confounded. And the LORD said, " Behold, they are one people, and have all one language ; and this they begin to do. And now nothing will be withholden from them which they purpose to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not under- stand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth ; and they left off to build the city. Therefore was the name of it called '^Babel, be- cause the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth. 'R. V. maig., Heb. /i/>. '' R. V. marg., That is, bitumen. "^ R. V. marg., Heb. Balal, To confound. Gen. II.26.J CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 13 CHAPTER V. THE CALL AND JOURNEYS OF ABRAM : LOT ; HIS SEPA- RATION FROM ABRAM, HIS CAPTIVITY AND RESCUE. And Terah, of the seed of Shem, begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran ; and Haran bespat Lot. And Haran died in the presence of his father, family and in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chal- JQ^^^^^y^- dees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives ; the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Na- hor's wife Milcah, the daughter of Haran. And Terah took Abram and Lot and Sarai, and went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years. And Terah died in Haran. ^ Now the Lord said unto Abram, " Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from Abram thy father's house, unto the land that I will blessed. show thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and be thou a blessing; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, '' and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan ; and into the land of Canaan they came. ' Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram passed through the land unto Shechem, And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, " Unto thy seed will 1 give this land." And An altar there builded he an altar unto the Lord, buiided. who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched 'Gen. xii, 4. | * Acts vii, 2, 3. '' B. C. 1921. 14 The Shorter Bhjle [Gen. 12.8. his tent ; and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. Lot also had flocks and herds and tents. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's of^brlun"^ cattlc. And Abram said unto Lot, " Let and Lot. there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen ; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me. If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right ; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to the left." And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere. So Lot chose all the Plain of Jordan ; and Lot journeyed east. They separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the Plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners be- fore the Lord exceedingly. And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, " Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward i^ndp^^m^ and southward and eastward and westward, ised Abram. Pq^ ^\\ the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth ; if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it ; for unto thee will I give it." Antl Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by Abramat the oaks of Mamre, which are in "■ Hebron, Hebron. ^ud bujlt there an altar unto the LORD. And it came to pass that kings from the east made war with the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah. And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomor- " Now always called after Abram FJ-Kha-lll, Tlie friend. Gen. 14. II.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 15 rah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods. And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his tured^es- trained men, born in his house, three hundred ^^^ed. and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. And he di- vided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and brought back all the goods, and his brother Lot, and the women also, and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine ; and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, and said, give^"tithes " Blessed be Abram of God Most High, pos- ^°k^®^''^^''^' sessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." And Abram gave him a ^ tenth of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, " Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself." And Abram said, " I will not take a thread nor a shoe- latchet, lest thou shouldst say, ' I have made Abram rich.' Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me ; let them take their portion." * First mention of tithe. See Lev. xxvii, 30. 16 The Shorter Bible [<^'e'i. 15. i. CHAPTER VI. the birth of ISHMAEL; the promise of ISAAC; DESTRUCTION OF THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN. After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, " Fear not, promised Abram ; I am thy shield and thy exceeding Abram. ^^^^^ reward." And Abram said, " Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless?" And the Lord brought him forth abroad, and said, " Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them. So shall thy seed be." And he believed in the LORD ; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children ; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose Hagar. name was Hagar. And Sarai took Hagar and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. And when Hagar saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with her, and she fled. And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness. And he said, " Hagar, whence camest thou ? and whither goest thou ? " And she said, " I flee from the face of my mistress, Sarai." And the angel of the LORD said unto her, " Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. Behold, thou shalt bear a son ; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because the Lord hath heard thy afflic- tion. And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Gen. i6. 13.] ChRONOLOGTCALLY ARRANGED. 17 And she called the name of the I.ORD that spake unto her, ^ " Thou art a God that seeth." And Hagar bare Abram a son. And Abram called the name of his son '' Ishmael. And Abram ishmaei was fourscore and six years old when Hagar bom. bare Ishmael to Abram. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord ° appeared to Abram, and said unto him, " I am God Almighty ; walk before me, and be thou perfect." And Abram fell on his face ; and God talked with him, saying, " Behold, my covenant is with thee. Thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but Abra- ham ; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. And I will be their God." And God said unto Abraham, " This is my covenant, which ye shall keep : Every male among you shall be circumcised. It shall be a token cisionestab- of a covenant betwixt me and you. He that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you." And God said unto Abraham, "As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but '^ Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and more- over I will give thee a son also of her. And she shall be a mother of nations ; kings of people shall be of her." Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, " Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?" And Abraham said unto God, " Oh that Ishmael might live before thee ! " And God said, " Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear " R. v. niarg., Or, T/um God seest me, '' R. V. marg., Tliat is, Cod hcareth. " Thirteen years after birth of Ishmael. ^ R. V. marg., That is, Princess. 18 The vShorter Bible [Gen. 17. 19. thee a son, and thou shalt call his name ^ Isaac. And I Isaac prom- '^^'^^ establish my covenant with him for an ised. everlasting covenant. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him a great nation ; but my covenant will I establish with Isaac." And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male, and circumcised them the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised, and Ishmael his son was thirteen years old. And the Lord appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them, and bowed himself toward the earth, and said, " My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. Let a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree ; and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your heart. After that ye shall pass on," And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, " Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes." And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant ; entertains and he hasted to dress it. And he took but- angeis. ^^^^ ,^^^^ milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. And they said unto him, " Where is Sarah, thy wife ?" And he said, "Behold, in the tent." And he said, " Lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son !" And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself. And the Lord said unto Abraham, " Wherefore did Sarah laugh ? Is anything too hard for the LoRD?" " R. V. marg. , From llcb. word mcaniiijj; /<> /aiis^h. (..en. i8. 15.] Cm 1 • Jacob prom- that I come agam to my lathers house in isesthe peace, then shall the LORD be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give ^ the tenth unto thee," " R. V. marg., That is, The house of God. ^ Gen. xiv, 20 ; Lev, xxvii, 30. 34 The Shorter Bible [Cen. 29. i. CHAPTER IX. JACOB IN PADDAN-ARAM. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the children of the east. And he "looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying by it ; for out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great. And he said unto them, " My brethren, whence be ye?" And they said, " Of Haran," And he said, " Know ye Laban?" And they said, "We know him ; and, behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh." While he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her Jacob meet- father's sheep ; for she kept them. And when ing Rachel. Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was Rcbck- ah's son ; and she ran and told her father. And Laban ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house, and said unto him, " Surely thou art my bone and my flesh." And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, " J^ccause thou art my brother, shouldst thou therefore serve me for naught? Tell me, what shall thy wages be ? " And Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. And Jacob said, " I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter." And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to thee than to another. Abide with me." Gen. 29. 20.J CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 35 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel ; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, for^Richef. "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled." And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. And Laban gave unto Leah Zilpah for an handmaid. SBIh And it came to pass that in the morning, ^^'^ Rachel, behold, it was Leah ! And he said to Laban, ^ '* What is this thou hast done ? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel ? Where- fore then hast thou beguiled me ? " And Laban said, " It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve me with yet seven other years." And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week ; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. And Laban gave Rachel Bilhah to be her handmaid. And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet other seven years. 'Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: the sons of Leah, Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun, ^and Jacob's chii- afterward she bare a daughter and called her ^^®"- name Dinah ; ^ the sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin ; the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, Dan and Naph- tali ; the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid. Gad and Asher. And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, " Send me away, that I may go unto mine own country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go." And Laban said unto him, " Tarry n o w, for the LORD 'Gen. XXXV, 23. ^Gen. xxxv, 24. I "Retribution. See chap, xxvii. ' Gen. xxx, 21. 36 The vSiioktkr Bible [Gen. 30. 27. hath blessed me for thy sake. Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it." And Jacob said unto him, "Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle hath fared with me. It was little wliich thou hadst before I came, and it hath increased into a multitude. And now when shall I provide for mine own house also? " And he said, " What shall I give thee? " Jacob gain- •^•''cl Jacob Said, " If thou wilt do this thing ing riches. for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock. I will pass through all thy flock to-day, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; of such shall be my hire." And Laban said, "Let it be according to thy word." And Laban removed that day the goats that were streaked and spotted, and everyone that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of liis sons. And he set three days' jour- ney betwixt himself and Jacob. And Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. And Jacob increased exceedingly, and the flocks brought forth cattle, streaked and spotted. The man had large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and asses. And he heard Laban's sons saying, " Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's. Of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory." And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, and said unto them, " I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before- time. But the God of my father hath been with me. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times ; but God suffered him not to hurt me. And the angel of God said unto me in a dream, 'Arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy nativity.' " And Rachel and Leah said unto him, " Whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do." Gen.3i.i7-] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 37 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels ; and he carried away all his cat- tle, and all his substance which he had gath- cape from" ered, to go to Isaac, his father, unto the land ^^^'^''• of Canaan. Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep. And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey, and overtook him in the mountain of Gilead. And God came to Laban in a dream of the night, and said unto him, " Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad." And Laban came up with Jacob, and said, " "What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares, and carried away my daughters as captives of the sword? Wherefore didst thou not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp ; and hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now hast thou done foolishly. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt ; but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, ' Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.' " And Jacob answered and said to Laban, " Because I was afraid, lest thou shouldst take thy daughters from me by force." And Jacob was wroth, and said to Laban, " What is my trespass? What is my sin, that thou hast hotly pursued after me? This twenty years have I been with thee. Thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flocks have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts, I bare the loss of it. Of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night ; and my sleep fled from mine eyes. These twenty years have I served thee, fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six for thy flock ; and thou hast changed my wages ten times. Except the God of my father had been with me, surely now hadst thou sent me away empty. God hath seen mine afflic- tion and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yester- night." 38 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 31. 43. And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, " The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that thou Covenant seest is mine. And what can I do this day between unto tlicsc my daughters, or unto their Laban. children which they have borne ? Now come, let us make a covenant, I and thou ; and let it be for a witness between me and thee." And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar, and said unto his brethren, " Gather stones." And they took stones, and made an heap. And Laban said, " This heap is a witness between me and thee this day." Therefore was the name of it called ''Galeed; and ^ Mizpah, for he said, "The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another." And Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mountain. And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. And Laban departed, and returned unto his place. And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And Jacob said, when he saw them, " This is God's host." And he called the name of that place <= Mahanaim. » R. V. mai-g., That is, T/ie heap of -ivitness, in Heb. '• R.,V. marg., That is, The zuatchtozver. " R. V. marg., That is, Two hosts. Gen. 32. 3.J Chronologically Arranged. 39 CHAPTER X. JACOB MEETING ESAU. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, unto the land of Seir, the field of Edom, saying, " Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau, ' Thus saith thy servant Jacob, " I have sojourned with j^cob meet- Laban, and stayed until now; and I have ingEsau. oxen, and asses and flocks, and menservants and maid- servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight." ' " And the messengers returned, saying, " We came to thy brother Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him." Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. And he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies, and said, " If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the company which is left shall escape." And Jacob said, " O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, which saidst Jacob's unto me, ' Return unto thy country, and to prayer, thy kindred, and I will do thee good,' I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant ; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan ; and now I am become two companies. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother Esau ; for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, 'T will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.' " And he took a present for Esau, his brother; two hun- dred and twenty goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milch camels with their colts, fifty cattle, and t h i r t y a s s e s. And he delivered them into the 40 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 32. 16. hand of his servants, every drove by itself; and said unto his servants, " Pass over before nie, and put a space betwixt drove and drove." And he commanded the foremost, saying, " When Esau, my brother, meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, ' Whose art thou ? Whither goest thou ? Whose are these before thee ? ' then thou shalt say, ' They be ^ thy servant Jacob's; it is a present unto my lord Esau. And, behold, also he is behind us.' " And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves ; for he said, " I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face ; per- adventure he will accept of me." So the present passed over before him. And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two handmaids and his eleven children, and sent them over the brook. And Jacob was left alone ; and there wrestled a man Jacob with him until the breaking of the day. And wrestling when he saw that he prevailed not against with the 111111 r 1 • 1 • 1 1 angel. him, he touched the hollow ot his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him. And the m a n said, " Let me go, for the day breaketh." And Jacob said, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." And he said unto him, " What is thy name? " And he said, " Jacob." And he said, " Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but ^ Israel ; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." And Jacob asked him, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name." And he said, " Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?" And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place " Peniel. "For" said he, " I have seen God face to face, and my life is pre- served." " Jacol) relinquishes the birtliright. '' R. V. niarg., Th.-it is, //^ 7a/ii> striv- eth with Cod. " R. V. marg., That is, The face of God. Gen. 32. 31. J Chronologically Arranged. 41 And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Peniel, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day. And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah and Rachel, and unto the two hand- maids. And he put Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, un- submission til he came near to his brother. And Esau ran ^° ^^"' to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him ; and they wept. And Esau lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and said, " Who are these with thee?" And lie said, " The children which God hath graciously given thy servant." And the handmaids came near, they and their chil- dren, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves ; and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. And Esau said, ''What meanest thou by all this company which I met?" And he said, " To find grace in the sight of my lord." And Esau said, " I have enough ; my brother, let that thou hast be thine." And Jacob said, " Nay, I pray thee, take my gift." And he urged him, and he took it. And Esau said, " Let us take our journey, and I will go before thee." And he said unto him, " My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds. If they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. I>et my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant ; and I will lead on softly, according to the pace of the cattle and children, until I come unto my lord unto Scir." 'So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 42 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 33. 17. CHAPTER XL JACOB SETTLING IN CANAAN: JOSEPH'S DREAMS: JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called '"^ Succoth. And God said unto Jacob, " Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there ; and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau, thy brother." Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, " Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purif}^ yourselves, and change your gar- ments. And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el ; and I , . will make there an altar unto God, who an- Jacobjour- , • ^i i r j • *. j neyingin swcrcd me lu the day 01 my distress, and Canaan. .^, . ., i • i t <- " was With me m the way which 1 went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their cars; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan (the same is Bcth-el), he and all the people that were with him. y\nd h.c built there an altar, and called the place*' El- beth-el; because there God was revealed unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. And Deborah, Rcbckah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Beth-el under the oak; and the name of it was called ° Allon-baculli. And God appeared unto Jacob again, and blessed him. And God said unto him. " I am God Almighty. Thy "R. V. maig., That is, Booths. '' R. V. marg., Tliat is, The God of Jh-th-cl. "iC V. marg., That is, The oak of zveeping. Gen. 35. 10.] Chronologically Arranged. 43 name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel. A nation shall be of thee ; and the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed after thee." • And God went up from him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spake with him, a pillar of stone ; and he poured out a drink offering and oil thereon. And they journeyed from Beth-el. And Rachel bare another son, and his father called him ^ Benjamin, And Rachel died, and was Rachel's buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is death. Bethlehem). And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave ; the same is the " Pillar of Rachel's grave " unto this day. And Israel journeyed, and came unto Isaac, his father, to Mamre, to Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac so- journed. And the days of Isaac were an Isaac's hundred and fourscore years. And Isaac death. gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and full of days. And Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him. And Jacob dwelt in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, ^' being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren ; and he was a lad with the sons of his father's wives. And Joseph brought the evil report of them unto his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a coat of many colors. And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren ; and they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren. And he said unto them, " Hear, I Joseph's pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. dreams. We were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and stood upright ; and your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf." And his brethren said to him, " Shalt thou indeed " R. V. marg., That is, The son of the right hand. ^ Isaac was one hundred and sixty-eight years old, Jacob one hundred and eight, Benjamin ten or eleven. 44 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 37. 8. reign over us?" And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, " I have dreamed yet a dream. Be- hold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." And he told it to his father. And his f^ither rebuked him, and said unto hitn, " What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy bVethrcn indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth ? " And his brethren envied him ; but his father kept the saying in mind. And Israel said unto Joseph, " Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem ? Go now, see whether it be well with thy brethren and the flocks ; and bring me word again." So he went after his brethren. And they saw him Plot to kill afar off. And they said one to another, " Be- Joseph. hold, this dreamer comcth. Come now there- fore, let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil .beast hath devoured him!' And we shall see what will become of his dreams." And '"^ Reuben heard it, and said, " Let us not take his life. Cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him ; " that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors, and took him, and cast him into the pit. The pit was empty, there was no water in it. 7\nd they sat down to cat bread. And they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a traveling company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, '' What profit is it if we slay our brother? Come, lot us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him ; for he is our brother." "The firstborn. Gen. 37. 27.] Chronologically Arranged. 45 And his brethren hearkened unto liim. And they drew up Joseph out of the pit, and ^ sold him to the IshmaeHtes for twenty pieces of silver. °^®^ And they brought Joseph into Egypt. And Reuben returned unto the pit, and, behold, Jo- seph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, " The child is not ! And I, whither shall I go ? " And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a goat, and dipped the coat in the blood, and brought it to their father, and said, " This have we found. Know now whether it be thy son's coat or not." And he knew it, and said, " It is my son's coat. An evil beast hath devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces." And Jacob rent his gar- Jacob's ments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and snef. mourned many days. And all his sons and daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, " I will go down to the grave to my son mourning." » Gen. xlii, 21. 46 The Shorter Bible L^^^en. 37. 36. CHAPTER XII. JOSEPH IN EGYPT: THE SLAVE AND THE PRINCE. And tlie Midianites sold J oseph unto Potiphar, the captain of the guard, an officer of Pharaoh's. 'And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. And his master saw that the LORD was with him ; and Joseph Joseph found grace in his sight, and he made prospering, hjm overseer over his house. And the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. He knew, not aught he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored. And it came to pass after these things, that his mas- ter's wife tempted Joseph. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, " Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand; neither hath he kept back anything from me. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God ? " And as she spake to Joseph day by day, he hearkened not unto her. And it came to pass about Joseph ... . , . . , , resisting this time, that he went mto the house to do temptation, j^ .^ ^^^j^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ caught him by his garment. And he loft his garment in her hand, and fled. And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home; and she spake unto him, saying, " The Hebrew servant came in unto mc to mock me ! " And when his master heard the words of his wife, his wrath was kindled, and h e took him and put him into the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and gave Joseph ^^^'"^ favor in the sight of the keeper of the in prison. prison. And the keeper of the prison com- mitted to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison ; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer ' Gen. xxxix, 2. Gen. 39. 22.] Chronologically Arranged. 47 of it. H e looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the LORD was with Joseph, and that which he did, /the Lord made it to prosper. And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king. And Pharaoh was wroth, and put them in the ward in the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them. And they dreamed a dream, both of 'them interpret- in one night, ing dreams. And Joseph came in in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked, " Where- fore look ye so sadly to-day ? " And they said unto him, " We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it." And Joseph said, " Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me it, I pray you." And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, " In my dream, behold, a vine was before mc ; and in the vine were three branches ; and it budded, and its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes. And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand ; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand." And Joseph said unto him, "This is the interpretation of it : The three branches are three days. Within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thine office ; and thou shalt give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But have mc in thy remembrance when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon." When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, " I also was in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head." And Joseph answered and said, " The three baskets are three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh 48 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 40. 19- lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree." And the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast unto all his servants ; and he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again, but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. And it came to pass at the end of two full years, Pharaoh that Pharaoh dreamed. And he slept and dreams. dreamed the second time. And in the morn- ing his spirit was troubled ; and he sent and called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, and told them his dream ; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, " I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker; and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. And there was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the cap- tain of the guard ; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. And it came to pass, as he inter- preted, so it was." Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. And he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, " I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret belong it. I have heard say of thee, that when thou Pharaoh. hearest a dream thou canst interpret it." And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, " It is not in me. God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, " In my dream, be- hold, I stood upon the brink of the =' river ; and there came up out of the river seven fat kine, fatfleshed and Avell favored ; and they fed in the reed grass. And, be- hold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favored, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness. And the lean kine did cat up the "R. V. maig., That is, Ihe Nile. Gen. 41. 20.] Chronologically Arranged. 49 first seven fat kine ; and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them ; but they were still ill favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up upon one stalk, full and good. And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears." And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, " What God is about to do he hath declared unto Pharaoh. The seven good kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years ; the dream is one. And the seven lean kine, and the seven empty ears blasted with rpj^g famine the east wind, they shall be seven years of foretold, famine. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of, famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land. And the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh, because the thing is established, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt ; and let him appoint overseers over the land ; and let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh. And that food shall be for store against the seven years of famine, that the land perish not through the famine." And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, " Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, " Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou." And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed Joseph him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold exalted, chain about his neck, and made him to ride in the 50 The Shorter Bible. [Gen. 41.43. second chariot which he had. And they cried before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On, And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. Joseph was •'^thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought Laying up fortli by handfuls. And he gathered up all food. |.}-jg food of the seven years, and laid it up in the cities, Joseph laid up corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was with- out number. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn ^ Manasseh. " P^or God," said he, "hath made me forget all my toil, a,nd all my father's house," And the name of the second called he "^ Ephraim. " P"or God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." And the seven years of plenty came to an end ; and the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said. And there was famine in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, " Go unto Joseph." And Joseph opened the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians, And the famine was sore in all the earth, and all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn. "Luke iii, 23. '' 1\. \'. nuirt^., That is, j\faking to forget. '-' R. \'. m:irg., ]'"r()ni a Ilch. woixl, Making to be fruilfiil. Gen. 42. I.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 51 CHAPTER XIII. JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN IN EGYPT. Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt. And Jacob said unto his sons, " Why do ye look one upon another? Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Get you down thither and buy, that we may live, and not die." But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren ; for he said, " Lest mischief befall him." And Joseph was the governor over the land ; he it was that sold to all people. And Joseph's breth- ran came, and bowed down themselves to brethren him with their faces to the earth. And Jo- ^^^^ ^^^ ' seph saw his brethren, and knew them, ' and remem- bered the dreams which he had dreamed of them ; ''but he made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly, and said, "Whence come ye?" And they said, " From the land of Canaan to buy food." And Joseph said, " Ye are spies. To see the naked- ness of the land ye are come." And they said unto him, " Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. We are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not." And Joseph said unto them, " By the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies," And he put them all together into ward three days. And Joseph said unto them the third day, " This do, and live ; for I fear God. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound ; but go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses ; and bring your youngest brother unto me. So shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die." 'Gen. xlii, 9. -'Gen. xlii, 7. 52 The Shorter Bibee [Gen. 42. 21. And they said one to another, " We are verily guilty concerning our brother Joseph, in that Joseph's we saw the distress of his soul, when he be- sought us, and we would not hear. Therefore is this distress come upon us." And Reuben answered them, saying, " Spake I not unto you, saying, ' Do not sin against the child ; ' and ye would not hear ? Therefore, behold, his blood is re- quired." And they knew not that Joseph understood them ; for there was an interpreter between them. And Joseph turned himself about from them, and wept; and he re- turned to them, and took Simeon from among them, and bound him before their eyes. Then Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way. And they laded their asses with their corn, and departed. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging place, he espied his money ; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his s.ack. And he said unto his brethren, " My money is restored. Lo, it is even in my sack." And their heart failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying, " What is this that God hath done unto us? " And they came unto Jacob, their father, unto the land Return of °^ Canaan, and told him all that had befallen Joseph's them, sayinsf, " The man, the lord of the land, spake roughly with us, and took us for spies, and said unto us, ' Bring your youngest brother unto me. Then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men ; so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.' " And as they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack ! And when they saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob, their father, said unto them, " Me have ye bereaved of my children. Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away. All these things are ajjainst me." Gen. 42. 37.] Chronologically Arranged. 53 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, " Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee. Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again," And Jacob said, " My son shall not go down with you ; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If mischief befall him by the way, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave." And the famine was sore in the land. And when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, "Go again, buy us a little food." And Judah spake unto him, saying, "The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, 'Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.' If thou wilt send our brother Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy thee food ; but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down." And Israel said, " Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brotlier? " And they said, " The man asked straitly concerning ourselves and our kindred, saying, ' Is your father yet alive? Have ye another brother ? ' And we told him. Could we in anywise know that he would say, ' Bring your brother down ? ' " And Judah said unto Israel, his father, " Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go ; that we may live, and not die, we and thou and our little ones. I will be surety for him ; of my hand shalt thou require him. If I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me 'bear the blame forever. For except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time." And their father Israel said unto them, " If it be so now, do this : Take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry the man a present, a little balm, and honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds. And take double money in your hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks'carry again in your hand ; peradventure it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again ; and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release unto 54 The Sii()RTp:r Bible [Gen. 43. 14. you your other brother and Benjamin. And if I be be- reaved of my children, I am bereaved." And the men took that present, and double money in their hand, and Benjamin ; and rose up, and visft to v/ent down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. gypt. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, " Make ready, for the men shall dine with me at noon." And the man did as Joseph bade, and brought the men into Joseph's house. And they were Joseph's* afraid, and said, " Because of the money that house. ^^^g returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in ; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen." And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and said, " Oh my lord, we came down the first time to iDuy food. And when we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack ! And we have brought it again in our hand. And other money have we brought to buy food. We know not who put our money in our sacks." And he said, " Peace be to you ; fear not. Your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treas- ure in your sacks. I had your money." And he brought Simeon out unto them. And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon ; for they heard that they should eat bread there. And when Joseph came they brought him the present, and bowed down themselves to him to the earth. • And he asked them of their welfare, and said, " Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive ? " And they said, " Thy servant our father is well." And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother's son, and said, " Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me? God be gracious unto thee, my son." And Joseph made haslc, and sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and came out; and refrained himself. Gen. 43- 31-1 CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 55 and said, '^ Set on bread." And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyp- tians, which did eat with him, by themselves ; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marveled one with another. And he sent messes unto them from before him ; but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money." And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, .^ 4-1 i- 4-1 J ^1 • Departure the men were sent away, they and their and pur- •' ^ suit. asses. And when they were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, " Up, follow after the men ; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, ' Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good ? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh ? Ye have done evil in so doing.' " And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words. And they said unto him, " Wherefore speaketh my lord such words as these ? God forbid that thy servants should do such a thing. Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan ; how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold ? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and vv^e also will be my lord's bondmen." Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the young- est; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack; Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city, and came to Joseph's house; and they fell before him on the ground. 56 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 44. 15. And Joseph said unto them, " What deed is this that ye have done? " And Judah said, "What shall we say unto my lord? How shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants. Behold, we are my lord's bond- men, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found." And J oseph said, " God forbid that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my bondman ; but as for you, get you up in peace unto your father." Then Judah came near unto him, and said, " Oh my Jadah's lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word, expiana? '^"d let not thine anger burn against thy servant, tion. yiy }qi-j asked his servants, saying, ' Have ye a father, or a brother? ' And we said unto my lord, ' We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one ; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.' And thou saidst unto thy servants, ' Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.' And we said unto my lord, ' The lad cannot leave his father ; for if he should leave his father, his father would die.' And thou saidst unto thy servants, ' Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.' And it came to pass when we came up unto my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, ' Go again, buy us a little food.' And we said, ' We cannot go down. For we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.' And my father said unto us, ' Ye know that my wife bare me two sons; and the one went out from me, and I said, " Surely he is torn in pieces; " and if ye take this one also from me, and mischief be- fall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.' Now therefore when I come to my father, and he seeth that the lad be not with us, *he will die, "seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life. Now therefore, let me, I pray thee, abide instead of the hid a bondman to my lord ; and let the lad go up with 'Gen. xliv, 31. 'Gen. xliv, 30. Gen. 44. 33.] Chronologically Arranged. 57 his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me ? " Then Joseph could not refrain himself And he cried, " Cause every man to go out from me." And he wept aloud ; and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, " I am Joseph ! Doth my father yet live ? " Joseph And his brethren could not answer him ; for ^ffknovm' they were troubled. And Joseph said, " Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said, " I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither ; for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land ; and there are yet five years in the which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to save you alive by a great deliverance. It was not you that sent me hither, but God ; and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, 'Thus saith thy son Joseph, " God hath made me lord of all Egypt. Come down unto me, tarry not ; and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and be near unto me, and there will I nourish thee ; for there are yet five years of famine ; lest thou come to poverty, thou and thy house- hold, and all that thou hast." ' And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen ; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither." And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept ; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brethren ; and after that his brethren talked with him. And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, "Joseph's brethren are come;" and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, " Say unto thy breth- 7 58 The vShorter Bible [Gen. 45. 17. ren, ' This do yc : Lade your beasts, and go, get you unto ■Di o^-ui,, the land of Canaan ; and take your father Pharaoh's , , , , ^ kind and your households, and come unto me ; and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.' " And Joseph gave them wagons, and provision for the way. To each man he gave changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. And to his father he sent ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten asses laden with corn and bread and victual for the way. So he sent his brethren away, and they departed. And he said unto them, " See that ye fall not out by the way." And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the Carryincr land of Canaan unto Jacob, their father. And good news they told him, saying, "Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them. And when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived ; and h e said, " It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive. I will go and see him before I die." Gen. 46. I.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 59 CHAPTER XIV. JACOB'S DESCENT INTO EGYPT: HIS DEATH AND BURIAL: JOSEPH'S LAST DAYS. And Israel took his journey with all he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the Jacob's God of his father Isaac. And God spake sacrifice T ,. 1 .. r 1 -1 1 ^1^^ vision. unto Israel m the visions ot the night, and said, " Jacob, Jacob I I am God, the God of thy father. Fear not to go down into Egypt ; for ^ I will there make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again ; and Joseph shall put his hands upon thine eyes." And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba. And h i s sons carried Jacob, their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed ; his sons, and his sons' sons, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. And Joseph made ready his chariot, and j^ggtin went up to meet his father. 7\nd he fell on withjoseph. his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, " Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, that thou art yet alive." And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, " I will go up, and tell Pharaoh. And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, ' What is your occupation ?' that ye shall say, ' Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers ; ' that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen." " The reason for the stay in Egypt. 60 The Shorter Bible [Gen. 46. 34. "* For every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brethren are come out of the land of Canaan ; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen." And from among his brethren he took five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. T 4 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, " What Intervie'ws , ' with Pha- IS your occupation ? And they said unto Pharaoh, " Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers." And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, " The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and thy brethren to dwell ; in the land of Goshen let them dwell. And if thou knowest any ''able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle." And Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Piiaraoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, " How many are the days of the }ears of thy life ? " And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, " The days of the years of my ^ pilgrimage arc an hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their '' pilgrimage." And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. And Joseph gave his father and brethren a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in Rame- ses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph nour- ished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families. And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen ; and they gat them possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years ; so the years of his life were an hundred forty and seven years. " Not to this king, one of the usiuping " Kyksos," or shepherd kings, but to the people. '' K. V. marg. , Or, men of activity. "^ R. V. marg., Or, sojournings. Gen. 48. I.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 61 And one said to Joseph, " Behold, thy father is sick." And Joseph took with hinn his two j^cob sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told ^Q^^I^Hof,^- Jacob, "Behold, thy son Joseph cometh." And he strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. And Jacob said unto Joseph, " God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, and said unto me, ' Behold, I will make of thee a com- pany of peoples, and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.' And now thy two sons, which were born unto thee in the. land of Egypt before I came unto thee, are mine. Ephraim and Ma- nasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine. And as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died in the land of Canaan in the way, and I buried her there in the way to Bethlehem." And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these ? " ' Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age. ° And Joseph said, "They are my sons, whom God hath given me here." And he said, " Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them." And he kissed them, and embraced them, and said unto Joseph," I had not thought to see thy face, and, lo, God hath let me see thy seed also." And Joseph took them both, and brought them near. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim 's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, "■guiding his hand wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn, ^ And it displeased Joseph; and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said, " Not so, my father. This is the firstborn ; put thy right hand upon his head," And his father refused, and said, " I know it, my son, I know it. He also shall be great ; howbeit his younger brother shall be greater than he." ■* And he blessed Joseph, and said, " The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which hath fed me all my life long unto this day, the ' Gen. xlviii, lo. ■'Gen. xlviii, 17. I " R. V. marg., Or, crossing his hands. ^Gen, xlviii, 9, ■* Gen. xlviii, 15. | 62 The Shorter Bible [<^'en. 48. 16. ancjel which hath redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads! And let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac ; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, " Behold, I die ; but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers." And Jacob called his sons together, and blessed them, every one according to his blessing. And he charged them, and said unto them^ " I am to be gathered unto my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought from Ephron, the Hit- tite, for a burying place. '* There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife; and there I buried Leah." And when Jacob had made an end of charging his Death of SOUS, he gathered up his feet into the bed, Jacob. antj yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. And Joseph fell upon his f^vthcr's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father. And forty days were fulfilled for him ; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him three- score and ten days. And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, " If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ' My father made me swear, saying, " Lo, I die. In my grave which I ^ have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me." Now there- fore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.' " And Pharaoh said, " Go." And Joseph went to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house and of the land of Egypt, and all the house of "There is a strong probability tliat tliis cave has never been disturbed. '' R. V. marg., Or, bought. Gen. 50. 8.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 63 Joseph, and his brethren, and hjs father's house; only their Httle ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, a bur?aiin very great company. And they came to the ^^chpeiah. threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamen- tation. And he made a mourning for his father seven days. And his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of Machpelah. And Joseph returned into Egypt, he and his brethren, and all that went up with him, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, " It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him." And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, "Thy father did command before he died, saying, ' Say unto Joseph, " Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil." ' And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father." And his brethren also went and fell down before his face ; and they said, " Behold, Vv^e be thy servants." And Joseph wept, and said unto them, " Fear not. Am I in the place of God? As for you, ye meant evil against me ; but God meant it for good, to Joseph's save much people alive. Now therefore fear kindness. ye not. I will nourish you, and your little ones." And he comforted them, and spake ^kindly unto them. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house. And Joseph lived an hundred and ten years, and saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born upon Joseph's knees. And Joseph said unto his brethren, "I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." " R. V. marg., Heb. io their heart. 64 The Shorter Bh^le [Gen. 50. 25. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, " God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry Death of "^P ^Y bones from hence. " Joseph. 5q Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old ; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Exod. I. 7.] Chronologically Arranged. 65 EXODUS. CHAPTER I. THE OPPRESSION OF THE ISRAELITES: EARLY DAYS AND CALL OF MOSES. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. , rapid L- Now there, arose a ^ new king over Egypt, crease, which knew not Joseph ; and he said unto his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel a hostile are more and mightier than we. Come, let us ^*^s- deal wisely with them ; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land." Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. tm-l^over' But the more they afflicted them, the more Israel. they multiplied and spread abroad. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor ; and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives t o kill all the men children of the Hebrew women ; but the midwives feared maf^chif- God, and did not as the king of Egypt com- '^^®^^' manded them, but saved the men children alive. And the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, " Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." * Rameses the Great. 66 The vShorter Bible [Exod. And there went a man of the liouse of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman bare a son. And when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with ^ pitch ; and she put the child therein, Moses' ^''"^' l^i<^^ it in the flags by the river's brink, childhood. ^ii^ \^\^ sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river ; and she saw the ark among the flags, and she sent her handmaid to fetch it. And she opened it, and saw the child ; and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children." Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, " Shall I go and call thee a nurse, that she may nurse the child for thee? " And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, " Go." And the maid went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, " Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages." And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's Moses' daughter, and he became her son. And she education. called his name '' Moses, and said, "Because I drew him out of the water." * And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and works. '■'And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, ^well-nigh forty years old, ''that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their bur- dens. And he saw an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. ^ And he supposed that his brethren understood '■ R. V. marg., That is, bi lumen. '' That is, Draiun out. Moses' premature attempt to dehver Israel. ' Acts vii, 22. •• Exoil. ii, II. "^ Exod. ii, 11. •'Acts vii, 25. 'Acts vii, 23. Acts 7. 25.] Chronologically Arranged. 67 how that God by his hand was giving them dehvcrance ; but they understood not. ' And he went out the second day, and, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together. And he said to him that did the wrong, " Wherefore smitest thou thy fehow?" '^ But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, ' " Who made thee a prince and a judge over us ? Thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ?" And Moses feared, and said, " Surely the thing is known." Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian. Moses' And he sat down by a well. Now the priest flight, of Midian had seven daughters ; and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away ; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when they came to their father, he said, " How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?" And they said, " An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock." And he said unto his daughters, " Where is he ? Call him that he may eat bread." And Moses was content to dwell with the man ; and he gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter. And Moses' she bare a son, and he called his name marriage. ^ Gershom ; for he said, " I have been a sojourner in a strange land." And the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God. And God heard their groaning, and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And God saw the children of Israel, and took knowledge of them. Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father- in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to ' Exod. ii, 13. " Exod. ii, 14. I " That is, A sojourner. ^ Acts vii, 27. 68 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 3. i. the back of the wilderness, and came unto Horeb. And the angel of the LoRD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. And he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, " I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, " Moses, Moses!" And he said, '* Here am I." And he said, " I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ' Draw not nigh hither. Put thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." And Moses hid his face ; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said, " I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters. I know their sor- rows, and am come down to deliver them, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, a land flowing with milk and honey. Come now there- fore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou may- est bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.." And Moses said unto God, "Who am I, that I shcnild go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the chil- dren of Israel out of Egypt?" And God said, " Certainly I will be with thee. And this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When tiiou hast brought forth the people out of Eg}'pt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain." And Moses said unto God, " Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, ' Tlie God of your fathers hath sent me unto you,' and they shall say to me, ' What is his name?' what shall I say unto them ? " And God said unto Moses, '^ " I AM THAT I Al\T. Thus ' Exod. iii, 5. I "From the same root in Hcb. as I yehovah. Exod. 3- I5-] Chronologically Arranged. 69 shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, ^'Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath sent me unto you.' This is my name forever. Go, and gather the children of Israel together, and say unto them, ' The Lord, the God of your fathers, hath appeared unto me, saying, " I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt. I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto a land flowing with milk and honey." ' And they shall hearken to thy voice. And thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, 'The LoRD, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us. Now let us go, we pray thee, three days* jour- ney into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.' And the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand. And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt ; and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. And when ye go, ye shall not go empty ; but every woman shall ask of her neighbor jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters ; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians." And Moses answered and said, " But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice." And the Lord said unto him, "What is that in thine hand ?" And he said, " A rod." And God said, "Cast it on the ground." ig»s given. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent ; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, " Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail." And he laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand. The Lord said furthermore unto him, " Put now thine hand into thy bosom." And he put his hand into his bosom ; and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. "^ From the same root as / am. 70 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 4. 7. And he said, " Put thine hand into thy bosom again." And he put his hand into his bosom again ; and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. And God said, "If they will not believe even these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land : and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land." And Moses said, " Oh Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant. I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." And the LORD said unto him, '' Who hath made man's mouth ? Is it not I the LORD ? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak." And Moses said, "Oh Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of some o t h er , him whom thou wilt send." And the Lord said, " Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? He can speak well. Behold, he cometh forth to meet thee. Thou shalt speak unto him, and put the words in his mouth, and he shall be thy spokesman unto the people. And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the signs." And the Lord said to Aaron, " Go into the wilder- ness to meet Moses." And he went, and met him in the mountain of God, and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord, and all the signs wherewith he had charged him. Exod. 4. 29.J Chronologically Arranged. 71 CHAPTER II. MOSES AND AARON BEFORE PHARAOH: THE TEN PLAGUES: THE PASSOVER. And Moses and Aaron gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had with the spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the wlth^' sight of the people. And. the people be- ^^araoh. lieved : and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their afflic- tion, they bowed their heads and worshiped. And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh, " Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, ',Let my people go, that they ma}' hold a feast unto me in tlie wilderness.' " And Pharaoh said, " Who is the LORD, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, and moreover I will not let Israel go. Where- fore do ye loose the people from their works ? Get 3'ou unto your burdens." And the same day Pharaoh commanded the task- masters of the people, and their officers, saying, " Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore ; let them go and gather straw for themselves. For they be idle, therefore they cry, saying, ' Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' " And the taskmasters went out, and spake to the people, saying, " Thus saith Pharaoh, ' I will Brick with- not give you straw. Go yourselves, get you °^^* straw, straw Avhere ye can find it : naught of your work shall be diminished.' " So the people Avere scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. And the taskmasters were urgent, saying, " Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw." 72 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 5. 14. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pha- raoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, " Wherefore have you not fulfilled your task both yesterday and to-da}', in making brick as hereto- fore ? " And the officers did see that they were in evil case. And they met Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, " The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made us to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us." And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, " Lord, since I Came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath evil entreated this people; neither hast thou clcHvered thy people at all." And the Lord said unto Moses, " Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh ; for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. Say unto the children of Israel, ' I will redeem you with a stretched out arm and with great judgments, and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God.' " And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel ; but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. 'And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron four- score and three years old, when they spake unto- Pha- raoh. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh. And Signs before Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and Pharaoh. [^ became a serpent. Then Pharaoh called for the magicians of Egypt, and they also did in like manner with their '■' enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents; but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them. And the Lord said unto Moses, "Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water. And thou shalt stand by the river's brink to meet him. And say unto Aaron, ' Take thy rod, and ' Exod. vii, 7. I " R. V. niarg., Or, si'cnt arts. Exod. 7. 19.] Chronologically Arranged. 73 stretch out thine hand over the waters of Egypt, their rivers, '"^streams, and pools, that they may be- jpjj.g^ come blood ; and there shall be blood plague, throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone,' " And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. He lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants ; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died, and the Egyptians could not drink the water. And the magicians of Egypt did in like manner ''with their enchantments : and Pharaoh's heart '^ was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart. And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink. And seven days were fulfilled. And the LORD spake unto Moses, " Go in unto Pha- raoh, and say unto him, ' Thus saith the LoRD, *' Let my people go, that they may serve me. And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs. The river shall swarm with frogs, second which shall come into thine house, and into plague, thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and thy kneading troughs." - And the LORD said unto Moses, "Say unto Aaron, ' Stretch forth thy rod over the waters, the ^ streams, and the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.' " And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt ; and the frogs came up, and covered the land. ''And the magicians did in like manner with their en- chantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, " Litreat the LORD, that he take away the frogs, and I will let the people go." " R. V. marg., Or, canals. *' A fair test would have been turning the blood back to wnter. <^ R. V. marg., Heb. was strong. ^ A fair test would have been driving away the frogs. T4 The vShorter Buile [Exod. 8. 9. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, " ]^c it according to thy word ; that thou mayest know that there is none Hke unto the LORD our God." And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried unto the Lord concerning the frogs, and the frogs died out of the houses and fields. And they gathered them together in heaps. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them. And the LORD said unto Moses, *' Say unto Aaron, ' Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that it may become ^ Hce throughout all the land of Third ^gypt-' " And Aarou stretched out his hand Faifu^eof with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, magicians. and there were lice upon man, and upon beast. And the magicians did so with their enchant- ments to bring forth lice, but they could not. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, " This is the finger of God." And Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them ; as the LuRD had spoken. And the LoRd said unto Moses, " Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh ; lo, he com,eth forth to the water; and say unto him, ' Thus saith the Lord, " Let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, I will Fourth send swarms of flies upon thee, and the houses plague. Qf the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flics shall be there ; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. To-morrow shall this sign be." And the Lord did so; there came grievous swarms of flies. And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, " Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land." And Moses said, " It is not meet so to do. We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LoivD our God, as he sliall command us." " R. \'. niarg.. Or, Sand Jlics ov Jlcas. Exod. 8. 29.] Chronologically Arranged. 75 And Pharaoh said, " I will let you go, only ye shall not go very far away. Intreat for me." And Moses said, " Behold, 1 go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart to-morrow ; only let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go." And Moses went out from Pharaoh and intreated the Lord. And the Lord removed the swarms of flies ; there remained not one. And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. Then the Lord said unto Moses, " Go in unto Pha- raoh, and tell him, ' Thus saith the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, " Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if thou refuse to let them go, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle, upon the horses, asses, camels, herds, and flocks ; there shall be a very Fifth grievous murrain. And the LORD shall sever plague, between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt ; and there shall nothing die of all that belongeth to the chil- dren of Israel. To-morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land." ' " And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died ; but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stub- born, and he did not let the people go. And the LoRD said unto Moses and Aaron, " Take handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and sprinkle sixth it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. plague. And it shall become a boil breaking forth upon man and beast, throughout all the land of Egypt." And Moses did so. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils ; for the boils were upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. And the LORD said unto Moses, " Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say Seventh unto him, 'Thus saith the LORD, the God of plague. the Hebrews, " Exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go ? Behold, to-morrow about 76 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 9. 18. this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt until now. Now therefore send, hasten in thy cattle and all that thou hast in the field; for every man and beast which shall be found in the field the hail shall come down upon them and they shall die." He that feared the word of the LORD among the serv- ants of Pharaoh m.ade his servants and his cattle flee into the houses : and he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field. And the Lord said unto Moses, " Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven." And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven ; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran doAvn unto the earth. So there was hail and fire mingled, very grievous. And the hail smote all that was in the field, both man and beast ; and smote every herb, and brake every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, " I have sinned this time. The Lord is rigliteous, and I and my people arc wicked. Intreat the Lord; for there hath been enough of these ^ mighty thunderings and hail, and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer." And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord ; and the thun- ders and hail ceased, and the rain was'not poured upon the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned )'et more, and hard- ened his heart, and did not let the children of Lsrael go. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and Eighth said unto him, " Thus saith the Lord, the plague. God of the Hebrews, ' How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? Behold, if thou re- fuse to let my people go, to-morrow will I bring locusts into thy border: and they shall cover the face of the earth, and shall cat the residue of that which remaincth unto you from the hail. And tin' houses shall be filled, " R. V. maig., Ilcb. -oict's (or t/itiiideriiigs) of God. Exod. lo. 6.] Chronologically Arranged. 77 and the houses of all the Egyptians ; as neither thy fathers nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day* " And he turned and went out from Pharaoh. And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, " How long shall this man be a snare unto us ? Let the men go, that -they may serve the LORD their God. Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?" And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pha- raoh : and he said unto them, " Go, serve the Lord your God: but who arc they that shall go?" And Moses said, " We will go with our }'oung and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters ; with our flocks and with our herds ; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD." And he said unto them, " Not so : go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD ; for that is what ye desire." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. And the LORD said unto Moses, " Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts." And Moses stretched forth his rod, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all the night ; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, very grievous were they. They covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened ; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left : and there remained not any green thing through all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste ; and he said, " I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only." And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord. And the Lord turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the border of Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Lsrael fjo. 78 The Shorter Bible [Exod. lo. 21. And the Lord said unto Moses, " Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, •'' even darkness which may be felt." And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven ; Ninth' ^^'^^ there was a thick darkness in all the land plague. of Egypt three days. They saw not one an- other, neither rose any from his place for three days ; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, " Go ye, serve the LORD ; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed. Let your little ones also go with you." And Moses said, "Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind ; for thereof must we take to serve the LoRD our God ; and '' we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither." And Pharaoh said, " Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more ; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die." And Moses said, " Thou hast spoken well ; I will see thy face again no more." And the Lord said unto Moses, "Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt ; after- ward he shall let you go: he shall surely thrust you out. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every one of his neighbor jewels of silver, and jewels of gold." And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " This ^^^g *= month shall be the first month of the year passover. ^^q you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, that in the tenth day of this month they shall take, every man for an household, '' a lamb without blemish. And if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbor next unto his house take one. And ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month ; and the whole assembly of the congre- gation of Israel shall kill it at even. And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side posts and on the " R. V. inarg., Or, so that men shall grope in darkness. "^ 2 Sam. .\jciv, 24. "^Abib or Nisan 'J John i, 29. Exod. 12. 7.] Chronologically Arranged, 79 lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it. ' And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. ^ And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread ; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. And thus shall ye eat it ; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand. Ye shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast ; and the °- blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are : and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial ; ^ and when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, ''ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord." Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and spake unto them. And the people bowed the head and worshiped. And the children of Israel did as the LORD had com- manded. And it came to pass at midnight, that tlie LoRD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, Tenth from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on piagiie. his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon ; and all the firstborn of cattle. ' Exod. xii 2 Exod. xii ^ Exod. xii, 25. ■* Exod. xii, 14. I John 80 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 12. 30. CHAPTER III. THE EXODUS: DESTRUCTION OF THE EGYPTIANS. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt ; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron, and said, " Get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel ; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Take your flocks and your herds, and begone; and bless me also." And the Egyptians were urgent to send them out of Ahasty the land in haste; for they said, "We be all departure. (jeaj men." And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, according to the word of Moses ; and the LORD gave the people favor, so they let them have what they asked. And they spoiled the Egyptians. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them ; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened ; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, n&ither had they prepared for themselves any victuals. Now the sojourning of the children of Israel in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. ='At the end of four hundred and thirty years all the hosts of the LoRD went out from the land of Egj'pt. " B. C. 1491. Exod. 13. I.] Chronologically Arranged. 81 •And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, " Sanctify unto me all the firstborn among the children r^he first- of Israel, both of man and beast : it is mine. gfven to^^ *And it shall be for a sign. ' When thy son G-od. asketh thee in time to come, saying, ' What is this ? ' thou shalt say unto him, ' By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage; and when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast : therefore all the firstborn are the Lord's; ^ but all the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou redeem.' " And when Pharaoh let the people go, God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt." But God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. ^And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him. And they took their journey. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to Divine lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of guidance, fire, to give them light. The pillar of cloud by day, and fire by night, departed not from before the people. And the Lord s'pake unto Moses, saying, " Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp by the sea. And Pharaoh will say of the chil- dren of Israel, ' They are entangled.' And the Egyptians shall M R. V. marg., Or, It is manna. Heb. Man hti. "= R. V. mare., Heb. Man. 86 " The vSiiorter Bible [Exod. 17. 2. with Moses, and said, " Give us water,- that we may drink." And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, " What shall I do unto this people ? They be almost ready to stone me." And the LORD said unto Moses, " Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel ; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb ; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephi- dim. And Moses said unto Joshua, " Choose out men, and go, fight with Amalek. I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand." So Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the T, .., x-u hill. And when Moses *held up his hand, Israel Battle witn -i i 11 i 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 the Amalek- prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon ; and Aaron and Hur stayed u[) his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side ; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. y\nd Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, " Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua ; that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it ^ Jehovah-nissi. Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how the Lord had broufjht Israel out of Egypt. And Visit and - counsel of Jetliro took Zipporah, Moses wife, and her ®^ ^°- two sons, ^ Gershom and ** Eliezer, and came unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped. And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did " Tlic attitude of prayer. '' R. V. marg., That is, 77ic' Lord is my bauncr. '^ That is, a sojourner. '' That is, God my help. Exod. i8. 7.] Chronologically Arranged. 87 obeisance, and kissed him, and they came into the tent. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and how the Lord delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel. And Jethro took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. And Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people ; and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father-in-law saw all, he said, " What is this?" And Moses said unto his father-in-law, " Because the people come unto me to inquire of God ; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and make them know the laws of God." And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, " The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away. The thing is too heavy for thee. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel. Provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain, and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, and let them judge the people at all seasons. Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves." So Moses liearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land. 38 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 19. i. CHAPTER V. THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL. In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. And Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the LoRD called The cove- unto him out of the mountain, saying, " Thus poslcfby ^^■'^It ^^■'O" ^^y ^o ^^^^ children of Israel, ' Ye G^od. have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me '^ from among all peoples. Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.' " And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered Accepted together, and said, " All that the LORD hath by the spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people unto the Lord. And Moses went down from the mount, and sanctified the people ; and they washed their garments. And he said unto the people, " Be ready against the third day." And it came to pass on the third day, Avhen it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trum- pet exceeding loud ; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God. And Mount Sinai was altogether on smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And " R. V. marg., Or, above. Exod. 19. 19.] Chronologically Arranged. 89 when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai. And God spake, saying, " I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of The "words bondage. °^^^^,^RY^' " Thou shalt have no other gods before me. command- " Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor the likeness of any form that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth : thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth gen- eration of them that hate me ; and showing mercy unto ^ thousands of them that love me and keep my command- ments. '* Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God ^in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. " Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work : but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the LORD thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daugh- ter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day : wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. " Honor thy father and thy mother : that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. " Thou shalt do no murder. "Thou shalt not commit adultery. " Thou shalt not steal. " Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neigh- bor. " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt " R. V. marg., Or, a thousand generations. See Deut. vii. 9. ^ R. V. marg., Or, for vanitv ox falsehood. 9 90 The vSiiorter Bible ^ [Exod. 20. 17. not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." And all the people saw the thundcrings, and the light- nings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking ; and they trembled, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, " Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." And Moses said unto the people, " Fear not : for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not." And Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. And the Lord said unto Moses, " Thus thou shalt say Additional unto the children of Israel, 'Ye yourselves Book of ^he have seen that I have talked with you from Covenant"), heavcn. Ye shall not make other gods with me ; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. . . . " ' He that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. " ' He that curscth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. . . . " ' ' He that stcaleth a man, and selleth him, shall surely be put to death. . . . "'''If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then shall they sell the live ox, and divide the price of it ; and the dead ox also they shall divide. Or if it be known that the ox was wont to gore in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in ; he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his own. '" If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. . . . '" He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, shall be utterly destroyed. " ' A stranger shalt thou not oppress ; for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. " ' Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If ' Exod. xxi, 16. -Exod. xxi, 35. Exod. 22.23.] CfIRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 91 thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry ; and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword ; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. . . . *' ' The firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep ; seven days it shall be with its dam ; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. " 'Ye shall be holy men unto me. . . . " ' Thou shalt not take up a false report. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. . . . " ' If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldst forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help him. " ' ' Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them ; thou shalt surely bring them again unto thy brother. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it home to thine house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. And so shalt thou do with his ass, and his garment, and every lost thing. . . . " ' Keep thee far from a false matter. . . . " ' ^ Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother's milk. . . . " ' " Ye shall not kill cow or ewe and her young both in one day.' 'And God said unto Moses, "Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel ; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near." And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young nantfoTm- men of the children of Israel, which offered ^^^^ ^atifie'i- *• offerings of oxen unto the LORD. '^And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book ' Deut. xxii, i. '■'Lev. xxii, 28. ^ Exod. xxiv, I. * To inculcate mercifulness. ^ The beginning of national sacrifice. = Heb. ix. 18-21. 92 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 24. 7. of the covenant, and * read in the audience of the people. And they said, " All that the Lord hath spoken will we do, and be obedient." And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, " Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you." Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Lsrael ; and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, as it were the very heaven for clearness. And upon the nobles of the chil- dren of Israel he laid not his hand. And they beheld God and did eat and drink. ''Neh. viii, 23. Exod. 24.12.] Chronologically Arranged. 93 CHAPTER VI. MOSES IN THE MOUNTAIN WITH GOD: DIRECTIONS FOR BUILDING THE TENT OF MEETING. And the Lord said unto Moses, "Come up to me into the mount, and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, God in the which I have written, that thou mayest teach them." "And Moses said unto the elders, "Tarry ye here until we come again unto you." "And Moses and Joshua his minister went up into the mount of God. And the Glory of the LORD abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And the appearance of the Glory was like devouring fire on the top of the mount. 'And the seventh day God called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud, and Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and was in the mount forty days and forty nights. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for me an offering, of every man whose heart maketh him willing. And this is the offering which ye shall take of Q.ojijiesir- them ; gold, and silver, and brass ; blue, and ing to dwell , ' ° , ' , .' - , . , , . with Israel. purple, and scarlet, and fine hnen ; sealskms, and acacia wood ; oil for the light, spices for the anoint- ing oil and for the sweet incense ; and precious stones to be set. And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. " They shall make an ark of acacia wood, and overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt ^^ , ^ , P ' The ark. thou overlay it. " And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold. And ' Exod. xxiv, 14. ■■' Exod. xxiv, 13. ^ Exod. xxiv, 16. 94 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 25. 18. thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work „, shalt thou make them, at the two ends of The mercy . ^ . ' . -^i .1 seat. the mercy seat, of one piece with the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubim. And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another, toward the mercy seat. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat. " * And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make unto it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt put it The altar for before the veil, before the mercy seat where incense. I xYJll meet with thee. And every morning when Aaron dresseth the lamps, and when h e lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense of sweet spices thereon ; a perpetual incense before the LORD. Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering; and ye shall pour no drink offering thereon. It is most holy unto the LORD. "*And thou shalt make a table of acacia wood, and overlay it with pure gold. And thou shalt make the dishes and spoons and bowls thereof of pure The table. ^^^jj_ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^j^^jj. ^^.^ ^jp^,^ ^.j^^ ^^^^^ showbread before me alway. "And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold, of beaten work. There shall be six branches going out of The candle- ^hc sides thereof, three out of the one side stick. ^iitj three out of the other. And thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven, to give light. And the tongs thereof, and the snuff dishes shall be of pure gold. 'And thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring pure olive oil for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. In the tent of meeting, with- out the veil, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LoRD. ""Moreover, thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and ' Exod. XXX, 1. '^ Exod. xxv, 23. ^ Exod. xxvii, 20. ■• Exod. xxvi, i. Exod. 26. 1.] Chronologically Arran(;ed. 95 scarlet, with cherubim the work of the cunning work- man shalt thou make them. And thou shalt Tlie "tent make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle. And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above. " And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood. And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold. " And thou shalt make a ^ veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen ; with cherubim the work of the cunning workman shall it be made. And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, and shalt bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony. And the veil shall divide between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. And thou shalt set the table and candlestick without the veil. " And thou shalt make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer. ® scieen. And thou shalt make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. " And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood. And thou shalt overlay it with brass. burnt^oflbi°/ And all the vessels thereof thou shalt make "^^" of brass. "And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle, of fine twined linen, '' an hundred cubits long for one side. And the pillars thereof shall be ^e court. of brass, the hooks and fillets of silver. " ' Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat, when they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near to the altar to minister, that they die not." Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " Take ^ Exod. XXX, i8. I "Matt, xxvii, 51. '^ About a liuii- I dred and fifty feet. 96 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 30. 23. thou also unto thee spices ; myrrh, sweet cinnamon, The holy oil "^weet calamus, cassia, and olive oil, and and incense, niake it an holy anointing oil. And thou shalt anoint therewith the tent of meeting, and the ark, and table, and candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering, and the laver. And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. And take unto thee sweet spices, and make incense, seasoned with salt, pure and holy, and put of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting." And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " See, I have called by name Bezalel, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God to work in gold, and silver, and brass, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of work- manship. And in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted The work- I h3.ve put wisdom, that they may make all men called. ]_\y^^^ J ^^ve commanded thee; the tent of meeting, and the ark, and the mercy seat, and all the fur- niture of the tent, and the holy garments for Aaron and his sons, and the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices; according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do." ' And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " When thou takest the sum of the children of Lsrael, then shall they give every man ''a ransom for his soul, half a shekel for an offering to the LoRD. The rich shall ThepoUtax. ^^^^ ^j^^ more, the poor shall not give less. And thou shalt take the money for the service of the tent of meeting. " "And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons, tliat he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, an d Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty. The priests' ^nd these are the garments : a breastplate, an arments. ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a miter, and a girdle. "And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and ' Exod. XXX, II. '^ Exod. xxviii, i. | "Matt, xvii, 24-27. Lxod. 28. 6.] Chronologically ArranCxEd. 97 purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the cunning workman. And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel ; six of their names on one stone, and six on the other. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel ; and '^ Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two ^ shoulders. " And thou shalt make a breastplate, like the work of the ephod. Foursquare it shall be. ' And bind the breastplate to the ephod with a lace of blue. * And thou shalt set in it four rows of stones, according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve. They shall be for the twelve tribes. And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate upon his '^ heart when he goeth in unto the holy place. "And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, Holy to the Lord.' And thou shalt put it on a lace of blue, on the forefront of the miter. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead." ^Andhegave unto Moses, when he had The tables made an end of communing with him upon gfvlnto Mo- Mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, ses. tables of stone, written with the finger of God. ' Exod. xxviii, 28. '•* Exod. xxviii, 17. ■' Exod. xxxi, 18. * Aaron is here a type of Christ. '' A symbol of strength. ^' A symbol of love. 98 The Shorter Bible [Kxod. 32. i. CHAPTER VII. ISRAEL'S BACKSLIDING, PUNISHMENT, AND RESTORA- TION : THE TENT OF MEETING ERECTED. And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, " Up, make us gods, which shall go before us ; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him." And Aaron said unto them, " Break off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, your sons and daugh- ters, and bring them unto me." And all the people brake off the golden rings \\hich were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron, And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a The golden graving tool, and made it a molten calf And ^^^^- they said, " These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, " To-morrow shall be a feast to the LORD." And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings ; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to pla}'. And the LoRl) spake unto Moses, " Go, get thee down ; for thy people, which thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have turned aside quickly out of the way. They have made them a molten calf, and they have wor- shiped it." And Moses turned and went down from the mount, with the two tabUs of tlie testimony in his hand written on both their sides. .\nd the tables were the work of God, and the writings were the writing of God, graven upon the tables. Exod. 32. i7l Chronologically Arranged. 99 ■ And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp," But Moses said, " It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome, but the voice of them that sing." And as soon as he came nigh unto the camp he saw the calf and the dancing. And Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and rj,j^g tables brake them. And he took the calf which they broken, had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, " What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them ? " And Aaron said, " Let not thine anger wax hot. Thou knowcst the people that they are set on evil. They said unto me, ' Make us gods which shall go before us ; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.' And I said unto them, 'Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf!" And when Moses saw that the people were broken loose, h e stood in the gate of the camp, and said, " Whoso is on the Lord's side, let him come unto me ! " And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, " Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, ' Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp and slay.' " And the sons of Levi did so ; and there xhree thou- fell of the people that day about ''three thou- sand slain, sand men. And it came to pass on the morrow that Moses re- turned unto the LORl), and said, "Oh, this Mosesinter- people have sinned a great sin, and have made ceding. them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their "About one thousandth of the people. 100 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 32. 32. sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." And the LORD said unto Moses, " Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Go, lead the people unto the place of which 1 have spoken unto thee ; behold, mine angel shall go before thee, for I will not go up in the midst of thee, lest I consume thee in the way. Therefore, now say unto the children of Israel, ' Put off thy ornaments from thee, that 1 may know what to do unto thee.' " ' And when the people heard these evil tidings they mourned, and no man did put on him his ornaments. Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it with- out the camp, afar off. And he called it. The tent of meeting. And every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tent of meeting. And when Moses went out unto the tent, all the people rose up, epen ance. ^^^^ stood, every man at his tent door and looked after Moses. And when Moses entered into the tent the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the tent, and the LORD spake with Moses. And Restora- ^^^ ^^^^ people saw the pillar of cloud, and all tion- the people rose up and worshiped, every man at his tent door. And the LORU spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp; but his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tent. And Moses said unto the LoRl), "See, thou sayest unto me, 'Bring up this people;' and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me." And God said, " "" My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." And Moses said unto him, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein now shall it be known that I have found grace in thy sight, I and thy people? Is it not in that thou goest with us, so that we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth ? " And the Lord said unto Moses, " I will do this thing ' Exod. xxxhi, 4. | " Matt, xxviii, 20. Exod. 33-I7-] Chronologically Arranged. 101 also that thou hast spoken ; for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." Moses' And Moses said, "Show me, I pray thee, prayer for thy glory." ^^^^^i'- And God said, " I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of the Lord be- fore thee." And he said, " Thou canst not see my face, for man shall not see me and live. Behold, I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by; and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back, but my face shall not be seen." And Moses hewed two tables of stone like unto the first ; and rose up early in the morning, and Moses' went up unto Mount Sinai, as the LORD had dty°s^on°the commanded him. And the I.ORD descended "^o^nt. in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed by him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the Lord, a God full of com- passion and gracious, slow to anger, and plen- jyieaning of teous in mercy and truth; '^keeping mercy ^e sacred for thousands, forgiving iniquity and trans- gression and sin ; and that will by no means clear the guilty." And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights ; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in h i s hand, h e wist not that the skin of his face shone. And when jVLosgs Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, shining behold, the skin of his face shone ; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them ; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned, and afterward all the children of Israel came nigh. And he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when "Deut. vii, 9. 102 The Shorter Bible [Exod. 34. 33. Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him he took the veil off. And Moses assembled all the congregation of the chil- dren of Israel, and said unto them, " Take ye from among you an offering unto the LoRD ; whosoever is of a willing The willing heart, let him bring the Lord's offering ; and offering. j^.^. gygry wisc-liearted man from among you come and make the tabernacle." And all the children of Lsrael, both men and women, came, every one whom his spirit made willing, and brought the Lord's offering, brooches, and earrings, and signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold. And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen ; and goats' hair, and rams' skins, and sealskins, and silver, and brass, and c o s t 1 y wood. And all the women that were wise- hearted did spin with their hands the blue, and the pur- ple, the scarlet, and the fine linen, and goats' hair. And the rulers brought precious stones, and spice, and oil. The children of Israel brought a freewill offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing. And they brought yet freewill offerings every morn- ing. And the wise men that wrought the work of the sanctuary came and spake unto Moses, saying, " The people bring much more than enough." And Moses caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, " Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing. And every wise-hearted man among them made the tabernacle with ten curtains; and they made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one made^and to anotheV with the clasps, so the tabernacle erected. ^^^ ^^^ j^^^ they made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle, and a covering for the tent, of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of seal- skins above. And Bezalel made the ark w i t h its mercy seat of pure gold. He made two cherubim of gold, of beaten work, at the two ends thereof He made the table and candlestick, the altar of incense, Exod. 38. I.J ClIRONOLOr.ICALLY ARRANGED. 103 the altar of burnt offering, 'and the court ^ round about." ■'And he made the laver of brass, and the base thereof of brass, of the mirrors of the serving women which served at the door of the tent of meeting. And of the blue and purple and scarlet, they made finely wrought garments for ministering in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron. Thus was finished all the work of the tabernacle. And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, and he saw all the work. And Moses blessed them. And in the second year, on the first day of the month, Moses reared up the tabernacle as the Lord com- manded. ^ Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle, Godenter- and Moses was not able to enter into the ing the tent, tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tab- ernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys ; but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not. " So it was alway. And in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped. Sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle, and sometimes from evening unto morn- ing. Whether it were two days or a month or a year that the cloud tarried, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not, but when it was taken up they journeyed. ^ F'or the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. "And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with God, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from between the two cherubim, above the mercy seat that was upon the ark. ' Exo t> Num. 22. 12.] Chronologically Arranged. 127 them. Thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed." And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, " Get you into your land, for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go ^ith you." And the princes of Moab rose up and went unto Ba- lak, and said, " Balaam refuseth to come with us." And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said to him, " Thus saith Balak, ' Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me ; for I will pro- mote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.' " Balaam answered and said, " If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will speak unto me more." And God saw that ' Balaam loved the hire of wrong- doing, and ''came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, " Rise up, go with them ; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do." And Balaam rose up in the morning, and went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger was kindled. And the angel of the Lord placed himself in the way against him. Now he was riding upon his ass. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with The oppos- his sword drawn in his hand, and the ass The^s^eat turned aside out of the way, and went into the mgass. field ; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. Then the angel stood in a hollow way between the vine- yards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side. And the ass saw the angel, and she thrust her- self unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot; and he smote her again. And the angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And the ass saw the angel, and she lay down under Balaam. And ' 2 Peter ii, 15. ^ Num. xxii, 20. 128 The Shorter Bible [Num. 22. 27. Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, " What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitteg me these three times?" And Balaam said unto the ass, " Because thou hast mocked me. I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now I had killed thee." And the ass said unto Balaam, "Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee ? " And he said, " Nay." Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand ; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. And the angel said unto him, " Thy way is ^ perverse before me. Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee." And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, " I have sinned. Now therefore if it displease thee, I will get me back again." And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, " Go with the men ; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him, and said unto Balaam, " Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee ? Wherefore camest thou not unto me ? Am I not able to promote thee to honor ? " And Balaam said, " Lo, I am come unto thee. The word that God putteth in my mouth that shall I speak." And Balaam went with Balak. And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the princes that were with him. And in the morning Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of ^ Baal, and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people. And Balak and Balaam built seven altars, and offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. " R. \'. maig. , Hcb. Iwadlon;^-. ''Num. xxv, 3. Num. 23. 3.] Chronologically Arranged. 129 And Balaam said unto Balak, " Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go; peradventure the Lord will come to meet me, and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee." And he went to a bare height. And God met Balaam and put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, " Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak." And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab. And Balaam took up his parable and said, " From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East, saying, , /— T 1 Balaam's 'Lome, curse me Jacob, first proph- And come, defy Israel ! ' ^°^' How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied ? ^ Let me die the death of the righteous. And let my last end be like his ! " And Balak said unto Balaam, " What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and be- hold, thou hast blessed them altogether." And Balaam answered and said, "Must I not speak that which the Lord putteth in my mouth ? " And Balak said unto him, " Come with me unto another place, and curse them from thence." And he took him to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. And Balaam said unto Balak, " Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD up yonder." And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth. And he came to Balak, and, lo, he stood by his burnt offering and the princes, of Moab were with him. And Balak said unto him, " What hath the LORD spoken ? " And Balaam took up his parable and said, second " Rise up, Balak, and hear ; prophecy. Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor ; " Num. xxxi, 8. 130 The Shorter Bible [Num. 23. 19. God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good ? Behold, I have received commandment to bless ; And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him ; And the shout of a king is among them. There is no enchantment "against Jacob, N^ither^is there any divination '^against Israel." And Balak said unto Balaam, " Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all." But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, " Told not I thee, saying, ' All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do ? ' And Balak said unto Balaam, "Come now, I will take thee unto another place ; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence." And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor. And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel ; and the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his para- ble and said, " How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel ! Third As valleys are they spread forth, prop ecy. ^^ gardens by the river side. His king shall be higher than ^ Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. Blessed be everyone that blesseth thee. And cursed be everyone that curseth thee." And Balak 's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together. And Balak said unto Balaam, " I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, be- hold, thou hast blessed them these three times. There- " Thus in the R. V. maig. ''The king of the ncighboiing Anialekites. See Exod. xvii, 8-16. Num. 24. II.] Chronologically Arranged. 131 fore now flee thou to thy place. I thought to promote thee unto great honor, but ''' the LORD hath kept thee back from honor." And Balaam said unto Balak, " Spake I not to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, ' If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD ? ' What the Lord speaketh, that will I speak. And now, behold, I go unto my people. Come, and I will tell thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days." And he took up his parable and said, " I see him, but not now; Fourth I behold him, but not nigh; prophecy. There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a scepter shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult." And Balaam rose up, and returned to his place ; and Balak also went his way. " Uttered sneeringly. 132 The Shorter Bible [Num. 25. I. CHAPTER IV. ISRAEL'S IDOLATRY: THE PLAGUES: THE HOLY WAR: THE SECOND NUMBERING: WOMEN AS HEIRS: THE CITIES OF REFUGE: JOSHUA CHARGED. And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to Israel be- commit s i n with the daughters of Moab. guiied into 'For Balaam taught Balak to cast a stum- bling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. ^ And the people bowed down to their gods. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. ^ And those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand. ■* And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, " Slay ye the men that have joined themselves unto -The'hoiy^ Baal-peor." And the congregation were ^^^' weeping at the door of the tent of meeting. So the plague was stayed. ^And the LORD spake unto Moses, saj'ing, "Avenge the children of Israel of the ^ Midianites, for they vex you with their wiles wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of ^' Peor." "And Moses sent a thousand of every tribe to the war, them and Phinchas, the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for alarm in his hand, and they warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses. And they slew every male, and the kings of Midian with the rest, and took captive the women and their little ones. And all their cattle and flocks and goods they took for a prey, and all their cities ' Rev. ii, 14. '•Num. xxv, 5. ■■'Num. xxv, 2. 'Num. xxv, 16. ■'Num. xxv, 9. * Num. xxxi, 6. " Evidently allied witli Moab. '' Num. xxv, 3. Num. 31. 10.] Chronologically Arranged. 133 and encampments they burnt with fire. ''' ' Balaam also, the son of Beor, they slew with the sword. " And after the plague the LORI) spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, " Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel." 'And they that were numbered were ^ six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty. ■* But among these there was not a man of them that were numbered by Moses and Aaron in the ^, , •11 r (-• • r IT 1 , • 1 ^ The second Wilderness 01 bmai ; for the LORD had said 01 munbenng. them, " They shall surely die in the wilderness," There was not left a man of them, save Caleb and Joshua. ^And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance ac- cording to the number of names. To the more thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to the fewer thou shaltgive the less inheritance. The land shall be divided by lot." ^ Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad ; Mah- lah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. And they stood before Moses and Eleazar, and before the princes, and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of „^ • ^-\ r 1 1- 1 • •! Women as meeting, saying, " Our father died in the wil- landown- derness, and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son ? Give unto us a pos- session among the brethren of our father." And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "■ The daugh- ters of Zelophehad speak right ; thou shalt surely give them a possession among their father's brethren, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ' If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause h'is inheritance to pass unto his daughter. And if he have .no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his ' Num. xxxi, 8. •* Num. xxvi, 64. '^ Num. xxvi, I. * Num. xxvi, 52. ^ Num. xxvi, 51. *Num. xxvii, i. "■ Num. xxiii, 10. '' Less than they wave nearly forty years before. See Num. ii, 32. 13-t The Shorter Bible [Num. 27. n. kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it.' ' Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle; and when they „ , \, saw the land of Gilead, that the place was Reuben and ^ r 11 11 Gadchoos- a place for cattle, they came and spake mg Gilead. fTv/r jt-i j ^.i-i- unto Moses and bleazar and unto the prin- ces of the congregation, saying, " Let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession ; bring us not over Jordan." And Moses said, " Shall your brethren go to the war, and shall ye sit here? Wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them ? " ^ And they said, " We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones; but we our- selves will be ready armed to go before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place. We will not return unto our houses until they have in- herited every man his inheritance." And Moses said unto them, " If ye will do this, ye shall be guiltless toward the LORD, and toward Israel ; and this land shall be unto you for a possession. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out." So Moses gave charge concerning them to Eleazar and Joshua. 'And the LoRD spake unto Moses, saying, " Command The cities of the children of Israel, that they give unto the refuge. Lcvitcs citics to dwcU in, and suburbs round about for their cattle and all their beasts. The cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight, with their '' suburbs, ■* the six cities of refuge and forty and two citics beside them." And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " Say unto the children of Israel, ' When ye pass over Jordan into the land of Canaan, then ye shall appoint you six cities of refuge ; that one that killeth any person unwittingly • Num. xxxii. I 3 Num. xxxv, 1. I „ j,_ ^r Or,J^asturr lands. ''Num. xxxu, lO. ••Num. xxxv, 0. | ax Num. 35. 16.] Chronologically Arranged. 135 may flee thither ; ' that h e die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment. ^ And he shall flee unto one of those cities, and shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city. ' If he thrust him whom h e k i 1 1 e d of hatred, or hurled at him lying in wait so that he died, or in enmity smote him, he shall surely be put to death. But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or seeing him not ; and he vv'as not his enemy, neither sought his harm : * as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, that he die; *the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and he shall dwell in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return into the land of his possession. " But one witness shall not testify against any person that he die. *At the mouth of two witnesses, or of three, shall he that is to die be put to death.' " ' And the Lord said unto Moses, " Get thee up into this mountain and behold the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. Because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes." And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, " Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, ap- joshua point a man over the congregation, which charged, may lead them out and bring them in." And the LORD said unto Moses, " Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him ; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation ; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put of thine ' Num, XXXV, 12. '•Deut. xix, 5. 'Num. xxvii, 12. ^Josh. XX, 4. ^ Num. xxxv, 25. ^ Num. xxxv, 20. * Deut. xvii, 6. 136 The Shortp:r Bible [Num. 27. 20. honor upon him, that all the congregation of the chil- dren of Israel may obey. At his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the con- gregation." And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. Deut. I. I.] Chronologically Arranged. 137 DEUTERONOMY. CHAPTER I. MOSES' PARTING ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE. These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel beyond Jordan, ' in the land of Moab. " In the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment. And Moses said, " ' I besought the Lord at one time, saying, 'O Lord God, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy strong hand ; for what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to thy works, Personal and thy mighty acts? Let me go over, I pray words, thee, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan.' But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes. And the Lord said unto me, ' Let it suffice thee ; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold with thine eyes ; for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him ; for he shall go over before this people, and cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.' S o M must die in this land ; I must not go over Jordan. But ye shall go over and possess that good land. "'And now, O Israel, hearken unto the statutes and unto the judgments which I teach you, for Exhorta- to do them ; that ye may live, and go in and tions. possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, ' Deut. i, 5. "^ Deut. i, 3. ^ Deut. iii, 23. ■* Deut. iv, 22. ' Deut. iv, i. 12 I'SS Tpie vShorter Bible [Deut. 4. i. giveth you. Yc shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it. Be- hold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me. Keep therefore and do them. For this is your wisdom and your under- standing in the sight of the peoples, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, ' Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what nation is there that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day? Take heed to thy- self lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, the day that thou ^ stoodest before the LoRD in Horeb, and the mountain burned with fire unto the heart of heaven. And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire. Ye heard the voice of words, but ye saw no ' man- ner of form, lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image. ''And he declared unto you his covenant, even the ten commandments ; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. " nVhen thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and have been long in the land, and shall make a graven image in the form of anything, and shall do that which is evil in the sight of the Lord thy God, I . call heaven and earth to witness against you armngs. ^j^j^ ^^^^ ^j^^^ ^^ shall soon utterly perish. The Lord shall scatter you among the peoples. But if from thence ye shall seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou search after him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. ' The LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will re- turn and gather thee from all the peoples, whither h e hath scattered thee. And the Lord will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and will do thee good, and rejoice over thee and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord will circumcise thine heart, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul. " Thy God is a merciful God ; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy Deut. iv, 15. ■* Dcut. xxx, 3. Deut. iv, 13. ^ Deut. iv, 31. ' Deut. iv, 25. "Exod. xix, 18. Deut.4. 3I-] Chronologically Arranged. 139 fathers. For ask, now, since the day that God created man, did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and hve? Out of heaven he made thee hear his voice, and upon earth he made thee see his great fire. ' Unto thee •it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God ; there is none else beside him." And Moses said, " 'Hear, O Israel. ^ The LORD our God is one Lord ; and thou shalt love the LoRD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy urgent ex- soul, and with all thy might. And these |'^J*t|'^°^f words, which I command thee this day, shall tions. be upon thine heart. And thou shalt teach them dili- gently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. " And when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land, great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, and houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and cisterns hewn out, which thou hewedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not, and thou shalt eat and be full ; then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt. " ^ Thou shalt make no covenant with the people, neither shalt thou make marriages with them ; for he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods. But ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art an holy people, the LoRD thy God hath chosen thee. The LORD did not set his love upon you because ye were more in number than any people, but because the LORD loveth you. The Lord thy God is the faithful God, which keepeth cove- nant and mercy with them that love him to a thousand generations. "■ * Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilder- 9 TA J •' d T^ ^' ••'• ' " Mark xii, 20, 30; Lev. xix, 18. ^ Deut. VI, 4. * Deut. viii, 2. | > v. j . 140 The vShorter Bible [Deut. 8. 2. ness ; that he might prove thee, to know what was in thine heart. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, that he might make thee know that •'' man doth not hve by bread alone, but by every word that proceedcth out of the mouth of the Lord. Thy raiment 'and shoe ^ waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. " Beware lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and when thy herds and thy flocks and thy silver and thy gold multiply, and all that thou hast is multiplied ; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget God, and say in thine heart, ' My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.' But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth. And if thou shalt forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. " ^ If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass whereof false teach? he spakc unto thee, saying, ' Let us go after ^^^' other gods, and serve them,' thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams. For the Lord proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul. And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death ; because he hath spoken rebellion against the Lord. " ■* Thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother; but thou shalt surely open „ thine hand unto him, and shalt surely lend Concerning r-^ . r i • i t^i • i i .1 the poor. him sufficient for his need. 1 nine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him ; because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy work. For the poor shall never cease out of the land, therefore thou shalt surely open thine hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor. • Deut. xxix, 5. ' Deut. xiii, i. I ^ ^^ ■ ' Deut. viu, 4. * Deut. xv, 7. | Deut. 17. 8.] Chronologically Arranged. 141 " ' If there arise a matter in judgment too hard for thee, thou shalt arise and come unto the priests and unto the judge that shall be in those days. And accord- ing to the judgment which they shall tell thee thou shalt do. Thou shalt not turn aside to the right hand, nor to the left. "And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die; and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously. " When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and dwell therein ; and shalt say, ' I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me; ' thou shalt in anywise set him king over thee, whom the concerning Lord thy God shall choose ; one from among a king, thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee ; thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee, which is not thy brother. '^ Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt.' '' Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away ; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, then he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites; and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life ; that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law to do them ; that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the com- mandment, to the right hand, or to the left ; to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel. "All the tribe of Levi shall have no portion nor in- heritance with Israel. The LORD ^ is their concerning inheritance ; ^ they shall eat the offerings of *^® Levites. the Lord made by fire. ' Deut. xvii, 8. ^ Deut. xviii, i. I „ „ ,-i • ^. ., , ir- ., Tx . ■•• "2Cnron. i, 14. '' i Kines xi, i. ■ Deut. xviu, 2. e. ' 142 The Shorter Bible [Deut. 14. 22. " * Thou shalt surely tithe all the increase of thy seed, year by year. ^ And unto the children of Levi I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service, even the service of the tent of meet- ing. ° And from them that offer a sacrifice, whether ox or sheep, apart shall be the priest's due. The first fruits of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever. " When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found with thee anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divina- tion, one that practiceth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar Concerning spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For sorcery. whosoever doeth these things is an abomi- nation unto the LORD ; and because of these abomi- nations the Lord thy God doth drive these nations out before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. " " When thou goest forth to battle against thine ene- ^ . mies, and scest horses, and chariots, and peo- military pie more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid ^ ^' of them, for the Lord thy God is with thee. " And when ye draw nigh unto the battle the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, * What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? Let him go and return unto his house. And what man is tliere that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? Let him go and return unto his house. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Let him go and return unto his house.' 'Deut. xiv, 22. '^ Num. xviii, 21. ^ Dent, xviii, 3. ■'Deut. xx, i. Deut. 20. 8.] Chronologically Arranged. 143 " And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, ' What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted ? Let him return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart melt as his heart,' " ' If one be found slain in the land, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath smitten him, concerning thy judges and elders shall come forth and secret mur- shall measure unto the city which is nearest unto the slain man ; and the elders of the city shall take an heifer and bring it unto a valley with running water, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley. And the priests shall come near. And the elders shall wash their hands over the heifer, and say, * Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Forgive, O LORD, thy people whom thou hast redeemed, and suffer not innocent blood to remain in the midst.' So shalt thou put away the innocent blood from the midst of thee. " '^ Mf brethren dwell together, and one of them die and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not marry a stranger. Her husband's brother shall take her to him to wife, and the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not blotted out of Israel. ^ And if the man like not to take h e r, then shall his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot. And his name shall be called, ' The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.' " ^ And it shall be when thou art come in unto the land, that thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the gro«nd, and put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say, offering the ' A Syrian ready to perish was my father, ^^^t fruits. and he went down into Egypt and he became there a great nation. And the Egyptians afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage ; and we cried unto the LORD, and the LORD heard our voice, and brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with signs and won- ders. And he hath brought us into this land flowing 'Deut. xxi, I. ^ Deut. xxvi, i. I „ ,t ... > n .i, • ii -r, , ' Matt. XXII, 24. '' Ruth iv, 7. ' Deut. XXV, 5. ' ^ ' ' 144 The Shorter Bible [Deut. 26.9. with milk and honey. And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground.' "And thou shalt set it down and worship, and thou shalt rejoice in all the good which the LORD hath given unto thee." Deut. 17. 2.] Chronologically Arranged. 145 CHAPTER II. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LAW: MOSES' SONG, BLESS- ING, AND DEATH. ' And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the peopl^, saying, "On the day when ye shall The law on pass over Jordan into the land, thou shalt Mount Ebai. set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister. And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law. And ye shall set up these stones in Mount Ebal. And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, and offer offerings thereon, and rejoice before the Lord. And thou shalt write upon the stones the words of this law, very plainly." " And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests and elders, saying, "At the end of The law to every seven years, in the feast of tabernacles ^® ^®^^- when all Israel is come to appear before the Lord, thou shalt read this law. '"^ Assemble the people, the men, and women, and little ones, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear and learn, and fear the Lord as long as ye live." ' And when Moses made an end of writing this law in a book, Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the LORD, saying, "Take The law in this book of the law and put it by the ark of *^® ^r^- the covenant of the Lord, that it may be there for a witness." * And Moses spake unto all Israel, " I am an hun- dred and twenty years old this day, and the LoRD hath said unto me, 'Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.' Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath spoken." ' Deut. xxvii, i. ^ Deut. xxxi, 24. I „ -m i. «Deut. xxxi, 9. ^Deut. xxxi, i | ^^^- ^••'' ^- 146 The Shorter Bible [Deut. 31. 30. ' And Moses spake in the ears of all the Moses' song. , , ^ ^ ^ , , r i • assembly of Israel the words ot this song, " Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak ; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain. My speech shall distill as the dew ; For I will proclaim the name of the LORD ; Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The Lord's portion is his people ; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. • He found him in a desert land, And in the waste howling wilderness ; He compassed him about, he cared for him, He kept him as the apple of his eye ; As an eagle that stirreth up her nest, That fluttereth over her young, He spread abroad his wings, he took them, He bare them on his pinions ; The Lord alone did lead him. And there was no strange god with him. Then he forsook God which made him. And lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation. And the Lord saw it and abhorred them, Because of the provocation of his sons and daughters. And he said, ' I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be.' Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end ! " And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the cars of the people, he and "" Hoshea the son of Nun. jyioggg, ''And Moses blessed the children of Israel blessing. before his death. He said, "The Lord came from Sinai, He shined forth from Mount Paran. The beloved of the LoRD shall dwell in safety by him, He covereth him all the day long. ' Deut. xxxi, 30. '^ Deut. xxxiii, i. | "Or, Joshua. Deut. 33. 12.] Chronologically Arranged. 147 Thy bars shall be iron and brass ; And as thy days, so shall thy strength be. There is none like unto God, Who rideth upon the heaven for thy help. The eternal God is thy dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms. Israel dwelleth in safety. In a land of corn and wine. Happy art thou, O Israel ; Who is like unto thee, a people saved by the Lord ! " ' And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Get thee up into Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, over against Jericho ; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession, and die in the mount, as Aaron thy brother died in Mount Hor." ^ And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land. So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there accord- ing to the word of the LORD. And he buried Moses' him in the valley, but no man knoweth of death, his sepulcher unto this day. Moses was an hundred and twenty years old. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days ; so the days of mourn- ing for Moses were ended. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him ; and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. ' Deut. xxxii, 48. '•' Deut. xxxiv, i. 148 The Shorter Bible [Josh. i. i. JOSHUA. CHAPTER I. JOSHUA SUCCEEDING MOSES, AND LEADING THE PEOPLE OVER JORDAN. Now after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord spake unto Joshua, the son of Nun, saying, " Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them. Every place that the Joshua sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you encouraged. \iQ^yQ J given it. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee ; I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. Only be strong, and very cour- ageous, to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt ■' have good success. Have not I com- manded thee ? Be strong and of a good courage ; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed ; for the LoRD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." And Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men as spies The two secretly, saying, "Go view the land, and spiesaud Tericho." And they went and came into the Rahab. r' r t) i u house oi Rahab. And the woman took the two men and hid them. .She " R. V. niarg. , Or, <•/(■«/ 7ciist'ly. Josh. 2. 6.] Chronologically Arranged. 149 brought them up to the roof and hid them with stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. And she said unto the men, " I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and your terror hath fallen upon us. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt, and what ye did unto the two kings, Sihon and Og. And as soon as we had heard it our hearts did melt, for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I pray you, since I have dealt kindly with you, deal kindly with my father's house, and save alive my father and mother, my breth- ren and sisters, and all that they have." And the men said unto her, " If ye utter not this our business, when the Lord giveth us the land we will deal kindly and truly with thee. 'Thou shalt bind this line of scarlet in the window, and thou shalt gather into the house all thy father's household. And whosoever shall go out into the street, his blood shall be upon his head." And she said, "According unto your words, so be it." ^ Then she let theni down by a cord through the win- dow ; for her house was upon the town wall. And she said unto them, " Get you to the mountain, lest the pur- suers light upon you ; and hide yourself there three days. Afterward may ye go your way." And they departed, and she bound the scarlet line in the window. Then the two men returned and came to Joshua, and told him all that had befallen them. And they said unto Joshua, " Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land ; the inhabitants of the land do melt away before us." And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and removed and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel ; and they lodged there before they passed over. And Joshua said unto the people, " Sanctify yourselves, for to-morrow the LORD will do wonders among you." And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, " Take up the ark of the covenant and pass the!iordaii. over before the people." 'Josh, ii, i8. *Josh. ii, 15. 150 The Shorter Bible [Josh. 3. 14. And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents to pass over Jordan, the priests that bare the ark being before the people ; and when the feet of the priests were dipped in the brink of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest,) that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off! And those that went down toward the sea were wholly cut off, and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan. And all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over Jordan. And when all were clean passed over Jordan, the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, " Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, and com- mand ye them, saying, * Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood The twelve firm, twelve stones, and carry them over stones. with you, and lay them down in the lodging place where ye shall lodge this night.' " Then Joshua called twelve men, and said unto them, " Pass over into the midst of Jordan, 'and take you up every man a stone upon his shoulder." And the children of Israel did as Joshua commanded. And Joshua set up twelve other stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood. And when all the people were clean passed over, the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. And when the priests that bare the ark were come up out of the midst of Jordan, the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and went over all its banks, as aforetime. ' And the children of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manassch, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them. On that day the LoRI) magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. ^ And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth ' Josh, iv, 12. '•' Josh, iv, kj. Josh. 4. 19.] Chronologically Arranged. 151 day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jor- dan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, " When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ' What mean these stones?' then ye shall let your children know, say- ing, * Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.' The Lord dried up the waters of Jordan as he did the Red Sea, until ye were passed over. That all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty; that they may fear the LORD your God for- ever." 152 The Shorter Bible [Josh. 5. i. CHAPTER II. keeping the PASSOVER: CONQUEST OF JERICHO AND AI : WORSHIP AT MOUNT EBAL. And it came to pass when all the kings beyond Jor- dan westward heard how that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, their heart melted, neither was their spirit in them any more. » ' And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal ; and Keeping the they kept the passover on the fourteenth day passover. of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the corn of the land on the mor- row after the passover, unleavened cakes and parched corn, in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow, after they had eaten of the corn of the land. Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel ; none went out and none came in. And the Lord said unto Joshua, " See, I have given unto thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty , ., , men of valor. Ye shall compass the city, all the Jericho be- . / . -^ ' sieged and men oi War, gonig about the city once. 1 hus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven ^ trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. And the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall down flat." And Joshua said unto the people, " Let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LoRD and compass the city." And seven priests bearing the seven ^trumpets of ' Josh. V, 10. I " R. V. marg. , Ox,julnlc trumpets. Josh. 6. 8.] Chronologically Arranged. 153 rams' horns before the LORD passed on, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them, the priests blowing with the trumpets as they went. And the armed men went before the priests. And Joshua commanded the people, saying, "Ye shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your "mouth until the day I bid you shout ; then shall ye shout." So he caused the ark of the LORD to compass the city, going about it once ; and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned unto the camp ; so they did six days. And on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times ; and at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, "Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city." So the people shouted with a great shout, and the priests blew with the trumpets, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city. For Joshua had said, '"The city shall be devoted, even it, and all that is therein, to the LORD. Only Rahab shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest ye make the camp of Israel accursed. All the silver and gold, and vessels of brass, and iron, are holy unto the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD." ° And the young men, the spies, went in and brought out Rahab and all her kindred, and set them without the camp of Israel. ^ And ^ she dwelt in the midst of Israel. * And they burnt the city, and all that was therein ; only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 'Josh, vi, 17. I "She married Salmon, the father '''Josh, vi, 23. I of Boaz, Ruth's husband. See Ruth ^Josh. vi, 25. I iv, 21. Tradition says Salmon was ''Josh, vi, 24. I one of the two spies. 13 154 The Shorter Bible [Josh. 6. 26. And Joshua charged them with an oath, saying, " Cursed be * the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho. With the loss of his firstborn shall he lay the foundation thereof, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it." But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted thing, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against them. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, saying, " Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, " Let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai. Make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few." So there went up thither of the people about three D f t tA' thousand men ; and the men of Ai smote them and chased them from before the gate. ' And they fled before the men of Ai. And the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the even- ing, he and the elders of Israel ; and they put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, "Alas, O LORD God! what shall I say, after that Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies ! For all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth. And what wilt thou do for thy great name? " And the Lord said unto Joshua, "Get thee up; wherefore art thou thus fallen upon thy face? Israel hath sinned ; yea, they have even taken of the devoted thing, and have stolen and dissembled ; therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. I will not be with you any more except ye destroy the de- voted thing from among you." So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near, and Achan, the son of Carmi, was taken. And Joshua said unto Achan, " My son, make con- 'Josli. vii, 4. - I "I Kings xvi, 34. Josh. 7. 19.] Chronologically Arranged. 155 fession unto the Lord. Tell me now what thou hast done ; hide it not from me." And Achan answered Joshua, and said, " Of a truth I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. When I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of ^ , gold of fifty shekels weight, I coveted them, and took them. Behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it." So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent ; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them from the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel ; and they laid them down before the LoRD. And Joshua, and aU Israel with him, took Achan and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold ; and his tent, and all that he had, and brought them unto the valley of Achor. And all Israel stoned them with stones, and burned them with fire. And they raised over him a great heap of stones, unto this day ; and the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called the valley of '^ Achor. And the Lord said unto Joshua, " Fear not, neither be thou dismayed. Take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given the city into thy hand." So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go to Ai. And he set men in ambush on the west side of the city. 'And Joshua and all the people drew nigh and pitched on the north side of Ai. °And when the king of Ai saw it, he hasted and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people ; but he wist not that there was an ambush against him behind the city. And Joshua and all Israel conquest made as if they were beaten, and fled by the of Ai. way of the wilderness. And all the people that were in the city pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. There was not a man left. They left the city open. And the ambush arose quickly, and ran into the city, and took it and set it on fire. And when the men ' Josh, viii, 10. ^ Josh, viii, 14. | " R. V. marg., That is, Troubling. 156 The Shorter Bible [Josh. 8. 20. of Ai looked behind them, behold, the smoke of the city- ascended up to heaven. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, they turned again and smote them ; they let none escape. So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap forever, even a desolation. Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD in Mount Ebal, as Moses commanded, an altar of unhewn stones, upon which no man had lift up any iron. And they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORl), and sac- rificed peace offerings. And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, in the read on presence of the children of Israel. And all Mount Ebal. j^^^q]^ ^nd their elders and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side, be- fore the priests, as well the stranger as the homeborn ; half of them in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of Mount Ebal. And Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the assembly of Israel, and the women and the little ones, and the strangers among them. Josh. 9- I-] Chronologically Arranged. 157 CHAPTER III. CONQUEST OF THE LAND : ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NA- TIONAL SANCTUARY : THE RETURN OF THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES. ' And when all the kings which were beyond Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea, heard thereof, they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel. But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and Ai, they did work wilily, and went and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine skins, old and rent and bound up ; and old shoes upon their feet, and old garments ; and all the bread of their pro- vision was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said with the unto him, " We are come from a far country ; G-ibeomtes. now therefore, make ye a covenant with us." And Joshua said unto them, " Who are ye, and from whence came ye?" And they said unto him, " From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God ; for we have heard the fame of him. And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, ' Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, " We are your servants." ' Now make ye a covenant with us. This our bread we took hot out of our houses on the day u^e came forth to go unto you ; but now, behold, it is dry and moldy; and these wine skins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they be rent ; and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey." And the men took of their provision, and asked not ' Josh, ix, I. 158 The Shorter Bible [Josh. 9. 14. counsel of the LORD ; and Joshua made peace with them, and the princes of the congregation svvare unto them. And at the end of three days they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. And Joshua called for them, and spake unto them, saying, " Wherefore have ye beguiled us ? " And they answered, " Because we were sore afraid. It was told thy servants how the LORD thy God com- manded Moses to destroy all the inhabitants of the land." 'And Joshua said, " Now therefore ye are cursed. There shall never fail to be of you bondmen, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God." And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord. Now when the king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and Jericho, and utterly destroyed the m , and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, h e feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, and all the men thereof were mighty. Wherefore the king of Jerusalem sent unto the four other 'kings of the Amorites, " saying, " Come up unto me, and help me, and let us smite Gibeon ; for it hath made peace with Joshua." And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, saying, " Come up to us quickly and save us." So Joshua went up, he, and all the people of war with him. And the Lord said unto Joshua, " Fear them not, for I have delivered them into thine hands." Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, for he went up from -r> ^ * <• Gilijal all the night. And the LoRD discom- Defeat of /- i i i r t the Amorite fited them beiore Israel, and J o s h u a slew them and chased them and smote them. And as they fled before Israel the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them, and they died ; they were more which died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. Then said Joshua in the sight of Israel, " Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon ; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon." ' Jush. ix, 22. *Josh. X, 5. ^Jo^h. x, 3. Josh. lo. 13.] Chronologically Arranged. 159 And the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day. ' And the moon stayed. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of man. For the Lord fought for Israel. ''Joshua made war a long time. 'So Joshua took all the land, the hill country, and all the south, and the low- land. ^ And the land had rest from war. Joshua took the whole land, and gave it for an inheritance possessing unto Lsrael according to their tribes. ^Only the land, unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance ; the offerings of the LoRD, the God of Israel, are his in- heritance. ° And the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua, Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built the city and dwelt therein. ' And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and ^he sanctu- set up the tent of meeting there. ^'■y erected. * The children of Judah drew nigh unto Joshua, and Caleb said, " Thou knowest the thing that the Lord spake unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Ka- desh-barnea. Forty years old was I ^ when Moses sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land ; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. And Moses sware on that day, saying, ' Surely the land whereon, thy foot hath trodden shall be an Caleb's pos- inheritance to thee and to thy children for- session, ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD.' And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he spake, these forty and five years, and lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong as I was in the day that Moses sent me. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day ; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fenced. It may be that the LORD 'Josh. X, 13. ^Josh. xiii, 14. '^"josh. xi, 18. ^Josh. xix, 49. ^Josh. xi, 16. ''Josh, xviii, i. *Josh. xi, 23. *Josh. xiv, 6. * Num. xiv, 30. 160 The Shorter Bible [Josh. 14. 12. will be with me, and I shall drive them out as the Lord spake." And Joshua blessed him ; and he gave Hebron unto Caleb for an inheritance, because that he wholly '^ fol- lowed the Lord. ' ' And Caleb drove out thence the three sons of Anak. And he went up against the inhabitants of Kiriath- sepher. And Caleb said, " He that taketh Kiriath-sepher, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife." And Othniel took it, and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And she moved him to ask of her father a field. And Caleb said unto her, " What wouldest thou ^ " And she said, " Give me a ^ blessing. Thou hast "^set me in the land of the south, give me also springs of water." And he gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. ^ Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and said unto them, Reuben, "Ye have not left your brethren these many El^ilifif'^ days. And now the LORD hath given rest, nasseh^r^-^" turn ye, and get you into the land of your turned. possession, which Moses gave you, beyond Jordan. Only take diligent heed to love the LORD your God, and to keep his commandments, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away, with much wealth, with cattle, with silver, and with gold, with brass, and iron, and with very much raiment. And the children of Reuben and Gad and Manasseh returned to the land of their possession. And they built a great altar by Jordan. And when The altar thc children of Israel heard of it, the whole of witness. congregation gathered themselves together at ''Shiloh to go up against them to war. And they sent unto them Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and I " Caleh in Heb. means (io^. Dogs I " wliolly follow." '' R. V. marg., Or, ' Josh. XV, 14. '' Josli. xxii, I. I /•resell/ " R. V. niarg.. Or, ^i'ty/i f/ie the /iiiiJ. '' The national sanctuary at I that lime. See Josh, xviii, i. Josh. 22. 13.] Chronologically Arranged. 161 with him ten princes. And they spake with them, say- ing, " What trespass is this ye have committed in that ye have builded you an altar, to rebel this day against the Lord? If the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over, unto the land wherein the Lord's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us; but rebel not against tiie LORD." Then the children of Reuben and Gad and Manasseh answered, " The LORD, the God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel shall know. If it be in rebellion, or in tres- pass against the Lord, that we have built this altar, or if to offer offerings thereon, let the LORD himself re- quire it. We have rather out of carefulness done this. In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, ' What have ye to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? For the Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in the LORD,' Therefore we said, ' Let us now build us an altar.' It shall be a witness between us and you. God forbid that we should rebel, and turn away this day from following the Lord." And when Phinehas and the princes heard these words it pleased them well, and they returned unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. And the thing pleased the children of Israel ; and they blessed God, and spake no more of war. And the children of Reuben and Gad called the altar ^ Ed ; "■ For," said they, " it is a witness between us that the Lord is God." ' So the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers ; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LoRD gave them rest round about. There stood not a man of all their enemies be- fore them. There failed not aught of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel ; all came to pass. 'Josh, xxi, 43. I »R. V. marg., That is, witness. 162 The Shorter Bible LJosh. 23. i. CHAPTER IV. JOSHUA'S LAST DAYS. ' And after many days, when Joshua was old and well stricken in years, Joshua ^ gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders and judges and officers ; and they presented themselves before God. ^ And Joshua said unto them, "I am old and well Joshua's ex- Stricken in years ; and ye have seen all that hortatiou. ti-ie Lord hath done. He 'brought your fathers out of Egypt ^and ye went over Jordan, And h e gave you a land whereon y e had not labored, cities which ye built not and vineyards which ye planted not. " The Lord your God, he it is that hath fought for you. Behold, I have allotted unto you these nations that remain. And the LORD your God, he shall thrust them out from before you, and ye shall possess their land. ' One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord fighteth for you. * Therefore be ye very coura- geous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left ; that ye come not among these nations that remain among you ; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor bow down yourselves unto them. Take good heed that ye love the LoKD your God. Else if ye do in anywise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations that remain among you, and make marriages with them, know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out these nations. They shall be for a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land. " Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. ' josh, xxiii, i. ''• Josli. xxiii, 2. ''Josh, xxiv, ii. 'Josh, xxiii, lO. ^ josh, xxiv, I. •• Josli. xxiv, 6. "josli. xxiii, 3. ''Josh, xxiii, 6. Josh. 23. 14.] Chronologically Arranged. 163 And ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord spake concerning you, all are come to pass. And as all the good things are come upon you of which the LORD spake unto you, so shall the Lord bring upon you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you, when ye transgress the covenant of the Lord and go and serve other gods, " ' And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve ; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." And the people answered and said, " God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods. We also will serve the LORD ; for he is our God." ''And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God. And he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said unto all the people, " Behold, this stone shall be a witness against you, lest ye deny your God." So Joshua sent the people away, every man unto his inheritance. And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, Death of being an hundred and ten years old. And they Joshua, buried him in the border of his inheritance in the hill country of Ephraim. And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of the LoRD, that he had wrought for Israel. And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Ha- mor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of money. And they became the inheritance of the chil- dren of Joseph. And Eleazar the son of Aaron died ; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim. 'Josh, xxiv, 15. ■■'Josh, xxiv, 26. 164 The Shorter Bible [Judg. i. i. JUDGES. CHAPTER I. the defection of the ISRAELITES AND THEIR OP- PRESSION: THEIR DELIVERANCE BY THE EARLY JUDGES ; BY DEBORAH AND BARAK. * And after the death of Joshua, ^ and after all that generation were gathered unto their fathers, there arose another generation which knew not the LORD, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israeh And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forsook the LoRD, the God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land Idolatry of o^ E^YP^ ^i"^ followed the gods of the peo- israei. pj^s that were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their ene- mies. 'And they were sore distressed. 'Andnhc angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal and said, "Why' have ye done this?" And the people lifted up their voice and wept. And they sacrificed there unto the LORD. 'And the LoRD raised up judges, and the LORD was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. Yet they hearkened not unto their judges. They turned aside quickly out of the way. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel ; " R. V. maig., Or, a »iessen«fr. 'Judg. i, I. ■•Judg. ii, I. '^ Judg. ii, lo. 'Judg. ii, 16. " Judg. ii, 15. judg. 2. 20.] Chronologically Arranged. 165 and he said, " Because this nation have transgressed my covenant and have not hearkened unto my voice ; I also will not henceforth drive out from before them the nations which Joshua left when he died ; that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, or not." ' And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaan- ites ; and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he sold them into the hand of the king of Mesopotamia. And the children of Israel served h i m eight years. And when . they cried unto the LORD, the Lord raised iivererand up a saviour, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, "'^ ^ Caleb's younger brother. The spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went out to war, and the Lord de- livered the king of Mesopotamia into his hand. * He judged Israel, and the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died. And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. And the LORD strength- ened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel. And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, And the children of Israel served the king of Moab eighteen years. But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the Lord raised them up a saviour, Ehud, the Benjamite, a man lefthanded. The chil- dren of Israel sent a present by him unto Eglon. And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh. And he offered the present unto Eglon, king of Moab. And when he had made an end of offering the present, he said, " I have a secret errand unto thee, O king." And the king said, " Keep silence." And all that stood by him went out from him. And he was sitting by himself alone in his summer parlor. And Ehud rose out of his seat, and put forth his left ' Judg. iii, 5. ''Judg. iii, lo. 16n The Shortp:r Bible [judg. 3. 21. hand and took the sword from his right thigh and slew h i m. Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors and locked them. Now the servants came ; and behold, the doors of the parlor were locked ; and they tarried. And Ehud escaped. And he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and said unto the children of Israel, "Follow me, for the Lord hath delivered your enemies into your hand." And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan, and smote of Moab at that time about ten thou- sand men. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which smote of the Philistines six hundred men amgar. -^vJth an oxgoad. He also saved Israel. And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, the captain of whose host was Sisera. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD ; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron ; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, Deborah judged Israel at that time. She dwelt under and Barak. ^he palm tree of Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim ; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she sent and called Barak out of Kedesh, and said unto him, " The Lord, the God of Is- rael, hath commanded, saying, 'Go unto Mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and Zebulun. And I will draw unto thee Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.'" And Barak said unto her, "If thou wilt go with me, then I will go." And she said, " I will surely go with thee ; notwith- standing the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor ; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." And Deborah arose, and went with Barak. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together, and there went up ten thousand men at his feet. jLidg. 4. 12.] CiiRONOLOGiCALLY Arranged. 167 And they told Sisera that Barak was gone up to Mount Tabor. And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, unto the river Kishon. And Deborah said unto Barak, " Up ; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand. Is not the LORD gone out before thee?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thou- sand men after him. And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, before Barak. And Sisera lighted down from his chariot, and fled away on his feet. ' Now Heber the Kenite had severed himself from the children of Hobab, the brother-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak which is by Kedesh. And Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber, And he said unto her, " Stand in the door of the tent, and when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, ' Is there any man here ? ' thou shalt say, ' No.' " Then Jael took a tent pin, and an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote his temples; for he was in a deep sleep. So he swooned and died. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, " Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest." And behold, Sisera lay dead ! So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. Then sang Deborah and Barak on that day, saying, Deborah. " For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves will- gong of ingly. Bless ye the Lord. Hear, O ye kings ; give ear, O ye princes ; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord. In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travelers walked through byways. ' Jiidg- iv, II. 168 The Shorter Bible [judg. 5. 7. The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I, Deborah, arose. That I arose, a mother in Israel. My heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye the Lord. Tell of it, ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way. Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water. There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD. Awake, awake, Deborah, Awake, awake, utter a song; Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive. By the water courses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart. Why satest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flock? At the water courses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart. The kings came and fought ; Then fought the kings of Canaan, In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; They took no gain of money. They fought from heaven, The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. The river Kishon swept them away. That ancient river, the river Kishon. So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD, But let them that love thee be as the sun, when he gocth forth in his might." And the land had rest forty years. Jik1^^6. 1.] ClIROXOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 169 CHAPTER II. GIDEON AND HIS SONS: MINOR JUDGES. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And because of Midian the children of Israel made them dens in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds. And when Israel had sown, the Midianites came uSW^er^the up and encamped against them, and destroyed Midiamtes. the increase of the earth ; and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, as* locusts for multitude, without number. And Israel was brought very low be- cause of Midian. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. And the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah that pertained unto Joash. And his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel said unto him, "The LoRD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor." And Gideon said unto him, " Oh my lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his wondrous works? But now the LoRD hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian." And the Lord looked upon him, and said, G.i R. V. marg. , That is, Trembling. 172 The vShortkr Bible [Judg. 7-4- will try them for thee there. Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink." And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men ; but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their kn^es to drink water. And the Lord said unto Gideon, " By the three hun- dred men will I save you." And he sent all the men of Israel every man unto his tent, but retained the three hundred men. And the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley. And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, " Arise, get thee down into the camp; for I have delivered it into thine hand. But if thou fear, go thou with Purah thy servant down to the camp ; and thou shalt hear what they say." Then went he down with his servant unto the outer- most part of the armed men that were in the g^j^g .^^ ^^^ camp. And the Midianites and the Amal- camp of ekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude ; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is upon the seashore for multitude. And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, " Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came unto the tent and smote it that it fell." And his fellow answered and said, " This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon. Into his hand God hath delivered Midian, and all the host." And when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, he worshiped. And he re- turned into the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise; for the Lord . hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian." And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the judg. 7. 16.] Chronologically Arranged. 173 pitchers. And he said unto them, " Behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow the trumpet, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, ' For the Lord and for Gideon ! ' " So Gideon, and the men that were with him, came unto the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch. And they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal ; and they cried, " The sword of the LoRD and of Gideon," and stood every man in his place round about the camp. And all the host ran. And they shouted, and put them to flight. And the Lord set every Midianites man's sword against his fellow, and against overthrown. all the host. And there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. And Gideon took the" two kings of Midian, and discomfited all the host. And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle. Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, " Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son ; for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Midian." And Gideon said unto them, " I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you ; the Lord shall rule over you." So Midian was subdued before the children of Isra(^l, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years. And Gideon had threescore and ten sons, for he had many wives. And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. And Gideon died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father. And as soon as Gideon v.'as dead the children of Israel turned again and made Baal their god, and remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies. Neither showed they kindness to the house of Gideon. And Abimelech the son of Gideon went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and i"ie ec . spake with them, saying, " Speak, I pray you, in the 174 The Shorter Bible [Judg. 9-2. ears of all the men of Shechcm, ' Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Gideon, threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you ? ' Re- member also that I am your bone and your flesh." And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem. And their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech ; for they said, " He is our brother." And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, which followed him,. And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone. But Jotham, the youngest, was left ; for he hid himself.* And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and made Abimelech king. And Jotham went and stood in the top of Mount Gerizim,and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, " Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem. The trees went forth on a time to Jotham's anoint a king over them. And they said unto parable. ^\^q olive tree, ' Reign thou over us.' But the olive tree said unto them, ' Should I leave my fatness, wherewith they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?' And the trees said to the fig tree, ' Come thou, and reign over us.' But the fig tree said unto them, ' Should 1 leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?' And the trees said unto the vine, ' Come thou, and reign over us.' And the vine said unto them, ' Should I leave my wine and go to wave to and fro over the trees?' Then said all the trees unto the =" bramble, ' Come thou, and reign over us.' And the bramble said unto the trees, 'If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow ; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.' " My father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian ; and ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech king. If ye then have dealt " R. V. marg., Or, ihpr)i. judg. 9. 19.] Chronologically Arranged. 175 truly with Gideon and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and devour Abimelech." And Jotham fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years. And the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech ; that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Gideon might come upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them ; and upon the men of Shechem, which strengthened his hands to slay his breth- ren. And the men of Shechem set Hers in wait for Abimelech on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them. And they went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink and cursed Abimelech. And Abimelech fought against the city ; and he took i t and slew the people that was therein. And he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold. And it was told Abimelech. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and laid it on his shoulder. And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech. And they put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled the men and women and shut themselves in and gat them up to the roof. And Abimelech came unto the tower, and went hard unto the door to burn it with fire. And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull. Then he called hastily unto the young man his armor- bearer, and said unto him, " Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, ' A woman slew him.' "' 176 The Shorter Bible [Judg. 9. 54. Death of And liis young man thrust him through, Abimeiech. ^nd he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimeiech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimeiech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren. And all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads ; and upon them came the curse of Jotham, the son of Gideon. And after Abimeiech there arose to save Israel Tola, a man of Issachar. And he dwelt in the hill country of Ephraim. He judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried. . And after him arose Jair, the Gileadite. He judged other Israel twenty and two years. He had thirty judges. sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried. judg. I0.6.] Chronologically Arranged. 177 CHAPTER III. JEPHTHAH: MINOR JUDGES: SAMSON: DAN ACQUIRING LAND. And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the gods of Syria and Moab and Amnion, and the gods of the Philis- tines. They forsook the Lord, and served him not. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon. And they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that were be- yond Jordan in Gilead, and passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah and Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim ; so that Israel was sore distressed. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, say- ing, " We have sinned against thee, we have forsaken our God." And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, " Did not I save you from the Egyptians, and from the chil- dren of Ammon, and from the Philistines? Yet ye have forsaken me and served other gods. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen ; let them save you in the time of your distress." And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, " We have sinned. Only deliver us, we pray thee, this day." And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LoRD. And his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel as- sembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah. Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and the spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he led Israel over unto the children of Ammon. 178 The Shorter Bible [judg. u. 30. And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, " If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into mine hand, whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return, it shall be the Lord's." So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon Jephthah to fight against them ; and the Lord deliv- peopfefrcnn ^^^^ them into his hand. And he smote Ammon. them cvcu twenty cities. The children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. And Jephthah came unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances. And she was his only child ; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And when he saw her he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! Thou hast brought me very low. I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." And she said unto him, " My father, thou hast opened Jephthah's ^^^Y ^outh unto the Lord. Do unto me daughter. according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth ; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken venge- ance for thee of thine enemies." And she said unto her father, " Let this thing be done for me ; let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions." And he said, "Go." And she departed, she and her companions. And at the end of two months she re- turned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow. And it was a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly to •' celebrate the daughter of Jeph- thah four days in a year. And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel seven years. He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters. And Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem. Lesser A"<^ '^^^er him Elon judged Israel ten years, judges. yviicl Elon died and was buried. And after him Abdon judged Israel. He had forty sons " R. v. marg., Or, lament. Judg. 12. 14.] Chronologically Arranged. 179 and thirty sons' sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts. He judged Israel eight years. And Abdon died and was buried. And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord ; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. And there was a certain man of the family of the Dan- ites, whose name was Manoah. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto ' his wife, and said unto her, " Be- hold, thou shalt bear a son. Now therefore, drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing. For, lo, the child shall be a Nazarite unto God, no razor shall come upon his head. And he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, " A man came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible. And I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name ; but he said unto me, ' Behold, thou , , , , ,, Samson's shalt bear a son. birth fore- Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and ^°^'^' said, " Oh LoRD, I pray thee, let the man of God come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born." And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah ; and the angel came again unto the woman as she sat in the field. And the woman made haste, and ran, and told her hus- band. And Manoah arose and came to the man, and said, "Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman?" And he said, "I am." And Manoah said, " Now let thy words come to pass. What shall be the manner of the child, and what shall be his work? " And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, " Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. She may not eat of anything that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing." And Manoah said, " I pray thee, let us detain thee, that we may make ready a kid for thee." ' Judg. xiii, 2. 180 The Shorter Bible [Judg. 13. i6. And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, " Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread. If thou wilt make ready a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD." For Manoah knew not that he was the angel of the Lord. And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, " What is thy name, that when thy words come to pass we may do thee honor? " And the angel of the Lord said unto him, " Where- fore askest thou after my name, seeing it is ''wonder- ful?" So Manoah took the kid with the meal offering, and offered it upon the rock unto the LORD. And the angel did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife fell on their faces to the ground. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto his wife, " We shall surely die, because we have seen God." But his wife said, " If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received an offering at our hand, neither would he have told us all these things." And the woman bare a son and called his name '' Samson. And the child grew and the Lord blessed him. And the spirit of the LORD began to move him. ' Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel. ^And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a Samson's woman of the daughters of the Philistines. PMistme ^^^j j^^ ^^^^^ ^^p^ ^^^^ ^^j^j j^j^ j-,^^j^^j. ^,^j j^j^ mother, and said, " Now therefore get her for me to wife." Then his father and his mother said unto him, " Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy peo- ple, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" " But they knew not that it was of the Lord, for he sought an occasion against the Piiilistincs. ' Judg. xiv, 4. '■' Judg. xiv, I. 'judg. xiv, 4. " R. V. marg., Or, j] Chronologically Arranged. 185 mocked me, and told me lies. Tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound." And he said unto her, "If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web." And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, " The Philistines be upon thee, Samson." And he awaked out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web. And she said unto him, " How canst thou say, ' I love thee,,' when thine heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth." And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death. And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, " There hath not come a razor upon mine head ; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb. If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man." And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, " Come up this once, for he hath told me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought the money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees ; and she shaved off the seven locks of his head. And she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, " The Philis- tines be upon thee, Samson." And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, " I will go out as at other times, and shake myself." But he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes. And they brought him down to Gaza, gj^j^g^^ and bound him with fetters of brass ; and he ^i^^ded and ... . , . • TT 1 • 1 bound. did grmd in the prison house. Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. And the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to re- joice. For they said, " Our god hath delivered Samson 15 186 The Shorter Bible [Judg. 16.23. our enemy into our hand." And when the people saw him, they praised their god ; for they said, " Our god hath dehvered into our hand our enemy, and the de- stroyer of our country, whicli hath slain many of us." And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, " Call for Samson, that he may make us sport." And they called Samson out of the prison house ; and he made sport before them ; and they set him between the pillars. And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, " Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house resteth, that I may lean upon them." Now the house was full of men and women ; and all the lords of the Philistines were there ; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while .Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, " O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God." And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, the one Death of with his right hand, and the other with his Samson. jef|-_ And Samsou said, " Let me die with the Philistines." And he bowed himself with all his might ; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him in the burying place of his father. "■ And he judged Israel twenty years. '^ In those days the tribe of the Danitcs sought them an inheritance to dwell in f for unto that day their in- heritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. And the children of Dan sent five men of valor to spy out the land, and to search it. And they said unto them, " Go search the land." Judg. xviii, I. " Samson's judgeship was doubtless local. Kli was judge at same time oversoutliern tribes. '' Probably soon after the death of Joshua. jucig. i8. 7.] Chronologically Arranged. 187 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt quiet and secure. And they came unto their brethren and said, " Arise. We have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. Be not slothful to acquiring ^^ go and to enter in to possess the land, for ^^ ' God hath given it into your hand ; a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth." And there set forth from thence of the family of the Danites six hundred men girt with weapons of war. And they went up and ' came unto Laish, and smote the people, and burnt the city with fire. And they built the city, and dwelt therein. And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father. How- beit the name of the city was Laish at the first. And the children of Dan set up for themselves a graven image ; and Jonathan, the son of Ger- idolatry, shom, the son of Moses, he and his sons ils'g?a^d- were priests to the tribe of the Danites, until son. the day of the captivity of the land. " In those days there was no king in Israel ; every man did that which was right in his own eyes. ' Judg. xviii, 27. ^Judg. xxi, 25. 188 The Shorter Bh^le [I'^uth i. i. RUTH. CHAPTER I. ruth's MOABITE origin: loyalty to NAOMI: MAR- RIAGE AND MOTHERHOOD. And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem went to sojourn in the coun- try of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two Naomi's •' a i ^i r ^.u rrv going to sons. And the name oi the man was Khme- ^°^^* lech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion. And Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab ; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth ; and they dwelt there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them. Then Naomi arose that she might return from the country of Moab ; for she had heard how that The return, ^^iq Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. And she went forth, and her two daughters- in-law with her. And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, " Go, return each of you to your mother's house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me." Then she kissed them ; and they lifted up their voice, and wept, and said unto her, " Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people." And Naomi said, " Turn again my daughters ; why will ye go with me? Nay, my daughters. It grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of the Lord is gone forth against me." Ruthi.i4.J Chronologically Arranged. 189 And they lifted up their voice and wept again ; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her. And Naomi said unto Ruth," Behold thy sister- in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god. Return thou after thy sister-in-law." And Ruth said, " Intreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee. For whither Ruth's thou goest, I will go ; and where thou lodgest, choice. I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." And when Naomi saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking unto her. So they two went to Bethlehem. And when they were come to Bethlehem, all the city was moved about them, and the women said, " Is this Naomi ? " And she said unto them, " Call me not =* Naomi, call me ^ Mara, for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty." And they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest. And Naomi had a kinsman of her hus- band's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elime- lech ; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth said unto Naomi, " Let me now -^^^^ giean- go to the field, and glean among the ears of i^s- corn." And Naomi said unto her, " Go, my daughter." And she went and gleaned in the field after the reap- ers ; and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz. And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, " The Lord be with you ! " And they answered him, " The LORD bless Boaz. thee ! " Then Boaz said unto his servant that was set over the reapers, "Whose damsel is this?" » R. V. marg., That is, Pleasant. ^ R. V. marg., That is, Bitter. 190 The Shorter Bible [Ruth 2. 6. And the servant answered, " It is the Moabitish dam- sel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab." Then said Boaz unto Ruth, " Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, but abide here fast by my maidens. Go thou after them. Have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? And when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, " Why have I found grace in thy sight, seeing I am a stranger? " And Boaz answered and said unto her, " It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband ; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge." Then she said, " Let me find grace in thy sight, my lord ; for thou hast comforted me, thou hast spoken •'kindly unto thine handmaid, though I be not as one of thine handmaidens." And at mealtime Boaz said unto her, " Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar." And she sat beside the reapers, and ^ they readied her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, " Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not. And also [)ull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not." So she gleaned in the field until even ; and she went into the city, and gave to her mother-in-law. And her mother-in-law said, " Where hast thou gleaned to-day ? " And she said, "The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz." " R. V. mar"., Heb. fo tlw heart of. '' R. V. inarg., Or, he. Ruth 2. 20.] Chronologically Arranged. 191 And Naomi said, " Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living Naomi's and to the dead. The man is '"^ nigh of kin plans, unto us." And Ruth said, "Yea, he said unto me, 'Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.' " And Naomi said unto Ruth, " It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field." So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest ; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law. And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, " My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is there not Boaz our kins- man, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor. Put thy raiment upon thee, therefore, and get thee down to the threshing floor; but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking." And she said unto her, " All that thou sayest I will do." And she went down unto the threshing floor. And Boaz turned himself; and, behold, a woman ! And he said, "Who art thou? " And she answered, " I am Ruth thine handmaid." And he said, " Blessed be thou of the LoRD, my daughter ; thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not. I am a near kinsman ; howbeit there is a nearer. If he will perform unto thee the ''part of a kinsman, well ; but if not, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee." And he said, " Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it." And she held it ; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her. And she came to her mother-in-law, and told her all. " Deut. XXV, 5. ^ Deut. xxv, 5, 6. 192 The Shorter Bible [Ruth 3. 17. And she said, " These six measures of barley gave he me ; for he said, ' Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.' " Then said Naomi, "Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall ; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day." Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there. The nearer And behold, the near kinsman of whom kinsman. Boaz spake came by ; unto whom he said, " Ho, such a one ! turn aside, sit down here." And he turned aside, and sat down. And Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, " Sit ye down here." And he said u nto the near kinsman," Naomi, that is come again outof the country of Moab, selleththe parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it ; but if not, tell me, that I may redeem it." And the near kinsman said, " I cannot redeem it, take thou my right of redemption." " Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm all things; a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neigh- bor. So the near kinsman drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, "Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's. Moreover, Ruth have I purchased to be my wife ; ye are witnesses this day." And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, " We are witnesses." Ruth's mar- on ^ i n ,_i j i i i • riage and So Boaz took Kuth, and she became his motherhood, ^jf^^ ^^^j ^^^^ L^^p^j^ g.^^^ j^^^ ^ ^^^^ And the women said unto Naomi, " Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day. Let his name be famous in Israel. He shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age. Thy daughter-in- law, which lovcth thee, is better to thee than seven sons." And Naomi took the child and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, " There is a son born to Naomi ! " They called his name Obcd. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. " Deut. XXV, 7, 10. I Sam. 1. 1.] Chronologically Arranged. 193 THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS, AND CHRONICLES, WITH SELECTIONS FROM THE PROPHETICAL AND POETICAL BOOKS. CHAPTER I. SAMUEL: HIS BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS. * Now there was a certain man of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah. And he had a wife whose name was Hannah, and Hannah had no children. ^nd this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto the Hannah at Lord in Shiloh. And he gave to Hannah a Shiioh. double portion ; for he loved Hannah. And he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord. But she wept, and did not eat. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, " Hannah, why weepest thou ? And why eatest thou not ? Am not I better to thee than ten sons?" And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, " O Lord, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life. And there shall no razor come upon his head." Now Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door- post of the temple of the Lord. And it came to pass as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli ' I Sam. i, I. 194 The vShorter Bible [i Sam. i. 12. marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart ; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard ; therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, " How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee." And Hannah answered and said, " No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before the Lord." Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him." And she said, " Let thy servant find grace in thy sight." So the woman went her way and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before the LoRD, and came to their house, to Ramah. And the LORD remembered Hannah, and she bare a Birth of ^^'^- "^'^*^ ^^^^ called his name Samuel, say- Samuei. fng, " Because I have asked him of the Lord." And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up. For she said unto her hus- band, " I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever." And Elkanah her husband said unto her, " Do what seemeth thee good." So the woman tarried. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh mv lord, I am the woman Hannah's , , , , ,' • i^ ^^■ song. that stood by thee here, praymg. ror this child I prayed ; and the Lord hath given me my peti- tion which I asked of him. Therefore I also have "granted him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he is granted to the Lord." " K. V. marg., Or, /<■«/. I Sam. 2. r.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 195 And Hannah prayed, and said, " ^ My heart exulteth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the LORD; The Lord killeth and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich; He bringeth low, he also lifteth up. Hb will keep the feet of his holy ones. For by strength shall no man prevail." And Elkanah went to his house. And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli knew not the LORD. And the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD ; for men abhorred the offering of the LoRD. But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, "The Lord give thee seed of this woman, for the loan which was lent to the Lord." And they went unto their own home. And the Lord visited Hannah, and she bare three sons and two daugh- ters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. Now Eli was very old ; and he heard all that his sons did. And he said unto them, " Nay, my sons, eu's wicked it is no good report that I hear ; why do ye ^°^^- such things ? Ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, God shall judge him ; but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him ?" Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father. And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men. He ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was ^precious in those days ; there was no *^ open vision. " Luke i, 46. '' R. V. marg., Or, rare. <= R. V. marg., Or, frequent. 196 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 3. 2. ' And it came to pass at that time, when EH was God's call to laid down in his place, and Samuel was laid Samuel. dovvn to sleep, in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was; that the Lord called Samuel. And he said, " Here am I." And he ran unto E 1 i, and said, " Here am I ; for thou calledst me." And Eli said, " I called not ; lie down again." And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, " Samuel ! " And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, " Here am I ; for thou calledst me." And E 1 i answered, " I called not, my son ; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, " Here am I ; for thou calledst me." And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, " Go, lie down ; and if he call thee, thou shalt say, ' Speak, Lord ; for thy serv- ant heareth.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel ! Samuel ! " Then Samuel said, "Speak ; for thy servant heareth." And the Lord said to Samuel, " Behold, I have told E 1 i that I will judge his house for the iniquity which he knew. Because his sons did bring a curse upon them- selves, and he restrained them not." And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, " Samuel, my son ? " And he said, " Here am L" And E 1 i said, " What is the thing that the Lord hath spoken unto thee ? I pray thee hide it not from me." ' I Sam. iii, 2. iSam. 3- l8.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 197 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, '* It is the LORD ; let him do what seem- eth him good." And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. The Lord revealed himself to Samuel, and the word of Samuel came to all Israel. 198 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 4. i. CHAPTER II. THE STRUGGLE OF ISRAEL WITH THE PHILISTINES: SAMUEL'S JUDGESHIP. ' Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. And when they joined battle Israel was smitten Battle with before the Philistines. tiife^^he' And when the people were come into the arkincamp. camp, the elders of Israel said, " Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that it may save us out of the hand of our enemies." So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from thence the ark of the LORD. And the two sons of Eli were with the ark. And when the ark came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, " What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Ilcbrcws?" And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp. And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, " God is come into the camp. There hath not been such a thing heretofore. Woe unto us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, O ye Phi- listines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Quit yourselves like men, and fight." And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent ; there was a very great slaughter. And the ark of God Avas taken ; and the two sons of Eli were slain. ' I Sam. iv, i. I Sam. 4-13.] Chronologically Arranged. 199 And there ran a man out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. And when he came, lo, Eh sat upon his seat by the wayside watching ; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, "What meaneth the noise of this tumult?" Now Eli was ninety and eight years old ; and his eyes were set, that he could not see. And the man said unto Eli, " I am he that came out of the army; I fled to-day out of the army." And E 1 i said, " How went the matter, my son ?" And he that brought the tidings answered and said, " Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people ; and thy two sons also are dead, and the ark of God is taken." And it came to pass when he made mention of the ark of God that E 1 i fell from off his seat back- DeathofEii ward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died ; for he was an old man and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. Now the Philistines brought the ark to Ashdod and set it in the house of their god Dagon. And when they arose early on the morrow, behold Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of xhe ark in the Lord. And they took Dagon and set P^iiistia. him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD ; and the head of Dagon and both his hands lay cut off upon the threshold ; only the stump of Dagon was left to them. The hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ash- dod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with "■tumors. And the men of Ashdod said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us ; for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon, our god." They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines, and carried the ark to Gath. And the hand of the Lord was against that city, and he smote the * R. v. marg.. Ox, plague boils. 200 The Shorter Bible [iSam. 5. 9. men of the city, both small and great, and tumors brake out upon them. So they sent the ark to Ekron. And it came to pass as the ark came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, " They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it slay us not." And the Philistines called for the diviners, saying, "What shall we do?" And they said, " Send away the ark of the God of Israel. And see ; if it goeth up by the way of its own border to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil ; but if not, then ye shall know that it is not his hand that smote us ; it was a chance that happened to us. Send it not empty, but return him a guilt offering ; then ye shall be healed. And ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel ; peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and your gods, and your land." And the men took two milch kine and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. And they put the ark of the LORD upon the cart and the coffer with jewels of gold ' for a guilt offering. ^ And the kine took the straight way to Bethshemesh ; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left ; and the lords of the Philistines went after them. And the Israelites of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the The ark Valley ; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw sent back. ^\-^q ^,-]^^ ^,-,(j rejoiced to see it. And the cart came into the field and stood there, where there was a great stone ; and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered up the kine for a burnt offering unto the Lord. And the Levites took down the ark of the LoRD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone ; and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings the same day unto the Lord. And when the lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. ^ The ark was in the country of the Philistines seven months. ' I Sam. vi, 8. ^i Sam. vi, 12. ^i Sam. vi, i. I Sam. 6.19.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 201 ' And the Lord smote of the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark. And the people mourned, and said, " Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God ? " And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, " The Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord ; come down and fetch it up to you." And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. ' And the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. And Samuel spake unto all the house of Reformation Israel, saying, " If ye do return unto the f^^'^imi'^cf/^^' Lord with all your heart, put away the Israel, strange gods from among you, and serve the LORD only. And he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." Then the children of Israel did put away the strange gods and served the LoRD only. And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you unto the LoRD." And they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah. And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the Philistines went up against Israel. And the children of Israel were afraid of the Philistines. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, " Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Phi- listines." And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering unto the LoRD. And Samuel cried unto the LoRD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to batde, but the LORD thundered ' I Sam. vi, 19. "^ i Sam. vii, 2. 16 202 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 7. 10. with a great =" thunder upon the Philistines, and discom- fited them ; and they were smitten down be- over°tife fore Israel. ' So the Philistines were sub- Phiiistmes. ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^j^^^ ^^^^ ^^ j^^^g within the bor- der of Israel. And the cities which they had taken from Israel were restored. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it '^ Ebenezer, saying, " Hitherto hath the LORD helped us." And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And A circuit he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, judge. ^j-^^ Gilgal, and Mizpah ; and he judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel. And he built there an altar unto the LORD. * And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves to- gether, and came to Samuel unto Ramah. And they A kingde- said unto him, " Behold thou art old, and thy sired. sons walk not in thy ways ; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." But the thing displeased Samuel. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the Lord said unto Samuel, " Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee, ^ and make them a king. Howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them." And Samuel told all the words of the LoRD unto the people that asked of him a king. He said, "This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you; he will take your sons to be his horsemen ; and they shall run before his chariots. And he will set some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war. And he will take your daughters to be cooks and bakers. And he will take your fields, ' I Sam. vii, 13. ■' I Sam. viii, 22. | " R. V. maig., Heb. 7'oice. ''That '^ I Sam. viii, i. | is, The stone of help. I Sam. 8. 14-] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 203 and your vineyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your seed ' and flocks. And he will take your goodliest young men and put them to his work, and ye shall be his servants." But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel ; and they said, " Nay ; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations ; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles." And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, " Go ye every man unto his city." ' I Sam. viii, 17. 204 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 9. i. CHAPTER III. SAUL CHOSEN KING ; HIS EARLY REIGN. Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, a mighty man of valor. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a ^ young man and a goodly. There was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he ; from his shoulders and up- ward he was higher than any of the people. And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, " Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses." And he passed through the country, but found them not. And Saul said to his servant, "Come and let us return ; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us." And h i s servant said unto him, " Behold now, there is in this city a man of God held in honor; all that he saith Cometh surely to pass. Now let us go thither ; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey." Then said Saul to his servant, " But, behold, there is not a present to bring to the man of God." And the servant answered Saul again, and said, " Be- hold I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; that will I give." Then said Saul to his servant, " Well said. Come, let us go." So they went unto the city where the man of God was. (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, " Come and let us go to the seer." For he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) Now the Lord had revealed unto Samuel a day be- fore Saul came, saying, "To-morrow about this time I " R. \'. marg. , Or, choice. I Sam. 9. 16.] Chronologically Arranged. 205 will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamni, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over my people Israel." And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, " Behold the man of whom I spake to thee ! " Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, " Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is." And Samuel answered, " I am the seer; go up before me, for ye shall eat with me to-day. And in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart." And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. And Samuel communed with Saul upon the housetop. And they arose early ; and about the spring of the day, Samuel called to Saul, saying, " Up, that I may send thee away." And Saul arose, and they went out both of them. As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, " Bid the servant pass on before us, but stand thou still at this time, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God." '^ Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, " Is it not saui anoint- that the Lord hath anointed thee to be prince ^d king. over his inheritance ? When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepul- cher, and they will say unto thee, * The asses which thou wentest to seek are found ; and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and taketh thought for you, saying, " What shall I do for my son ? " ' Then shalt thou go on to the oak of Tabor, and there shall meet thee there three men ; and they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread. After that thou shalt come to the hill where is the garrison of the Philistines ; and thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, timbrel, and a harp before them ; and they shall be prophesying. And the spirit "B. c. 1095. 206 The Shorter Bible [iSam. io. 7. of the Lord will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and be turned into another man." And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart ; and all those signs came to pass that day. And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpah ; and he said unto the children of Ls- rael, " Ye have said, ' Set a king over us.' Now there- fore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands." So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and Saul the son of Kish was taken ; but when they sought him he could not be found. Therefore they asked of the LORD further, and the Public rati- LORD answered, "Behold, he hath hid him- fication. self among the Stuff." And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, " See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?" And all the people shouted, and said, "God save the king ! " Then Samuel told the people the manner of the king- dom, and he wrote it in '■'■ a book, and laid it before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. And Saul also went to his house ; and there went with him the '' host, whose hearts God had touched. But certain sons of Belial said, " How shall this man save us?" And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace. ' Then Nahash the Ammonite came up to war War with against Jabesh. And all the men of Jabesh Ammonites, ^^jj ^^^^^ Nahash, " Make a covenant with us and we will serve thee." And Nahash said unto them, " On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out." , ^ . I "R. V. maig., Or, f/n: »■ R. V. I bam. XI, I. I _^^^^.g^ Qj. ^^^^^^ oiiuilor. I Sam. 1 1. 3.] Chronologically Arranged. 207 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, " Give us seven days, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel. Then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to thee." Then came the messenger to the city of Saul, and spake these words in the ears of the people ; and all the people lifted up their voice and wept. And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field. And Saul said," What aileth the people that they weep?" And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul. And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen." And ^ the dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man. And he numbered them in Bezek ; of Israel three hundred thousand, and of Judah thirty thousand. And they said unto the messengers that came, " To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have deliverance." And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh ; and they were glad. And on the morrow Saul put the people in three com- panies ; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Victory. Ammonites until the heat of the day ; and they which remained v/ere scattered, so that two of them were not left together. And the people said unto Samuel, " Who is he that said, ' Shall Saul reign over us ? ' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." But Saul said, " There shall not a man be put to death this day ; for the LORD hath wrought deliverance in Israel." Then said Samuel to the people, " Come, let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there." -pj^g king- And all the people went to Gilgal ; and newetf." there they made Saul king before the LORD. " R. V. marg. , Or, a terror from th-e Lorl. 208 The Shorter Bible [iSam. 11.15. And they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and rejoiced greatly. And Samuel said unto all Israel, " Behold, the king whom ye have asked for. The Lord hath set a king over you. If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and both ye and the king be followers of the Lord, well. But if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest to-day? I will call unto the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain ; and ye shall know that your wickedness is great, in asking you a king." So Samuel called unto the LoRD ; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel, " Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not ; for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king." And Samuel said unto the people, " Fear not. Ye have indeed done all this evil, }'et turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve h i m witli all your heart. For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you ; but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart. For consider how great things he hath done for )'ou." ^'^Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign. " And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thou- -„ ... sand horsemen, and people as the sand which War with . ' F '^ , . , ,,t, , thePhihs- is ou the seashore in multitude. \v lien the tines. /- T 1 11 men 01 Israel saw that tiiey were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves and in thickets, and in rocks, and in ^ holds, and in '^ pits. Now some of the Hebrews had gone over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but as ' I Sam. xiii, I. I "15. C. IO95. '' R. V. marg., Or, ■' I Sam. .\iii, 5. /loU-s. '^ R. V. mars'., Or, iisterns. iSam. 12. 7-] Chronologically Arranged. 209 for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, And all the people followed him trembling. And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed. But Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, " Bring hither the burnt offering to me." And he offered the burnt offering. And behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him. And Samuel said, " What hast thou done?" And Saul said, " Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together, therefore I forced myself and offered the burnt offering." ^ And Samuel said to Saul, "Thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandment of the gaui's sin Lord thy God. Thy kingdom shall not con- andrejec- tinue. The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and hath appointed him to be prince over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee." And Samuel arose and gat him away. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines. Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel ; for the Philistines said, " Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears." But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people except Saul and Jonathan his son. Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, " Come and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on yonder side." But he told not his father. And the peo- ple knew not that Jonathan was gone. And Jonathan's between the passes, by which Jonathan sought prowess. to go over, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side. And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his * About B. C. 1093. 210 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 14. i. armor, " Come and let us go over. It may be that the Lord will work for us. For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." And his armor-bearer said unto him, " Do all that is in thine heart. Behold I am with thee." Then said Jonathan, " Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, * Tarry until we come to you ; ' then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, 'Come up unto us;' then we will go up ; for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand ; and this shall be the sign unto us." And both of .them discovered themselves unto the Philistines. And the Philistines said, " Behold, the He- brews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves." And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said unto his armor-bearer, " Come up after n;e, for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel." And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him ; and they fell before Jona- than, and his armor-bearer slew them after him. And there was a trembling in the camp, and the earth . quaked; there was '^an exceeding great trem- amongthe bling. And the watchman of Saul looked; FsrSTic^ and, behold, every man's sword was against *°^y' his fellow, and there was a great discomfi- ture. The multitude melted away. Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, "Number now, and see who is gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 'And Saul and all the people that were with him gath- ered together, and came to the battle ; and the Hebrews that were with the Philistines, they also turned to be with the Israelites. Likewise all the men of Israel ' I Sam. xiv, 20. I » R. V. marg. , Heb. a trembling of Cod. I Sam. 14. 22.] Chronologically Arranged. 211 which had hid themselves, when they heard that the PhiHstines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the men of Israel were distressed for f o o d that day; but Saul adjured the people, saying, "Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies." So none of the people tasted food. And all the people came into the forest ; and behold, ^ the honey dropped ; but no man put his hand to his mouth ; for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath ; wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth. Then an.swered one of the people, and said, " Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, ' Cursed be the man that eateth food this day.' " And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, " My father hath troubled the land. How much better if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found." And Saul built an altar unto the Lord ; the same was the first altar that he built. And Saul said, " Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." And they said, " Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee." Then said the priest, " Let us draw near hither unto God." And Saul asked counsel of God, " Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel ? " But God answered him not that day. And Saul said, " Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people, and see wherein this sin hath been this day. For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." " R. W marg., Or, a sh'c'am of ho7iey. 212 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 14. 39. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. Then said he unto all Israel, " Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side," And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped. And Saul said, " Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, " Tell me what thou hast done." And Jonathan told him and said, " I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand. And lo, I must die." Jonathan's And Saul Said, " Thou shalt surely die, danger and Jonathan." TGSCU.G And the people said unto Saul, " Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel ? God forbid. As the Lord liveth, there .shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground." So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines. ' Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side. He did valiantly, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him. And Samuel said unto Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people. Now, therefore, thus saith the Lord, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, when he came up out of Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly -'destroy all that they have, and spare them not." against And Saul summoned the people, two hun- "^^ ® ■ dred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and smote the Amalekites, but Saul spared the best of the sheep and oxen and fatlings and lambs, and all that ' I Sam. xiv, 47. | " R. V. marg., Heb. devote. iSam. 15. 9-] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 213 was good, and would not utterly destroy them. But every thing that was vile and refuse, that saui's they destroyed utterly. failure. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, say- ing, " It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king. For he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments." And Samuel cried unto the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And Saul said unto him, " Blessed be thou of the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD." And Samuel said, " What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? " And Saul said, " They have brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD ; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." Then Samuel said unto Saul, " Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night." And he said unto him, " Say on." And Samuel said, " Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel ? The LORD anointed thee king over Israel. And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, 'Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.' Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of the Lord? " And Saul said unto Samuel, "Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God." And Samuel said, " Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." And Saul said unto Samuel, " I have sinned. I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words, because I feared the people and obeyed their 214 The Shorter Bible [iSam. 15. 24. voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord." And Samuel said unto Saul, " I will not return with J, .. thee ; for thou hast rejected the word of the rejection. LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel." And as Samuel turned about to go away Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, " The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou." Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and be- fore Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord." So Samuel turned again, and Saul worshiped the Lord. Then Samuel went to Ramah ; and Saul went up to his house. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death ; ''but Samuel mourned for Saul. " So in R. V. marg. iSam. i6. 1.] Chronologically Arranged. 215 CHAPTER IV. DAVID ; ANOINTED BY SAMUEL, PLAYING BEFORE SAUL, VICTORIOUS OVER GOLIATH. ' And the Lord said unto Samuel, " How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, David I will send thee to Jesse, the Bethlehemite. anointed. For I have provided me a king among his sons." And Samuel came to Bethlehem, and called Jesse and his sons. And when they were come he looked on Eliab, and said, " Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." But the Lord said unto Samuel, " Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature ; because I have rejected him. For the LORD seeth not as man seeth. Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." Then Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, " The Lord hath not chosen these. Are here all thy children ? " And he said, " There remaineth yet the youngest, be- hold, he keepeth the sheep." And Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch him ; for we will not sit down till he come hither." And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal * of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. ' Now the spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, ' I Sam. xvi, i. '^ i Sam. xvi, 14. | " R. V. marg., Heb. /air of eyes. 216 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. i6. 14. and an evil spirit ^ troubled him. And Saul's servants said unto him, " Behold now, let our lord seek out a man who is a cunning player on the harp. And when the evil spirit is upon thee he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well." And Saul said unto his servants, " Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me." Then answered one of the young men, and said, " Be- hold, I have seen a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and ''prudent in "^speech, a comely person, and the LORD is with him." Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, " Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep." And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him ; and he loved him greatly. And Saul sent to Jesse, say- ing, " Let David, I pray thee, stand before me ; for he hath found favor in my sight." ^ . , . And it came to pass, when David took the David sing- , , , , • , i • , i r- i ing before harp, and played with his hand, Saul was re- freshed and was well. ' A PSALM OF DAVID. Nature and Revelation. The heavens declare the glory of God ; And the firmament shovveth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language ; Their voice cannot be heard, yet Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a '' tabernacle for the sun. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of liis chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course. I " R. V. marg., Or, terrified. ,„ , h-K. V. maig..Or, jX'///////. ■= R. V. ^ Tsalm x.x. , ^^^^^^ ^^ business. <• R. V. marg., Hcb. tent. Psalm 19. 6.J Chronologically Arranged. 217 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, And his circuit unto the ends of it ; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LoRD are right, rejoicing the heart ; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the L(jRD is clean, enduring forever: The judgments of the LORD are true, and righteous al- together. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold ; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned ; In keeping of them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors ? Clear thou me from hidden faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins ; Let them not have dominion over me ; then shall I be perfect, And I shall be clear from great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. 'a psalm of DAVID. A Storm Song. Give unto the Lord, O ye sons of the mighty, Give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name ; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters ; The God of glory thundereth. The voice of the Lord is powerful ; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. ' Psalm xxix. 17 218 The Shorter Bible [Psalm 29. 5. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars ; Yea, the Lord breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. The voice of the LORD cleaveth the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness ; The Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh ; The voice of the LORD strippeth the forests bare; And in his temple everything saith, Glory! The Lord sat as king at the Flood ; Yea, the LORD sitteth as king forever. The Lord will give strength unto his people; The Lord will bless his people with peace. ' Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And there The giant ^^^^ ^ Valley between them. And there went Goliath. out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had an helmet of brass upon his head. He was clad with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam ; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. And he stood and cried unto the ^armies of Israel, and said unto them, "Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? Choose you a man and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. I ^ defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man that we may fight together." And when Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. ' And the Philistine drew near, morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. ' I Sam. xvii, i. I ■» R.V. marg. , Heb. ranks. ^ R.V. *I Sam. xvii, i6. | marg., Or, reproach. iSam. 17. 13-] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 219 ' And the three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And David went to and fro to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. And Jesse said unto David his son, " Take now for thy brethren this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to thy brethren. And brjng these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thou- sand, and look how thy brethren fare." And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and ran to the army, and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with David in the them, behold, Goliath came up out of the camp, ranks of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words ; and David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, " Have )'e seen this man ? Surely to •''defy Israel is he come up. And the king will enrich the man who killeth him, with great riches, and will give him his daughter." And David spake to the men that stood by him, say- ing, " Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should -^ defy the armies of the living God ?" And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men, and he said, " Why art thou come down ? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ? " And David said, " What have I now done?" And he turned away from him toward another, and spake after the same manner. And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul ; and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, " Let no man's heart fail ; thy servant will go and flight with this Philistine." And Saul said to David, " Thou art not able to go against this Philistine. Thou art but a youth, and he a man of war." And David said to Saul, " Thy servant kept his father's sheep ; ^ and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took ' I Sam. xvii, 13. " R.V. marg., Or, rep7-oach. •> R.V. marg.. Or, and thei-e came out a lion and a bear, . . . and I went out, etc. 220 The Shorter Bible [iSam. 17. 34. a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and deHvered it out of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear; and this Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath -Mefied the armies of the living God. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said unto David, " Go, and the LORD shall be with thee." And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head, and clad him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and assayed to go. And David said unto Saul, " I cannot go with these, for 1 have not proved them." And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the David and brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag mers^^^at' which he had. And his sling was in his victory. hand ; and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David ; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him. l-^or he was but a youth, and ruddy, and witlial of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, " Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? " And the Philis- tine cursed David by his gods, and said, '' Come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field." Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a jave- lin. But I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast ■' defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand ; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from off thee ; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel ; and that all this assembly may know "■ R. V. marg., Or, reproached. I Sam. 17. 47.] Chronologically Arranged. 221 that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hand." And when the Philistine drew nigh to meet David, David hastened, and ran to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine ; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath and slew him, and cut off his head. ' A PSALM. The Lord reigneth; he is appareled with majesty; The Lord is appareled, he hath girded himself with strength. Thy throne is established of old ; Thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice ; The floods lift up their waves. Above the voices of many waters, The mighty breakers of the sea. The Lord on high is mighty. Thy testimonies are very sure ; Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for evermore. And when the Philistines saw that their ^ champion was dead they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their camp. And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul. ^ And Saul took him and would let him go no more home to his father's house. ' Psalm xciii. "^ i Sam. xviii, 2. | " R. V. marg., Or, 7nighty man. 222 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. i8. i. CHAPTER V. DAVID AT COURT; BELOVED BY JONATHAN, HATED BY SAUL: DAVID'S MARRIAGE TO SAUL'S DAUGHTER; DANGER AND ESCAPE. ' And it came to pass that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 'Then Jonathan and David Jonathan's , , i t . i , • i i • covenant. made a covenant, and Jonathan stripped hmi- -David ^ self of the robe that was upon him, and gave promote . j^. ^^ David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow and girdle. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all. And it came to pass as they returned from battle that the women came out of all the cities of Lsrael, sing- ing and dancing, with timbrels, with joy, and with "" in- struments of music. And the women sang one to another in their play, and said, " Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased Saul's jeai- '^''i^- And he said, " They have ascribed ousy. ^,^t.(^ David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom ? " And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit came mightily ui)on Saul, and he ^'raved in the midst of the house. And David played with his hand, as he (lid (layby day; and Saul had his spear in his hand. ' I Sam. xviii, i. '^ I Sam. xviii, 3. " R. V. marg., Oi\ triaiii^'le-s, or three-striui^ed instriimoits. '' So in R. V. marir. iSam. i8.ii.] Chronologically Arranged. 223 And Saul cast the spear ; for he said, " 1 will smite Da- vid even to the wall." And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul. And David '^behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them. And Saul said to David, " Behold, my elder daugh- ter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only David's be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's marriage, battles." For Saul said, " Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him." And David said unto Saul, " Who am I, and what is my father's family, that I should be son-in-law to the king ? " But at the time when Merab should have been given to David, she was given unto another. And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, " I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Wherefore Saul said to David, " Thou shalt indeed be my son-in-law." Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And David arose, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife, and Michal loved him. And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David ; and Saul was yet the more afraid of David, and was David's enemy continually. And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David. But Jonathan delighted much in David. And Jona- than told David, saying, " Saul my father seeketh to slay thee ; now therefore, I pray thee, hide thyself. And I will go and will commune with my father of thee, and if I see aught, I will tell thee." * R. V. marg., 0\\ prospered. 224 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 19. 4. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his Jonathanin- father, and said unto him, " Let not the king Davrd.*^^ ^°^ sin against his servant David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good. For he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great '^ victory for all Israel. Thou sawest it, and didst rejoice. Wherefore then wilt thou sin against ijinocent bloo'd, to slay David without a cause ? " And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan, and sware, " He shall not be put to death." And Jonathan called David, and showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as beforetime. And there was war again ; and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter ; and they fled before him. And an evil spirit was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the spear into the wall. And David fled, and escaped that night. New danger And Saul Sent messengers unto David's Flight. house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning; and Michal David's wife let David down through the window, and he fled. 'A PSALM OF DAVH). I waited patiently for the LoRD ; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay ; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God ; Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in the LoRD. Blessed is the man that makcth the L(~)RD his trust. ' Psalm xl. I " K. V. niarg., Heb. sahatiou. Psaiin 40. 5.] Chronologically Arranged. 225 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done. And thy thoughts which are to usward ; They caiyiot be set in order unto thee ; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in ; Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, " Lo, 1 am come ; In the roll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do thy will, O my God ; Yea, thy law is within my heart. I have published righteousness in the great congrega- tion ; Lo, I will not refrain my lips. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord ; Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually pre- serve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about. Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me ; Make haste to help me, O LORD. I am poor and needy ; Yet the LORD thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God. ' And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow at the head thereof, and covered it with the clothes. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, " He is sick." And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, " ^end him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him." And when the messengers came in, behold, the tera- phim was in the bed, with the pillow at the head thereof. And Saul said unto Michal, " Why hast thou deceived me thus, and let mine enemy go, that he is escaped?" ' I Sam. xix, 13. 220 The Shorter Bh^le [i Sam. 19. 17. And Michal answered Saul, " He said unto me, ' Let me go. Why should I kill thee?' " Now David fled, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done. And Saul sent mes- sengers to take David. And David fled from Ramah, David and ^'"'^ Came and said before Jonathan, "What Jonathan. 1^^^^ J done? What is my sin before thy father, that he secketh my life? " And Jonathan said unto him, " God forbid ! Thou shalt not die. Behold, my father doeth nothing either great or small but he ''^ discloseth it unto me. Why should my father hide this thing from me ? It is not so." And David said, " Thy father knoweth well that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, 'Let not Jon- athan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly as the Lord liveth, there is but a step between me and death." Then said Jonathan unto David, " If I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell thee? Come, let us go out into the field." And they went out both of them into the fteld. And Jonathan said unto David, " The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness. When I have sounded my father, behold, if it please my father to do thee evil, shall I not disclose it unto thee? The LORD do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace." So Jonathan made a covenant with David, for the love that he had to him ; for Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan said, " To-morrow is the new moon ; and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt come to the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And, behold, I will send the lad, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say unto the lad, ' Behold, the arrows are on this sitle of thee ; ' there is peace to thee and no luirt. But if I say, ' Behold, the arrows are beyond thee ; ' go thy way ; for the Lord hath sent thee away." " R. y. maiir. , Hcb. tiiicovereth ntine ear. I Sam. 20.24.J Chronologically Arranged. 227 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. But David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day; for he thought, " Something hath befallen him." And David's place was empty on the second day; and Saul said unto Jonathan, "Where- fore Cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yes- terday nor to-day? " And Jonathan answered Saul, " David earnestly asked leave of me to go a w ^ y ." Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, "Thou son of a perverse woman, thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame. For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be stablished, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die." And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, "Wherefore should he be put to death? What hath he done? " And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat ; for he was grieved for David. And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad, " Run, find now the arrows which I shoot." And as the lad ran, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, "Is not the arrow beyond thee ? Make speed, haste, stay not." And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, -and came to his master. But the lad knew not anything; only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said unto him, "Go, carry them to the city." And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times ; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another. And Jonathan said to David, " Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn bQ,th of us in the name of the LoRD, saying, ' The LoRD shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed forever.' " And he departed, and Jonathan went into the city. 228 • The Shorter Bible [iSam. 21.1. CHAPTER VI. DAVID'S PERSECUTIONS AND WANDERINGS: SLAUGHTER OF THE PRIESTS OF NOB: COVENANT WITH JONA- THAN RENEWED : DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE. ' Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and said, " Give me bread." Then the priest said, " There is no common bread, David's ^^'^ there is holy bread." ^So the priest gave wanderings, him holy bread. And David said, " Is there not here spear or sword ? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me." And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Phil- istine whom thou slewest, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth." And David said, " There is none like that ; give it me." Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, and his name was Doeg. And David arose, and fled for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, "Is not this David the king of the land ? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, ' Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?'" And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid. And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands. Then said Achish unto his servants, " Lo, ye see the man is mad ; wherefore have ye brought him to me ? Do I lack mad men, that ye iiave brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence?" ' I Sam. xxi, I. Psalm 34. 1.] Chronologically Arranged. 229 'a ^ psalm of DAVID ; When he ^changed his behavior before Alniiielech^ who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times ; His praise shall continuall)' be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord ; The meek shall hear thereof, and be glad. 0 magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt his name together. 1 sought the Lord, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him. And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him. And delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good ; Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 0 fear the LORD, ye his saints ; For there is no want to theni that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger ; But they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Come, ye children, hearken unto me ; 1 will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good ; Seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry. ' Psalm xxxiv. " See Psalm Ixi for anotlier psalm referring to this episode. ^ R. V. marg. , Or, feigned madness. 230 The Shorter Bible [Psalm 34. 16. The face of the LORD is against .them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cried, and the LORD heard, And deHvered them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous ; But the Lord delivereth him out of them all. ' David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam ; and when his bretiiren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And everyone that was in distress, and discontented, gathered themselves unto him ; and he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. "" A PSALM OF DAVH) ; JVIii'ii he JJed froDt Saul, in tlw cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me ; For my soul taketh refuge in thee ; Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge. Until these calamities be overpast. ^ And David went thence to Mizpah of Moab. And he said unto the king of Moab, "Let my father and niy mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me." And he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in his hold. ■"And three mighty men * went down, and came to David in the harvest time, unto the cave of Adullam. And the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethle- hem. And David longed, and said, " Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth- lehem, which is by the gate ! " ' I Sam. xxii, i. •' i Sam. xxii, 3. '2 Sam. xxiii, 13. 'Psalm Ivii, i. ''2 Sam. xxiii, 16. 2Sam. 23- l6.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 231 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the -Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took th^ee°^ it, and brought it to David. But he would "^^^ ymen. not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. And he said, " Be it far from me, O LoRD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men that went ^ in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink of it. 'And the prophet Gad said unto David, "Abide not in the hold ; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah." Then David departed, and came unto the for- est of Hereth. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. And Saul said unto his servants, "Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, that'all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that discloseth to me when my son maketh a league with the son of Jesse ? Is there none of you that is sorry for me ? " Then answered Doeg and said, " I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob to Ahimelech, t h e ^, priest. And he gave him victuals and the betrayed sword of Goliath the Philistine." Then the king sent to call the priest, and all the priests that were in Nob ; and they came all of them to the king. And Saul said, " Hear now, why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, that he should rise against me as at this day?" Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, " And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, which is the king's son-in-law ? Let not the king impute any- thing unto u s, for thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more." And the king said, " Thou shalt surely die, thou, and all thy father's house." ' I Sam. xxii, 5. | " R. V. marg., Heb. with their lives. 282 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 22. 17. And the king said unto the guard that stood about him, " Turn and slay the priests of the LORD." But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. And the king said to Doeg, " Turn thou and fall upon the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and fell upon the priests, and he slew on that day fourscore and five persons. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword. And one of the sons of Ahimelech, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David, and told David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests. And David said unto Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all thy father's house. Abide thou with me, fear not." And they told David, " Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors." Therefore David inquired of the LoRD, saying, " Shall I go and smite these Philistines? " And the LORD said, "Go, and save Keilah." Then David and his men went, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them, and saved the inhabitants of Keilah. And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David. Then David and his men, David pur- which were about six hundred, arose and dc- sued. parted, and '^ went whithersoever they could go. And David abode in the wilderness in the strong- holds, and Saul souglit him every day. But Jonathan arose, and went to David, into the wood, and strength- ened his hand in God. And he said unto him, " Fear not ; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee. Thou shalt be king over Lsrael, and I shall be next unto thee ; and that also Saul my father knoweth." And tliey two made a covenant before the Lord ; and Da- vid abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. "See Psalm xxxi for a psalm written possibly at this time. I Sam. 23- 1 8.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 233 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul, saying, " Doth not David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood ? Now therefore, O king, come down ; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand." And Saul said, " If he be in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah." 'a psalm of DAVID. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 0 my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou answerest not ; And in the night season, "" and am not silent. Our fathers trusted in thee; They trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered ; They trusted in thee, and were not ashamed. But I am a worm, and no man ; A reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn ; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, Commit thyself unto the LORD. Let him deliver him ; Let him deliver him, seeing he delighteth in him. For the assembly of evil doers have inclosed me ; They pierced my hands and my feet. 1 may tell all my bones ; They look and stare upon me ; They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots. But be not thou far off, O Lord ; O thou my succor, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword ; Save me from the lion's mouth. ' Psalm xxii. | " R. V. marg. , Or, but find no rest. 18 23i The vShorter Bible [iSam. 23. 24. And the Ziphites arose and went before Saul. But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, and Saul and his men went to seek him. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side. And David made haste to get away, for Saul and his men compassed David round about. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, " Haste thee, and come ; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land." So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi. And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came where was a cave ; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the inner- most parts of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, " Behold, the LORD will deliver thine enemy T^ ., into thine hand." Then David arose, and cut David spar- -- , , . r <- i - i • • i a i • ing Saul's off the skirt 01 Sauls robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, and he said, " The LORD forbid that I should put forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed." So David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, " My lord, the king ! " And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said to Saul, "Wherefore hearkenest thou to men's words, saying, ' Behold, David seeketh thy hurt ? ' Behold, this day the LORD hath delivered thee into mine hand in the cave. And some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord ; for he is the Lord's anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see iSam. 23- II.] Chronologically Arranged. 235 the skirt of thy robe in my hand ; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my soul to take it. The LORD judge be- tween me and thee. After whom is the king of Israel come out ? After whom dost thou pursue ? After a dead dog, after a flea? The LORD therefore be judge, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand." And Saul lifted up his voice and wept, and said, " Is this thy voice, my son David ? Thou art more righteous than I. The Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king. Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and destroy my name out of my father's house." And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home ; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold. ' A PSALM OF DAVID. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the ■' still waters. He restoreth my soul ; He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of ^ the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me ; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies ; Thou hast anointed my head with oil ; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord '^ forever. I * R. V. marg., Heb. waters of \ x> ^ ••• rest. '' R. V. marg., Or, deep dark- ness. ■= R. V. marg., Heb. jor I length of days. 236 The vShorter Bible [iSam.25. i. CHAPTER VII. DEATH OF SAMUEL : DAVHJ, AND NABAL, AND ABIGAIL : DAVID AGAIN SPARES SAUL'S LIFE ; BATTLE WITH THE PHILISTINES: DEATH OF SAUL. _j , ^^ ' And Samuel died ; and all Israel gathered Samuel. themselves together, and lamented him, and buried him. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man in Carmel ; and the man was very great. He had three thousand sheep, and a thou- sand goats ; and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal ; and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was of good understand- ing, and of a beautiful countenance, but the man was churlish and evil in his doings. And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. And David sent ten young men, and said unto the young men, T^ . ■, J " Get vou up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and David and ' . .^ ' , ^, i i, Nabal. greet him m my name ; and thus shall ye say to him, * Peace be unto thee and thine house. Thy shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while. Wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers. Give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand, unto thy servants, and to thy son David.' " And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words. And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, " Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my ' I Sam. XXV, i. I Sam. 25- II. 1 Chronologically Arranged. 237 water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men of whom I know not whence they be?" So David's young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and told him according to all these words. And Dav'd said unto his men, " Gird ye on every man his sword." And David also girded on his sword. And there went up after David about four hundred men ; and two hundred abode by the stuff. But one of N a b a 1' s young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, " Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to '"^salute our master; and he '^ flew upon them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we were with them in the fields. They were a wall unto us by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore consider what thou wilt do ; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house ; for he is such a '^ son of '' Belial, that one cannot speak to him." Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready Abigail dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she told not her husband Nabal. And as she rode on her ass, and came down the moun- tain, behold, David and his men came, and she met them. And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off her ass and fell at his feet, and said, " Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity; let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears. Let not my lord regard this man ; but I thine handmaid saw not the young men whom thou didst send. Now therefore, my lord, let this present which thy servant hath brought be given unto the young men. Forgive, I pray thee, the trespass of thine handmaid ; for the LORD will certainly make my * R. V. marg., d/ess. ^ R. V. marg., Or, raikii on. "= R. V. marg., Or, base fellow. ^ R. V. marg., That is, worthless. 238 The Shorter Bible [i Sam. 25.28. lord a sure house, because thou fightest the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in thee all thy days. And though man be risen up to pursue thee and seek thy soul, yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of ^ life with the LORD thy God. And it shall come to pass when the LORD shall have done all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee prince over Israel ; that this shall be no grief unto thee, that thou hast shed blood cause- less. And when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid." And David said to Abigail, " Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me. Thou hast kept me from bloodguiltiness and from aveng- ing myself with mine own hand." So David received of her hand that which she had brought liim. And he said unto her, " Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person." And Abigail came to Nabal ; and, behold, he held a ,., , , feast in his house, and he was verv drunken ; Nabal , - , , , , • i • , ' drunken- wherelore she told hmi nothing, less or more, until the morning light. And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And about ten days after, the LoRD smote Nabal, that he died. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent and spake concerning Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the David mar- earth, and rode upon an ass, with five dam- ries Abigail, ggig of hers that followed her; and she- went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish. 'And the Ziphites came unto Saul, saying,"Doth not Da- vid hide himself in the hill which is before the desert?" Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with ' I Sam. xxvi, i. | " R. V. marg., Or, t/te living. I Sam. 26. 2.] Chronologically Arranged. 239 him to seek David. And Saul pitched in the hill. But David abode in the wilderness, and he sent David out spies, and understood that Saul was come spares r '■ , . , Saul's life. 01 a certainty. Then said David, "Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp ? " And Abishai said, " I will go. down with thee." So David and Abishai came to the people by night ; and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the ^ place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head ; and Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, "God hath delivered up thine enemy into thine hand this day. Now therefore let me smite him to the earth at one stroke ; I will not smite him the second time." And David said to Abishai, " Destroy him not ; for who can put forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless? The LORD shall smite him, "^ or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid that I should put forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed. But now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go." So they gat them away ; and no man saw it, nor knew it, for they were all asleep ; a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them. Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being be- tween them. And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, " Answereth thou not, Abner? " Then Abner answered and said, " Who art thou that criest to the king ? " And David said to Abner, " Art not thou a valiant man? And who is like to thee in Israel? Wherefore then hast thou not kept watch over thy lord the king? And now, see, where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head." And Saul knew David's voice, and said, " Is this thy voice, my son David ? " And David said, " It is my voice, my lord, O king. "• R. V. marg. , Or, barricade. *" R. V. marg. , Or, either. '^■iu The Shorter Bible [i Sain.26. i8. Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant ? What have I done, or what is evil in mine hand? For the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains. '"^ Then said Saul, " I have sinned. Return my son David. I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day. I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." And David answered, and said, " Behold the spear, O king ! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it. And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation." Then Saul said to David, " Blessed be thou, my son David; thou shalt do mightily." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. 'a psalm of DAVID. O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth ! Who hast set thy glory upon the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou es- tablished strength. Because of thine adversaries. That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained ; What is man, that thoa art mindful of him ? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him vv'ith glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands ; Thou hast put all things under his feet ; , All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field ; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth ! ' Psalm viii. iSam. 27. I.] ChRONOLOGICALLtY ARRANGED. 241 ' And David said in his heart, " I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul ; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines ; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in all the bcM'ders of Israel ; so shall I escape out of his hand." And David arose, and passed over, he and David in the six hundred men that were with him. And Phiiistia. it was told Saul that David was fled. And he sought no more again for him. And David said unto Achish, " If now I have found grace in thine eyes, give me one of thy cities to dwell in."- And Achish gave him Ziklag ; wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. ^ And at one time, when David and his men were away, the Amalekites made a raid upon Ziklag, and burned it with fire, and took captive the women and all that were therein, both small and great. They slew not any, but carried them off. And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire ; and their wives and their sons and daughters were taken captive. Then David, and the people that were with him, lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep, and David was greatly distressed. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. And David inquired of the LORD, saying, " If I pursue after this troop shall I overtake them ? " And he answered him, " Pursue, for thou shalt surely overtake them, and recover all." So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where ■□ ,, „ ^ 1 11 1 1 1 • 1 1 • 1 r • Raids and two hundred stayed behmd w^hich were lamt. counter- •^ ra,icls. But David pursued, he and four hundred men. And behold t h e ^ troop were spread abroad over all the ground, drinking and feasting, because of the great spoil that they had taken. And David smote them, and re- covered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives. There was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters ; David brought back all. And David took flocks and herds. 'l Sam. xxvii, i. -i Sam. xxx, i. ^i Sam. xxx, 15. 242 The Shorter Bible [iSam. 30. 21. And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow. Then said the wicked men that went with David, " Be- cause they went not with us, we will not give them aught of the spoil ; save to every man his wife and children." Then said David, " Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath pre- served us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand. As his share is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his share be that tarrieth by JUS aw. ^^^ stuff; they shall share alike." And from that day forward, he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel. And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, ' to all the places David and his men were wont to haunt, '\saying, " Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord." ^And it came to pass in those days that the Philis- War with tines gathered their hosts together to fight Philistines. ^^,{^1^ jg,.,^^.i_ ^,^^1 s^^^jI gathered all Israel to- gether, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the hosts of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not. ■* Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down ''' slain in Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines fol- lowed hard upon Saul and his sons, and slew Jonathan, and the sons of Saul. And the battle went sore against Saul; the archers overtook him, and he was greatly dis- tressed. Then said Saul to his armor-bearer, " Draw thy sword and thrust me through therewith ; lest these men come and thrust me through, and ''abuse me." Suicide of ^^^'^ '"''•'^ armor-bearer would not, for he was Saul. ^QYQ afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that V. marg., Or, li'otiiiJeJ. marg., Or, make a viock ' I San^. XXX, 31. ^ Sam. xxxi, I. " K. ■^ I Sam. XXX, 26. '■ R. \ ■^ I Sam. xxviii, i. of me I Sam. 31. 5-] Chronologically Arranged. 243 Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, that same day together. And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were beyond Jordan, saw that Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled ; and the Philis- tines came and dwelt in them. And on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen in Mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto the house of their idols, and to the people. And they put his armor in the house of the idol, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. And when the inhabitants of Jabesh heard that which the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall, and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Ja- besh, and fasted seven days. So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because h e obeyed not the voice of the Lord. 24-i The Shorter Bible [2Sam. i.i. CHAPTER VIII. DAVID'S LAMENTATION OVER SAUL AND JONATHAN : DAVID MADE KING OVER ALL ISRAEL : REMOVAL OF THE ARK TO JERUSALEM : ORGANIZATION OF WOR- SHIP. ' And it came to pass after the death of Saul that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the earth, and did obei- sance. And David said unto him, " Whence comest thou ?" And he said unto him, " Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped." And David said unto him, " How went the matter? I pray thee tell me." And he answered, " The people are fled News lor ~ '11 David- from the battle, and mauy of the people also Mourning. ^^^ f^jj^j^ ^^^^ ^g^^l_ ^,^^1 Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also." And David said, " How knowcst thou that Saul and Jonathan be dead?" And the young man said, " I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa. And I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord." Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them ; and likewise all the men that were with him. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel ; because they were fallen by the sword. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, ' 2 Sam. i, I. 2Sam.i.i9.J Chronologically Arranged. 245 " How are the mighty fallen ! Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided ; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. How are the mighty fallen ! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan ; Very pleasant hast thou been unto me ; Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished ! " ^ And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, " Shall I go into any of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said unto him, " Go up unto Hebron." So David went up thither, and his two wives also. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household ; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointeci David king over the house of Judah. ^And David king unto David were sons born. of Judah. ^And they told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh were they that buried Saul." And David sent mes- sengers and said unto them, " Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have showed this kindness unto your Lord, even unto Saul. And now the Lord show kind- ness and truth unto you. I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this tiling." Now Abner, the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, had taken Lsh-bosheth the son of Saul, and made him king. But the house of Judah followed David, * Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David waxed Factional stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul '^^^^ waxed weaker. '2 Sam. ii, i. '-'2 Sam. iii, 2. ^2 Sam. ii, 4. ''2 Sam. iii, i. 246 . The Shorter Bible [2 Sam. 3. 6. And it came to pass, while there was war, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. And Ish- bosheth c h o d e with Abner, Then was Abner very wroth, and sent messengers to David, saying, " Make thy league wath me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee to bring all Israel unto thee." And David said, " Thou shalt not see my face except thou first bring Michal, Saul's daughter." And David sent messengers to Saul's son, saying, " Deliver me my wife, Michal." And h e sent and took her. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And Abner said unto David, " I will gather all Israel unto my lord the king." And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. And behold, Joab came from a foray. Then Joab said to the king, " What hast thou done? Abner came to deceive thee ; ' why hast thou sent him away ? " And Joab sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But Joab knew it not. And when Abner was returned, Joab took liim aside as if to speak with him quietly, and smote him there that he died. " So Joab and his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother in battle. ' And when David heard it, he said, " I and my king- dom are guiltless from the blood of Abner. Let it fall upon the head of Joab and his house." . And David said to Joab, and to all the people, " Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth and mourn." And king David followed the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept at the grave, and all the people wept. And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swarc, saying, " God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down." And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them ; as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. So all the peo])le and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner. '2 Sam. iii, 24. "^ 7. Sam. iii, 30. ^2 Sam. iii, 28. 2 Sam. 3. 38-] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 247 And the king said unto his servants, " Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ? "And I am this day weak, though anointed king. These men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me ; the Lord shall reward the wicked doer according to his o wickedness." And when Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands. And they went to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon, and came into the midst of the house and smote him as he lay on his bed. And they brought the head of Tsh-bosheth unto David. And David said unto them, "When one told me, say- ing, ' Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good tid- ings, I slew him. How much more when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood at you-r hand ? " And David commanded his young men, and they slew them. But they buried the head of Ish-bosheth in the grave of Abner. ' Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, " Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king over us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel ; and the LORD said to thee, ' Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a prince over Israel,' " So king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David David king king over Israel. 'And they were there with o^e^ Israel. David three days, eating and drinking : for their brethren had made preparation for them. Moreover they that were ntgh unto them brought bread on asses, and on camels, on mules, and on oxen, victual of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance : for there was joy in Israel. ' 2 Sam. V, I. '^ 1 Chvon. xii, 39. 248 The Shorter Bible [2 Sam. 4.1. ' A PSALM OF DAVID. Preserve me, O God : for in thee do I put my trust. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup : Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel • Yea, my reins instruct me in the night seasons. I have set tlie LORD always before me : Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth • My flesh also shall dwell in safety. For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol ; Neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corrup- tion. Thou wilt show me the path of life : In thy presence is fullness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. '" David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem. 'The Capture of Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were Zion. there, and they said to David, "Thou shalt not come in hither." Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion ; the same is the city of David. And David said, " Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." And Joab went up first; and was made chief And David dwelt in the stronghold ; therefore they called it The City of David. And he built the city round about from Millo, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. ' Psalm xvi. -'2 Sam. v, 4. " i Chron. xi, 4. iChron. II.9.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 249 And David waxed greater and greater; for the LORD of hosts was with him. 'And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons ; and they built David an house. And David perceived David's that the Lord had established him king over house. Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. And there were sons and daughters born to David. And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver .,,.. ^ 1 ^ • . , 1 -s M Victory them into mme hand.'' over the A11T •! T^-i.^//tV o/ m>hI. '' I\. \'. iiiarg.. Or, iiiess. 2Sam.20.6.] CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 273 " Now shall Sheba do us more harm than did Absalom. Pursue thou after him." And there went out after him Joab's men, and all the mighty men. When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab said to Amasa, " Is it well with thee, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the sheba's beard to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed rebeiiion- , , , • T 1 > 1 1 1 Amasa's to the sword that was ni Joabs hand, so he slowness , . , . , -' , 1 1 • and death, smote huTi therewith, and struck him not again ; and he died. And Joab and Abishai pursued after Sheba. And they besieged him in Abel. Then cried a wise woman unto Joab, " Hear, hear! Art thou Joab? " And he answered, " I am." Then she said unto him, " Thou seekest to destroy a city. Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?" And Joab answered, " Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy? But Sheba sheba's hath lifted up his hand against the king, death. even against David. Deliver him only, and I will de- part." Then the people cut off the head of Sheba, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city. And Joab returned to Jerusalem. Joab was over the host. 274 The Shorter Bible [2 Sam. 21.15. CHAPTER XI. events of the last years of David's reign. 'And the Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought Incidents of against the Philistines. And David waxed battle. faint, and the son of a giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass, thought to have slain David with a new sword. But Abishai succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David said unto him, "Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel." And after this there was again war with the Philis- tines, and Elhanan the Bethlehcmite slew "^ the brother of ^ Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number. And when he "defied Israel, Jonathan the son of David's brother slew him. These fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the LoRD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies : '"' The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliv- David's erer ; song. -j-j^g Qq(^| of my rock, in him will I trust; I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised ; So shall I be saved from mine enemies. ' 2 Sam. xxi, 15. ■'2 Sam. xxi, 19. I » R. V. marg., Or, reproached. '•' I Chron. XX, 5. | ''Found also in I'salni xviii. 2 Sam. 22. 5.] ChRONOLOCJICALLV ARRANGED. 275 For the waves of death compassed me, The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. In my distress I called upon the LORD, And my cry came into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven moved. He bowed the heavens also, and came down ; And thick darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly ; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind. ' He made darkness his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. *At the brightness before him, Coals of fire were kindled. The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice. He sent out arrows, and scattered them ; Lightning, and discomfited them. He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of '•' many waters ; He delivered me from my strong enemy. From them that hated me. They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place ; He delivered me, because he delighted in me. For thou art my lamp, O LORD ; And the Lord will lighten my darkness. As for God, his way is perfect ; The word of the LORD is tried. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation ; And thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle ; Thou deliverest me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, And will sing praises unto thy name." ' And '' Satan stood up against Israel, and moved 'Psalm xviii, 11. "i Chron. xxi, i. I » R. V. marg., Or, great. ''Or, '•'2 Sam. xxii, 13. | an adversary. 276 The Shorter Bible [i chron.21. i. David to number Israel. And David said to Joab, and Numbering ^^ ^^^^ princcs of the people, " Go, number Israel. Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan ; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them," And Joab said, "The LORD make his people an hun- dred times so many more as they be, and may the eyes of my king see it. But, my lord, are they not all my lord's servants? Why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel? " Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. 'And Joab and the captains uf the host went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. So when they had gone to and fro through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave the sum of the num- bering of the people unto the king ; and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword ; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. And David's heart smote him after that he had num- bered the people. And David said unto the LoRD, " I have sinned greatly in that I have done. But now, O Lord, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy serv- ant ; for I have done very foolishly." And when David rose up in the morning, the word of the Lo]