STORY OF JOSEPH.

35

told them how God had watched over him in the land of Egypt, and had turned every misfortune to his advantage and theirs. He prayed them to return quickly to Jacob; to tell him that his son Joseph lived, and was governor of the whole land of Egypt. Above all things, Joseph urged his brethren to persuade their father to come to Egypt with his family.

The news of this joyful meeting spread quickly, and the king, who loved Joseph, took part in his happiness. He told him to furnish his brethren with everything necessary for their journey; be bade them also take a number of chariots, that they might bring back their wives and children with more ease and safety.

When the brethren, with their long train of chariots and beasts of burden, arrived in the land of Canaan, Jacob wondered exceedingly; but when his sons had told their story, he was, as Scripture tells us, bewildered, like one awakened out of a deep sleep. He said: "It is enough for me if Joseph, my son, be yet living; I will go and see him before I die."

Jacob prepared in haste for his journey, taking with him his children and grandchildren, who numbered sixty-six souls, without counting his sons' wives. He also brought the vast herds and flocks which constituted the principal part of his wealth.

Before setting out, the venerable patriarch offered a solemn sacrifice to God, that he might be assured of the Divine will. The Almighty spoke to him in a

What order did Pharao give? What is related of Jacob?

vision, and bade him not to fear, but to go into Egypt, where his descendants should multiply into a great nation; that in after-times they should return to the land of Canaan, but that he would die in Egypt.

Joseph went out to meet Jacob with a splendid retinue, and the father and son embraced with many tears. It was the desire of Joseph that his family might live apart from the idolatrous Egyptians, and at his request, Pharao assigned them the land of Gessen for a residence.

CHAPTER XV.

DEATH OF JACOB, A. C. 17:9. —PERSECUTION OF THE

ISRAELITES.

ACOB lived happily in Egypt for seventeen years.

JAG

He died surrounded by his descendants, at the age of one hundred and forty-seven. Upon his death-bed, he blessed his twelve sons in a very solemn manner, and prophesied concerning their future greatness. He spoke to Juda in particular, telling him that the "Expectation of Nations," the promised Redeemer, should be born of his family. He then besought Joseph to bury him in the land of Canaan with Abraham and Isaac.

When the seventy days of mourning were passed,

Relate the circumstances attending the death and funeral of Jacob.

DEATH OF JACOB.

37

Joseph went up to Canaan. He was accompanied by his kindred, and all the great men of the land of Egypt, with a vast retinue of chariots and horses. Jacob was laid in the double cave which Abraham had purchased for a burial-place, and the funeral rites lasted seven days.

Joseph continued in power and prosperity to the age of one hundred and ten, when he died, charging the Israelites to carry his bones with them, when God should call them out of Egypt. His brethren also passed away, but their descendants became numerous and powerful. They continued to receive favors from the kings of the country, until troubles came, and a strange Pharao governed Egypt. This king hated the Israelites, and persecuted them in the most cruel He made them do the work of slaves, and it is thought by some that they were forced to labor on the pyramids.

manner.

After the Israelites had suffered a long time, Pharao saw that their numbers did not diminish. Ile commanded, therefore, that the Israelites should drown their infant sons as soon as they were born; the daughters they were permitted to bring up. He had at first given orders to the Egyptian nurses to murder the children of the Hebrew women secretly. These good women would not obey the king, and God rewarded their humanity by making them rich and prosperous.

What request did Joseph make at the time of his death? Ro late the persecution of the Israelites.

The unhappy Israelites saw thousands of their little ones drowned in the river Nile, for Egyptian officers watched, to see that the king's order was obeyed, and it was impossible for them to resist.

A

CHAPTER XVI.

BIRTH OF MOSES.

WOMAN of the tribe of Levi succeeded in hiding her infant for the space of three months. At last, as she could conceal the little boy no longer. the mother made a basket, and daubed it with pitch to keep out the water. Then with many tears and prayers, she put the infant in the basket, and laid it in the rushes by the river's bank. She told her daugh ter Miriam to stand near, and see what would happen.

Presently, Pharao's daughter came with her maidens to bathe. When she saw the infant in the basket, she was moved with pity and resolved to save it. Miriam came forward, and asked her if she would like to have a nurse for the child. The princess told her to seek one, and Miriam brought her own mother The poor woman departed in great joy with the infant, whom the princess named Moses, because he was taken out of the water. When the child was old enough to

Relate the circumstances attending the birth and education Молев.

BIRTH OF MOSES.

39

do without the mother's care, she brought him to Pharao's daughter, who adopted him as her son.

The Egyptians were, at that time, the most learned nation in the world, and Moses was carefully instructed in their wisdom. Scripture does not tell us how he came to learn his true parentage, but we know that he left the Egyptian court of his own free will, because St. Paul says that Moses chose rather to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin for a time. His heart was full of pity for his unfortunate countrymen, and one day while trying to defend an Israelite, he slew an Egyptian. The affair became known, and he had to fly from the country.

Moses lived many years in the land of Madian, where he married Sephora, the daughter of Jethro, a priest. When he was already a very old man, he had a wonderful vision. As he was feeding his flocks, he saw a bush which was on fire without being burned. God spoke to him from the midst of the flames, and commanded him to return to Egypt, and deliver his people. Moses prayed God to excuse him. He said that the Israelites would pay no attention to his words, nor would they believe that God had sent him. The Lord again commanded him to go and to take his brother Aaron with him. He promised that both he

Did Moses leave the Egyptian court of his own free will? What circumstance obliged Moses to leave Egypt? What occurred to him in the land of Madian? What mission was confided to him by God?