PREFACE. THE object of the present work is to present to the eye and to the mind of the reader, a correct description of Scripture facts, derived from the best authorities. It must be acknowledged, by all attentive readers of the Bible, that the paintings of the old masters, which have been so widely diffused, have often conveyed erroneous ideas. They do not accord with the idea of Oriental usages, etc., which we derive from the sacred Text, and often discover both ignorance and superstition, and that to such an extent as often to bewilder and mislead the youthful and uninformed mind. Hence it has been thought, that much instruction might be imparted to the reader through a medium, which will at once afford a truthful representation of Scripture facts and of Oriental manners. Such is the leading feature of this work. In the Engravings, the reader has set before him scenes which cannot fail to be interesting to the mind of the true Christian. They are accompanied by brief accounts, derived from Scripture, of the events which they represent, and a short improvement of the subject. CONTENTS. FRONTISPIECE. -The VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT and the TOMB OF AB - SALOM. Drawn from sketches by Cassas, compared with those of other modern artists. HAGAR AND ISHMAEL IN THE DESERT. THE DEPARTURE OF REBEKAH TO BECOME THE WIFE OF ISAAC. JOSEPH SUPPLYING CORN FROM THE EGYPTIAN STOREHOUSES. JACOB AND HIS FAMILY JOURNEYING TO EGYPT. FUNERAL OF JACOB. THE INFANT MOSES FOUND BY PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER. MOSES AND AARON BEFORE PHARAOH. DEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN. MIRIAM REJOICING OVER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FOES OF ISRAEL. THE HIGH-PRIEST AARON OFFERING INCENSE ON THE GOLDEN ALTAR. CALEB'S DAUGHTER SOLICITING WATER-SPRINGS WITH HER GIFT OF LANDS. BOAZ AND RUTH. SAMSON IN CAPTIVITY. THE ANOINTING OF SAUL KING OVER ISRAEL. DAVID AND GOLIATH. DAVID BRINGING THE ARK TO JERUSALEM. DAVID'S CHARGE. ELISHA AND THE MOCKERS. MANASSEH CARRIED CAPTIVE TO BABYLON. JEREMIAH MOURNING THE DEATH OF JOSIAH. |