lions, wolves, foxes, jackals, unicorns, crocodiles, ostriches, gazelles, chamois, stags and deer. XII. Canaan was sometimes visited by the following Plagues: Earthquakes, destructive east-winds, hail, locusts, pestilence, drought, devastating rain-showers. XIII. The Cities of Palestine had very narrow streets, (of but four cubits in width,) and were without pavement. Even Jerusalem received its pavement only under the reign of Agrippa II. The greater cities had extensive marketplaces near their gates, and very high walls, (forts,) with towers and breast works. The gates were often overlaid with iron, copper, or brass, ("brazen gates,") The houses were built of rough stone or brick; palaces, of squarestone and marble. The house presented a square figure, had a spacious court, which was generally without covering; only now and then a curtain was drawn over it, to keep off the burning sun. Round this court ran the hall, with cisterns for bathing. The roofs of the houses were ́flat and surrounded by a battlement. The furniture of a house was scanty. Stoves were unknown; during severe weather, a moveable chimney was used, in which burned a coal-fire, or stood a pot filled with burning char-coal. The houses had no windows, but were provided either with lattice-work, or curtains of net work. The doors were barred with wooden bolts; only prisons and other public edifices were provided with iron locks. XIV. After having conquered Canaan, Joshua divided the land among the twelve tribes. On this side of the Jordan lived, from the South to the North, the tribes of Judah, Simon, Benjamin, Dan, Ephraim, Half of the tribe of Manasseh, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali. Beyond the Jordan dwelt the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Half of Manasseh. During the rule of the Romans in Palestine, the land was divided into the provinces of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and Peræa. Judea, the most southern province, contained the following cities: Jerusalem, Gaza, Joppa, Jericho, Jamnia, Lachish, Adullam, Eglon, Hebron, Tekoa, Mizpah, Gibeon, Gilgal, Ramah. Samaria, which bounded Judea on the North, had the following cities: Samaria, (Shomeron,) Shiloh, Bethel, Sichem, Thebez, Dotham, Gilgal, Tirzah, Bezek. In Galilee, the most northern province, we find the following cities: Shumen, Endor, Megiddo, Tiberia, Kedesh, Dan. Perca, (the land east of the Jordan, Gilead, Bashan,) had the following cities: Aroer, Baal-Meon, Shittim, Heshbon, Mahanaim. XV. The neighboring nations and countries of Palestine were: 1. The Phoenicians, whom the Israelites called Canaanites. 2. The Philistines, with the cities of Askalon, Ashdod, Gaza, Ekron, Gath. 3. The Amalekites, to the south of the former, who descended from one of Esau's grandsons. 4. The Midianites, who inhabited the region from Sinai to the Arabian Sea. 5. The Edomites, descendants from Edom or Esau, with the following cities: Selah, Bozrah, Masrekah, Teman, and the sea-ports of Elath and Eziongeber. 6. The Moabites, to the East of the Dead Seawith the city of Zoar. 7. The Amorites and Ammonites, to the north of Moab. 8. Syria, to the north-east of Palestine, comprised several countries, of which we may mention: Mesopotomia, (Aram-Naharim, Padam Aram,) Aram-Zobah, and Aram-Damesek. To the south of Mesopotamia we find Babylon on the Euphrates, and Assyria on the Tigris, with its capital, Nineveh. Further to the east we find Media and Persia, with their capitals Ecbatana and Shushan. § 7. Abraham the Progenitor of the Israelitish Nation 11 § 8. Abraham showing his Peaceful Disposition and his Generosity. § 9. Abraham, the Man of Faith § 10. Abraham, the Hospitable and Compassionate Patriarch § 11. The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah § 12. Abraham's Obedience E23 12 13 14 16 16 § 13. Abraham's Paternal Solicitude for his Son Isaac 18 § 19. The Brothers of Joseph selling him from Envy 26 $ 20. Joseph a Slave 27 § 21. Joseph in Prison. . 28 § 22. The release of Joseph 29 § 23. The First Journey of Joseph's Brothers to Egypt 30 § 24. The Second Journey of Joseph's Brothers to Egypt 32 § 25. The Recognition . $ 26. The family of Jacob removing to Egypt 35 36 III. THE ISRAELITES IN EGYPT. § 27. The Birth of Moses Believers. § 28. Moses manifesting his Attachment to his Fellow- § 29 The Appointment of Moses § 30 The Deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptian Bondage. § 31 The Destruction of Pharaoh Page 39 40 41 43 45 46 48 49 52 54 55 The Close of 58 § 32. The Proclamation of the Law on Mount Sinai § 35. The Rebellions of the People, caused by their § 36. Difficulties arising from Rebellions of Individual Israelites. § 37. Wars with Neighboring Nations § 38. Moses sends Spies into Canaan. Israel's Wanderings in the Wilderness § 39. Moses' Farewell Address to his People. His Death 59 § 40. Joshua. IV. ISRAEL AS A NATION. The Conquest of Canaan $ 41. Joshua's Parting Address. § 43. The Judges, (continued) § 46. The Sons of Eli § 47. The Meritorious Acts of Samuel § 48. God tries and guides the Pious, (Ruth) B. The Kings over the Undivided Empire of Israel. § 49. Saul raised to the Royal Throne § 50. David anointed King over Israel § 51. Saul persecuting David § 52. David, King of Israel § 53. The Rebellion of Absalom.-Death of David § 54. Solomon § 55. The Separation of the Kingdom: |