through their land. But "Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border." The consequence of this refusal was a battle, in which "Israel smote Sihon with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok." (Num.xxi. 21-24.)

Examination.

Mention the largest streams east of the Jordan? Which is the most northerly? In what has it its principal source? Whereabout does it empty itself? With what are the banks lined? What is done with the level spots? What do they grow upon them? For what are the banks of this river remarkable ? What is there peculiar about one of them? Who hold this spring in high estimation? What do they leave behind them as memorials of their visit?

Where is the source of the Jabbok? In what direction does it flow? What is its greatest length? Is it always that length? Why? Describe the banks of this stream. To what height do the reeds grow? What two kingdoms did this river separate? On which side lay the kingdom of the Amorites ?

Where is the source of the Arnon? What is its general direction? Its length? Whereabout does it empty itself? Of what country did it form the southern boundary? What country lay to the south of Arnon? What does this river become in the rainy season? What happens to it in the heat of summer? There was a battle fought near here, Between what two parties? On what account was this battle fought? What was the result?

III. TOWNS. There were, as I have told you before, only two tribes and a half on the eastern side of the Jordan. The half-tribe of Manasseh lay in the north, Reuben in the south, and Gad in the centre. The chief towns of Manasseh were Ashtaroth Karnaim, and Jabesh Gilead.

1. ASHTAROTH KARNAIM. Ashtaroth stood about five miles north-west from the little lake I mentioned to you just now as being the principal source of the Yarmuck. This city existed in the time of Abraham, and after the conquest of the country

From this we see that the whole country may be divided into four great districts, each having peculiarities of surface, climate, and vegetation. First, the mountainous district of Lebanon; second, eastern and western table-lands; third, valley of the Jordan; fourth, plain of the coast. Lebanon from its elevation will be the coldest, and the Jordan valley from its depression, and the concentration of the sun's rays by the enclosing mountains, the hottest district in Palestine.

BRIEF SKETCH

OF THE

HISTORY OF PALESTINE.

LESSON I.*

Having finished the geography of Palestine, I will now give you a short sketch of its history. The first occupants of this country were the descendants of Canaan, the fourth son of Ham. Hence it is sometimes called the land of Canaan, from its being possessed by the Canaanites. Canaan is, therefore, its first and most ancient name. At a very early period after the Deluge the posterity of Noah began to spread abroad; some went southward and founded kingdoms and nations, and some eastward and westward and did the same. The sons of Ham were amongst those who travelled eastward. They appear to have entered Palestine from Arabia, and at different periods; so that when they were settled in the country they would not be one people, all governed by the same laws, and all having the same common interests, but many distinct peoples and nations, differing in their laws, and having, occasionally, conflicting interests. Each party as it entered the country would choose out a portion for itself, and there would begin to build its houses, feed its flocks, and carry on a little trade. Each

* In these Lessons I have left the Teacher to make his own Notes ; after so many examples he surely cannot be at a loss in this respect.

party, too, would, in most cases, take the name of its leader, or of some person of distinction belonging to it. Hence we have the Sidonians from Sidon, the eldest son of Canaan; the Jebusites from Jebus; the Midianites from Midian, and many others. The Sidonians seem to have entered the country at a very early period, taking up their quarters on the north-western coast, where they built the city of Sidon. The following table will give you a general idea of the ancient divisions of Palestine under the Canaanites.

After being in possession for about seven or eight hundred years the Canaanites were conquered, and partly expelled by the Israelites under Joshua. The Israelites came from Egypt at the command of God and under the leadership of Moses. After a long and toilsome journey of forty years in the wilderness of Arabia, they entered Canaan on the south-eastern

* All these tribes led more or less a wanderiug and predatory life, and hence we often read of one tribe as being in the place assigned to another. There were also branches from some of the large tribes to be found in various parts of the country; sometimes they retained the name of the parent tribe, and sometimes it was changed. The Hivites, Amorites, Amalekites, and other tribes, afford proof of this.

side. At this time they were enabled to bring into the field an army of 624,000 men. With this immense force they speedily subdued all the smaller states, put themselves in possession of the country, and divided it among the twelve tribes. We may date the subjection of the Canaanites at about 1450 B.C. From this time till the captivity of Israel, 721 B.C., Jewish history is one continued story of disobedience and repentance. Many times, for their shameful idolatries and forgetfulness of God, were they given into the hands of their enemies, and made to feel the bitter consequences of rebellion against their Maker. As many times, on their repenting, did infinite love pardon their iniquities, and raise up deliverers for them. The distinction of tribes seems to have been unfavourable to their peace and happiness. They quarrelled among themselves. Little jealousies and dislikes arose, which not all the skill of all the prophets could subdue. Sometimes they refused to help one another in their necessities. Those in the north would not assist those in the south to drive out the Philistines and Ammonites, who were constantly making war upon them. Ephraim vexed Judah, and Judah vexed Ephraim; and thus, through jealousy, selfishness, and idolatry, did the Israelites keep their country in a state of cruel distraction, and made their lives unhappy.

At length, after living in this state for about 350 years, in the time of Samuel, they demanded a change in the form of government. This was in the year 1095 B.C. The nations surrounding them were all governed by kings, and it is very likely that they saw the advantages of this kind of government at that period, and to themselves in particular. Under a king the tribes could no longer exercise independent authority: under a king they could all be brought together to defend their common interests: under a king the government would be