one hundred and ten years; and he was buried on Mount Ephraim. During all the life of Joshua, and of the elders who had witnessed the wonders which the Eternal had wrought in favour of Israel, the Israelites served the Lord.

At Sichem, they interred the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought from Egypt. Eleazar, the son of Aaron, died also, at this period, and was buried at Gibha, upon Mount Ephraim, which had been given to Phinehas, his

son.

QUESTIONS.

What events terminate the fourth epocha of sacred history? What is contained in the book of Joshua? To whom is that book attributed? When did Joshua succeed Moses? What was the first evident interposition of divine Providence, in behalf of the Israelites, after the supreme authority was vested in Joshua ? How was the city of Jericho taken? What miraculous calamity fell upon the wicked army of the Canaanitish princes? How did Joshua divide the conquered lands among the tribes? What portion was assigned to the Levites? What part was given to Caleb? What was the nature of the address which Joshua made to the children of Israel before his death? Where was Joshua buried? Where were the bones of Joseph deposited? Where was Eleazar interred? What was the conduct of the Israelites during the life of Joshua, and of the elders who witnessed the wonders which God did by him?

CHAP. XI.

THE book of Judges is attributed to the prophet Samuel, and is supposed to have been written by him, soon after the appointment of Saul to be king of Israel. It contains a continuation of the history of the Israelites; of their struggles with one another, and with the nations around them; and the means by which their victories were achieved; it likewise details the sufferings they drew upon themselves, by forsaking the only true God, and following after idols. This narrative extends from A.C. 1426, to A.C. 1117, a space of 309 years.

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites enquired of the Lord which of the tribes should first march against the remaining Canaanites, and other people, who still were left in the promised land; and the tribe of Judah was chosen; to which the tribe of Simeon joined itself. And they subdued the country around, and took the city of Jerusalem. The other tribes, likewise gradually expelled the inhabitants from the portions of land assigned to them. When that whole generation of men, who had lived together with Joshua and the elders, were united to their fathers, and there had arisen, after them, another generation that knew not the Lord, nor the deeds which he had done for Israel; they did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and worshipped the gods of the Canaanites. The Lord was, therefore, incensed against the children of Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of their

enemies, who oppressed them grievously. Nevertheless, when they were greatly distressed, Jehovah raised up men to administer justice, and, by their skill and valour, to rescue the Israelites from their foes. They were called judges; yet to their judges they would not listen, but went astray after false deities. For although the Lord when he raised up judges to them, was with their judge, and saved them all the days of the judge, yet no sooner was the judge dead, than they relapsed, and became more corrupt. Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and Barak, under the guidance of a prophetess, named Deborah, successively judged and rescued Israel. After the decease of Deborah, the children of Israel again fell into idolatry, and Jehovah permitted them to be enslaved by the Midianites, for the space of seven years; but after that, Gideon, of the tribe of Manasseh, animated by a divine impulse, overthrew the altar of an idol god, turned the people from their idolatry, defeated the multitudes of the Midianites, and freed his country from their yoke. But after the decease of Gideon, during the time wherein Abimelech, his son, and Tola, and Jair, successively judged Israel, the people again went astray from the Lord their God, and he delivered them into the power of the Ammonites. But when they repented of their iniquity, God raised up a mighty man of valour, Jephtha, to redeem them from the hand of their oppressors. And he smote the Ammonites with great slaughter, and set free his people. And after him Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, were judges in Israel. But for their

sins, God suffered the Israelites to be subdued by the Philistines, who oppressed them forty years. And the Eternal appointed a deliverer for Israel, Samson, endowed with supernatural strength. And many of the Philistines did he destroy; and he drove them out of the land. But transgressing the law of God, he himself was suffered to fall into the power of the Philistines by treachery and his own folly. And the Philistines put out the eyes of Samson, and shut him up in prison, for the Lord had permitted his great strength to depart from him. But when Samson repented of his transgression, the Lord restored to him his mighty force. And the Philistines made a great sacrifice and festival to dagon, their false god; and the temple was filled with their princes, and nobles, and people ; when, behold, they sent for Samson, from the prison, to amuse them by feats of strength. But Samson, begging to rest himself against two pillars which supported the roof, bent forwards with all his might, and overthrew the pillars, and the temple fell, and crushed all who were therein, the rulers, and the people, and himself, Thus Samson, at his death, slew more of his enemies than he had slain during his life. And his brethren came and carried away his body, and buried it in the sepulchre of Manoah his father. And, for a time, there was no chief in Israel, and every one did what seemed good in

his eyes.

But from this evil state the Lord God delivered them by raising up Eli, the high-priest, who was a just and righteous ruler; but his sons,

Hophni and Phineas, were transgressors of the law, and their father restrained them not. And God punished them, and him; for they were slain in battle against the Philistines, and the ark of the covenant was taken; and Eli, when these tidings came unto him, fell backwards, and being heavy with age, he brake his neck, and died. But Samuel, who had been, from early childhood, brought up in the service of the tabernacle, by Eli, and had been his minister, was appointed by God to be judge in Israel; and God was with him, and by him performed wonderful works. Samuel administered justice throughout the land with wisdom and prudence; and under him did the people prosper.

But Samuel being stricken in years, established his sons, Joel and Abia, as judges in Israel; and they walked not in the steps of their father, but were greedy of gain, and took bribes, and perverted justice. And the elders of Israel assembled, and said unto Samuel, "Behold thou art become old, and thy sons tread not in thy path; set thou a king over us, therefore, like unto other nations, that he may judge us." But as this, their request, manifested insensibility of their happiness in having Jehovah for their immediate king, it displeased Samuel. And the Lord commanded Samuel to show unto the people what evils a bad king might inflict upon them and Samuel did so; yet unto him the children of Israel listened not. Then the Lord said unto Samuel, "Grant their request, and give unto them a king." And God directed Samuel to anoint to the office of king, Saul, a