and gave them to Rebekah. He gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. And they did cat and drink, he and the men that were 160 with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away unto my master."

And her brother and her mother said, "Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; 165 after that she shall go." And he said unto them, "Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master." And they said, "We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth." And they called Rebekah, and said 170 unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man?" And she said, "I will go." And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, "Thou art our sister; be thou the mother 175 of thousand of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them." And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man; and the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

180

And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and 185 when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For

she had said unto the servant, "What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?" And the servant had said, "It is my master." Therefore she 190 took a veil, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's 195 death.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

Line 11, page 409. Why did not Abraham want his son to marry a Canaanite? Was there a difference of religion?

Line 29, page 410. What does the equipment of the servant tell us of the part of the world that is the scene of the story?

Line 32, page 410. Where was Mesopotamia? The word means "between rivers." Look on a map and see why the name was given.

Line 35, page 410. Find out and tell all you can about the wells of that country, their great value, and how water is drawn.

Line 190, page 416. Find out and tell about the custom of wearing veils by the women of the East.

Line 57, page 411. Find and bring to class pictures of "Rebekah at the well." Are the marriage customs here recorded followed by the Arabs today?

DAVID AND JONATHAN

Jonathan was the son of King Saul. After David had slain the giant Goliath, he had been taken to the court to play the harp before the king, with whom he afterwards became a favorite. Later, Saul, who was a victim of occasional insanity, took a dislike to David and tried to kill him, but Jonathan was his firm friend. This friendship has become world famous.

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 5 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

10

And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. And it came to pass as they came, when David 15 was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine,1 that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets,2 with joy, and with instruments of music. And the

1 Philistine, the giant Goliath. 2 Tabrets, small drums.

20 women answered one another as they played, and said, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they 25 have ascribed but thousands; and what can he have more but the kingdom?" And Saul eyed1 David from that day and forward.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied 30 in the midst of the house; and David played with his hand, as at other times; and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, "I will smite David even to the wall with it." And David avoided out of his presence twice. And 35 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself 40 wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

45 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan,

Saul's son, delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, "Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, 50 and hide thyself: and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee."

And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his 55 father, and said unto him: "Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward1 very good: for he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord 60 wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?" And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan; and Saul sware, "As the Lord liveth, he 65 shall not be slain." And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

And there was war again; and David went out, 70 and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. And the

1 To thee-ward (toward thee). The preposition toward was frequently in olden times divided, the second syllable, ward, being placed after the object of the preposition.