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Patriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 53 – The Earlier Judges
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 53 This chapter is based on Judges 6 to 8; 10. After the settlement in Canaan the tribes made no vigorous effort to complete the conquest of the land. Satisfied with the territory already gained, their zeal soon flagged, and the war was discontinued. “When Israel was strong, … they put the…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 52 – The Annual Feasts
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 52 This chapter is based on Leviticus 23. There were three annual assemblies of all Israel for worship at the sanctuary. Exodus 23:14-16. Shiloh was for a time the place of these gatherings; but Jerusalem afterward became the center of the nation’s worship, and here the tribes convened for the solemn feasts.…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 51 – God’s Care for the Poor
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 51 To promote the assembling of the people for religious service, as well as to provide for the poor, a second tithe of all the increase was required. Concerning the first tithe, the Lord had declared, “I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel.” Numbers 18:21. But in…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 50 – Tithes and Offerings
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 50 In the Hebrew economy one tenth of the income of the people was set apart to support the public worship of God. Thus Moses declared to Israel: “All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 49 – The Last Words of Joshua
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 49 This chapter is based on Joshua 23 and 24. The wars and conquest ended, Joshua had withdrawn to the peaceful retirement of his home at Timnath-serah. “And it came to pass, a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 48 – The Division of Canaan
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 48 This chapter is based on Joshua 10:40-43; 11; 14-22. The victory at Beth-horon was speedily followed by the conquest of southern Canaan. “Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale…. And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time,…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 47 – League With the Gibeonites
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 47 This chapter is based on Joshua 9 and 10. From Shechem the Israelites returned to their encampment at Gilgal. Here they were soon after visited by a strange deputation, who desired to enter into treaty with them. The ambassadors represented that they had come from a distant country, and this seemed…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 46 – The Blessings and the Curses
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 46 This chapter is based on Joshua 8. After the execution of the sentence upon Achan, Joshua was commanded to marshal all the men of war and again advance against Ai. The power of God was with His people, and they were soon in possession of the city. Military operations were now…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 45 – The Fall of Jericho
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 45 This chapter is based on Joshua 5:13-15; 6; 7. The Hebrews had entered Canaan, but they had not subdued it; and to human appearance the struggle to gain possession of the land must be long and difficult. It was inhabited by a powerful race, who stood ready to oppose the invasion…
Read MorePatriarchs and Prophets: Chapter 44 – Crossing the Jordan
Patriarchs and Prophets—Chapter 44 This chapter is based on Joshua 1 to 5:12. The Israelites deeply mourned for their departed leader, and thirty days were devoted to special services in honor of his memory. Never till he was taken from them had they so fully realized the value of his wise counsels, his parental tenderness,…
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