Abraham wished to prevent Isaac from marrying a woman of the Canaanites-a nation of idolaters.

was then about forty years old.

Lesson 11. The History of Job.

Isaac

He

Job is supposed to have lived in Idumea. He was a good man. had seven sons and three daughters; he had herds, flocks, and great riches. He was sorely tried and tempted, and lost his children and his riches. He bore all his trials with patience. God afterwards gave him more children and greater riches than he had at first.

God afflicts the righteous for their good-we are not to say that men are wicked because they are afflicted, nor that God is unjust in afflicting the righteous.

Lesson 12. History of Isaac.

Isaac and Rebekah had two sonsEsau and Jacob. Esau was a hunter.

Jacob bought from Esau his birthright for a mess of pottage. When Isaac was old he called Esau to bless him. Rebekah and Jacob deceived Isaac, so that he blessed Jacob instead of Esau. He afterwards blessed Esau. Jacob fled to Laban, his mother's brother.

Rebekah and Jacob were both punished for deceiving Isaac. Those who deceive others are in constant danger of being found out, so true is it, "Thy sin shall find thee out."

Lesson 13. Jacob serves Laban.

Jacob kept the flocks of his uncle at Padan-aram. He married Leah and Rachel, the two daughters of Laban. Jacob had many children. God blessed him, and increased his riches exceedingly. Twenty years

On

after, he returned to Canaan. his way God changed his name to ISRAEL. Jacob met Esau, and was reconciled to him.

On his way to Padan-aram God promised to be with Jacob and to keep him in all places. And God did bless him, and protected him, and brought him again into Canaan.

Lesson 14. Benjamin born. Joseph's History.

Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son, was born at Ephrath; and Rachel, his mother, died there. Jacob loved Joseph more than his other children: but Joseph's brethren hated him, and sold him to some Midianites, who took him into Egypt. He was a slave in the house of Potiphar. He was falsely accused and cast into prison.

"God was with Joseph, and delivered him out. of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt, and all his house."

Acts vii. 9, 10.

Lesson 15. The Exaltation of Joseph.

God blessed Joseph. He was brought out of prison to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh, the king. Joseph stored up much corn in Egypt.

Jacob sent his sons into Egypt to buy corn. Joseph knew his brothers and made himself known to them, and sent for his father and his brothers' families to live in Egypt.

"Joseph was made known to his brethren and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred three-score-and-fifteen souls."

Acts vii. 13, 14.

Lesson 16. Death of Jacob and Joseph. When Jacob was about to die, he blessed his sons, and spoke of their return to Canaan. He charged them to bury him in Canaan. After the death of Jacob, Joseph nourished his brethren and their families as long as he lived. He told them to carry his bones with them into Canaan, when God should bring them out of Egypt.

"By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones." Heb. xi. 22.