9. Jacob had twelve sons, whose names were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Judah, Naphthali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. The posterity of each of these twelve afterwards became a separate tribe among the Hebrews.

10. My young reader must look into the Bible for the beautiful story of Joseph and his brethren. I can merely tell him that Joseph was sold into captivity, and carried into the land of Egypt, where he became ruler over the whole country, and was there the means of preserving his aged father and all his brothers from death by famine. He died 1635 years before Christ.

11. Jacob and his twelve children, with all their descendants, their flocks, and their herds, removed to Egypt, and took up their residence there. It was in that country that the Hebrews first began to be a nation; so that their history may be said to commence from this period. Jacob died 1689 years before Christ.

QUESTIONS.

1. What of Abraham? When was he born?

How long ago? ANS. Nearly four thousand years. What was the native country of Abraham ?- -2. What of the worship of the Chaldeans? Of Abraham ? What of the early life of Abraham ? What did God command Abraham to do? Which way was Canaan from Chaldea? How far was Chaldea from Canaan ? ANS. About five hundred miles.- -3. Where is the land of Canaan? it now called? -4. What of the life of Abraham? with him from Chaldea to Canaan ?6. What else of Abraham ?-7. of Isaac? What did Esau do?

What is Who went

Isaac ?

-8. What

-5. What of
What of the Jews?
What is meant by birthright?
What of the descend-

-9. Who were the twelve sons of Jacob? ants of these twelve sons of Jacob ?- -11. Where did Jacob go with his family?

CHAPTER XII. ASIA continued.The bondage in Egypt. Flight of the Hebrews, and destruction of Pharaoh and his host.

1. EGYPT is in Africa. It was formerly a great, powerful, and learned nation, abounding in splendid cities, and vast temples and palaces, the ruins of which exist in great perfection to the present day. The famous river Nile runs through the country. But this land is far less populous now than it was in the time of Joseph. It was then full of people, and they were the most learned and civilized of all the nations of the earth; it is now occupied chiefly by the Turks and' Arabs, and is sunk in ignorance and barbarism.

2. But I must tell you of the Hebrews. Pharaoh, the good king of Egypt, died, and Joseph likewise. Another king ascended the throne, who hated the Hebrews, and did all in his power to oppress them.

3. The Egyptians treated the Hebrews like slaves, and made them perform all the hardest labour. It is thought by some writers that the stupendous Pyramids were built by them. These vast edifices are still standing on the banks of the Nile.

4. The last cruel king of Egypt, who so greatly persecuted the Hebrews, was also named Pharaoh, for that was a general name or title of the Egyptian kings. One of the most wicked injuries that he inflicted on the Hebrews was the following:

5. He commanded that every male child should be thrown into the river Nile as soon as he was born. The reason of this horrible cruelty was, that the Hebrews might not become more numerous than the Egyptians, and conquer the whole country.

6. One of the Hebrew women, however, could not make up her mind to throw her son into the Nile. If

she had openly disobeyed the king's order, she would have been put to death, but she privately made a little ark, or boat, placed the child in it, and laid it among the flags that grew by the river's side.

Moses was found by the King's Daughter.

7. The king's daughter went down to the river to bathe, and perceiving the little ark, she sent her maidens to fetch it. When they looked into it, and found a little Hebrew boy there, the heart of the princess was moved with compassion, and she resolved to save his life; so she hired a nurse for him, who proved to be his own mother. She gave him the name of Moses, and when old enough, she caused him to be instructed in all the learning of the Egyptians, at that period the most learned people on earth.

8. But though he himself was so well treated, Moses did not forget the sufferings of the other Hebrews. He remembered that they were his brethren, and he resolved to rescue them from their oppressors.

9. He and his brother Aaron received power from God to perform many wonderful things, in order to induce

Pharaoh to let the Hebrews depart out of Egypt. Ten great plagues were inflicted on the Egyptians, and these were so terrible that at last Pharaoh gave the Hebrews leave to go.

10. But scarcely were they gone, when the king was sorry that he had not still kept them in Egypt, that he might oppress them, and compel them to labour for him as before. He therefore mustered his warriors, and rode swiftly after the fugitives.

11. When he came in sight of them, they were encamped by the Red Sea, which lies between Egypt and Arabia. Then the Lord caused the waters to roll back, and form a wall on each side. Thus there was a path of glistening sand for the Hebrews through the depths of the sea.

12. Pharaoh and his army rode onward, and by the time that the fugitives had reached the opposite shore, the Egyptians were in the midst of this wonderful passage. As the Hebrews fled, they looked behind them. There was the proud array of the Egyptian king, with his chariots and horsemen, and all his innumerable army, and Pharaoh himself riding haughtily in the midst.

13. The affrighted Hebrews looked behind them again, and, lo! the two walls of water had rolled together. They were dashing against the chariots, and sweeping the soldiers off their feet. The waves were crested with foam, and came roaring against the proud and wicked king. In a little time the sea rolled over Pharaoh and his host, and thus they all perished, leaving the Jews to proceed on their journey.

14. This was a terrible event, but Pharaoh had been very cruel; he therefore deserved his fate. This story may teach us, that not only wicked rulers, but those who follow them, have reason to fear the judgments of heaven.

UESTIONS. 1. What of Egypt? Which way does it lie from you? Which way does the Nile flow? In which of the four

D