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Q. What judge was appointed after Abdon?

A. For a long time the people could not agree in the choice of a successor; in consequence of which they fell into their old impieties, and followed after other gods, on which account, God permitted them to be scourged, by the Philistines for the space of forty years.

LESSON XXVII.

FQ. By whom were they delivered from the Philistines ? A. By Samson, who was a Nazarite, and who by a series of wonderful providences, was raised to be a defence of Israel, and a scourge to the Philistines, their oppressors.-Judg. xiii. 7. xiv. 6,

19.

Q. Who were the Nazarites?

A. Such Jews as practised a particular sort of separation, and devotedness to God-some for life, and others, for a limited time.-Num. vi. Q. What rules did they observe ?

A. They were to abstain from wine and strong liquors; they were not to approach a dead body, and were to let their hair grow, till the days of their vows were fulfilled.-Numbers vi. Acts xviii. 18.

Q. What were some of Samson's exploits?

A. At one time he slew a lion, on his way to Timnath; at another, with only the jaw bone of an ass, he killed a thousand men--carried several miles, as it is thought, the massy gates of Gaza, and ended his life, by overturning a temple of the Philistines, which, in its fall, destroyed three thousand of their principal men. Judg. xiv. 5, 6, xv. 13, 14, xvi. 11, 13, 30.

Q. What was the character of Samson ?

A. He was a good man, but he often greatly

sinned, for which, God severely punished him, especially, by delivering him to the Philistines, to vex and oppress.

Q. Was Samson justifiable in killing himself as he did?

A. Self-murder is condemned in the word of God-but in the case of Samson, he was raised up to avenge the people of God and the cause of true religion. He seems to have acted under a divine impulse, and to have received power from God to remove the pillars, by which the house fell upon the Philistines.

Q. Was there any other judge in Israel, in the time of Samson ?

A. Eli, the high priest, seems to have acted in some cases as the supreme magistrate. Q. How long did Eli enjoy the priesthood?

A. Forty years; but it was taken from his family on account of his remissness in the government of his sons.- -1 Sam. iii. 12, 14, iv. 18. Q. Who were his sons?

A. Hophni, and Phinehas, who, by reason of their wickedness, were slain in battle; during which also the ark was taken; and thirty thousand Israelites were killed.-1 Sam. iv. 10-17. Q. How did Eli receive this intelligence?

A. He fell backward from his seat, and instantly expired.-1 Sam. iv. 18.

Q. What became of the ark?

A. The Philistines carried it to Ashdod, and placed it near an image of their idol, Dagon, which, however, fell before the ark, and was broken. The inhabitants, also, were affected with sore disease, until they returned it. It was carried to Kirjath-jearim, ten miles north-west from Jerusalem, where it remained for many years.-1 Sam. v. and vi. and vii. 1, 2.

Q. Who succeeded Eli?

A. Samuel, who was the last of the judges, and seems to have continued in office, all the days of his life.-1 Sam. iii. 19, 21.

Q. What was the state of religion in Samuel's time.

A. During the former part of his ministry, religion very much revived; the people became sensible of their sins, and turned to the Lord.

Obs. The condition of Israel does not appear so prosperous, and the national character so religious, during the history of the Judges, as might have been expected, from the previous blessings conferred upon them. They often apostatised, and idolatries were multiplied in the land. Yet God had a pious remnant, who feared and served him, and on account of whom, he preserved the nation from merited ruin.

Q. What change was effected in the government of the Israelites, in the latter part of Samuel's life?

A. The people, becoming weary of the government of judges, demanded of Samuel a king, who should govern them, after the manner of other nations.-1 Sam. viii. 19, 20.

Q. Was this measure displeasing to God?

A. Yes. highly so; since in rejecting Samuel as a judge, they rejected the authority of God, who had appointed him.--1 Sam. viii. 7.

Q. But what did God direct Samuel to do?

A. To hearken to the people, and make them a king; but to assure them that the change, which they desired, would be followed by many grievous calamities.-1 Sam. viii. 9, 22.

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Samuel anoints Saul.

LESSON XXVIII.

Q. Who was the first king of Israel?

A. Saul, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin.-1 Sam. ix. 1, 2.

Q. How long before Christ was this?

A. 1096 B. C. and 507 years after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.

Q. How long did the regal government last?

A. About five hundred and thirty years; from Saul to the Babylonish captivity.

Q. During this long period, how many kings ruled? A. Forty-two; at first there was only one, but after the division of the tribes, there were two. Q. What kings reigned before the division of the tribes? A. Saul, David, and Solomon.

Q. Who reigned over the kingdom of Israel, after the separation?

A. These nineteen, not one of whom was a pious prince: Jeroboam the first, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam the

second, Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea.

Q. Who were the kings of Judah, after the separation? A. These twenty:-Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah the queen, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

Q. Were all these kings of Judah also great sinners as well as the kings of Israel?

A. A few of them were very religious, some very wicked, and others of an indifferent, or mixed character.

Q. Was there any difference in the character and condition of the Israelites, when a pious, or wicked prince was on the throne ?

A. Yes: the character of the reigning prince always gave a leading complexion to that of the

nation.

Obs. When a good king, ascended the throne, he never failed to reform, and exalt, the public manners, and condition; but, when a wicked king assumed the government, he never failed to draw the community after him, into deep depravity and suffering. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but, when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."

Q How long did Saul reign?

A. Forty years, during which time he had perpetual struggles with the Ammonites, Moabites, and Philistines.

Q. Did he not achieve some important victories?

A. Several; particularly over the Philistines. Q. Why did God take the kingdom from the family of Saul? A. Because he neglected to destroy the Amalekites, according to the divine direction, for opposing the passage of the Israelites into Canaan. 1 Sam. xv 28.

Q. Whom did God choose to succeed Saul?

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