A.C. 1735.]

How Jacob was

affected thereat.

Jacob being alarmed at this report, sent a valuable present to appease him.

What occurred in While the messenger was

the interval.j

absent, and Jacob was alone, a creature like a man came and wrestled with him till break of day. As he could not prevail, he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh and put the limb out of joint.

How the conflict was terminated.

Still Jacob refused to desist; and when the adversary cried, “let me go, for the day is breaking;" replied, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."

Who the adversary was.

This adversary was an angel; who blessed Jacob for his pertinacity, and changed his name to Israel. What the word The word Israel implies, as thou hast succeeded with God, thou shalt certainly prevail over men. The posterity of Jacob were called Israelites from this circumstance.

Israel means.

The promise fulfilled.

The promise of the angel met

with a fulfilment the same morning; for Esau, who came against his brother as a foe, met him as a friend.

afterwards.

Where Esau went After this reconciliation, Esau returned again to Seir, where he and his posterity finally settled.

called.

What Seir is This territory was called Edom, and its inhabitants Edomites, from Edom, one of the names of Esau.

As William II. was called Rufus, because he was a red man, so was Esau called Edom (red.)

Where Jacob

went next.

Jacob then continued his journey to Ephrath (afterwards called Bethlehem), where he stopped to bury Rachel, his beloved wife, who died there in child-birth of a son.

this son.

The name of This son was called by Rachel Benōni (the son of sorrow), but Jacob changed its name to Benjamin (the son of my right hand).

Where Jacob went next.

After this bereavement he continued his journey to Hebron, where he resided 15 years; when Isaac his

A.C. 1724.]

father died at the extreme age of 180 years (B.c. 1712).

Where Isaac He was buried with Abraham

was buried.

and Sarah in the cave of Machpëlah, which belonged to the family by purchase.

Jacob's age at his father's death was 120.

TYPES FOR SENIOR PUPILS.

Jacob's ladder. Jacob's ladder was a type of Jesus Christ:

(1) The foot was on earth and the top in heaven, so Jesus Christ was on earth as man, but in heaven as God;

(2) The ladder opened a way to God, so Jesus Christ has opened for sinners a way to the Almighty;

(3) Angels were seen ascending and descending the ladder, so angels are "all ministering spirits to the church of Christ;

(4) Jehovah was above the ladder, reconciling Jacob to his service, and God is in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself; and

(5) There was but one ladder, and there is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.

CHAPTER IV.

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN.

B.C. 1724-1631.

GEN. XXXVII.-L.

COTEMPORARY EVENTS.

Egypt was reigned over during this period by the famous 18th dynasty, which began with Amosis, who drove away the Hycsos or shepherd kings, who had held Lower Egypt in subjection for 259 years.

1753.-Phorōneus, son of Inachus, began to reign in Argos

(Greece).

Section I.

JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.

B.C. 1724.

GENESIS XXXVII.

Jacob's old age clouded.

The old age of Jacob was clouded by a domestic calamity, arising from his partiality to his son Joseph.

How it was

shewn.

He had manifested this partiality in various ways, but especially in giving him " a coat of many colours."

A.C. 1724.]

Party-coloured robes were worn by royal persons, and were given as marks of very high honour, as may be seen by comparing II. Sam. xiii. 18, with Judges v. 30. Even to the present day, the Grand Seignior gives a caffetan, or brocaded robe, to every one whom he admits into his audience, and the Visier makes a similar gift when the favourite returns from the royal presence.

What added to

the mischief.

The

envy

of his brothers was

still further exasperated by two dreams which Joseph boasted of, indicating his exaltation.

dream.

His first The first of these dreams was this: "Behold (said he to his brothers), we were binding sheaves in a field, and lo! my sheaf arose and stood upright; and behold your sheaves stood around and made obeisance to my sheaf."

dream.

His second In his second dream he beheld the sun, the moon, and eleven stars make obeisance to him.

thers said.

What his bro- His brothers replied with great indignation: "What! shalt thou reign. over us and shall our father and mother also bow down before thee!"

G