The effect of this.

By this means the king became the sole proprietor of all Egypt, and all his subjects, except the priests, became his vassals.

How he relieved

the people.

The priests were supplied with corn gratuitously, so their land and effects were never confiscated. When the famine was over, Joseph greatly mitigated the severity of this condition by restoring the land to its original holders for a moderate yearly tribute.

The tribute. The tribute was one-fifth of all the produce, which was to be given into the king's treasury.

Some strangers

went for corn.

The chief of the strangers who came to Egypt to buy corn during the famine were Joseph's own brothers from Canaan. (B.c. 1706.)

How he treated

them at first.

He treated them at first with great apparent sternness; and having supplied them with corn, told them to go home and bring their brother Benjamin to Egypt.

They did so. The old man was very unwilling

to let Benjamin go; but as the famine continued sore in the land, he at length consented to send him.

How he was received.

Joseph was so delighted at seeing Benjamin, his only brother by the same mother, that he invited all his brethren to a banquet; at which he told them he was Joseph, and bade them go back and fetch their father also.

was received.

How the message Jacob was overjoyed when he heard Joseph was alive, and went down to Egypt with all his sons, his sons' wives, and his grandchildren, to the amount of 70 souls.

Where they

dwelt.

The king in gratitude to Joseph assigned to Jacob and his offspring, all the land of Goshen, as a perpetual inheritance.

was situate.

Where Goshen Goshen was a pasture district, lying to the east of the river Nile. Pharaoh selected this tract of land for Jacob and his offspring because they were shepherds.

How long Jacob lived there.

Jacob lived in Goshen 17 years, and died at the extreme age of 147. (B.c. 1695.)

Where Jacob He was buried in regal state

was buried.

in the cave of Machpélah, in Canaan; his body being embalmed, and all Egypt mourning for him 70 days, as for a king.

Length of Joseph's rule.

He ruled over Egypt 80 years, and died at the age of 110 (B.c. 1635). He was embalmed and kept in Egypt, till Moses led the Israelites from the land.

1.-SUPPLEMENT FOR SENIOR PUPILS.

acter.

JOSEPH.

Joseph's cha- Joseph was a wise, prudent, and feeling man, whose continence will always make him a model of purity through fear of God.

His failings. He had his failings, which might arise from the partiality of his father: viz., self-sufficiency and tattling; these, however

were entirely eradicated by afflictions. (See Gen. xxxvii. 2, and xxxvii. 5-10.)

A type of He was a TYPE of JESUS CHRIST in Christ. the following particulars :

(1.) He was the well-beloved son of his father; (2.) Hated by his brethren;

(3.) Cast out by them when he went into the wilderness to visit them.

(4.) Sold for 20 pieces of silver by his own brethren, as Jesus Christ was sold by his own disciple for 30;

(5.) He sojourned in Egypt;

(6.) Resisted great temptations;

(7.) Was numbered among transgressors; (8.) Was exalted by suffering to be a ruler; and (9.) Was the saviour of Egypt from famine, as Jesus Christ was the Saviour of the world.

The ancient history of Egypt is involved in great obscurity, but the following sketch may be received at least as probable.

How Egypt Ancient Egypt was divided into two was divided. great parts, Upper and Lower. These

two parts were subdivided into 42 districts, called nomes.

first king.

Who was the The first king of Egypt was Menés, probably a corruption of Mizraim,

the son of Ham.

Menés, or rather Me-nueh (son of Nuch or Noah) may mean Ham himself.

Why he was Menés was much honoured for drain

honoured. ing Lower Egypt, and controlling the course of the Nile, which before had no regular channel.

By whom the suc

cession was broken.

The dynasty was interrupted by some pastoral Arabs, who invaded Egypt and held it in possession for 259 years.

Who these

These Arabs or shepherd kings, geneArabs were. rally called hycsos, were great tyrants; so that at length the people rose in rebellion; and after a war of 30 years, drove them out of the country. (B.c. 1822.)

Where they They went afterwards to Syria, where migrated. they were called Philistines, and the country Palestine (the land of the shepherds). Who succeeded They were succeeded in Egypt by the hyesos. the Pharaohs, who united all Egypt under one ruler, and held the seat of government at Memphis.

This magnificent dynasty, called the 18th, supplied Uchoreus, who built the city Memphis; Maris, who gave his name to the great lakes; and Sesostris, also called Raměsés the Great,