thither, and will bring theet back again from thence; Joseph also shall put his hands on thy eyes.

How many of Israel's family entered Egypt?
Seventy, including Joseph and his two sons.
Where did Joseph meet his father?

At Gessen, which was intended by Joseph for his father and family, and confirmed to them by Pharaoh on their arrival.

Why did Joseph select the land of Gessen for his father and brethren?

Because it was fertile, and well calculated for feeding their flocks, and also that they might be separated from the rest of Egypt, for they were shepherds, and the Egyptians held all shepherds in abomination.

How long did Jacob live after he went into Egypt?

Seventeen years.

He died at the age of 147, after blessing his sons who surrounded him.

What request did he make of Joseph ?

That he would bury him in the double cave in which Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, and Lia were buried. (Gen. xlvii. 30; xlix. 31.)

To which of his sons did Israel give the principal blessings?

To Juda and Joseph.

To the former, he said, Juda,

+ This was fulfilled, either by Jacob's remains being brought back into the land of Canaan for burial or rather by the return of his descendants, who constituted the Hebrew people, of which he was the stock, whence they were called the children of Israel, or by both.

thee shall thy brethren praise; thy hands shall be on the necks of thy enemies; the sons of thy father shall bow down to thee. The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from his posterity, till He come that is to be sent, and He shall be the expectation of nations. To Joseph, he assigned a double portion, blessed and adopted his two sons, preferring Ephraim the younger, to Menasses the elder.

Were not the sovereign power and double portion the birthright of Reuben, Israel's eldest son?

Yes, but he forfeited them by his sins.

Did Joseph execute all his father's commands?

Yes, he had his remains embalmed after the manner of the Egyptians, and when the seventy days of mourning were over, conveyed them with great pomp into the land of Canaan.

What did Joseph's brethren after their father was interred?

They earnestly besought his forgiveness, for they greatly feared, that no longer restrained by respect for his father's presence, he would be revenged on them for the injury they had done him.

How did Joseph reply to their petition?

He wept, and told them not to fear, for that God had turned the evil they designed into good, by making him an instrument to save many. Thus he kindly comforted them, and he renewed his promise to feed them and their children.

What ought we learn from Joseph's conduct to his brethren?

Perfect forgiveness of injuries; and to deal towards enemies with kindness whenever an occasion offers

What did Joseph foretell his brethren a little before his death?

That God would visit them after his death, and put them in possession of the land which he promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

What promise did Joseph exact of his brethren on that occasion?

That they would carry his bones with them when going to take possession of the promised land.

How old was Joseph when he died?

One hundred and ten years, having been eighty years governor of Egypt.

How were the Israelites treated after Joseph's death? With great severity and cruelty by a new king, another Pharaoh, who grew jealous of them on account of their power and numbers; and attempted to destroy them by imposing on them such heavy burthens as he hoped would

ruin their health.

Were they weakened by the harsh treatment they received?

No; God strengthened them in proportion to the oppression of the Egyptians.

What means did Pharaoh adopt when he perceived that his design of lessening their numbers was counteracted? He first gave private directions to the midwives to kill all the male children as soon as they were born; but finding they did not obey, he gave public orders that all the male children should be thrown into the river.

How was Moses preserved?

His mother, who had concealed him for three months, finding she could do so no longer put him in a basket made of bulrushes, which she cemented to keep out the water,

laid it in the sedges by the bank of the river, and sent his sister to watch the result. Pharaoh's daughter coming a little after to bathe, saw the basket and desired one of her maids to bring it to her: seeing an infant crying within, she was moved with compassion, and desired the child's sister to procure her a nurse, the girl went for her mother, to whom Pharaoh's daughter entrusted the child, whom she then adopted as her son and called him Moses.

Who were the parents of Moses ?

Amram and Jochabed, both descended from Levi. Amram was the eldest son of Caath, the second son of Levi.

Where did Moses spend his youth until the fortieth year of his age?

In the Court of Pharaoh, where he was treated as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and instructed in all the learning of the Egyptians. (Acts vii. 22.)

Why did he renounce his title and deny himself to be the son of Pharaoh's daughter?

St. Paul says,

66

He chose to be afflicted with the people of God, rather than have the pleasure of sin for a time, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians." (Heb. xi. 25.)

Why did he leave Egypt?

He fled to avoid Pharaoh's anger excited by his having killed an Egyptian, whom he saw striking a Hebrew. Whither did he fly?

To Madian, where he married Sephora, daughter of Jethro, priest of the place, and had two sons born to him, Gersam and Eliezer.

A.M. 2413 to 2453.] Lesson Fifteenth. [A.C. 1587 to1547.

How long did Moses dwell in Madian?

Forty years, (Acts vii. 30,) when having driven his father-in-law's flocks into the desert as far as Mount Horeb, the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, which, though burning, was not consumed. On his approaching to observe the wonder more closely, the Lord called to him out of the bush, and commissioned him to go to Pharaoh,* and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.

What did Moses reply?

"Who am I, that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" and "What shall I say to the children of Israel, if when I tell them that the God of their fathers sent me, they should ask me His name?" What did God reply to Moses?

"I Am who Am. You shall say to the children of Israel, He who Is hath sent me to you."

What particular directions did God give him?"

To collect the ancients of Israel, and inform them that God would bring them out of the affliction of Egypt to give them the land which He promised their forefathers, and having told them so, to go with them to Pharaoh,

This was not the same Pharaoh from whom Moses had fled. He was dead; but the Hebrews were still cruelly oppressed.