be shed, the king's followers would quietly submit. The plan to slay his father alone, pleased this unnatural son.

HUSHAI'S COUNSEL.-Hushai raised two objections to this plan. In the first place, as soon as David's seasoned warriors slew some of Absalom's untried men, the cry would be started, "There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom;" and a panic would ensue. In the next place, David alone could not be found and killed; for he has already hidden himself in a cave or elsewhere. Then Hushai submitted his counter-project. The honor of the great victory should go to Absalom himself; hence, not Ahithophel, but rather Absalom, should gather a vast army from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, and, riding in their midst, should suddenly overwhelm the enemy. Carrying this flattering picture to the absurd, the counsellor adds, that should David withdraw into a city, Absalom's troops should tie ropes around its walls, and drag it in its entirety into the valley. This ambitious plan was the one chosen by the vain-glorious usurper.

THE ADVENTURE OF JONATHAN AND AHIMAAZ.—According to the arrangements previously agreed upon, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at Enrogel in the Kidron valley to carry news to the king. Discovered there, they concealed themselves in a near-by well where the message from Hushai urging David to continue his flight across the Jordan, was delivered to them. The fugitive king acted in accordance with this advice, and soon reached Mahanaim, the strongest trans-Jordanic city and the one perhaps least affected by the revolt. Among those who welcomed him here was Machir, Meribaal's former host, who now proved his gratitude to David for the kindness shown to Jonathan's son. Do you remember the promise I made you in Lesson XXXIX.*

V. ILLUSTRATION AND SUGGESTION.

Questions. Why do you like a modest boy or girl? Why do you think the word vanity is derived from the Latin vanus, meaning "empty"? Was Absalom vain because of something he had done or because of something bestowed *See p. 76.

on him without any effort of his own? Why are vain people unpopular?

Illustration. A Canaanite once stopped at a store, made a valuable purchase, packed the article on the back of his donkey, and started home. As the animal passed through the streets and lanes, the people would cease their work and bow down in worship. The conceited ass puffed up by these honors, began to stalk about with great vanity, and convinced that it was a beast of supreme beauty and wisdom, refused longer to obey orders. Thereupon, its master removed the pack from the back of the animal, and having given it a sound beating, started again to put the burden on the donkey. Then it was that the foolish animal perceived the real reason for the extraordinary reverence shown wherever it went; for unbeknown to itself, it had been carrying on its back a large idol of the chief Canaanite god.

Suggestion. Have the class model a sand map of Jerusalem, showing the Valley of Hinnom, the Tyropeon Valley, the Valley of Kidron, the location of the Palace, and the Mount of Olives. Models can be found in most Teacher's Bibles, or opposite page 203 of Kent, Biblical Geography and History.

Helpful Thought. "Love those who correct thee more than those who flatter thee."-Talmud.

Lssone 42. A BROKEN-HEARTED FATHER. Death of Absalom.

(Taken from II Sam. ch. 18.)

I. THE TEACHER'S PREPARATION.

The Method of Teaching. In Wells, The Teacher That Teaches, study pp. 31-43 and write answers to the following questions: 1. How does your daily life affect your teaching? 2. How may you kindle the interest of your pupils? 3. What is the most valuable suggestion you derived from a study of chapter V.

The Material for Teaching. Do all the work required in Lesson XLII of the Junior Bible. Consult Montefiore, Bible for Home Reading, Part I, pp. 253-258; Graetz, History of the Jews, Vol. I, pp. 142-150; Shepard, Young Folks' Josephus, pp. 161-165; Kohut, Hebrew Anthology, Vol. I, pp. 190-199; article, "Father" in the Jewish Encyclopedia.

The Religion of Israel. In Addis, Hebrew Religion, study pp. 181-197, and write answers to the following questions: 1. When did the Decalogue receive its present form? 2. Discuss the book of Deuteronomy in respect to (a) the date of its promulgation, (b) the regulation concerning the proper place of worship, (c) its place in the canon, (d) its effect on the office of prophet, priest and scribe.

II. THE AIM.

On this chapter, Montefiore writes, "The story reaches its culmination of interest and beauty in David's agony at the news of Absalom's death. Rebellion and ingratitude cannot destroy his love." It is precisely this thought-the all-conquering power of a father's love-that you should seek to impress on the minds of your class. But more than this, aim to awaken the reciprocal feeling in the heart of the child—a feeling of indestructible love for his father, even for an erring father.

III. POINT OF CONTACT.

Draw a square on the board. This square represents a large farm. On a snowy day the owner of this farm passed through a gate at this point (mark it), and started to walk to a tree in this corner (indicate the tree). Let this line I am drawing represent the course he took. You note that sometimes he walked straight, and sometimes crooked. Here he turned aside to avoid a large rock, and here, to go around a pool of water. Once or twice, he tripped on the roots concealed under the snow, or slipped and fell on the ice.

Finally he reached the tree, and in looking back he was surprised to see a boy following him at a distance and stepping in his very footprints. Where the farmer had gone straight, the boy went straight; where the farmer had gone crooked, the boy went crooked; where the farmer turned

aside, the boy turned aside; but the boy being as yet not so steady on his feet slipped and tripped even more often than did the farmer.

The farmer thoughtfully watched the boy for a moment and then said to himself, "Ah! he is my son; he is following my example. The things I did when a boy, he is now doing. He has inherited my good and bad qualities. Would that I had always walked in the straight path."

Yes, when you boys and girls grow up, your sons and daughters will copy the good and bad things you now do every day. Do you want to have a son like yourself, George? Occasionally, a son inherits only the bad qualities of his father. Absalom was such a son. He imitated, nay exaggerated, only the evil characteristics of his father. David had plotted against one of his own soldiers; Absalom plotted against his own father.

IV. EXPLANATORY NOTES.

Ethical Topic-Parental Love.

Date. A few weeks after the events described in the preceding lesson.

Places. Mahanaim and the Jungle of Ephraim on the east of the Jordan.

U. & U. Stereograph-10948. "An oak in Gilead near scene of Absalom's death."

THE ORGANIZATION OF DAVID'S ARMY.-Since Hushai's policy of delay had prevailed over Ahithophel's plan for prompt action, David now had time to collect his loyal followers and to divide them into companies ("hundreds") and regiments ("thousands"). These smaller bodies he grouped in three equal divisions, and placed each division under the command of one of his three experienced generals, Joab, Abishai, Joab's nephew, and Ittai. The king himself impelled by his old-time vigor again felt the call to lead his troops in person; but the soldiers held his life as too precious to risk in the engagement, and the generals doubtless feared that the father's love in his large heart might influence him to deal too gently with his rebel son, so they all persuaded David to remain safely behind at the

city gate. Under the proper circumstances it is sometimes the part of wisdom merely to sit still and wait patiently while others are bearing the stress of battle; yet to be able to follow such a course often requires the firmest kind of self-control. David possessed both the good judgment and the self-mastery demanded by the occasion.

THE BATTLE.-It will be recalled, that in the preceding lesson, we read how Ahithophel had said to Absalom. "Seek only the life of one man, and all the people shall be at peace;" and of how this counsel was highly pleasing to the young man. In strong contrast to this unnatural attitude of a heartless son, shines forth the noble devotion of the loving father, as evidenced by the final words spoken by David in the presence not merely of his three generals but of the entire army, in order that every soldier might hear and give heed to the wish of the king. "Deal gently," said the anxious father, "for my sake with the young man Absalom." The armies met in the entangled forests of Ephraim east of the Jordan. It is to be noticed that the followers of Absalom are referred to as "the people of Israel," probably implying that the prince had already had himself anointed king. Important though the conflict was, the biblical writer, who was always more interested in morals than in history, is content to dismiss the battle with a very few words. He states merely the bare facts that more than twenty thousand men perished, and the majority of these not by the sword, but by losing their way in the dense forests and by falling over precipices.

THE DEATH OF ABSALOM.-Indeed, it was the low-hanging branch of a large oak tree that indirectly caused the death of Absalom himself. However full of poetic justice the popular story might be, the original Hebrew nowhere states that the rebel prince was caught by his hair and thus held suspended. It is probably nearer the truth to suppose that while the mule was running at top speed through the forests its rider became wedged by the head or neck in the fork of the branches of the oak. The privilege of riding on a mule was one reserved for a king alone. The soldier who found Absalom showed a real appreciation of David's fatherly love by refraining from killing the young man, but performed his duty by reporting the facts