798. Isaac was comforted after his mother's death, ver. 67.-Wives should endeavour to promote the comfort and welfare of their husbands.

SECTION XL.

The Death of Abraham, and the Birth of Esau and Jacob.-Gen. xxv. 7-10; 19-23; and 27-34.

7. And (1) these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred (2) threescore and fifteen years.

1. This is the number.-2. And seventy-five.

8. Then Abraham (1) gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and (2) was gathered to his people. 1. Departed this life.-2. Slept with his fathers.

7, 8. How old was Abraham? Who gave up the ghost? In what did Abraham die? Who was an old man? Of what was Abraham full when he died? To whom was Abraham gathered? Who was gathered to his people?

9. And his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

9. Who buried Abraham? Who were Isaac and Ishmael? Whose sons were they? Where did they bury Abraham? Where was the cave of Machpelah? In whose field? Where was this field?

10. The field which Abraham (1) purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried and Sarah his wife. 1. Bought from.

10. Who purchased this field? Of whom did Abraham purchase this field? Who were buried in this field? Who was Abraham's wife?

[For verse 11 to 18, see Bible.]

19. And (1) these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham (2) begat Isaac.

1. This is an account of the family.-2. Was the father of.

19. The generations of whom? Who was Abraham's son? Whom did Abraham beget?

20. And Isaac was forty years old when he (1) took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

1. Married Rebekah.

20. Whom did Isaac take to wife? Who took Rebekah to wife? How old was Isaac when he took Rebekah to wife? Who was Rebekah? Of whom was Rebekah the sister? Of what place was Bethuel? Of what country was Laban?

21. And Isaac (1) entreated the Lord for his wife, because she (2) was barren and the Lord (3) was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife (4) conceived.

1. Prayed to.-2. Had no children.-3. Answered his prayer.-4. Became with child.

21. What did Isaac do? Whom did Isaac entreat? Who entreated the Lord? For whom did Isaac entreat the Lord? Why did Isaac entreat the Lord for his wife? Who was barren? Who was entreated of Isaac? What was the consequence of the Lord's being entreated of Isaac? Who conceived?

22. And the children struggled together within her and she said, If it be so, (1) why am I thus? And she went to (2) inquire of the Lord, 1. What is the reason of this ?-2. Ask the reason from.

22. What struggled within her? kah say? What did Rebekah do? bekah inquire?

What did RebeOf whom did Re

23. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two (1) manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels: and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

1. Kinds.

23. What did the Lord say to Rebekah? What were the one people to be more than the other people? Who was to serve the younger? Whom was the elder to serve?

[For ver. 24. to 26, see Bible.]

27. And the (1) boys grew: and Esau was a (2) cunning hunter, a (3) man of the field; and Jacob was a (4) plain man (5) dwelling in tents. 1. Two children.-2. Active and expert.-3. Bold and strong man in hunting, and in war.-4. Common.-5. Living.

27. Who grew? What was Esau? What kind of a hunter was Esau? Who was a man of the field? What was Jacob? What kind of a man was Jacob? In what did Jacob dwell? Who dwelt in tents?

28. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of (1) his venison ; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

1. The animals which he killed in hurting.

28. Whom did Isaac love? Why did Isaac love Esau? What did Isaac eat? Of whose venison did Isaac eat? Whom did Rebekah love? Who loved Jacob?

29. And Jacob (1) sod pottage; and Esau came from (2) the field, and he was (3) faint,

1. Boiled a kind of soup made of lentiles.-2. Hunting.-3. Fatigued and hungry.

29. What did Jacob do? Who sod pottage? What did Esau do at the time that Jacob sod pottage? From what did Esau come? When did Esau cone from the field? What was Esau when he came from the field? Who was faint? When was Esau faint?

30. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I (1) pray thee, with that same red pottage: for I am (2) faint: (3) therefore was his name called Edom. 1. Entreat.-2. Very much fatigued and weak with hunger.-3. For which reason.

30. What did Esau say to Jacob when he came from the field? What did Esau wish Jacob to de? Feed whom? With what did he wish Jacob to feed him? What did he wish Jacob to do with the red pottage? Why did Esau wish Jacob to feed him? Who was faint? What was Esau called? Why was Esau called Edom.

31. And Jacob said, Sell me this day (1) thy birth right.

1. The rights which you possess, by reason of your being the eldest son. 31. What did Jacob say to Esau when he desired his pottage? What did Jacob wish him to sell? Who was to sell his birth-right? To whom was he to sell his birth-right? When did Jacob wish him to sell his birth-right?

32 And Esau said, Behold I am (1) at the point to die, and what (2) profit shall this birth-right do to me? 1. Just about to die.. Good.

32. What did Esau say when Jacob wished him to sell his birth-right? Who was at the point to die? At the point to what? What did Esau think would do him no profit? To whom would this birth right do no profit? Why did Esau think his birth right would do him no profit?

33. And Jacob said, Swear (1) to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birth-right unto Jacob.

1. That you will make over to me your birth-right.

33. What did Jacob desire Esau to do? Who was to swear? To whom was Esau to swear? When was Esau to swear? What did Esau do unto Jacob? What did Esau sell? What did Esau do with his birthright? to whom did he sell his birth-right?

34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles, and (1) he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went (2) his way. Thus Esau (3) despised his birth-right.

1. Esau.-2. Carelessly from the place.-3. Did not set a proper value upon.

34. What did Jacob give to Esau? To whom did Jacob give the bread and pottage? Of what were the bread and pottage made? What did Esau do when Jacob gave him the bread and pottage? What did Esau do after he had eaten and drank? Who rose up and went his way? When did Esau rise up and go his way? What did Esau despise? Whose birthright did Esau despise?

LESSONS.

799. Abraham died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, ver. 7.-Long life is a blessing from God, when it is spent in his service.

800. Abraham was gathered to his people, ver. S.Death is but the prelude to another and never-ending existence.

801. Isaac and Ishmael joined in honouring their father, ver. 9.-Children should assist and encourage each other in doing honour to their parents.

802. His sons buried Abraham where he directed them, ver. 9.-We should show respect to the memory, and obedience to the wishes, of our parents in their funerals.

803. Abraham chose to be buried with Sarah, ver. 10. It is lawful, and may sometimes be proper, to choose the spot, and direct as to the circumstances of our burial.

804. Isaac was forty years old when he was married, ver. 20.-Marriages should be neither very early, nor rashly entered upon.

805. Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, ver. 21.Whatever we wish that is lawful, we may humbly and submissively ask it of God.

806. God was entreated of Isaac, ver, 21.-Although God will always be faithful to his promises, yet he requires that promised blessings should always be given as the answer to our prayers.

807. Rebekah went to inquire of the Lord, ver. 22. We should lay all our wants, and difficulties before God in prayer.

803. God appointed, before the children were born, that the elder should serve the younger, ver. 23.-God is the sovereign ruler and director of every circumstance in providence.

809. Esau was a cunning hunter, and a man of the field, ver. 27.-Hunting and field sports are not only lawful, but are often necessary for health and subsistence.

810. Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents, ver. 27.-We should never slight nor despise others for the plainness of their manners, or the quiet and unobtrusive nature of their dispositions or employ

ments.

S11. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his venison, ver. 28-We should never estimate mere physical, above moral qualities, nor prefer children for selfish purposes, or because of sensual gratifications.