856. Abimelech could not endure Isaac, because he was mightier than himself, ver. 16.-We should never be proud; nor ever wish others less powerful, less wealthy, less useful, or less virtuous than ourselves. 857. Abimelech desired Isaac to go away from them, ver. 16.-We should never desire the absence of the pious and good.

858. Isaac departed from Abimelech, when he desired it, ver. 17.-We should, in general, submit to rudeness and injustice, rather than oppose them; and when smitten on the one cheek, offer the other also, rather than commit sin.

859. Isaac digged again the wells of his father, ver. 18.-We should follow the good and pious examples of our forefathers; reviving, upholding, and forwarding the interests of those useful institutions which they may have established.

860. Isaac gave to the wells those names which had been given to them by Abraham, ver. 18.-We should honour those who have done good before us.

861. Isaac's servants digged a new well, ver. 19.It is right, by industry and ingenuity, to endeavour to better our condition, and to add to our comforts.

862. The herdmen of Gerar falsely affirmed that the water was theirs, ver. 19.-We should never add falsehood to injustice, nor excuse dishonesty or fraud by uttering a lie.

863. Isaac's servants dug another well, ver. 21.We should not be discouraged under oppression or difficulty, but should rather renew our industry to remedy our loss.

864. The herdmen of Gerar strove for the second well also, ver. 21.-We should never by success in one crime, be encouraged to attempt another.

865. Isaac removed from thence, ver. 22.-We should endeavour to avoid, as much as possible, the company and fellowship of wicked and ungodly men.

866. Isaac digged a third well, for which they did

not strive, ver. 22.-When we are wronged, we should patiently persevere in duty till the Lord sees meet to give us deliverance.

867. Isaac said that the Lord had now made room for him, ver. 22.-The Lord overrules and directs all things for the glory of his name and the good of his people.

868. When God had made room for him, Isaac hoped to be fruitful, ver. 22.—We should trust for success only in the blessing of God upon our lawful endeavours.

SECTION XLIII.

The covenant of Isaac with Abimelech.
Gen. xxvi. 23-35.

And (1) he went up from (2) thence to Beer-sheba.
1. Isaac.-2. That place.

23. What did Isaac do? Who went up? From whence did Isaac go up? To what place did Isaac go up?

24. And the Lord (1) appeared unto (2) him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father; (3) fear not, for I am (4) with thee, and will (5) bless thee, and (6) multiply thy seed, for my servant Abraham's sake.

1. Showed himself.-2. Isaac.-3. Do not be afraid.-4. Always present with.-5. Prosper.-6. Make thy children very numerous.

24. Who appeared? Unto whom did the Lord appear? When did the Lord appear to Isaac? What happened that same night? What did the Lord say to Isaac when he appeared unto him? Whose God was he? Who was Abraham? What did God bid Isaac not do? Why was Isaac not to fear? Who was with him? With whom was God? What was God to do tó Isaac? Who was to be blessed? By whom was Isaac to be blessed? What was God to do to his seed? What was God to multiply? Why was God to bless Isaac and to multiply his seed? For whose sake?

What was Abraham to God?

for Abraham's sake?

What was God to do

25. And he builded an altar there, and (1) called upon the name of the Lord, and (2) pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

1. Worshipped and prayed to.-2. Placed. 25. What did Isaac do there? Where did he build an altar? besides building an altar? Upon whose name did he call? Where did he pitch his tent? vants do?

What did he build? What did Isaac do Upon what did he call? What did he pitch? What did Isaac's serWho digged a well?

What did they dig?

Where did they dig a well?

26. Then Abimelech went to (1) him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of (2) his friends, and Phicol the (3) chief captain of his army. 1. Isaac.-2. Abimelech's.-3. Highest commander in.

26. Who went to Isaac? To whom did Abimelech go? From whence did Abimelech go? Who went with Abimelech? What was Ahuzzath? One of whose friends? Who went with Abimelech, besides Ahuzzath? What was Phicol? Of what was Phicol the chief captain? Of whose army was he chief captain?

27. And Isaac said unto them, (1) Wherefore come ye to me, (2) seeing ye hate me, and have (3) sent me away from you.

1. For what purpose.-2. Considering that.-3. Compelled me to go. 27. What did Isaac say to Abimelech? Wherefore did who come? Come to whom? What did Abimelech do to Isaac? Whom did Abimelech hate? Who hated Isaac? What had Abimelech done to Isaac? Who had been sent away? By whom had Isaac been sent away? From whom had Isaac been sent away?

28. And they said, We saw (1) certainly that the Lord was (2) with thee: and we said, Let there be now (3) an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a (4) covenant with thee.

1. And were sure.-2. Thy friend and protector.-3. A solemn agreement.-4. Bargain,

28. What did Abimelech and his Isaac? What had Abimelech seen? him? With whom was the Lord? What had they said? Let there bẹ

friends say to Who was with Who saw this? what? Between

whom was this oath to be? What did Abimelech wish to make? With whom did he wish to make a covenant?

29. That thou wilt do us no (1) hurt, as we have not (2) touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now (3) the blessed of the Lord,

1. Harm.-2. Done any evil to.-3. The person most favoured and prospered by.

29. What did they wish Isaac not to do to them? Whom did they wish not to hurt them? What did they say had been their conduct to him? Whom had they not touched? What did they say they had done to him? Nothing but what? How had they sent him away? In what had they sent him away? What did they say Isaac was? Of whom was he blessed? Who was the blessed of the Lord? When was he the blessed of the Lord?

30. And he (1) made them (2) a feast, and they did eat and drink, 1. Prepared for.-2. An entertainment.

30. What did Isaac make for them? For whom did Isaac make a feast? What did they do? Where did they eat and drink? At whose feast did they eat and drink?

31. And they rose up (1) betimes in the morning, and (2) sware one to another; and Isaac sent them away, and they (3) departed from him in peace.

1. Early.-2. Made oath.-3. Went.

31. What did they do in the morning? Who rose up? When did they rise up? At what time in the morning did they rise up? What did they do when they rose in the morning? Who sware? To whom did they swear? What did Isaac do after they had sworn to one another? From whom did they depart? In what did they depart from Isaac ? Who departed

in peace.

32. And it (1) came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came and told him (2) concerning the well which they had (3) digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

1. Happened.-2. About.-3. Made, by digging deep into the ground. 32. What happened that same day? Who came ? To whom did they come? What did his servants tell

Isaac? Concerning what did they tell Isaac? What had they done to the well? Who had dug the well? What did they say to him? What had they found?

33. And he called it Shebah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto (1) this day.

1. The time when Moses wrote this book.

33. What did Isaac call the place? Who called the place Shebah? What is the city called? Why is the city called Beer-sheba? Unto what was the city called Beer-sheba?

34. And Esau was forty years old when he (1) took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;

1. Married.

34. What did Esau do? Whom did he take to wife? Whose daughter was Judith? What was Beeri? Whom did Esau take to wife besides Judith? Whose daughter was Bashemath? What was Elon? How old was Esau when he took these wives?

35. Which were a (1) grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. 1. Cause of great sorrow.

35. What were these wives to Isaac and Rebekah? To whom were they a grief of mind? Who were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah?

LESSONS.

869. Isaac removed once more to Beer-sheba, ver. 23.-We need not, and should not, expect to possess uninterrupted rest and enjoyment in this world.

870. The Lord appeared to Isaac that same night, ver. 24.-God will direct, and be with his people, in every change of circumstances.

871. Isaac was not to fear, ver. 24.-We should, while we keep God in view as our guide and Saviour, never allow ourselves to be distressed or afraid under any change or concurrence of circumstances.

872. God was to be with Isaac to bless him, ver.