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THE DORE GALLERY OF BIBLE ILLUSTRATIONS

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Complete

This volume, as its title indicates, is a collection of engravings illustrative of the Bible--the designs being all from the pencil of the greatest of modern delineators, Gustave Dore. The original work, from which this collection has been made, met with an immediate and warm recognition and acceptance among those whose means admitted of its purchase, and its popularity has in no wise diminished since its first publication, but has even extended to those who could only enjoy it casually, or in fragmentary parts. That work, however, in its entirety,

was far too costly for the larger and ever-widening circle of M. Dore's admirers, and to meet the felt and often-expressed want of this class, and to provide a volume of choice and valuable designs upon sacred subjects for art-loving Biblical students generally, this work was projected and has been carried forward. The aim has been to introduce subjects of general interest--that is, those relating to the most

prominent events and personages of Scripture--those most familiar to all

readers; the plates being chosen with special reference to the known

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taste of the American people. To each cut is prefixed a page of letter-press--in, narrative form, and containing generally a brief analysis of the design. Aside from the labors of the editor and

publishers, the work, while in progress, was under the pains-taking and careful scrutiny of artists and scholars not directly interested in the undertaking, but still having a generous solicitude for its success. It

is hoped, therefore, that its general plan and execution will render it acceptable both to the appreciative and friendly patrons of the great artist, and to those who would wish to possess such a work solely as a choice collection of illustrations upon sacred themes.

GUSTAVE DORE.

The subject of this sketch is, perhaps, the most original and variously gifted designer the world has ever known. At an age when most men have scarcely passed their novitiate in art, and are still under the direction

and discipline of their masters and the schools, he had won a brilliant reputation, and readers and scholars everywhere were gazing on his work with ever-increasing wonder and delight at his fine fancy and

multifarious gifts. He has raised illustrative art to a dignity and importance before unknown, and has developed capacities for the pencil before unsuspected. He has laid all subjects tribute to his genius,

explored and embellished fields hitherto lying waste, and opened new and

shining paths and vistas where none before had trod. To the works of the great he has added the lustre of his genius, bringing their beauties into

clearer view and warming them to a fuller life.

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His delineations of character, in the different phases of life, from the horrible to the grotesque, the grand to the comic, attest the versatility of his powers; and, whatever faults may be found by critics, the public will heartily render their quota of admiration to his magic touch, his rich and facile rendering of almost every thought that stirs, or lies yet dormant, in the human heart. It is useless to attempt a sketch of his

various beauties; those who would know them best must seek them in the treasure--house that his genius is constantly augmenting with fresh gems and wealth. To one, however, of his most prominent traits we will

refer--his wonderful rendering of the powers of Nature.

His early wanderings in the wild and romantic passes of the Vosges doubtless developed this inherent tendency of his mind. There he wandered, and there, mayhap, imbibed that deep delight of wood and valley, mountain--pass and rich ravine, whose variety of form and detail seems endless to the enchanted eye. He has caught the very spell of the wilderness; she has laid her hand upon him, and he has gone forth with her blessing. So bold and truthful and minute are his countless representations of forest scenery; so delicate the tracery of branch and stem; so patriarchal the giant boles of his woodland monarchs, that the' gazer is at once satisfied and entranced. His vistas lie slumbering with repose either in shadowy glade or fell ravine, either with glint of lake

or the glad, long course of some rejoicing stream, and above all, supreme in a beauty all its own, he spreads a canopy of peerless sky, or a wilderness, perhaps, of angry storm, or peaceful stretches of soft,

fleecy cloud, or heavens serene and fair--another kingdom to his teeming

art, after the earth has rendered all her gifts.

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Paul Gustave Dore was born in the city of Strasburg, January 10, 1833. Of his boyhood we have no very particular account. At eleven years of age, however, he essayed his first artistic creation--a set' of lithographs, published in his native city. The following year found him in Paris,

entered as a 7. student at the Charlemagne Lyceum. His first actual work began in 1848, when his fine series of sketches, the "Labors of Hercules," was given to the public through the medium of an illustrated,

journal with which he was for a long time connected as designer. In 1856 were published the illustrations for Balzac's "Contes Drolatiques" and those for "The Wandering Jew "--the first humorous and grotesque in the

highest degree--indeed, showing a perfect abandonment to fancy; the other

weird and supernatural, with fierce battles, shipwrecks, turbulent mobs, and nature in her most forbidding and terrible aspects. Every incident or suggestion that could possibly make the story more effective, or add to the horror of the scenes was seized upon and portrayed with wonderful power. These at once gave the young designer a great reputation, which was still more enhanced by his subsequent works.

With all his love for nature and his power of interpreting her in her varying moods, Dore was a dreamer, and many of his finest achievements were in the realm of the imagination. But he was at home in the actual world also, as witness his designs for "Atala," "London--a Pilgrimage,"

and many of the scenes in "Don Quixote."

When account is taken of the variety of his designs, and the fact considered that in almost every task he attempted none had ventured before him, the amount of work he accomplished is fairly incredible. To enumerate the immense tasks he undertook--some single volumes alone containing hundreds of illustrations--will give some faint idea of his

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industry. Besides those already mentioned are Montaigne, Dante, the Bible, Milton, Rabelais, Tennyson's "Idyls of the King," "The Ancient Mariner," Shakespeare, "Legende de Croquemitaine," La Fontaine's "Fables," and others still.

Take one of these works--the Dante, La Fontaine, or "Don Quixote"--and

glance at the pictures. The mere hand labor involved in their production is surprising; but when the quality of the work is properly estimated,

what he accomplished seems prodigious. No particular mention need be made of him as painter or sculptor, for his reputation rests solely upon his

work as an illustrator.

Dore's nature was exuberant and buoyant, and he was youthful in appearance. He had a passion for music, possessed rare skill as a violinist, and it is assumed that, had he failed to succeed with his pencil, he could have won a brilliant reputation as a musician.

He was a bachelor, and lived a quiet, retired life with his

mother--married, as he expressed it, to her and his art. His death occurred on January 23, 1883.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

GUSTAVE DORE

THE CREATION OF EVE

THE EXPULSION FROM THE GARDEN

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THE MURDER OF ABEL THE DELUGE

NOAH CURSING HAM

THE TOWER OF BABEL

ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE STRANGERS THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM

THE EXPULSION OF HAGAR

HAGAR IN THE WILDERESS

THE TRIAL OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM THE BURIAL OF SARAH

ELIEZER AND REBEKAH

ISAAC BLESSING JACOB

JACOB TENDING THE FLOCKS

JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT

JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM

JOSEPH MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN

MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES THE WAR AGAINST GIBEON SISERA SLAIN BY JAEL DEBORAH'S SONG OF TRIUMPH

JEPHTHAH MET BY HIS DAUGHTER

JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER AND HER COMPANIONS SAMSON SLAYING THE LION

SAMSON AND DELILAH THE DEATH OF SAMSON

NAOMI AND HER DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW

RUTH AND BOAZ

THE RETURN OF THE ARK

SAUL AND DAVID

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DAVID SPARING SAUL DEATH OF SAUL

THE DEATH OF ABSALOM

DAVID MOURNING OVER ABSALOM SOLOMON

THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON

THE CEDARS DESTINED FOR THE TEMPLE THE PROPHET SLAIN BY A LION

ELIJAH DESTROYING THE MESSENGERS OF AHAZIAH ELIJAH'S ASCENT IN A CHARIOT OF FIRE

DEATH OF JEZEBEL

ESTHER CONFOUNDING HAMAN ISAIAH

DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB'S HOST BARUCH

EZEKIEL PROPHESYING THE VISION OF EZEKIEL DANIEL

THE FIERY FURNACE BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN THE PROPHET AMOS

JONAH CALLING NINEVEH TO REPENTANCE DANIEL CONFOUNDING THE PRIESTS OF BEL HELIODORUS PUNISHED IN THE TEMPLE

THE NATIVITY

THE STAR IN THE EAST THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS

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JESUS QUESTIONING THE DOCTORS JESUS HEALING THE SICK

SERMON ON THE MOUNT CHRIST STILLING THE TEMPEST THE DUMB MAN POSSESSED CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE

THE DISCIPLES PLUCKING CORN ON THE SABBATH JESUS WALKING ON THE WATER

CHRIST'S ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM JESUS AND THE TRIBUTE MONEY THE WIDOW'S MITE

RAISING OF THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS THE GOOD SAMARITAN

ARRIVAL OF THE SAMARITAN AT THE INN THE PRODIGAL SON

LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN

THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN

JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA

JESUS AND THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY

THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS MARY MAGDALENE

THE LAST SUPPER

THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN

PRAYER OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF OLIVES THE BETRAYAL

CHRIST FAINTING UNDER THE CROSS THE FLAGELLATION

THE CRUCIFIXION

CLOSE OF THE CRUCIFIXION

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THE BURIAL OF JESUS

THE ANGEL AT THE SEPULCHER THE JOURNEY TO EMMAUS

THE ASCENSION

THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. STEPHEN SAUL'S CONVERSION

THE DELIVERANCE OF ST. PETER PAUL AT EPHESUS

PAUL MENACED BY THE JEWS PAUL'S SHIPWRECK

DEATH ON THE PALE HORSE

THE CREATION OF EVE.

"And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I

will make him a helpmeet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept, and he took one of his ribs, and closed up

the flesh instead thereof; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father

and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."

Genesis ii, 18, 21-24.

In these few words the Scriptures narrate the creation of the first

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mother of our race. In "Paradise Lost," the poetic genius of Milton, going more into detail, describes how Eve awoke to consciousness, and found herself reposing under a shade of flowers, much wondering what she was and whence she came. Wandering by the margin of a small lake, she

sees her own form mirrored in the clear waters, at which she wonders

more. But a voice is heard, leading her to him for whom she was made, who lies sleeping under a grateful shade. It is at this point the artist

comes to interpret the poet's dream. Amid the varied and luxurious foliage of Eden, in the vague light of the early dawn, Eve is presented, coy and graceful, gazing on her sleeping Lord, while in the background is

faintly outlined the mystic form of Him in whose image they were created.

THE EXPULSION FROM THE GARDEN.

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the

tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore, the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden

of Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep

the way of the tree of life.--Genesis iii, 22-24

They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late

their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate, With

dreadful forces thronged, and fiery arms Some natural tears they dropped,

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but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with

wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.

Paradise Lost, Book XII.

THE MURDER OF ABEL.

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the

ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and unto thee shall be his desire, and

thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass,--when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I

know not Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the

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voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from

the face of the earth and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him

sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should

kill him.

And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of

Nod, on the east of Eden.--Genesis iv, 1-16

THE DELUGE.

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them,

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into the ark; they, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle

after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and

female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased, greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth

upon the earth, and every man; all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance

was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were

destroyed from the earth; and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty

days.--Genesis vii, 11-24.

NOAH CURSING HAM.

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And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and

Japheth; and Ham is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of

Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw

not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed

be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.--Genesis ix, 18-27.

THE TOWER OF BABEL.

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to

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another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let

us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let

us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go

down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the

earth: and they left off to build the city.

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.--Genesis xi, 1-9.

ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE STRANGERS.

In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the

stranger, were circumcised with him.

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And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the

tent door in the heat of the day; and he lift up his eyes and looked,

and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and

wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did

eat.--Genesis xvii, 26, 27; xviii 1-8.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have

entertained angels unawares.--Hebrews xiii, 2.

THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM.

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And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of

his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him

forth, and set him without the city.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said

unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord. Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me and I die. Behold now this city is near to flee unto, and it

is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither.

Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered unto Zoar. Then the

Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord

out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of

salt.

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And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood

before the Lord and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went

up as the smoke of a furnace.--Genesis xix, 15-28.

THE EXPULSION OF HAGAR.

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as

God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son

Isaac was born unto him.

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will

laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old

age. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast

the same day that Isaac was weaned.

And Sarah, saw the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this, bondwoman shall not be heir

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with my son, even with Isaac.

And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And

also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child,

and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of

Beer-sheba.--Genesis xxi, 1-14.

HAGAR IN THE WILDERNESS.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child,

and sent her away; and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow-shot: for she said, Let me not see the

death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice

and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called

to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear

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not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with

the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.--Genesis xxi. 14-21.

THE TRIAL OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM.

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into

the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand and a knife, and they

went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and

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said, My father: and he, said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon

the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and

said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is to this

day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that

in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy

seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice.--Geneszs xxii. 1-18.

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THE BURIAL OF SARAH.

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old these were the

years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is

Hebron in the land of Canaan and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of

Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a

possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but

that thou mayest bury thy dead.

And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for

me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah,

which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a burying-place amongst you.

And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite

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answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But

if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me:

the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver: what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four

hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in

the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the sons of Heth.--Genesis xxiii.

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ELIEZER AND REBEKAH.

And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and

departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose

and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down, without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O

Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw: water: and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let

down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

And it came to pass before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher and came up. And the

servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little

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water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord; and she hasted, and

let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also,

until they have done drinking. And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands

of ten shekels weight of gold: and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee; is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in? And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah,

which she bare unto Nahor. She said moreover unto him, We have both straw

and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

And the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me

to the house of my master's brethren.

And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.--Genesis xxiv, 9-28.

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ISAAC BLESSING JACOB.

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau, his eldest son, and said unto him,

My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray

thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and

take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the

field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I

command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father such as he loveth; And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that

he may bless thee before his death.

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and

not a blessing.

And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my

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voice, and go fetch me them.

And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit

and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto

Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went; near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are

the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were

hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat; and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the

smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:

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Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.--Genesis xxvii. 1-29.

JACOB TENDING THE FLOCKS OF LABAN.

And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? tell me, what

shall thy wages be?

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And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had for her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid, for an handmaid. And it came to pass that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore

then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and

we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other

years.--Genesis xxix, 9-30.

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JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw that their father

loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your

sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father

and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What

is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy

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brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth. And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this

dreamer cometh. Come now, therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is

in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again.

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him and cast him into a pit; and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell

him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our

brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up

Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty

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pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of

Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.--Genesis xxxvii, 2--12, 17-28, 36

JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM.

And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could

interpret them unto Pharaoh.

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[At the suggestion of his chief butler Pharaoh sends for Joseph and

relates to him his dreams, which Joseph interprets as follows:]

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years

of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise

after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the

seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land