vered his nation from slavery. (B. C. 897.) During the reign of David, the Moabites were subjugated by the Israelites, whose successes or misfortunes they shared; and on the revolt of the ten tribes, they became subject to the kings of Israel. At length, they were intermingled and confounded with the great nations which ravaged those countries, where some of their descendants still remain under the general denomination of Arabs, or Arabians.

Questions on the History of Moab.

Who was the progenitor of the Moabites, and where did he fix his abode ?

Whither did he flee from Sodom, and from what intercourse proceeded Moab, the father of the Moabites?

Where did the descendants of Lot settle; and what were their government, religion, and employments?

Who was Balak, the son of Zippor; and what means did he adopt to stop the progress of the Israelites?

What happened to Balaam in his way to Balak; and what was the result of his journey?

For what cause, and by whom, were the Israelites kept in subjection during eighteen years? and by whom were they delivered?

What was the state of the Moabites during the reign of David, king of Israel? With whom were they afterwards intermingled, and what is the general name of some of their descendants?

AMMON.

THIS people, who were the descendants of Ammon, the offspring of Lot and his younger daughter, after having expelled the gigantic Zamzummim, possessed themselves of the country which bordered on Moab, and which is also reckoned by some a part of Cœlo-Syria, and by others of Arabia. They were governed by kings, practised the rite of circumcision, and devoted their time principally to agriculture. Their chief deity was called Moloch, and to this idol they are said to have sacrificed their children.

(B. C. 1095.) The Ammonites were frequently engaged in war with the Israelites, with various success. Nahash, one of their kings, having reduced to the last extremity the city of Jabesh, which he besieged, the inhabitants offered to surrender, and to acknowledge him as their sovereign. Nahash answered, "I will consent to your proposal, only

on condition that every one of you shall lose his right eye." The inhabitants asked seven days to deliberate on this terrible proposition; but Saul, king of Israel, arriving with succours, the barbarian was defeated, and disappointed of his inhuman triumph.

On the accession of Hanun, son of Nahash, David, king of Israel, sent ambassadors to him, with an offer of continuing that amity which had subsisted between him and the late king. Hanun, persuaded by his ignorant counsellors, treated the ambassadors in the most contemptuous manner, and sent them back to their master. This base and ungrateful conduct occasioned a war, which terminated in the destruction of Hanun and his kingdom.

In the time of Judas Maccabeus, the Ammonites re-appeared; but, at length, their city Jaser was burnt by the Jews, and those who escaped the sword were carried into captivity. In the beginning of the second century of the Christian æra, they were again a numerous nation; but towards the conclusion of that period, their name vanished, and they were blended with the Arabians.

Questions on the History of Ammon.

Who were the Ammonites, and of what country did they possess themselves?

What was their government, employments, and principal deity? What was the offer of Nahash to the people of the city of Jabesh? What was the conduct of Hanun to the ambassadors of king David, and what did it occasion?

What happened to the Ammonites in the reign of Judas Maccabeus? Were they numerous in the beginning of the second century of the Christian æra, and when did their name vanish?

MIDIAN.

THE Midianites, who were the descendants of Midian, the fourth son of Abraham, by Keturah his wife, inhabited a tract of country in Arabia Petræa, between the lake Asphaltites, the Red Sea, and Idumea. Their situation rendered them shepherds and merchants. The former led a nomadical life, and dwelt in moveable tents. The latter also travelled from place to place in caravans, leaving the care of their cattle to the women. Their religion was at

first pure; but in the time of Moses, they had defiled themselves with all the abominations of the Moabites. Their form of government was rather aristocratical than monarchical, though their princes were honoured with the titles of royalty.

The incursions of the Midianites were greatly dreaded by the Israelites, and their wars were always very bloody. The two nations vied with each other in attempts at mutual extermination. When either of them obtained a victory, they massacred all the people, and reduced the towns to ashes. After undergoing several vicissitudes of fortune, the Midianites were intermingled and lost in the more celebrated nations of Arabia. Between three and four hundred years ago, however, there was a dilapidated city called Madian.*

Questions on the History of Midian.

Who were the Midianites, and what tract of country did they inhabit?

What were their occupation, religion, and government ?

What was the nature of their wars?

With whom were they intermingled? and is there a place or station still called Madian?

EDOM.

THE Edomites, who were the posterity of Esau or Edom, the son of Isaac and Rebecca, inhabited a tract of territory situated between Midian, the river Jordan, and the Mediterranean sea. Their cities were built upon inaccessible rocks, and strongly fortified. They were a proud, an unsociable, and imperious people. They kept on foot numerous forces, and possessed a great number of armed chariots. They carried on a great commerce by the way of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, but principally with Tyre and Sidon. Being the descendants of Isaac, they preserved circumcision, and the worship of one God, with the exception of some idolatrous ceremonies. Their form of govern

This place is still one of the stations in the pilgrimage from Egypt to Mecca, under the name of Shoaib's cave.

ment was at first patriarchal, but afterwards that of an elective kingdom.

Though the Edomites were the descendants of Isaac by Esau, and the Jews descended from the same father by Jacob, these two fraternal nations were ever at enmity with each other. The antipathy which Esau constantly maintained against his brother Jacob, for defrauding him of his birth-right, is well known; and the same sentiment seems to have become hereditary among their descendants. They did not make war upon each other like other nations, but appeared to be actuated by a kind of fury, which excited them not merely to conquer, but to exterminate each other. At length, the Edomites were finally reduced by John Hyrcanus (B. C. 129.), who compelled them to embrace the Jewish religion; and their name was entirely lost in that of their conquerors.

It is necessary to observe, that Edom is designated by Pliny, Strabo, and others, by the denomination of Idumea.

Questions on the History of Edom.

Who were the Edomites, and what country did they inhabit?

Where were their cities built; and what was the character of the people?

What was their commerce; what religious rites did they observe; and what was their form of government?

Were the Israelites and the Edomites at constant enmity with each other ?

By whom were the Edomites finally subjugated?

By what name is Edom designated by Pliny, Strabo, and others ?

AMALEK.

THE Amalekites were descended from Amalek, the son of Esau's first-born, Eliphaz, by his concubine Timra. Their arts, sciences, and trade, were probably similar to those of their neighbours the Edomites, Egyptians, and other people. Their form of government was monarchical; and their general character was that of a haughty and imperious race. They had attained to such a height of power and magnificence, that Balaam calls them "the first of the nations;" but the God of Israel decreed, that "their name should be put out under heaven.”

Perpetual wars with their neighbours, and especially with the Jews, insensibly ruined the Amalekites. Saul, at the head of a victorious army, ravaged their country (B. C. 1055.), and massacred the inhabitants without distinction. To revenge this injury, the Amalekites reduced Ziklag to ashes, and took David's two wives prisoners. David, therefore, attacked them in their retreat, and slew most of their forces. In the days of Hezekiah, they were utterly destroyed or dispersed by the Simeonites, who took possession of their country; and thus was fulfilled the prediction of Balaam: "Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever."

Questions on the History of Amalek.

From whom were the Amalekites descended?

What were their arts, sciences, trade, and form of government?
By what name are they called by Balaam?

What ocasioned the ruin of the Amalekites?

Mention the battles of Saul and David with this people.

When and by whom were they utterly destroyed?

How was the prediction of Balaam fulfilled?

CANAAN.

UNDER the general denomination of Canaanites are in cluded the seven nations distinguished in Scripture by the names of Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Perizzites, and Canaanites properly so called. They appear to have laboured in a particular manner under the evil influence of the curse denounced against their progenitor, Canaan; being doomed in the end to subjection expulsion, or extirpation. Those who resided on the seacoasts were merchants, and known to the Greeks by the name of Phoenicians. Those who had an inland situation, were partly employed in rural occupations, and partly in the exercise of arms. Those who resided in the walled cities and fixed abodes, cultivated the land; and those who wandered about, grazed cattle, or carried arms. Canaanites were, therefore, shepherds, husbandmen, soldiers, sailors, artificers, and merchants. Their religion was undefiled to the days of Abraham, who acknowledged

The