of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, they servants be in Gath. And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath. And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again." (1 Kings ii. 39-41.);

The Syrians at one time overrun the country, for we are told-" Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem." (2 Kings xii. 17.)

David's lament over Jonathan and Saul is beautifully expressed in reference to these cities. "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph." (2 Sam. i. 20.)

And when the Philistines had to make some offering on account of their unhallowed treatment of the ark, we are told that "these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the Lord; for Ashdod one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one. (1 Sam. vi. 17.)

Judgment was pronounced by God against all these cities, on account of the unkindness which they showed to the people of Israel. "For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Askelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up." (Zeph. ii. 4.) And all this has been fulfilled. Compared with their former greatness, the cities of Philistia are now forsaken and desolate.

Our account of these cities is

very much of the

same kind as that which belongs to Gaza. I have told you of the people-of the appearance of the country-of the kind of buildings-of the remains of old ruins-of the appearance of past greatness-and of the present desolation. All this territory belongs to Israel. It is part of the Land of Promise. When they shall turn to the Lord, and the vail shall be taken away-then shall they inherit all the land which the Lord gave unto their fathers.

Let us now say farewell to the cities of the Holy Land. We are not about to leave it yet, for we shall wish to look into the manners and customs of the people. But we have done at present with its cities. The remembrance of them, however, will abide with us. As long as we have our Bibles, and as long as we are privileged in reading them, so long shall we bear upon our hearts the people and the cities of the land of promise.

Your sincere friend,

THE EDITOR.

LXVII.

QUESTIONS.

Give an instance in which the Lord made use of a woman as a prophetess ?

LXVIII. Give another instance in which He

employed a woman as a leader of

the people.

LXIX. In what case did He employ one in the office of a Judge?

LXX. Show on what occasion He allowed one to be the avenger of the cause of His people Israel.

LXXI. Give instances of those who filled the office of teachers.

LXXII. Mention the names of those who were used as helpers to His Church.

JONATHAN.

1 Sam. i. 26.

A VALIANT Soldier and a constant friend,
True to his word—and eager to defend;
Fearless midst danger-yet in sorrow's hour,
Ready to shed the sympatnizing tear.

Where shall we find a friendship such as thine,
Jonathan-the brave-the bold-the kind?
Where shall we find a heart so warmly moved
To all the tender impulses of love?

But thou art gone!-on wild Gilboa's height,
Thyself hast fallen-victim of the fight:
Pierced with the weapons of the warlike foe
Thyself o'erthrown in Israel's overthrow.

Maidens of Judah weep, for Jonathan is slain!
So firm a friend you will not meet again.
Warriors of Israel, join the plaintive band;
With mourning clothe Judea's sorrowing land.
Yet wheresoe'er the voice of friendship weaves
Its loving folds, like summer's verdant leaves,
There will thy mem'ry cling, to gild the days
Of youth, and manhood, and declining age.

Printed at the Operative Jewish Converts' Institution,
Palestine Place, Bethnal Green.