The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-15
SUNDAY MEDITATION
A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for Feb.
70, 1874. ays-
Subject: The Trial of4Abraham. Gen., 90:
1-18.

lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated sbove.I
lNTRopppffTIoN.
Our study obliges US to fsmiiarize ourselves
with the life of Abraham.
We may notice the following principal incl
dents in reference to him.
With his father, wife and nephew he left Ur,
his birthplace, and went to Haran. There his
father died. After that event he set out for
Canaan. Within year from the time he
reached that land he was forced on account of
a famine to go to Egypt Sarsi being of great
beauty. Abram feared he might be slain in
order that the murderer might make her his
wife. TO prevent this they agreed in case any
inquiries were made as 10 their mutual rela-
TONS to reply that she was the sister of Abram.
Q2: Is, 1877 This equivocation. Sarah
was indeed a halfsister to Abram. AS soon as
Pharaoh found Sarai TO be, according to the
statements of both Abram and Sarai, the sister
of Abram, he decided to make her his wife, and
was prevented only by divine interposition.
Abran returned TO Canaan. He and Lot sepa-
rated. Abram remaining in the vicinity of
Hebron, while Lot and family went to the
region of Sodom. Lot and his dependents were
soon taken prisoners in severe war. Abram
pursued the enemy. securing Lot and bis
family from their captors. On way back Abram
met Mech izedek. Married Hagar, aud Ish-
maers birth followed. Entertained angels.
Prayed for Sodom. Nearly lost Sarah by again
passing her of for his sister, King Abmelech
was kept from marrying her only by a special
warning from God. Isaac was born. Abraham
went to Mount Moriah to sacrifice Isaac as q
burnt Offering. Sarah died, aged 1877 years.
Abraham bought the Cave of Machpelab, and
placed therein the body of Sarah. Sent his
servant Elezer to Mesopotamia to secure a wife
for Isaac. Abraham married Keturab. and
had six sons thereby. He died, aged l75
years, at Beersheba, and was buried at Mach
pelah.
Literature on abraham.
l. On Abraham in Egypt, see DIR. schaff, in
International Review. May, 1878.
2. J. i. MacKarness, Good Words, 10: 1877.
3. Abraham and the New Testament Church.
American Presbyterian Review, 3: 500.
a. Historical Epoch of Abraham. J. c. Moi
fat, Princeton Review, 20: 391.
abraham.
Mdrriaqes.-Abram frst married Sarai. This
happened in Ur, and, hence, before he was 20
years old. At the age of So, Sarai being still
alive, Abram took Hagar as wife. Not long
after the birth of Isaac, the presence Of Hagar
becoming so much occasion for domestic
pleasantness, Abraham determined to dismiss
her. 1t was about Is years alter she became
his wife. Thirty-sx years passed and Sarah
died. Abraham lived wifeiess for nine years,
and then married KetuTah. He was then LAG
years old lie and Sarah lived together as hus-
band and wife about 20 years. Sarah aud Hsgar
were jointly his wives for, say, Is years. He
and Keturah were welded for nearly 30 years.
Childrea.--Abrahsm and Sarah were the par
ents of Isaac; Abraham aud Hsgar, of Isbmael;
Abraham aud Keturah, OF Zimran, Jok shan,
Medan, indian, Ishbak. shush. Hence Abrs-
ham was the father Of eight sons. 1t is not
stated whether he Had any daughters His
first child. Ishmael, was not born until he was
SO years old. His second child, Isaac, was born
when Abraham was a century old. The six
sons of Abraham by Ketutah were born after
be was LAG years of age,
Haoar TIE IsH,aaI