The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-04-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


International Lesson for April 8. 1se4-Dis-
cord In Jacobs Family-Gen. 37i1-11.
Especially Arranged from Peloubet's Notee1
GOLDEN TExr.-See that We fall not out by
the way.-Gen 1924
THE SECTION OF HIsroRY-Chaps 50 to
87:1l.
TIME.-B c. 1929 Ten or II years after Ja-
cob's return to Canaan from Haran
PLACE Jacobs home was at Hebron, about
20 miles south Of Jerusalem.
IsAAC-One hundred and sixty eight wears
old Twelve years before his death. A blind,
feeble old man.
JAcoB-About 1)9 years old with l2 sons
and one or more daughters
JosEPh.-Seventeen years old, and Benjamin,
small child, to years old Joseph left
Padan- Aram when or years old.
LESSON NOTES
A Glance at the Intervening History.
Eleven years have passed since the
return OF Jacob from Padan-Aram and
his deliverance from Esau. He first
dwelt near Shechem, and here showed
his enterprise by digging famous
well in the valley between Mts. Ebal
and Gerizim, that is still known by
his name, after thirty-six centuries.
Driven from this place by a fierce col
lision of his sons with the Shechemites,
Jacob went to Bethel, where his first
great distress had been relieved by a
divine vision, marking an era in his
life. He refreshed his soul with the
memory, and set up pillar for me-
mortal. Proceeding southwark he had
gone only so far as Bethlehem when
great sorrow fell upon him. His be-
loved Rachel died in giving birth to
son whom she named Benoni, ''the
son OF my SORROW" but his father
named him Benjamin, "the son of the
right hand" his comfort and support.
Jacob still continued his southwark
journey, and came to Hebron, where
his father Isaac was still living, old
and feeble. His death is recorded in
this connection because it was the
natural completion Of the story in
chapter IS. But he lived several years
after the events recorded in to-day's
lesson.
The Family of Jacob. The Older
Sons.-The ten older sons of Jacob
were separate in many ways from the
two younger ones, who were the COM
fort and joy of Jacobs old age. They
differed greatly in age, and still more
in character, and were often the cause
OF trouble and sorrow. THE readers
Of Gen., chaps. "a, IS, 81 and Ss, will
see that they were hard hoys'
Especially do the worst elements of de-
praved character appear in their
treatment of their younger brother
Joseph. "-Cowles. And yet all through
their lives we can also detect the in
fuences Of piety and home training.
They were very different from those
who had no good influences at home.
In time Jacobs new character had it's
effect. and various troubles tended to
subdue their turbulent temper, and
make them better fitted to be heirs of
the promises.
Joseph the Boy. Germs of Charac-
ter.-Q) Joseph was born in Padan-
Ararn, B. G. 1735. He was Jacobs
youngest son, except Benjamin, who
was but little child at this time. (2)
His training. Joseph could not have
been more than six or seven years ole
w when sh. n f. fg family E5 reYSysa .e Canaan
better influences than his brethren;
for his fathers character and spirit
were fe. J much changed for the better
by his experiences at the fords of the
Jabbok The atmosphere of the fam
lily in Joseph's childhood was far bet
ter than when the elder children were
young. Then probably Jacob gave
more time to the training of his younger
son, and kept him more under his own
influence; and Joseph inherited better
tendencies, and received better train
ing, from his mother. Moreover, the
years Of his youth were spent under
the influence of his grandfather, Isaac,
who would tell him many story of
his ancestors deeds of faith, and lives
of godliness. The piety and noble
deeds of the ancient family would
make powerful impression on the
young man. (3) His character. Joseph
seems to have been a truly pious
young man, bright and cheerful.
active and trustworthy, earnest to
do good and make others good, full
of wise common sense, and of great
business capacity. "He had Abra-
hams dignity and capacity, Isaac's
purify dhu selI-ueVOtlOn, JaCODS clev.
erness and tenacity." He seems to
have been handsome, strong, vigorous
and attractive, gentle, noble boy.
The fact that mis- mother was dead,
and his brothers were unfavorable,
would throw him upon his own re-
sources and develop his character early.
No wonder that his father loved and
trusted him, and put him forward.
These characteristics were, of course,
but partly developed in him; but the
elements of his future career were
there.
INDUCTIVE TRUTHS.
The atmosphere of the family, the
unconscious prevails spirit, has a
great influence upo.. the characters
and destiny of the children. Every
improvement in the character of the
parents bears fruit in the children.
The young need work and care to de-
velop them into men and women.