The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-13

W UVKN cinity, and judg,
EAZLH1 ing by their dark
E@@- AlI looks and the
fact that they
were fully armed there was reason to
expect trouble. 1t was now week
since the massacre of the men of
Shechem and the spelling. of the city
and the awful passions of hatred and
revenge which had stirred Simeon and
Levi and their brothers and made them
like madmen had subsidized, and with
the reaction had come forebodings OF
trouble. The boldness of unreasoning
rage and passion had been succeeded
by the weakness and fear of an ac.
cusing consciousness of guilt and
crime, and now the alarming news OF
that morning had created a panicky
desire to flee. In this spirit they
sought out their father and appealed
to him to strike their tents and steal
away as quickly and quietly as pos
sible.
I'VE may be attacked this very
night" Simeon exclaimed, apprehen-
sively. Let us fee at once. To-day
"But whither?" Jacob asked.
Though uneasy over the disquieting
reports he maintained his self-control,
and was disposed to move with eau
tion.
"Whither?" queried Reuben, the eld-
est son. in surprise. where can we
go but back towards the land of our
mothers father? If we 60 forward or
flee on either hand we but plunge our
selves more surely into the power of
our enemies"
To this speech there was ready and
emphatic assent by the rest of the
sons, and they waited for their father
to speak. 1t was plain to see that
a conflict was going on within his
heart. He sat with bowed head, but
his lips moved as though in prayer.
At last he looked up and, speaking
slowly, but with emphasis, he said:
eve cannot go back, my sons"
And then noting the dark looks of
disapproval and disappointment on the
faces before him, he added:
''In obedience 70 Gods word we have
come into Canaan. He has promised
us the land. We may not depart, ex-
cept at His word. He is able to de-
liver us from the present peril"
But we cannot stay here while our
enemies are gathering to destroy us, -
Simeon cried, impatiently. He had
been largely responsible for the attack
~ of 6o
realized that as the leader of the
movement, he must do his best to find
a way of escape.
'Ah my sons" sobbed Jacob, over
come by the thought of his own fail
ures, mine is the sin that we have
tarried SO long in this place. Had
we but continued on to Bethel in
stead of pitching our tents before this
city, all that has befallen us here
would have been avoided
He was silent for few moments,
and then continued, more cheerfully:
''But if we have sinned in thus lin
gering along the pathway God would
have us travel, let us not commit the
greater sin of rushing headlong
whittier He does not lead. Let us
await Gods word in the present ex-
tremity."
And as he finished speaking he arose
and left them. 1t was evident his
words had had some effect, for the
brothers fingered in dispirited man.
ner, no one seeming bold enough to
take the lead and counsel move con-
trary to their fathers will, though it
was very apparent that they were en-
tirely out of sympathy with his at
titude. But there seemed nothing for
them to do but to wait, and Sulleniy
and silently they one after another de-
parted.
That night the hocks and the herds
were all driven in and the camp made
as secure as possible. The flashing
signals from the surrounding hills did
not tend to quiet the fears Of the peo-
pie. for that they guided and directed
the gathering of the Canaanites they
felt sure. The presence Of the women
and children Of the men slain, and the
rich booty they had seized were con-
Stant reminders OI tuc udu6eT that
threatened them now, and they found
the hours of the night filled with anx-
iety and dread. The sense Of the haste
and wickedness Of their bloody deeds
grew upon them as they kept vigil,
not knowing what minute the enemy
might burst in upon them.
And the unexplained absence of
Jacob did not tend to lessen their a2-
prehension. They had searched for
him all through the camp, but had
found him not, and no one seemed to
be able to tell why he was missing or
where he was to be found. No one
had seen him since the afternoon be-
fore, and then he was going in the
direction Of the place where he had
erected the altar to his God. That he
had been there was evident from the
report Of the servant who had been
sent there late In the evening, and
found the fire still burning on the
altar, and the last remnants Of the
sacrifice being consumed, but search in