The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-02-14
Lots Choice.

AOldLI plODdDly lOllOWSu luS
great desert highway which still
exists between the East and Da-
mascus, the very same, probably.
that his grandson Jacob took in
his flight from his angry brother.
To all outward appearances,
Abrams company probably exact
ly rcsembled the caravan which
the traveller in the East sees to-
day. There were the camels,
"ships of the desert" bearing
their precious freight of women
and children, besides provisions
and merchandise. There were the
focks and herds and their attend
ants, besides the armed guard.
The oak or oak grove of Moreh in
Sichem is the first mentioned
camping-place of the patriarch
within the bounds of the promised
land. Abrams first recorded act
is significant. Columbus stand
ing on the shore of the New World,
unfurled the standard of Ferdi-
nand. Abram, coming into Ca
naan, built an altar to God. So
it became his custom. "Where
Abraham had tent, God had an
altar" These became a series of
Sermons in stone" to the idol
worshiping Canaanites.
The first mention made of Abra-
ham on his return from his enforced
soiourn i'll Egypt is concerning
his wealth. The statement of the
artless narrative is simply, "Abra-
ham was very rich in cattle, in
silver, and i'll gold" Gods prom
ises of temporal blessings had an
early fulfillment. Kitto's compu-
tations are curious rather than re-
liable. On the data of the posses
sions of Jacob and Job he estimates
Abraham as having between eight
and nine thousand head. Of
course, such immense herds and
focks would imply a correspond
ingly large number of attendants.
From the incident of the equip
ment of three hundred and eigh-
teen men for war it may be figured
that there were something over a
thousand men in the camp, not to
mention women and children.
Up to this time Abraham and
Lot had shared the pleasures and
hardships of their pilgrim life.
But now the herds of both had in
creased 80 that the land was not
able to bear them that they might
dwell together" So, as some
times occurs to this day, the herds
men became rivals, and strove for
pasturage and water. In this in.
cident Abraham s character shines
resplendent. Two thousand years
before Christ he showed the Chris
tian spirit when he said to Lot,
Let there be no strife between
ME and thee and between my
herdsmen and thy herdsmen: for
we are brethren. Nor are these
mere words. Abraham backs them
up. He valves his right. The
land was his. twas all his. Yet
in noble magnanimity he said to
Lot: rs not the whole land be.
fore thee? Separate myself, l pray
thee, from me. If thou wilt take
the left hand, then l will go to
the right; or if thou depart to the
right hand, then l will 90 to the
left"
Lots selfshness crops out. He
took advantage of Abraha ms gen
erosity. He casts his eye on the
well-watered plain of Jordan, and
chose it. He journeyed east. 1t
was not long before he exchanged
pastoral life for urban. He at
tempted the impossible. A double
service-God and riches-met the
inveterate and historic outcome.
Another incident in the career
of Lot is the occasion of the dis
play of new traits in the admirable
character of Abraham, decision,
bravery, military skill. lot is in
trouble. The very wealth he GOV.
eted and the richness of the land