The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-12
THE DISCIPLINARY VALUE
OF HEBREW HISTORY

seven for North Dakota-Palestine
must have averaged from 500 to 700
to the square mile. a.
Hebrew history is repIete with ma
terlal, too for that choicest of studies
biography. Prophets and reformers
as Amos, Isiah, Micah, and the
writer of Jonah; kings and leaders
some Of them sadly misunderstood as
Ahab and Saul others happy in their
friends, as David Solomon. the sec
cond Jeroboam, Hezekiah, Josiah ana
Judas Maccabeus-all of them men of
vaior' many Of them renowned for
Craftsmanship, patriotism, wisdom
and integrity. The eleventh chapter
OF the Epistle to the Hebrews, con-
stitutes majestic climax to this
wonderful encyclopedia of human bio
graphy. To him for whom history IS
more than a bare chronology. these
pages cannot but prove to be of thrill
ing interest.
Hebrew civilization, in truth, de-
serves to be known by it's fruits. From
the, most meagre beginnings Israel
developed a magnificent legal code. It
is long journey from the elder
seated in the gate passing Judgment
on the disputes arising between mem
pers of the clan. and the interminable
processes of the Talmud, yet we have
the innumerable stages of growth.
traceable to their approximate sources.
From host Of decalogues. oral deci-
slons, judgments and prophetic teach
uAr,It
OF time codes or groups of codes, each
one in its turn adapted to and outlin-
ing the advance and increasing COM
pllcations of a growing society Called
to face the problems of health incl
dent upon the change from nomadic
20 agricultural life, and from agricul-
tural life to civic organization and
city life. Israel evolved a system of
sanitation that is still full of interest
and information despite the Oriental
setting that frames 1t in. Israel re-
garded physical well-b being as a de-
vine ordinance as made punctilious
provision for 1t. From the regulation
of the individuals diet, the careful
burying of everything that could pro-
cuce infection or contagion, the abol-
itlon OF such nox'ou objects as tam
neries, cemeteries and threshing floors
within touch of city limits, to the
rigid quarantine laws against lepro-
sy and other infectious disease, thr
whole range OF municipal life was pro-
Vded for. Nor was health the only
end sought. Cleanliness, personal and
otherwise, was strictly enjoined |
Avoidance of public gatherings in time
OF plague, refraining from putting a
coin into ones mouth, from the use
Of unelean vessels, from eating with |
unwashed hands, avoidance of heavy
meals ons retiring-all evidence the |
of personal legislation; and |
the provision for the battIements on |
the houses with specifications there |
for, the prohibitions against uncov- |
cred wells and pits, and against the |
keeping of vicious dogs, all attest the |
care for municipal safety. Citizens /
were forbidden to walk near a totter-
ing wall or even dangerous bridge, |
TO enter run or to drink in the dark |
from well. Add to all these as civic |
the religious element |
and public @elfares and civic ordin-
ances become not convenience but |
les the law, saying 1t is no mans af-
-air II / wish to expose myself to
1anger, is punishable with stripes; for
life is considered as belonging to God
Ind not to man."
IsraePs ritual is also history of
growth. There is a long development
rom the wilderness tent with it's
neagre appointments to the gorgeous
emple that crowned the royal build
ngs of Solomon. The glowing account
If the dedication, like the monument
m Bunker HILL reveals how deeply and
the life of the people was
ouched. The narrative of IsraePs rift
1al forms one of the most interesting
chapters in the history Of religion.
The priestly constitution of Ezekiel
1ears in 1t the germs of many feat