Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-15
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" ~ LIZZIE O THOMAS G2zA5 y

There have been several inquiries cor
corning the Apocrypha. so i am going
70 chat with you a little about that
wonderful collection of stories OF the
Jewish people There are Il different
stories or histories that are in line
with the Bible They have not been ac-
ceptel as inspired portions Of the Bible
and are not in the Saint James version.
/ have found one book store that keeps
them and the price is 70 cents The
stories and biographies recorded in the
Apocrypha are beautiful and II you are
fond OF art you will remember that IN
every famous gallery in Europe there
Il = picture OF Susannah and the two
Jewish men who tried TO spoil her good
name. Another famous one OF the Apcc-
rypha is Judith. There are innumerapie
pictures OF her. these two stories seem
ed to- inspire all the Old masters and
every art gallery claims at least one
picture Il
believe that win tell you the story
OF Judith. for there Is magnificent
song commemorating her faith and he
roIsm.
King Nebuchadnezzar desired to con-
Quer the Modes and commanded all his
subjects 70 assist him. Certain nations
refused and il made him so furious that
ne decided that he would destroy all the
nations that refused 70 acknO ledge him
a. sovereign or the whole world. de
sent cut Holofernes, the chief captain or
Assyria, to execute his vengeance. This
Holofernes left Ninevah and journeye1
a three days journey Then he went
toward the hill country. he destroyed all
the cities and despofled all the land
t. he crossed the Euphrates. He went
through Mes0porAmia and destroyed all
the high cities TIL he came to the land
Of the Israelites. he went into the
plain OF Damascus in the time OF their
harvest and burned up all their fields
and destroyed their flocks and herds AM
their cities BY this time there was
dire distress and when Tyre ant Sidon
heard that the great ayenger was IN
their country they sent ambassadors
AM promised to go TO war or ANYTHING
that the great king demanded. So they
sent ambassadors unto him 10 treat Tor
peace. saying, Behold we. the servants
OF Nebuchadnezzar, the great king. lie
before thee: use Us as snail be worthy
IN thy sight
All the land round about did the same
and he certainly did use them as seem
ed good in his sight. He destroyed ali
their defenses. cut down their
groves, destroyed all their idols and
commanded them to worship only Ne
huchadnezzar.
Then he pitched HIS tents against the
strait OF Judea and he tarried a month
that he might gather all his army. The
children OF Israel were sore afraid for
Jerusalem. and for the temple Of the
Lo<d their God. They had newly re-
turned from captivity anu JUST recon
sscrated the vessels and the altar and
taae houses sanctified to God. So they
fortified their cities and strengthened
their army and got provisions for
long siege.
or course all this was told 10 Holo-
fernes and it made him very angry and
he called air the princes OF Moab and
the captains OF Ammon and the COVER
nors Of the sea coast, and he asked who
were the peope who determined not to
meet him as had done all the inhabi-
tants OF the west
Then Achier. the captain OF the sons
or Ammon. gave him the history OF the
Jews from the time OF Abraham, and
how the Jews ''worshipped a God whom
they knew. the God OF heaven This
Achier told OF God delivering them from
the plaques and all Of their victories
over their enemies And whilst they
sfnned not they prospered because the
God that hated iniquity was with them"
Acaior told him that II the people were
living in accordance to Gods laws it
would not be well TO so up against them.
but II they were not living right that It
would be good time TO go
Hoiofernes scorned the idea OF any
God helping against him and called all
his armies 20 surround the children OF
Israel. He besieged the city OF Beth
nIia and cut OF their water supply.
Finally the people began 20 drop In the
streets and die OF thirst: then they be-
sieged the priests to make peace with
the great king who had them in his
power. Ozias did not want 20 give up so
soon, he believed that God would de-
liver them. but. as in the days OF Jesus
life on earth, the people wanted things
their own way and said they would bear
the blame Then said Oziss 10 them.
Brethren. be Of good courage: let US yet
endure i've days. In which space the Lord