Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-26
Tuo Famous Women :: Of O /: Bible


OF Rebekah, one of the many interest
ing women of the Bible, we know very
little. her life being comprised merely Of
three scenes-her courtship and mar
riage; the birth of the twins; the decep-
ton of the husband.
The first of these stories, that of the
courtship. is charming picture of the
patriarchal time. Race and religion
combined in the heart Of Abraham
against having his son Isaac marry a
pagan woman from the Canaanites. Such
union was especially abhorent to him.
1t was on account of this fear that
Abraham called to him his faithful serv-
ant Eliezer and requested him to MI
CRATE to Abraham's country to find a
wife for his son.
Eliezer starts on his mission with
many presents to serve both as a pledge
of his So-&i faith and rs s.n<eSns % IN
vitation to the maiden whom he may Sc
lect.
AS he neared the city Major he hit
upon the ingenious expedient to serve as
test Of woman's character. In the
Orient it was the function of women to
come out from the city TO the well, draw
the water for domestic purposes, T2lnd
heads. Eliezer felt that he would be bet
ter able to Judge of the women of this
section If he would not reveal the object
of his visit, but instead would Use little
strategy. Let it come TO pass that the
damsel to whom shall say, Let down
thy pitcher, I pray thee, that l may
drink and she shall say, Drink, and
will give thy camels drink also,' let
the same be her that tnou hast appoint
ed for thy servant Isaac.
While Eliezer was offering this prayer
Rebekah appeared, went down the hewn
steps to the we'll, filled her pitcher, and
came up again. She was fair to look up
on and Eliezer went forth to proffer his
request for a drink. She answered in
almost the very terms of his petition.
Drink" she said, "and 1 will draw
water for thy camels also, until they
have done drinking" Thereupon he fol-
lowed the clew thus put into his hands,
asked for the hospitality of her home,
disclosed his errand, and fulfilled his
commission by offering the hand of his
masters son in marriage. The parents
gave their consent, likewise Rebekah;
she received the jewels as betrothal Of
fering,, and with Eliezer started on the
NO. q. HI
Miriam, one of the chief women fig
ures of the Bible, Is drawn In the He
brew scriptures in a wonderfully vivid
ad distinct way. There are. as in the
life of Rebekah, practically but three
separate sketches of heI. In each OF
them she is presented in a different
attitude. In the first, she is a little
girl standing on the banks OF the river
Nile, watching over her baby brother
as he floats, in his ark Of reeds, among
the tall flags by the waters edge. for
she was the sister Of Moses.
In the second scene we find her, tenn
brel in hand, exulting over the destruc-
ton Of the Egyptians in the Red sea,
and leading the jubilant .somen OF Israel
in their choric song and dance. And
in the third, she is an aged but Animal
ed prophecies. taking part with her
brother Aaron in a public complaint
against Moses, and speaking words Of
reproaoh against him. In all OF these
sketches the character of Miriam shows
a striking individuality.
Miriam was a person Of force with
mind and will Of her own, and on the
whole, a most important factor in the
life of her people. In the domestic
sphere she played her part well. She
was faithful as the nurse. In the pub
lie sphere she fitted the leading role
she played. And even when her con-
duct was not above reproach she was
thought of as one whose character and
position entitled her, to respect.
Josephus tells US that she was the
wife of the we'll known leader among
the Israelites, Hur, who was chosen
to be one of the judges Of the people
while Moses went up into Mount ST.
mai.
In scene first Of her life, when Jo-
chebed, the mother of Moses, hid her
baby in the waters of the Nile to pro-
tect it from Pharoah, Miriam was plac-
ed to guard her brothers safety. At
this time she is described as being 10
years old. Miriam was watching when
the Egyptian kings daughter came
down to the river with her maidens to
wash. When the princess discovered
him, she suggested nurse for the baby.
Shall I fetch one?" suggested Miriam.
She ran to the house to call her moth
er. Moses was safe. The princess took
him under her wing. His mother took
him to her breast. Everything was set
tied by the ready wit of the girl Mir
lam .->-s-.-- $50 -
Later in life Miriam must have been
highly gratified at the part she played