on the ground the fruit that fell of itself from the vines and fruit trees.  With the Canaanites this was on account of a superstition; the gleanings and the grain in the corners of the fields were for the Baal, or god of the field.  If they were taken he would be angry.  The Hebrews kept the old custom, but with a different aim—­not to keep the Baal in good humor, but to make life a bit easier for the poor and unfortunate among their own neighbors.  It was in accordance with this law that Ruth, although a foreigner, was allowed to glean after the reapers in the barley field of Boaz of Bethlehem, and thus obtained food to keep herself and her mother alive.  So among these lowly people were being laid the foundations of that greater and better civilization for which Moses had prepared the way, and of which Abraham had dimly dreamed.

STUDY TOPICS

1.  What parts of this chapter illustrate the special talent of the Hebrews for discovering good in things partly evil?

2.  How could this talent be used in our American life?  For example, in the matter of moving picture shows?

3.  Read Leviticus 19.  This chapter contains laws which were made during the period of the settlement in Canaan.  Which of them seem to you to be in the spirit of Moses?

CHAPTER XI

LESSONS IN COOPERATION

After the Hebrews began to be settled in Canaan, not only were they tempted to neglect the poor and unfortunate; they also failed to stand together against their enemies.  Each tribe and clan seemed to care only for its own safety.

The men of Judah in the south, the Ephraimites in central Canaan, and the Naphtalites in the northern hills, and Gilead and Reuben across the Jordan—­each group tried to fight its own battles.  Often they fought with each other.  There was a bloody war between the men of Gilead, and their cousins, the Ephraimites on the opposite side of the Jordan.  The Ephraimites crossed the river and attacked the Gileadites, and were badly beaten; when they tried to get back home again, they found the Gileadites holding the fords of the river.  Each fugitive was asked, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said “No,” they would order him to say “Shibboleth” (a Hebrew word).  And if he said “Sibboleth” (the Gileadite dialect), and did not pronounce it exactly right, then they would kill him.

This was only one example of the many wars between the tribes.  There was no central government to keep the peace.  This age in their history is sometimes called the period of the Judges.  But these judges did not rule over the whole land.  Most of them were only petty champions, each of whom helped his own tribe to defend itself against its enemies.

SISERA AND DEBORAH