Hurlbut's Bible Lessons for Boys and Girls — Inside the Classic

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[Transcriber's Notes: See table at end of text for explanation of pronunciation symbols used.]

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The Old Testament and the New Testament

A COMPLETE COURSE OF STUDY

Designed to carry one through the Old Testament in one year, and through the New Testament in one year

REV. JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT, D.D.

COPYRIGHTED 1907 BY THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.

This lesson-book was prepared in order to meet a need realized in my own work as a pastor; a need which is felt by many pastors and workers among the young.

In the Home, Sunday-School and Church are children of all ages, from six to sixteen. It is found impracticable to give to all this varied company the same teaching. The lessons that are admirably adapted for boys and girls between ten and fifteen are utterly unsuited to the children between six and ten. Moreover after looking carefully, I have not been able to find satisfactory lessons which can be taught to the young children except by one especially trained for the work; and such instructions are hard to find.

After various experiments I adopted in my own teaching the following plan. We divided the children into two sections; the First Section including all over nine years old, the Second Section all those under nine.

I selected for twelve lessons, twelve Bible stories following in succession, beginning with the story of Adam and Eve. On each of these stories I prepared a catechism of very simple questions and answers, and printed them by a duplicating process. After the opening of "The Children's Hour," I told the story to all present in simple language, explaining that while the story was told to all it was for the special benefit of the smaller children; but =I noticed even the oldest boys and girls listened to it with interest equal to the youngest=.

After the Bible story and the singing of a hymn, the Second Section withdrew to another room. There the children were divided into classes, and taught the questions and answers. A copy of the leaflet containing the questions and answers of the story for the day was given to each child, to be taken home and reviewed by parents or the older members of the family.

By separating the children into two grades, the older young people can receive instruction suited to their age, and the little ones are also provided for.

So many pastors and others have requested copies of the leaflets containing the questions and answers, that it has seemed desirable to publish them; and they are now completed upon the entire Bible story, and brought together in book form for the use of teachers of children.

These lessons may be used in classes of the Sunday School, by teachers who desire a more consecutive treatment of the Bible story than is given in the International Sunday School lessons, and by parents.

There are many families where "The Story of the Bible" has been read to the interest and profit of the children. Parents will find that these lessons will help to fix the important facts of the Bible story in the minds of the little ones.

It will be seen that the questions and answers do not embrace all the stories in the book. A selection has been made of what seem to be the most important subjects, affording weekly lessons for one year, with allowance for vacations, in the Old Testament, and another year in the New Testament.

In the hope that these lessons may aid the children of to-day, who are to be the men and women of to-morrow, to gain a definite knowledge of the Word of God these lessons are sent forth.

SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHING.

1. Let the teacher in advance read over the questions and answers of the lesson, note their relation to the story as told in "The Story of the Bible," and to some extent fit the story to the lesson which is to be taught.

2. Tell the story (or stories) of the day's lesson to the children, following the plan given in the book. Use very simple words and avoid all that are in any sense technical, or above the mind of a child.

3. After telling the story for the day, the children may be divided into classes, and assistants may teach the questions and answers. But before the close of the session it would be well to ask all the questions, and have the answers given by the children.

4. In order to complete each course, in the Old Testament and in the New, within a year, it may be necessary to omit some of the lessons, where classes take a vacation in the summer. To complete the course of each year in such classes the Reviews at the end of each series of lessons might be omitted, although they will be valuable as summaries of the important facts of the lesson. Some teachers might prefer to omit from the Old Testament lessons, some of the following in order to complete the course in a year. Lesson XXVIII David and Absalom; XXX The Temple; XXXVI Elisha and Jonah; XXXVIII, XXXIX The Kings of Judah; XLIV Queen Esther. These are suggested for omission not because they are unimportant or uninteresting, but in case some lessons must be omitted. In order to complete the course in one year in the New Testament lessons, the following might be omitted, if some must be. XVI The Mothers Prayer; XX The Good Shepherd; XXIII Jesus and the Children; XXVI, XXVII The Last Teachings.

OLD TESTAMENT LESSONS.

PART FIRST.--FROM ADAM TO MOSES.

Lesson I. The Beautiful Garden.

(Tell Story 1 in "Hurlbut's Story of the Bible.")

Under the title of each lesson throughout these pages will be seen instructions to tell certain lessons, with numbers. These numbered lessons and parts correspond with the numbered lessons and parts in "Hurlbut's Story of the Bible."

Let the teacher begin by asking, "Who can tell us what is the first verse of the Bible?" When hands are raised, call on three or four children to repeat the verse in turn; then let all the class repeat it in concert. Explain what the verse means, that God made the world, and all the things in it. Tell the story of the creation of the world; of the first man and the first woman; the Garden of [=E]´d[)e]n, and how [)A]d´[)a]m and [=E]ve lost their home, and were driven out. Then teach the class the answers to the following questions. At the close of the lesson, see that every young pupil is shown just where the questions and answers on the lesson are found. The answers should be reviewed by parents, or older brothers and sisters, until the child can repeat them thoroughly, and can tell in his own language, the story of the lesson.

Questions and Answers.

=1.= What is the first verse in the Bible? ="In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."=

=2.= What does this mean? =That God made all things.=

=3.= In how many days does the Bible tell us that God made the world? =In six days.=

=4.= On what day did God rest from his work? =On the seventh day.=

=5.= Whom did God make as the first man? =[)A]d´[)a]m.=

=6.= Who was the first woman? =[=E]ve.=

=7.= What place did God give to [)A]d´[)a]m and [=E]ve as their home? =The garden of [=E]´d[)e]n.=

=8.= How long did [)A]d´[)a]m and [=E]ve live in the beautiful garden? =As long as they did what God told them to do.=

=9.= What became of them when they did not obey God's word? =They were driven out of the garden.=

Lesson II. The Earliest People.

(Tell Stories 2 and 3.)

1. In the story of C[=a]in and [=A]´b[)e]l, explain carefully what is meant by "an altar"; and how in early times people came to God in prayer. With little children, use the word "praying," rather than "worship," and "gift to God" or "offering," rather than "sacrifice."

2. In the story of "The Great Ship," explain what "an ark" was, properly a chest or box; in this story, a great ship, built not to sail fast, but to float on the water, and to hold a great amount. Perhaps it was made so large, not only to carry many animals and their food, but also very many people, if the people had been willing to be saved by it.

=1.= Who was the first child of [)A]d´[)a]m and [=E]ve after they were sent out of the garden of [=E]´d[)e]n? =C[=a]in.=

=2.= What was the name of C[=a]in's younger brother? =[=A]´b[)e]l.=

=3.= What wicked thing did C[=a]in do when the two boys grew up to be men? =He killed his brother [=A]´b[)e]l.=

=4.= What does the Bible tell of the earliest people who were on the earth? =They lived to be hundreds of years old.=

=5.= Who lived the longest of any of those people? =M[+e]-th[u:]´se-lah, who lived more than nine hundred years.=

=6.= Were those who lived at that time good people? =Nearly all of them were very wicked.=

=7.= What good man lived in those times? =[=E]´n[)o]ch, who walked with God.=

=8.= What was the end of [=E]´n[)o]ch's life? =He did not die, but God took him to himself.=

=9.= What came upon the earth on account of the wickedness of its people? =A great flood.=

=10.= What good man with his family was saved from the flood? =N[=o]´ah who built the Ark.=

=11.= On what mountain did N[=o]´ah and his family leave the ark after the flood? =On Mount Âr´a-r[)a]t.=

(Tell Stories 4 and 5. It might be well to end the story, for the present, at the foot of page 52, and leave the story of Lot for the next lesson.)

=1.= What was the name of the first large city built after the great flood? =B[=a]´bel, afterward called B[)a]b´[)y]-lon.=

=2.= What happened to the people who were building a great tower in this city? =They could not understand each other's speech.=

=3.= What did these people of different languages do? =They went away to different lands.=

=4.= Who was [=A]´br[)a]m? =A good man, who prayed to God.=

=5.= To what did all the other people of [=A]´br[)a]m's time pray? =To gods of wood and stone.=

=6.= What did God tell [=A]´br[)a]m to do? =To go to a land far away.=

=7.= What was God's promise to [=A]´br[)a]m? ="I will be with thee and bless thee."=

=8.= To what land did [=A]´br[)a]m go, obeying God's word? =To the land of C[=a]´n[)a]an.=

=9.= How did [=A]´br[)a]m and his family live in the land of C[=a]´n[)a]an? =In tents, moving from place to place.=

=10.= What did [=A]´br[)a]m build whenever he set up his tent? =An altar for prayer to God.=

Lesson IV. Abram and Lot.

(Begin at page 53 in Story 5; tell stories 6 and 8, omitting all of Story 7, except to tell that Abram's name was changed to Abraham.)

=1.= Who was L[)o]t? =He was [=A]´br[)a]m's nephew, who at first lived with [=A]´br[)a]m.=

=2.= Where did L[)o]t live, after he left his uncle [=A]´br[)a]m? =Near the wicked city of S[)o]d´om.=

=3.= What happened to L[)o]t and his family at S[)o]d´om? =They were carried away by enemies in war.=

=4.= How was L[)o]t saved from those enemies and brought back to his home? =By [=A]´br[)a]m, who drove the enemies away.=

=5.= What new name did God give to [=A]´br[)a]m? =The name of [=A]´br[)a]-h[)a]m.=

=6.= Who came to visit [=A]´br[)a]-h[)a]m in his tent? =Angels from God.=

=7.= What good news did they bring to [=A]´br[)a]-h[)a]m? =That he should have a son.=

=8.= What prayer did [=A]´br[)a]-h[)a]m make to God? =That God would not destroy the wicked city of S[)o]d´om.=

=9.= What did God promise to [=A]´br[)a]-h[)a]m? =To spare the city, if he should find ten good men in it.=

=10.= How many good men did the angels of God find in S[)o]d´om? =Only one, L[)o]t.=

=11.= What came upon S[)o]d´om, and the cities near it after the angels had sent L[)o]t away? =A rain of fire.=

Lesson V. Isaac and his Sons.

(Tell Stories 10, 11 and 12.)

=1.= What was the name of [=A]´br[)a]-h[)a]m's son? =[=I]´[s+]aac.=

=2.= What was done with [=I]´[s+]aac when he was a boy? =He was laid on an altar.=

=3.= For what purpose was [=I]´[s+]aac laid on the altar? =To be given to God.=

=4.= When [=I]´[s+]aac grew up, who became his wife? =R[+e]-b[)e]k´ah.=

=5.= What kind of a man was [=I]´[s+]aac? =He was a good man, who loved peace.=

=6.= Who were the two sons of [=I]´[s+]aac and R[+e]-b[)e]k´ah? =[=E]´s[a:]u and J[=a]´cob.=

=7.= To whom did [=E]´s[a:]u sell his right as the older son? =To his brother J[=a]´cob.=

=8.= For what price did [=E]´s[a:]u sell his birthright? =For a bowl of food.=

=9.= What else did J[=a]´cob get that was meant for [=E]´s[a:]u? =His father's blessing.=

(Tell Stories 13 and 14.)

=1.= Who was J[=a]´cob? =The younger son of [=I]´[s+]aac.=

=2.= What did J[=a]´cob see in a dream at night, when he was going far from his home? =A ladder from earth to heaven with angels on it.=

=3.= Whom did J[=a]´cob see standing at the top of the ladder? =The Lord God.=

=4.= What did God say to J[=a]´cob at that time? ="I am with thee and will keep thee."=

=5.= What promise did J[=a]´cob make after he saw the heavenly ladder and heard the voice of God? ="The Lord shall be my God."=

=6.= What other name was given to J[=a]´cob many years afterward? =The name of [)I][s+]´ra-el.=

=7.= What does the name [)I][s+]´ra-el mean? =The prince of God.=

=8.= How many sons did J[=a]´cob or [)I][s+]´ra-el have? =Twelve.=

=9.= What people came from J[=a]´cob or [)I][s+]´ra-el? =The children of [)I][s+]´ra-el or [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes.=

=10.= What are the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes called in the Bible? =The people of God.=

=11.= Why are they called "the people of God"? =Because they prayed to God, when other people were praying to idols.=

Lesson VII. Joseph in Egypt.

(Tell Stories 15 and 16.)

=1.= Who was J[=o]´[s+]eph? =One of the younger sous of J[=a]´cob.=

=2.= How did J[=a]´cob feel toward J[=o]´[s+]eph? =He loved J[=o]´[s+]eph more than his older sons.=

=3.= How did J[=o]´[s+]eph's older brothers feel toward him? =They hated him.=

=4.= How did J[=o]´[s+]eph's brothers treat J[=o]´[s+]eph? =They sold him for a slave.=

=5.= To what land was J[=o]´[s+]eph taken and sold? =To the land of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt.=

=6.= How was J[=o]´[s+]eph treated as a slave in [=E]´[.g][)y]pt? =He was put in prison.=

=7.= What is told of J[=o]´[s+]eph in the prison? ="The Lord was with J[=o]´[s+]eph."=

=8.= Who sent for J[=o]´[s+]eph in the prison? =Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h, the King of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt.=

=9.= What did J[=o]´[s+]eph do for Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h? =He told him the meaning of his dreams.=

=10.= What did J[=o]´[s+]eph tell Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h were coming upon the land? =Seven years of great plenty.=

=11.= What would come after the seven years of plenty? =Seven years of great need.=

=12.= What did King Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h do, when he heard these things? =He made J[=o]´[s+]eph ruler over all the land.=

Lesson VIII. Joseph and his Brothers.

(Tell Stories 17, 18 and 9.)

=1.= What did J[=o]´[s+]eph do after he became ruler of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt, during the seven years of plenty? =He saved up all the food.=

=2.= What was done with the food that was saved up by J[=o]´[s+]eph? =The people of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt were fed in the years of need.=

=3.= Where were J[=a]´cob and his other sons, the brothers of J[=o]´[s+]eph, living at this time? =In the land of C[=a]´n[)a]an.=

=4.= What did J[=o]´[s+]eph's brothers do to get food in the time of need? =They went down to [=E]´[.g][)y]pt.=

=5.= How did J[=o]´[s+]eph treat his brothers when they came to him? =He gave them food but did not tell them who he was.=

=6.= When they came the second time what did J[=o]´[s+]eph do? =He told them who he was, and forgave them.=

=7.= What else did J[=o]´[s+]eph do for his father and his brothers? =He sent for them all to come down to [=E]´[.g][)y]pt.=

=8.= How many were the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes or people of [)I][s+]´ra-el, when they came down to [=E]´[.g][)y]pt? =Seventy people.=

=9.= In what part of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt did they live? =In the land of G[=o]´shen.=

Lesson IX. The Youth of Moses.

=1.= How long did the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes stay in [=E]´[.g][)y]pt? =More than four hundred years.=

=2.= How did the [=E]´[.g][)y]pt-ian[s+] treat the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes while J[=o]´[s+]eph lived, and for a time afterward? =They were kind to the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes.=

=3.= What became of the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes in [=E]´[.g][)y]pt? =They grew into a great people.=

=4.= How did the King of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt who ruled many years after J[=o]´[s+]eph's time treat the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes? =He was very cruel to them.=

=5.= How did the King treat the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes cruelly? =He made them work very hard.=

=6.= What order did the King give, to keep the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes from growing in number? =That all their boy babies should be killed.=

=7.= What did one [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]te mother do with her little baby-boy? =She left him in a little boat on the river.=

=8.= Who found the baby floating in the river? =The daughter of Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h the King.=

=9.= What did the daughter of Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h do with the baby? =She made him her own son.=

=10.= What was the name of this boy? =M[=o]´[s+]e[s+].=

=11.= To what land did M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] go after he grew up? =To the land ot M[)i]d´[)i]-an.=

Lesson X. The Israelites Leaving Egypt.

(Tell Stories 21, 22 and 23.)

=1.= How long was M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] in the land of M[)i]d´[)i]-an? =Forty years.=

=2.= What was M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] at that time? =A shepherd.=

=3.= On what mountain did M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] see a wonderful sight? =On Mount H[=o]´reb, called also Mount S[=i]´n[=a]i.=

=4.= What did M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] see on this mountain? =A bush on fire, yet not burned up.=

=5.= What spoke to M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] from the burning bush? =The Lord God of [)I][s+]´ra-el.=

=6.= What did God tell M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] to do? =To bring his people out of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt.=

=7.= Who helped M[=o]´[s+]e[s+] in this work? =His brother Aâr´on.=

=8.= Who would not allow the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes to go out of [)E]´[.g][)y]pt? =Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h the King.=

=9.= What came upon Ph[=a]´ra[=o]h and the [=E]-[.g][)y]p´tian[s+] until they were willing to let the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes go? =Many plagues.=

=10.= How were the [)I][s+]´ra-el-[=i]tes at last led out of [=E]´[.g][)y]pt? =By a pillar of cloud and of fire.=

Lesson XI. The Israelites in the Wilderness.