eeks later there was a royal
wedding in the capital. Amuba had at once allotted one of the largest
houses in the royal inclosure to Chebron, and to this he took Mysa
while Amuba was making the tour of his country, receiving the homage
of the people, hearing complaints, and seeing that the work of
preparation for the defense of the country was being carried on, after
which he returned to the capital. The wedding was celebrated in great
state, though it was observed that the religious ceremonies were
somewhat cut short, and that Amuba abstained from himself offering
sacrifice on the altars of the gods. The ceremony was a double one,
for at the same time Chebron was united to Ruth.

For the next year the preparations for war went on vigorously and the
Rebu army was got into a state of great efficiency. Amuba and Jethro
felt confident that it could successfully withstand any invading force
from Egypt, but, as they had hoped, Egypt made no effort to regain her
distant conquest, but was content to rank the land of the Rebu among
the list of her tributary nations and to accept the diminished
tribute.

Once prepared for war, Amuba turned his attention to the internal
affairs of the country. Many of the methods of government of Egypt
were introduced. Irrigation was carried out on a large scale and the
people were taught no longer to depend solely upon their flocks and
herds. Stone took the place of mud in the buildings of the towns,
rigorous justice was enforced throughout the land, wagons and carts
similar to those of Egypt took the place of pack animals, which had
hitherto been used for transport, improved methods of agriculture were
taught, and contentment and plenty reigned in the land.

Chebron remained Amuba's chief minister, adviser, and friend, and
under their joint efforts the Rebu rose from the condition of a mere
settled tribe to that of a small but flourishing nation.

Another change was made, but more slowly. Soon after his ascension
Amuba assembled many of the leading men and chief priests in the
country, and explained to them the convictions held by himself and
Chebron and their wives, that there was but one God who ruled over
the world, and that this knowledge was the highest wisdom of the
Egyptians. He explained to the priests that he did not wish to
overthrow the temples or disturb the worship of the former gods, but
that he desired that the people should not remain in ignorance, but
should be taught that