be slain. But upon the
death of the high priest he will be allowed to return home, to dwell
in peace again.

[Illustration: FLEEING TO THE CITY OF REFUGE.]

JOSHUA'S EXHORTATION.

Exhortation seems a hard word, but it simply means to strongly urge to
good deeds, and this is what our artist shows Joshua to be doing.

Joshua is now an old man, and the Israelites are settled peaceably in
Canaan. He has called them before him, with their elders, and heads,
and judges, and officers. He tells them that he is old and about to
die, and reminds them of the land that has already been conquered and
divided among them, and of that which still remains to be conquered;
urging them to be "very courageous to keep and to do all that is
written in the book of the law of Moses, that they turn not aside
therefrom to the right hand or to the left." He bids them take good
heed therefore unto themselves, that they love the Lord their God; and
warns them that if they go back and do wickedly, the anger of the Lord
will be kindled against them, and they will perish quickly from off
the good land which God has given them.

In his address, Joshua said, "Ye know in all your hearts and in all
your souls, that not one good thing hath failed of all the good things
which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass
unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." How faithful is God!
He never fails in His promises: and we are told He is unchangeable, so
that whatever He promises now He will fulfil, and whatever warnings He
gives will surely come to pass. How good is it to have this holy and
wise God for our Father, and to know that He promises abundantly to
bless all those that trust in the Saviour, Jesus Christ. But let us
take heed of the warnings against sin given in God's Holy Word.

[Illustration: JOSHUA EXHORTING THE PEOPLE.]

GIDEON AND THE FLEECE.

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites turned away from God, and
served idols. Therefore the evils came upon them of which they had
been warned by Moses and Joshua. But at different times God, seeing
their distress, raised up "judges" to deliver them from their enemies,
and to judge over them. The first of these judges was named Othniel.
He was Caleb's nephew. The last was Samuel. One that lived about one
hundred years before Samuel was named Gideon.

The Israelites were at this time in great trouble. They were hiding in
dens and caves because of the Mi