A town on the Euphrates, which was often the scene of
great battles.

_Bethel and Dan_ were the two extremes of the northern kingdom of
Israel. Both had perhaps been sacred places long before.

_Tirzah_. A town in a beautiful situation, the capital of North Israel
from the time of Jeroboam till the time of Omri, who built Samaria.

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TALES OF THE MACCABEES.

_Kingdom of the Greeks_. Alexander the Great conquered all western
Asia as far as the borders of India. After his death the empire was
divided among his generals. One of the divisions became the kingdom of
Syria, and it was Syria that ruled over Judaea in the time of this
heroic story. Because the kingdom began with the Greek rule, and still
kept more or less of the Greek customs and religion, it was still
called the kingdom of the Greeks.

_Modin_. A town below the hills of Judaea, to the west, not
mentioned in either the Old or the New Testament.

_Beth-horon_. A valley leading west from the hills of Judaea,
somewhat north of Jerusalem. In the early wars of Joshua and the
Judges this was also the scene of many battles.

_Bethsura_. A town in the mountains not far from Hebron. It had long
been a fortress of Judaea.

_Azotus and Askelon_. Towns in the southwest of Judah.

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[Illustration]
RUINS OF BETH-EL.

Situated high up on the central range of Palestine, Bethel was from
the earliest times a "holy place." It reached the height of its
importance under the reign of Jeroboam II., who made it the
religious capital of the northern kingdom, and instituted there the
worship of the golden calves.
[End illustration]

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MEMORY VERSES

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MEMORY VERSES

_One for Each Week of the Year_.

The Lord reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed
with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is
stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old:
thou art from everlasting.--_Psalms 93:1,2_.

Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his
sanctuary.--_Psalms 96:6_.

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the
small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very
little thing.--_Isaiah 40:15_.

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth
shall go before thy face.--_Psalms 89:14_.

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment
ar