the blade, for he drew not the
sword out of his body; and it came out behind. Then Ehud went forth
into the porch, and shut the doors of the room upon him, and locked
them. Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and,
behold, the doors of the room were locked.

And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not
the doors of the room; therefore they took the key, and opened them:
and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries,
and escaped to Seirah.

And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the
hill country of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him
from the hill country, and he before them. And he said unto them,
"Follow after me: for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the
Moabites into your hand."

And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan against the
Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they smote of Moab
at that time about ten thousand men, every strong man, and every man
of valor; and there escaped not a man. So Moab was subdued that day
under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

{317}{318}

[Illustration]
A CAMP IN THE DESERT
The black tents of the Arabs on the desert sands.

From a photograph belonging to Mr. S. E. Bridgman
and used by his kind permission.

"The Midianites came up with their cattle and their tents, they came
in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were
without number: and they came into the land to destroy it." This is
no doubt just the way in which the camps of the Midianites looked
in the old days when they raided the farms of the Israelites.
[End illustration]

{319}

GIDEON

_The Story of a Brave Man Who Freed His People from Oppression_.

(There was a time when every year one of the tribes of the desert
which lies south and east of Palestine raided the farms and pastures
of the Israelites, plundering and burning, and carrying off the crops
and herds.)

The Midianites came up with their cattle and their tents, they came in
as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without
number: and they came into the land to destroy it. And Israel was
brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried
unto the Lord.

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord
because of Midian, th