The Complete Club Book for Women Part 16
The story of Moses the Deliverer may be introduced by reading from the Bible the account of the finding of the baby by the princess, and his adoption. Tell of his later history and his resolution to be the leader of his people, and read of the pa.s.sage of the Red Sea, and Miriam's Song of Triumph. Follow by descriptions of episodes of special interest in the wanderings in the desert, the golden calf, the story of Korah and that of Balaam.
One paper should take Moses as a Lawgiver for its subject, with a brief outline of the remarkable Hebrew legislation; notice that this was what kept the Jews as a separate race. Have an estimate of Moses, comparing him with other great national leaders. Show a picture of Michael Angelo's statue; have recited the farewell of Moses to his people, given in Monitors "Modern Reader's Bible," in poetical form. The old poem "The Burial of Moses," by Cecil F. Alexander, in Warner's "Library of the World's Best Literature," may also be given.
Next will come the study of Joshua the Conqueror. At this meeting have a map of Palestine and use it to show the settling of the Hebrews in the land. Read the story of the expedition of the spies and its result, the siege of Jericho and, last, Joshua's farewell. Compare Moses and Joshua, and show the differences in their character and work.
III--THE HEROES
The hero stories of the nation come in at this point. Deborah and Sisera is a subject often used in poetry and painting, and the song of Deborah, one of the earliest pieces of verse in history, should be given. The story of Gideon, full of picturesque detail, and the pathetic story of Jephthah's daughter may be read, as well as the many references to the latter in literature. The curious story of Samson will follow this, and Milton's Samson Agonistes may be read in part. Close the study of the period with a reading of the entire book of Ruth, one of the most charming of Oriental idyls.
At the meeting following this last one, compare the Bible heroes with those of other nations of the same time, particularly those described by Homer. Bulfinch's "Age of Fable" may be used as a basis for the study.
IV--THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM
This is one of the historical sections of the Bible, and is mostly in prose. In studying it a good plan is to have some one write a paper briefly outlining the period and giving the main events clearly. Then the different men of importance should have separate studies. One of the first is that of Saul, and at its beginning comes in the lovely little story of Samuel, which may be read, together with the short Song of Hannah.
The account of the anointing of Saul may be given, and in this connection note that the old custom is still in use to-day in the coronation of kings. Have a reading from Browning's "Saul" and discuss the two points of view.
Next will come the story of David and Goliath, the anointing of David, the feud between Saul and David and the idyllic story of the affection of David and Jonathan. Brief readings from all of these should ill.u.s.trate the papers or talks upon them. Notice the other famous friendships in history, and compare them with that of the two Hebrews.
The subject of witchcraft may be briefly touched upon in connection with the old story of the Witch of Endor, and its singular persistence through the history of all nations down to the present time.
David's lament over Saul and Jonathan should be read and compared with other elegies, and also that over the death of Absalom; notice the difference in spirit between them.
The life of Solomon is full of unusual touches. Read his dream, the story of the judgment about the infant, and then the majestic dedication of the Temple, the last, one of the stately pieces of literature of the Bible. The visit of the Queen of Sheba may be read after this, and the allusions to it in literature noted.
V--THE DIVIDED KINGDOMS AND THE EXILE
The divided kingdoms furnish many episodes of literary value. The stories of Elijah and Elisha have a marked dramatic quality; the incident of Naaman and Gehazi is a bit of romance; the fall of Samaria is a tragedy, as is the fall of Jerusalem, about one hundred and fifty years later. There is a bit of interesting work which some clubs might like to undertake, the comparison of the literary style of Kings and Chronicles, one colored by the prophetic and the other by priestly ideas.
The subject of the Exile may be used in one meeting, as it relates itself to a considerable part of Hebrew literature, especially in poetry. One prose pa.s.sage may be read, the brief book of Esther, which has always been of great importance to the Jews, and full of interest.
VI--HEBREW POETRY
This has no regular rhyme, nor is it divided into feet like the cla.s.sical poems of Greece and Rome. Instead it has a certain stately sweep, a rhythm, which is the very essence of poetry. In structure it may be compared to Walt Whitman's rhythmical prose.
As the stage was unknown to the Hebrews, the drama was strange to them also. The book of Job is the princ.i.p.al poetic exception to this, although some authorities place the Song of Solomon as a versified drama also. Observe here the difference between the Hebrews and Greeks, and give reasons for it.
Occasional bits of ancient folk song may be found in the historical parts of the Bible: read the "Song of the Well" (Numbers xxi, 18), the "Song of Lamech" (Genesis IV, 23) and the "Song of the Bow" (II Samuel, I, 18-27). The riddles of Samson also come under the head of folk song.
The poetry of the Bible divides into two cla.s.ses: lyrical poetry, such as the Song of Solomon, Lamentations, the Psalms, and certain pa.s.sages in the prophets; and the so-called wisdom poetry--Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. The latter, however, come more properly under the head of philosophy. Notice one of the peculiarities of Hebrew verse, especially in this last division, the curious parallelism which is constantly found.
The extent of the book of Psalms is so great that selections are difficult to make. But by taking Moulton's "Modern Reader's Bible"
(Macmillan & Co.), and Courtney's "The Literary Man's Bible" (Crowell), and Henry Van d.y.k.e's "Story of the Psalms" (Scribner), the best will be found, and these should be read. Notice especially the wonderful imagery, so characteristic of the Oriental mind.
Many great poets have worked on the book of Psalms, trying to make transcriptions and translations, and it will be most interesting to look up some of them. Clement Marot, Martin Luther, Milton, Addison, Sir Philip Sidney, and many others have used them, and any hymn book will show how many familiar hymns are based on them. Programs might be illuminated by choir music, such as "Had I the Wings of a Dove," "How Lovely are Thy Dwellings Fair," "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," and a hundred other lovely songs, the themes all taken from Psalms.
VII--PROPHECY
Prophecy has been called the most typical part of Hebrew literature, and as such it should receive especial study. But prophecy does not mean prediction, but teaching, especially the teaching of morals.
A good way of handling this subject is to divide it into three parts, one on Isaiah, one on Jeremiah, and a third on Ezekiel, briefly describing the historical conditions under which they were written, with readings from each. The minor prophets might also have three papers, with readings showing the quality of each.
The conscientious severity of the prophets as the great moral teachers of their times should be emphasized, and their relation to our modern ethical ideas may be touched upon. Matthew Arnold's "Isaiah of Jerusalem" may be read in this connection. Carlyle is often spoken of as embodying the spirit of the Hebrew prophets. One paper might speak of the connection between the prophets and Puritanism. A meeting might be given to the great oratorios which have been written upon themes drawn from the writings of the prophets, with selections.
VIII--PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy of the Bible is embodied in the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job. These are what are called "late" books, and lack the fiery quality of the more original period of the prophets. The prudential, cautious spirit of Proverbs should be ill.u.s.trated with quotations.
Ecclesiastes represents the hesitating, somewhat skeptical aspect of human thought, and is in some respects the book of the Bible which comes nearest to the modern temper. Plumtre's handbook on Ecclesiastes (Cambridge University Press) has in its appendix comparisons between this book, Shakespeare, Tennyson, and Omar Khayyam which are interesting to refer to.
Carlyle called the book of Job the greatest literary creation of history, for it first deals with the problem of human suffering.
Professor Genung has arranged this book in dramatic form, and clubs should read this aloud, in part at least.
IX--THE NEW TESTAMENT
Coming to the New Testament, it may be divided into three parts: History, correspondence, and allegory. The history comprises the four Gospels and Acts. A preliminary paper might show the varying points of view of the authors and compare their literary styles. Read from Matthew part of the Sermon on the Mount, noting his Jewish outlook always; from Mark, part of chapter III, showing him as the historian of action; from Luke (the writer was a physician), the story of the Good Samaritan; from John the philosophical prologue and the parable of the vine, displaying his mystical mind. Make a special study of the literary quality of the parables.
From Acts may be read pa.s.sages showing the historian's vivid descriptions; see the riot at Philippi, Paul's address at Athens, and the shipwreck.
Letters form the greater part of the New Testament. Those of Paul should be arranged chronologically, and a brief account given of the circ.u.mstances under which each was written.
Some of the striking pa.s.sages in the Epistles should be read, such as chapter XIII in I Corinthians which has been called a Hymn in Praise of Love. The whole of the little Epistle to Philemon may be read, to show the position of the early church on slavery. Reference should be made to the fact that Matthew Arnold said that Paul stood among the seven greatest literary men of history.
The book of Revelation is of immense interest. Have a preliminary paper on the position of Jews and Christians at this time in relation to the Romans, and show the necessity of concealing the meaning of the book.
Follow this with another on the allegory in literature: Spenser's "Faerie Queene" and Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" are two famous examples of its use. After this read some of the famous pa.s.sages from the Revelation; notice the extraordinary wealth of imagery and the stately beauty of its style.
X--SUBJECTS RELATED TO THE BIBLE
To these meetings on the direct study of the Bible may be added almost as many more on subjects nearly related to it.
One of these is the Bible in art. From the early days of the catacombs to the present time, themes have been drawn from it for paintings and sculpture, mosaics and gla.s.s. The old masters' work was almost wholly based on Bible stories or sacred subjects. The study of Italian art shows this in its most marked form, and many pictures should be shown.
Notice also such books as "The Bible in Art" by Estelle M. Hurll, and "The Bible Beautiful," by the same author (The Page Company), and "The Gospel Story in Art," by John La Farge (Macmillan), as well as reproductions of the Tissot pictures.
The Bible in music is a theme already suggested, but meetings may be arranged on this by themselves, or each program may have selections appropriate to the day.
As a source of literary inspiration the use of the Bible is world-wide.
From Milton and his successors to Browning and Tennyson, all have drawn largely from its wealth. The t.i.tles of novels, as well as their plots, have largely been taken from the same source. Roll calls might take up this topic.
What great men have said about the Bible is an interesting subject. "The Women of the Bible" is the t.i.tle of a book. Shakespeare's use of the Bible has also been noticed, and could be used extensively.