THE WILDERNESS. 19

write this in a book, for that the remembrance of Amalek
was to be put out from under heaven. This is the first
mention we find of writing in the Bible. The Amalekites
were descendants of Esau, and ought to have had a more
kindly feeling to the children of Jacob. Sometimes the
nearest of kin are the bitterest foes; so the sons of Esau
were the first enemies whom the sons of J acob encoun-
tered in the wilderness. Because Amalek was overcome
when fighting against the Lord’s chosen, we learn that
all who may attempt to resist the will of God must be
forced to yield to Him: because Moses, when he prayed,
brought victory to his people, so if we look to God for
strength, it will be given according as we need it.

Then grandfather ceased speaking, and told us that
this was the end of the second battle in the Bible. We
all asked him to tell us about another, so he went on.

Grandfather. About a year and a half after this the
Israelites had arrived at the borders of the promised
land. They chose spies to send in before them to exa-
mine the country, and bring them a report of it. ‘There
were twelve spies—one from each tribe—and they were
forty days in examining the land; they went through
it from one end to the other.

Johnnie asked grandfather if the people did not won-
der at so many men going about in their country.

Grandfather. We aré not told what the natives
thought, but we know that they did not do any harm
to them, for the spies returned in safety. They brought
pomegranates and figs, and a bunch of grapes so large