THE GREAT GENERAL. 33

battle with the Midianites. We reminded him of his
promise, and he at once began.

Grandfather. The Midianites were, as I think I told
you before, descended from Abraham ; they took their
name from Midian, the fourth son of Abraham and
Keturah. Some of them had settled to the south of
Canaan, and had continued to worship the true God.
Moses lived among them for forty years, and his wife
was one of them. These, with whom the Israelites
were now to fight, lived to the east of Canaan, and were
idolaters. It was by the special command of God
that the Israelites entered into this war. He had
punished his own people for yielding to the temptations
of the Midianites, and now the Midianites, who were
the tempters, must meet the punishment they deserved.
The Lord told Moses that after the children of Israel
were avenged on the Midianites, he was to be gathered
to his fathers; his work in this world would be ended,
so he must leave it.

George. Did all the men who could fight go against
the Midianites ?

Grandfather. No, only one thousand from every tribe,
twelve thousand in all, for that was the number com-
manded by God. With them went: the son of Hleazar
the High Priest, who was called Phinehas ; he had al-
ready made himself famous by killing two of the chief
offenders when the Israelites were seduced to worship
strange Gods. The Lord rewarded him for that by a
promise that the priesthood should remain in his family.

D