102 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

of thick trees ; there, in the centre, their images were
placed, and there, before those contemptible deities, the
Israelite and the Canaanite bowed down together. The
sin of the chosen people called loudly for punishment.
The Lord was greatly displeased, and He permitted a
foreign prince to bring them under his yoke. They
were first subjected by Chushan-rishathaim, the king of
that part of Syria which lies between the rivers Tigris
and Euphrates. From its situation it derives its name,
Mesopotamia, which means in the midst of rivers. The
territory of Chushan-rishathaim lies distant from the
borders of Canaan, so that doubtless the Israelites saw
no reason for dreading an attack from him ; yet he was
the instrument appointed to bring them to a sense of
their duty. After paying tribute for eight years to the
King of Mesopotamia, the people were humbled, and
cried to the Lord. When they were prosperous it was
to Baal that they prayed. When they were in trouble
they sought deliverance from God. We learn from this,
and many instances like this, that adversity is often a
greater blessing than prosperity.

George. Was it long after the Israelites took posses-
sion of Canaan that they were subdued by the King of
Mesopotamia ?

Grandfather. It was thirty-eight years after they
entered Canaan. Two thousand five hundred and ninety-
one years after the creation of the world, one thousand
four hundred and thirteen before the Christian era,
Chushan-rishathaim brought the Israelites into subjec-