Why do we need to study the land of Palestine? What were the boundaries of Palestine? Where is it located? Name some small countries which have been prominent in history. What is the size of Palestine? How long is the coast-line? The Jordan line? What are the five natural divisions of the land? Name and bound each of the political divisions. In which of these provinces was Jesus born? In which did he pass most of his life? In which was he crucified? Name four places in Galilee, and an event connected with each? Two places in Samaria, and their events. Six places in Judea and their events. One place in Peræa and three in Philip's tetrarchy, with their events. State the six successive forms of government and their rulers in Palestine during the New Testament period. SECOND STUDY The People of Palestine In all the ancient world there was but one people among whom Christ could have come with his revelation, and through whom his message could have been given to mankind. That people was =the Jews=, in certain respects the most remarkable of all the races. I. We notice their =origin=, which shows a series of selections extending through many centuries and a training for their peculiar mission. 1. Of the three great families of earth, they sprang from the =Semitic=, which has been the mother of all the great religions of the world; a thoughtful, meditative race, rather than active and aggressive. 2. From this race =Abraham= was called, more than twenty centuries before Christ, to be the father of a great nation (Gen. 12. 1-3; 17. 1-8). He was distinguished for his worship of the one God, for his faith, and for his nobility of character. Notice his title in Jas. 2. 23; a name by which he is still known in the East, _el Khalil_, "the Friend." His influence upon his family (Gen. 18. 19). 3. Of the families descended from Abraham that of =Isaac= was chosen (Gen. 21. 12; Rom. 9. 7). All the other races of Abrahamic origin yielded to the idolatrous influences around them and lost the knowledge of God. 4. Of the two sons of Isaac one married among the Canaanites, and, as a result, his descendants became idolaters (Gen. 26. 34, 35; 36. 2). The other chose the inheritance of the covenant (Gen. 28. 20-22). His name was changed (Gen. 32. 28; 35. 10). His descendants, the =Israelites=, trained up in the true faith, became the people of God. Each of his twelve sons was the ancestor of a tribe (Exod. 1. 1-7). They continued one people for a thousand years, though part of the time divided into two kingdoms.