2. Read 1 Kings 20. 1-34 for some light on Ahab as an able king. What
qualities are displayed by him, in the narrative of this chapter?

3. Look up Rechabites in the Bible dictionary for a more complete
narrative about them.

4. Is war more of a curse to the common people to-day than in ancient
times, or less? Why? What classes still suffer most from war, the rich
and powerful or the common people?




CHAPTER XV

A NEW KIND OF RELIGION


Among all ancient peoples, including the Hebrews, a large part of
religion was the burning of animal sacrifices on altars. Whenever a
sheep or lamb or kid was slaughtered for food the blood was poured out
on the sacred rock, or altar, in which the god was supposed to dwell.
Afterward the fat was burned on the same rock. It was believed that
the god in the rock drank the blood and smelled the fragrant odor of
the burning fat.

=Whole burnt offerings.=--On special occasions, such as a wedding, the
birth of a child, the beginning of a war, or the celebration of a
victory, the entire animal was burned on the altar. The first-born