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Fundamentals of Christian Education
Such was the training of Moses in the lowly cabin home in Goshen;
of Samuel, by the faithful Hannah; of David, in the hill-dwelling at
Bethlehem; of Daniel, before the scenes of the captivity separated
him from the home of his fathers. Such, too, was the early life of
Christ, in the humble home at Nazareth; such the training by which
the child Timothy learned from the lips of his mother Eunice, and his
grandmother Lois, the truths of Holy Writ.
Further provision was made for the instruction of the young, by
the establishment of the “school of the prophets.” If a youth was eager
to obtain a better knowledge of the Scriptures, to search deeper into
the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and to seek wisdom from above,
that he might become a teacher in Israel, this school was open to him.
By Samuel the schools of the prophets were established to serve
as a barrier against the widespread corruption resulting from the in-
iquitous course of Eli’s sons, and to promote the moral and spiritual
welfare of the people. These schools proved a great blessing to Israel,
promoting that righteousness which exalteth a nation, and furnish-
ing it with men qualified to act, in the fear of God, as leaders and
counselors. In the accomplishment of this object, Samuel gathered
companies of young men who were pious, intelligent and studious.
These were called the sons of the prophets. The instructors were men
not only versed in divine truth, but those who had themselves enjoyed
communion with God, and had received the special endowment of His
Spirit. They enjoyed the respect and confidence of the people, both
for learning and piety.
In Samuel’s day there were two of these schools,—one at Ramah,
the home of the prophet, and the other at Kirjath-jearim, where the ark
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then was. Two were added in Elijah’s time, at Jericho and Bethel, and
others were afterward established at Samaria and Gilgal.
The pupils of these schools sustained themselves by their own
labor as husbandmen and mechanics. In Israel this was not considered
strange or degrading; it was regarded a crime to allow children to grow
up in ignorance of useful labor. In obedience to the command of God,
every child was taught some trade, even though he was to be educated
for holy office. Many of the religious teachers supported themselves by
manual labor. Even so late as the time of Christ, it was not considered
anything degrading that Paul and Aquila earned a livelihood by their
labor as tentmakers.