president, N. H. Knorr, made arrangements for transfer of our bookbindery equipment to Wiesbaden. Much to my joy, I was asked to go along and aid in its installation. It was a wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with many of our dear brothers in the faith in Germany.

As I look back over the years in which Jehovah has kindly permitted me to serve him, I can say that the “lines themselves have fallen for me in pleasant places.” (Ps. 16:6) True, age is now making itself felt and physical troubles assail me. At times I regret that I am lacking my former energies. Nevertheless, it is good to know that I can still have a useful, though small, share in making known Jehovah’s name.

I thank Jehovah for all his mercies, for his guidance, and for the great privilege that has been mine to share with other dedicated servants in his grand work. May he continue to sustain all in his happy organization.

Questions From Readers

● On page 326 of the book Life Everlasting​—in Freedom of the Sons of God, there is an illustration of Noah’s three sons, showing one with skin darker than that of the others. How is it determined that one was dark-complexioned? From whom did the Negroid peoples descend?​—S.D., U.S.A.

The illustration mentioned presents three men slaughtering an animal. The three men represent Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s three sons. (Gen. 10:1) The one with skin darker than the others represents Ham. Ham’s name means “swarthy” or “brown,” and it also carries the suggestion of “hot.” In The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopædia, Volume II, page 754, the comment is made: “The general opinion is that all the Southern nations derived their origin from Ham (to which the Hebrew root Khawm, not unlike the Greek. . . , burned faces, lends some force).” A Dictionary of the Bible, by James Hastings, relates the Hebrew word for Ham to an Egyptian word meaning “black” and shows that this Egyptian word is an allusion to the dark soil of Egypt as compared with the desert sand. It seems reasonable that if Ham received his name at birth, probably he was a child with skin that was somewhat darker than that of his brothers, and the illustration indicates this.

Ham had four sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan. The descendants of Mizraim, such as Philistines and Egyptians, were not Negroid. (Gen. 10:6, 13, 14) Canaan also was not Negroid, neither were his descendants. However, Ham’s son Put is shown on Bible maps as having settled in the east of Africa, his descendants being Negroid. (Nah. 3:9) As for Ham’s son Cush, he is very evidently a principal progenitor (perhaps along with Put) of the Negroid or dark-complexioned branch of the human family (Jer. 13:23), as indicated by the areas of settlement of certain of his descendants. (Gen. 10:7) This fact disproves the theory advanced by some who incorrectly endeavor to apply to the Negro peoples the curse pronounced on Canaan, for Canaan, the brother of Cush, did not produce any Negro descendants but, rather, was the forefather of the various Canaanite tribes of Palestine. (Gen. 9:24, 25; 10:6, 15-18) Since it was from Ham that the dark-complexioned peoples descended, the aforementioned illustration appropriately depicts Ham as being somewhat darker in skin color than his brothers, in harmony with the meaning of his name.

● Was the prophecy of a famine by the Christian prophet Agabus to be fulfilled earth wide? Does secular history record such?​—J.E., U.S.A.

Agabus, together with other prophets, came down from Jerusalem to Antioch of Syria during the year of the apostle Paul’s stay there. Agabus foretold through the holy spirit “that a great famine was about to come upon the entire inhabited earth [Greek, oikouméne].” (Acts 11:27, 28) Concerning the use of the word oikouméne in this text, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament states: “The word here used . . . usually denotes the inhabitable world, the parts of the earth which are cultivated and occupied. It is sometimes limited, however, to denote an entire land or country, in contradistinction from the parts of it; thus, to denote the whole of the land of Palestine in distinction from its parts, or to denote that an event would have reference to all the land, and not be confined to one or more parts, as Galilee, Samaria, etc.” An example of the use of this word in its limited scope, to denote an entire realm or kingdom, is Luke 2:1: “Now in those days a decree went forth from Caesar Augustus for all the inhabited earth to be registered.”

It appears that the Christians in Antioch understood the prophecy of Agabus as applying to the land of Palestine, since the next Ac 11 verse (29) states that they determined “to send a relief ministration to the brothers dwelling in Judea.” As the account states, the famine “did take place,” the prophecy being fulfilled during the reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54 C.E.). (Acts 11:28) The Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, XX, 2, 5; 5, 2) refers to this “great famine” and indicates that it lasted for three or more years.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

The thirty-second chapter 32 of Isaiah calls attention to God’s Kingdom rule as the means that will bring peace. Even now, as foretold in that Isa chapter 32, peace exists among the Christian congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses. They are desirous of preserving their possession of Christian peace and inviting others to share it with them. To extend this invitation to others, during September Jehovah’s witnesses will be offering in their house-to-house ministry the fine Bible-study books Life Everlasting​—in Freedom of the Sons of God and “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie,” either one, along with a booklet, for 50c.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PENNSYLVANIA CORPORATION

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania will hold the annual meeting of the members of the corporation on Sunday, October 1, 1967. In view of the fact that the annual meeting does fall on Sunday this year it is anticipated that the attendance may be larger than usual, thus making it advisable for the meeting to be held where we believe there will be sufficient room for all who wish to come. Therefore, the plans are for the annual meeting to be held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the doors to the Civic Arena will be open well in advance of program time.

Formal letters of notice will be sent to the members of the corporation. Mention is made of the annual meeting here as a reminder to the members to provide the Society’s Secretary with their mailing address and also to inform the readers of The Watchtower who desire to attend that they will be welcome and that the meeting will be held this year at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE WORTH?

What would a man give for his life? Time? All his wealth? Yet God’s gift of life to man is free, according to the Bible. It is free, that is, in the sense that it cannot be bought. But there are requirements that God has set for those who will receive it​—requirements that can be met by anyone. Learn what you must do. It will take a little time and effort on your part, but what would you give for your life? Send for the book Life Everlasting​—in Freedom of the Sons of God, and receive the free booklet God’s Way Is Love. Postpaid, 50c.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

September 24: Keeping the Tongue Under Control. Page 528. Songs to Be Used: 55, 100.

October 1: The Tongue​—A Power for Good or for Bad. Page 534. Songs to Be Used: 81, 89.