The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

1033

Avraham Graicer, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Say ‘Shibboleth!’ Clay Lane

Jephthah’s sentries at the crossings of Jordan devise a fool-proof way to tell friend from foe.

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1034

By Zoltan Kluger (1896–1977), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Gideon Recruits an Army Clay Lane

Gideon prepares to drive the Midianites out of Israel, but first he has to make it a fair fight.

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1035

Jim Greenhill, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Gideon’s Snare Clay Lane

While spying out the enemy’s camp, Gideon hears something which fills him with renewed confidence.

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1036

© Fortysix Vie, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Mark Antony Catches a Kipper Plutarch

The surprisingly sensitive Roman commander was hoping to impress a girl with his angling skills.

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1037

© GdML, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Edith Cavell Clay Lane

The experienced nurse could not stop saving lives, even at the cost of her own.

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1038

From the Athens War Museum collection, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Day of ‘No’ Clay Lane

On October 28th, 1940, the Kingdom of Greece surprised everyone by refusing to become part of the German war machine.

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