Child's Story of the Bible

In Short

Mary Artemisia Lathbury retells canonical Bible stories for children, framing the Scriptures as a living guidebook for home education. Spanning from Old Testament patriarchs through the trials of Israel, the life and ministry of Jesus, and the birth of the early Church, the narrative condenses vast historical arcs into accessible vignettes. Designed primarily to assist mothers teaching young minds, the book prioritizes gentle moral instruction and unadorned narrative outlines. It has endured as an accessible educational bridge that preserves original scriptural phrasing while introducing children to foundational spiritual themes and historical figures.

The Story

The book opens with an explicit educational framework, establishing the home as a primary school where mothers introduce children to sacred history. Narrative episodes begin in the Old Testament, tracing the lineage and journeys of Abraham's descendants. The story highlights Rebekah’s willing departure from Syria to marry Isaac, followed by the diverging lives of their twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Domestic preferences and personal temperaments shape their destinies, eventually leading into the dramatic reconciliation of Jacob’s family in Egypt through the influence of his son Joseph. In Egypt, Joseph forgives his brothers, bestows royal gifts upon little Benjamin, and provides his aging father Jacob with a peaceful sanctuary in Goshen under Pharaoh's favor.

As generations pass, the chronicle follows Moses leading the Israelites through the wilderness. Mount Sinai becomes the central stage where Moses receives the ten commandments on stone tablets, only to break them in grief upon discovering the people worshiping a golden calf made by Aaron. After severe repentance, Moses intercedes for Israel, returning to the mountain to write the law anew, emerging with a glowing face after encountering divine glory. The narrative transitions through the era of judges and prophets, showing the child Samuel hearing a nocturnal call in the sanctuary while the house of the elderly priest Eli falls due to the misdeeds of his sons. Israel's monarchy takes shape under King David, who unifies the tribes, prepares materials for the future temple, write psalms, and shows lasting kindness to Jonathan's lame son, Mephibosheth. Later Old Testament episodes illustrate prophetic authority and divine sovereignty, from Elijah’s dramatic contest with Baal’s prophets on Mount Carmel to Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's humbling dreams and Esther saving her people from Haman's plot in Babylon.

The narrative shifts directly to the New Testament, opening with the angelic announcements to Zacharias and Mary. John the Baptist emerges from the wilderness of Jordan, clad in camel's hair, calling the crowds to repentance and baptizing Jesus. Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, reading Isaiah’s prophecy of deliverance in his home synagogue at Nazareth. His teachings and miracles draw diverse followers, including Mary of Magdala, while provoking fierce opposition from religious leaders. Through parables, street healings, and public discourses during temple feasts, Jesus presents a spiritual kingdom focused on inner truth rather than political power. His final days in Jerusalem involve sharp confrontations in the temple, betrayal, trial before Pontius Pilate, and crucifixion despite Pilate's public disavowal of guilt. The book concludes with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, where Peter's preaching prompts thousands to form a communal church marked by shared possessions, joyful fellowship, and endurance through persecution.

How It Unfolds

The patriach's trust Rebekah demonstrates immediate hospitality at the well, agreeing to travel to a far country to become Isaac's wife and ease his loneliness.

A family reunited Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, sending wagons to transport his father Jacob and seventy family members to settle safely in Egypt's land of Goshen.

Law and rebellion Moses descends from Sinai to find the Israelites worshiping a golden idol, breaks the original stone tablets in anger, and intercedes deeply to save his people.

A prophet called Young Samuel repeatedly hears his name called in the night, ultimately receiving a prophetic message regarding the downfall of Eli’s corrupt household.

The kingdom prepared King David secures the nation, gathers immense riches and timber for a future temple, and honors his covenant with Jonathan by caring for his lame son.

Truth on Carmel Elijah restores a broken altar, drenches the sacrifice in water, and witnesses heavenly fire consume the offering before the assembled people of Israel.

Pride brought low Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a felled tree, predicting a seven-year loss of reason that humbles the ruler until he acknowledges divine authority.

A queen's petition Esther risks her standing to plead before the king, securing new royal decrees that protect her people and establish the perpetual feast of Purim.

The voice in the desert John the Baptist preaches along the Jordan, calling people to turn from sin and baptizing Jesus as the long-expected Messiah.

A clear authority Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue, proclaiming the fulfillment of prophecy and challenging the traditional expectations of his audience.

Judgment and mercy Pilate washes his hands before an angry crowd to declare his innocence, leading directly to the crucifixion and the subsequent birth of the early Church at Pentecost.

The People

• Moses wants to guide the rebellious Israelites according to divine law. He faces the constant backsliding of his people, who fall into idolatry while he receives the commandments. He emerges as an intensely devoted leader willing to sacrifice his own standing to plead for his nation's forgiveness.
• Joseph desires to protect his family and fulfill a larger purpose despite early betrayal. Standing in opposition are his jealous brothers and foreign exile. He finishes as a powerful Egyptian ruler who uses his wealth to forgive his brothers and shelter his entire extended family in Goshen.
• Jesus seeks to establish a spiritual kingdom built on truth and love. He encounters heavy opposition from traditional religious leaders, earthly expectations from the crowds, and ultimate political execution. He completes his earthly mission by teaching forgiveness, enduring the cross, and leaving behind an energized community of believers.
• Eli wants to serve faithfully as high priest in the sanctuary. His path is hindered by his inability to restrain his wicked sons, which brings divine judgment upon his line. He dies heartbroken upon hearing that the Ark of the Covenant has been captured in battle.
• Pilate wants to maintain civil order while avoiding the execution of an innocent man. He is trapped by the political pressure of the roaring crowds and religious leaders. He ends up yielding to the popular demand, symbolically washing his hands to disclaim responsibility.

In Its Own Voice

When the ancient servant seeks a bride for Isaac, the household yields to the request.

"Then the father and brother of Rebekah, saw that the Lord had sent for her, and they said: 'Let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken.'"

Facing severe religious opposition in Galilee, Jesus emphasizes spiritual transformation over material ambitions.

"It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life."

Following the events of Pentecost, the earliest converts establish a unified communal life.

"And all that believed were drawn together by the love of the Lord Jesus, and no longer lived for themselves, but for each other."

What It's Really About

The text argues that spiritual understanding begins within the daily rhythms of home life. It centers on the idea that historical events, personal trials, and ancient laws serve a single overarching purpose: cultivating character and moral clarity in young readers. The narrative repeatedly contrasts external religious displays or earthly power with internal sincerity and obedience. Figures like Nebuchadnezzar learn that human pride is subject to higher truths, while characters like the weeping Mary of Magdala demonstrate that genuine devotion outweighs rigid social judgment. Ultimately, the book presents scripture not as a collection of isolated moral fables, but as a continuous narrative of divine patience, forgiveness, and community building intended to guide children as they grow into citizens, believers, and thoughtful individuals.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals directly to parents, educators, and readers interested in late nineteenth-century home instruction and classic scriptural retellings. Reading it feels like sitting in on an earnest, quiet tutorial; the authorial voice is gentle, structured, and focused on narrative clarity rather than dramatic embellishment. Lathbury deliberately preserves original phrasing from the Authorized Version for quoted dialogue, giving the text a traditional, slightly archaic cadence that balances simplicity with classic dignity.

Modern readers must navigate period-typical religious perspectives and a instructional tone that explicitly aims at moral formation. The prose avoids long, dense theological detours, choosing instead to move rapidly from one vivid scene to the next. What remains with the reader is the book's quiet reverence for storytelling as an educational tool. By stripping away complex commentary and focusing on clear character actions, it offers a clean, foundational entry point into biblical literature that honors the intelligence and receptive imagination of young listeners.