# The Jewish Grandfather’s Story explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

A Jewish grandfather recounts the history of his people, from their enslavement in Egypt and liberation by God, through the leadership of Moses, Joshua, judges, and kings, to the Babylonian captivity, the fall of Belshazzar, Daniel's deliverance from the lions, and the eventual rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple and walls under Cyrus and Nehemiah, emphasizing faith, divine justice, and resilience.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Divine Justice

The grandfather emphasizes God's faithfulness in delivering Israel from bondage, judging wicked kings, and protecting Daniel.

### Resilience and Sacrifice

The rebuilding of the temple and wall amid mockery and opposition illustrates the people's perseverance.

### Freedom and Liberation

The story begins with God breaking the chains of slavery and leading the people through the Red Sea.

## Character check-ins

### Moses

Grandfather recalls Moses as the grand old leader who led the Israelites out of Egypt.

### Joshua

Mentioned as a successor to Moses in leading the people.

### Daniel

The captive youth who read the writing on the wall and was saved from the lions' den.

### Belshazzar

The king who saw the writing on the wall and was slain that night.

### Nehemiah

Led the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall despite opposition and mockery.

### Gideon

Mentioned as a judge who tested God with a fleece.

## Key lines

> How we builded the beautiful temple⁠— The temple we love so well.

We built the beautiful temple that we cherish.

_The grandfather introduces the central theme of rebuilding the temple._

> So God divided the great Red Sea, And led them through the deep.

God parted the Red Sea and guided them across.

_Reference to the Exodus miracle._

> Belshazzar raised his eyes and saw A writing on the wall.

Belshazzar looked up and saw mysterious writing on the wall.

_The famous biblical episode of divine judgment._

> The God he served was strong to save His servant in the den; The fate devised for Daniel’s life O’er took those scheming men.

The God Daniel served saved him from the lions, and the plotters suffered the fate they intended for him.

_Daniel's deliverance and the downfall of his accusers._

> My work is great, he firmly said, And I cannot come down.

Nehemiah declared that his work was too important to abandon.

_Nehemiah's refusal to be distracted from rebuilding the wall._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/the-jewish-grandfather-s-story
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters