Conquerors & captives, or, From David to Daniel

CONQUERORS

;E^ PIVE






































The Baldwin Library

0m9 U


































































D,\VID WITH THE HEAD OF GOLIATH.






BEETON'S GOOD AIM SERIES.



CONQUERORS & CAPTIVES;
OP,

#from 3-uiti to Oanicl.



BY
MARY E. S. LEATHLEY,
AUTHOR OF
"IN THE BEGINNING," "THE STAR OF PROMISE, ETC.












onranttn:
WARD, LOCK, AND TYLER,
WARWICK HouSE, PATERNOSTER ROW.



























I Unifor;m zith this Volume.
IN THE BEGINNING; or, From Eden to Canaan.
THE STAR OF PROMISE; or, From Bethlehem
to Calvary.

LONDON; WARD, LOCK, AND TYLER,
WARWICK HOUSE, PATERNOSTER Row, E.C.













CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.
Saul being rejected by God, David is anointed as King
over Israel-David kills Goliath of Gath-Is hated
bySaul .......2
CHAPTER II.
Saul desires to kill David-The Friendship of David
and Jonathan-Saul is slain in Battle . 15
CHAPTER III. '
David succeeds Saul as King-His Sin against God,
and its Punishment-Absalom-David dies 29
CHAPTER IV.
Solomon's Reign-His Wisdom-He builds the Temple
-Solomon falls away from God, and dies . 41
CHAPTER V.
Ahab's wicked Reign-Elijah the Tishbite-His Mira-
cles-God shews the Idolaters His Power . 53
CHAPTER VI.
Ahab covets Naboth's Vineyard, and kills him--
Elijah anoints Elisha to be Prophet in his stead,
and is taken up to Heaven . 65
CHAPTER VII.
Elisha the Prophet-Children mock him, and are killed
by Bears-The Shunammile Woman-Naaman
and the little Maid -77










iv CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VIII. PAGE
Elisha anoints Jehu King over Israel-Jehu destroys
the Kings of Israel and Judah--Jezebel is eaten
by Dogs-Elisha dies, and a Miracle is urjught
by his dead Bones 90

CHAPTER IX.
The Children of Israel are taken Captive by the
Assyrians-Hezekiah's and Josiah's good Reigns
-God punishes Judah also-The Destruction of
Jerusalem 99

CHAPTER X.
The Story of Esther, Mordecai, and Haman 112
CHAPTER XI.
Daniel and the three Children-Daniel interprets the
King's Dream-Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-
nego are cast into a fiery Furnace . 12

CHAPTER XII.
The Punishment of Nebachadnezzar for Pride-Eel-
shazzar's Feast . I35
CHAPTER XIII.
Daniel the Prophet is cast into a Den of Lions-The
Story of Jonah 147
CHAPTER XIV.
The Rebuilding of the Temple-The Story of Job 16o












Tbe titorft a ab6T.


OUNG David kept his father's sheep,
Nor thought on courts or kings,
While still for Saul doth Samuel weep,
And mourn his wanderings;

When God's word came to him, Arise,
Anoint young David king;
The Lord looks not with human eyes,
My praises he shall sing.

So David who, to save his sheep,
Had slain wild beasts of prey;
Is called the flock of God to keep,
And lead in godly way.
And hearing great Goliath's boasts,
That Israel feared his power,
He, jealous for the Lord of Hosts,
Defies him that same hour.

And, armed with neither shield nor sword,
But five stones from the brook,
Young David, trusting in the Lord,
That giant slew and took.

Eut Saul with jealousy was filled
At hearing David's praise,
And fai: the young man would have killed,
While on his harp he plays.
B















CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES;

OP,

FROM DAVID TO DANIEL.



CHAPTER I.
Saul being rejected by God, David is anointed as
King over Israel. David kills Goliath of Galk.
Is hated by Saul.
ND the Lord said unto Samuel, How
,- .' long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing
o__' I have rejected him from reigning
over Israel ? fill thine horn with oil, and go,
I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite;
for I have provided Me a king among his
sons. So Samuel came to Bethlehem, and he
sanctified Jesse (who was the grandson of
Ruth the Moabitess) and his sons, and called







FROM DAVID TO DANIEL. 3

them to the sacrifice. And when they were
come, he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely
the Lord's anointed is before him. But the
Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his
countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him. For the Lord
seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on
the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh
on the heart. And Jesse made seven of his
sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel
said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen
these. Are here all thy children ? And he
said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and
behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel
said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him, for we
will not sit down till he come hither. And
he sent, and brought him in. Now he was
ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance,
and goodly to look to. And the Lord said,
Arise, anoint him, for this is he.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and
anointed him in the midst of his brethren:
and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David
from that day forward. So Samuel rose up,
and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the
Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit








4 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

troubled him. And Saul's servants said unto
him, Behold now an evil spirit troubleth thee.
Let our lord now command thy servants to
seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a
harp, and when the evil spirit is upon thee,
he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt
be well. And Saul said unto his servants,
Provide me now a man that can play well,
and bring him to me. Then answered one of
the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a
son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning
in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and
a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a
comely person, and the Lord is with him.
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse,
and said, Find me David thy son, which is
with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden
with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid,
and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
And David came to Saul and stood before
him, and he loved him greatly, and he became
his armour-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse,
saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before
me, for he hath found favour in my sight.
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit was
upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 5

with his hand, so Saul was refreshed, and
was well, and the evil spirit departed from
him.
Now the Philistines gathered together their
armies to battle, and Saul and the men of
Israel were gathered together, and set the
battle in" array against the Philistines. And
there went out a champion out of the camp of
the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose
height was six cubits and a span. And he
had a helmet of brass upon his head, and
he was armed with a coat of mail, and he
had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a
target of brass between his shoulders. And
the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam,
and one bearing a shield went before him.
And he stood and cried unto the armies of
Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come
out to set your battle in array ? Am not I a
Philistine, and ye servants to Saul ? Choose
you a man for you, and let him come down
to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to
kill me, then will we be your servants; but if
I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall
ye be our servants, and serve us. And the
Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel







6 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

this day, give me a man that we may fight
together. When Saul and all Israel heard
those words of the Philistine, they were dis-
mayed, and greatly afraid.
Now the three eldest sons of Jesse went
and followed Saul to the battle. And David,
the youngest, went and returned from Saul to
feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
And Jesse said unto David his son, Take
now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched
corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the
camp to thy brethren. And carry these ten
cheeses unto the captain of their thousand,
and look how thy brethren fare.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of
Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting
with the Philistines.
And David rose up early in the morning,
and left the sheep with a keeper, and took,
and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and
he came to the trench, as the host was going
forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
And David left his carriage, and ran unto the
army, and came and saluted his brethren.
And as he talked with them, behold there
came up the champion, Goliath of Gath, out







FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 7

of the armies of the Philistines, and spake
according to the same words, and David heard
them. And all the men of Israel, when they
saw the man, fled from him, and were sore
afraid.
And David spake to the men that stood by
him, saying, Who is this Philistine, that he
should defy the armies of the living God?
And when the words were heard which David
spake, they rehearsed them before Saul, and
he sent for him. And David said, Let no
man's heart fail because of him; thy servant
will go and fight with this Philistine. And
Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go
against this Philistine to fight with him, for
thou art but a youth, and he a man of war
from his youth. And David said to Saul,
Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there
came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out
of the flock ; and I went out after him, and
smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth,
and when he arose against me, I caught him
by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear,
and this Philistine shall be as one of them,
seeing he hath defied the armies of the living







8 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

God. David said, moreover, the Lord that
delivered me out of .the paw of the lion, and
out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver
me out of the hand of this Philistine. And
Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be
with thee.
And Saul armed David with his armour,
and he put a helmet of brass upon his head,
also he armed him with a coat of mail. And
David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these;
for I have not proved them. And David put
them off him. And he took his staff in his
hand, and chose him five smooth stones out
of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's
bag which he had, and his sling was in his
hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.
And the Philistine came on and drew near
to David, and the man that bare the shield
went before him. And when the Philistine
looked about, and saw David, he disdained
him, for he was but a youth, and ruddy and
of a fair countenance. And the Philistine
said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou
comest to me with staves? And the Philis-
tine cursed David by his gods, and said to
David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh







FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 9

unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts
of the field.
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou
comest to me with a sword, and with a spear,
and with a shield; but I come to thee in the
name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
This day will the Lord deliver thee into
mine hand, and I will smite thee, and take
thine head from thee, and I will give the
carcases of the host of the Philistines this
day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild
beasts of the earth, that all the earth may
know that there is a God in Israel. And
all this assembly shall know that the Lord
saveth not with sword and spear; for the
battle is the Lord's, and He will give you
into our hands.
And it came to pass, when the Philistine
arose, and came and drew nigh to meet
David, that David hasted, and ran toward
the army to meet the Philistine. And David
put his hand in his bag, and took thence a
stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine
in his forehead, that the stone sank into his
forehead, and he fell upon his face to the







o1 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

earth. So David prevailed over the Philis-
tine with a sling and with a stone, and smote
the Philistine and slew him; but there was
no sword in the hand of David. Thereupon
David ran, and stood upon the Philistine,
and took his sword, and drew it out of the
sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his
head therewith.
And when the Philistines saw their cham-
pion was dead, they fled. And the men of
Israel arose and shouted, and pursued the
Philistines, and spoiled their tents.
And David took the head of the Philistine,
and brought it to Jerusalem ; but he put his
armour in his tent. And as David returned
from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner,
the captain of the host, took him, and brought
him before Saul, with the head of the Philis-
tine in his hand. And Saul said to him,
Whose son art thou, thou young man ? And
David answered, I am the son of thy servant
Jesse, the Bethlehemite. And it came to pass
that when he had made an end of speaking
to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan, Saul's son,
was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan
loved him as his own soul. And Saul took







FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. II

him that day, and would let him go no more
home to his father's house. Then Jonathan
and David made a covenant, because he loved
him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped
himself of the robe that was upon him, and
gave it to David, and his garments, even to
his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent
him, and behaved himself wisely, and Saul
set him over the men of war, and he was
accepted in the sight of all the people, and
also in the sight of Saul's servants. And
when the women came out to meet King
Saul, with joy and instruments of music, they
said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David
his ten thousands. And Saul was very angry,
and the saying displeased him. And it came
to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit
came upon Saul, and David played with his
hand as at other times; and there was a
javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the
javelin, for he said, I will smite David even
to the wall with it. And David avoided out
of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid
of David, because the Lord was with him,
and was departed from Saul. And David







12 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and
the Lord was with him. Wherefore, when
Saul saw that he behaved himself very
wisely, he was afraid of him. But all
Israel and Judah loved David, because he
went out and came in before them, and
behaved himself more wisely than all the
servants of Saul, so that his name was much
set by; but Saul became David's enemy
continually.
So David, the little shepherd boy, was
chosen by God to be anointed by Samuel as
the future King of Israel, in the place of
Saul, who had displeased God. But we do
not find that David grew vain and proud of
this honour; he goes back again to keep his
father's sheep. When David was king he
wrote many sweet hymns, called Psalms; and
in many of these he speaks of sheep and the
shepherd's life. How wonderful is David's
trust in God The great and dreadful giant,
Goliath, does not frighten him, because he
knew that God, who had called him, was
stronger still, and would help him in the
hour of danger. Let us try and copy
David, both in his humility and his holy








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 13

confidence. So may we hope to please God
as he did.

Who was David? and what relation to Ruth?
What was David's occupation?
Who was Goliath, and what did he do ?
Was David frightened like the other Israelites ?
Did David trust in his armour? or in what did he
trust ?
How did he kill Goliath?
What musical instrument did David play upon ?











ilabft an3 Boittitl~an.


EALOUS Saul sought David's life,
Because the people loved him best;
And all his days were days of strife,
Of envy, hatred, and unrest.

When evil spirits filled his heart,
Young David played his harp in vain;
Saul, deaf to sacred music's art,
Would gladly David there have slain.

But Jonathan was David's friend,
And did all that a friend could do
From Saul to hide him, and defend;
Their love was wonderful and true.

One day Saul lay in David's power,
He might have killed him as he lay;
But not in that unguarded hour,
Would he "the Lord's Anointed" slay.

Revenge for David had no charm;
He only sought the will of God;
And safely sheltered in His arm,
From youth to manhood David trod.

And when his enemy lay dead,-
Saul and his sons by battle-pain-
He wept for them, and only said,
Alas! How are the mighty slain I


















CHAPTER II.
Saul desires to kill David. The friendship of David
and 7onathan. Saul is slain in battle.
ND Saul spake to Jonathan his son,
and to all his servants, that they
should kill David. But Jonathan,
Saul's son, delighted much in David, and told
him, saying, My father seeketh to kill thee;
now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thy-
self. And Jonathan spake good of David
unto Saul his father and said unto him, Let
not the king sin against his servant, against
David, because he hath not sinned against
thee, and because his words have been to
theeward very good. For he did put his life
in his hand and slew the Philistine, and the
Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel.
Thou sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore








16 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to
slay David without a cause ?
And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jona-
than; and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he
shall not be slain. And Jonathan called
David, and told him all these things. And
Jonathan brought David to Saul and he was
in his presence, as in times past.
And there was war again, and David went
out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew
them with a great slaughter, and they fled
from him. And the evil spirit was upon
Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin
in his hand, and David played with his hand.
And Saul sought to smite David even to the
wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out
of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin
into the wall, and David fled, and escaped.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house,
to watch him, and to slay him in the morning.
And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying,
If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow
thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David
down through a window, and he escaped.
And Michal took an image, and laid it in
the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for







FROM PA VID TO DANIEL. 17

his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And
when Saul sent messengers to take David,
she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the
inessengers again to see David, saying, Bring
him up to me in the bed, that I may slay
him. And when the messengers were come
in, behold, there was an image in the bed,
with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou
deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy
that he is escaped ? And Michal answered
Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why
should I kill thee ?
So David fled, and escaped, and came to
Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that
Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel
went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told
Saul, saying, Behold David is at Naioth in
Ramah. And Saul sent messengers to take
David, and when they saw the company of
the prophets prophesying, and Samuel stand-
ing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God
was upon the messengers of Saul, and they
also prophesied. And after sending mes-
sengers three times, who all prophesied, Saul
went himself to take David. And the Spirit
C








I8 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

of God was upon him also, and he prophesied
before Samuel in like manner.
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah,
and came and said before Jonathan, What
have I done ? and what is my sin before thy
father, that he seeketh my life ? And Jona-
than said, God forbid; thou shalt not die;
behold my father will do nothing, either great
or small, but he will show it to me, and why
should he hide this thing from me ? It is
not so.
But David answered, Thy father saith, Let
not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;
but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul
liveth, there is but a step between me and
death. Then said Jonathan to David, What-
soever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for
thee. And David said to Jonathan, Behold,
to-morrow is the new moon, and I should not
fail to sit with the king at meat; but let me
go, that I may hide myself in the field until
the third day at even. If thy father at all
miss me, then say, David earnestly asked
leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem
his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there
for all the family. If he say thus, It is well








FROM DA VID TO DIANIEL. 19

thy servant shall have peace; but if he be
very wroth, then be sure that evil is de-
termined by him. But who shall tell me, or
what if thy father shall answer thee roughly ?
And Jonathan said unto David, Come and
let us go out into the field. And they went
out both of them into the field.
Now Jonathan loved David as he loved his
own soul. And he said to him, To-morrow
is the new moon, and thou shalt be missed,
because thy seat will be empty, and when
thou hast stayed three days, then come and
remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot
three arrows on the side thereof, as if I shot
at a mark. And, behold, I will send a lad,
saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I ex-
pressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are
on this side of thee, take them; then come
thou : for there is peace to thee, and no hurt,
as the Lord liveth. But if I say thus unto
the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond
thee; go thy way: for the Lord hath sent
thee away.
So David hid himself in the field; and
when the new moon was come, the king sat
himself down to meat. And David's place








so CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES'; OR,

was empty. But Saul spake nothing until
the second day; and then he said to Jona-
than his son, Wherefore cometh not the son
of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor to-
day? And Jonathan answered Saul as he
had agreed with David. Then Saul's anger
was kindled against Jonathan, and he cast
a javelin at him to smite him, whereby Jona-
than knew that it was determined of his father
to slay David. And he arose from the table
and did eat no meat, for he was grieved for
David, because his father had done him
shame. And in the morning he went out
into the field, at the time appointed with
David, and a little lad with him. And he
said unto his lad, Run, find out now the
arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran,
he shot an arrow beyond him. And when
the lad was come to the place of the arrow
which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried
after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow
beyond thee ? And Jonathan's lad gathered
up the arrows, and came to his master. But
the lad knew not anything, only Jonathan
and David knew the matter. And Jonathan
gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto







FROM DAVID TO DANIEL. 21

him, Go, carry them to the city. And as
soon as the lad was gone, David arose out
of a place toward the south, and fell on his
face to the ground three times, and bowed
himself three times; and they kissed one
another, and wept with one another, until
David exceeded. And Jonathan said to
David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have
sworn both of us in the name of the Lord,
saying, The Lord be between me and thee,
and between my seed and thy seed for ever.
And David arose and departed. And Jona-
than went into the city. Then they told
David, saying, Behold the Philistines fight
against Keilah, and rob the threshing-floors.
And the Lord said unto David, Go, and
smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. So
David and his men went to Keilah, and
fought with the Philistines, and saved the
inhabitants of Keilah. Then Saul called all
the people together to war, to go down to
Keilah to besiege David and his men. So
David and his men, which were about six
hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah,
and abode in the wilderness in strongholds.
And Saul sought David every day, but God







"22 CONQUERORS AND CA.1PY7VES; OR,

delivered him not into his hand. And David
saw that Saul was come out to seek his life;
and David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in
a wood. And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and
went to David into the wood, and strengthened
his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear
not, for the hand of Saul, my father, shall not
find thee, and thou shalt be king over Israel.
And they two made a covenant before the
Lord.
But there came a messenger to Saul, say-
ing, Haste thee, and come, for the Philistines
have invaded the land. Whereupon Saul
returned from pursuing after David, and went
against the Philistines. And David went up
from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds at
Engedi.
And when Saul was returned from follow-
ing the Philistines, it was told him, Behold,
David is in the wilderness of Engedi. Then
Saul took three thousand chosen men out of
all Israel, and went to seek David and his
men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And
he came to the shcepcotes by the way, where
was a cave, and Saul went in and lay down
to sleep; and David and his men remained








FROM DA VID 70 DANIEL. 23

in the sides of the cave. And the men of
David said to him, Behold, the Lord hath
delivered thine enemy into thine hand, that
thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good
to thee. Then David arose, and cut off the
skirt of Saul's robe privily. And David
stayed his men, and would not suffer them
to rise against Saul. And when Saul arose
and went out of the cave, David cried after
him, My lord, the king. And when Saul
looked behind him, David bowed with his
face to the earth, and said, Wherefore hearest
thou men's words, saying, Behold, David
seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day the Lord
delivered thee into my hand in the cave, and
some bade me kill thee, but I said, I will not
put forth my hand against my lord, for he is
the Lord's anointed. Moreover, my father,
see the skirt of thy robe in my hand ; for in
that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed
thee not, know thou and see that I have not
sinned against thee. Yet thou huntcst my
soul to take it.
And Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son
David ? And Saul lifted up his voice, and
wept. And he said to David, Thou art more








24 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me
good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
Wherefore the Lord reward thee good, for
that thou hast done unto me this day. And
Saul went home, but David and his men gat
them up into the hold. Now Samuel died;
and all the Israelites were gathered together,
and lamented him, and buried him in his
house at Ramah. And the Philistines again
fought against Israel; and the men of Israel
fled from before the Philistines, and fell down
slain in Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines
followed hard upon Saul, and upon his sons,
and they slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and
Melchishua, Saul's sons. And the battle went
sore against Saul, and the archers hit him,
and he was sore wounded of the archers.
And Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul
was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword,
and died with him. So Saul died, and his
three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all
his men, that same day together. And the
Philistines came and cut off Saul's head, and
stripped off his armour, and sent into the land
round about to publish it in the house of







FROM DAVID TO DANIEL. 25

their idols, and among the people. And they
put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth, and
fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead
heard of that which the Philistines had done
to Saul, all the valiant men arose, and went
all night, and took the body of Saul, and
the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-
shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them
there. And they took their bones, and buried
them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven
days. And David lamented over Saul and
over Jonathan, his son. And he said, Saul
and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in
their lives, and in their death they were not
divided. They were swifter than eagles, they
were stronger than lions. O Jonathan, I am
distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very
pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love
to me was wonderful. How are the mighty
fallen, and the weapons of war perished !
How sad it seems that Saul, called and
anointed by God to be king over Israel,
should have fallen away from the promise of
his youth He had great graces given him
by God; but, after one great sin of dis-







26 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

obedience, he never seems to have tried really
to walk in the ways of God any more. And
his jealousy of the good young David blinded
him more and more to what he knew to be
right. All he desired was to kill David; for-
getting that God was stronger than he, and
would surely preserve the young man He had
chosen to succeed Saul. There is something
very generous and noble in the affection of
Jonathan for David. He was not jealous,
although Saul's eldest son. And David
shows wonderful forbearance and humility in
all his dealings with Saul's royal house. He
always remembered that Saul had been
anointed king over Israel, and he honoured
him as God's appointed ruler over His people.
Saul tried more than once, nay, a great many
times, to kill David, but even though David
had it in his power, more than once, to kill
Saul, and that privately, so that no one would
have known who slew him, yet he reverenced
the wicked Saul, as king, and would not lift
up his hand against him.
Who was Jonathan?
What did the Evil Spirit prompt Saul to do?
How did God change the hearts of the messengers








FROM1 DA VID TO DANIEL. 27

sent out by Saul to take David, when they saw
Samuel?
How did Jonathan show his friendship for David?
Did David try to revenge himself on Saul ?
Had he ever an opportunity of killing him?
Why did he not ?
How did Saul and his sons die?







"i i











3abftf is Inxae Mifng.


AUL, the first King of Israel, dead,
David the Shepherd reigned instead;
The ark in triumph home he brought,
And God in all his doings sought.
In Zion was his throne installed,
City of David from him called;
He conquers all his heathen foes,
But kindness to Sauls house he shows.

Full many a Psalm, sweet songs of praise,
He sings whilst on his harp he plays;
But, sad to tell, at last he sins,
And then his grief of heart begins.

But with the sin contrition came,
He bows before his God in shame;
And pardon God in mercy gives,
But he must suffer whilst he lives.

One son, a little infant dies,
Of David's sin the sacrifice,
And many another son he had,
But almost all at heart were bad.

And Absalom, the loved and lost,
Of all, by David loved the most,
Against his father lifts his hand,
And perishes by murderous band.
















CHAPTER III.
David succeeds Saul as King. His Sin against God,
and its Punishment. Absalom. David dies.
ND it came to pass after this, that
David enquired of the Lord, saying,
Shall I go up into any of the cities
of Judah ? And the Lord said unto him, Go
up unto Hebron. So David went up thither,
and his men that were with him, and dwelt in
the cities of Hebron. And there the men of
Judah came, and there they anointed David
king over the house of Judah. But Ish-
bosheth, Saul's son, reigned over Israel. And
there was long war between the house of Saul
and the house of David; but David waxed
stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul
waxed weaker and weaker. Then came all
the tribes of Israel to David, to Hebron, and
anointed David king over Israel. David was
thirty years old when he began to reign, and









30 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

he reigned forty years. And he went to
Jerusalem, and took the stronghold of Zion,
and dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of
David. And David went on and grew great,
and the Lord God of hosts was with him.
But when the Philistines heard that they
had anointed David king over Israel, all the
Philistines came up to seek David. And the
Lord said, Go up, for I will deliver the Philis-
tines into thine hand. And David did so, and
smote them from Geba unto Gazer.
Again, David gathered together all the
chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand, and
went to bring back the ark of God whose
name is called by the name of the Lord of
hosts, that dwelleth between the cherubims.
And David brought up the ark of God into
the city of David, with gladness, with shouting,
and with the sound of the trumpet. And they
set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle
that David had pitched for it, and David
offered burnt offerings and peace offerings,
and blessed the people in the name of the
Lord of hosts. And he dealt among all the
people, even among the whole multitude of
Israel, as well to the women as men, to every








FROM DA VID TO DA IEL. 1

one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh,
and a flagon of wine. So all the people de-
parted, every one to his house. And David
returned to bless his household.
And it came to pass, when the king sat in
his house, and the Lord had given him rest
round about from all his enemies, that the
king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now,
I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of
God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan
said unto the king, Go, and do all that is in
thine heart, for the Lord is with thee. And
it came to pass that night that the word of
the Lord came unto Nathan, that David
should not build an house for the Lord to
dwell in, but that his son should build one.
And the Lord said, He shall build an house
for My name, and I will establish the throne
of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father,
and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity,
I will chastise him with the rod of men, and
with the stripes of the children of men. But
My mercy shall not depart away from him, as
I took it from Saul, whom I put away before
thee. Thy throne shall be established for ever.
According to this vision, so did Nathan speak








32 CONQURORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

unto David. And David said, O Lord God,
with Thy blessing let the house of Thy servant
be blessed for ever.
And David said, Is there yet any that is left
of the house of Saul, that I may shew him
kindness for Jonathan's sake ? And there
was of the house of Saul a servant, whose
name was Ziba. And he said unto the king,
Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on
his feet. Then king David sent and fetched
Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth. And he dwelt
in Jerusalem, and did eat bread at the king's
table continually. And he was lame on both
his feet.
Now David fell into temptation and sin,
for seeing Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the
Hittite, he desired that she should be his wife,
and commanded his officers to put Uriah, her
husband, into the forefront of the hottest
battle (for Israel was at war with Ammon),
that he might be smitten and die. So Uriah
was slain, and when David heard of it he
took Bathsheba to be his wife, and she bare
him a son. But the thing that David had
done displeased the Lord. And the Lord
sent Nathan the prophet unto David, and he







PROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 33

came and said, There were two men in one
city, the one rich and the other poor. The
rich man had exceeding many flocks and
herds. But the poor man had nothing, save
one little ewe lamb which he had bought and
nourished up, and it grew up together with
him and with his children. It did eat of his
own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay
in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
And there came a traveller unto the rich man,
and he spared to take of his own flock and of
his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man
that was come unto him, but took the poor
man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that
was come unto him.
And David's anger was greatly kindled
against the man, and he said unto Nathan,
As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done
this thing shall surely die. And he shall
restore the lamb fourfold, because he did
this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the
man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I
anointed thee king over Israel, and delivered
thee out of the hand of Saul. Wherefore
hast thou despised the commandment of the
D







34 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

Lord, to do evil in His sight? Thou hast
killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and
hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast
slain him with the sword of the children of
Ammon.
And David said to Nathan, I have sinned
against the Lord. And Nathan said unto
David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin;
thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this
deed thou hast given great occasion to the
enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child
also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
And Nathan departed unto his house. And
the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife
bare unto David, and it was very sick. David
therefore besought God for the child; and
David fasted, and lay all night upon the
earth. And on the seventh day the child
died. And the servants of David feared to
tell him that the child was dead. But when
David perceived that the child was dead, he
arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed
himself, and came into the house of the Lord,
and worshipped, and he did eat. Then his
servants said, What thing is this thou hast
done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 35

whilst it was alive, but when the child was
dead,'thou didst rise and eat bread. And
David said, While the child was yet alive, I
fasted and wept, for I said, Who can tell
whether God will be gracious to me, that
the child may live. But now he is dead,
wherefore should I fast ? Can I bring him
back again ? I shall go to him, but he shall
not return to me. And David comforted
Bathsheba his wife, and she bare another
son, and he called his name Solomon, and
the Lord loved him.
And David had another son named Ab-
salom, whom he loved above all his other
children. And in all Israel there was none
so much to be praised as Absalom for his
beauty, from the sole of his foot even to the
crown of his head there was no blemish in
him. And at every year's end he cut off his
hair, for it was heavy on him. But Absalom
conspired against David his father, and stole
away the hearts of the men of Israel. And a
messenger came to tell king David, saying,
The hearts of the men of Israel are after
Absalom. And David said unto all his ser-
vants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise,








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 37

people went out to battle, and the people
of Israel were slain before the servants of
David. And Absalom met the servants
of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule,
and the mule went under the thick boughs
of a great oak, and his head caught hold of
the oak, and he was taken up between the
heaven and the earth, and the mule that was
under him went away. And Joab, one of
David's captains, took three darts, and thrust
them through the heart of Absalom, while he
was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And
messengers were sent to tell the king, who
sat between the two gates of the city, waiting
for tidings of the battle between his people
and those of Absalom his son. And the king
said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And
Cushi the messenger answered, The enemies
of my lord the king, and all that rise against
thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
And the king was much moved, and went up
to the chamber over the gate, and wept, and
as he went thus he said, 0 my son Absalom,
my son, my son Absalom, would God I had
died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son, my son !
And the victory that day was turned into








36 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES, OR,

and let us flee, for we shall not else escape
from Absalom. And the king went forth,
and all his household after him. And all
the country wept with a loud voice. And
David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet,
and wept as. he went up, and had his head
covered, and went barefoot. And David said,
Behold my son seeketh my life. And an evil
counsellor advised Absalom, saying, Let me
choose out twelve thousand men, and I will
arise and pursue after David this night. And
I will come upon him while he is weary and
weak-handed, and will make him afraid, and I
will smite the king only, and all the people
I will bring back to thee. And the saying
pleased Absalom well. But David heard
what was threatened, and he and his people
arose and passed over Jordan. And Absalom
also passed over Jordan, and set his men in
array against those that were with David.
Now David stayed by the city gate in Ma-
hanaim. For the people said, Thou shalt not
go forth to battle, for thou art worth ten
thousand of us. And the king said to his
captains, Deal gently for my sake with the
young man, even with Absalom. So the








38 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

mourning unto all the people, for the people
heard say that day how the king was grieved
for his son. And the people gat them by
stealth that day into the city, as people being
ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
But the king covered his face, and the king
cried with a loud voice, 0 my son Absalom,
0 Absalom, my son, my son! And David
returned to Jerusalem.
Now these be the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse said, and the man
who was raised up on high, the anointed of
the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist
of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord spake
by me and His word was in my tongue. The
God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake
to me, He that ruleth over men must be just,
ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be
as the light of the morning, when the sun
riseth, even a morning without clouds, as the
tender grass springing out of the earth by
clear shining after rain.
Now the days of David drew nigh that he
should die, and he charged Solomon his son,
saying, I go the way of all the earth, be thou
strong, therefore, and show thyself a man;








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 39

and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to
walk in His ways, to keep His statutes and His
commandments. So David slept with his
fathers, and was buried in the city of David;
and the days that David reigned over Israel
were forty years. Then sat Solomon upon
the throne of David his father, and his king-
dom was established greatly.
David suffered bitterly from the conduct
of Absalom, his undutiful son. But nothing
seems to have changed his love for Absalom.
David wrote a great number of very beautiful
sacred songs, called Psalms. Some day you
will like to read and study them.

How old was David when he began to reign over
Israel ?
What was David's first act when his kingdom was
established ?
What did David wish to do to shew his love for
God?
Why did David shew kindness to Mephibosheth ?
Why was Nathan, the prophet, sent to David?
Did David bear his punishment with resignation ?
How did David suffer at the hands of his dear son
Absalom?
Who succeeded David as king ?











bt e tImlpIe of olmIIanT,


HE wisest man earth ever saw,
The richest, too, was Solomon:
0 had he only kept God's law,
As good king David's worthy son.

The holy task to him was given,
To build a temple for the Lord;
And He who fills the highest heaven,
To dwell there pledged His sacred word,

Of cedar wood and precious gold,
This temple by the king was made;
And in its walls the Jews of old,
Drew near to God, and humbly prayed.

That temple now all shattered lies,
Because the Jews forsook their God;
No longer there they sacrifice-
Scattered, according to His word.

But, in the days of Solomon,
That temple rose with stately grace ;
With gold, and wood of Lebanon,
The king adorned that sacred place.

Let us beware how we transgress
The least command God gives us still;
For sacrifice to Him is less
Than strict obedience to His will,
















CHAPTER IV.
Solomon's Reign. His Wisdom. He builds the Temple.
Solomoni falls away from God, and dies.
OW the kingdom was established in
the hand of Solomon. And Solomon
loved the Lord, walking in the statutes
of David his father. And the king went to
Gibeon, to sacrifice there, for that was the
great high place; a thousand burnt offerings
did Solomon offer upon that altar. And in
Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a
dream by night; and God said, Ask what I
shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou
hast shewed unto Thy servant David my
father great mercy, according as he walked
before Thee in truth and righteousness, and
in uprightness of heart with Thee. And
now, 0 Lord my God, Thou hast made Thy
servant king instead of David my father;
and I am but a little child ; I know not how








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 43

then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon
awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he
came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark
of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up
burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings,
and made a feast to all his servants.
So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
And reigned over all kingdoms from the river
unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the
border of Egypt. And Solomon's provision
for one day was thirty measures of fine flour,
and threescore measures of meal. Ten fat
oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures,
and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roe-
bucks, and fallow deer, and fatted fowl. For
he had dominion over all the region on this
side the river from Tiphsah even to Azzah,
over all the kings on this side the river; and
he had peace on all sides round about him.
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every
man under his vine and under his fig-tree,
from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of
Solomon. And Solomon had forty thousand
stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve
thousand horsemen. And twelve officers pro-
vided victual for king Solomon. Barley also







42 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR

to go out or come in. And Thy servant is in
the midst of Thy people which Thou hast
chosen, a great people, that cannot be num-
bered for multitude. Give thereforeThyservant
an understanding heart to judge thy people,
that I may discern between good and bad;
for who is able to judge this Thy so great a
people ?
And the speech pleased the Lord, that
Solomon had asked this thing. And God
said unto him, Because thou hast asked this
thing, and hast not asked for thyself long
life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor
hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast
asked for thyself understanding to discern
judgment ; behold I have done according to
thy words : lo, I have given thee a wise and
an understanding heart; so that there was
none like thee before thee, neither after thee
shall any arise like unto thee. And I have
also given thee that which thou hast not
asked, both riches and power, so that there
shall not be any among the kings like unto
thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in
My ways, to keep My statutes and My com-
mandments, as thy father David did walk,








44 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

and straw for the horses and dromedaries
brought they into the place where the officers
were, every man according to his charge. And
God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding
exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even
as the sand that is on the sea-shore. And
Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all
the children of the east country, and all the
wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all
men, and his fame was in all nations round
about.
And he spake three thousand proverbs;
and his songs were a thousand and five.
And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree
that is in Lebanon unto the hyssop that
springeth out of the wall. He spake also
of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things,
and of fishes. And there came of all people
to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings
of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
And Solomon sent to Hiram, king of Tyre,
saying, Thou knowest how that David my
father could not build an house unto the name
of the Lord his God for the wars which were
about him on every side. But now the Lord
my God hath given me rest on every side, so








PROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 45

that there is no adversary. And behold, I
purpose to build an house unto the name of
the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto
David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I
will set upon thy throne, in thy room, he
shall build an house unto My name. Now,
therefore, command thou that they hew me
cedar trees out of Lebanon; for thou knowest
that there is none among us that hath skill to
hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have
considered the things which thou sentest to
me for; and I will do all thy desire concerning
timber of cedar and timber of fir. My servants
shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the
sea, and I will convey them by sea in floats
unto the place that thou shalt appoint me.
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir
trees according to all his desire. And Solomon
gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of
wheat for food for his household, and twenty
measures of pure oil, thus gave Solomon to
Hiram year by year. And the Lord gave
Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him,
and Solomon had three thousand and ten
men that bare burdens, and fourscore thou-








46 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

sand hewers in the mountains. And the king
commanded, and t!.cy brought great stones,
costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the
foundation of the house. And Solomon's
builders and Hiram's builders did hew them,
and the stone-squarers; so they prepared
timber and stones to build the house. So
Solomon built the house of the Lord and
finished it, and he overlaid it within with pure
gold. Seven years was he in building it. So
was ended all the work king Solomon made
for the house of the Lord.
Then Solomon assembled the elders of
Israel, and the heads of the tribes, that they
might bring up the ark of the covenant of
the Lord out of the city of David, which is
Zion. And they came, and the priests came
and took up the ark, and brought it into the
oracle of the house, to the most holy place,
even under the wings of the cherubims. And
it came to pass when the priests were come
out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the
house of the Lord, so that the priests could
not stand to minister, for the glory of the
Lord had filled the house of the Lord. Then
spake Solomon, I have surely built Thee an








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 47

house to dwell in, a settled place for Thee to
abide in for ever. And Solomon stood before
the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the
congregation of Israel, and spread forth his
hands toward heaven, and he said, Lord God
of Israel, there is no God like Thee, in heaven
above or on earth beneath, who keepest cove-
nant and mercy with Thy servants that walk
before Thee with all their heart. But will
God indeed dwell on earth ? behold, the heaven
and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee,
how much less this house that I have builded?
Yet have Thou respect unto the prayers of Thy
servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my
God, to hearken unto the cry and to the
prayer, which Thy servant prayeth before Thee
to-day; that Thine eyes may be open toward
this house night and day, even toward the
place of which Thou hast said, My name shall
be there, that Thou mayest hearken unto the
prayer which Thy servant shall make toward
this place. And hearken Thou to the supplica-
tion of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel,
when they shall pray toward this place; and
hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling-place, and
when Thou hearest forgive. And Solomon









48 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

prayed thus a long time for all Israel before
the Lord, that, even in sin and in captivity, if
they turned towards God in His holy house
they might be forgiven.
And the king, and all Israel with him,
offered sacrifice before the Lord, two and
twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and
twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all
the children of Israel dedicated the house of
the Lord.
And the Lord appeared unto Solomon the
second time, as He had done at Gibeon. And
the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy
prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast
made before Me. I have hallowed this house
which thou hast built, to put My name there
for ever, and Mine eyes and My heart shall be
there perpetually. If thou wilt walk before
Me as David thy father walked, in integrity
of heart and in uprightness, then will I esta-
blish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel
for ever. But if ye shall at all turn from
following Me, ye or your children, and will
not keep My commandments, but go and
serve other gods, and worship them, then will
I cut off Israel out of the land which I have







FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 49

given them; and this house, which I havc
hallowed for My name, will I cast out of My
sight, and Israel shall be a proverb and a by-
word among all people. And at this house,
which is high, every one that passeth by it
shall be astonished, and shall hiss, and they
shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto
this land, and to this house? And they shall
answer, Because they forsook the Lord their
God, who brought forth their fathers out of
the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon
other gods, and have worshipped them, and
served them: therefore hath the Lord brought
upon them all this evil.
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the
fame of Solomon concerning the name of the
Lord, she came to prove him with hard ques-
tions. And she came to Jerusalem with a
very great train, with camels that bare spices
and very much gold, and precious stones.
And Solomon told her all her questions. And
she gave the king gold, and spices, and precious
stones. And king Solomon gave unto the
queen of Sheba whatsoever she asked. So she
turned and went to her own country, she and
her servants.
E







50 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

Now all king Solomon's drinking vessels
were of gold, none were of silver: it was
nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish :
once in three years came the navy of Thar-
shish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and
apes, and peacocks. So king Solomon ex-
ceeded all the kings of the earth for riches
and for wisdom. And all the earth sought
to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God
had put in his heart. But it came to pass,
when Solomon was old, that his wives turned
away his heart after other gods, and his heart
was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was
the heart of David his father, and Solomon
did evil in the sight of the Lord. And the
Lord was angry with Solomon, because his
heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel,
which had appeared unto him twice. And
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Solomon's servant,
even he lifted up his hand against the king.
And the time that Solomon reigned over
Israel was forty years. And he slept with his
fathers, and was buried in the city of David
his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in
his stead.







FROM DAV1D TO DANIEL. 51

It seems very sad that Solomon, who in his
young days was so anxious to serve and please
God, should in his old age have turned away
and become even an idolator. God had
blessed him greatly, and had given him the
great honour of building the temple. But
Solomon disobeyed God, and married wives
out of those idolatrous nations with whom
God had forbidden him to have anything to
do, and in consequence of this disobedience
he fell into fresh sin, and lost the favour of
God.

Whose son was Solomon?
What great work did he undertake for God?
How long was Solomon building the temple ?
Did God promise to dwell and answer prayers there ?
What queen came to see Solomon ?
Was Solomon the richest as well as wisest of men ?
How did he lose God's favour ? and how long did
he reign?











(na6 anb lijarb.


ING Ahab reigned with feeble hand,
Led by his wicked queen;
And everywhere throughout the land
Were idol temples seen.

For Jezebel, the queen, was born
On Zidon's heathen shore,
And Israel learned to treat with scorn
The God they loved before.

But God in mercy sent again
His messenger to teach;
Who, all through Ahab's wicked reign,
Failed not the truth to preach.

This was Elijah the Tishbite,
Who dwelt by Cherith's brook;
Whilst from the ravens in their flight
His daily food he took.

For him strange miracles were wrought,
The widow's store was blessed;
And fire from heav'n, when he besought:
God's majesty confessed.

But Ahab, knowing what was true,
In sin persisted still;
So hard we find it to renew
A once perverted will,
















CHAPTER V.
Aahb's wicked Reign. Elijak the Tishbite. His
AMiracles. God shews Ithe Idolalors His Power.
ND after the death of Solomon all
Israel rose up against Rehoboam his
son, and made Jeroboam their king.
But the tribe of Judah followed David's house,
and had Rehoboam as their king. And there
was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam
all the days of his life.
Now Rehoboam and Jeroboam both died,
and Asa the grandson of Rehoboam was
reigning over Judah, when Ahab the son of
Omri was made king over the rest of Israel.
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the
sight of the Lord above all that were before
him. And it came to pass, as if it had been
a light thing for him to walk in the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to
wife Jezebel, daughter of the king of the








54 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and
worshipped him. And Ahab did more to
provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than
all the kings of Israel which were before him.
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the
inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As
the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom
I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these
years, but according to my word.
And the word of the Lord came unto
Elijah, saying, Get thee hence and turn thee
eastward, and hide thyself by the brook
Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall
be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I
have commanded the ravens to feed thee
there. So he went and did according to
the word of the Lord; for he went and dwelt
by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh
in the morning, and bread and flesh in the
evening, and he drank of the brook. And it
came to pass after a while that the brook
dried up, because there had been no rain in
the land.
And the word of the Lord came unto him,
saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 55

belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there; behold,
I have commanded a widow woman there
to sustain thee. So he arose and went to
Zarephath. And when he came to the gate
of the city, behold, the widow woman was
there, gathering of sticks. And he called to
her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little
water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as
she was going to fetch it, he called to her,
and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of
bread in thine hand. And she said, As the
Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but
an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil
in a cruse; and, behold, I am gathering two
sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me
and my son, that we may eat it and die.
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and
do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a
little cake first, and bring it unto me, and
after make for thee and thy son. For thus
saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of
meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse
of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendcth
rain upon the earth. And she went and did
according to the saying of Elijah, and she,
and he, and her house, did eat many days.








56 CONQUERORS AND CAPPTIVES; OR,

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither
did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word
of the Lord which He spake by Elijah.
And it came to pass after these things, that
the son of the woman, the mistress of the
house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore,
that there was no breath left in him. And
she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with
thee, O thou man of God? art thou come
unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and
to slay my son? And he said unto her, Give
me thy son. And he took him out of her
bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where
he abode, and laid him on his own bed. And
he cried unto the Lord, and said, 0 Lord my
God, hast Thou also brought evil upon the
widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her
son? And he stretched himself upon the
child three times, and cried unto the Lord,
and said, O Lord my God, I pray Thee, let
this child's soul come into him again. And
the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the
soul of the child came into him again, and
he revived. And Elijah took the child, and
brought him down out of the chamber into
the house, and delivered him unto his mother.








FROM DAVID TO DANIEL. 57

And Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. And
the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I
know that thou art a man of God, and that
the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.
And it came to pass, after many days, the
word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third
year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab, and
I will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah
went to show himself to Ahab. And there
was a sore famine in Samaria. And Ahab
called Obadiah, which was the governor of
his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord
greatly. For it was so, when Jezebel cut off
the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took
an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty
in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the
land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all
brooks, peradventure we may find grass to
save the horses and mules alive, that we lose
not all the beasts. And as Obadiah was in
the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he called
him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou
my lord Elijah? And he answered him, I
am; go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told








58 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah; and
when Ahab saw Elijah he said unto him,
Art thou he that troubleth Israel ? And he
answered, I have not troubled Israel, but thou
and thy father's house, in that ye have for
saken the commandments of the Lord, and
thou hast followed Baalim. Now, therefore,
send, and gather to me all Israel unto Mount
Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred
and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four
hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. So
Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and
gathered the prophets together, unto Mount
Carmel.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and
said, How long halt ye between two opinions?
If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal,
then follow him. And the people answered
him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the
people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of
the Lord, but Baal's prophets are four hundred
and fifty men. Let them therefore give us
two bullocks, and let them choose one bullock
for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay
it on wood, and put no fire under; and I
will dress the other bullock and lay it on








FROMJ DAVID TO DANIEL. 59

wood, and put no fire under. And call ye
on the name of your gods, and I will call on
the name of the Lord, and the God that
answereth by fire, let him be God. And all
the people answered and said, It is well
spoken. And Elijah said unto the prophets
of Baal, Choose you one bullock for your-
selves, and dress it first, for ye are many,
and call on the name of your gods, but put
no fire under. And they took the bullock
which was given them, and they dressed
it, and called on the name of Baal from
morning even until noon, saying, 0 Baal,
hear us. But there was no voice, nor any
that answered. And they leaped upon the
altar which was made. And it came to pass
at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said,
Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is talk-
ing, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey,
or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be
awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut
themselves after their manner with knives and
lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
And it came to pass, when mid-day was past,
that there was neither voice, nor any to answer,
nor any that regarded.








6o CONQUERPORS AiD CAPTIVES; OR,

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come
near unto me. And all the people came
near unto him. And he repaired the altar
of the Lord that was broken down. And
Elijah took twelve stones, according to the
number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob,
unto whom the word of the Lord came, say-
ing, Israel shall be thy name, and with the
stones he built an altar, in the name of the
Lord, and he made a trench about the altar,
as great as would contain two measures of
seed. And he put the wood in order, and
cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on
the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with
water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and
on the wood. And he said, Do it the second
time. And they did it the second time.
And he said, Do it the third time. And
they did it the third time. And the water
ran round about the altar, and he filled the
trench also with water. An it came to pass
at the time of the offering of the evening
sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near,
and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and
of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art
God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and








FROM DA VITD TO DANIEL. 61

that I have done all these things at Thy word.
Hear me, 0 Lord, hear me, that this people
may know that Thou art the Lord God, and
that thou hast turned their heart back again.
Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed
the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the
stones, and the dust, and licked up the water
that was in the trench. And when all the
people saw it, they fell on their faces, and
they said, The Lord, He is the God, the Lord,
He is the God. And Elijah said unto them,
Take the prophets of Baal, let not one of
them escape. And they took them, and
Elijah brought them down to the brook
Kishon, and slew them there. And Elijah
said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink,
for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And
Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and
he cast himself down upon the earth, and put
his face between his knees; and said to his
servant, Go up now, look toward the sea.
And he went up, and looked, and said, There
is nothing. And he said, Go again seven
times. And it came to pass at the seventh
time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a








62 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand.
And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare
thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain
stop thee not. And it came to pass in the
mean while, that the heaven was black with
clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.
And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And
the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and
he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab
to the entrance of Jezreel.
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah
had done, and withal how he had slain all
the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel
sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the
gods do to me, and more also, if I make not
thy life as the life of one of them by to-
morrow about this time. And when he saw
that, he arose, and went for his life, and came
to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and
left his servant there. But he himself went
a day's journey into the wilderness, and came
and sat down under a juniper tree, and he
requested for himself that he might die; and
said, It is enough, now, O Lord : take away my
life, for I am not better than my fathers.
Nothing can be more beautiful than the







FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 63

history of Elijah the Tishbite, the prophet of
the Lord. He seems to have had no other
business on the earth than to do the will
of God, and to destroy His enemies. We
scarcely find any greater example in the
Scriptures, of zeal for God's truth, and of
childlike but most steadfast faith. As when
he waited by the brook Cherith for bread and
meat to be brought to him by wild ravens,
or when he stood still by the altar of the
Lord on Mount Carmel, and knew that fire
would come down from heaven to consume
the sacrifice, that God might be avenged of
the idolators.

"Who was Elijah?
Who reigned over Israel at that time ?
What was the name of Ahab's wife? and was she
good ?
How did God provide for Elijah during the famine ?
What miracle did Elijah perform in the widow's
house ?
How did God make himself known to the idolators
at Mount Carmel?
How long was the earth without rain? and how did
it come at last?









MijaTi) Mapat to %eaben.


HE whirlwind flew, God was not there,
Nor in the earthquake's noise,
Nor in the fire He came, but where?
'Twas in the still small voice.

Elijah heard, and knew his hour
To leave this world was near;
But, trusting in God's loving power,
He felt no grief or fear.
lie went his way to meet the man
Who should himself succeed;
With ready zeal Elisha ran,
And followed where he led.

On Jordan's banks Elijah stands,
His earthly wand'rings o'er;
The prophets' sons, in silent bands,
Afar off watch the shore.

Well may they watch, for, wondrous sight I
From heaven came down that day
Horses and chariot fiery bright,
Elijah to convey.

His mantle falls, he disappears,
Rapt living to the skies,
The second in this vale of tears
Who, human, never dies.
















CHAPTER VI.
Ahab covets Naboth's Vineyard, and kills him. Elijah
anoints Elisha to be Prophet in his steaa, and is
taken uz to Heaven.
OW, as Elijah lay and slept under a
juniper tree, behold, then an angel
touched him, and said unto him,
Arise and eat. And he looked, and behold,
there was a cake baken on the coals, and a
cruse of water at his head. And he did eat
and drink, and laid him down again. And
the angel of the Lord came again the second
time, and touched him, and said, Arise and
eat, because the journey is too great for thee.
And he arose, and did cat and drink, and went
in the strength of that meat forty days and
forty nights, unto Horeb the mount of God.
And he came thither unto a cave and lodged
there, and, behold, the word of the Lord came
unto him, and He said unto him, What doest
F








66 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been
very jealous for the Lord God of hosts ; for
the children of Israel have forsaken Thy
covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain
Thy prophets with the sword ; and I, even I
only, am left; and they seek my life, to take
it away. And He said, Go forth, and stand
upon the mount before the Lord. And
behold the Lord passed by, and a great and
strong wind rent the mountains, and brake
in pieces the rocks before the Lord ; but the
Lord was not in the wind ; and after the wind
an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the
earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire; and after
the fire a still small voice. And it was so,
when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his
face in his mantle, and went out, and stood
in the entering in of the cave. And, behold,
there came a voice unto him, and said,
What doest thou here, Elijah ? And he
said, I have been very jealous for the Lord
God of hosts, because the children of Israel
have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down
Thy altars, and slain hy prophets with the
sword ; and I, even I only, am left; and they







FRiOM DA VID TO DANIEL. 67

seek my life, to take it away. And the Lord
said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the
wilderness of Damascus; and when thou
comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint
to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of
Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint
to be prophet in thy room.
So he departed thence, and found Elisha
the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing with
twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with
the twelfth; and Elijah passed by him, and
cast his mantle upon him. And he left the
oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I
pray thee, kiss my father and my mother,
and then I will follow thee. And he said
unto him, Go back again; for what have I
done to thee ? And he returned back from
him, and took a yoke of oxen and slew them,
and boiled their flesh with the instruments of
the oxen, and gave unto the people, and
they did eat. Then he arose, and went after
Elijah, and ministered unto him.
And it came to pass after these things, that
Naboth the Jezreclite had a vineyard, which
was in Jczreel, hard by the palace of Ahab







68 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR

king of Samaria. AndAhab spake unto
Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard,
that I may have it for a garden of herbs,
because it is near unto my house; and I
will give thee for it a better vineyard than it;
or, if it seem good unto thee, I will give
thee the worth of it in money.
And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid
it me, that I should give the inheritance of my
fathers unto thee.
And Ahab came into his house heavy and
displeased because of the word which Naboth
the Jezreelite had spoken to him ; for he had
said, I will not give thee the inheritance of
my fathers. And he laid him down upon
his bed, and turned away his face, and would
cat no bread.
But Jezebel his wife came to him and
said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that
thou eatest no bread? And he said unto
her, Because I spake unto Naboth the
Jezrcelite, and said unto him, Give me thy
vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee,
I will give thee another vineyard for it; and
he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 69

now govern Israel? Arise, and eat bread,
and let thine heart be merry. I will give
thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and
sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters
unto the elders and to the nobles that were in
his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she
wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast,
and set Naboth on high among the people.
And set two men, sons of Belial, before him,
to bear witness against him, saying, Thou
didst blaspheme God and the king. And
then carry him out, and stone him, that he
die. And the men of his city did as Jezebel
had sent unto them. Then they sent to
Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is
dead. And it came to pass, when Jezebel
heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead,
that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take posses-
sion of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
which he refused to give thee for money; for
Naboth is not alive, but dead.
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that
Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go
down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
to take possession of it.








70 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

And the word of the Lord came to Elijah
the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet
Ahab, king of Israel, which is in Samaria;
behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth,
whither he is gone down to possess it. And
thou shalt speak to him, saying, Thus saith
the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken
possession ? Thus saith the Lord, In the
place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth
shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. And
Ahab said unto Elijah, Hast thou found me,
0 mine enemy ? And he answered, I have
found thee ; because thou hast sold thyself to
work evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I
will bring evil upon thee, and will take away
thy posterity for the provocation wherewith
thou hast provoked Me to anger, and made
Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the
Lord, saying, The dogs shall cat Jezebel by
the wall of Jezrcel. Him that dicth of Ahab
in the city, the dogs shall eat ; and him that
dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air
eat. There was none like unto Ahab, which
did sell himself to work wickedness in the
sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife
stirred up. And he did very abominably in








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 71

following idols, according to all things as
did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out
before the children of Israel. And it came to
pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he
rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his
flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and
went softly. And the word of the Lord came
to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou
how Ahab humbleth himself before Me ?
because he humbleth himself before Me, I
will not bring the evil in his days; but in
his son's days will I bring the evil upon his
house.
And there was war between the king of
Israel and the Syrians, and Ahab the king
went out to battle against the Syrians. And
a certain man drew a bow at a venture,
and smote the king of Israel between the
joints of the harness, wherefore he said unto
the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand,
and carry me out of the host, for I am
wounded. And the blood ran out of the
wound into the midst of the chariot. So the
king died, and was brought to Samaria, and
they buried the king in Samaria. And one
washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria and








72 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

the dogs licked up his blood, according to
the word of the Lord which He spake.
And it came to pass, when the Lord would
take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind,
that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray
thee, for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel.
And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord
liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave
thee. So they went down to Bethel. And
the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel
came forth to Elisha, and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the Lord will take away
thy master from thy head to-day ? And he
said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here,
I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to
Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.
So they came to Jericho.
And the sons of the prophets that were at
Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the Lord will take away
thy master from thy head to-day ? And he
answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee,








PROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 73

here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan.
And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as
thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And
they two went on. And fifty men of the sons
of the prophets went, and stood to view afar
off, and they two stood by Jordan. And
Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it
together, and smote the waters, and they
were divided hither and thither, so they two
went over on dry ground.
And it came to pass, when they were gone
over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what
I shall do for thee, before I be taken away
from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let
a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing,
nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken
from thee, it shall be so unto thee ; but if not,
it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as
they still went on, and talked, that, behold,
there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses
of fire, and parted them both asunder; and
Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father,
my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horse-
men thereof. And he saw him no more ; and








74 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

he took hold of his own clothes, and rent
them in two pieces. He took up also the
mantle of Elijah, that fell from him, and
went back, and stood by the bank of
Jordan. And he took the mantle of Elijah
that fell from him, and smote the waters, and
said, Where is thcLord God of Elijah ? and
when he also had smitten the waters, they
parted hither and thither, and Elisha went
over. And when the sons of the prophets
which were to view at Jericho saw him, they
said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.
And they came to meet him, and bowed them-
selves to the ground before him. And the
men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I
pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant,
as my lord seeth, but the water is naught,
and the ground barren. And he said, Bring
me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And
they brought it to him. And he went forth
unto the spring of the waters, and cast the
salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I
have healed these waters; there shall not be
from thence any more death or barren land.
So the waters were healed unto this day, ac-
cording to the saying of Elisha which he spake.








FROM DAVID TO DANIEL. 75

The chief lesson to be learned from this
chapter is the terrible sinfulness of envy and
covetousness. Ahab coveted Naboth's vine-
yard. He could not be satisfied with all the
houses and lands that he possessed. There
was just one thing more that he desired. And
to get this, only see into how much dreadful
sin he was led. We may also dwell upon
the great and wonderful forgiving mercy of
God. When Ahab's sin was pointed out to
him by Elijah the prophet, he did not try to
excuse himself, but repented at once. And
because he humbled himself repentantly before
God, the worst part of the punishment due
to his sins was not brought upon him. He
was in part forgiven.
-low long did Elijah travel in the strength of the
heavenly food God sent him?
Did God come in the wind, or the earthquake, or
the fire, or the still small voice ?
Who was appointed by God to succeed Elijah as
prophet ?
Tell the story of Naboth and his vineyard.
"What dreadful end was foretold for Ahab and
Jezebel?
How did Elijah leave this world ? Did he die ?
"What good gift did Elisha ask for at the hand of
Elijah ?













HEN children mocked the good old man,
Two dreadful bears God sent;
In vain they cried, in vain they ran,
Forty and two were rent.
Then, still before the hoary head,
Rise up with pious awe;
Remember those poor children dead,
And keep God's holy law.
Another child Elisha brought
From death to life once more;
And many miracles he wrought
By God's almighty power.
A little captive Jewish maid
Told the good prophet's fame;
Her master sick heard all she said,
And to Elisha came.
The prophet bade him seven times bow
In Jordan's healing wave;
He goes, obeys, and thus learns how
None but the Lord can save.
Gchazi, greedy for the gold
Elisha's hand denied,
Is punished for the lie he told-
A leper till he died.
















CHAPTER VII.
Elisha the Prophet. C ..' ... mock him, and are killed
by Bears. The Shunammnite Woman. Naaman
and the little Maid.
OW Elisha went up from Jericho unto
Bethel; and as he was going up by
the way, there came forth little chil-
dren out of the city, and mocked him, and
said unto him, Go up, thou bald head, go
up, thou bald head. And he turned back,
and looked on them, and cursed them in the
name of the Lord. And there came two she
bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two
children of them. And he went from thence
to Mount Carmel, and from thence he re-
turned to Samaria. Now there cried a certain
woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets
unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband
is dead ; and thou knowest that thy servant
did fear the Lord; and the creditor is come








78 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do
for thee ? tell me, what hast thou in the
house? And she said, Thy servant hath not
anything in the house, save a pot of oil.
Then he said, Go, borrow vessels abroad of all
thy neighbours; even empty vessels, borrow
not a few. And when thou art come in,
thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon
thy sons, and shalt pour out oil into all those
vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is
full.
So she went from him, and shut the door
upon her and upon her sons, who brought
the vessels to her, and she poured out. And
it came to pass, when the vessels were full,
that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a
vessel. And he said unto her, There is not
a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then
she came and told Elisha, the man of God.
And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy
debt, and live thou and thy children of the
rest.
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to
Shunem, where was a great woman, and she
constrained him to eat bread. And so it was,








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 79

that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither
to eat bread. And she said unto her husband,
Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy
man of God, which passes by us continually.
Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, in
the wall; and let us set for him there a bed,
and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick,
and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he
shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day,
that he came thither, and he turned into
the chamber, and lay there. And he said to
Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite.
And when he had called her, she stood before
him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her,
Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all
this care ; what is to be done for thee ? And
she answered,I dwell among mine own people.
And Elisha said, What then is to be done
for her ? And Gehazi answered, Verily she
hath no child, and her husband is old. And
Elisha said, Call her. And when he had
called her, she stood in the door.
And he said, About this season, thou shall
embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord,
thou man of God, do not lie unto thine hand-
maid.








80 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

And the woman bare a son at that season
that Elisha had said unto her. And when the
child was grown, it fell on a day, that he
went out to his father to the reapers. And
he said unto his father, My head, my head !
And he said to a lad, Carry him to his
mother. And when the lad had taken him,
and brought him to his mother, he sat on her
knees till noon, and then died. And she
went up, and laid him on the bed of the man
of God, and shut the door upon him, and went
out. And she called unto her husband, and
said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young
men, and one of the asses, that I may run to
the man of God, and come again.
And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go
to him to-day ? it is neither new moon, nor
Sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.
Then she saddled an ass, and said to her
servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy
riding for me, except I bid thee. So she
went, and came unto the man of God to
Mount Carmel.
And it came to pass, when the man of God
saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his
servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite.







FROMJ DA VID TO DANIEL. 81

Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say
unto her, Is it well with thee ? is it well with
thy husband ? is it well with the child ? And
she answered, It is well. And when she crime
to the man of God to the hill, she caught him
by the feet; but Gehazi came near to thrust
her away. And the man of God said, Let
her alone, for her soul is vexed within her;
and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath
not told me. Then she said, Did I desire a
son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive
me? Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy
loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go
thy way; if thou meet any man, salute him
not; and if any salute thee, answer him not
again; and lay my staff on the face of the
child. And the mother of the child said,
As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I
will not leave thee. And he arose, and
followed her. And Gehazi passed on before
them, and laid the staff upon the face of the
child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing.
Wherefore he went again to meet Elisha, and
told him, saying, The child is not awaked.
And when Elisha was come into the house,
behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his
G








82 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

bed. He went in therefore, and shut the
door upon them twain, and prayed unto the
Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the
child, and put his mouth upon his mouth,
and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands
upon his hands; and he stretched himself
upon the child; and the flesh of the child
waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked
in the house to and fro; and went up, and
stretched himself upon him, and the child
sneezed seven times, and the child opened
his eyes. And Elisha called Gehazi, and
said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her.
And when she was come in unto him, he
said, Take up thy son. Then she went in,
and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the
ground and took up her son, and went out.
And Elisha came again to Gilgal.
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the
king of Syria, was a great man with his master,
and honorable, because by him the Lord had
given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a
mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
And the Syrians had gone out by companies,
and had brought away captive out of the land
of Israel a little maid, and she waited on








FROM" DA VID TO DANIEL. 83

Naaman's wife. And she said unto her
mistress, Would God my lord were with the
prophet that is in Samaria! for he would
recover him of his leprosy. And one went in
and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said
the maid that is of the land of Israel. And
the king of Syria said to Naaman, Go to, go,
and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel.
And Naaman departed, and took with him ten
talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of
gold, and ten changes of raiment. And
he brought the letter to the king of Israel,
saying, Now when this letter is come unto
thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman
my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover
him of his leprosy. And it came to pass,
when the king of Israel had read the letter,
that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God,
to kill and make alive, that this man doth
send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy ?
Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how
he seeketh a quarrel against me. And it was
so, when Elisha the man of God had heard
that the king of Israel had rent his clothes,
that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore
hast thou rent thy clothes ? let him come now








84 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

to me, and he shall know that there is a pro-
phet in Israel. So Naaman came with his
horses and with his chariot, and stood at the
door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha
sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and
wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh
shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be
clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went
away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will
surely come out to me, and stand, and call on
the name of the Lord his God, and strike
his hand over the place, and recover the
leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers
of Damascus, better than all the waters of
Israel ? May I not wash in them, and be
clean ? So he turned and went away in a rage.
And his servants came near, and spake unto
him, and said, My father, if the prophet had
bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou
not have done it ? how much rather, then,
when he saith to thee, Wash and be clean ?
Then went he down, and dipped himself
seven times in Jordan, according to the say-
ing of the man of God; and his flesh came
again, like unto the flesh of a little child, and
he was clean. And he returned to the ?n',n








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 85

of God, he, and all his company, and came,
and stood before him: and he said, Behold,
now I know that there is no God in all the
earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray
thee, take a blessing of thy servant. But
he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom
I stand, I will receive none. And he urged
him to take it, but he refused.
And Elisha said unto Naaman, Go in peace.
So he departed from him a little way.
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man
of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared
Naamnan this Syrian, in not receiving at his
hands that which he brought; but, as the
Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take
somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after
Naaman. And when Naaman saw him
running after him, he lighted down from the
chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well ?
And he said, All is well. My master hath
sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be
come to me from Mount Ephraim two young
men of the sons of the prophets; give them,
I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two
changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be
content, take two talents. And he urged him,







S6 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

and bound two talents of silver in two bags,
with two changes of garments, and laid them
upon two of his servants, and they bore them
before him. And when he came to the
tower, he took them from their hands and
bestowed them in the house ; and he let the
men go, and they departed. But he went
in, and stood before his master. And Elisha
said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi ?
And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
And Elisha said unto him, Went not mine
heart with thee, when the man turned again
from his chariot to meet thee ? Is it a time
to receive money, and to receive garments,
and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep,
and oxen, and men servants, and maid
servants ? The leprosy therefore of Naaman
shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for
ever. And he went out from his presence a
leper as white as snow.
The story of the mocking children is
intended as a lesson to us not to make game
of anyone; especially it is meant to teach
children to show reverence to those older
and wiser than themselves. The story of
Naaman is very beautiful, and very full of








FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 87

example for us. How happy the little maiden
out of the land of Israel must have been
when she spoke to her mistress about the
dear prophet of her native land. Still happier
when she saw her master come home again
cured of his leprosy, which was a dreadful
disease common in tkose days. By Gehazi's
sad fall we are warned against the sin of
coveting. Gchazi saw all the beautiful pre-
sents of clothes and money which Naaman
had brought from Syria to give to him who
would heal him of his sickness, and when
he saw Elisha, the man of God, refuse to take
all these fine things, Gehazi coveted them; he
thought it a great pity Naaman should take
them all back to Syria again ; and, by a lie,
he managed to secure some of them for him-
self. At what a heavy price! Gehazi forgot
that God could see him, God who made
known to Elisha what his wicked servant had
done. So the dreadful curse of leprosy came
upon Gehazi for ever.
What happened to the children who made game of
Elisha, the man of God ?
Tell me the story of the poor widow and the cruse
of oil.









88 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES.

How was the good Shunammite rewarded for her
charity to Elisha?
What miracle did Elisha perform when the child
died?
Who was Naaman, and what was the matter with
him?
How did Naaman hear of Elisha, the man of God?
How was Naaman's leprosy healed ?
What sin did Gehazi commit, and how was it
punished ?









NsVer -rZ
->_ **** k^."' I ii-'!"











Sirljit Zestr0s ) ijnb', ,iw. Lam eiCTa Mirl.


EHU, the mighty captain, called
By God to Israel's throne,
Judah's and Israel's kings destroyed,
And reigned himself alone.

All Ahab's wicked race he slew;
And cruel Jezebel
By his commandment, down they threw:
Dogs ate her where she fell.

Of Baal's priests, and temples too,
King Jehu cleared the land;
Doing as God had bade him do,
But there he stayed his hand.
He did not live a righteous life,
Nor reign a perfect reign :
Obeyed God for a little while,
Then idols served again.
Elisha, holy man of God,
At length departs in peace :
They buried him beneath the sod,
His toils and troubles cease.
But, even in his grave, his bones
Such healing virtue keep,
A dead man laid beside him lives,
And rises from death's sleep.
















CHAPTER VIII.
Elisha alnoinis 7eriu Kil'i oover Israel. Jehit destroys
the Kings of Israel and J7ndah. 7e=cbel is
eaten by Does. Elisha dies, and a Afiracle is
wrought by his dead Bones.
ND in the fifth year of Joram the son
of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoram the
son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah
began to reign, and he reigned eight years
in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way
of the kings of Israel, as did the house of
Ahab; for the daughter of Ahab was his wife,
and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet
the Lord would not destroy Judah, for David
His servant's sake, as He promised to give
him always a light, and to his children. And
Jehoram died, and was buried with his fathers,
and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
And he walked in the way of the house of
Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord.







FROM DA VID TO DANIEL. 91

And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to
the war against Hazael king of Syria in
Ramoth-gilead; and the Syrians wounded
Joram. And king Joram went back to be
healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the
Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he
fought against H-azael king of Syria. And
Ahaziah king of Judah went down to see
Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he
was sick.
And Elisha the prophet called one of the
children of the prophets, and said unto him,
Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil
in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
And when thou comest thither, look out there
Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of
Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up
from among his brethren, and carry him to
an inner chamber. Then take the box of
oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus
saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king
over Israel. Then open the door, and flee,
and tarry not. So the young man, the pro-
phet, went to Ramoth-gilead. And when he
came, behold, the captains of the host were
sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee,








93 CONQUERORS AND CAPTIVES; OR,

0 captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all
us ? And he said, To thee, 0 captain. And
he arose, and went into the house; and he
poured the oil on his head, and said unto
him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I
have anointed thee king over the people of
the Lord, even over Israel. And thou shalt
smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I
may avenge the blood of my servants the
prophets, and the blood of all the servants of
the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the
whole house of Ahab shall perish. And
the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of
Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.
And he opened the door and fled.
Then Jehu came forth to the servants of
his lord, and one said unto him, Is all well ?
wherefore came this mad fellow to thee ?
And he said unto them, Ye know the man,
and his communication. And they said, It is
false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and
thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the
Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel.
Then they hasted, and took every man
his garment, and put it under him on the
top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets,