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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, |