HISTORICAL SUMMARY.

Ar length, in the time of the prophet Samuel, they petitioned to be governed by a King, after the manner of surrounding nations. The Almighty granted their request; at the same time telling them by his prophet the miseries they might be subjected to under kingly government. Samuel then proceeded to anoint Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, pointed out to him by the Almighty, as King over Israel.

SAUL.

A.M.2665. The first act of this monarch's reign was the relief of Jabesh Gilead, a fortified town beyond Jordan, which was besieged by Nahash, King of Ammon. The proud King had refused to accept submission and tribute, unless they submitted to lose their right eyes. They, in despair, required seven days to consider, during which they sent to Saul; who immediately proceeded to their relief, with an army of three hundred and thirty thousand men; completely defeated the Ammonites, and cut them to pieces, almost to a man.

A.M. 2673. The Philistines having ravaged the frontiers, on the western boundary, Saul proceeded, with his son Jonathan, to subdue them, having first, contrary to the orders of Samuel, who desired him to wait for his return, offered up a burnt, offer

ing, thus usurping the sacerdotal function; which he had scarcely done, when Samuel made his appearance, rebuked him for his disobedience, told him that the Lord had chosen another person to be king, and that none of his posterity should ever mount the throne. During the time the contending armies lay encamped opposite each other, Jonathan, accompanied by his armour bearer, scaled a rock which lay between the two camps, and killed the guard; which so terrified the enemy, that they fell upon each other, supposing that the Israelites had got possession of their camp. Saul heard the confusion, and missing his son, immediately proceeded to the enemy's camp, where he was joined by the Israelites who had been prisoners there, and by other fugitives, and an indiscriminate slaughter took place.

Saul, before leaving his camp, had adjured his army not to taste anything during the day, that they might utterly destroy their enemies; and threatened death to whoever should break the decree. Jonathan, who did not know this, ate some honey as he passed through a wood. Saul having discovered this, sentenced him to die. The people pleaded for him, and would not allow the execution to take place. This put an end to the pursuit of the fugitive Philistines.

A.M. 2681. Saul, by the command of God, through Samuel, assembled an army of two hundred and ten thousand men, and proceeded to destroy the Amalekites, a powerful nation, descended from Esau, inhabiting the mountain country, south of the Dead Sea, having first warned the Kenites, who were the descendants of Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, to separate from them. Contrary to God's command, Saul saved the life of Agag, and the best of the spoil. This so enraged Samuel, that he killed Agag at Gilgal, and would have left Saul, but that he entreated him to honor him still before the people. It was at this time that Samuel anointed David to be the future King of

Israel, although the latter, then very young, did not understand the high destiny marked out for him.

A.M. 2697. Saul proceeded against the Philistines, who had again raised an army, and commenced hostilities.

While the two armies were encamped near each other, Goliath of Gath, (one of the Philistine cities,) a man of gigantic stature, challenged any of the Israelites to single combat, offering to leave the issue of the war upon the chance: but no one in the Jewish army had courage sufficient to accept the challenge.

At this time, David, who was a youth, was sent by his father to the camp, with a present to the King, and himself offered to fight the giant.

Saul, with hesitation, accepted the offer-with a smooth stone, cast from a sling, David slew the giant, and brought his head to the Israelitish camp.

The Philistines fled, and the Jews immediately pursued them, and completely destroyed their army.

At this time commenced the friendship of David and Jonathan, which constitutes so interesting and poetical an incident in the Hebrew annals.

Saul, however, instead of being grateful to David, became so jealous of him, that he pursued him with the intention of taking away his life; in which he failed, having during the pursuit been twice indebted to David for the preservation of his

own.

A.M. 2699. Whilst Saul was pursuing David, the Philistines again invaded the frontier, but were immediately repulsed.

A.M. 2704. The Philistines again invaded the land, completely routed the army of Israel, and killed Jonathan and two more of Saul's sons. After the battle, Saul, being wounded, killed him

self in despair.

The enemy cut off his head, and fastened his body, and those of his sons, to the wall of Bethshan. The inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead, at the hazard of their lives, removed them to their own city, where they burnt them, and buried the bones under a tree; from whence they were afterwards removed by David, and buried in the sepulchre of their family.

THE STORMING OF THE ROCK.

CHAPTER I.

"They slew them, Miriam, the grey old man whose blood scarce tinged their swords, they slew them, Miriam, at the mother's breast, the smiling infant, and the tender maid, the soft, the loving, and the chaste like thee. They slew them not until. MILLMAN.

It was in the middle of the month Eyor, in the year of the world 2673, that an old man and a young maiden sat watching the bright wood fire that blazed on the hearth of their little apartment. "Thanks, my sweet Judith, for thy gentle strains," said the old man, as he kissed the fair brow of the lovely girl, whose bright face was turned towards him, at the sound of his voice, to receive the accustomed reward of her performance.