weighty question of State, Saul set a dangerous example for his advisers and son, by proposing that they plot together against the life of the nation's idol. Happily, Jonathan, who really had more reason to be envious than did his father, made such a noble appeal in behalf of his friend, that he succeeded, at least for the moment, in allaying Saul's groundless suspicions and in having David reappointed to his old position as court musician.

JEALOUSY INCREASES SAUL'S MELANCHOLIA.-As court musician, he did not lose his rank as colonel, but, on the contrary, greatly enhanced his popularity by winning new victories over the Philistines. These fresh laurels with which he was crowned, caused the king to brood more and more over his own waning power, until one day while David was playing on the lyre, Saul depressed by an "evil spirit," or fit of melancholia, hastily seized a spear and cast it at the unsuspecting musician. Fortunately, the weapon wrought no injury.

JEALOUSY BREAKS UP A BRIDE'S HOUSEHOLD.-Having fled to his home, David reported his narrow escape to his young bride, Michal. That very night, either because she had observed that Saul's messengers were watching the house, or because her knowledge of her father's disposition had told her that it was unsafe for David to remain longer in Gibeah, she urged her husband to steal away under cover of darkness. Having been let down through a window, in much. the same way as Rahab had lowered the spies in the days of Joshua, David made good his escape. Michal then dressed up a household god and placed it in her husband's bed. On the next morning, when the king's messengers asked for David, she, to gain time, replied that he was sick. The messengers lost precious time by returning to ask for further instructions from Saul, who bade them bring him to him bed and all. It was not until they sought to carry out this order that they became aware of the deception.

5. ILLUSTRATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. Questions. When Goliath defied Israel's army, should Saul himself have gone forth as his country's champion? Whom are you "eyeing"? Was David vindictive? How would you act toward a person who is jealous of you?

Illustration. A Spanish courtier was once jealous of the famous Jewish philosopher, Moses Maimonides, because Maimonides was the favorite of the Caliph. The courtier, therefore, said to the Caliph one morning, "Pardon me, your Majesty, for mentioning so unpleasant a topic; but Maimonides is circulating a false report about you. He is telling everybody that your breath has such a foul odor that he is unable to stand in your presence.'

"I refuse to believe such slander," replied the Caliph bluntly.

"Here then is the proof," responded the faithless man. "Tomorrow, when you are speaking with him you will observe that he will constantly hold a handkerchief before his nose.'

Hastening away to Maimonides, the scheming courtier then said to the philosopher. "The Caliph bids me deliver this message to you: The smell of your breath is so disagreeable to him that hereafter, whenever you appear in his presence, he wishes you to hold a handkerchief continually before your mouth and nose.'

Since, on the following day, Maimonides appeared in the audience chamber with the handkerchief before his face, the Caliph was convinced that the courtier had spoken the truth, and immediately sent a secret message to the men who fed the fire in the lime-kiln, to the effect that they should cast into the flames instantly the first man who should approach them, and ask this question, "Has the order of the Caliph been executed?" Then, turning to Maimonides, he said, "I bid you go this very night to the lime-kiln and ask the men who feed the fire there this question: Has the order of the Caliph been executed?"

A few hours later, when the philosopher was on the way to the kiln, a woman suddenly rushed up to him and besought him to visit her sick daughter. Maimonides turned aside and, after spending some time ministering unto the fevered patient, continued onward in obedience to his patron's command. Arrived at the kiln, he innocently put the question, "Has the order of the Caliph been executed ?"

"Indeed, it has," responded the men. "We cast him into the fire instantly. See, here are the jewels we took from his body. Will you return them to the Caliph ?"

Perplexed, Maimonides took the valuables and hurried to

the palace. The Caliph was astounded at the appearance of this unexpected visitor; and after he had examined the jewels exclaimed, "Why, this is the watch of the courtier who told me that you could not endure the odor of my breath!"

The truth then was soon out. The courtier, over-anxious to learn whether Maimonides had been cast into the furnace, had thoughtlessly approached, and himself was the first to ask the fatal question, "Has the order of the Caliph been executed?"*

Suggestion. Read to the class Ps. 59, which is supposed to have been written by David during the night when his house was being watched by Saul's guards.

Let the pupils color map No. II in The Littlefield Outline Political Maps.

Helpful Thought. "When two quarrel, the one who ceases first is the wiser."-Talmud.

Lesson 32. A PRINCE WHO LOVED A RIVAL. Jonathan and David

(Taken from I Sam. ch. 20.)

I. THE TEACHER'S PREPARATION.

The Method of Teaching. In Gregory, The Seven Laws of Teaching, study pp. 15-27 and in your note-book write answers to the following questions: 1. Describe briefly the four degrees of knowledge. 2. Of the ten "Rules for Teachers" write the five most important for you to observe. 3. Of which of the "Violations and Mistakes" have you been guilty?

The Material for Teaching. Do all the work required in Lesson XXXII of the Junior Bible. Consult Montefiore, Bible for Home Reading, Part I, pp. 203-206; Kent's Founders and Rulers of United Israel, pp. 92-100; article "Friendship" in the Jewish Encyclopedia.

*The stories told in this volume are of necessity mere outlines. The teacher will add color, vividness and detail by following such suggestions as are given in Sara Cone Bryant's How to Tell Stories to Children.

The Religion of Israel. In Addis, Hebrew Religion, study pp. 15-37, and write answers to the following questions: 1. What is the origin of the idea that contact with a corpse makes a man unclean? 2. What evidence is there tending to show that the earliest Semites worshipped stones and trees? 3. How did the distinction between clean and unclean animals arise?

II. THE AIM.

By an actual vote cast a number of years ago by the religious school children of America, it was decided that the two most popular heroes of the Old Testament are Joseph and David. Doubtless, our forefathers would have agreed with this modern decision; for they thought it worth while to write more detailed biographies of these two men than of any others who lived in Bible times. Up to the present, we have seen David as a shepherd, a soldier, and a court musician-positions in which very few of us will ever be placed. Today, we behold him standing out before a background of warfare and intrigue as a loyal friend-a position in which each one of us should continually find himself. Use this classic chapter in the Bible, therefore, to teach the inestimable value of self-sacrificing friendship.

III. POINT OF CONTACT.

Have you ever been operated on? What did the doctor give you just before the operation ?* During the FrancoPrussian war, a large number of wounded French soldiers were brought into the hospital at Metz. After most of them had been treated, an army physician said to his assistant, "Doctor, I see that there are two patients left requiring operations; but we have chloroform enough for only one of them. Which case do you regard as the more serious and painful?" The assistant pointed to a soldier with a shattered leg. As the physician approached to administer the few remaining drops of the precious anesthetic, the wounded man turned his head as though trying to

*Only a few questions are suggested under this heading in the lessons. It is assumed that the teacher will ask others, and will arouse the interest of her pupils by encouraging them to relate their own experiences and observations.

speak. The doctor stooped to catch the faintly whispered words, "Use the chloroform on the other soldier. He is my dear friend and comrade. I am able to stand the pain of my operation without an anesthetic."

This is an example of self-sacrificing friendship between soldiers; but there is a well-known story in the Old Testament that tells of a similar friendship between a prince and a general-a story in which we hear how the prince preferred to be a loyal friend rather than become a great king.

IV. EXPLANATORY NOTES.

Ethical Topic-Friendship.

Date The closing days of one month and the opening days of the succeeding month, sometime in the first quarter of the eleventh century B.C.E. David is now about twentyfive years old, and Jonathan a few years his senior.

Place-Saul's capital, Gibeah, and a neighboring field. I SAM. 19:18-24.-After David had, with Michal's aid, succeeded in eluding the guards, he naturally fled for advice and safety to Samuel, the aged seer who was still living at Ramah. This venerable man of God evidently counselled the fugitive to return to Gibeah and to seek the good offices of his friend Jonathan in an attempt to effect a second reconciliation with Saul. It is immediately after David's return to the capital that today's lesson opens.

THE PLAN TO TEST SAUL'S ATTITUDE.-The conversation probably took place in Jonathan's private room in Gibeah to which David had gained secret access. David began by seeking to ascertain the real cause of Saul's hostility. Jonathan, who seems to have heard nothing of the king's attempt to transfix his court musician with a spear, replied that he himself would certainly have been taken into the confidence of his father, if the latter were considering any step important or otherwise. David, however, answered, "Your father is concealing this step from you, because of your friendship for me." Jonathan, evidently relying on the oath given by Saul just before the first reconciliation, seemed to have remained unconvinced, but, nevertheless, volunteered to help in any way he could, and asked, "What do you desire to have me do for you?" The following plan