There was no royal power in the tradition of the Jewish people. They led a nomadic lifestyle and from time immemorial were ruled by patriarchs, elders, judges... Since the time of Moses, a theocratic system of government has been built in Judea: people - elders - judges - high priest (sometimes a prophet next to him) - God. And it justified itself in those conditions. However, the transition to a settled life, the experience of communicating with neighboring peoples (Canaanites, Philistines ...), self-interest and the inability of the ruling elite to protect the people from the external expansion of the same neighbors led to the fact that the people demanded a king for themselves, turning with a demand for the appointment of a king to the highest authority of that time, the prophet Samuel.
Samuel, realizing that the new type of government threatened the future power of his sons, resisted this decision, but in the end he nevertheless made a choice in favor of the young man Saul, the son of Kish from a noble family with a good name from the small tribe of Benjamin. At first, Samuel secretly anointed him for the kingdom, and then after a while the lot fell on the anointed one before the people. This is how Flavius Josephus tells the story of the election of Saul.
Saul ruled for about 20 years, and for the first time of his reign he acted according to the will of God, showing himself to be a worthy ruler. By many victories over his enemies, he won the love of the people. At first, he refused honors and in peacetime he himself plowed his field (1 Sam. 11:4). Over time, Saul stopped doing God's commands, becoming presumptuous, and the Spirit of God forsook him. Realizing this, he fell into a depression, and nothing pleased him. Samuel secretly anointed king David, close to the king, dispersing the king's blues with skillful playing on the harp.
Three sons of Saul fell in the battle of Gilboa. Surrounded by enemy archers and wounded by their arrows, Saul threw himself on his sword (1 Samuel 31:4).
David plays the harp in front of Saul.
Alexander Andreevich Ivanov. 1831 Paper pasted on paper and cardboard, oil. 8.5 x 13.5.
On a biblical story. Sketch of an unrealized painting.
Acquired in 1926 from the Rumyantsev Museum (donated by S. A. Ivanov in 1877). Inv. No. 7990.
State Tretyakov Gallery
http://www.tez-rus.net/ViewGood18360.html
The Witch of Endor summons the shadow of the prophet Samuel.
Dmitry Nikiforovich Martynov (1826-1889). 1857
Ulyanovsk Art Museum
The story of the sorceress of Endor is found in the First Book of Kings (chapter 28). It tells how, after the death of the prophet Samuel, the armies of the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel. The king of Israel, Saul, tried to ask God about the outcome of the battle, "but the Lord did not answer him either in a dream, or through the Urim, or through the prophets" (1 Sam. 28:6). Then he ordered the servants - "Find me a woman sorceress, and I will go to her and ask her." The servants found a sorceress at Endor, and Saul changed his royal clothes into simple ones, took two people with him and went to her at night.
“And [Saul] said to her, I beg you, turn me around and show me who I will tell you about. But the woman answered him: you know what Saul did, how he drove magicians and fortune-tellers out of the country; Why are you laying a net for my soul to destroy me? And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord lives! you will not be in trouble for this matter. Then the woman asked: whom will you bring out? And he answered: Bring me Samuel. And the woman saw Samuel and cried out loudly; And the woman turned to Saul, saying, Why did you deceive me? you are Saul. And the king said to her: Do not be afraid; what do you see? And the woman answered: I see, as it were, a god coming out of the earth. What kind is he? [Saul] asked her. She said: an elderly man comes out of the earth, dressed in long clothes. Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he fell on his face to the ground and bowed down. (1 Sam. 28:8-14)“
Saul asked Samuel about what he should do in the war with the Philistines, to which he received the answer - “why do you ask me when the Lord has retreated from you and become your enemy? The Lord will do what He spoke through me; The Lord will take the kingdom from your hands and give it to your neighbor David.” (1 Sam. 28:16-17). Samuel further prophesied that “tomorrow you and your sons [will] be with me.” Saul got scared and fell to the ground. The sorceress approached him, offered him bread, after persuasion the king agreed and the woman slaughtered his calf and baked unleavened bread. After eating, Saul left.
The next day, in the battle, the sons of Saul - Jonathan, Aminadab and Malchisua were killed, and the king himself committed suicide (1 Sam. 31:15). The first book of Chronicles reports that "Saul died because of his iniquity, which he did before the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord and turned to the sorceress with a question" (1 Chronicles 10:13).
The sorceress of Endor summons the shadow of Samuel (Saul in the sorceress of Endor).
Nikolai Nikolaevich Ge. 1856 Oil on canvas. 288×341.
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
King David
David is the second king of Israel, the youngest son of Jesse. He reigned for 40 years (c. 1005 - 965 BC, according to traditional Jewish chronology c. 876 - 836 BC: seven years and six months was the king of Judea (with the capital in Hebron), then 33 years - the king united kingdom of Israel and Judea (with its capital in Jerusalem).The image of David is the image of an ideal ruler, from whose clan (on the male line), according to the Jewish biblical prophecies, the Messiah will come out, which has already happened, according to the Christian New Testament, which describes in detail the origin of the Messiah - Jesus Christ from King David The historicity of King David is a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists.
Tree of Jesse.
Marc Chagall. 1975 Oil on canvas. 130×81 cm.
Private collection
David and Goliath.
I. E. Repin. 1915 Paper on cardboard, watercolor, bronze powder. 22x35.
Tver Regional Art Gallery
Called to King Saul, David played the kinnor to drive away the evil spirit that tormented the king for his apostasy from God. After David, who came to the Israelite army to visit his brothers, accepted the challenge of the Philistine giant Goliath and struck him down with a sling, thereby ensuring the victory of the Israelites, Saul finally took him to the court (1 Sam. 16:14 - 18:2).
Bathsheba.
Karl Pavlovich Bryullov. 1832 Unfinished painting. Canvas, oil. 173x125.5.
Acquired in 1925 from the Rumyantsev Museum (collection of K. T. Soldatenkov). Inv. No. 5052.
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
http://www.tanais.info/art/brulloff6more.html
Bathsheba.
K.P. Bryullov. 1830s (?). Canvas, oil. 87.5 x 61.5.
Variant of the painting of the same name 1832 from the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery
2 Samuel 11:2-4
On the left, on the crane, the signature: K. P. Brullo.
Received in 1907 from A. A. Kozlova (St. Petersburg). Inv. No. Zh-5083.
http://www.tez-rus.net/ViewGood36729.html
Around 1832, Karl Bryullov created a canvas that was a kind of result of his many years of creative searches in mythological and genre painting. Having conceived the painting "Bathsheba", he selflessly begins to work on it for four years. The author was overwhelmed with the desire to depict a naked human body in the rays of the setting sun. The subtle play of light and shadow penetrating the picture, the airiness of the environment surrounding the figure, did not prevent the author from giving the silhouette clarity and sculptural volume. In the painting "Bathsheba" Bryullov skillfully depicts sensual erotica, frankly admiring every wrinkle on a slender body and every strand of fluffy thick hair like a man. In order to enhance the impression, the master applied a spectacular color contrast. We see how the whiteness of Bathsheba's matte skin is set off by the swarthy dark skin of an Ethiopian maid who gently clung to her mistress.
The painting is based on a plot from the Old Testament. In the Bible, "Bathsheba" is described as a woman of rare beauty. Walking on the roof of his palace, King David saw a girl below, who was naked and was ready to enter the waters of the marble pool. Struck by the unique beauty of Bathsheba, King David experienced passion. Bathsheba's husband at that time was away from home, serving in the army of King David. Not trying to seduce the king, Bathsheba nevertheless appeared at his order at the palace, and after their relationship, Bathsheba became pregnant. King David gave the commander of the army an order in which he ordered her husband to be sent to the hottest place where he would be killed. As a result, this happened, after which King David married Bathsheba. When they were born, their first child lived only a few days. David grieved for a long time and repented of his deed. Despite her high position and the status of David's most beloved wife, Bathsheba behaved very modestly and with dignity. Meanwhile, the Bible says that she had a great influence on the king, this is proved by the fact that she convinced the ruler to appoint her eldest son Solomon as king. After a fierce struggle began between his sons for the throne of King David, she in every possible way contributed to the exposure of the fourth son of David Adonijah, who sought to remove his father from the throne. Bathsheba had two sons, Solomon and Nathan. All her life she loved and was devoted to King David, becoming a wonderful wife and a good mother. art-on-web.ru
David and Bathsheba.
Marc Chagall. Paris, 1960. Lithograph, paper. 35.8×26.5
Song of Songs
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall Museum, Nice
King David.
Marc Chagall. 1962–63 Oil on canvas. 179.8×98.
Private collection
King David.
V.L. Borovikovsky. 1785 Oil on canvas. 63.5 x 49.5.
At the bottom left is the date and signature: 1785 was written by Vladimir Borovikovsky.
Received: 1951 from the collection of R.S. Belenkaya. Inv. No. Zh-5864
State Russian Museum
http://www.tez-rus.net:8888/ViewGood34367.html
King Solomon
Solomon - the third Jewish king, the legendary ruler of the united kingdom of Israel in 965-928 BC. e., during its heyday. The son of King David and Bathsheba (Bat Sheva), his co-ruler in 967-965 BC. e. During the reign of Solomon in Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Temple was built - the main shrine of Judaism, later destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Traditionally considered the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes, the book Song of Solomon, the Book of Proverbs of Solomon, as well as some psalms. During the life of Solomon, uprisings of the conquered peoples (Edomites, Arameans) began; immediately after his death, an uprising broke out, as a result of which a single state broke up into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah). For the later periods of Jewish history, the reign of Solomon represented a kind of "golden age". The "sunlike" king was credited with all the blessings of the world - wealth, women, remarkable mind.
Judgment of King Solomon.
N.N. Ge. 1854 Oil on canvas. 147x185.
Kyiv State Museum of Russian Art
The student program work "The Judgment of King Solomon" was made according to all academic canons, in a somewhat constrained and restrained manner.
Then two harlot women came to the king and stood before him. And one woman said: Oh, my lord! I and this woman live in the same house; and I gave birth with her in this house; on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth; and we were together, and there was no stranger with us in the house; only we two were in the house; and the woman's son died in the night, for she slept him; and she arose in the night, and took my son from me, while I, your servant, was sleeping, and laid him on her breast, and she laid her dead son on my breast; I got up in the morning to feed my son, and behold, he was dead; and when I looked at him in the morning, it was not my son whom I gave birth to. And the other woman said: No, my son is alive, and your son is dead. And she told her: no, your son is dead, but mine is alive. And they spoke thus before the king.
And the king said, This one says, My son is alive, and your son is dead; and she says: no, your son is dead, and my son is alive. And the king said, Give me a sword. And they brought the sword to the king. And the king said, Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other. And that woman, whose son was alive, answered the king, for her whole inwardness was agitated from pity for her son: O my lord! give her this child alive and do not kill him. And the other said: let it not be either for me or for you, cut it down. And the king answered and said, Give this living child, and do not kill him: she is his mother. 1 Kings 3:16-27
Ecclesiastes or Vanity of Vanities (Vanity of Vanities and all Vanity).
Isaak Lvovich Asknazy. 1899 or 1900
Research Museum of the Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg
The largest, most serious and last work of the artist was painted in 1900 - the painting "Ecclesiastes" or "Vanity of Vanities". She was exhibited even at the Paris Exhibition of 1900.
The painting depicts King Solomon of Jerusalem, sitting on the throne, his thoughts are gloomy, his lips whisper: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." The artist depicts the king as lonely, long abandoned by children. Only two faithful servants - a bodyguard and a secretary - remained with him. The servants watch the movement of his lips with close attention, and the secretary writes down the sayings of the wise king on the board.
A well-balanced composition, a beautiful drawing, knowledge of the style of the depicted era - all indicate that the picture was made by the hand of a master. The oriental luxury of the decoration of the interior of the palace and the clothes of King Solomon sitting on the throne only emphasize the main idea of the work: external splendor is all vanity. The work, to which Asknazy devoted six years of his life, was included in the exposition of the Russian Department at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. The author dreamed that the painting was purchased by the Academy of Arts for the Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III. However, the painting, although bought for five thousand rubles, did not end up in the new museum, remaining in the academic collection. Numerous sketches and sketches for it were first shown at the Posthumous Exhibition of Works by Academician I.L. Asknazia, which opened in academic halls in 1903, which featured 110 paintings and more than 150 sketches and sketches. It was a personal exhibition of works by Isaac Asknazia. Parashutov
King Solomon.
Nesterov Mikhail Vasilyevich (1862 - 1942). 1902
Fragment of the painting of the drum of the dome of the church in the name of the right-believing Prince Alexander Nevsky
http://www.art-catalog.ru/picture.php?id_picture=15191
The first Israeli king Saul, who came from a noble family, stood out among those around him with his tall stature and beauty, and besides, he was excellent with weapons. Through the prophet Samuel, the Lord helped him in every possible way. However, over the years of his reign and after many victories over his enemies, Saul became proud, became overly vain and arrogant. After the death of the prophet Samuel, he was confused, did not know who to ask for advice. On the eve of a responsible battle against the Philistines, old enemies of the Israelite people, Saul decided to turn to the sorceress of Endor to ask her to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel and get his advice.
According to the Bible, before Saul, the people of Israel were ruled by judges, but they were unable to unite the people and give a worthy rebuff to the enemies, primarily the Philistines. The previous prophet Eli also failed to introduce new laws so that society could live in justice. And his sons are even worse - they completely compromised themselves and during one of the battles with the Philistines lost the Ark of the Covenant - the main Jewish shrine, as well as stone tablets with the ten commandments of the Lord, a vessel with manna from heaven and Aaron's staff.
The Ark of the Covenant served as a symbol of the unity of the Israeli people and God, and it was gone. The people demanded from Samuel to appoint a king over them, who would rule over them and return the shrine. God offered to elect Saul as king and instructed the prophet Samuel to take care of him in every possible way.
The Bible records that the Lord will send many blessings to the people and to their king if they all obey the command of the Lord. But if they do not listen to the voice of the Lord, then He will punish both the people and their ruler.
The first years of his reign, Saul showed himself worthy of divine election, acted according to the will of the supreme ruler. By many victories over the enemies of the Israeli people, he gained love and all kinds of reverence not only for those close to him, but also for ordinary people.
Samuel proclaims Saul king
Once Saul went against the command of the Most High
God ordered him to punish the Amalekites, a nomadic tribe of Edomite origin, who attacked the people of Israel during their march from Egypt to Canaan. Saul attacked the Amalekites, but did not destroy them, but dispersed them, moreover, he spared the king. Then he took the whole flock of the Amalekites and drove the best oxen and sheep to him, allegedly in order to be able to make a sacrifice to the Lord.
The prophet Samuel was very angry with this act of Saul. He told him that obedience to God is the best sacrifice, and disobedience is a denial of God's will and will entail punishment. And he announced to him the will of the Lord - Saul will lose the kingdom of Israel, and death awaits his offspring ahead.
From that time on, Saul became terribly embittered; royal honors no longer pleased him. The prophet Samuel confessed to the Almighty for Saul. Then the Lord sent him to Bethlehem to choose a new king. It turned out to be David, Samuel secretly anointed him to the kingdom. David was small in stature, but handsome, knew how to play the harp and sang beautifully. They decided to send him to the palace of Saul, so that with his singing he would entertain the gloomy king.
However, after the death of the prophet Samuel, Saul became even more presumptuous of himself, became presumptuous. He thought that all the good that he did for the people was the merit of him alone and stopped fulfilling the commands of the Lord. He should have been punished for his insolence. The Spirit of God immediately left him. Saul felt that he had lost his highest support, and became gloomy, unsociable, began to show cruelty towards loved ones.
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Let's solve the VPR. Options for task number 2 with keys. "Search for information in fragments of historical texts" History of the Ancient World Grade 5. Done by: Belozerova Marina Vasilievna, teacher of history and social studies, MBOU secondary school, village. Sanboli
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. “The king of this tribe gave birth to the first-born, who was given the name Gautama. On the seventh day after the birth of his son, his mother died. The father decided to devote his life to his son. He ordered to enclose the house with a high wall so that nothing could embarrass the young soul. Only beautiful and well-dressed people were allowed through the gates. Having lived for 29 years, becoming a husband and father, Gautama never went out of the gate and naively believed that everywhere they live as carelessly as he did. But one day he met a decrepit old man and realized that old age is inevitable. I met a sick person and realized that he would not be healthy forever. He thought about death and decided to become a hermit. He wandered for a long time, starved and endured hardships. And one day, when he was sitting cross-legged under a huge tree, indulging in deep reflection, he gained wisdom. List of topics A) Sumerian city-states C) Ancient Egypt B) Ancient India D) Ancient Greece
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Let's test our knowledge The legend of Gautama or Buddha refers to Ancient India. Answer: B.
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. The watchman opened his mouth to broadcast, He addresses the great Ishtar: “Wait, mistress, do not throw off the door, Wait outside, I will go inside, I will report your name to Queen Ereshkigal.” The watchman enters, broadcasting to Ereshkigal: “This is your sister, Ishtar, standing at the door, The innkeeper of the great feasts, Who disturbed the waters before Ea-king.” List of topics A) Ancient Egypt C) Babylonian kingdom B) Phoenicia D) Ancient Palestine
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. About the one who saw everything to the end of the world, About the one who knew the seas, crossed all the mountains, About the enemies who conquered together with a friend, About the one who comprehended wisdom, about the one who penetrated everything: He saw the secret, knew the secret, He brought us news of the days before the flood, He went on a long journey, but he was tired and resigned, He carved a story about labors on a stone, He enclosed Uruk with a wall, The bright barn of sacred Eana. List of topics A) Ancient India C) Sumerian city-states B) Ancient Greece D) Ancient China
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. He opened his mouth, he said to Sovereign Marduk: “Sovereign Marduk, until you enter that house, And the Fire cleanses your clothes and you will not return to yourself, Until then I will rule, I will strengthen the statutes of earth and sky, I will ascend to heaven. I will give the order to the Igigi, I will descend into the Abyss, I will subdue the Anunnaki, I will return the evil demons to the Land of no return, I will wave my formidable weapon over them. I will break the wings of the evil wind, like a bird. To the house where you will enter, Lord Marduk, On the sides of the gates of Anu and Enlil, I will put like bulls. List of topics A) Babylonian kingdom C) Ancient India B) Ancient Palestine D) Ancient Greece
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. When David brought to show Saul the head of Goliath he had killed, Saul asked him, "Whose son are you?" David replied, "I am the son of Jesse who lives in Bethlehem." Jonathan, the son of King Saul, was present during the conversation. He was a tall and courageous young man. Jonathan fell deeply in love with David and made a friendly alliance with him. As a sign of this union, he gave David his clothes, belt, sword and bow. David also loved Jonathan. However, Saul did not like their friendship. When David killed Goliath, the people glorified him, exclaimed: "Saul defeated thousands, and David - tens of thousands!" Hearing these songs, Saul was very upset, because he wanted glory only for himself. Since then, he became jealous of David and wanted to kill him. Once, when an evil spirit disturbed him, and David played the harp in front of him, Saul threw a spear at him, but David, evading him, escaped. List of topics A) Ancient Rome C) Persian state B) Ancient China D) Ancient Palestine
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. Hand in hand with him was his faithful wife Isis. Among the wild plants of the field, she found wheat and barley, taught people arable farming, and Osiris invented bread baking ... The small city of Tape, that is, Thebes, was soon upset, adorned with temples and palaces, and eventually grew into the hundred-headed capital of the country ... And so, one day, the king called his wife Isis, his son Horus and his brother Seth, and said: - You see, my people are happy and no longer need my personal presence; so I want to go away and give other nations what makes them good and happy. You, my Isis, remain the queen of the country and wear the highest dignity during my absence; but on your shoulders, my brother Seth, I place the whole burden of the government of caring for my wife and my child. And do so, so that you will stand before me with honor when I return! List of topics A) Ancient Greece C) Assyrian state B) Ancient Palestine D) Ancient Egypt
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. Before sailing to distant Colchis, Jason traveled all over Hellas, calling glorious heroes on a long trip. Everyone promised to help Jason. Among them were the famous singer Orpheus, the winged sons of Boreas, the brothers Castor and Polydeuces, Heracles, Linkey, Admetus, the son of Pelius Akaetes, who was friends with Jason, and many other brave men. Finally, brave sailors gathered in Iolka. During this time, a large, strong, fifty-oared ship was built at the foot of Mount Pelion under the leadership of Athena, who favored Jason. It was built by the famous builder Arg, and that high-speed ship "Argo" was named, and the heroes who gathered to sail on it were called Argonauts. Athena made a piece of sacred oak from the grove of the oracle of Dodona in the stern of the ship, and the mighty Hera took under her protection the Argonauts, who was grateful to Jason for carrying her across the river on his shoulders one winter. List of topics A) Ancient Egypt C) Ancient Greece B) Ancient Rome D) Ancient China
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. There they again entered the river mouth and again offered sacrifices. But God again rejected the sacrifice. And the Tyrians had to go back a little. They stopped at small islands near the coast. This time the sacrifice was successful. Having learned the will of Melkart, the inhabitants of Tyr, who came out of it, fenced off a place on the island and built a city inside the fence. And they called it Gadir, which means "enclosed place" or "fortress." At the opposite end of the same island, the Phoenicians erected a temple to Melqart. List of topics A) Phoenicia C) Ancient Rome B) Sumerian city-states D) Ancient India
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. From that time on, Saul became bored, angry and scolding. There was rarely an hour when he was calm. The courtiers noticed this and said to Saul: - What is the matter with you? You are not as cheerful now as before. Allow us to bring you a man who would play the harp before you to cheer you up. Saul agreed: - Good! Look for such a person who plays well and bring me. The courtiers answered: - Yes, we have already found such a person in Bethlehem. His name is David. He plays the harp well. And he himself is a kind, intelligent and pious person. They took David from the green field, which he liked so much, from his sheep, which he loved so much, to the palace and made him play before King Saul. David also knew how to sing well. Saul soon fell in love with him, and David was always to be with Saul. Did Saul get bored, did he start to get angry - David took his harp, began to play and sing, and Saul came to his senses and became calmer and more cheerful. List of topics A) Persian Empire C) Ancient Palestine B) Ancient India D) Sumerian city-states
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. The son of Juno and Jupiter - Mars, was the god of war. He preferred the noise of battle to the sounds of any music, he adored fighting and bloodshed. Mars' assistants were warlike gods, these are Phobos (god of fear), Eris (goddess of discord), Demios (fears), Pallor (horror) and Metus (god of anxiety). The goddess Bellona constantly accompanied him, drove the chariot of Mars, repelled all blows, monitored the safety of the god. Therefore, these two gods were worshiped in the same temple, the altars of which were stained with blood. Warriors, going to war, came to the temple of Mars, where he was depicted in armor, with a helmet in one hand and a spear in the other. Touching the spear, the warriors loudly exclaimed “Wake, Mars!” They believed that Mars steps ahead of the warriors and leads them to victory. After the victory, the generals put their laurel wreaths at the foot. List of topics A) Ancient Rome C) Babylonian kingdom B) Ancient Egypt D) Persian state
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. Fuxi and Nuwa were hardworking, kind, if they meet a hungry person, they will always give something, help. One heavenly immortal found out about this. He went to the gate of Fuxi's house and began to beg. Fuxi and Nuwa received him hospitably. He gave them his bamboo basket and said: - I give you this basket, if there is a flood, climb into it both then you will not drown. As soon as Fuxi picked up the basket, the beggar immediately disappeared. Fuxi and Nuwa understood that it was an immortal who descended into the world of people. A few days passed, and indeed the flood came. Fuxi and Nuwa, remembering the advice, climbed into a basket woven from bamboo and floated on the spilled water. And when the water receded, the bamboo basket gently sank to the ground. Fuxi and Nuwa got out of it, looked around: in the whole Celestial Empire, only the two of them, brother and sister, remained. Fuxi began to consult with her sister: should we single out people from clay so that the human race on earth would not be interrupted? They dug up clay, kneaded it, adding water, and began to sculpt people. List of topics A) Ancient Greece C) Ancient Rome B) Ancient China D) Babylonian Kingdom
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. In order to grow grass in abundance on the wide land, To make butter and cream thick in barns and wagons, To amuse the sheep shepherds, the Hero of Ninurta went to Eredu. So that the Tigris and Euphrates can overflow, So that [...], so that the Abyss can rage, So that the fish “suhurkhi” and barbel (could frolic) in the swamp ... List of topics A) Ancient Egypt C) Ancient India B) Ancient Rome D ) Babylonian kingdom
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. The hunter went to Gilgamesh, Set off on his journey, turned his feet to Uruk, In the face of Gilgamesh he said the word: “There is a man who came from the mountains, In all the country his hand is mighty, Like a stone from heaven, his hands are strong! He wanders forever over all the mountains, Constantly crowding with the beast to the watering place, Constantly directing steps to the watering place. I'm afraid of him, I dare not approach! List of topics A) Sumerian city-states C) Ancient China B) Persian empire D) Phoenicia
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. About his childhood and youth is known only from legends. According to Herodotus, the mother of Cyrus was the daughter of the Indian king Astyages Mandana, who was predicted that she would give birth to a son who would become the ruler of the world. The legend says that after the birth of Cyrus, the noble Mede Harpag was instructed to kill the baby, but he gave it to the shepherd and his wife, and they, instead of leaving the child to be eaten by wild animals, raised the boy as their own son. When Cyrus was ten years old, for a minor offense he was taken to King Astyages, who recognized him as his grandson, forced his adoptive father Cyrus to tell the truth and severely punished Harpag for deceit. List of topics A) Ancient Palestine C) Persian state B) Ancient Greece D) Ancient India
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. Set made the greatest and last oath: - I will not fight and shed blood anymore. We will build ourselves stone boats and sail in a race. The one who overtakes the opponent, let the crown be given ... - I agree, - Horus answered, - but you all heard - this competition will be the last! He came up with a great trick. In a hidden place, he made a boat out of cedar, coated it with plaster and brought it to the pier. Seth believed that Horus's boat was made of stone. He climbed a high mountain, broke off its top, cut a boat out of it and placed it next to Horus's boat. As soon as the competition began, the stone boat sank. Only after this victory won by cunning did justice prevail. Defeated Seth said: - Let Horus be given the rank of his father, Osiris. A white crown was placed on the son of Isis. Isis, joyful, exclaimed: - You are a wonderful king! My heart rejoices when you illuminate the earth with your radiance. List of topics A) Ancient Greece C) Sumerian city-states B) Persian empire D) Ancient Egypt
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. In the abyss of primary waters, Vishnu reclined in deep sleep. From the belly of the god came a lotus stem, from which Brahma was born. He looked around him, but saw only a vast expanse of water. He was happy, considering himself the Firstborn. But Brahma discovered that the lotus stem was coming out of the navel of Vishnu, who was reclining on the serpent Ananta (Eternity) floating in the primeval waters. Vishnu asked Brahma who he was. Brahma replied that he was the Creator. Vishnu began to challenge Brahma's claim, saying that he, Vishnu, and not Brahma, is the Creator. There was a quarrel between them. List of topics A) Sumerian city-states C) Ancient China B) Ancient India D) Persian empire
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. ... The month of Aiyar on the 14th day, I set out from Nineveh; crossed the Tigris and approached the settlers of Giammu near the Balikh River. They were afraid of the horror of my dominion, the bitterness of my furious weapons, and killed their lord Giamma with their own weapons. I opened the vault, found his treasures, seized his wealth and his property and delivered it to my city of Ashur. List of topics A) Persian state C) Assyrian state B) Ancient Rome D) Ancient Egypt
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. Ganesha was born as a beautiful baby. All the gods came to congratulate Shiva and Parvati on the birth of their son and brought gifts. Everyone, seeing the child, admired his beauty. Only one god Shani never looked at the baby, explaining that his gaze has destructive power. But Parvati insisted that he also see how handsome her son was. As soon as Shani looked at the child, his head fell to the ground. Shiva tried to put his head on the boy's body, but it did not grow. Then Brahma advised the inconsolable mother to put the head of the first animal she met on him. So the boy got the head of an elephant. List of topics A) Ancient Egypt C) Ancient Rome B) Ancient Greece D) Ancient India
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. The Lord saw that the corruption of people on earth was great, and that the thoughts and thoughts of their hearts were evil at all times; each has perverted his way on earth. Then God said: "I will destroy from the face of the earth all the people whom I created ... for I repented that I created them." Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. God spoke to him and said, “I will destroy them from the earth. Make yourself an ark out of gopher wood; make divisions in it, and cover it with pitch inside and out... And, behold, I will bring a flood of waters on the earth to destroy all flesh under the heavens, in which is the spirit of life; everything on earth will lose its life. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you." List of topics A) Babylonian kingdom C) Ancient India B) Ancient Palestine D) Ancient Rome
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. Pan was proud of his flute playing. Once he challenged Apollo himself to a contest. In a purple cloak, with a golden cithara in his hands and in a laurel wreath, Apollo appeared for the competition. Pan was the first to start the contest. The simple sounds of his shepherd's flute rang out, gently rushing along the slopes of Mount Tmola. When the echoes of his pipe fell silent, Apollo struck the golden strings of his cithara. The majestic sounds of divine music poured out. The golden strings of the cithara rattled solemnly, all nature plunged into deep silence, and in the midst of the silence a melody full of marvelous beauty flowed in a wide wave. The last sounds of Apollo's cithara died away. The god of Mount Tmola awarded Apollo the victory. Everyone praised the great kifared god. Only One Midas did not admire the game of Apollo, but praised the simple game of Pan. List of topics A) Assyrian state C) Ancient China B) Ancient Rome D) Ancient Greece
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. The good god of the deep sea and the mind Ea - a longtime friend and patron of people - did not like the evil deed conceived by the gods. Ea began to help people. He saved them from drought, from famine, and then he warned the pious and wise Ut-Napishtim about the impending flood. He was transported to Shuruppak, crept up to the hut of Ut-Napishtim and whispered with a breath of wind: - Listen, hut! Wall, remember! Shuruppakian, son of Ubar-Tutu! Demolish your dwelling, build a ship, Abandon abundance, take care of life, Seek wealth, save your soul! List of topics A) Sumerian city-states C) Phenicia B) Ancient Greece D) Ancient China
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. From that part of the original matter that was still rushing between heaven and earth, Ment, the creative spirit, and Ptah, the primeval fire, little by little formed two large world bodies - the sun, the god Ra, and the moon, the god Eag. When the sun and moon came into existence, there could also be talk of a division of time; for with the god and through the god Ra, two goddesses occurred simultaneously: Sate, the day, the bright half of the world, and Gattar, the night, the dark half of the world. List of topics A) Phenicia C) Assyrian state B) Ancient Rome D) Ancient Egypt
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. It was believed that once Janus was the main heavenly deity. In the morning he opened the gates of heaven, releasing the sun into the sky, and in the evening he locked them after the sun returned for the night. But then he transferred this duty to Jupiter, and he himself took the no less honorary position of the lord of all beginnings and undertakings. Under his patronage were all the entrances and exits - private houses, temples, city gates. The name of Janus, invoked by the priests, began every day, month, year. Starting any business, people praised the two-faced god. The name of Janus was called the first day of the new year and the entire first month - Januarius. In the early days of the Januarius, a great feast was held. Sacrifices were offered to God in the form of honey cakes, wine, fruits. People wished each other well and gave sweets as a wish that the whole year would pass happily, sweetly. List of topics A) Ancient Egypt C) Ancient Rome B) Ancient India D) Ancient Palestine
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Read the passage from the legend and determine which of the given topics it refers to. In your answer, write the letter that represents this topic. One day they asked a woman named Delilah, whom Samson loved, to find out from him the secret of his strength. Many times she asked him, but Samson did not want to tell the truth. Then she began to beg him every day and burden him with her request. This made it hard for Samson's soul, and he finally revealed the secret to her, saying: "If you cut the hair on my head, then strength will recede from me and I will become the same as all people." When Delilah heard this, she put him to sleep and called the Philistines. They came and cut his hair. Then Samson began to weaken, and his strength left him. The Lord also departed from him. List of topics A) Ancient Greece C) Persian Empire B) Ancient Rome D) Ancient Palestine
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Current page: 9 (total book has 33 pages)
Ruth
In the days when the Israelites were ruled by judges, there was a famine in the land of Israel. Hunger! Do you understand, my good children, what this terrible word means? Famine is God's cruel punishment for our sins. Nothing grows in the fields. You can't get bread for money either. And what about the poor? There is nothing to buy, and no one will sell; ask - they will not give. And the poor have to die of hunger.
It was at such a difficult time that a poor man lived in the small Jewish town of Bethlehem with his wife and two adult sons.
They endured much need and grief during the famine. In the end, in order not to die, they left their homeland and went to a foreign land, where bread was born and was cheap. The man lived there for a short time and then died. His wife Naomi was left a widow with her two sons. Both of them married, but Naomi did not rejoice for long, looking at her sons. And they died.
Now old Naomi and her sons' two young wives are completely orphaned. Naomi loved these women like her own daughters. One of them was called Orpah, and the other - Ruth.
But then Naomi found out that the price of bread in the land of Israel had become cheaper, and she decided to return there. She quickly made her way. Both daughters-in-law (the wives of her sons) went with her. On the way, Naomi told them, “Go back to your homeland. There, the Merciful God will send you happiness for loving me and my sons so much.” They began to say goodbye, but Orpah and Ruth wept and said: “We will go with you to your fatherland!”
“No,” Naomi said, “I can't agree to that. You will be happier at home than in my country. Come back."
Then one of the daughters-in-law, Orfa, once again said goodbye to her mother, returned back to her relatives. Ruth did not return. She never lagged behind Naomi, did not want to leave her old mother. Then Naomi said to Ruth, “My good daughter! Look, your sister Orpah is returning to her homeland. Do the same, go back to your family."
But Ruth began to weep bitterly: “Dear mother! Why are you telling me to come back? I cannot leave you. Wherever you go, there I will go. I will live with you. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die there. Where they bury you, there they will bury me. Only death will separate us."
Naomi realized that Ruth did not want to leave her, and she stopped persuading her. They both went to the land of Judah and came to the city of Bethlehem. Good Ruth! God will reward her for this, send her happiness, but I will tell you more about this later.
God rewards Ruth
Ruth honored and loved Naomi like her own mother, and cared for her. She worked to support herself and her old woman. But both were so poor that they had no land on which to sow grain. When the grain ripened in the fields and the harvest began, poor Ruth went to pick up the ears that remained in someone's field after the harvest.
One day, during the harvest of barley, she went to gather ears. The field in which she gathered them belonged to a very rich man, whose name was Boaz. While Ruth was gleaning in the field, Boaz came and saw her. He went to his reapers (the people who cut the ears) and asked, "Who is this young woman?" The reapers answered, “This woman came with old Naomi from a foreign land. She has been picking ears of corn all day. She works very hard." “Ah, that's who,” said Boaz. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about this woman.”
After that, Boaz went to Ruth and said to her kindly: “My daughter, when you go again to gather ears, do not go to any other field, but come here. I told the reapers to leave more grain for you. Nobody here will hurt you. And if you feel thirsty, go to the cups containing the drink and drink as much as you like.”
Ruth could not understand why the master was so kind to her, and asked Boaz: “Why are you so good to me? Do you know me? Because I'm a stranger here."
“Oh, I already heard what you did for old Naomi,” Boaz replied. “I know that you left your father, mother, your fatherland and people and went with her. May God reward you for this!”
Ruth worked very diligently all day. Boaz ordered to feed her. In the evening she knocked out bunches of ears and gathered a lot of grains. When Naomi saw a whole bunch of grains, she said, “You brought a lot of bread today. In whose field did you gather ears?
Ruth told all that had happened, and how the rich Mr. Boaz had been kind to her.
From then on, Ruth went to Boaz's field every day and gathered ears until the harvest was over. Boaz often saw Ruth, and he liked her more and more. Finally rich Boaz married poor Ruth.
Now modest Ruth was very well! She no longer needed to pick up ears in a foreign field. But even now she did not leave old Naomi. Ruth took her in and cared for her until her death.
God always sends happiness to kind children who love and protect their parents.
Birth of Samuel
A pious man named Elkana lived in a watery Jewish city. His wife Anna was very sad that she had no children. She often thought how happy she would be if she, like other women, had a child. Not far from her homeland was the city of Silom. In this city there was a tabernacle (Jewish camp church), where Anna went every year, prayed there and offered sacrifices. One day she, as always, knelt before the altar, wept and prayed. I'll tell you what her prayer was about. Raising her hands, she said: “My God, have pity on me, give me a son! If You give him to me, I promise that he will devote his whole life to serving You.”
Ruth gathers ears in Boaz's field. (Book of Ruth 2:2–7)
God heard Anna's prayer and gave her a son, whom she named Samuel.
When Samuel grew up a little, Anna thought about what she had promised God, so she took little Samuel to the temple.
At the temple lived the old high priest Eli. Anna said to Elijah, “I brought you the son that God gave me. Take him. His whole life should be dedicated to the service of the Lord.”
Eli took little Samuel to him, and he remained to serve the Lord.
Sons of Elijah
The high priest Eli had two sons. Both of them were wicked and dissolute, although they performed priestly duties. Namely, when people came and brought meat with them to the temple, which had to be sacrificed, both brothers slowly sneaked up on the meat, took forks and dragged the best pieces. Sometimes they took pieces of meat from people by force.
They committed many other atrocities. In a word, they were shameless, bad people.
Eli knew that both of his sons were doing many evil tricks, but he did not tell them anything. People complained, but Eli never once gave his sons even a severe reprimand. Only once did he call his sons to him. And do you think he scolded them? No. He very affectionately said, “My children, what I hear about you is bad. Don't be so stupid."
But the children did not listen to their father. Then God decided to punish the sons, as well as the father, who allowed everything to his worthless sons and thus spoiled them. Listen!
One day Samuel spent the night in the temple. Suddenly he heard a voice calling: “Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel quickly jumped up, went to Eli and asked, "I'm here, did you call me?" “No,” Eli answered, “I didn’t call you. Go to bed". Samuel went. But as soon as he fell asleep, he heard again: “Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel quickly got up, went back to Eli and said, "I'm here, did you call me?" “I didn’t call you,” Eli answered, “go and lie down.” Samuel went. But soon, for the third time, someone called: “Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel got up, went to Eli and said, “Here I am. Did you call me?" Only now Eli realized that it was God calling Samuel, and therefore he said to the boy: “Go and lie down. If you are called again, answer: “Lord! God! I am listening to you!""
Samuel went and lay down again in his place. And indeed, soon he heard again: “Samuel! Samuel!" Now Samuel answered like this: "Lord, Lord, Your servant is listening to You." God told Samuel, “The high priest Eli committed a great sin. He knew that his sons were wicked, but he never punished them. For this I will punish him and his sons.”
The next morning, Eli came to Samuel early and asked him, “What did God say to you?” Samuel was initially reluctant to speak, but Eli asked, "Tell me everything." Then Samuel told Eli word for word everything God had told him, and Eli said, "He is the Lord; He can do whatever He wants."
Death of Eli
Shortly thereafter, the Israelites were to go to war with the Philistines. Both sons of Elijah went to war. But God did not help the Jews, and they were defeated. Many of them were killed, including both sons of Eli. The old priest Eli was sitting on a chair at the door of the temple and was waiting for his sons from the war. Suddenly, out of breath, a herald from the army ran up to him and shouted: “The Jews are defeated! The Philistines have won! Your sons are also killed, and the Philistines have taken the ark of the covenant from us.”
Eli was so frightened that he fell off his chair and broke his back. He immediately died on the spot.
This is how Eli and his sons were punished.
You see, dear children, sometimes strictness is needed. After all, you sometimes bring things to the point that you should be scolded and even punished. We must feel sorry for those children to whom parents allow everything, do not pay any attention to them, will never scold them, will not punish them for laziness or prank. Your parents wish you well and want you to be good people. That's why they are strict because they love you. Whoever loves his son punishes him if he deserves it.
The Israelites Ask for a King
After Eli's death, Samuel became a priest and judge. He also had two sons who helped him govern the Israelites. But the sons were not as pious as their father Samuel.
Jews came to Samuel with their problems or complaints against each other. The sons of Samuel took money from them or accepted gifts, and very often acquitted the guilty, and accused the right, or gave to the rich what should have been given to the poor. The Jews did not like this: they were angry with the sons of Samuel and did not want to be ruled by judges, but they wanted to have a king. Therefore, the oldest of the Israelites came one day to Samuel and said to him: “You are already old, and your sons are not at all as conscientious as you. So give us a king. Other nations have kings, and we want to."
But Samuel did not like that the Israelites wanted a king. He asked the Lord God what he should do, because the people certainly want to have a king. God said, “Do what the Israelites want, give them a king. They don't listen anymore and don't want to listen to Me. So far I, the Lord God, have been the King of Israel, but they don't want me to be the king. Let them have a king. Will they be better off?"
Samuel gathered the people and said that the Jews insulted God, not wanting to have Him as their king. But the people remained with their own: "We want a king."
Saul, the first king of Israel
Far away from the city of Shiloh, where Samuel's house was, lived a rich man. He had a son named Saul. Saul was a tall handsome young man, a full head taller than the other Israelites.
One day Father Saul's donkeys went missing. Then he said to his son: “Take a servant and look for donkeys. Maybe you can find them."
Saul went with a servant. They searched for donkeys for a long time, but could not find them. Finally they came to the city where Samuel lived, and the servant said, "I heard that a prophet lives here." Have you not heard, children, this word - "prophet"?
Prophets were called holy pious people to whom God revealed what would happen in the future. The prophets predicted the future and taught the people the law of God. And Samuel was also a holy prophet. Saul's servant advised him to turn to him: "Let's find him, maybe he will tell us where to find donkeys."
Saul agreed. They went to the city and soon found Samuel.
Before that, God revealed to Samuel that a young man would come to him, whom he should make king.
Saul asked Samuel if he knew where his donkeys were. Samuel replied, “Don't worry about the donkeys. I have something more important to convey to you, so stay with me today.”
Saul stayed. The next morning, Samuel got up early, took a vessel of fragrant oil, and poured the oil on Saul's head. Then Samuel kissed Saul and said, "This is a sign that God has made you king over the Israelites."
After that, with us, when the king entered the kingdom, he was anointed with sacred ointment (scented oil). Therefore, our kings were called "God's anointed."
Shortly thereafter, Samuel gathered the Israelites, brought Saul out to them, and said, "Look, this is the king God has chosen for you." The people shouted for joy: "Long live the king!"
Saul's Disobedience
So Saul from a simple subject became a king. Of course, when God sends us happiness, we must thank and listen to Him, otherwise the Lord will be angry with us, take away both happiness and wealth from us, and we will again become poor and unhappy.
At first, Saul was obedient to God and the prophet Samuel and made sure that the people did not forget God and fulfilled the commandments of God. But he soon forgot what happiness God sent him. For a short time he was obedient to God and Samuel.
Once Saul went to war against the Philistines. Before the campaign, one should pray to God and make sacrifices. Samuel promised Saul to come to him in seven days and offer sacrifices to God. He told Saul to wait for him. The seventh day came, Samuel did not come. Saul got tired of waiting. “Bring the animals to me,” he ordered, “I myself will offer sacrifices.” Unhappy! He did not even think what a terrible sin he would commit if he made sacrifices that only a priest appointed by God can offer. Saul had just finished the sacrifice when Samuel came and said to him: “What have you done? Why did you break the commandment of God? For this, God will take the kingdom from you and give it to another.”
On another occasion, God told Saul to start a war with the Amalekites. They were real robbers. They robbed and killed everyone who was weaker than them. The Amalekites were so cruel that they took the children from their mothers and took them captive or even killed them. The Lord was angry with these evil people. So that they could no longer offend and kill others, God ordered Saul to destroy all the Amalekites during the war without any mercy. Saul was also ordered to destroy all the flocks that belonged to this people. Their evil king, as a punishment for all his cruelties, God ordered to be killed without fail.
But Saul had already ceased to obey God, and acted as he himself wanted. True, he went to war against the Amalekites, destroyed almost all of this people, took their king captive, but took pity on this evil man and did not kill him. From the herds, he chose the best animals and kept them for himself, but ordered to kill only the worthless ones.
When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said, "I have done the will of God."
Samuel tells Saul about the signs. (I Samuel 10:1–9)
Samuel asked Saul, "And whose sheep are they bleating and whose cows are mooing?"
Saul justified himself: "I left them to be sacrificed to God."
“It would be better if you were obedient to the Lord instead of offering sacrifices,” Samuel said. - God does not need your sacrifices, He is pleased with obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice. You won't be king because you didn't obey God." Samuel turned and walked away.
Saul wanted to stop Samuel and grabbed his clothes, but so hard that he tore off the floor. “As you tore off my floor, so the Lord will take away your kingdom and give it to another who is better than you,” said the offended Samuel to Saul.
David
Samuel felt sorry for Saul and wept for him. And then one day the Lord appeared to Samuel and said: “Stop crying for Saul. Because he does not listen to Me, he will no longer be king over My people. So fill your horn with oil and go to the city of Bethlehem. There lives a shepherd named Jesse, who has eight sons. Of these, you will anoint one of them as a king. I will point it out to you." Samuel went to Jesse. Jesse told his sons to come in. Seeing the first one, Samuel thought that this was the chosen one, because he was tall and handsome in face. But God said to Samuel, “Don't look at beauty and stature. People look at the face, but the Lord looks at the heart. This is not what I chose." Jesse brought in another son. But God did not point this out to Samuel either. They called a third. But he was not chosen either. Then the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh entered, but there was still no chosen one among them.
Then Samuel asked his father: “Are all your sons here?” “No,” Jesse answered, “the youngest is not here: he tends the sheep.” "Call him," said Samuel.
Soon the eighth son of Jesse, David, appeared before Samuel. He had a ruddy face and beautiful kind eyes. God said to Samuel, “Here he is! Anoint him!" Samuel took the oil and anointed David to be king over the Israelites. From that day on, David became a completely different person. The Spirit of God entered his heart.
So David was anointed king. But Saul did not yet know this, and David was still in his father's house.
Wait, my friends, one minute. Your little friend asks me: "What is this - a horn of oil?" We keep wood oil (for lamps) either in glass bottles or in tin jugs. The Jews did not have such bottles and jugs. When they killed bulls, they took their horns, attached a bottom and a cork to them, and stored oil in them. Here, instead of a bottle, Samuel poured oil (oil) into such and such a horn, and from such and such a horn he poured oil on David's head.
David plays the harp before Saul
Children, you need to feel sorry for the person who does not listen to God. This is the most unfortunate person. He can no longer be at peace. He cannot be cheerful and affectionate. His conscience torments him. He always seems to be afraid of something and often yearns. This happened to King Saul. The Spirit of God left Saul, and an evil spirit began to torment him. From that time on, Saul became bored, angry and scolding. There was rarely an hour when he was not so bad and he was calm. The courtiers noticed this and said to Saul: “What is the matter with you? You are not as cheerful now as before. Let me bring a man to you who will play the harp in front of you, in order to cheer you up a little.” Saul agreed: "Look for a man who plays well and bring me." The courtiers replied: “Yes, we have already found such a person in Bethlehem. His name is David. How well he plays the harp! And he himself is a very kind, intelligent and pious person.
And they took David away from the green field, which he liked so much, from the lambs, which he loved so much, into the palace and made them play before King Saul.
David also knew how to sing well. Saul soon fell in love with him, and David was always to be with Saul. Whether Saul got bored, whether he began to get angry - David took his harp, began to play and sing, and Saul came to his senses, became calmer and more cheerful. But David did not sing cheerful songs that make you want to dance to and that only stupid people can like, but a smart person quickly gets bored. No! David sang sacred songs about God, about His mercy, about the wisdom of God, about God's blessings.
These sacred songs are called psalms and are collected in one book - Psalms.
Goliath
War broke out again between the Israelites and the Philistines. The armies came out - Israelite and Philistine - and stood against each other. The Israelites were on the mountain; opposite, on the other mountain, stood the Philistines. Between the mountains stretched a valley through which a stream flowed. The troops stood against each other for a long time and did not start the battle.
In the army of the Philistines there was a giant and a terrible strong man - Goliath, very tall, almost twice as tall as an ordinary person. On his head he had a large copper helmet (helmet), legs, arms and the whole body were covered with heavy copper armor. In his hand he held a long spear with a long, heavy iron tip. The face of this giant was simply terrible because of the large shaggy beard and huge angry eyes. I think that if you saw such a terrible person, you would certainly get scared and run away.
This giant and strong man was descending from the mountain into the valley and, mocking the Jews, shouted loudly to them in his rough, hoarse voice: “Which of you dares to come here and fight me? If there is such a brave man among you who will defeat me, the Philistines will become slaves of the Jews; if I kill him, the Jews will be the slaves of the Philistines.” He did this every day, morning and evening, for forty days.
It was a shame for the Jews to listen to the ridicule and curses of Goliath, but no one dared to go against him - it's scary! Such a hero will kill anyone.
David's three older brothers were also at war. The father sent David to them to visit them and bring them bread. David comes to the camp and hears Goliath mocking the Jews. David was annoyed that Goliath was scolding the Jews, and he asked: “And what will the reward be for that person who kills this giant?” He was told, "Whoever kills this Philistine, King Saul will give his daughter in marriage." “I want to fight him,” David said.
They told Saul that David wanted to fight Goliath. Saul called David to him and said to him: “Where can you fight such a giant: you are still a boy, and he has been going to war for a long time.”
“I killed both lions and bears when they attacked my sheep. God will help me to defeat this giant too, so that he does not offend the Jews, ”said David.
“Go with God. Go, may the Lord be with you,” Saul said and gave David his copper helmet (helmet), armor and sword.
David put a helmet on his head, armor on his chest, tied a sword to the side. But out of habit and because the armor was too large and heavy for him, David felt uncomfortable. He couldn't even move in them. “No,” David said, “I don’t need these things, they interfere with me.” He took his stick, bag and sling and went to fight Goliath.
I will tell you what a sling is. This, you see, is a small leather bag (or loop) tied to a stick. A small smooth pebble is placed in this bag. If you swing the stick, the pebble will jump out of the bag and fly. There were such masters of throwing stones from a sling that they never missed.
Let's see what David will do, how he will fight the giant whom everyone was afraid of. It would be a pity if Goliath killed David.
SAUL AND DAVID
A man named Elkana had two wives: Anna and Fennana. Fennana had children, but Anna did not. On the day when Elkana offered a sacrifice to God, he treated Fennana, sons, daughters, but gave Anna a special part, because he loved her very much. Fennana, on the other hand, ate her childless rival. And Anna pleaded:
Lord, if you give me a son, the razor will never touch his head. I will dedicate it to you.
And her son was born. They named him Samuel, which means "begged from God."
As soon as the boy grew up, his mother took him to the priest.
Let him serve God all his days,” Anna said to the priest.
Over time, Samuel grew up and throughout the land from Dan to Beersheba became known as a prophet.
THE PEOPLE DEMAND THE KING
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over the people, but the sons shied away into self-interest: they took gifts, they judged perversely. Then the elders came to Samuel and said:
You have become old, Samuel, and your sons do not follow your paths. Put a king over us, like other peoples.
Samuel did not like this word. He began to pray to God, and God said to him:
Samuel repeated the words of God to the elders, and then said:
These are the rights of the king: he will take your sons, and they will run before his chariots, he will put them in charge of the army and the land, so that they reap bread and make military weapons for him. He will take your daughters to make suits, cook food and bake bread. The best fields and your herds he will give to his servants. He will take a tenth of your harvest and give it to his eunuchs and his servants. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.
The elders listened and said:
We still want a king.
SAMUEL AND SAUL
In the tribe of Benjamin there was a certain Kis, a noble man. And he had a son Saul - a stately handsome man, head and shoulders above everyone else.
Once the donkeys at Kish's were gone, and Kish said to his son:
Take a servant and find the donkeys.
Saul went, walked for a long time, crossed the whole land of Benjamin - no donkeys.
Let's go home," he told the servant. - Otherwise, the father is not donkeys - he will rush to look for us.
The man of God is not far away, let's go to him, maybe he will tell us where to go, - the servant suggested.
What will we give him? We don't even have bread.
I have some silver, the servant answered.
They met girls on the road and asked:
Where can we find a seer here?
Hurry to the city, today the people have a sacrifice, - the girls answered, - the seer will go to dinner, try to get to him before dinner.
Saul reached the middle of the city, and Samuel met him.
The day before Saul came, God said to Samuel:
Tomorrow at this time I will send a man to you. Put him in the rulers of the country.
Saul approaches Samuel and says:
Tell me where is the seer's house?
Go ahead of me, - answered Samuel. - You will have lunch with me today. And your donkeys have already been found, do not worry.
Samuel seated Saul among the most honored guests and ordered that the most honorable food be brought to him.
The next day Samuel took the vessel of oil, tipped it over Saul's head, kissed the anointed one, and said:
When you go now, you will meet the prophets, and you will prophesy with them, and you will become a different person. And then go to Gilgal and wait for me there for seven days.
Saul went as Samuel had told him, and met the prophets. When he began to prophesy, those who knew him marveled:
What is it with Kitty's son? Is Saul also among the prophets?
After seven days, Samuel gathered the people in Mizpah and ordered the people to come knee-deep. And it was pointed out to him at the knee of Benjamin. He ordered the knee of Benjamin to approach.
And the Matriev tribe was indicated. The tribe of Matriev came by their husbands, and Saul, the son of Kish, was named. We went to look for him and could not find him for a long time. Finally they found Saul in the train and brought him. He was head and shoulders above everyone else.
See who the Lord has chosen for you? Samuel asked. And they all exclaimed:
Long live the king!
But there were also those who said:
Should Saul save us?
Soon Naas the Ammonite laid siege to Jabesh of Gilead, and the inhabitants of Jabesh prayed:
Make an alliance with us, we will serve you!
I will make an alliance with you, but in order to gouge out the right eye of each of you. Let there be dishonor on Israel, Naahs replied.
Then they sent from Jabesh to Saul, Saul gathered an army and defeated Nahash.
There was a great rejoicing then among the children of Israel, and the people demanded to kill those who said: “Shall Saul save us?” But Saul did not allow killing people on such a solemn day.
There was then a Philistine guard detachment at Gibeah Benjamin, and Saul's son Jonathan defeated this detachment. The Philistines gathered against Israel, and Saul sounded a muster throughout the land.
And the people gathered to Saul at Gilgal. Many, however, hid in caves and gorges between rocks, in towers and ditches, some fled beyond the Jordan. And there was great fear in Gilgal. Saul was waiting for the prophet Samuel in Gilgal to offer a sacrifice, but Samuel did not go. The people began to flee from Saul. Then Saul himself decided to offer a burnt offering. But as soon as he finished, Samuel came.
You have acted badly, said the prophet. - God would have strengthened your reign, and now you can not resist. God will find another king for his people.
Soon Jonathan attacked the Philistines with his armor-bearer and caused a commotion in their camp. Seeing this, Saul rushed at the Philistines and drove the enemy out of his borders, so that even his soldiers were tired.
From that time on, the kingdom of Saul was established. All the time he fought with the Philistines, and when he saw where a strong and warlike man was, he took him to him.
DAVID AND GOLIATH
Again the Philistines gathered an army and encamped near the city of Succoth in Judea.
King Saul with the army stood in front of the camp - prepared for the fight.
The Philistines were on the mountain, and the Israelites were on the mountain, and there was a valley between them.
Out of the camp of the Philistines came a fighter named Goliath, he was six cubits and a span in height.
Hey, servants of Saul, which of you will fight me? cried Goliath. - If the one who comes against me wins, we will be your slaves, and if I kill yours, then you will serve us.
The children of Israel were afraid, no one dared to oppose Goliath. And so Goliath exposed himself for forty days.
Three brothers were in the army of King Saul - Eliab, Aminadab and Samma, and the youngest, David, was tending sheep near the city of Bethlehem.
Go, son, take bread to the brothers and cheese to their bosses, - his father Jesse said to young David.
David got up early in the morning, entrusted his sheep to the keeper and went to the army. He came at a time when the army stood in formation, ready for battle. David left his burden and ran into the ranks of the soldiers to the brothers.
Then he heard Goliath, from whom the Israelites fled.
The king promised to give his daughter in marriage to the one who kills Goliath, they said around.
I'm sorry, what? David asked. - I would take this case.
Then the older brother Eliab scolded David:
You imagine a lot! It would be better to sit with the sheep!
But David waved him off and went to King Saul.
I will fight this Philistine! he said.
You are still young, - King Saul doubted.
When a bear carried a sheep out of the flock, I used to take him by the braids and kill him. And I also went to the lion, - David convinced the king.
Well, go, - allowed King Saul and ordered to give David his copper helmet and armor.
David dressed like a warrior, walked around, stretched himself, and then said to King Saul:
I can't walk in this. Not used to.
David lifted heels of smooth stones by the stream, put them in his shepherd's bag, took the staff in one hand, the sling in the other, and went out against the Philistine.
Goliath was wearing a copper helmet, scaly armor and copper knee pads, a copper shield hung over his shoulders, a squire walked in front of him.
With contempt, the Philistine looked at David - blond, young, handsome.
Why did you take the stick? asked Goliath. - Am I a dog?
And Goliath went to David, and David ran out to meet him.
David took a stone from a bag, threw it from a sling and hit Goliath right in the forehead.
So David defeated Goliath without a sword.
David ran up to Goliath and cut off his head with his own sword. The Philistines saw this, ran away, and the soldiers of King Saul chased after him.
Then David took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem, and laid the weapon in his camp.
Whose son are you, young man? asked King Saul.
I am David, the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.
DAVID AND KING SAUL
As the son of King Saul Jonathan saw David, he fell in love with the young man with all his heart. He gave him his clothes, sword and belt as a sign of a strong alliance between them.
Soon David showed himself to be a very prudent person, and King Saul made him a military leader, which pleased the people and those close to Saul.
Once, after the victory over the Philistines, King Saul and David were marching, and the women went out to meet them with music and dances and said among themselves:
King Saul defeated thousands, and David defeated tens of thousands.
King Saul was very upset and thought: “Only David is missing the title of king!”
The next day David played the strings, and King Saul took a spear and threw it at David. However, the young man managed to dodge.
King Saul appointed him as a thousand-man and removed him from himself, but soon said:
Marry my eldest daughter Merov and you will wage war. - And he thought: "Let the Philistines kill him."
Who am I to be the king's son-in-law? David answered. And they gave Merov to another.
But David fell in love with the youngest daughter of King Saul - Michal. "Let her be his snare," thought King Saul. Again David began to refuse to marry, referring to his poverty and ignorance. Then King Saul ordered that David kill one hundred Philistines before the wedding. David agreed and killed two hundred Philistines, after which he married Michal.
The king hated David and feared him, and the people in David did not have a soul.
King Saul ordered his servants to kill David, but Jonathan persuaded his father not to do so.
Again there was a war with the Philistines, and David won, which greatly annoyed King Saul.
Wrath of Saul
Again David played the strings, and King Saul threw a spear at him, but did not hit.
The next night, King Saul sent assassins to David's house, but Michal prevented the assassins.
If you don’t hide immediately, you won’t live to see the morning,” Michal said to her husband.
David went down the rope through the window and disappeared. Michal put a statue on the bed and a goatskin on the headboard. The villains came and asked David, and she answered:
They reported this to King Saul, and he ordered that David be brought along with the bed. But there was only a statue in the bed.
Why did you deceive me? King Saul said to his daughter. Why did you save my enemy's life?
He threatened to kill me if I didn't let him in, Michal justified herself.
Flight of David
DAVID AND JONATHAN
David met Jonathan and asked:
What did I do? What is wrong with your father? Why does he want to kill me?
He will not kill you,” Jonathan answered. He won't even take a step without me.
No, Jonathan, I'm only one step away from death.
If the king really wants to kill you, I will let you know,” Jonathan said.
How will you let me know?
Tomorrow is New Moon. They will look for you if your place at the table is empty. Hide in the field near the stone, I will shoot three arrows from the bow in that direction, as if at a target, and then I will send the boy for the arrows. If I tell him: “The arrows are behind you,” come out, your father will not do anything to you. If I say to the lad: “The arrows are ahead of you,” go away.
David hid in the designated place.
New moon has come. King Saul sat down to dine. Looks, David's place is empty. On the first day, King Saul said nothing. But on the second day he asked:
Why didn't David show up for dinner yesterday or today?
He asked me to go to Bethlehem, - answered Jonathan.
King Saul got angry.
You are a worthless and rebellious son. Know that as long as David lives, neither you nor your kingdom will stand. Bring him here, he's doomed to die.
What did he do? Jonathan was surprised.
The king threw a spear at his son, and it became clear to Jonathan that his father was not joking.
In the morning Jonathan went out into the field, shot three arrows, and sent a boy to search.
Look, the arrows are ahead of you! shouted Jonathan.
And then David came to him. They embraced and swore that peace would be between them forever.
THE WRATH OF KING SAUL
David came to the priest Ahimelech.
Why are you alone? asks Ahimelech.
The king entrusted me with a secret matter. Therefore, I left the people in a known place. Give me five loaves or whatever.
I have now only sacred bread, - answered Ahimelech.
Give sacred. I will put it in vessels and it will remain clean even if the road is not clear.
Ahimelech gave him bread.
Do you have a spear or a sword? David asked.
I have only the sword of Goliath, whom you killed.
Give me a sword, - asked David. There is no other sword like this.
Doik, the head of the Saul shepherds, heard this conversation.
David went to the cave of Adollam, and his brothers came there to him, as well as all the oppressed, debtors, and all those who were grieved in soul - about four hundred people, and David began to rule over them.
Doeg was quick to tell King Saul that he had seen David with Ahimelech and that Ahimelech had given him a sword and food.
King Saul called Ahimelech and all the priests of his father's house and said:
Why did you conspire against me with David?
Who is more faithful to you than David? Ahimelech was surprised. - He is your son-in-law, and the executor of your commands, and is honored in your house. I didn't talk to anyone and I don't know anything bad.
You must die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house, said King Saul.
And Saul ordered the bodyguards to kill the priests, but the bodyguards did not budge. Then King Saul ordered Doeg to do the work.
Only Ahimelech's son Abiathar escaped. He came to David and said that on the orders of King Saul, Doik killed eighty-five priests.
And David said to Aviathar:
I saw Doik then and knew what he would report. The lives of these unfortunates are on my conscience. Stay with me, because the one who wants my death also wants your death. And I will protect you.
DAVID AND AVIGEAS
The prophet Samuel died, and all the people wept.
And David wandered in the wilderness.
There was someone named Nabal, a cruel and evil man. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats.
Nabal went to Mount Carmel to shear the sheep, and when David heard about it, he sent word to him:
Peace to your house, Nabal! We did not touch your shepherds, we took care of your good. Help David, send him what is at hand.
Nabal heard these words and answered:
There were a lot of runaway slaves. Shall I give David what I have prepared for the sheep shearers?
The people returned empty-handed.
Then David said to them:
Take swords!
And about four hundred men went with David.
Nabal's wife, named Abigail, was distinguished by intelligence and beauty. As soon as the servants told her that they had come from David and left with nothing, she immediately took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine and various foodstuffs secretly from her husband, ordered donkeys to be loaded and ordered the servants:
Get ahead of me.
She met David on a mountain path.
In vain did I guard the property of Nabal, said David. He paid evil for good. Until dawn, nothing of his property will be left.
Abigail got off the donkey and fell down before David:
Pay no attention to Nabal. "Naval" means "insane", and he is insane. I brought gifts to your youths. Take them, please.
David released her with the words:
Abigail returned to Nabal, and Nabal was drunk. In the morning she told him what a misfortune had passed, his heart sank, he became like a stone, and ten days later he died.
David found out about this and asked Abigail to marry him.
I am ready to be your servant, not only your wife, - said Abigail.
And Abigail became the wife of David.
SPEAR AND BOWL
They told King Saul that David was hiding on the hill of Gahil in the wilderness of Ziph, and he went with three thousand men against David. By nightfall, King Saul camped on the mountain and fell asleep in a tent along with his commander, Abner.
David tracked down King Saul, found out where his tent was, and together with Abishai went to the camp of the king at night.
Unnoticed, they reached the tent, quietly passed into it among the sleeping ones and saw that King Saul and Abner were sleeping, and at the head of the king there was a bowl of water and a spear.
Abishai wanted to kill King Saul, but David did not allow:
God's anointed to kill sin.
David took the spear and cup and left with Abishas as unnoticed as he had come.
David climbed to the top of the hill in front of the tent of King Saul and began to shout:
Answer, Avenir!
Who are you to disturb the king? the commander shouted at him.
Why don't you protect the king? While you were sleeping, attackers came to the king. Here is the spear of the king and the cup that were at the head of his bed, ”David answered. - Send the lad to me, I will return his things to the king.
Is that you, David?
ME: Why are you chasing me over the mountains like a partridge? What have I done wrong to you?
I am guilty before you, - King Saul answered. - I acted foolishly. Blessed are you, my son David: and you will do the work, and you will overcome.
And David went on his way, and King Saul returned home.
DAVID AND ANCHUS
“If I don't leave here, King Saul will catch me,” thought David. “I must go to the Philistines.”
David went to Anchish, the king of Gath, lived in Gath for more than a year, and King Saul did not look for him.
If I have gained favor in your eyes, - David said to King Achish, - give me some small city, and I will settle in it.
King Achish gave David the town of Ziklag, and from there David went against the Amalekites and devastated their cities. He left neither men nor women alive, so that there were no rumors about his cruelty.
And King Achish thought that David had become his servant forever.
KING SAUL AT THE WITCH IN AENDOR
The Philistines gathered an army to fight against King Saul.
Come with me, - said Achish to David.
When King Saul saw the Philistines, his heart trembled. He turned to God, but God did not answer him.
Find me a sorceress, - King Saul ordered the servants.
And finding a sorceress was not easy, because King Saul expelled all wizards and fortune-tellers from the country. We did find a fortune-teller in Endor.
King Saul changed clothes and came to this woman at night.
I ask you, - he says, - call the soul of the one about whom I will speak.
You know that our king, Saul, expelled all the wizards from the country, the woman objected. Why are you laying nets for me? Do you want to destroy me?
I swear you will not be in trouble for this, - King Saul promised.
Who do you call?
And King Saul answered:
Samuel.
The woman called the prophet Samuel and cried out:
Why did you deceive me? You are King Saul.
Don't be afraid! King Saul answered. - Say what you see.
I see, as it were, a god coming out of the earth.
And what kind is he?
Elderly, dressed in long clothes.
Then King Saul recognized the prophet Samuel and fell to the ground before him.
Saul at the sorceress in Endor
Why did you disturb me? - asked the prophet Samuel.
It's very hard for me. The Philistines are fighting against me, and God does not answer me either through the prophets or in a dream. Learn what to do.
What can I tell you if God himself has abandoned you? God will do what He said through me: He will take the kingdom from you and give it to David. Tomorrow you and your sons will be here with me, and the camp of Israel will fall into the hands of the Philistines.
King Saul was afraid, and his strength left him.
A fortune teller ran up to him.
I listened to you, and now you listen to me, - she said. - Eat and then you'll be on your way.
King Saul refused, but she fed him.
Then King Saul got up and left Endor before the end of the night.
IN SEKELAG
Meanwhile, the princes of the Philistines came to King Achish and said:
Why is David in our camp?
He has been with me for more than a year and has not done anything wrong, - King Ankhus answered.
No, the princes objected. - He can betray us all. Send him home.
And David had to go home in the morning with his army.
When he came to Ziklag, he saw that the city was burned by the Amalekites, and the women were taken captive. David's soldiers were indignant and wanted to stone him, then they decided to pursue the Amalekites.
David attacked the hordes of King Amalek and beat them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of the enemies escaped, except for four hundred young men who mounted camels and galloped off. All wives and daughters were saved.
DEATH OF KING SAUL
The men of Israel fled from the Philistines, fell, smitten, on Mount Gilboa.
The Philistines caught up with the sons of King Saul - Jonathan, Aminadab and Malchisua - and killed them.
Around King Saul there was a fierce battle, he was wounded with arrows all over. And King Saul said to the armor-bearer:
Stab me with a sword so that my enemies do not get it.
But the squire did not. Then King Saul himself fell on the sword.
And his squire did the same.
David returned to Ziklag, and on the third day they brought a man to him - all tattered, dust on his head. The man bowed low to David.
Where are you from? David asked.
I am from the camp of Israel.
What happened there?
The people fled, many were killed, King Saul and his son Jonathan died.
How do you know this?
I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. I see King Saul lying. Fell on the sword, but did not die, and the chariots and horsemen of the enemy are already close. King Saul called me and ordered me to kill him. “Deathly longing gnaws at the soul,” he said. “Let my soul leave me!” I killed him, removed the crown from his head and wrist from his hand and brought them to you. Here.
How could you not be afraid to raise your hand against the anointed of the Lord! David exclaimed.
And David commanded to kill the messenger.
David tore his clothes and mourned King Saul and his son Jonathan.
THE RING OF DAVID
Shall I go to any of the cities of Judah? David asked God.
In which?
in Hebron.
David went to Hebron with all the people and was anointed king over the house of Judah.
And all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
We are your bones and your flesh. And they anointed David to be king.
David was then thirty years old, and he reigned for forty years.
CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM
King David went with an army to Jerusalem, against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of that land. King David surrounded the fortress of Zion.
Where are you! residents said. “You cannot overcome the blind and the lame.
But Zion fell and was called the City of David.
FORMATION OF THE KINGDOM
Hiram, the king from the city of Tyre, sent cedar trees to King David, as well as carpenters and masons, and they built a royal house in the city of Jerusalem.
After that, King David decided to move the ark of God here, to designate the supremacy of Jerusalem over other cities of the country. It so happened that a dear one of Uzah accidentally touched the ark with his hand and immediately fell down lifeless, because it was impossible to touch the ark without reverence and prayer.
King David was frightened and sent the ark to the house of Abeddar the Githite, after three months the Lord blessed Abeddar and his whole house. King David found out about this and ordered solemnly to deliver the ark of God to Jerusalem.
Every six steps a calf and a ram were sacrificed, King David rode in front of the ark, people greeted him and blew their trumpets.
They set up the ark in the tabernacle. And David said to Nathan his prophet:
Here I live in a house of cedars, and the ark of God is under a tent.
Do as you like,” the prophet Nathan answered him. That very night God appeared to Nathan and said:
Tell King David: I took you, shepherd, from the flock of sheep, so that you would be a shepherd for the children of Israel. I will build your house, I will strengthen the kingdom, and your son will build the house of God.
Bathsheba
Joab fought the Ammonites, while David remained in Jerusalem.
Once in the evening, at the beginning of summer, King David was walking on the roof of his house and saw a very beautiful woman bathing. He asked her name. It turned out that this was Bathsheba, the wife of the warrior Uriah the Hittite.
King David invited her to his place, she came, stayed with him for a while, and then returned home.
Soon the news spread that Bathsheba was expecting a baby. Then King David ordered Uriah the Hittite to be brought to him.
Uriah appeared. King David asked him about how the battles with the Ammonites were going, and then said:
Get home!
Uriah went out from King David, and rich food was carried after him, but the soldier remained at the gate of the royal house, along with the servants of his master.
When King David found out about this, he began to ask:
Why didn't you go home, Uriah?
How then, my king, will I go to my wife, if everyone is now spending the night in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are in the field? How can I go to my wife?
Again King David invited him to the table, and Uriah the Hittite remained in the king's house the next day, but this time he did not go home either, he lay down to spend the night with the slaves.
In the morning King David handed him a letter to the commander Joab and let him go.
And in that letter it was written:
Put Uriah the Hittite in the most dangerous place and retreat to be killed.
And during the siege of the city of Rabbah, Uriah the Hittite died.
Bathsheba wept for her husband, and when the time for weeping was over, King David took her to his house, and she bore him a son.
The prophet Nathan came to King David:
Listen to what I'll tell you. Once upon a time there were two people - rich and poor. The rich had a lot of cattle, and the poor had a small sheep, bought with the last money. The poor man fed her from his table, watered her from his bowl, the sheep grew up with the poor man's children, and at night, it happened, she laid her head on his chest. Sheep was like a daughter to him. Once a wanderer came to a rich man, and the rich man took pity on his own sheep to cook dinner, and took the poor man's lamb and slaughtered it. Tsar! What punishment do you think such a man deserves?
It's not enough to kill him! King David replied angrily.
Here you are such a person, - said the prophet Nathan. “God will punish you severely for this. You will not die, but your son will die.
And indeed, the son of Bathsheba fell ill. King David began to pray and fast, but all in vain - on the seventh day the boy died. After that, King David got up, washed, changed clothes and sat down at the table.
What does it mean? - asked the family. - While the child was alive, you did not eat anything, prayed and cried, and when the boy died, you sit down at the table.
While the boy lived, I hoped to beg him from God, I thought that God would have mercy on me. Why should I fast now? Will this bring him back?
Then Bathsheba gave birth to a son, whom she named Solomon.
Soon the commander Joab sent a message to King David: Come, king, and take the city of Rabbah. And if I take it, then the city will bear my name.
King David gathered an army and went to Rabbah. He won, took the crown of the local king with a precious stone and a lot of booty. And he ordered the inhabitants of Rabbah to be put under saws, hammers and axes, many were thrown into furnaces. So did King David with all the cities of the Ammonites.
KING DAVID AND ABESSALOM
The eldest son of King David was Amnon, and Absalom was the third, but from another wife. In all the kingdom there was not a man as beautiful as Absalom, and as revered. There was not a single flaw in his appearance. And Absalom had a sister, Tamar, the daughter of King David, as beautiful as her brother.
It happened that Amnon fell in love with the beautiful Tamar more than life itself. Day and night he went crazy over her - he didn’t eat, didn’t drink, and once he pretended to be sick, lured Tamar into his house and dishonored her. And then Amnon hated her with the greatest hatred, and his hatred was stronger than love.
Go away, he told her.
Tamar sprinkled ashes on her head and went to the house of her brother Absalom.
Absalom told no one about the dishonor of his sister, but two years later he killed Amnon. Then he hid in the city of Gessur and lived there for three years - he was very afraid that King David would take revenge on him.
At first, King David bitterly mourned his firstborn, then he consoled himself, and then the commander Joab decided to help Absalom return to his native land.
He sent a woman to King David, and she told the king that she had two sons, one of whom killed the other, and now they want to kill this last one.
Go in peace, - said King David, - I will order not to touch your son.
How so, king! the woman objected. - You don't do what you say! You don't bring your son back to you.
It was Joab who taught you,” King David guessed.
Wise is my king! the woman confirmed.
And David said to Joab the captain:
Go get Absalom. But let him not see my face.
Two years after that, Absalom lived in Jerusalem and never saw his father.
Once Absalom sent for Joab to ask the king for forgiveness, but the commander did not come. Again Absalom spoke to Joab, and again he did not come. Then Absalom ordered to burn all the barley of the commander. And immediately Joab came:
Why did your servants burn my crops?
I called you, but you did not go, - answered Absalom. - I want to see the king's face. And if I'm guilty, kill me.
Joab recounted everything to King David, and King David forgave his son.
After that, Absalom brought in chariots, horses, and runners. In the mornings he went out on the road, met people going to court to King David, tried everything out of them and said:
Your work is good and just. Yes, the king has no one to listen to you. If only I were the judge! I would judge truthfully.
This is how Absalom crept into the hearts of the Israelites.
After forty years of the reign of David, Absalom said to his father:
I need to fulfill my vow in Hebron. When I lived in Geshurah, I promised to make a sacrifice to God if I returned to Jerusalem.
And King David said to him:
Absalom sent spies from Hebron to all the tribes of Israel:
When you hear the sound of the trumpet, say: Absalom reigned in Hebron.
Together with Absalom, two hundred people left Jerusalem for Hebron; from the city of Gilo, Ahitophel, an adviser to King David, came to Absalom.
A strong conspiracy was formed, and the people flocked to Absalom.
A messenger came to King David and said:
The heart of the Israelites leaned towards Absalom.
King David fled with his servants from Jerusalem, and left his wives so that Absalom would not take him by surprise. Only King David took the ark of the covenant with him.
I will wait for news from you on the plain, - King David told them and weeping went up to the Mount of Olives.
His head was covered, and his feet were bare, and all the people followed him, shedding tears.
On the top of the mountain, King David met Husiah the Archite and said to Husiah:
If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. Better go to Absalom, renounce me and call yourself his slave, in order to upset the advice of Ahithophel.
On the way, King David met a man from the tribe of Saul named Shimei.
You are a murderer and a lawless one! Semei shouted and threw stones and handfuls of dust towards King David.
People wanted to kill Semei, but King David did not order.
If my son Absalom wants to kill me, then God ordered this one to slander me, - said King David.
Absalom came to Jerusalem, and Husias the Archite appeared to him.
Long live the king! Long live the king! - proclaimed Husias the Archite, bowing to Absalom as a king.
Why did you betray your friend? asked Absalom.
God abandoned him and all the people. I will serve you as faithfully as I served your father.
But then Ahithophel was considered the best adviser. Like God, his people obeyed.
Ahithophel said to Absalom:
I will choose twelve thousand soldiers and this night I will attack King David. His people will scatter, and I will kill the king.
Absalom and the elders liked this advice.
And what will Husius the Architian say to this? asked Absalom.
Ahithophel's advice is bad, said Husias the Archite. “You know your father and his people. They are brave and very irritated, like a she-bear in the field. Your father will not stay overnight with the people. He's probably in a cave somewhere now. If you, Absalom, suffer the smallest defeat, everyone will lose heart and leave you. Therefore, I advise this: let everyone gather to you, from Dan to Bathsheba, and we will attack King David, wherever he is. And if he enters any city, then everyone will bring ropes there, and we will drag the whole city into the river.
The advice of Husiah is better than the advice of Ahithophel, Absalom decided.
Husias the Archite came out from Absalom and immediately sent a message to King David not to spend the night on the plain, but to cross the Jordan River as soon as possible - this way he would avoid captivity.
The messengers hurried to King David, but some slave reported to Absalom that two men set off towards King David, and a chase was sent after them. Messengers ran to a certain house, hid in a well, and the hostess of the house stretched a cover over the well and poured grains, as if to dry.
Where are the sent ones? the servants of Absalom asked the woman.
Two ran through, but went across the river, - the woman answered.
The chase searched a little more and returned to Jerusalem.
As soon as King David learned of the danger, he immediately crossed over to the other side of the Jordan.
Ahithophel saw that his advice was not fulfilled, and returned home. Wrote a will and hung himself.
Meanwhile, King David came to Machanaim, gathered an army, divided it into three parts, and appointed Joab, his brother Abishus, and Ephtheus the Githite as commanders. King David wanted to go with the army himself, but the soldiers said to him:
If we run or half of us die, no one will pay attention, and you alone are the same as ten thousand of us. Stay and help us out of the city.
King David agreed and stood at the gate when the people came out in hundreds and thousands.
King David ordered Joab, Abishae and Ephtheus to save Absalom, not to kill. All the people heard King David talking about it.
David's soldiers went out to meet Absalom, fought with him and defeated him.
Absalom was making his way through the forest on a mule when he met with the soldiers of King David. He accidentally drove into the thicket and tangled his hair in the branches of a large oak. The mule went on, and the rider hung between heaven and earth.
The man ran to Joab and said:
Absalom hung on an oak tree.
Why didn't you kill him? - the commander was surprised. - I would reward you.
You would have rewarded, and King David said not to touch Absalom.
What's the point of wasting time with you? Joab got angry and hurried to Absalom.
He took three arrows and plunged into the heart of the king's son. Then Joab blew his trumpet to stop the chase.
Absalom was thrown into a deep pit and covered with stones.
Messengers came to King David, and the first of them said:
Blessed be your God, who betrayed the people who raised their hand against the king!
Is the boy Absalom prosperous? King David asked.
I saw a lot of excitement, but I don’t know what the matter is.
Is the boy Absalom prosperous? - King David asked the second herald.
Absalom killed, - was the answer.
King David grieved, wept:
My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! Absalom, Absalom! Oh, who would let me die instead of you! Absalom! My son, my son!
THE LAST DAYS OF KING DAVID
When King David entered old age, they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm, could not do without outside help. And then they found a beautiful girl to look after the king and serve him. The girl's name was Abishaga. The king, however, was still weak and ill and did not get out of bed.
Seeing his father's weakness, his son next in seniority, named Adonijah, became very proud. He got himself chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty runners.
Once Adonijah called a great feast and invited many people, but neglected his brother Solomon and the prophet Nathan.
Then the prophet Nathan said to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon:
Adonijah became king, and King David knows nothing about it.
Bathsheba went to King David and told him that Adonijah was impersonating the king.
Then the prophet Nathan came in and asked:
Was it not by the will of the king?
Immediately anoint Solomon to the kingdom, - King David replied. - Let him sit on the throne instead of me.
So they did. The prophet Nathan and the priest Zadok anointed Solomon, and the people exclaimed:
Long live King Solomon!
The people rejoiced so much that the earth cracked with screams.
These cries reached the feasters, and Adonijah asked:
What is going on there?
King David made Solomon king, they answered him.
The feasters were frightened and began to disperse, and Adonijah grabbed the horns of the altar in order to stay alive, and began to repeat:
May King Solomon swear to me that he will not kill me, his servant.
If he is not evil, he will live, - the words of King Solomon were conveyed to him.
DEATH OF DAVID
The time had come for David to die, and he said to his son Solomon:
Be firm and courageous, keep the covenants of God, as it is written in the law of Moses.
When David died, they buried him in the City of David.
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