“Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah.
“And the king said, I will give them.
“But the king spared Mephiboseth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul.
“But the king took the two sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephiboseth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel.
“And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the beginning of barley harvest.”
Miriamne paused; then addressed her parent:
“Mother, I’d not be an heretic, and yet I can not see the justice of hanging the sons for the father’s sins?”
“Perhaps they were parties to the murder; perhaps publicly, or in heart, defended it. At any rate, from the beginning it has been so. Thou and thy brothers are living here fatherless on account of him that begat you——”
“Shall I stop reading this bloody story?” quoth Miriamne.