SAMUEL AND ELI.
DEATH OF ELI AND HIS SONS.
A little while after God spoke to Samuel, the Israelites fought against the Philistines. They were beaten. Then they took the ark of God from the tabernacle and marched against the Philistines. At first the Philistines were afraid of the ark. But they fought bravely. The Israelites were again beaten. Eli’s two sons were killed and the ark of God was taken. Eli was then ninety-eight years old. He was blind. He was sitting on a bench by the roadside when he heard the sad news. He was so overcome by the intelligence he fell over backward and brake his neck. That was what God told Samuel would happen.
ELI RECEIVING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF HIS SONS.
PLAYING ON THE HARP BEFORE SAUL.
Saul was the king of Israel. David was a shepherd boy, the son of Jesse. He had a happy, ruddy face that made everybody like him. Besides he was very brave. Once he killed both a lion and a bear that came to eat up the lambs in his father’s flock. He knew how to throw stones with a sling and could play on the harp beautifully. One day King Saul was feeling very sad and wanted somebody to play to him. He thought music would make him feel better. His servants told him about David. So he sent for him. David came and played so nicely on the harp that Saul forgot all about his trouble.