196 A PIOUS BRIGAND. 



whence he sallied forth to levy black mail on the rich 

 farmers and graziers of the neighbourhood, cutting 

 their throats when they refused to pay. At the same 

 time, he was a very religious man, and never went on 

 a plundering expedition without consulting a little 

 image, which revealed to him the orders and wishes of 

 Jehovah, just as the Bedouins always pray to Allah 

 before they commit a crime, and thank him for his as- 

 sistance when it has been successfully performed. 



Saul was succeeded by his son Ishbosheth, who was 

 accepted by eleven tribes. But David, supported by 

 his own tribe, and by his band of well-trained robbers, 

 defied the nation, and made war upon his lawful king. 

 He had not the shadow of a claim ; however, with 

 the help of treason and assassination he finally obtained 

 the crown. His military genius had then full scope. 

 He took Jerusalem, a pagan stronghold which, during 

 four hundred years, had maintained its independence. 

 He conquered the coast of the Philistines, the plains 

 of Canaan, the great city of Damascus, and the tribes 

 of the desert far and near. He garrisoned Arabia 

 Petraea. He ruled from the Euphrates to the Red 

 Sea. 



This man after God's own heart had a well-stocked 

 harem, and the usual intrigues took place. He disin- 

 herited his eldest son, and left the kingdom to the 

 son of his favourite wife ; a woman for whom he had 

 committed a crime which had offended the not over- 

 delicate Jehovah. The nation seemed taken by sur- 

 prise, and Solomon, in order to preserve the undivided 

 affections of his people, at once killed his brother and 

 his party, a coronation ceremony not uncommon in the 

 East. 



The wisdom of Solomon has become proverbial. 



