LETTER I.
Commencement of journey—Reach the Valley of Jericho—
Surprise and fear of the inhabitants—Their armed
opposition—Conference with their leader—The Hebrews,
dissatisfied with the government of Judges, are
now under the rule of a King—Saul of Benjamin—
Cross the Jordan—Deputation from Jericho—Visit to
the city and banquet—Parchments of Prince Rameses—
Extract from his letters—Continuation of the Narrative—
Wanderings of the Israelites for forty years in the
desert—Incidents in their journey—The Pillar of Cloud
and Fire—Death of Moses the Lawgiver—Description of
the event by Caleb the Good 37

LETTER II.
Honorary escort sent by King Saul—Description of its
commander Prince Jonathan—His entertainment by
Arbaces—Home sickness—Resumption of the Narrative—
Joshua succeeds Moses—Advance to the Jordan—
Security of the Monarch of Jericho—Miraculous passage
of the Jordan—Wonderful account of it from the
records of Caleb—Failure of the Manna—Appearance
to Joshua of the Captain of the Lord's hosts—Six days'
circuit of Jericho by the Hebrew army—Attack on the
seventh day—Fall of the walls, and total destruction of
the city—Death of all the inhabitants, save Rahab the
innkeeper 59

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LETTER III.
The Caravan in motion westward—Joab the warrior—
Conversation with Prince Jonathan—The Hebrew Architect
and his slaves—Interesting account of the
Gibeonites—Reign of the Judges from Othniel to
Samuel—Reign of King Saul, at first happy and glorious—
Incident of a murderer flying to one of the
Cities of Refuge—Account of that remarkable institution—
An instance of Prince Jonathan's brave deeds—
Beauty of the Hebrew women—Homage and regard
paid to them—Meet the caravan from Sheba to Syria—
News of an invasion by the Philistines—Strange disclosure
by Jonathan—Account of the Philistines—
Arrival at Ramah, the abode of Samuel the Seer 86

LETTER IV.
Visit to the venerable Samuel—His appearance and occupation—
His conference with Jonathan—Introduction
of Prince Arbaces—The School of the Prophets—Their
Teachers—Their prayers and praise—The young shepherd
of Bethlehem—His performance on the harp—
Affection of David and Jonathan—The Book of Ruth—
Pillar of the Temple of Bel—Samson the Judge—Deborah,
Barak, and Jael—Jeptha and his daughter
Phigenia—Sacrificed by her father to fulfil a rash vow—
Sea of the West—Magnificent scenery—Adieu to
Samuel, Nathan, and David—City of Solima—Plain of
Mamre 115

LETTER V.
City of Hebron—Advance of the Philistines—Absence of
arms in the Hebrew camp, in consequence of having
been disarmed by the Philistines—The sons of Anak—
Interview with the Hebrew Monarch—His palace and
guards—The throne room—Personal description of Saul—
The dark spirit is upon him—Impudent challenge of
the King of Gath—Conversations with Saul and

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Jonathan—The Great Mission of the Hebrew nation—Moab
and the Moabites—Rejection of Saul from being King,
and why—Death of the High Priest Aaron described 146

LETTER VI.
Destructive sand-storm—Jonathan recounts how and where
he first met with David—Combat with a bear and a lion—
David's hymn of victory—He presents a gazelle to
the Princess Michal—Mental illness of Saul—Advice
of an aged foreigner to try the soothing effects of music—
Assent of the king—He sends for David and his
harp—How David was anointed king by Samuel—How
the news affected Jonathan—Their next interview—
David plays before the king and expels the dark spirit
of evil—The cure not permanent—The sons of Jesse—
Volunteers in the war 175

LETTER VII.
March of the Hebrew army into the Vale of Mamre—
Their accoutrements and appearance—Saul in full armor—
Adora and Isrilid—The royal parentage of Adora—
Jonathan in armor—The Philistine encampment—Saul's
entrenched camp in the Valley of Elah—Leopard hunt—
Exciting consequences—Rescued by Saul in person—
The evil spirit revisits the king—Terrible appearance
of Goliath and his body-guard of Anakim—His defiant
challenge—Abner the General—The last taunt of the
Lord of Gath—Depression of Jonathan—Saul's offer
of reward for victory—Indications of the approach of
the Champion of God 205

LETTER VIII.
Response to the Champion—David sent by his father to
the camp—Hears the challenge—Joab's explanation to
David—His brothers' scorn—He is sent for by Saul—
His resolution—Preparation for the Combat—The

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Battle—Death of the Giant, and defeat of the Philistines—
Joy of Saul and Jonathan—Return of the army
of Saul—Their reception—Chant of the Virgins—Displeasure
of the king—He attempts to assassinate David—
Plain of Mamre and Cave of Machpelah—The tombs
therein—Jebusalem—Salem—Melchisedek 237

LETTER IX.
The “Well of the Oath”—The March—Conversation with
Jonathan—Interview with Merab, Michal, and Adora—
A mad king—Journey towards Egypt—Interesting
events recorded there—Pharaoh and the Princess Zaila—
Arbaces content—Letter from Prince Jonathan—
Exploits of David—Valiantly wins a second time Michal
for his wife—Slaughter of his brother and robbery of
his father's flocks by the Philistines—Recovery of the
captives and spoils by David—Letter of Heleph the
armor-bearer—Saul's continued enmity to David—Resolves
to slay him—Jonathan's intercession effectual—
David again defeats the Philistines—Saul again attempts
to take his life—His escape, through Michal's
intervention, to Ramah—Saul's indignation and pursuit—
He prophesies and falls in a trance, during which
David escapes—Reflections—Affairs in Egypt—Zaila's
love—Imprisonment of Arbaces—Belus defeats the insurgent
Viceroy of Babylon, and beheads him 271

LETTER X.
Resumption of the letters of Arbaces—Noble covenant of
friendship between Jonathan and David—Continued
enmity and persecution of Saul—Jonathan's bold interposition—
His warning and David's consequent exile—
Holy City of Nob—Description of the Tabernacle—Its
contents, priests, sacrifices, and services—The Aaronic
priesthood—The Levites—Great Day of Expiation—
Holy Place, and Holy of Holies—Ark of the Covenant

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—The Mercy-seat and Cherubim—The High Priest's
entrance within the Vail—Symbolical offering of the
two goats—Its profound and Divine signification 309

LETTER XI.
The perpetual, typical Holocaust of the lamb—David's
interview with the daughters of Ammiel—Meeting with
his friends, Ahithophel, Uriah, and Hushai—Arrival
at Nob—David seeks sanctuary from Ahimelech—Receives
from him the Sacred Loaves—Doeg, the treacherous
Edomite—David is presented with the sword of
Goliath—He makes his escape into the land of the
Philistines—They murmur at his reception—His severe
illness—Re-enters Judah, and abides in the Cave of
Adullam—Secures an asylum for his aged father and
mother, from the King of Moab—Adhesion to his party
of Gad the Prophet—Ineffectual pursuit of Saul—
Slaughter, at Saul's instance, of Ahimelech, the priests,
and other inhabitants of Nob, by Doeg—Noble conduct
of Abner—Abiathar escapes to David—His sorrow at
the news—Defeats the Philistines and relieves Keilah—
Meets with Jonathan, Joab, and Abishai—The
Ziphites offer to betray him—Retreats to the Caves of
En-geddi—Mercifully spares Saul, who returns to Hebron—
Death of Samuel—Saul's grief and consternation
at the event—Interesting incidents in Samuel's life—
Eli and his wicked sons—The Lord speaks to Samuel,
and denounces evil on the House of Eli—The Urim
and Thummim—Over confident attack of the Hebrews
on the Philistines, and defeat—Take the Ark with
them in a second attack, which is captured, the sons of
Eli slain, army routed—Death of Eli—The Philistines,
smitten with disease, restore the Ark—Samuel smites
the Philistines—His long and wise rule as Judge 341

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LETTER XII.
Melancholy of Saul—He annuls Michal's marriage to
David, and gives her to Phalti—David again spares the
life of Saul, who repents and retreats—David passes
over to Gath—Episode of Nabal—David marries his
widow Abigail—Abides in Ziklag and serves King
Achish—Achish invades Judea—Saul, unable to get
answers from the Lord, consults the Witch of Endor—
Apparition of Samuel—Saul's fearful doom foretold—
His depression, but subsequent reaction—His martial
spirit returns—The Battle of Gilboa—Defeat and death
of Saul, his three sons, and Doeg—Escape of Abner and
Ishbosheth—Achish takes possession of the kingdom—
Affixes the bodies of Saul and his sons to the gate and
walls of Bethshan—Their removal and burial by the
brave inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 386

LETTER XIII.
Departure of Isrilid and his daughter to Tadmor in the Desert—
Ziklag taken and burnt by the Amalekites—David,
by the direction of God, pursues and routs them—He
receives the news of Saul's overthrow and death—Slays
the lying messenger of evil tidings—His lamentation
for Saul and Jonathan—Goes up to Hebron—His reflections
in the deserted palace of Saul—Crowned King
of Judah—Abner's reception of the news—He proclaims
Ishbosheth King of Israel—David, on hearing
it, manifests no anger—Sends Joab, with terms of honor,
to Abner—Combat of twelve—Extraordinary result—
Flight of Abner—He slays Asahel—Arbaces the
guest of King David—Meets with Isrilid and Adora—
David proposes that Arbaces shall represent Assyria
at his court as ambassador—Accepted under the influence
of Adora, who consents to become his partner
for life—Seven years of civil war between Judah and
Israel 418

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LETTER XIV.
Pharaoh demands tribute of David, but, menaced by
Assyria, withdraws his insolent demand—Happy home
of Adora and Arbaces—He becomes a proselyte to the
Jewish faith—Abner continues to support the throne
of Ishbosheth—His quarrel with the luxurious monarch—
Opens negotiations with David—David demands and
receives his wife Michal—His interview with Abner—
Joab's displeasure thereat—Contrast between the two
generals—Assassination of Abner by Joab—David's indignation
and mortification—His hymn for the dead—
Murder of King Ishbosheth, and punishment of the
murderers—David crowned King of Israel—Besieges
and captures the Fort of Zion—Abiathar explains and
defends this act—David's prosperous reign—Establishes
his court, with great pomp, at Jerusalem—His officers—
Defeats finally the Philistines—Determines to remove
the Ark to Jerusalem 450

LETTER XV.
Removal of the Ark—Divine judgment upon Uzzah—
The Ark left in the house of Obededom, who is wonderfully
blessed—Second removal of the Ark with appropriate
ceremonies and purifications—Order of Worship
appointed—Opening Psalm—David shows kindness to
the son of Jonathan—League of commerce with the
King of Tyre—Determines to build a Temple—Approval
of the Prophet Nathan, but the Lord disapproves—
Religious acquiescence of the king—Disgrace of
Queen Michal—Ziba brings to court Prince Mephibosheth—
His appearance and character—His kind reception
by David—Increasing commerce of the kingdom 485

LETTER XVI.
Conquest of the Philistines—Death of the Anakim—Defeat
of the King of Zobah—Also of the King of Syria—
Adora and Arbaces established on the throne of

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Tadmor of Zobah—Extent of David's kingdom—Second
overthrow of the Syrians—David's great power and
prosperity causes him to lose sight of his dependence
on God—His voluptuous excesses—Arrival at his court
of Hadad Isrilid, Prince of Tadmor 510

LETTER XVII.
Emotions of Hadad in his progress through Judea—His
cordial reception by David—The king's appearance described—
Description of his son Absalom, and the officers
of the court—Splendor of the palace—Hadad prepares
to enter the military school 521

LETTER XVIII.
The Citadel of David—Review of his army—Hadad's visit
to Uriah and Bathsheba—Festival of the Jubilee—The
Sabbatical Year—Death of the Princess Michal—War
with the Ammonites—David's temptation and fall—
Endeavor to conceal one wrong by the commission of
another—Followed by a still greater wrong, the murder
of the unsuspecting Uriah—David marries Bathsheba—
Is severely rebuked by the Prophet Nathan—His
solemn act of public contrition—His penitential Psalm—
War with Ammon—David crowned King in Rabbah—
Painful record of sensuality and blood—Flight and
return of Absalom—He conspires against his father—
Adhesion to his party of Ahithophel—Treachery of
Mephibosheth—Absalom alienates the hearts of Israel
from the king—He leaves Jerusalem for Hebron, and
is there crowned King of Israel—Flight of David—
Hushai joins him, but is sent back to keep watch in
Jerusalem—Ziba meets David with presents, and is rewarded—
Shimei curses him—Ahithophel's wily counsel
to Absalom, counteracted by the advice of Hushai—
Ahithophel hangs himself—David collects an army
and takes his stand at Mahanaim—The battle—Total
defeat of Absalom, whom Joab slays—Tidings sent to

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David—His great grief for the death of his son—Reproved
therefor by Joab—Returns to his capital—His
reception of Mephibosheth—Rebellion of Sheba—Amasa
sent against him—Joab slays Amasa, takes command of
the army, and suppresses the rebellion—Death of Sheba—
Solomon, son of Bathsheba, designated successor to
his father David, and destined, by God's appointment,
to build the Temple 530

Conclusion 588

Appendix 597