Shorter Bible Plays

(Goliath, a heavy man, enters like a lion loosed from his cage. He brandishes his sword, and attacks David. David dodges and flees; Goliath follows him, hacking the air with his sword. Again David dodges and runs to a sufficient distance to use his sling. Goliath crashes to earth. David runs and stands over him, seizes Goliath's sword and cuts off his head.)

(The Challenger and other Philistines flee, crying, "Woe! Woe!")

Israelites: Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

David (holding up Goliath's head):

Israelites (shout):

First Messenger (with wild enthusiasm): Where now are the Philistines?

Israelites: They are fled.

Saul: Proclaim through Israel the mighty tidings.

(The Second Messenger takes Goliath's head from David, and repeats the tidings three times, standing at center, at right and at left of stage. While he speaks the Soldiers remove Goliath.)

Second Messenger (blowing horn):

Jonathan (goes affectionately to David):

David:

(Enter Michal and her dancing women, with cymbals. They chant as they dance.)

Chant:

(Repeat three times in three different keys.)

Saul (angrily):

Michal (runs and kneels before him): O my father, be not wroth at my song.

Saul (wearily):

David: The king's daughter within the palace is all-glorious.

Michal (smiling upon him and extending her hand):

(She runs to Saul, who is reclining on couch.)

Saul (heavily):

(Michal leans beside Saul as David sings.)

David (sings):

Saul (rises threateningly):

David:

(Saul's head sinks on his breast. He passes slowly out, followed by his Attendants.)

David (sings):

(All turn to go, singing):

(The Wicked Judge is seated on the High Place, judging the two women. The First Woman, at his right, holds the Baby. The Second Woman kneels at his left, with imploring gestures.)

Wicked Judge (with a sweep of his hand): No more! No more, I say! I will hear no more. Am I not judge in the king, his place? (Points at First Woman sternly.) You say yonder woman's child died in the night-time, and she wants yours. (Points at Second Woman.) You say—stop sniveling—(Second Woman shrinks away from him.) You say 'twas her child died and that she hath stolen your child. I say, if you had minded your brats properly, there would not be this to-do. (A pause.) What were you doing when one of you stole the other's child? Gadding about the streets? Eh?

Second Woman: O sir, sir, she stole him while I slept.

First Woman: Most gracious Judge, I did not steal.

Second Woman (turning on her): But thou did'st!

Wicked Judge: O you women! Lo, all the troubles of this kingdom flow from this, that women do not properly observe the affairs of their households. As King Solomon remarks, with rather more wisdom than he usually manifests, "Who can find a virtuous woman?"

Both Women (together): Sir! Most gracious Judge! Only hear me—

Wicked Judge (crashing his fist down): Silence! Silence!! (To Second Woman.) Where are your witnesses?

(Second Woman makes an imploring and hopeless gesture.)

Wicked Judge (fiercely): What? No witnesses? Be off! Be off, I say. (He waves both women away; then his voice changes.) Stay, wait—I had forgot. I must—er—consider the welfare of the infant. (To Second Woman.) It may be thou wouldest be the better guardian. Hast thou the means to feed and clothe the child, and—er—pay all needful fees?

Second Woman: I am poor, but, sir, I am the mother.

Wicked Judge: Pshaw! Pshaw! (Turns to First Woman.) And thou?

First Woman (producing gold pieces): I have these bits of gold. (Her voice takes a mocking inflection.) Most gracious Judge, it may be thou, of thy great kindliness, wilt guard the gold for me, for I, alas, am but a weakling woman, and my child needs all my care.

Wicked Judge (pocketing gold): Ah, yea, yea, thou art indeed the rightful mother. (Raises his eyes to heaven.) More is a child to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold. I will indeed look after thy gold for thee. Now get ye gone. (Turns crossly to Second Woman.) And count thyself lucky that I do not call the guard, and have thee cast into prison for bearing lying witness.

(A Boy rushes in, shouting as he runs.)

Boy: Ohé! Ohé! King Solomon, he entereth now the city. He cometh here to offer sacrifice; the children dance before him. Ohé! Ohé! (He runs out.)

Wicked Judge (gathers up his rolls of parchment, shrugging): I will not bow before him, I! And he but a beardless youth! (Passes out.)

(The Second Woman crouches low, weeping and praying; First Woman regards her.)

First Woman (laughing): Pray, aye, pray! The child will call me "Mother." He will throw his little arms about my neck and hail me. For three pieces of ruddy gold have I bought him, and thy prayers shall never win him from me.

Second Woman (fiercely): As there is a God in Israel, to whom men pray, I yet shall have my child.

First Woman: A God in Israel? (Shrugs.) As there is god-head in gold, which men worship, lo, I shall keep thy child. (She makes a sweeping bow and passes out.)

Second Woman: O God, God, give me my child, my son. Thou knowest the child is mine, thou knowest, thou knowest. Thou sawest when in the dark of the night-time she crept into my chamber and stole him from me. She cradleth him, and I am desolate.

Shouts Without: King Solomon! King Solomon, all hail! Hail to King Solomon, the son of David!

(The Second Woman looks about wildly, then crouches in a dim corner. The Children enter dancing; they carry palms; they sing.)

Song: "Hail to the Monarch" (Cantata of Esther)

(Enter King Solomon, followed by two Soldiers and Page.)

Solomon (raising his hand in blessing): My children, I thank you for your love. Now get ye gone, for I would offer sacrifice alone.

First Child: But we have learned a psalm of David thy father, to do thee reverence; may we not say it?

First Soldier: Do ye not hear the king? (Threatens them.)

Solomon: Nay, let the little ones come hither. The psalms of David, my father, are dear unto me. Now, babes, speak up.

Second Child (to First): Do thou begin.

First Child:

Second Child:

Third Child:

Fourth Child:

Fifth Child:

All the Children:

Solomon: I thank you. (He turns to Sixth Child.) And why hast thou not spoken with the others?

(The Sixth Child reaches a tiptoe and whispers in his ear.)

Solomon: Thou hast learned something more; then speak, little one.

Sixth Child:

Solomon (in great delight): Ha, whose words are those?

Sixth Child (with a demure courtesy): Your Majesty's!

Solomon: Well done! Well spoken! I shall strive indeed to be a king whose judgments shall be like apples of gold in baskets of silver.

Sixth Child (to others): Come now; the king would be alone.

Solomon: The Lord be with you!

Children: And with thee also, O thou son of David! (They courtesy and go.)

Solomon (ascends to High Place and prays): O Lord God of my fathers, thou hast showed unto my father, David, great mercy according as he walked before thee in uprightness of heart; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a little child. I know not how to go out nor come in. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

(There is a pause during which the Second Woman rises slowly and approaches Solomon. She kisses the hem of his robe. He turns and regards her with astonishment. She rises and speaks prophetically.)

Second Woman: O king, because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast thou asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked understanding to discern judgment, behold, God will give unto thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee; neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

Solomon: Who art thou? for it was thus I heard the words of God speaking to my heart! Who art thou?

Second Woman (prostrating herself): The least of thy servants! A grain of dust by the roadside!

Solomon: Why art thou come here to the Hall of Judgment?

Second Woman: I came hither for justice; but thy judge in Gibeon is as the chaff which the wind beareth away—

Solomon (sternly): Beware how thou speak evil of them in authority. (Then he smiles.) I gather that the case went against thee. What hast thou lost? Fear not; I will requite thee. (He offers her gold.)

Second Woman: O lord king, my loss was not of gold.

Solomon: What then? Of land? Lo, I will give to thee a bit of land, hard by a spring of water—

Second Woman: O lord king, I have lost no rood of land.

Solomon: Speak then thy sorrow.

Second Woman: O lord king, God gave unto thy father David a little son to sit upon his throne. Speak, was thy father glad?

Solomon: Yea, verily, he rejoiced with great rejoicing.

Second Woman: And thy mother, Bathsheba, was her heart likewise merry?

Solomon: My father rejoiced, but his rejoicing was naught in the measure with my mother's joy.

Second Woman: She would have grieved had'st thou been stolen from her?

Solomon: What mother would not? But, woman, to thy tale—

Second Woman: My tale is told. O son of Bathsheba, God hath given to thee an understanding heart. Let it read my sorrow; give me back my child.

Solomon (bewildered): Woman, I have not thy child.

Second Woman: Nay, but thy judge in Gibeon, for gold he hath rendered false judgment; for gold, he hath given my child to another woman.

Solomon: Thou canst prove this? (She makes a despairing gesture of denial.) (Solomon claps; the Soldiers enter.) The court of justice was held here this morn? (Soldier bows.) Bring hither the case of the child and the two women. (Soldiers salute and go. Solomon speaks sternly to the Woman.) If thou speakest truly, the child shall be given thee: but if thou hast sought to move me by a lying tale—; lo, I shall punish thee so thou shalt wish thou never had'st been born.

Second Woman (regarding him steadfastly): I have no fear, for God hath given to thee an understanding heart.

(The Judge waddles in.)

Wicked Judge: What's this? What's this? My lord the king desired me? (He sees the Woman.) Aha! Now I understand. This woman hath filled thy ears with lying tales. Lord king, the woman is mad—

Second Woman (indignantly): I am not mad.

Wicked Judge (blandly): Mad, I say, mad! Deeming her mad, I have excused what otherwise I had—er—severely punished.

Second Woman: I am not mad.

Wicked Judge: She claims the child of another woman. (He taps his brow significantly.) What her game is, I know not, but she saith, I am corrupt, and thou but a beardless youth. She saith God hath given thee a kingdom, but not the wit to rule it. Ha, ha!

(Soldiers enter with First Woman and Child.)

Solomon (turning furiously to Second Woman): Didst thou say this?

(The Second Woman pays no attention to him; she is devouring the child with her eyes. She holds out her arms yearningly.)

Second Woman: O my dove, my fair one! (She turns to Solomon.) Look, behold my baby! See his little leg—; lord king, behold his dimples. His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks; his cheeks are as a bed of spices; yea, he is altogether lovely. And he is mine. (She turns with pride to the King, but shrinks away as she sees his anger.)

First Woman (advancing to High Place):

Solomon: Guard, take the child. (Second Soldier lifts the child stiffly.) (To First Woman.) Is this thy child?

First Woman: God knows.

Solomon: Aye, but I would likewise know. Hath neither woman a witness?

Wicked Judge (brusquely): Pshaw! Nonsense! There is no doubt at all, O mighty son of David. I have examined witnesses; they swear the child is hers. (Nods toward First Woman.) Moreover, she hath the child; possession witnesses. (Pats First Woman.) Fear not, my girl; the king will do thee right.

Second Woman: O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And this woman's child died in the night; and she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid her dead son beside me. And when I arose in the morning, the child was dead; but when I had considered it, behold, it was not my son.

First Woman: Nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son.

Second Woman: Nay, but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son.

Solomon (sternly): Women, approach. (Both stand before him. To First Woman.) Thou sayest, "This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead." (To Second Woman.) And thou sayest, "Nay, but thy son is the dead, and mine is the living." (To Soldier.) Bring hither a sword. (First Soldier goes out.)

Wicked Judge: Lo, what is in the king's mind? Will he slay yonder woman for bearing lying witness?

(Solomon raises his hand with a threatening gesture; Judge shrinks back. First Soldier returns with sword.)

Solomon: I cannot judge between you; let God judge. (Turns to Soldier.) Take thou the sword; divide the living child in twain, and give half to the one and half to the other.

(The First Woman shrinks away. The Second Woman, with a little cry, rushes between the Soldier who holds the Child, and the Soldier who holds sword. She stands with fists doubled, to defend the Child. First Soldier throws her aside; she falls.)

Wicked Judge: O clever judge! O mighty son of David!

First Woman (kneeling): I bow, lord king, to thy decree. Let the child be neither mine nor hers, but divide it.

Second Woman (throwing herself before King): O my lord, my lord, give her the child, give her the living child, and in nowise slay it! Let the child live, even though it be within her arms, lord—lord—

Wicked Judge: O clever judge! Ha, ha, ha! Through thee indeed the Lord hath spoken! Who would have thought to see such mighty wisdom, yea, in a beardless youth? Thy wit hath showed the truth, and made yon lying woman eat her lies. (Taps First Woman.) Even as I said, the child is hers. (To Soldier.) Give unto this woman her child.

First Soldier (with sword upraised): Is it thy will, O king, I slay the child, or give it to yon woman?

Solomon: It is my will (he bends and raises Second Woman gently) thou give unto this woman the living child, and in nowise slay it; for she is the mother thereof, because she loveth much. For love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can floods drown it.

Wicked Judge (sourly): Humph!

Second Woman (receiving Child, radiantly): He that ruleth over men righteously, that ruleth in the fear of God, he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springeth out of the earth through clear shining after rain. King Solomon, all hail!

All: King Solomon, all hail!

(All pass out singing.) (If desired, the earlier song may be repeated.)

Song: Music, "Ancient Days"

(The Herald enters, followed by two Soldiers. The Herald blows his trumpet; the two Soldiers flourish their spears.)

Herald: Make way, make way; he entereth now the city! Way for King Solomon, the son of David!

Soldiers: Way for King Solomon, the son of David! Way! Way! (They take positions, one on the right hand and one on the left.)

First Soldier (conversationally): He cometh hither for sacrifice, they say.

Second Soldier: Aye, and to render judgment.

First Soldier: Is it true, think you, that he is wiser than all men that have gone before him?

Second Soldier (shrugs): So men say. As for me, I shall judge for myself.

First Soldier (poses mockingly): O King Solomon, King Solomon, little thou thinkest that the while thou art judging others, a mightier shall judge thee!

Second Soldier (prodding First with spear): Be still, thou ass; he cometh.

(The Soldiers stiffen to attention as the Children enter dancing and singing.)

Song: Music, "Hail to the Monarch." (See Longer Version.)

(Cantata of Esther)

(Enter King Solomon followed by Two Women and Baby, also by Pages and more Soldiers if desired for effect. The Children bow low.)

Solomon (lifting his hand): The Lord be with you!

All: And with thee also, O thou son of David!

Child (offers silver basket of oranges): O king, a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold, in baskets of silver, and the king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

Solomon (in delight): Ha! Who said that?

Child (courtesies demurely): Your Majesty!

Solomon: Well done! Well spoken! I shall strive to be indeed a king whose judgments shall be like apples of gold in baskets of silver. (He turns to altar and prays.) O Lord God of my fathers, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child. I know not how to go out or to come in. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this, thy so great a people?

(While he prays the First Woman creeps forward and kisses the hem of his robe. Solomon turns and regards her with wonder. She rises.)

First Woman: O king, because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked understanding to discern judgment, behold God will give to thee a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

Solomon: Who art thou? For it was thus I heard the word of God ringing in my heart. Who art thou?

First Woman (prostrate): The least of thy servants—a grain of dust by the roadside.

Solomon: Why art thou come—here to the Hall of Judgment?

First Woman (rising): O my lord, I and this woman (Indicates Woman with Baby.) dwell in one house, and her son died in the night-time, and she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid her dead son beside me—

Second Woman (insolently): She lieth, lord king.

First Woman: When I arose in the morning the child was dead, but when I had considered it, behold, it was not my son.

Second Woman: Nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son.

Solomon (regards both silently for a few seconds): Women, approach! (Both women stand before him.) Thou sayest, "This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead," and thou sayest, "Nay, but thy son is the dead, and mine is the living." (To Soldier.) Bring hither a sword. (Soldier goes.)

Herald (with curiosity): What is in the king's mind? Will he slay yonder woman for bearing lying witness?

(First Soldier returns with sword.)

Solomon: I cannot judge between you; let God judge. (To Soldier.) Take thou the sword; divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half unto the other.

(The Second Woman crosses hastily to the left as though to flee; the First Woman darts between her and the Soldier and stands ready, with clinched fists, to defend the Baby. The Second Soldier throws her aside and takes the Baby from the other woman.)

Herald (laughing): O clever judge! O mighty son of David!

Second Woman (bowing low): I bow, lord king, to thy decree. Let the child be neither mine nor hers, but divide it.

First Woman (with a little panting cry, throws herself before Solomon): O my lord, my lord, give her the child, give her the living child, and in nowise slay it. Let the child live, even though it be within her arms—lord—lord—

Herald: O prince of wisdom! Through thee indeed the Lord hath spoken. Who would have thought to see such mighty judgment, yea in a beardless youth? Thy wit hath showed the truth and made this lying woman eat her lies.

Children (swarming about Second Woman and bowing to her): Hail, mother of the child!

First Soldier (raises sword and crosses to Second Soldier, who holds Baby): Is it thy will, O king, I slay this child, or give it to yon woman? (Indicates Second Woman.)

Solomon: It is my will (he raises First Woman tenderly) thou give unto this woman the living child, and in nowise slay it; for she is the mother thereof, because she loveth much. For love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can floods drown it.

First Woman (eagerly receives Baby and cuddles it): O king, he who ruleth over men righteously, who ruleth in the fear of God, he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springeth out of the earth through clear shining after rain. King Solomon, all hail!

All (raising palms): King Solomon, all hail!

(All pass out singing the children's song.)