Shorter Bible Plays, by Rita Benton; a Project Gutenberg eBook.

Phinehas (laughs mockingly): Ah, so? The iniquity of the children shall be visited upon the fathers? Eh? Well, who is responsible if not the father? Come, Hophni, come where it is merry.

Hophni (eagerly): Yea! (They go out singing and taking turns at jug.)

Eli (raising his arms despairingly to heaven): O God! God! (Passes out.)

(Enter Hannah, followed by her husband, Elkanah. She is weeping.)

Elkanah (imploringly): Hannah, why weepest thou? And why is thy heart so grieved? If it be because thou hast no son, grieve not. Am I not better to thee than ten sons?

Hannah: Ai, my husband, the women mock me that I have no child. (She kneels and prays silently.)

(Eli enters and observes her in wonder, for silent prayer was unusual.)

Eli: Woman, what ails thee?

Hannah (rising): Ah, sir, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit; I pour out my soul before the Lord.

Eli: Give me to know thy sorrow.

Hannah: I prayed unto the Lord that he would look upon the affliction of his handmaid, and give unto me a man-child. If he do so, then will I give the child unto the Lord all the days of his life.

Eli: A man-child? Nay, ask more. Ask that he grow in the grace and love of God, else will the gift be one of sorrow.

Hannah: Ah, sir, that shall be my task—to lead him in the love of God.

Eli: Ai, 'tis there that I have failed. (He raises his hands and blesses her.) Go thou in peace, and the Lord grant thy petition.

Hannah (bowing): May thy servant find grace in thy sight. (She and Elkanah go.)

Eli (prays): O Lord God, O let this, thy servant, find grace in thy sight. Forgive thou the iniquity of my sons. For who shall follow after me, O Lord? Who shall be judge of Israel, if not my sons? Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give unto me an answer of peace. (He bows his head and passes out.)

(The Prologue reenters.)

Prologue: Now many years have passed. Eli is still the priest and judge of Israel, though he is blind; and his sons continue still in evil. Yonder come Hannah and her husband to give thanks for the gift of the child Samuel, and to give him to the Lord. (Prologue goes.)

(Enter Hannah and Elkanah leading the child Samuel.)

Hannah (caressing child): See thou, this is the very spot on which I prayed the prayer which brought me thee.

Samuel (roguishly): God heard thy prayer, and sent thee a little son to boast of. (He smiles up at her.)

Elkanah (rumpling Samuel's hair): Nay, an imp of mischief!

(Eli enters, groping blindly. Samuel regards him in ame.)

Samuel: There cometh the priest in raiment. (He shrinks away.) Ai! Why walketh he in such fashion?

Hannah: He is become blind. (She advances to him.) Sir—O Eli—

Eli: Woman, thy voice is known to me—and yet—who art thou?

Hannah: O sir, I am that woman who stood here praying, these many years ago. For a child I prayed, and the Lord hath granted my petition. (She leads Samuel to Eli, who passes his hands delicately over the child's head.) Therefore I also have given the child to the Lord. As long as he liveth he is granted to the Lord. (She turns to Samuel.) Kneel thou, my son, before this holy man and beseech him to take thee into the service of the Lord.

Samuel (pulls Hannah away and puts his lips to her ears): Hark'ee, dear mother, I would fain go home with thee again.

Hannah: Nay, little son, night approacheth; we must leave thee.

Elkanah: Come, say, "Farewell." (Samuel goes to him.)

Hannah (prays, as though facing the altar of the Lord):

My heart exulteth in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord.
The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich;
He bringeth low; he also lifteth up.
For by strength shall no man prevail.
The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;
He shall give strength unto his king
And exalt the horn of his anointed.

(She turns, embraces the child, then bows before Eli.)

O Eli, priest of God and judge of Israel, the Lord be with thee.

(Hannah and Elkanah go.)

Eli (sits on couch and beckons to Samuel): Come hither, lad. (Samuel goes to him reluctantly.) What do they call thee?

Samuel (sniffling): Samuel, master.

Eli: Samuel? And what hath thy mother taught to thee?

Samuel: She hath taught me that the Lord Jehovah is one God, and there is none beside him, that I must love him and speak truth always.

Eli: And what else—if there be aught beside?

Samuel: She bade me serve and follow in thy steps.

Eli (musing): Follow in my steps? Come, thou shalt serve these blind eyes and quench the candles. (Omit this if there are no candles.) (While Samuel puts out the candles, Eli muses.) Follow in my steps? Shall it then be this lad, and not my sons, who shall rule Israel? Come, little lad, thou shalt lie here the night. (He motions to couch on which he sits. Samuel lies down. Eli kneels as though before altar.) O God, God, would that my sons were pure as is this child! Yea, I have reared my sons in folly; now I reap the punishment thereof. Lo, what shall be the end?

(He falls silent.)

(There is a pause; then Samuel half rouses and listens. He runs to Eli.)

Samuel: Here am I, master, for thou calledst me.

Eli: Nay, my son, I called thee not; lie down again.

(He reclines on other couch.)

Samuel (after a pause of about twenty seconds, again runs to Eli): Here am I, master, for thou calledst me.

Eli: Nay, my son, I called thee not; lie down again.

Samuel (lies down for twenty seconds; then he half rises and looks bewildered): He did call me, he did! he did! (He crosses to Eli.) Here am I, master, for truly thou didst call me.

Eli: Not I! (He reflects.) It is the Lord, who speaketh to thee and not to me. Alas, I have not the open vision. Go, lie down, and it shall be if he call thee, thou shalt say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

(Samuel lies down; presently he rises and kneels.)

Samuel: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.

(There is a pause while Samuel listens. Eli turns toward him eagerly, then calls.)

Eli: Samuel, my son! (Samuel goes to him slowly.) What is this thing the Lord hath spoken to thee? I pray thee, hide it not.

Samuel (reluctantly): He said—he said—the Lord hath said: Behold, I will judge the house of Eli forever, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not. Master, what did he mean?

Eli (slowly and mournfully): It is the Lord! Let him do what seemeth unto him good. (He raises his arms to heaven.)

Shouts Outside: News! News for the priest!

Eli: What meaneth the noise of this tumult?

(Three Soldiers run in.)

First Soldier: O Eli, servant of God, woe unto thee!

Second Soldier: O Eli, be strong, and hear the news we bring.

First Soldier: Israel hath joined battle with the Philistines; Israel was smitten before the Philistines.

Second Soldier: We brought the ark of the covenant to save us: It was thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who carried the ark.

Third Soldier: And there was a very great slaughter—And thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas—

First Soldier and Second Soldier: The Lord hath slain them!

(Eli trembles and falls backward; the First and Second Soldiers support him.)

Third Soldier: Lo, ye have slain him with your evil tidings.

Samuel (runs to Eli lovingly, and kneels before him, embracing him): O my dear master! (A pause, then he rises and turns to the soldiers.) Bear him hence between you. (First and Second Soldiers lead him out.) (To Third Soldier.) Grieve not; ye have not slain him, but he is smitten of the Lord. For the Lord, he came unto me in a vision of the night, saying, I will smite the house of Eli forever, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves and he restrained them not.

(First and Second Soldiers return.)

First Soldier: Alas, alas, who now shall judge our people?

Third Soldier (seizes Samuel and raises him aloft): Behold the judge who shall rule Israel.

(The Soldiers pass out, bearing Samuel and shouting, "Huzza!")

(The Epilogue advances.)

Epilogue: Hear ye the words of the preacher, how he said: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right. Bring up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (The Epilogue passes out.)

DAVID AND GOLIATH

THE PEOPLE

THE PLACE

THE PROPERTIES

For the head of Goliath take a fierce-looking mask; attach it to helmet. Sew long swaggering locks of hair on either side, and a sweep of red cloth at back. So, when David removes mask from Goliath's face, in cutting off his head, the red cloth will give the whole a solid appearance.

DAVID AND GOLIATH

Act I. A field in Bethlehem, near the home of Jesse.

(Enter Eliab, polishing his sword. He practices fighting an imaginary enemy. Presently he turns and calls.)

Eliab:

Ho, David, tend my sheep for me;
I make me ready to fight the Philistines.
And see thou that no lion enter in,
Else 'twill go hard with thee.

(The sounds of a shepherd's pipe, or of a harp are heard, receding in the distance. Jesse enters and speaks mildly and with remonstrance.)

Jesse:

My son, this night the first new moon arises of the new year;
My son, this night we feast,
And make our sacrifices on God's altar.
My son, first be thou reconciled with thy brother David.

Eliab (impatiently): I have done him no wrong.

Jesse:

Thou and thy brothers are too harsh with him.
He is a tender lad; be thou more gentle.

(Lays hand on Eliab's arm.)

Eliab (shaking off hand): He is a babe, fit only to tend sheep.

Jesse: Where hast thou sent him?

Eliab: To the hillside, away from Bethlehem.

Jesse: Where are thy brothers?

Eliab: They make them ready to fight the Philistines.

Jesse: Who tendeth their sheep?

Eliab (sullenly): David.

Jesse (with mild sarcasm):

And if a bear or a lion attack the flocks,
The little David is alone;
While his brave brothers abide here in safety.
He perchance fighteth, while they make them ready.

Eliab (sneers):

Thou ever didst make much of David.
The very name of "David" means "beloved."

Jesse:

Nay, all my sons are equal in my love.
But David—he is indeed a gentle lad.

(He turns as though to go out. Left.)

(The Prophet Samuel enters slowly from the right.)

Eliab:

My father, who comes there?
Nay, there, through the budding barley?
The old man with so lofty a bearing?

Jesse: Mine eyes are dim. (He shades them and peers out. Suddenly he speaks.)

My son, it is the prophet Samuel.

What can his coming bode of good or evil?

Haste, haste, my son.

(They advance to meet the prophet, bowing low.)

Jesse:

O Samuel, O mouthpiece of the Lord,
Comest thou in peace to Bethlehem?

Samuel: In peace!

Jesse: Make us to know thy will.

Samuel: Thou art Jesse, the Bethlehemite?

Jesse: Thou hast said it.

Samuel:

I am the mouthpiece of the most high God.
For the Lord spake unto me, saying:
Mourn not over King Saul;
For I repent me that I made Saul king over Israel.
Fill thine horn with oil and go;
I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite;
For I have provided me a king among his sons.

Jesse: A king!

Eliab: A king!!

Jesse:

Eliab, wind thy horn and call thy brothers;
And bid thy sister bring both meat and wine
To set before our guest.

(Eliab runs out to the left, winding his horn. He passes several of his brothers who are entering, and points out the prophet. Jesse motions Samuel to a seat in the center. Samuel sits. The Daughter of Jesse enters with food and drink, which Samuel rejects.)

Samuel:

And now make thou thy sons to pass before me,
That I may choose.

(Eliab enters with other brothers. Abinadab slips beside his sister and eats the food. The Daughter stands beside her father, at right of Samuel.)

Jesse:

My sons, pass ye in order of your years,
Before this man of God.

(Eliab advances and kneels. Samuel rises and regards him uncertainly.)

Samuel: Surely the Lord's anointed is before me.

Eliab (triumphantly): Ah, father, art so ready now to chide me?

Samuel: Nay, pause, my son, for the Lord hath said unto me:

Look not on a man's countenance,
Nor the height of his stature;
For the Lord seeth not as man seeth.
For man looketh on the outward appearance,
But the Lord looketh on the heart.
Thy heart is proud, and thou shalt not be king.

(Eliab passes with hanging head to the right. Abinadab advances.)

Abinadab: And I, sir, look on me.

Samuel:

The Lord rejects thee,
For thou art a wine-bibber and a glutton.

(Abinadab swaggers defiantly over to Eliab, who grins at him. Shammah bows low and speaks slyly.)

Shammah:

Sir, if thou crown me king,
I'll make thee rich in the spoils of the Philistines.

Samuel (briefly): The Lord rejects thee for a thief and robber.

(Shammah shrugs and joins others. Nathaneel advances.)

Nathaneel:

Make me king, sir,
And I will drive out the Philistines,
And all men shall bow down to the God of Israel.

Samuel:

The Lord rejects thee, for thou boasteth thyself,
And sayest thou canst do much,
When thou canst do little.

(Nathaneel passes angrily to right. Raddai advances.)

Raddai (cunningly):

Thou wilt anoint me, Samuel;
For lo, the Lord came unto me in the night watches,
Saying, Awake, awake, thou shalt be king of Israel.

(The brothers stare angrily at him.)

Samuel: The Lord rejects thee, for thou art a liar.

(The brothers double up with mirth. Raddai joins them, shaking his fist at Samuel. Ozem advances and bows meekly.)

Ozem:

For me, I would not be the king in Israel,
Except the Lord command.

Samuel (praying): Lord, give me light! (Then he motions Ozem away.) Thou art not the chosen one.

(Ozem joins others. Elihu advances triumphantly.)

Elihu:

O mouthpiece of the most high God, behold me!
I am the last.
Anoint me, and let the oil run down to the hem of my garment!
Anoint me, for I shall be a mighty king over Israel.

Daughter of Jesse (starting forward):

O brother, thou hast forgotten little David. (Turns to Samuel.)

O sir, if thou despiseth these, my brothers,

O let me show thee David. 'Tis the youngest,

And the best loved by me.

(The brothers surge forward angrily.)

Eliab and Others: No, no! He is a babe—a child—a—

Samuel (waves them back and turns to Jesse):

Are all thy children here?
Or hast thou another son?

Jesse:

There remaineth yet the youngest;
And behold, he keepeth the sheep.
He is my dear-beloved.
His years are yet too tender to rule Israel.

Daughter of Jesse: O let me go and bring him!

Samuel:

Send and fetch him;
For we will not sit down till he come hither.

(The Daughter of Jesse starts running out toward left.)

Jesse: Nay, daughter, blow the horn till he appear. (She blows horn.)

Samuel:

Speak not of his tender years;
For the Lord knoweth the times and the seasons.

(She blows horn.)

Neither will he cause the flower to blow on the seedling;
Nor the fruit on the sapling;
Nor an old head on young shoulders.

(She blows horn.)

(There is a pause while all listen; then she blows again.)

Daughter of Jesse: He cometh, for I hear his harp in the distance.

(The song is heard, beginning faintly, but growing stronger. David enters on the last two lines.)

Song: "The Lord is My Shepherd," Music by S. Liddle.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Samuel (advancing to meet him):

O sweet singer of Israel,
The Lord commandeth me, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.

(He raises his horn of oil. David kneels. Samuel pours oil upon him.)

For the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth:
And he shall give strength unto his king,
And exalt the horn of his anointed.

Daughter of Jesse (embracing David): O David, I am glad.

Jesse: Come now to the feast.

(All pass out but David and his sister. She waits for him as he stands in prayer.)

David:

O God, thou hast anointed me with the oil of gladness,
Above my fellows.
I will sing a song unto thee, O God;
Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

(He takes his harp and sings.)

Song: Music, Continuation of Psalm.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

(He passes slowly out while singing the last lines followed by his sister.)

Act II

(Saul's pavilion in the Israelite encampment. The scene takes place just outside the pavilion, where may be placed a couch for the king. To the right is the army of Israel; to the left, the army of the Philistines, and the road to Bethlehem. Sound of trumpets to the left.)

(King Saul's Attendants run in, from right, shading their eyes and peering into distance. Soldiers follow.)

Attendant (cries): King Saul! Go summon the king; the king must know.

(An Attendant runs back.)

(Shouting from the left. A Messenger runs in blowing his horn.)

Messenger: News for King Saul! Where is the king? The king?

(Trumpets on the right. Enter King Saul and his Armor-bearer. The Messenger rushes to him and kneels.)

Messenger: O my lord, I bear news;

The Philistines with their thousands approach;
They gather themselves together,
And there is none to withstand them.

Saul:

Cursed be the day I was born,
Or ever the Lord anointed me king over Israel!
For a sickness is fallen upon me,
And I know not where to look for help.

(He advances to couch and rests.)

Attendant: Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

Let my lord now command his servant to seek out a man who is a cunning player on the harp, and it shall come to pass when the evil spirit is upon thee, that he shall play and sing, and thou shalt be well.

Saul:

Do so.
For I would hear of peace, and not of war.

Attendant: Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse, David, a shepherd lad, that is cunning in playing. He is called "The sweet singer in Israel."

Saul: Take thou this word to Jesse. Say to him: "Send me David, thy son, who is with the sheep."

Attendant: Lord, I obey. (He bows and goes.)

Messenger: O king, there be three young men, sons of Jesse, Who came but now to serve 'gainst the Philistines.

Saul: Go, bring them hither.

(The Messenger goes out, left. At the same moment there is a loud shouting from the left, and the Second Messenger runs in.)

Second Messenger: News! News for the king!

Saul: Hither, man! Speak!

Second Messenger:

O king, I bear evil tidings:
For every thousand Israelites,
There are ten thousand Philistines.
And there is none to withstand them.

Saul: Go ye and summon the warriors of Israel.

(Second Messenger goes out to right. Gradually the Soldiers of Israel enter and group at back. The First Messenger reenters with the three elder Sons of Jesse.)

First Messenger: Here are the sons of Jesse, lord.

Saul:

Come nearer, men. (They stand before him.)
And are ye sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite?

Eliab: Yea, O lord king!

Saul:

Is one among you called by the name of "David,"
Or "The sweet singer in Israel"?

Eliab:

Nay, lord king,
For we be men and warriors;
But David is a little shepherd lad.

Saul: But shepherd lads must needs defend their flocks.

(The Attendant enters with David.)

Saul: How now, returned so soon?

Attendant:

I met him, lord.
He came but now to see his brothers there. (Nods toward them.)

Eliab (angrily):

What do you here?
And why art thou come down?
And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?
I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart;
Thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

David:

My father bade me seek thee with this loaf,
And flask of wine. (Offers them. Eliab turns angrily
away, but Abinadab accepts and eats.)

Saul:

Peace, men!
And art thou he that's called "The sweet singer in Israel"?

David: My lord, I—I—

Saul: Be not ashamed, but sing thou sweetly to me.

David: What shall I sing?

Saul: Of peace and pleasantness and quiet ways. (Reclines on couch.)

David (sings as before):

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Saul (to attendant):

Go, bid the Princess Michal bring a crown
To crown his brow.
For he is the sweet singer of Israel. (Attendant goes out.)
Sing yet again.

David (sings continuation of psalm):

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For thou art with me:
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

(The Attendant enters from right and is followed by the Princess Michal and her slave girls bearing fans.)

Attendant (announces): The Princess Michal!

Saul:

Come thou, Michal, here,
And crown the sweetest singer in all Israel.

Michal (bowing):

My father, as thou biddest! (She turns to David.)
Sir, I crown thee,
The sweetest singer in all Israel. (Crowns him.)

(Loud shouting to the left. Prince Jonathan enters running.)

Jonathan:

Where is my father? O my father, hear:
The army of the Philistines is at hand.
And thy people fear, O father.
For lo, one of the Philistines,
A champion among them,
And a giant for strength,
He sendeth a challenge to the people of Israel.

Saul: Admit the challenger. (Enter from the left the Challenger of Goliath of Gath. He surveys the people sneeringly.)

Challenger:

Give ear, O ye Israelites,
Hear the words of Goliath of Gath:
"Choose ye a man for your champion
And let him come down to me.
If he be able to fight with me and kill me,
Then will we be your servants;
But if I prevail against him,
Then shall ye be our servants and serve us.
I defy the armies of Israel this day."

(The Israelites sway forward murmuring: Ho! Indeed! Swaggerer!)

Saul: We will consider. Go! (The Challenger goes.)

Jonathan:

This challenge hath been cried before the army,
And none is found who dare hope for the victory.

Saul:

Perchance a champion for Israel is here. (Beckons.)
Ho, sons of Jesse, ye are come to fight;
Ye are big men.
Which one of you will fight 'gainst this Philistine?

(There is a pause: all look on ground.)

Unto the champion who kills Goliath,
The king will give great riches.
And to that man the king will give his daughter.

(There is another pause.)

Eliab (uncertainly):

I fear, lord king,
For if I fail, then Israel is doomed to servitude.

Abinadab: I am not strong.

Shammah: I am not yet full-grown.

David (steps forth):

Let no man's heart fail because of him.
Thy servant will go and fight with the Philistine.

(Laughter and derision from his brothers. Smiles from others.)

Saul: Thou art but a youth, and he a man of war.

David: Thy servant kept his father's flocks, and when there came a lion or a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went down after it and killed it.

Eliab: O foolish one!

Abinadab: Back to thy sheep!

Shammah: Thou braggart!

David:

The Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion,
And out of the paw of the bear;
He will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine.

Saul:

Go, and the Lord be with thee.
And take my armor and my sword and shield.

(The Armor-bearer advances and offers weapons.)

David:

I have not proved them.
But give me rather five smooth stones from the brook;
Thus will I fight.

Saul: Go, bid the champion of the Philistines come.

(The First Messenger goes out left. Michal goes to David.)

Michal:

O shepherd,
O sweet psalmist of Israel,
O do not let the giant get too near!
Be careful, David. Jonathan, go with him.
And come back safe to Michal. God go with thee.

(She goes out.)

(David stands as though in prayer, while everyone sings very softly the following lines:)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For thou art with me:
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

(Or, merely the music may be played.)

(The Attendant brings stones to David.)

(Enter the Challenger for Goliath followed by Philistines.)

Challenger:

Tremble, O people of Israel,
For Goliath cometh.
And the champion of Israel will fall down before him
As barley before the sickle.
Tremble, O Israelites!
Have ye a champion?
Have ye a man to stand before him?

(David stands forth.)

Challenger: Ha, ha, ha! Is Goliath a babe, that thou sendest forth an infant against him?

David:

He cometh against me with a sword and spear;
But I come against him in the name of the God of the armies of Israel,
Whom he hath defied.
Come forth, Goliath, for thou diest this day.

Eliab (to David): O lad, I fear for thee; I'll take thy place.

David:

Be not afraid.
Though I be little, I've the strength of ten.

Israelites:

Huzzah! Huzzah!
Though he be little, he's the strength of ten.

David (cries): Come forth, Goliath!

DAVID AND GOLIATH

THE PEOPLE

THE PLACE

THE PROPERTIES

DAVID AND GOLIATH

Act I. A field in Bethlehem, near the home of Jesse.

Act II