"Bless you, my little ones," he said, as Esther and Miriam each seized a hand. "Now tell me what you have seen while you were shopping."
The children chattered as they do everywhere in the world. They described the market and the people, the camels and the shopkeepers.
"We were coming to your store when we found how late it was. Then we thought it would be closed, and you on your way home. And so you were," said Esther, laughingly.
By the time the children had reached their own door, they were so tired they thought only of bed and sleep. They were even too tired to care about their supper.
"But you must not slight your night prayer," said their father, soberly.
Esther's and Miriam's eyes winked and blinked a good many times before they got through the prayer.
"It never seemed so long before, except when I was sick," Esther told her adopted sister, when they were at last stretched on their beds. "And, do you know, Miriam," she added, sleepily, "I believe Solomon doesn't always repeat it all. He says our people have so many prayers he gets tired of them sometimes. Isn't that dreadful?"
But Miriam was already sound asleep, and did not answer.
CHAPTER VII
THE CAVE
"Which way did you come?" asked Levi, as he helped the two little girls down from the ass's back. Solomon had walked by their side all the way.
"We passed through the Jaffa gate and then took the shortest way down here into the valley," said Esther.
Jerusalem is surrounded by walls. There are seven gates through which the city may be entered or left. But the Jaffa and Damascus gates are the ones most used.
"We saw a Bedouin riding a beautiful horse. He was in full dress, and looked just elegant," said Solomon. "I should like to own a horse like his."
"Tell me how he was dressed," said Rebecca.
"His long, wide cloak must have been quite new. I could tell, because the yellow stripes looked so clean and bright. The shawl bound around his head and hanging down over his shoulders was pure white," said Miriam.
"His high red leather boots were the handsomest part of his dress. There were tassels at the sides, of course," interrupted Solomon. "But his sash! You ought to have seen the shining dagger and the pistol that were stuck in it. My! the man looked as though he were ready to meet any one.
"His horse was a beauty, too. She was decked with red woollen tassels that reached clear to the ground. She snorted and stepped off with the spirit of a war-horse. You know the tassels are useful in keeping off the flies. There are such swarms of them the poor beasts suffer very much."
"But come along, children, I know you want to have a romp under the trees. You need not stay here talking any longer."
While Levi was speaking, Rebecca put her arm around Miriam's waist and tried to make her feel at home. She had not been to Jerusalem since the little orphan had come to live with Esther and Solomon.
"She is a sweet child," she thought. "Not as strong as Esther nor as brave as Solomon. But she will be grateful for kindness. I feel sure of that when I look into her eyes."
In a few minutes Rebecca and Levi were playing with their young company as though they were children themselves.
"To-morrow we will have a little picnic, and I will take you to a cave you have never visited," promised Levi, as his young visitors were bidding him good night.
"It is a pleasant walk there, and not so far as to tire us," added Rebecca.
The next morning was bright and clear. The breakfast was soon eaten, after which, Esther and Miriam helped Rebecca clean up the house and prepare the lunch they were to carry.
While they were waiting for Levi and Solomon to finish some farm work, the little girls had a chance to pet the gazelle and the tame sheep of which Rebecca had written them.
At last they were all ready to start. It was a pleasant walk, as Rebecca had said, yet there were several rough and rather wild places to pass through.
"Almost all the caves around here are made of limestone," said Levi. "It is so soft that the rains wear great hollows in the rocks."
"Did you ever go to the cave of Adullam, Levi?" asked Solomon.
"Yes, once when I was a boy. It is beyond Bethlehem. I had heard father speak of it. He told me that King David hid there with four hundred of his followers."
"Four hundred! It must be a very big cave, then," said Esther.
"You would think so, if you once got inside. There is one hall that is thirty-eight yards long. There are several passages leading into it. Some are so low that one has to crawl through them on his hands and knees. Others spread out into large chambers. Many of these chambers are very beautiful. The water has trickled down the walls and worn the soft limestone into the loveliest patterns."
"How could you see, Levi? wasn't it dark inside the cave?" asked Solomon.
"Of course it was, but every one in the party carried a lighted torch or candle. The torches gave light enough to show the beautiful ornaments."
"There is our own cave ahead of us," said Rebecca. "Of course I mean it is the one we are to visit," she added, with a laugh.
All the children could see was a great mass of rocks on the side of a hill. As they drew nearer, they spied a small hole near the ground.
"Must we crawl through that hole?" asked Esther, with a shiver.
"It is larger than you imagine," replied Levi. "Besides, you only have to crawl a few feet. After that the way opens up quite suddenly. I will go first with my torch. Then you can all follow."
"I'm afraid," Miriam whispered to Esther. She did not wish Solomon to hear her. She feared he would make fun of her.
"Hold on to my hand and have courage. I will go ahead of you," was the answer.
One by one, they passed through the opening.
"Isn't this fun!" cried Solomon as they all stood in the chamber worn out of the rocks.
"It makes me feel queer to think of being underground," said Esther.
"Hark! What's that noise?" said Miriam, in a frightened voice.
"It's only a family of bats we have taken by surprise. They are not used to callers," said Levi.
The bats were more frightened than Miriam. They flew about in a blind way. Several times they almost brushed against the faces of Rebecca and Levi, the tallest ones in the party.
"Ugh! I don't like bats," said Miriam. "I am going outside."
"Just wait a minute until I see if there are any pretty decorations on the walls. Look! Here is just what I was searching for."
Levi held his torch up near the roof.
"Isn't it beautiful? How can Nature work in such a regular pattern?" said Rebecca, half to herself.
"It is because she is the handmaiden of the Lord," replied Levi, reverently.
After they had left the cave and were once more out in the bright sunshine, the children were allowed to choose a place for the picnic dinner. They had brought water for bathing the hands and face as well as for drinking. Levi had told them before they started that there was no well or spring near the place.
After they had washed and prayed, they were all ready to enjoy the nice luncheon Rebecca had prepared.
"Tell us stories about King David, won't you, please Levi?" asked Solomon. "When you spoke of the cave of Adullam this morning you said David hid there with a great many of his followers. I suppose that made me think of him now."
"I should like nothing better," said Levi, stretching himself out on the ground. "But would you all like to hear about the 'Sweet Singer of Israel'?"
"Indeed we would," sounded a chorus of voices.
CHAPTER VIII
THE SWEET SINGER OF ISRAEL
"Very well, then. Let us go back to the days of long ago, long, even, before the destruction of our beloved city. Let us seek David on the hillsides, tending his flocks with loving care.
"One day a visitor came to the house of Jesse, David's father. This visitor was no other than the prophet Samuel. He had received a command from the Lord telling him to take a vial of oil and seek the house of Jesse.
"'There,' said the Lord, 'you will find the new king who is to succeed Saul.'
"Samuel hastened to obey. When he reached Jesse's house, he asked to see his sons. One by one passed before him till the eighth son, David, appeared. Then the voice of the Lord again spoke to Samuel. It said:
"'Arise, anoint him, for this is he.'
"As soon as the prophet had anointed David with the oil, the young man was filled with the spirit and power of God. At the same time, they left King Saul, who did many foolish and bad deeds after this.
"But what of David? Did he go out into the world and declare himself the future king of Israel? Not so. He continued to live his peaceful, quiet life as a shepherd. He learned to sing, and play upon the harp. He now showed himself indeed the 'Sweet Singer of Israel.'
"He began to show power in other ways, too. Many times the fierce lions and savage bears came creeping upon his flocks. Many times David met and overpowered them with the strength given to him by the Lord."
"It seems as though I can see him guarding his flocks," said Solomon, as Levi stopped talking to rest for a moment. "His beautiful black eyes are looking out into the night and watching for danger. He looks at his sleeping sheep to see if all are safe. Then he hears the sound of foes drawing near and springs to meet them."
"I like best to think of him with a tiny lamb in his arms," said Esther. "He holds it lovingly against his breast, as though he would say, 'I will save you from all harm, poor, helpless creature.'"
Levi now went on with his story.
"While David was still tending his flocks, King Saul was waging war upon the Philistines, the bitter enemies of our people. They became more and more daring, until at last they gathered on the side of a mountain right here in Israel.
"Three of David's brothers were fighting in Saul's army and went out to meet the Philistines. David often went to the camp to visit his brothers. He happened to be there once when a Philistine giant marched forth and dared any Israelite to fight with him.
"There was no one who felt able to say, 'I am not afraid; I accept your challenge.'
"'No one,' did I say? At first, this was true, for every one in Saul's army kept silent. But when David saw this, he felt the spirit of the Lord stir within him. He arose, saying, 'I will meet you.'
"He was now led before Saul, and there, in the presence of the king, he said he had faith that God would save him from harm, even from the hand of the giant. At first, Saul thought:
"'It is of no use for this young shepherd to go out alone to meet the giant. He will only lose his life.'
"But when he heard what David said, he changed his mind. He got out a strong suit of armour, and even helped him to put it on. David was not used to such things. The armour weighed him down so that he staggered and almost fell. He said:
"'It would be better for me to carry only such weapons as I know. Let me take my shepherd's staff and the sling I have used so often in meeting the wild beasts.'
"He was allowed to do as he chose. He went forth to meet the giant with nothing to help him save his staff and sling.
"And what did the giant, Goliath, say when he saw the young shepherd draw near? He spoke in scornful words. But he suddenly became silent as David sent a stone from his sling that passed through his forehead and entered his brain. As soon as David saw the success of his shot, he rushed to the giant's side, seized his sword, and cut off his head.
"The watching Philistines were filled with fear. They began to flee. But Saul's army followed and overtook them and killed great numbers.
"All Israel now began to praise David. Saul, too, was filled with delight. He declared he was willing David should marry his elder daughter after a while.
"Now the king, as you know, often did wild and foolish things. This was, perhaps, because he gave way to fits of bad temper. When he learned of David's power to play and sing, he often asked the young shepherd to quiet his angry feelings with the sweet music of his harp and voice.
"He was very fond of David in those days, but after a while he became jealous when he heard the constant praises of the people. They said, 'Saul hath slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands.'
"His anger was now turned against the brave shepherd. At one time, he threw his spear at David. It was when the lad was playing on his harp. But Saul failed to do what his wicked heart desired. The Lord was protecting the future king of Israel.
"Again he tried to kill David, and again he failed. Saul must have thought that it was of no use, so now he sought to injure the young man in a different way. He gave the daughter he had promised David to another lover.
"But Saul soon found that his younger daughter loved David. He now said:
"'You may have Michal if you will first kill one hundred Philistines.' He only said this because he hoped David would be killed by the enemy."