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The bow of Jonathan turned not back,

The sword of Saul returned not empty.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,

And in their death they were not divided.

They were swifter than eagles,

They were stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep for Saul!

He clothes you no more in purple,

Nor puts ornaments of gold on your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!

O! Jonathan, thou wast slain on thine high places;

I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan ;

Very dear wast thou to me:

Thy love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of

women.

How are the mighty fallen!

How are the weapons of war cast away!"

Myron did justice to this pathetic elegy; and they descended Tabor together.

Their journey was now directed to Bethshan or Scythopolis, the place at which the Galilean pilgrims were wont to cross the Jordan, in order to avoid the Samaritans, by keeping on the other side as low down as Bethabara, where they crossed it again. The line from Dor on the Mediterranean to Bethshan formed the boundary between Samaria and Galilee. Galilee contained two hundred larger and smaller

towns, some of the latter having as many as 15,000 inhabitants. Agriculture, fishing, and pasturage, the culture of the vine and the olive, all were carried on with success in this country, which is diversified with hills and plains, both of them abounding in water. The inhabitants were characterised by their love of freedom, though both their language and their manners were corrupted by their great intercourse with foreign nations.

They quitted Galilee at Bethshan, and crossing the Jordan pursued their journey along the numerous windings of the stream, which from Bethsaida to the Dead Sea has a course of seventy-two sabbath-days' journies. Succoth,* where Jacob built huts, near Mahanaim,† a town on the Jabbok, (so named by him from the vision which was granted to him there) Debirt and Bethabara, were hastily passed. At length the Jordan opened into the plain of Jericho; they passed through the city gate and soon reached the hospitable

*Gen. xxxiii. 17. † Gen. xxxii. 2. ‡ Josh. xiii. 26.

mansion of Selumiel. The gate, with its pious

*

inscriptions, opened to receive them; Myron

was astonished at the splendour of the house; while Helon thought only that this was his happy home.

*Deut. xi. 20.

CHAPTER II.

THE NUPTIALS.

HELON found no one in the front court, and hastily entered the inner court, followed by Myron. The slave came to tell them, that there was no one in the house.

"Where are they, then?"

"In Helon's house," said the slave with a smile; and informed him that Selumiel, Elisama, Iddo, the wife of Selumiel, Sulamith, and Abisuab with his wife, had gone out a few hours before, in order to receive him in the newly-purchased house. They had justly calculated that he would return this evening.

Helon heard this intelligence with joyful surprise, and easily divined the fact, that out of his affection for Sulamith, who wished not to be separated from her parents, Elisama had

purchased a house for him in Jericho; and if not in Jerusalem, where could he be better pleased to dwell than in the City of Palms ? The splendid mansion was to be a nuptial present to his beloved nephew. It is true that the property must return to its owner in the year of Jubilee, and the contract for it was therefore rather a lease than a purchase; but a considerable price had nevertheless been set upon it, which Elisama's wealth enabled him easily to pay.

The slave showed them the way to the house which stood near the opposite gate, so that they had to traverse the whole length of the city. A slave had been waiting for some hours before the gate, and upon a signal given by him to those within, all the males of the company were in waiting to bid him welcome.

66 See," said Selumiel, "the rewards of selfdenial !"

"Welcome, my brother, and henceforth fellow-citizen of Jericho," said Abisuab.

Helon, with moistened eyes, threw himself into the arms of Elisama. All stood around, pouring out congratulations and blessings.

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