154 ‘BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

THE FIRST KING OF ISRAEL.

‘“* Short be your sleep, and coarse your fare,
In vain, till God has blest ;
But if his smiles attend your care,
You shall have food and rest.

‘* Nor children, relatives, nor friends
Shall real blessings prove,
Nor all the earthly joys he sends,
If sent without his love.”

Grandfather. The year after the death of Samson,
the Israelites, being weary of the yoke imposed on them
by the Philistines, resolved to make an attempt to free
themselves from it. They marched out to fight against
them. The Philistines met them in battle, and were
victorious. Four thousand of the Israelites fell; those
who remained retired to their camp.

Marianne. Why were they defeated, grandfather? It
was right to try to free themselves from the Philis-
tines.

Grandfather. It was; but they ought first to have