THE FIRST KING OF ISRAEL. 169

George. But it would have wasted a great deal of
time if they had gone straggling about seeking for food.

Grandfather. Well, he might have forbidden them to
wander in search of it, but to forbid men who had
hard work before them, and who were faint with hun-
ger, to forbid them to eat the food that lay at their
hands, was too much. The command was very unwise,
but the threat that was joined to it was positively sin-
ful.

Johnnie. If I had been there I would not have cared
for the king. I would have taken something to eat.

Grandfather. Ah, but that would have been very
wrong. We are bound to obey those who have authority
over us, whether they be good people or not. It is not
only to the good and gentle rulers that we are com-
manded to submit, but also to the froward.

Marianne. Did all the people obey the order Saul
gave?

Grandfather. All except Jonathan, who was not
present when the command was given. In the pursuit
the Israelites went through a wood. There was such a
quantity of wild honey in the trees that it was dropping
upon the ground, yet none of the people touched it, to
their honour be it spoken. Jonathan only, in his father’s
army, was ignorant of his father’s command, so he took
a little honey, by which he was greatly refreshed. Then
some of the people about him told him how the case
stood, which it greatly grieved him to hear. The
people, from faintness, were unable to pursue their ene-