silken pomegranates round about the hem, and tinkled as he moved. Upon his head was set a crown or mitre, and above his brows on the forefront of the mitre was a plate of pure gold, engraved, as with the characters of a signet, with the words: ‘Holiness to the Lord.’

From his shoulders hung an ephod or apron of fine twined linen, also embroidered in gold and blue and purple and scarlet. And upon his breast with its braided chains of gold was the breastplate of judgment.

Set in fine gold in four rows upon the front of this breastplate were stones of great price, and each one of these was engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the first row there gleamed a sardius, a topaz and a carbuncle; in the second row an emerald, a sapphire and a diamond; in the third a flame-coloured ligure, an agate and an amethyst; and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They burned in the splendour of the sun that from the ample skies poured down its radiance upon the garish host assembled there.

Within the fold of the breastplate lay a flat sacred crystal, the one side of which was called Urim, the other Thummim. On the side which was called Urim was graved the Ineffable Name, the name of the Lord God, the Eternal. But the side called Thummim was smooth and plain.

When the divine oracle was to be consulted and lots were to be drawn, and it had been made known what question needed divine answer, the High Priest thrust his hand within the breastplate and withdrew the stone. And according to which of the two sides of the stone came uppermost, either Urim or Thummim, such was the answer that had been revealed: either Yes or No, as ordained by the Lord.

When all was in readiness, and silence had fallen upon the host stretched out before him, Samuel bade the chief man of every tribe draw near. From their places in the throng the twelve came forward, and stood before Samuel and the High Priest. And the whole multitude watched under the blue tent of the day. Then the High Priest, having prayed, thrust his hand into the breastplate of judgment and drew the lot for each tribe, from Reuben onwards. And as for one after another the stone when he drew it out showed the side that was called Thummim, the chief of that tribe returned to his own place in the throng. For the lot was against him.

Last came Benjamin, the least of the tribes of Israel. And when the High Priest drew out the stone yet once again, it was Urim that was revealed. And it was proclaimed to the assembly that out of all Israel the Lord God had chosen Benjamin. Wild voices broke out at the hearing of it, cries of amazement, incredulity, dismay and exultation.

Then Samuel bade the chiefs of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin draw near, and the lot fell on the clan of the Matri. Then followed the heads of the households of this clan, with Kish himself among them, and the lot fell at last upon Saul.

‘Saul! Saul!’

The shout pealed out from a thousand throats; the tribesmen leapt to their feet to acclaim their king.

But behold, when they sought for Saul that he might show himself before the people, he could nowhere be found. A furious clamour shook the air, some calling his name, others questioning who and what he was, and why he was absent; others enraged at the affront which they deemed to have been laid by a mere Benjamite upon the chieftains of Israel. And as still he stayed to show himself, and none could bring word of him, the assembly was in a tumult.

Samuel sat unmoved. His faith in Saul was as yet unshaken. He had divined his wayward nature, at one moment ardent and assured; and then, cast down, self-distrustful and faint-hearted. Had he not already anointed Saul king, knowing that he would be the Lord’s chosen? What wonder Saul had been seized with misgiving at the ordeal before him and had fled away in dread of standing alone in the intent