A peaceful grove near Bethlehem in Israel, roughly five miles south of Jerusalem. Modern theories place the ‘cave of Adullam’, where David and his men lay hidden, about ten or twelve miles west of Bethlehem, in hills at the southeast of the Elah valley. David’s three lieutenants came all that way to Bethlehem unbidden, and despite the Philistine army of occupation returned unscathed with a cup of water from the city’s wells, just for love of their captain.
Introduction
Before he became Israel’s King, David was a loyal servant of King Saul and a close friend of Saul’s son, Jonathan. But Saul’s impetuous jealousies made him see treachery at every turn, just when Israel needed unity against the invading Philistines. David was another kind of leader entirely — as this little tale shows.
DAVID’s attempts at reconciliation with Saul, the King of Israel, had failed – if only they could have drawn swords together against the Philistines! – and though he had parted in affectionate comradeship from Jonathan, the king’s son, David would never see him again.
Now, hunted like a bird by Saul and hemmed in by the Philistine army camped out in Bethlehem, he was hiding in caves in hard hills near the pastures where once he had been a shepherd boy.
‘Oh, for the water of the well of Bethlehem’ he sighed, remembering, ‘which is by the gate!’ Without a word, three loyal companions slipped like shadows through the enemy camp to the well, drew water, and carried it back to their captain.
But David could not bring himself to drink it. ‘Is this not the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?’ he said, deeply moved; and he poured the water out upon the ground, in sacrifice to the God of Israel.
Based on 2 Samuel 23:13-17 and ‘A Book of Golden Deeds’ by Charlotte Yonge (1823-1901).
Précis
David was hiding out in the hills near Bethlehem when his men heard him sighing for the water of a fondly-remembered well by the city gates. They dodged their way through the Philistine army, currently occupying Bethlehem, and fetched water from the well just for him. David was touched, but humbled, and made an offering of it to God. (59 / 60 words)
David was hiding out in the hills near Bethlehem when his men heard him sighing for the water of a fondly-remembered well by the city gates. They dodged their way through the Philistine army, currently occupying Bethlehem, and fetched water from the well just for him. David was touched, but humbled, and made an offering of it to God.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, because, not, ought, since, unless, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Draw. Hill. King.
2 Could. Hem. See.
3 Cave. Companion. Which.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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0
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