Chapter I: Front Matter

The Abingdon Religious Education Texts David G. Downey, General Editor GEORGE HERBERT BETTS, Associate Editor

Shorter Bible Plays

BY RITA BENTON

THE ABINGDON PRESS NEW YORK CINCINNATI

Copyright, 1922, by RITA BENTON All Rights Reserved

The right to produce these plays for religious and educational purposes (without personal profit), is freely granted.

All professional acting rights and moving picture rights are fully protected by copyright, and any individual or company desiring to produce these plays for profit must make application to the author and pay a royalty as agreed upon.

Printed in the United States of America

TO MY MOTHER AND HER "SUNDAY" CHILDREN

Unto her little child, a mother saith:
"The Lord is everywhere, so have no fear."
The child is quieted to have her near.
Like unto God a mother comforteth.

And for her little child a mother prays:
"That he may love me much, but love God more!"
But 'tis our mothers that we all adore;
And for our mothers, give we God the praise.

For childhood clearer sees God's wondrous grace,
Sees God's love shining in his mother's face.

Copyrighted, 1922, by Rita Benton

CONTENTS

PAGE
EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION 5
NOAH'S FLOOD 11
THE PROVING OF ABRAHAM 38
MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES 44
UP, UP FROM EGYPT TO THE PROMISED LAND 53
THE CALL OF SAMUEL 63
DAVID AND GOLIATH 74
THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON (Longer Version) 99
THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON (Shorter Version) 116
THE GOOD SAMARITAN 122
MANGER SERVICE 129

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH _Frontispiece_

_Noah's Flood_ PAGE
NOAH'S WIFE 10
A SON OF NOAH 15
WIFE OF NOAH'S SON 20
A SON OF NOAH 24
WIFE OF NOAH'S SON 26
THE ANIMALS LEAVE THE ARK 29
THE RAINBOW 32

_The Proving of Abraham_
ABRAHAM 37

_Moses in the Bulrushes_
MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES 43
THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH NAMES MOSES 49

_Up, Up From Egypt to the Promised Land_
A PAGE OF PHARAOH 52
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAIL THE PROMISED LAND 59

_The Call of Samuel_
THE CHILD SAMUEL WITH HIS PARENTS 62
THE PRIEST ELI REBUKES HIS DRUNKEN SONS 65

_David and Goliath_
DAVID 73
THE CHALLENGER FOR GOLIATH 93

_The Judgment of Solomon_
THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON (Longer Version) 98
THE CHILDREN (Shorter Version) 115

To the kindness of Edward D. Waters we are indebted for the use of many of these photographs.

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION

Increasingly the church is coming again to use religious pageantry and plays for instruction and worship. In the earlier history of religion the dramatic expression of religious aspiration and feeling was almost universal. The dramatic impulse is deeply grounded in human nature, and may be made to appeal to the highest attributes of reverence and devotion.

Children should usually themselves be the actors and not mere spectators. In acting Bible stories they learn how intimately the past is linked to the present, and how the struggles of to-day after truth, courage, love, are like the struggles of the patriarchs and prophets. The stories become more vivid, their charm grows, as we study them in action--our own action. And when we have finished the production of a Bible play a portion of the most beautiful of all literature is ours forever.

In a portion of the plays they act out, the children should, under wise leadership, devise and prepare their own parts and lines. Along with these spontaneously planned representations, however, should come a fair proportion of carefully prepared simple artistic plays adapted to the age and understanding of the child and calculated to teach the lesson desired. Besides teaching their own particular lessons, such plays will serve as a model and standard for the children in preparing their own presentations.

It is the purpose of the present volume to offer a collection of shorter Bible plays of high standard, great beauty, simplicity, and careful adaptation. All of these plays have been used many times over with groups of children in church schools, and their value thoroughly proved. The editors offer the book to the church public believing it will be a helpful factor in the field of religious education.

COSTUMES

The costumes used in these Bible plays have been largely copied from Tissot's illustrations of the Bible.

A straight piece of bleached or unbleached muslin, seamed at the sides up to arm-hole, with a slit for the neck, has been found the simplest foundation costume.

Variations on this are:

A girdle.

Sleeves.

Fringes.

A cloak of contrasting color, of the same pattern as the slip, but open in front.

Several yards of material of contrasting color, thrown over the head or shoulders, or draped.

Strips of cloth, four to six inches wide, sewed the length of the costume. Black strips against white make an effective costume.

For the head use a square of white cloth bound round with a thick, dark cord.

For women the cloth may be lighter. They may wear two girdles instead of one, with the material puffed out between the girdles. Their veils also should be of lighter material; over these a heavy mantle may hang, if desired.

Barefoot sandals or Japanese sandals will do for the feet, if antique sandals cannot be made. In many cases it is preferable that the actors go barefoot.

For bracelets, crowns, scepters, fans, buy sheet copper or brass, tin shears, and cut as desired. These will last forever.

For soldier costumes, make brilliant, short tunics. Belt these in with a twelve-inch strip of brown buckram, which, in turn, is tied on with a bright cord. Use cone-shaped caps.

Egyptian costumes may always be indicated by a belt with a broad flap in the center, reaching from waist to hem. For headdresses, use striped cloth; draw the two front ends under the cloth and pin at the back of the head.

For Babylonian costumes, take several yards of material; sew fringe to the ends and one side; pin one end of the goods at the back of model; wind goods about waist of model so as to form a skirt, and pin to end of goods; carry the rest of the goods around, under right arm, over left shoulder, about neck, over right arm; tuck in and hold in place by a three-inch belt. For head-gear use tall caps rather resembling a sugar loaf. Use heavy white canvas; this may be painted or fringed.

Try to use strong, bright colors, with white and black and brown. Avoid navy blue, turkey red, baby blue or pink. Try to use the same color-values.

SCENERY

A sea-blue curtain is the one essential.

NOAH'S FLOOD

THE PEOPLE

MESSENGER OF GOD.
NOAH.
HIS WIFE.
SHEM.
HAM.
JAPHETH.
WIVES OF SHEM, HAM, JAPHETH.
IDOLATERS.
ANIMALS.

(The number and kind of animals must be left to the costumer. Where the animals mentioned in the play are left out, mention of them must be omitted.)

THE PLACE

SCENE I. _The building place of the Ark._
SCENE II. _Mount Ararat._

The Ark may be built on a framework of wood, covered with cloth to represent a child's toy. Bright colors are preferable, such as gray and scarlet. Or the Ark may be cut out of wall board. A door on hinges must be cut in the side, also a window. A gangplank may lead up to door. If the play is given indoors, a blue back-drop may be used against which colored lights may be thrown, to indicate storm. If given out of doors, a blue, smiling sky is always desirable.

Thin tarlatan may be cut in the shape, and painted to represent the rainbow, and stretched on a curved bit of wire.

THE PROPERTIES

A hammer and nails.
Fruit.
Pitchers and platters of food.
A rainbow.
An idol.
A few stones for altar.
Two doves or pigeons.
A Flood Curtain.

Trees, such as are seen in a child's Noah's Ark, may be cut out of wood and painted a vivid green. These will aid the picture.

NOAH'S FLOOD

(_Taken in large measure from the play by Ranulf Higden of Saint Werburg's, Chester._ A. D. 1299-1364.)

SCENE I. _The building place of the Ark._

(_The three_ SONS _of_ NOAH _enter and work upon the ark with hammer and nails, or any building tools. Occasionally comes a distant cry of_, "Ho, ho! Ark-builders!" _They look up impatiently. Presently some impish_ CHILDREN _run in._)

FIRST CHILD (_jeeringly_): Ark-builders, ark-builders, where is your
wit?

SECOND CHILD: Ark-builders, ark-builders, when do you flit?

(SHEM AND HAM _drop their tools and chase the children out, following them._ JAPHETH _continues his work at the door. Presently the children reappear, entering from the other side._)

CHILDREN (_laughing merrily and pointing at ark_): Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

(JAPHETH _goes inside and slams the door._)

THIRD CHILD: Ark-builder, ark-builder, come out again.

CHILDREN: Ark-builder, ark-builder, where is your rain? (_They run
out._)

(NOAH _comes out of the door and looks anxiously up at the sky. The_ MESSENGER _enters_; NOAH _bends prostrate._)

MESSENGER:
God, who all this world has wrought,
Heaven and earth and all of naught,
Sees his people in deed and thought
Are lost in sin.
Man that he made he will destroy,
Saving a few who are his joy,
And have his servants been.
Noah, a righteous man thou be,
A ship hast thou ma-de me,
Of trees dry and stout.
Three hundred cubits is it long,
And fifty broad to make it strong,
Of height fifty, lest it be wrong,
Thus measure it about.
One window's made with skill and wit,
A cubit of length and breadth is it;
A door upon the side doth sit,
For to come in and out.
Destroy-ed all the world shall be,
Save thou, thy wife and children three;
And their three wives also with thee,
Shall live without a doubt.

(_The_ MESSENGER _goes._)

NOAH (_rising and raising arms to heaven_):
O Lord, I thank thee; thou art kind,
That savest me from all man-kind.

(_Calls._)

Haste ye, children; God doth call.
Hie ye, lest the water fall.
Shem, Ham, Japheth, come ye here!
Haste ye, haste ye, son-nes dear.

(JAPHETH _enters from within ark_; SHEM _and_ HAM _enter shaking their fists angrily at_ IDOLATERS _without, who mock and jeer._)

IDOLATERS (_without_): Ho, ho! Ark-builders! Ark-builders, ho, ho!

SHEM:
Father, the people mock at us and jeer.
They say, "See Noah and his son-nes dear!
Where is the flood of which they have such fear?"

NOAH:
Aye, let them mock, for God hath said to me:
"_Thy_ house shall live; the rest shall swallowed be
E'en in the mighty belly of the sea."

JAPHETH: But, father, art thou sure?

NOAH (_sternly_): Well? Sure of what?

JAPHETH (_hastily_): Nay, nay, I see I'm wrong; I question not.

NOAH:
Doubt not, for God hath given a sign.
Now let your wives bring food and wine,
Water and fodder for the kine,
And work right busily.

(_All work busily. The_ WIVES _enter carrying pitchers and platters of fruits._ NOAH'S WIFE _enters leisurely, carrying a distaff, or a plate of fruit._)

NOAH'S WIFE:
Noah, my husband, dost thou then believe
That the good God would so his children grieve,
And drown them all? Thou dost thyself deceive.

NOAH: I do believe it.

NOAH'S WIFE:
Nay, how comes it, when
The world is drowned that _we_ be sav-ed then,
That we alone be saved of living men?

NOAH:
Because to no false gods we've bowed the knee,
Therefore God hath said to me:
"Thou and thy family shall sav-ed be."

NOAH'S WIFE:
And must our friends and all our kindred die?
I cannot save myself and hear their cry.
If they cannot be saved, no more will I.

NOAH: Peace, woman, go within. (_Points sternly._)

NOAH'S WIFE: I will not go.

NOAH:
Then stand without and watch the waters flow.
Thou wilt be glad to enter soon, I know. (_She seats
herself beside ark and munches apple or plies distaff._)
Hark, what was that?

HAM (_sullenly_):
'Tis the idolaters; they make them merry
With worship of false gods--and all contrary
To the true God's command.

NOAH:
How long, O Lord, how long must we
Listen to this mockery?
O let the flood appear on sea and land!

(_Music. Enter the_ IDOLATERS _carrying an idol of gold. They sing and dance about it._)

UNISON. CHORUS _"Soldiers' Chorus" from Faust_

[Song:
Pour out the wine to the gods of old;
Praise be to gods that are fair and bold!
Glo-ry to gods that our eyes be-hold!
Hail to the gods! The earth-lov-ing gods! The gods of gold!
]

Arrangement Copyright, 1911, by The Cable Company

(_One_ IDOLATER _pours out a libation of wine._ NOAH _strides forward and knocks over idol. The_ IDOLATERS _huddle back._)

NOAH: Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an
abomination to the Lord!

IDOLATERS: Sacrilege!

NOAH: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in
the stall! Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt
thou be when thou goest out!

SONS (_loudly_): Amen!

IDOLATERS: Woe! Woe! Woe! (_They surge forward._)

FIRST IDOLATER: Upon them!

SECOND IDOLATER: Scatter them!

THIRD IDOLATER: Destroy them!

FOURTH IDOLATER: No! (_He pushes others back._)
It is the old ark-builder. Very sad!
Cursing of other men hath made him mad.

A MAIDEN (_holding out her hand to_ JAPHETH):
Come, join in the dance;
Be glad and sing.
For the juice of the grape
Is a pleasant thing,
And hath sweet fragrance.
Be glad and sing.

(_The_ IDOLATERS _start out_, JAPHETH _following._)

NOAH'S WIFE: My son, and dost thou leave me?

NOAH:
Go thy ways.
Thou shalt repent thee before many days.

FIRST IDOLATER (_pointing upward mockingly_):
I see a cloud in the sky; it grows.
Perchance, it is your flood. Who knows?
Get into the ark lest it wet your toes.

ALL THE IDOLATERS (_laughing_): Get into the ark lest it wet your
toes. (_They dance out with_ JAPHETH.)

NOAH (_arms upraised_):
Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth,
For the hour of her desolation cometh!

(_Turns to other sons._)
Have done, ye men and women all,
Hie ye, lest the water fall.
Of clean beasts, seven shall be,
Of unclean, two; thus God bade me;
The flood is nigh, I plainly see;
Wherefore hasten ye,
And see now that each beastie be in stall.

(SHEM _and_ HAM _go out._ NOAH _turns his back and laments_):
And Japheth hath forsaken me--my son!
O my son Japheth, O my son, my son!

NOAH'S WIFE (_mocking_):
Why dost thou grieve? The Lord hath promised thee,
Thou shalt be saved and all thy family.

NOAH (_turning_):
Yea, it is well, and God doth not deceive.
He will return again, I do believe.

HAM (_returns_):
The animals are in the ark,
Save those which Shem now bringeth. Hark!
Hear ye the roaring and the bark?

(_Loud roarings heard outside._)

(_Enter_ SHEM _with procession of animals._ HAM _aids him drive the animals. First of all enters a solitary_ DRAGON.)

NOAH: Where is your mate, good Dragon? Tell me--where?

DRAGON (_with a mournful flap of his claw_):
She is eating up the village over there.
She bade me ask how many there would be
Within the ark?

NOAH: My sons, their wives and me.

DRAGON: I cannot add.

NOAH: In all there will be eight.

DRAGON (_mournfully_):
Alack, alack, good Noah, it is fate.
I fear she would not enter if she knew.
She eats a man a day; ye are too few.

WIVES (_to_ NOAH, _with horror in their faces_): O father!

DRAGON:
Do not fear; too few ye be,
And eke too thin, to suit my wife and me.
(_Crawls out._)

SHEM (_bringing other animals up_):
Sir, here are monkeys, frogs and bears,
Kangaroos, giraffes and hares,
Elephants also in pairs.
(_Goes out._)

(_The_ BEAR _sits down facing audience, and scratches his nose. The_ MONKEY _runs away; he is brought back. The other_ MONKEY _climbs on roof of ark and pulls the ear of_ GIRAFFE _as that beast looks out of window. They drag the_ ELEPHANT _in with great difficulty._ NOAH _counts off the animals as they enter._)

NOAH:
Enter monkeys--frogs--bears--
Kangaroos--giraffes--hares--
Elephants also in pairs--
Stop! Stop! Too many rabbits far there be.

RABBIT (_one of a group of little white rabbits_): O sir, I only
brought my family. (_Weeps._)

NOAH: Where are the lions? (_One_ LION _stalks in;_ WIVES _flee._)
Thou art late; turn ye, O Lion; seek your mate.

(_Whereupon the_ LION _shall turn to audience and roar_ _until his mate shall run to him, and both shall enter the ark together._)

(_If so be that any child shall cry or whimper when he heareth the lion roar, then shall the lion remove his mask and say_, "Good child, be not afraid.")

NOAH:
Now all are in, I plainly see
The ark can nowise fuller be,
Save should my son return to me.

(JAPHETH _enters running._)

JAPHETH (_kneeling_):
Lo, I have sin-ned against thee;
I pray forgiveness heartily,
And do repent me sore.

NOAH (_embracing him_):
Haste ye, haste ye, son-ne dear!
The sky grows dark; the flood is near;
And waters 'gin to roar.

(_The waters begin to rise. This may be shown by a painted curtain, by folds of green tarlatan or in any way the wisdom of the producer may suggest._ NOAH'S WIFE _begins to look uneasy and regards the sky._)

NOAH: Good wife, wilt thou enter now?

NOAH'S WIFE (_hastily_): Yes, good Noah, yes, I trow!

(_She runs up gang-plank._)

NOAH (_to sons_):
Draw the plank; make all fast.
The flood cometh quick at last.

(_They draw up plank; then_ SHEM _points to distance. Two_ TORTOISES _enter, panting. With grins, the sons shove out the plank and_ TORTOISES _enter ark. They close the door and window. Enter a_ WOMAN _of the_ IDOLATERS. _carrying a baby. She enters between the flood-curtain and the ark._)

WOMAN (_cries_):
Good Noah, I repent me of my sin!
O ope the door, good man, and take me in!
O ope the door!

NOAH (_looking out of window_):
Call on your gods to lift you from the wave.
Are your gods helpless that they cannot save?

WOMAN (_holding up baby_): Yet save my child!

NOAH'S WIFE (_at the window_):
Yea, save the child we must;
For God is merciful as well as just.

NOAH:
Cry to the gods of gold to give release.
I am forbid to save you; go in peace.

(_He closes the window; she sinks with her child behind the waves. The water rises; those within the ark chant a psalm._)

NOAH (_chanting_):
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves;

ALL (_chanting_):
Above the noise of many waters,
And mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.

SCENE II

Enter the MESSENGER. (_If the play is given in-doors, this may be omitted._)

MESSENGER:
Although yon sky be peaceful and serene,
I pray you that the son-ne be not seen,
And that instead, ye hear the thunder's roar,
And lightning's flash, as ne'er ye've seen before,
And rains descend as ye shall see no more.

(MESSENGER _goes._)

(NOAH _opens window; there is a loud roaring._)

NOAH:
Peace! (_The noise stills._)
Now forty days are fully gone,
Send a dove I will anon,
To see if aught of tree or stone
Be dry in any place.
And if this fowl come not again,
It is a sign God stops the rain,
And all is dry in hill and plain,
By God, his grace.
Go forth, O Dove, and quickly see
If this flood yet doth cease;
If so, return again to me
With the olive branch of peace.
(_He lets dove loose._)

CRIES WITHIN ARK: The dove! The dove!

JAPHETH (_appearing at window_):
O father, in the east a dove is seen,
And in his bill, an olive branch, right green.

(NOAH _disappears within ark and returns, bearing dove and olive twig._)

NOAH:
O Lord, blessed be thou for aye,
That us hath comforted this day,
And turned toward us thy face.
Yet once again, sweet dove, go forth,
To the east, west, south and north,
And find a resting place.
If thou come not again to me,
Then full plainly can I see
The flood is over by God's piteous grace.
(_He sends dove forth again._)

NOAH'S WIFE (_opening door_):
The dove returns not; it is gone for aye.
Let us go forth out of the ark, I pray.

NOAH:
Ah, Lord, honored must thou be.
All the earth's dry, I can see.

NOAH'S WIFE:
Son-nes, open wide the door;
See the plank be shoved ashore;
Lead the animals before
Right merrily.

FIRST SON'S WIFE (_beckoning others_):
Sisters, come; dance and sing!
The earth is all a-blossoming.

SECOND SON'S WIFE:
Sing and dance with glee and mirth;
For the floods have left the earth.

THIRD SON'S WIFE:
Raise your voices with a shout:

ALL THREE WIVES:
We're out of the ark at last! We're out!

(_The wives dance in a little circle and sing._)

_Song_ (OLD ENGLISH):

[Song:
Sum-mer is i-co-men in, ... loud-ly sing, Cuc-koo!
Grow-eth seed and blow-eth mead, and spring-eth the wide earth new.
Sing, Cuc-koo Ewe bleat-eth af-ter lamb, cow af-ter calf doth moo,
Bird greet-eth, ewe bleat-eth, loud-ly sing, Cuc-koo.
]

NOAH (_scandalized, descends upon them_):
Peace! A psalm of thanks now raise,
Unto God with hymns of praise,
For his mighty and his wondrous ways.

(_All gather about altar of stones._)

Lord God in majesty,
That such grace hath granted me
Alone of mankind saved to be,
Therefore make I offering meet,
A sacrifice of savor sweet;
And let the incense mount unto thy heavenly seat.

(JAPHETH _brings a sacrifice;_ NOAH _lays it on altar. If the play be out of doors, they offer it up by fire. Enter the_ MESSENGER.)

MESSENGER:
Noah, list ye God, his will:
To obey is better still
Than sacrifice; and thou hast God obeyed.
God doth promise now through me,
Never again a flood shall be.
Thou hast done in all things as he said.
My bow between you and me
In the firmament shall be;
By this token you shall see
That man and woman shall nevermore
Be wasted with water as hath been before.

(_Here let a rainbow appear in the sky._)
Now when falleth fast the rain,
I will bring the sun again;
And this bow shall plain be seen
As token that my wrath and spleen
Shall never wakened be.
The bow-string is turned towards you;
And toward me is bent the bow.
That such weather shall be no mo'e,
I promise thee.
God's blessing, Noah, I give thee here
(_Blesses him; all kneel_),
For vengeance shall no more appear.
And now farewell, my darling dear.
(MESSENGER _goes._)

_Song_: Music; "GAUDEAMUS"

[Song:
Lord God, in ma-jes-ty,
Prais-es we will raise to thee.
Thou hast sav-ed man and beast,
From the great-est to the least.
Let thy bow for-ev-er be ...
Sign of love 'tween us and thee!
Lord God, in ma-jes-ty,
Prais-es we will raise to thee.
]

(NOAH, _his_ WIFE, _his_ SONS _and_ SONS' WIVES _move slowly off. The_ ANIMALS _form a circle and dance._)

THE PROVING OF ABRAHAM

THE PEOPLE

PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE.
ABRAHAM.
ISAAC, HIS SON.
THE MESSENGER OR ANGEL OF GOD.
ONE OR TWO SERVANTS.

THE PLACE

SCENE I _is outside the tent of Abraham._
SCENE II _is Mount Moriah._

The Prologue takes the place of scenery or program.

THE PROPERTIES

A chair or bench.
A bundle of wood.
A knife.

THE PROVING OF ABRAHAM

(_The_ PROLOGUE, _or the_ SERVANT _of_ ABRAHAM (_acting as_ PROLOGUE), _enters and bows low; then, drawing himself erect, points to imaginary scenery._)