David, a modest shepherd lad, is placed under the tutelage of Jehovah only to become the cruelest robber of his time. On one occasion, purely for plunder, he despoiled three nations and "saved neither man nor woman alive to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us" (1 Sam. xxvii, 8-12). It is said that the Italian bandit never plans a robbery without invoking a divine blessing upon his undertaking, doubtless believing that the God of David, of Moses, and of Joshua still reigns. Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel, were both thieves. Leah appropriated the property of her son; Rachel stole her father's jewels. Neither act was condemned. "When thou comest into thy neighbor's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure, but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel. "When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbor, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor's standing corn" (Deut. xxiii, 24, 25). "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry" (Prov. vi, 30). Grand larceny is condemned, but petty larceny is commended. Christ enjoined submission to robbery: "Of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again" (Luke vi, 30). CHAPTER XXVII. MURDER--WAR. Murder. I refuse to accept the Bible as a moral guide because it sanctions murder. It is true the Sixth Commandment says, "Thou shalt not kill;" but this law is practically annulled by innumerable commands from the same source, like the following, to kill: "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor" (Ex. xxxii, 27). "Spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling" (1 Sam. xv, 3). "Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children" (Ezek. ix, 6) "Cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood" (Jer. xlviii, 10). For the leader and legislator of his chosen people, God selects a murderer. The first recorded act of Moses was premeditated murder. "He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand" (Ex. ii 12). For committing a murder, Phinehas is rewarded by Jehovah with "the covenant of an everlasting priesthood" (Num. xxv, 6-13). Samuel "hewed Agag," a captive king, "in pieces before the Lord" (1 Sam. xv, 32, 33). Jehu murders all the house of Ahab, and God rewards him for it: "And Joram turned his hands and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart and he sunk down in his chariot.