Description
URL: https://www.themorgan.org/collection/crusader-bible/69
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Spoils of War, Saul Decapitated, Trophies, A Grisly Parade
Old Testament Miniatures with Latin, Persian, and Judeo-Persian inscriptions
Purchased by J.P. Morgan (1867–1943) in 1916
Folio 35r (Latin)
Upper left:How the victorious Philistines strip the bodies of Saul and his sons. (I Samuel 31: 8)
Upper right:How the Philistines cut off Saul’s head. (I Samuel 31: 9)
Lower left:How the Philistines put Saul’s arms in the temple of Ashtaroth, their god. (I Samuel 31: 10)
Lower right:How Saul’s head is sent into the land of the Philistines round about. (I Samuel 31:9)
Folio 35r (Persian)
Upper left margin:When King Saul was slain, they stripped him.
Upper right margin:And they cut off King Saul’s head.
Lower left margin:The idolaters brought King Saul’s garment to the temple of idols and laid it before the idol.
Lower right margin:The idolaters placed King Saul’s head atop a spear and paraded it all over the kingdom.
Folio 35r (Judeo-Persian)
Spoils of WarFollowing the battle, the Philistines find Saul's body on Mount Gilboa and strip it of the armor. (1 Kings 31:8)
Saul DecapitatedHaving collected the king's armor, the Philistines decapitate his corpse. (1 Kings 31:9)
TrophiesThe Philistines place Saul's armor—including his shield, sword, and crowned helmet—on the altar of their god, Ashtoreth. (1 Kings 31:10)
A Grisly ParadeThe king's head, shown crowned, is shamefully affixed to a pike and paraded throughout the Philistine lands. (1 Kings 31:9–10)