Parents through the ages have read the Bible with their children, but much of its power and beauty is lost on contemporary readers, who find the old language obscure. Now by bringing us this great literature in clear modern English, The Story of King Saul and King David makes it possible for families to understand and appreciate it together.

The biblical stories in this volume are tales of particular drama and pathos, as the text reveals the greatness and human weakness of these flesh-and-blood heroes who assume the stewardship of ancient Israel. The personalities of Saul, the first king of Israel, and his young protégé, David, continue to fascinate modern readers of all ages.

Following the approach she used in The Book of Adam to Moses, a translation of the biblical stories of Genesis and Exodus, Lore Segal refuses to invent or simplify for a young audience. She has followed the narrative threads in a translation that is both graceful and precise, keeping the grandeur and wit of language, the music and mystery of these ancient texts. The Story of King Saul and King David is illustrated with 40 black-and-white reproductions from the Pamplona Bibles, two thirteenth-century illuminated manuscripts.