Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Historien Bibel
Germany, between 1375 and 1400
MS M.268 fol. 18r

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Upper half: Scene, Battle -- At left, two confronted armies astride horses, armed with lances and shields, and swords; soldiers on right bleeding from wounds. Possibly, Abner and Joab: at Pool of Gibeon. Saul: Body despoiled -- At right, three Philistines, as soldiers, carry with raised arms basins, each containing head, Saul, crowned, and his sons. The soldiers approach column surmounded by idol as horned animal. From chapter 31 of I Samuel (Vulg., I Kings). Lower half: David: Scene, Unidentified -- At left, foremost of five men, gesturing and looking toward man wearing hood, gesturing. David: Punishment of Amalekite -- Man standing behind David, crowned, holding scepter with left hand, indicating with right hand, Amalekite, bleeding from neck, with joined hands, crouching on ground below executioner, wearing hood, raising sword with both hands. David: weeping for Saul -- At right, David, crowned, rending garment with both hands, standing before man wearing hat, gesturing with both hands. Both scenes from chapter 1 of II Samuel (Vulg., II Kings).