By virtue of being a king, I am also a judge. A judge is sometimes called to assist another judge in making a difficult decision. Thus, my wife and I arrived in full pomp and circumstances to hear a particularly difficult case which had already dragged on for two years with no satisfactory solution. The defendant delivered a passionate defense of his actions and then even tried to persuade me to share his views. I replied, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Who am I?

I am a wicked man who eventually became king of Israel. I am an army officer who commanded one half of the king’s chariots. While King Elah was “getting drunk in the home of Arza, the man in charge of the palace at Tirzah,” I rebelled against him, killed him, and crowned myself king in his place. To ensure that the former king’s family did not kill me, I killed them—every “single male, whether relative or friend,” thus fulfilling the words of the prophet Jehu. I was quickly besieged by the commander of the army, and my short reign of 7 days ended when I set the palace on fire and was cremated in it. Who am I?

Lt. Glenn P. Palmer is stationed ill Belgium. His address is USDAO Embassy, APO NY, NY 09667