"Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him." 2 Samuel 18:14-15 ASV
<p>Illustration of Absalom hanging by his hair from an oak tree. His horse is rearing on its hind legs, preparing to run away. Joab, the general, holds two spears in one hand and prepares to stab Absalom with the third. Other members of Joab's troops have their swords raised, poised to strike.

Absalom is Killed by Joab While Hanging in a Tree

"Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them…

"Assassination of the Duc de Guise. From the painting by Paul Delaroche." -Rees, 1894

Assassination of the Duc de Guise

"Assassination of the Duc de Guise. From the painting by Paul Delaroche." -Rees, 1894

An illustration of men pillaging a city.

Battle Scene

An illustration of men pillaging a city.

The Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170.

The Murder of Thomas Becket

The Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170.

"And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." Genesis 4:3-5 ASV
<p>Illustration of Cain and Abel making offerings to God. Abel is kneeling before an altar as a member of his flock burns. Cain is walking toward Abel, as his offering of fruit sits on an altar behind him. He is carrying a wooden club.

Cain and Abel Make Offerings to the Lord

"And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto…

"...And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." Genesis 4:8 ASV
<p>Abel lies dead on the ground, his left arm propped behind his head and his staff discarded next to him. Cain is slinking away, hiding his face. God appears in the smoke from the sacrifices burning on a nearby altar. A tree stands just behind the altar and a small bird watches from the bottom left corner of the image. Sheep gather in the background.

Cain and Abel- Cain Runs Away as Abel Lies Dead on the Ground

"...And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and…

Martyrdom of St. Thomas at Canterbury Cathedral.

Martyrdom of St. Thomas

Martyrdom of St. Thomas at Canterbury Cathedral.

"...behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." Matthew 2:13-15
<p>Illustration of Joseph leading a donkey that is carrying Mary as she holds baby Jesus in her arms. They are travelling on a road made of stone and Joseph is carrying a staff. The donkey is laden with a basket and small container. The city of Bethlehem is in the background. An angel came to Joseph while he was sleeping and told him to flee from Herod who had ordered all of the infants in the area be killed.

Joseph Leads Mary and Jesus on the Road to Egypt as They Flee from King Herod

"...behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young…

The treacherous guests. "In the month of June, 1818, a pedler and his wife presented themselves at nightfall at the door of little farmhouse near the village of Brie, in france, and requested of the farmer permission to sleep there." While staying there the husband murdered a child.

The Treacherous Guest

The treacherous guests. "In the month of June, 1818, a pedler and his wife presented themselves at nightfall…

Moses Adams, High Sheriff of the County of Hancock. "On the twelfth of May, eighteen hundred and fifteen, Mrs. Mary Adams, wife of High Sheriff Moses Adams, was found to have been barbarously murdered in her own house, in Ellsworth, Maine."

Sheriff of Hancock

Moses Adams, High Sheriff of the County of Hancock. "On the twelfth of May, eighteen hundred and fifteen,…

The Indians and the Highlander. Caption below illustration: "The Scotchman requested that the broad sword should be given to the most alert and most vigorous person in the assembly; and laying bare his neck after he had rubbed it over with magic signs , and muttered a few inarticulate words, he called out, with a loud voice and cheerful air."

Indians and the Highlander

The Indians and the Highlander. Caption below illustration: "The Scotchman requested that the broad…

Judith, having just beheaded Holofernes, places his head in a bag with the help of her servant. She is holding a curved sword, or scimitar and is wrapped in robes that cover her head. Her servant is also clothed in voluminous robes. A shield and scabbard hang from the bedpost. Holofernes' body lies partially on the bed (left). Heavy curtains hang from the bed frame. A doorway in the background opens on to the city.

Judith Places the Head of Holofernes in a Bag

Judith, having just beheaded Holofernes, places his head in a bag with the help of her servant. She…

Macduff's wife and children slain.

Macduff's Wife and Children Slain

Macduff's wife and children slain.

"Who brandishing aloft the ax of doom, That just has laid one victim at her feet, Looks round her for that other, without whom, The banquet of revenge were incomplete." &mdash; The Delphian Society, 1913

Man with ax

"Who brandishing aloft the ax of doom, That just has laid one victim at her feet, Looks round her for…

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men." Matthew 2:16 ASV
<p>Illustration of Herod's soldiers murdering baby boys as their mothers weep. One soldier wrenches a boy away from his mother as a young girl tries to stop him. Mothers cry over and hold their murdered babies. The city walls and stairways are visible in the background.

The Slaughter of the Innocents - Herod Has All of the Baby Boys Killed

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and…

Scene where Pedro Menendez de Aviles, an explorer and founder of St. Augustine, murdered the Huguenots who had settles in Florida.

Scene of the Murder of the Huguenots by Menendez

Scene where Pedro Menendez de Aviles, an explorer and founder of St. Augustine, murdered the Huguenots…

This illustration shows the murder of Miss M'Crea by two Native Americans.

Miss M'Crea

This illustration shows the murder of Miss M'Crea by two Native Americans.

Severe justice of Jehangire, emperor of the Moguls. Caption below illustration: "The Emperor commanded him to be bound. The parents were mounted on the elephant, and he ordered the driver to tread the unfortunate young man to death."

Emperor of the Moguls

Severe justice of Jehangire, emperor of the Moguls. Caption below illustration: "The Emperor commanded…

A drawing portraying the murder and mutilation of the natives of Cuba by the Spaniards.

Murder and Mutilation of the Natives of Cuba by the Spaniards

A drawing portraying the murder and mutilation of the natives of Cuba by the Spaniards.

"And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the spear into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night." I Samuel 19:9-10 ASV
<p>Illustration of Saul, javelin raised and pointed at David, in a rage as David plays his harp. David's left hand is raised to shield himself. An adviser sits to the right of Saul. A young boy, perhaps Jonathan, stands against a column to Saul's left. A dog stands at the boy's feet. The room has arched windows that open up on to the town.

Saul Tries to Kill David with His Javelin

"And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and…

"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:59-60 ASV
<p>Illustration of Stephen kneeling in prayer, looking up to heaven. Several men raise stones in the air, preparing to stone Stephen. The Jewish councilors can be seen in the crowd. Women hide their eyes in the background (right). The town walls can be seen on the left.

The Stoning of Stephen, the First Martyr

"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he…