Shorter Bible Plays

In Short

Rita Benton presents a collection of brief, actable stage plays that translate classic Old and New Testament narratives into accessible performance pieces for children and youth. Spanning foundational stories from the Genesis deluge to the nativity, the text provides structured scripts, practical stage directions, and simple costuming notes tailored for Sunday schools and community groups. By paring ancient tales down to their essential dramatic lines and ethical core, the work preserves early twentieth-century religious education practices while offering young actors direct, participatory encounters with scriptural traditions, communal worship, and historical storytelling.

The Story

The volume moves sequentially through pivotal dramatic episodes of biblical literature, opening with early Genesis and advancing through the Gospels. The collection begins with "Noah's Flood," where Noah and his sons labor on the ark while local children and townspeople mock their efforts. As rain clouds gather, Japheth strays with local idolaters, leaving Noah to mourn his son's absence while guiding a procession of animals—including a solitary dragon missing its mate—into the vessel. After the torrential rains subside, the family emerges to celebrate the earth's renewal with song, receiving God's covenant of the rainbow. "The Proving of Abraham" focuses sharply on the ultimate test of faith, depicting Abraham's agony as he prepares to obey the divine command on the mountain, only for a messenger to stay his hand at the final moment and reveal a ram caught in the thicket.

The narrative arc shifts to Egypt in "Moses in the Bulrushes," detailing a mother and sister hiding an infant in the Nile's cat-tails to escape Pharaoh's decree against Hebrew male children. Pharaoh's daughter discovers the basket, claims the child as her adopted son, and unknowingly hires his birth mother to nurse him. This leads directly into "Up, Up From Egypt to the Promised Land," which dramatizes the aftermath of the plagues, Pharaoh's grief over his dead son, and the dramatic flight of Israel. As the sea parts for the refugees, Pharaoh's pursuing army is swallowed by the returning waters, prompting Miriam's triumph with cymbals while Pharaoh vows further vengeance.

Transitioning to the era of judges and kings, "The Call of Samuel" highlights the sanctuary at Shiloh. The aged priest Eli laments his corrupt, drunken sons, HOPHNI and Phinehas, while taking in the young boy Samuel. Late at night, the divine voice calls Samuel three times; once instructed by Eli, the child receives a grave message foretelling the downfall of Eli's house. In "David and Goliath," the narrative follows David from his humble sheepfolds—where his elder brothers dismiss his capabilities—to the battle lines. Armed only with five smooth stones and his faith, the youth slays the giant champion, prompting King Saul's foreboding realization that the shepherd boy is destined to wear the crown.

"The Judgment of Solomon" offers two variations of the famous trial. A corrupt judge fails to solve the dispute between two mothers over a living infant, but King Solomon, after praying for wisdom, orders the child cut in two. The true mother's frantic plea to save the child reveals her identity, earning her the infant and establishing Solomon's legendary reputation. The book concludes with New Testament parables and traditions: "The Good Samaritan" depicts a traveler beaten by thieves on a dangerous road, ignored by a self-absorbed priest and petty Levites, but finally rescued by a compassionate Samaritan. Lastly, "Manger Service" brings the sequence to a close as modern children present simple gifts alongside ancient shepherds and wise men at the nativity.

How It Unfolds

The warning and the flood Noah's sons endure the taunts of neighboring children as they construct the ark. When the storm approaches, Japheth departs with local revellers, leaving Noah to herd the pairing animals indoors before the deluge washes over the earth.

The test on the mountain Abraham leads Isaac up the height to fulfill a divine decree, binding his son upon the altar. Just as the blade is raised, a messenger interrupts the sacrifice, substituting a ram trapped in nearby brush.

The child in the reeds A desperate Hebrew mother conceals her baby in a wicker basket along the Nile's edge. Pharaoh's daughter uncovers the child, shielding him from her father's soldiers and naming him Moses.

Flight across the sea Pharaoh yields to the plagues after losing his son, ordering the Hebrews out of Egypt. When his army chases them to the coast, the waters close over the pursuers, leaving the Israelites to celebrate on the far shore.

A voice in the dark The young boy Samuel slumbers in the Shiloh tabernacle near the declining priest Eli. Waking to a repeated call, the child learns of the impending doom facing Eli's unrepentant family.

The shepherd's triumph David arrives at the Israelite camp with supplies, facing mocking disdain from his older brothers. He steps into the valley to face the giant Goliath, striking the warrior down with a single stone.

The sword and the child Two women present a single living baby to Solomon, each claiming motherhood. Solomon orders the infant split with a blade, instantly exposing the true mother when she surrenders the child to save its life.

Mercy on the road Thieves ambush a traveler along the Jericho highway, leaving him wounded in the dirt. After passing leaders refuse to meddle, a passing Samaritan stops to bandage his wounds and arrange for his care.

The People

• Noah seeks to fulfill divine instructions precisely despite public ridicule. He endures the mockery of townspeople and the rebellion of his son Japheth, remaining steadfast through the storm until he can offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving on dry land.
• Eli wants to maintain the sanctity of his priesthood while struggling with his unruly offspring. His inability to discipline his corrupt sons brings him sorrow, forcing him to accept God's heavy judgment delivered through the young child Samuel.
• David desires to serve his family and God, moving from an overlooked shepherd boy to Israel's defender. Undeterred by his brothers' sneers or Goliath's massive frame, his unyielding trust in God leads him to victory and eventual royal stature.
• King Solomon seeks an understanding heart to rule his nation justly rather than long life or personal riches. His trial of the sword reveals his sharp insight, establishing a reign defined by wise judgment.
• The Mother of Moses wants to preserve her child's life against a royal decree of execution. Her courageous strategy by the riverbank saves her infant and places him within the royal household.
• The Good Samaritan seeks to help a suffering human being regardless of social division. While religious officials pass by to avoid inconvenience, he offers his own resources and care to restore the stranger.

In Its Own Voice

"The bow-string is turned towards you; / And toward me is bent the bow. / That such weather shall be no mo'e, / I promise thee." — A messenger of God delivers the covenant of peace to Noah after the floodwaters recede from Mount Ararat.

"He said--he said--the Lord hath said: Behold, I will judge the house of Eli forever, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not." — The child Samuel reluctantly relays his terrifying night vision to the old priest Eli.

"The Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion, And out of the paw of the bear; He will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine." — Young David reassures King Saul before stepping out to face the champion Goliath.

What It's Really About

At its core, the collection explores how divine faith translates into human action and moral responsibility. The plays repeatedly contrast superficial duty or boastful power with quiet, obedience-driven courage. Characters like Noah, Abraham, and young David are not defined by physical dominance or social standing, but by their willingness to trust divine guidance when surrounded by hostility or skepticism.

The text also probes the responsibilities of leadership and parenting. Eli’s tragic failure to restrain his sons stands alongside the tender vigilance of Moses' mother, illustrating how personal character shapes public destiny. Through simple dramatic conflicts, the work argues that true authority rests on justice, mercy, and humility rather than force or title.

Why Read It Today

This text offers a clear window into early twentieth-century religious education and community theater. Instructors, theater historians, and directors of youth pageants will appreciate its straightforward staging instructions, practical prop lists, and adaptability. The scripts avoid elaborate set demands, relying instead on creative staging—such as painted window shades for river reeds or simple wooden frameworks for the ark—that remains accessible for low-budget productions.

Readers should note the period's stylistic conventions, including simplified rhyming verse, archaic phrasing, and abbreviated dramatic arcs designed for quick performance. The staging notes reflect their 1922 publication date, using modest theatrical tricks and direct moral lessons. For contemporary groups seeking straightforward, historic dramatic versions of biblical stories, these scripts provide functional, highly actable frameworks that privilege clear narrative progression over theatrical spectacle.