On while David was in the room, Saul threw a javelin at him, but David moved aside, and fled to his house, and to his wife Michal. Saul sent messengers to David's house, to find an opportunity to slay him, and David was found to be sick in bed; and, during the return of the messengers to Saul, Michal let David down through a window, and he fled to Samuel, at Ramah, and told Samuel all that Saul had done unto him; and Samuel and David went and dwelt in Naioth, a city of the prophets. Saul sent messengers three times to Naioth, to slay or take David, but they each time found Samuel, David, and the prophets prophesying, and the Lord was upon the messengers. Saul was then wroth, and he determined to go himself. arriving at Naioth, the spirit of God was also upon Saul. David fled to Ramah, to tell Jonathan, and to know what his son could be before his father that he should seek his life. Jonathan was grieved, and said, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will do. And they renewed their covenant by oath. And Jonathan informed David that Saul intended to slay him at the feast of the new moon, a day when all Saul's family dined with him. Saul sat that day at meat with his family, but David's place was empty; and Saul asked Jonathan why David was not there, and Jonathan informed Saul that he asked leave of him to go to sacrifice at Bethlehem. And Saul's anger was kindled against his son Jonathan. And Jonathan said, What evil hath he done, and wherefore wouldst thou slay him? At these words Saul threw a javelin at him, to kill him, but Jonathan escaped, and fled unto David, and they both went. David then went to the city of Nob, and conversed with Ahimelech, the high priest there, and David obtained from Ahimelech Goliath's sword, which was put there according to a usual triumphal custom, as dedicated to God, similar to our custom of placing our enemies' flags in churches. Saul, hearing of this, commanded his guards to slay Ahimelech, and the eighty-five priests, which was done by Saul's chief herdsman, Doeg, an Edomite, except Abiathar, who escaped; and he afterwards went with a party of soldiers and slew every man, woman, and child, in the city of Nob. David had now fear lest Saul should find him out, and he went into Gath, one of the cities belonging to the Philistines; but David was discovered, and he put on or assumed the character of a madman, so they put him out of the city. He then retired to the cave of Adullam, and his brethren, hearing of this, came down to him, with four hundred men, to assist him; and David became captain over them. And Abiathar came to David, and told him all that Saul had done in Nob. David said, I am sorrowful that I have been the cause of the death of your father Ahimelech, and the priests, therefore stay with me, and fear not; for the Lord has determined to deliver the Philistines into my hand at Kielah. So David went, with about six hundred men, and smote them, and took their cattle. Saul, hearing of this, said, Now he is delivered into mine hands. But David and his men escaped, and abode in the wilderness of Ziph, in the strongholds of Jonathan. And Jonathan consoled him, and said, Fear not, father shall not find thee. my 1056 B. C. 1053 B. C. The Philistines again made war against Israel, which obliged Saul to give up the pursuit of David, and go after the Philistines, whom he routed; when he again turned after David into a stronghold, or cave of Engedi. David and his men were, however, on the outside. Saul lay down to rest. David entered the cave privately, and cut off the skirts of Saul's coat, and took his spear and cruse of water; and when Saul arose, and looked behind him, he saw David, who said, The Lord judge between me and thee, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine anger. Saul now lifted up his voice, and wept, and said, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good for evil. And now I know this day well that thou shalt surely be king of Israel. And David swore unto Saul that he would not cut off his seed and name for ever, and Saul returned to Jerusalem. Samuel died at the age of ninety-two, and was buried at his house at Ramah, and David went to the wilderness of Paran. At this time there was a rich, churlish man, of the name of Nabal, of the race of Caleb, and of the tribe of Judah, who resided in the South of Judah, with his wife Abigail, who was very beautiful, and of good understanding. Nabal was possessed of three thousand sheep and one thousand goats, and refused to sell David and his followers provisions in their distress. David determined to resent this treatment, as being against the custom of Eastern hospitality, and went, with four hundred of his men, resolved to put Nabal and his house to the sword. In the mean time, one of David's servants told Abigail what answer David gave, and all that had passed. Abigail, having more prudence, and having justified David's people, made haste in collecting all kinds of provisions, and carried them on numerous asses, and met David, which appeased his wrath against Nabal. He accepted the presents, and each returned home. Abigail apprised Nabal of the danger which he had brought himself into, and her account had such an effect upon him, that he died in ten days. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent for Abigail, and took her to wife; he also took Ahinoam, the daughter of Aminaz, a native of Jezreel; for it appears that Saul, out of revenge, and hatred of David, had given David's wife to Phalti, of Gallim. It appeared that, at the death of Samuel, Saul put away all those who had familiar spirits, and all called wizards, out of the land. David, having resolved to withdraw from the dominion of Saul, retired to Gath, a city of the Philistines, and desired to be received for a permanency, either into the royal city, or elsewhere in the kingdom of Achish; and the king, knowing his valour, and the animosity between him and Saul, received him, with his six hundred men and their families. The Philistines made war against Saul; and when Saul saw the host, he was afraid. And Saul said, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. His servant said, Behold there is one at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and went to the woman; and the woman said, Who shall I bring up to VOL. II. E thee? And Saul said, Samuel. And she raised Samuel before Saul. 1051 B. C. Thirty-eighth Saul and the dor. SAUL AND THE WITCH ENDOR. Saul bowed himself to the ground. And Samuel said unto Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? Saul said, God is departed from me, and I wanted to know from thee what I must do. And Samuel said, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord thy God, the Lord will deliver thee and thine host into the hands of the Philistines. And Saul fainted, and returned home that night. David proposed to march with the Philistines against Saul; but the princes murmured that an Hebrew should take so prominent a part, and Achish was obliged to dismiss him, but he so approved of his fidelity, that he advised him to rise |