of that nation,) that the Philistines would take David's head, than he their fore-skins. This hope failing, when, as now David's victories begat new fears and jealousies in Saul, he practised with Jonathan, and afterwards with his own hands attempted his life; but his purposes were still frustrated. After all this, he sought to murder him in his own house, but Michol, his wife, delivered him. So David sought Samuel at Ramah, and being pursued by Saul, fled thence into Noab, in Benjamin, to Abimilech, then to Achis the Philistine3, prince of Gath; where, to obscure himself, he was forced to counterfeit both simplicity and distraction. But being ill assured among the Philistines, he covered himself in the cave of Adullam; and after conveying such of his kinsfolks as were not fit to follow him, into Moab, he hid himself in the deserts of Ziph, Maon, and the hills of En-gedi, where he cut off the lap of Saul's garments, and spared his life; as he did a second time in the desert of Ziph', after his passage with Nabal and Abigail. After which, he repaired to Achis of Gath, the second time, and was kindly entertained in regard of the hatred with which his master Saul was known to prosecute him.

Of Achis, David obtained Ziklag in Simeon, pretending to invade Judea; but he bent his forces another way, and struck the Amalekites, with other enemies of Israel, letting none live to complain of him. Achis, supposing that David had drawn blood of his own nation, thought himself assured of him; and therefore, preparing to invade Israel, summoneth David to assist him, who, dissembling his intent, seemeth very willing thereto. But the rest of the Philistine princes knowing his valour, and doubting his disposition, liked not his company, and therefore

2 1 Sam. xix.

9 1 Sam. xxi.

4 1 Sam. xxiv.

5 1 Sam. xxvi.

6 It seemeth that Simeon never obtained Ziklag till this time; for it is said in the first of Sam. xxvii. 6. therefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the king of Judah untó this day.

he withdrew himself to Ziklag. At his return he found the town burnt, his two wives, with the wives and children of his people, taken by the Amalekites; hereupon his fellows mutined; but God gave him comfort, and assurance to recover all again, which he did.

The army of the Philistines commanded by Achis, encountered Saul at Gilboa, in which he and his three sons were slain. The news, with Saul's crown and bracelets, were brought to David, at Ziklag, in his return from being victorious over Amalek, by a man of the same nation, who avowed', (though falsely,) that himself at Saul's request had slain him. David, because he had accused himself, made no scruple to cause him to be slain at the instant; and the sooner, because the probabilities gave strong evidence withal. Otherwise it followeth not, that every man ought to be believed of himself to his own prejudice. For it is held in the law, Confessio reorum non habenda est pro explorato crimine, nisi appro'batio alia instruit religionem cognoscentis: the prisoner's confession must not be taken for an evidence of the crime, unless some other proof inform the conscience of the judge. For a man may confess those things of himself, that the judge, by examination, may know to be impossible. But, because it is otherwise determined in the title, de custodia reorum, 1. si confessus, et in cap. de pœnis 1. qui 'sententiam,' therefore doth the gloss reconcile these two places in this sort. Si quis in judicio sponte de seipso confiteatur, et postea maneat in confessione, id est satis;' if any man in judgment do confess of himself, of his own accord, and after doth persevere in his confession, it is enough. That David greatly bewailed Saul, it is not improbable, for death cutteth asunder all competition; and the lamentable end that befel him, being a king, with whom, in effect, the strength of Israel also fell, 8 In F. de quæst. 1. prim.

7 2 Sam. i.

could not but stir up sorrow and move compassion in the heart of David.

The victory which the Philistines had gotten was so great, that some towns of the Israelites, even beyond the river of Jordan, were abandoned by the inhabitants, and left unto the enemy, who took possession of them without any resistance made. Wherefore it may seem strange, that a nation so warlike and ambitious as were the Philistines, did not follow their fortune with all diligence, and seek to make the conquest entire. Most like, it seems, that the civil war immediately breaking out between David and the house of Saul, wherein Judah was divided from the rest of Israel, gave them hope of an easy victory over both; and thereby caused them to attempt nothing at the present, lest by so doing they should enforce their disagreeing enemies to a necessary reconciliation; but rather to permit that the one part should consume the other, by which means, both the victors, and the vanquished, would become a prey to the violence of such as had beaten them when their forces were united.

SECT. II.

Of the beginning of David's reign, and the war made by Abner for Ishbosheth.

AFTER the death of Saul, Abner, who commanded for Saul in the war, sought to advance Ishbosheth, (or Jebostus, according to Josephus,) though he had no right to the kingdom of Israel; for Mephibosheth the first son of Jonathan lived. Against this Abner, and Ishbosheth, David made a defensive war, till Abner passed Jordan, and entered the border of Judah; at which time he sent Joab, with such forces as he had, to resist Abner; Ishbosheth remaining in Gilead, and David in Hebron. The armies encountered each other near Gibeon, where it seemeth, that Abner made the offer, to try the quarrel by the

hands of a few; like to that combat between the Lacedemonians, and the Argives, remembered by Herodotus, three hundred being chosen of each nation, of which number three persons were only left unslain. The like trial by a far less number was performed by the Horatii and Curiatii for the Romans and Latins. The same challenge Goliath the Philistine made, whom David slew; a custom very ancient. Edward the third offered the like trial in his own person to the French king; and Francis the French king to Charles the emperor. There were twelve chosen of each part, in this war of David with the house of Saul, to wit, so many of Benjamin, and as many of Judah; whose force and valour was so equal, as there survived not any one to challenge the victory. But the quarrel staid not here; for the army of Judah pressed Abner in gross, and brake him. Three hundred and sixty men of Abner's companions were slain, and but twenty of Judah; whereof Asahel the brother of Joab was one; who, when he would needs pursue Abner', and by Abner's persuasions could not be moved to quit him, he was forced to turn upon him, wounding him to death, with the stroke of his spear. For though

Asahel were an excellent footman, and, as it is written in the text, as light as a wild roe, and, as Josephus reporteth, contended not only with men, but with horses, and hoped to have gotten great fame, if he could have mastered Abner, (who, as Asahel persuaded himself, had, by being overthrown and flying away, lost his courage,) yet here it fell out true, that the race is not to the swift".?

That this civil war lasted two years we find it written in the 2 Sam. ii. 10.; though in the beginning of the 3d, it is again made probable, that this contention dured longer; and therefore the matter resteth still in dispute; and some of the Rabbins conceive, that Ishbosheth had then reigned two years,

when this was written, the war as yet continuing a longer time. For Abner held for the party of Ishbosheth after this, and till such time as there grew jealousy between him and Ishbosheth for Saul's concubine; neither did the death of Ishbosheth instantly follow; but how long after the murder of Abner it happened, the same doth not certainly appear.

SECT. III.

Of the death of Abner, slain by Joab; and of Ishbosheth, by Rechab and Baanah.

29

ABNER, reconciled to David, was anon by Joab murdered'; for Joab could not endure a companion in David's favour, and in the commandment of his forces, by which he was grown so powerful, as David forbare to call him to account; for thus much he confesseth of himself: I am this day weak, and ⚫ these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me. "" In this sort David complained after Abner's death, and to make it clear that he hated this fact of Joab, he followed him with this public imprecation: Let ⚫ the blood fall on the head of Joab, and on all his 'father's house; and let them be subject to ulcers, to the leprosy, to lameness, to the sword, and to poverty, &c. For could any thing have withstood the ordinance of God, this murder committed by Joab might greatly have endangered David's estate, Abner being the mouth and trust of all the rest of the tribes, not yet reconciled. This mischance therefore David openly bewailed, so that all Israel perceived him to be innocent of that fact. The place which Abner held, being general of the men of war, was of such importance, that the kings themselves were fain to give them great respect, as hath been already shewed more at large. This office Joab held in the army of Judah, and thought himself worthy to hold the place entire, if once his Lord might ob

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