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David knew full well that Saul would leave nothing untried to take his life. Jonathan resolved to ascertain his father's designs. On the morrow, the first day of the New-moon, it was customary for the king to feast with his court. David was expected to take part in the banquet, as usual, but he determined to remain away, on the plea that he had gone to Bethlehem, to be present at the yearly sacrifice of his family. Should this reason satisfy Saul, it would be considered a favourable sign for David; but should it kindle his anger, then he would know that his life was in danger. Jonathan agreed to this plan, and bade David hide himself in the fields by the stone Ezel. Thither he would return to him after the feast, and there he would let him know by a prearranged sign whether he might approach Saul or ought to flee. In this time of harassing anxiety and affliction, the two friends renewed their vows of attachment. Jonathan, well divining the future greatness of David and the decline of his own family, fervently said: "The Lord be with thee as He has been with my father; but do not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when the Lord has cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.' So then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies. . . . And as regards the matter of which thou and I have spoken, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.'

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At the banquet, at which, besides Jonathan, also Abner, the captain of the host, and other men of distinction were present, David's place was unoccupied. The king thought he might have been prevented by some chance or unavoidable accident. But when the seat was empty on the following day likewise, he asked Jonathan, 'Why did the son of Jesse not come to the meal, neither yesterday nor to-day?' Jonathan mentioned the annual sacrifice which was being

solemnised by Jesse's house at Bethlehem. Then Saul's wrath was suddenly roused; he burst into uncontrollable rage, both at the innocent Jonathan and at his friend. He commanded his son to bring David at once before him, that he might slay him with his own hand. Jonathan calmly replied, "Why shall he be killed? What has he done?' This answer so exasperated the unhappy Saul, that in his madness he cast his javelin at his son. Jonathan rose from the table in sorrow and shame. Unconcerned about the great danger to which he himself was exposed, he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.' On the following morning he went out into the field where he knew David was hidden, and was followed by a servant who carried his arrows, ostensibly with the purpose of shooting at the target. Advancing to the stone of Ezel, where David lay concealed, he bade the boy stand and observe on which side of the stone the shafts would fall, as he shot them. As the missile sprang from the bow, Jonathan exclaimed, 'Is not the arrow beyond thee?' To the ears of David, these words, according to his agreement with Jonathan, conveyed this meaning- Saul will slay thee.' boy picked up the arrow for his master, and was then sent back to the city. When he was out of sight, David issued from his hiding-place, and the two friends met -the king's son and the king's successor. Did they feel that this was almost their last meeting? For a long time they remained silent; they wept bitterly in each other's arms; they were unable to restrain their grief, but it was too heavy for words. At length Jonathan spoke. Go in peace,' said he, and it remains as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever!' So they parted-David to flee and to wander homelessly, Jonathan to return to the royal town

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and to his father's palace, feeling as though it were he who was going into banishment.

From this moment until the death of Saul, David's life becomes one unbroken chain of remarkable adventures. It is the very type of the romantic chronicles of all later heroes of chivalry, which are often recalled to us by David's hairbreadth escapes, by his daring, his courage, his generous treatment of Saul, his subtle ingenuity and ready invention. Marvellous was the charm he exercised over those around him, the charm acquired by superiority of mind, strength of will, and soaring ambition. From his earliest days, he called forth the admiration and unwavering submission of many who looked upon him as their natural counsellor, guide, and protector.

He seems at first to have intended seeking shelter in his father's house; for we hear of him in Nob, which lies about half-way between Gibeah and Bethlehem. Nob was at that time a holy place, distinguished by the common Sanctuary and a numerous priesthood. Weak, and almost fainting from his long flight, David appeared before the priest Ahimelech, who knew him well as the captain, friend, and son-in-law of Saul, and who had often ere now consulted for him the Divine oracle. To account for his coming without troops, body-guard, or attendant, David feigned to be on a private mission for the king. He asked Ahimelech for some bread. The priest had nothing but the cakes that had been removed from the Shew-bread table in the Tabernacle; he hesitated to profane them by giving them to a non-Levite. But David overruled his scruples. He then asked for a sword; and as there was none in the place except that which he had himself taken from the giant Goliath, and which had been preserved ever since in the Sanctuary, David, exclaiming, There is none like it,' at once took possession

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of it, and hastily departed. But all that he had done in Nob had been carefully observed and noticed by the vigilant and suspicious eyes of Doeg the Edomite, whose treachery was soon to be revealed.

David must indeed have been in great perplexity; for he saw no alternative but to flee to Gath, a chief town of his bitterest enemies, the Philistines, with the very sword of their slaughtered champion at his side. He hoped that he would not be recognised, and that he might be permitted to stay in the town as a helpless stranger. But his hope proved false; the servants of Achish, the king of Gath, said to their master, Is not this David, the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands?' When David heard this, he was justly afraid. To save himself, he pretended madness, well knowing that the insane were held inviolable, as smitten but protected by the Deity. Thus he was allowed to leave the town in peace.

He then escaped eastward, and sought refuge in one of the caves near Adullam, in the plain of Judah, between Bethlehem and Hebron. It was a secure retreat, where his brothers and all his father's house came to see him. His solitary abode was soon known, and he was joined by many that were in distress, or in debt, or had any other cause of discontent: they flocked to him, because they trusted to his valour and wisdom to save them from their troubles, or at least to shield them against persecution. Thus four hundred men were gathered round him, over whom he had supreme command, like a great outlaw captain. He then proceeded to Mizpeh, in the land of Moab, and entreated the king to afford shelter to his father and mother, as long as his own fate was so uncertain and full of danger. The heathen monarch consented. Then David, advised by the prophet Gad, who was faith

fully attached to him, went with his followers to encamp in the forest of Hareth in Judah.

Saul meanwhile was anxiously waiting for news about David, of whose movements he was entirely ignorant. One day he was sitting, spear in hand, beneath a tamarisk-tree at Gibeah, surrounded by his ministers and councillors. He addressed them irritably and angrily: he was a stranger, he said, among his own family and his own people; his son had made a covenant with his chief enemy; and his subjects were awaiting the elevation to the throne of that foe, because they expected that he would give to all of them fields and vineyards and high military posts; no one had ever taken to heart the king's vexation, or given him the least tidings of David. Then Doeg the Edomite stepped forward, and related all he had seen of David in Nob, and told him of Ahimelech the priest's readiness in giving him bread and Goliath's sword. Saul's rage was kindled by this account; he sent at once for Ahimelech and all the priests of Nob. They came at his bidding, and were fiercely upbraided for their treacherous and disloyal conduct in favouring David's flight. Ahimelech replied calmly and truthfully, 'Who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and goes out at thy bidding, and is honoured in thy house? Was it then the first time that I enquired of God for him? Be it far from me, let not the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father, for thy servant knew nothing of all this, neither little or much.' But Saul in his passion ordered the instant death of the priests. No Hebrew could be found to commit so impious a crime. Doeg the Edomite alone consented to execute the horrible command. Ahimelech and all his guiltless priests, eightyfive in number, were slain on that day; the city of Nob was taken, and all living beings found therein were mas

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