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sacred-both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses, and sheep.' One man alone escapedAbiathar, the son of Ahimelech; he fled to David with the Ephod which he had saved from the general destruction. He was cordially received, and remained with the fugitive, sharing his perils and his wanderings, and making known to him the Divine oracles.

Moved by patriotism and full of generous courage, David next undertook an expedition against the Philistines, who were pilfering the granaries of Keilah, a city in Judah. He inspired his comparatively small band of followers, at first timid and reluctant, with his own martial ardour, attacked the Philistines vigorously, and drove them back with great slaughter. After having thus rescued Keilah by a daring exploit, his own life was in danger from its ungrateful inhabitants. When Saul heard what David had done, and that he was within a town with gates and walls, he considered it a good opportunity for enclosing and seizing him, and resolved to march out against Keilah. But David, distrustful of the people, who would surely have delivered him up to the king, and warned by a Divine oracle, hastily departed, and fled with his 600 followers to the desert land south of Hebron, where the wilderness of Ziph and that of Maon afforded welcome retreats and hiding-places. When Saul heard that David had left Keilah, he desisted from the intended expedition.

It was in the wilderness of Ziph that Jonathan had one last stealthy interview with David. He came full of affection and solicitude, and strengthened David's courage with God.' He felt how much his friend, surrounded as he was by difficulties and privations, needed encouragement, in order to remain steadfast and trustful, and not to despair of a better future. Fear not,' he said, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee,

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and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I will be next to thee, and that also Saul my father knows.' In that lonely wilderness of Ziph, the outlaw and the king's son confirmed their old vows, and there they parted for

ever.

While dwelling in the desert of Ziph, David nearly fell into the grasp of Saul; for some persons living in the neighbouring districts, went up to Gibeah, and betrayed his retreat to the king. When David heard of Saul's approach, he left Ziph, and sought safety in the more distant wilderness of Maon. Saul pursued and discovered him, and would surely have enclosed him and all his men, had not the sudden alarm of a Philistine invasion compelled him to a hasty return, in order to meet the enemy. But David proceeded to Engedi, eastward of Hebron, where he could hope to find a secure stronghold in the rocky cliffs on the shore of the Dead Sea. When Saul had returned from chastising the Philistines, he resumed his pursuit of David with fresh ardour. He took with him three thousand men, and with this host he scoured the mountains, searching for David from rock to rock, and from cave to cave.

Once in this desperate chase, Saul fell into the hands of David. The wearied king had entered a cave to take some rest; and David, surrounded by his band, lay concealed in that very den. He held Saul now wholly in his power, and his followers urged him to believe that this chance was providentially sent to rid him of his foe, and to ensure his safety for ever. But David shrank from the suggestion, and softly approaching Saul, he cut off the skirt of his robe. But he instantly repented even of this act, which might be construed into a want of the respect which he owed to the anointed of the Lord. He waited quietly until Saul had left the cave; then following him and remaining at some distance, he bowed his

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face to the ground, and made himself known. It was a touching scene between the unhappy king and the object of his jealous hatred-David gentle and humble, Saul sorrow-laden and contrite, and now aware how far above him stood the son of Jesse. Thou art more righteous than I,' he said, for thou hast requited me good, whereas I have requited thee evil.' They parted in friendship, Saul returning to his residence in Gibeah, and David to his followers in the dreary clefts.

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About this time Samuel died at Ramah, his birthplace, where he had long lived in retirement, in the midst of those prophets whom he trained, and through whom he exercised so powerful an influence over the future of his people. Yet though apparently passing his closing years in isolation, not showing himself in public, nor openly pronouncing either in favour of Saul or of David, he had still remained the guiding spirit of his time. He was deeply and sincerely lamented throughout the land. His remains were interred at Ramah, where the people assembled from far and near to pay the last honours to their great leader.

85. DAVID AND NABAL.

[1 SAM. XXV.]

David had meanwhile repaired to the wilderness of Paran, at the extreme south-eastern frontier of Palestine; but he soon returned to the desert of Maon. Here occurred an incident, which strikingly illustrates the life of the outlawed fugitive. There lived in Carmel, not far from the district in which he was then staying, a very wealthy man of the name of Nabal, whose 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, as they grazed upon the surrounding pastures, had been protected against all attacks by David and his men.

Nabal was a churlish and evil-disposed miser, foolish and hard-hearted; while his wife Abigail was as beautiful as she was charitable and intelligent. It was the time of the sheep-shearing, a season of great feasting and merrymaking in the household of Nabal. So David sent ten

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of his followers to Carmel, to ask for some present of provisions, in return for the service he had invariably rendered to Nabal's shepherds. But the harsh and graceless Nabal rudely and insultingly refused the request. is David,' he exclaimed, 'who is the son of Jesse? are many servants nowadays that break away every one from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men whom I know not whence they come?' When David received the report of this taunting and ungrateful speech, his anger was roused to an unusual height. For had he not shielded Nabal's flocks from the raids of marauders, and had he not been to his men a wall by night and by day? So may the Lord,' he exclaimed, 'do to my enemies now and furthermore, if I leave of all that belongs to him, by the morning light, even a dog.' He commanded four hundred of his followers at once to take arms, and to prepare for marching out. But one of Nabal's servants, probably knowing as an eye-witness the daring of this little band, warned his mistress Abigail of the danger which threatened the whole household through her husband's harshness and folly. Meanwhile David set out for the habitation of Nabal. As he was approaching the covert of the hill overhanging Carmel, he met a train of laden asses winding slowly towards him. They carried large quantities of bread and meat and wine, dried corn, clusters of raisins, and cakes of figs. Last of all came Abigail, the beautiful wife of Nabal. As soon as she perceived David, she alighted, and bowed herself humbly

before him. So adroit were her words, so full of keen judgment and good sense, so ready and free was her generosity, so meek her petition, that she completely disarmed David's rage, and turned it to repentance of his sanguinary purpose. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,' he said, when she had finished, 'who sent thee this day to meet me, and blessed be thy wisdom, and blessed be thou, who hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with my own hand.' He accepted her presents, and dismissed her thankfully. On the following morning, after a night spent by Nabal in feasting and drunkenness, Abigail told him of her meeting with David, and how she had barely averted the extermination of his entire household. Struck with fear and awe, Nabal never recovered from his consternation: ten days later he died. Not long afterwards, David asked Abigail to become his wife; she consented, and joined him in his mountain retreat. He married also Ahinoam, a maiden of Jezreel. But his first wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, was given by her father to Phalti, the son of Laish.

86. CONTINUED PERSECUTION OF DAVID.

[1 SAM. XXVI.]

Once more did Saul come forth from Gibeah, at the head of three thousand chosen warriors, to pursue the exiled David. Men of Ziph had disclosed to the king that David was concealed among the hills of Hachilah, in the east of the wilderness, and Saul followed closely upon his track. It was night, and the king's host had encamped in the valley below Hachilah, when David, who had carefully watched their movements, issued from his hiding-place. Saul lay asleep in the trench, his spear

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