those who were plotting mischief against David. He and his men took courage, and commenced an immediate pursuit after the Amalekites. Arriving at the brook Besor, which falls into the Mediterranean sea near Gaza, two hundred of the band were so much exhausted by fatigue that it was deemed best for them to remain there, and protect what was left behind and placed under their care.

David and the remaining four hundred had not advanced far on their way when they overtook a poor famished Egyptian, who had not taken any sustenance for three days and nights. They kindly furnished him with food and water-a simple repast, but a very refreshing one-some bread, a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins. Being revived, David inquired of him to whom he belonged, and whence he came. He said that he was a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and that having fallen sick three days before, he was abandoned of his master; adding that the party with which he had been connected had just been making an invasion upon the country of the Philistines, and upon a portion of the territory of Judah, and upon the south of the lands belonging to the descendants of Caleb, and that they had destroyed Ziklag with fire.

This was important information for David. He had now the means probably of ascertaining the course which the Amalekites had taken, and of overtaking them, and inquired of the young man

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whether he could prove a sure guide in the pursuit.

"Swear unto me by God," he replied, "that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company."

It would seem that David made this solemn promise, although it is not mentioned in the sacred narrative; for the next thing we read of is, that under the guidance of the Egyptian, he and his men overtook the Amalekites, probably in a short space of time. They were indulging in the most joyous festivity; spread out in different groups, some seated on the ground eating and drinking, others dancing; and all exulting over the abundance of the spoil which they had taken. Their number much exceeded that of David and his band; but the latter coming upon them by surprise in their fancied security, and making the attack with great vigor and confidence of success, "smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled."

The two wives of David, with the wives and children of his men, and all the spoil which had been taken from Ziklag, were recovered. In addition to this, there were taken all the flocks and herds the Amalekites had driven off from the other countries that they pillaged; and these were assigned to David as his part of the booty.

The victors as they approached the brook Besor, were met and congratulated on their return by the two hundred men whom they had left there. David saluted them kindly, but some evil-disposed persons who were with him declared that those who had taken no part in the expedition should have none of the spoil which had been recovered, and that they must be satisfied with receiving back again only their wives and children. David, however, interposed his authority to have justice done. "Ye shall not do so, my brethren," said he, "with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike."

And we are told that from that day forward, David made this equitable rule of distribution a statute for Israel.

The spoil taken from the Amalekites was immense. This appears from the fact that David, on his safe return to Ziklag, sent portions of it as presents to his friends in the various regions where he and his followers had made their haunts. He had received from these individuals protection and other acts of kindness in his seasons of extremity, and he would now have them partake of the fruits of his late victory, as memorials of his gratitude.

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We learn from the list of places in the sacred narrative to which these presents were sent, that David had sojourned among those of whom no mention had previously been made. He was thus, in the providence of God, while wandering from one spot to another to elude the vengeance of Saul, constantly increasing the number of his friends among his countrymen, and preparing the way for their welcoming him at length to the throne with a loyal and devoted affection.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SAUL AND HIS ARMY ARE DEFEATED. HE KILLS HIMSELF. THE MEN OF JABESH-GILEAD REMOVE THE BODIES OF SAUL AND HIS SONS FROM BETH. SHAN, AND BURY THE BONES AT JABESH.

THERE is reason to believe that it was during the night of the eighth day from David's departure from the army of the Philistines at Aphek, that Saul went to Endor. This furnishes the proper length of time to have intervened between that movement of David and his return to Ziklag after the victory over the Amalekites.

Saul, on reaching the camp, must have watched the approach of the morning light with the most fearful forebodings. Exhausted with fatigue and the loss of sleep, overwhelmed with anxiety, and anticipating the speedy and terrible fulfilment of the prophet's denunciation, he was poorly prepared for the attack which the Philistines were now meditating upon him. As the day dawned, their troops began to be in motion, and were soon prepared for the onset. The Israelites too were marshalled to receive them. The conflict began. It was a severe one. Feats of personal bravery were conspicuous on both sides. But the tide of victory soon turned in favor of the Philistines. Saul and his army fled. They were pursued by the enemy, and vast numbers of them slain; and