so, on the morning of the seventh day, he proceeded to offer the sacrifice himself.

What occurred.

In the midst of his proceeding, Samuel arrived, rebuked him for his presumption, and told him that God would give the kingdom to one who would more faithfully obey Him.

offence.

His next His Second Offence occurred in the eleventh year of his reign, when God sent him utterly to extirpate the Amalekites and all that they possessed.

How Saul offended.

He went up against the obnoxious people and conquered them; but spared Agag, the king, and the best of the spoil," instead of utterly destroying both, as God had commanded.

His excuse.

His excuse for doing so was that he intended them for sacrifice; but Samuel replied that God preferred obedience to sacrifice; and "went no more to see him." (B.c. 1070.)

after his own heart," to succeed Saul.

David, whose

son he was.

cupation.

He was the youngest son of Jesse, a man of the tribe of Judah, and great grandson of Boaz and Ruth. He was born about two years before Saul went up against the Amalekites. David's oc- His occupation was to tend his father's sheep; but when he was 15 years old, Samuel was sent to anoint him as the future king of Israel. What hap- No sooner was he anointed than the Spirit of God lighted on him, and departed from Saul, who received instead “an evil spirit from the Lord which troubled him."

pened then.

The remedy re- Saul was recommended to

commended.

try the soothing power of music; and

sent for David, who was a sweet singer, and played well upon the harp.

How long he remained at court.

David remained at court till the king grew better, and then returned to Bethlehem, his native village, to resume his pastoral duties.

of importance.

The next event Some four years afterwards, a giant, nine feet high, named Goliath of Gath, led up a vast army of Philistines to dethrone Saul.

decide the combat.

How he offered to Goliath offered to decide the contest by single combat, but no one in Saul's army durst accept the challenge.

Who accepted it.

One morning, as David went to visit his brothers, who were soldiers in the camp, he heard the challenge; and, at his earnest request, was permitted to accept it.

How David went armed.

He armed himself with a sling and five smooth stones; then advancing towards the giant, said: Thou trustest to thy sword and shield, but I to the God of battle. Come on!

A.C. 1058.]

How Goliath

:eceived him.

Goliath laughed at his young antagonist; but David slung a stone, struck the giant on the forehead, and stunned him that he fell. (B.c. 1058.)

What next occurred.

The Philistines fled when they saw their champion fall; and David running up, seized the giant's sword, and cut off his head.

What became

of David.

He was so greatly lauded for

this brilliant achievement, that Saul grew jealous of him, and thrice attempted to kill him with a javelin; so that David found it needful to make his escape.

Whither

he fled.

He went: (1st.) To Nob, where Abimelech, the high-priest, gave him Goliath's sword, and fed him with shewbread;

(2.) Then to Gath, where he feigned himself mad, to escape the vengeance of the people ;*

The Philistines, like many Eastern nations, considered madmen and idiots under the influence and immediate protection of God.

[A.M. 2947.

(3.) From Gath he fled to the cave of Adullam, where he was joined by 400 companions, amongst whom was Abi'athar, the high-priest; and

(4.) Lastly, he took refuge in the fastnesses of Judæa.

What Saul

did.

Saul pursued the fugitive, resolved to take away his life; but stopped on his route:

First-To execute Abimelech, and all the priests who had befriended David;

Next To destroy the city of Nob, which had afforded him succour;

And thirdly-To put down the Philistines, who had again risen in arms. After these delays, he continued his search after the fugitive.

Where Saul

met David.

They first met in the wilderness of Engedi; for it so happened that David lay concealed in the very cave into which Saul entered to refresh himself with sleep.