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3 Then Jonathan and David made a Covenant, becaufe he loved him as his own Soul.

4 And Jonathan stript himself of the Robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his Garments, even to his Sword, and to his Bow, and to his Girdle.

5 And David went out whitherfoever Saul fent him, and behaved himself wifely and Saul fet him over the Men of War, and he was accepted in the fight of all the People, and alfo in the fight of Saul's Servants.

6 And it came to pafs as they came, when David was returned from the Slaughter of the Philiftine, that the WoMEN came out of all Cities of Ifrael SINGING and DANCING, to meet King Saul, with Tabrets, with Joy, and with Inftruments of Mufick.

7 And the Women anfwered one another as they played, and faid, SAUL hath flain his THOUSANDS, and DAVID his TEN THOUSANDS.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the Saying difpleafed him; and he faid, They have afcribed unto David Ten thousands, and to me they have afcribed but Thousands: and what can he have more but the Kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that Day and forward.

10 And it came to pafs on the Morrow, that the evil Spirit from GOD came upon Saul, and he prophefied in the midst of the Houfe: and David played with his Hand, as at other Times and there was a Javelin in Saul's Hand.

11 And Saul caft the Javelin; for he faid, I will smite David even to the Wall with it: and David avoided out of his Prefence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his Captain over a thousand: and he went out and came in before the People.

14 And David behaved himself wifely in all his Ways; and the LORD was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul faw that he behaved himself very wifely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Ifrael and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul faid to David, Behold, my elder Daughter Merab, her will I give thee to Wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's Battles: for Saul faid, Let not

mine Hand be upon him, but let the Hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18 And David faid unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my Life, or my Father's Family in Ifrael, that I fhould be Son-in-law to the King?

19 But it came to pafs, at the Time when Merab Saul's Daughter fhould have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to Wife.

20 And Michal Saul's Daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleafed him.

21 And Saul faid, I will give him her, that she may be a Snare to him, and that the Hand of the Philiftines may be against him. Wherefore Saul faid to David, Thou fhalt this Day be my Son-in-law, in the one of the twain.

22 And Saul commanded his Servants, faying, Commune with David fecretly, and fay, Behold, the King hath Delight in thee, and all his Servants love thee: now therefore be the King's Son-in-law.

23 And Saul's Servants spake thofe Words in the Ears of David and David faid, Seemeth it to you a light Thing to be a King's Son-in-law, feeing that I am a poor Man, and lightly esteemed?

24 And the Servants of Saul told him, faying, On this manner fpake David.

25 And Saul faid, Thus fhall ye fay to David, The King defireth not any Dowry; but an hundred Foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the King's Enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the Hand of the Philiftines.

26 And when his Servants told David thefe Words, it pleafed David well to be the King's Son-in-law and the Days were not expired.

27 Wherefore David arose, and went, he and his Men, and flew of the Philistines two hundred Men; and David brought their Forefkins, and they gave them in full Tale to the King, that he might be the King's Son-in-law and Saul gave him Michal his Daughter to Wife.

28 And Saul faw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's Daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's Enemy continually.

30 Then the Princes of the Philistines went forth and it came to pafs after they went forth, that David behaveh Ccc 2 himfelf

himself more wifely than all the Servants of Saul, fo that his Name was much fet by.

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1 Jonathan difclofeth his Father's Purpose to kill David: 4 He perfuadeth his Father to Reconciliation. 8 By reafon of David's good Succefs in a new IVar, Saul's malicious Rage breaketh out against him. 12 Michal's Stratagem.

Ver. 1

AND⚫ Saul fpake to

Jonathan his Son, and to all his Servants, that they fhould kill David.

2 But Jonathan delighted much in David and Jonathan told David, faying, Saul my Father feeketh to kill thee now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the Morning, and abide in a fecret Place, and hide thyfelf.

3 And I will commune with my Father of thee; and what I fee, that I will tell thee.

4 And Jonathan fpake good of David unto Saul, and faid, Let not the King SIN against his Servant, against David: because he hath not SINNED against thee, and because his Works have been to theeward very good.

5 For he did put his LIFE in his Hand, and flew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great SALVATION for all Ifrael: thou faweft it, and didft rejoice wherefore then wilt thou SIN against INNOCENT BLOOD to flay DAVID Without a Caufe?

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3 For lo, they lie in WAIT for my SOUL; the Mighty are gathered againft me; not for my TRANSGRES

SION, nor for my SIN, O LORD.

4 They run and prepare themfelves without my Fault; awake to help me, and behold.

Thou therefore, O LORD GOD of Hofts, the GoD of Ifrael, awake to vifit all the Heathen be not merciful to any WICKED Tranfgreffors.

6 They return at Evening: they make a Noife like a Dog, and go round about the City.

Mouth: Swords are in their Lips 7 Behold, they belch out with their for who (fay they) doth hear.

8 But thou, O LORD, fhalt laugh at them; thou fhalt have all the Heathen in Derifion.

9 Because of his STRENGTH will I WAIT upon thee: for GoD is my DE

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6 And Saul hearked unto the Voice of Jonathan : and Saul fware, as the LORD liveth he shall not be flain.

7 And Jonathan fhewed him all thofe Things: and brought David to Saul, and he was in his Prefence as in Times past.

8 And there was War again and David went out, and fought with the Philiftines, and flew them with a great Slaughter fled from him.

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9 And the EVIL SPIRIT from the LORD was upon Saul, as he fat in his Houfe with his Javelin in his Hand: and David played with his Hand.

10 And Saul fought to fmite David even to the Wall with the Javelin ; but he flipt away out of Saul's prefence, and he fmote the Javelin into the Wall: and David fled, and efcaped that Night.

1 Saul alfo fent Meffengers unto David's Houfe, to watch him, and to flay him in the Morning: and Michal David's Wife told him, faying, If thou fave not thy Life To-night, To-morrow thou fhalt be flain.

12 So Michal let David down through a Window and he went and fled, and efcaped.

13 And Michal took an Image, and laid it in the Bed, and put a Pillow of Goat's Hair for his Bolfter, and covered it with a Cloth.

14 And when Saul fent Meflengers to take David, fhe faid, He is fick.

15 And Saul fent the Meffengers again to fee David, faying, Bring him up to me in the Bed, that I may flay him. 16 And when the Meflengers were come in, behold, there was an Image in the Bed.

17 And Saul faid unto Michal, Why haft thou deceived me fo, and fent away mine Enemy, that he is escaped? and Michal answered Saul, He faid unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

18 So David fled, and efcaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him: and he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, faying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20 And Saul fent Meffengers to take David: and when they faw the Company of the Prophets prophefying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the SPIRIT of GOD was upon the Meffengers of Saul, and they also prophefied.

21 And when it was told Saul, he fent other Meflengers, and they PROPHESIED likewife and Saul fent Meflengers again the third time, and they PROPHESIED alfo.

23 Then went he alfo to Naioth in Ramah : and the SPIRIT of GOD was upon him alfo, and he went on and prophefied until he came to Naioth in Ramah :

24 And he ftript off his Clothes also, and prophefied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that Day and all that Night. Wherefore they fay, Is Saul alfo among the Prophets?

CHAP. XX.

David confulteth with Jonathan for his Safety: 11 Their Covenant renewed by Oath. 24 Saul miffing David, feeketh to kill Jonathan.

Ver. 1

ND David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and faid before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine Iniquity? and what is my SIN before thy Father, that he SEEKETH MY LIFE?

2 And he said unto him, GOD forbid; thou shalt not die behold, my Father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will fhew it me: and why fhould my Father hide this Thing from me? it is not fo.

3 And David fware moreover, and faid, Thy Father certainly knoweth that I have found Grace in thine Eyes; and he faith, Let not Jonathan know this, left he be grieved but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy Soul liveth, there is but a Step between me and Death.

4 Then faid Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy Soul defireth, I will even do it for thee.

5 And David faid unto Jonathan, Behold, To-morrow is the New Moon, and I fhould not fail to fit with the King

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