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David fled to the prophet Samuel, to whom he told all that Saul had done unto him. But the enmity of Saul pursued him even here: he dispatched messengers to seize him; but "when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again a third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to

Naioth in Ramah." Arrived in presence of

Samuel, instead of breathing revenge and death, Saul continued to prophesy before him all that day, and all that night. "Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?" So impossible is it for weak man to strive against God.

It may be necessary again to remind the reader that the verb 'to prophesy,' is used in Scripture in very different significations: in its highest sense, when said of the Prophets sent in the later times of the Hebrew Monarchy, it refers to the foretelling of future events; but in numberless other instances, as in the present chapter, it means only religious exercises, whether of exhortation,

or the singing devotional songs to the sound of musical instruments, which seems to have been the usual practice of the schools of the prophets established by Samuel, and from which David afterwards selected his singers for the service of the Tabernacle. It is also occasionally used to express any violent agitation, or excitement. The prophetic, must be carefully distinguished from the sacerdotal office.

David, deeply affected by the unfounded anger of Saul, and probably uncertain how far it was the effect of disease, and therefore temporary, resolved to consult Jonathan, and learn from him what treatment he was to expect. Accordingly he fled from Naioth, and came to Jonathan, to whom he said, "what have I done? what is my iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?" To this touching appeal Jonathan replied, by assuring David that his father had not formed any designs against his life, or he must have known of them, as his father concealed nothing from him. Finding however that this failed to reassure David, who argued that Jonathan's friendship for himself would prevent Saul from confiding in him on such an occasion, it was agreed that a trial should be made of Saul's real disposition towards David, on the following day; when, it being the feast of the new moon, it was customary for all the members of the royal family to dine with the king. David would not be there; and if his absence were remarked, Jonathan was to

feign an excuse, which Saul would accept, if kindly disposed towards him, but not if he sought his life. To convey intelligence of what occurred to David, it was finally settled, that Jonathan should go to a field near the cave in which David concealed himself, and shoot three arrows at a mark; and when the youth who attended him went to seek them, he should say to the lad, if there was no danger to David, 'the arrows are on this side of thee,' but on the contrary, if there were danger, he should say, 'the arrows are beyond thee,' and then David was to flee.

On the following day, which was the first of the feast, the absence of David was not remarked; but on the second day, Saul enquired for him, and on Jonathan's offering the false excuse, that he had been called away to offer a sacrifice with his family, Saul's anger arose : he reproached his son for his friendship with the man who, if suffered to live, would deprive him of his kingdom, and commanded David to be brought before him that he might put him to death. On Jonathan's remonstrating, and urging in David's justification that he had committed no crime, Saul's rage overpowered him, and he east a javelin he had in his hand at his son, who arose and quitted the feast, in terror and indignation.

"And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out in the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.

And he said unto his lad, Run, and find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city."

“And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place towards the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times and they kissed one another, and wept one upon another."

"And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch 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. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.”

* Artillery, instruments; here meaning the arrows.

CHAPTER XII.

DAVID FLEEING FROM SAUL, EATS THE SHEW BREAD: FEIGNS MADNESS. ABIATHAR ESCAPES IN THE MASSACRE OF THE PRIESTS. DAVID SAVES SAUL'S LIFE IN THE CAVE AT ENGEDI.

DAVID, being convinced that the anger of Saul was not the effect of temporary disease, and that it was in vain to hope for safety in his dominions, resolved to take refuge for a while in a land of strangers, and chose the country of the Philistines; probably, because it was most removed from Saul's pursuit. On the way, he came to Nob, a city of the Levites, whose exact site is unknown, but which is supposed to have been not far distant from Jerusalem. Here, worn out with exhaustion and fatigue, he met Ahimelech the priest, carrying away from the Tabernacle the loaves of shew bread, preparatory to replacing them with others fresh baked. David demanded the loaves for himself and his followers; but the priest refused to give them, saying, That the bread under his hand was not common, but hallowed bread, which it was only lawful for the priests to eat. Notwithstanding this declaration, David persisted in his demand, and Ahimelech yielded; being justified in so doing by the pressing exigency of the circumstances. A striking proof that, even under the strict ritual

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