Michal deceives Suul.

hand.

Mat. 10.23.

10 And Saul sought to smite Da-m Ps. 124.7. vid even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the Javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped m that night.

11 Saul also sent a messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him m the morning: and Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, to-morrow thou shalt be slain.

n Ps.59, title.

o Ps.34.19.

p Jos.2.15. Ac.9.24,25. 2Co.11.32, 33.

3 teraphim, Ge.31.19. Ju.17.5. 25.17.20.

12 T So o Michal let David p down through a window and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13 And Michal took an 3 image, r 2Sa.2.22. and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster,

and covered it with a cloth.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

s Jno.7.32,45.

t ch.10.5,6.

ICo.14.24,

25.

u Nu. 11.25. Joel 2.28.

28.11.

20 And Saul sent messengers s to take David and t when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as & Nu.10.10. appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they u also prophesied. 21 And when it was told Saul, he 4 or, feast, sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third d ch.25.17. time, and they prophesied also. Es.7.7.

c ch.19.2.

cl.9. 12.

e Jos.2.14.

22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said,f Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramalı: and the Spirit of God

ver. 16.
ch. 18.3.

23.18.

g 2Sa.14.32.

David consulteth Jonathan.

| was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 And v he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and 4 lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul w also among the prophets? CHAPTER XX.

David consulteth with Jonathan for his safety.

AND David fled from Naioth in

Ramah, and came and said 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 I show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but a truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

4 Then said Jonathan unto David, 2 Whatsoever thy soul 3 desireth, I will even do it for thee.

5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new b moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field c until the third day a' even. 6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly 4 sacrifice there for all the family.

7 If he say thus, It is well, thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined d by him.

8 Therefore thou shalt deale kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant f of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if g there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?

10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? 11 T And Jonathan said unto Da

Jonathan's token to David.

5 searched.

un cover thine car, ver.2.

12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have 5 sounded my father about to-morrow any time, or the third day, and behold, if there be good toward Da-h ch.17.37. vid, and I then send not unto thee, and 6 show it thee;

i ch.10.7.

253.7.15.

13 The LORD do so, and much 11.6,&c. more to Jonathan; but if it please my father to do thee evil, then Ik ch.24.21. will show it thee, and send thee 28a.9.1-7. away, that thou mayest go in peace and the LORD h be with thee, as he hath been i with my father.

14 And thou shalt not only while vet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:

" cut.

7 ch.31.2. 28.4.7.

8

or, by his

love to

ward him.

15 But also k thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house form ch.18.1. ever: no, not when the LORD n ver.5. hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.

16 So Jonathan 7 made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD, even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

9 missed.

10 greatly, or, diligently,

o ch.19.2. 11 in the day of the business.

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, 8 because he loved him: for hem loved him as he 12 or, that loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to David, n To-morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.

showeth

the way.

13 not any thing.

p Jer,4,2,

42.

19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down 10 quickly, and come to the place of ver. 14. 15, where thou didst hide thyself 11 when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stoner Lev.7.21. 12 Ezel.

15.5,&c.

20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shots ver.6.

at a mark.

21 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and 13 no hurt: asp the LORD liveth.

22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.

23 And as touching the matter q which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee w ch.18.11. and me forever.

24 T So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

25 And the king sat upon his seat,

x ver.7.

17 to pass over.

y ver.21.22.

by the wall and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not r clean; surely he is not clean. 27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to-day? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, s David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem :

29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee, for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother he hath commanded me to be there: and now if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

30 Then Saul's angert was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou 14 son of 15 the perverse rebellious woman, do not 1 know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, u for he 16 shall surely die.

32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore v shall he be slain? what hath he done?

33 And Saul cast w a javelin_at him to smite him: whereby a Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

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

36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran he shot an arrow 17 beyond him.

37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jo nathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond y thee?

city.

|18 instru

ments.

19 the lad that

was his.

z ch. 1.17.

20

or, the LORD be

witness of that which, &c.ver.23.

(CHAP. 21.) a ch.14.3, called hiah. Called also Abia

thar.

Mark 2.26.

b ch. 16.4.

41 ¶ And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go z in peace, 20 forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name 1 found. of the LORD, saying, The LORD bed Ex.25.30. between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. e Ex. 19. 15. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

CHAPTER XXI.

David at Nob obtaineth of Ahimelech hallowed bread.

THE

c Ps. 119.29.

Lu.24.5-9

1Th.4.4. 2 or, especial ly when this day there is

HEN came David to Nob, to Ahimelech a the priest and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto 5 him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

other sanctified in the vessel.

Mat. 12.3,4.

h ch.22.9.

Ps.52, title.

He feigneth madness.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, h an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom i thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is k here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

10 T And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to 3 Achish the king of Gath.

11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing ope to another of him in dances, saying, m Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 12 And David laid up n these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 And he changed o his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad p in their hands, and 4 scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

about I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about | these three days, since I came out, and the vessels f of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, 2 yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. 6 So the priest gave g him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the show-bread that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day e Ju. 11.29. when it was taken away.

2 bitter of
soul.
d Ps.72.12-14.

Mat.9.12,
13.

CHAPTER XXII. Companies resort unto David at Adullam.

D thence, and escaped a to the

AVID therefore departed

cave Adullam: 6 and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

2 And c every one that was in distress, and every one that 1 was in debt, and every one that was 2 discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain d over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. 3 And David went thence to e Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

Q

Priests of Nob slain.

5 T And the prophet Gad g said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, h and came into the forest of Hareth. 6 ¶ When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a 3 tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him ;)

7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give i every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

8 ICh.21.9. 2Ch.29.25.

Mat. 10.23.

or, grove in a high place.

i ch.8.14.

4 uncovereth

mine car,
ch.20.2.

A ch.18.3. 20.30.

1 ch.21.7. Ps.52, title, and ver. 1,2,3.

m ch.21.1,&c.

8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that 4 showeth me that my son hath made a league k with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or showeth unto me that my son hath stirred up my 5 Behold me. servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

n Nu.27.21.

a ch.19.4,5. 24.11. p ch.18.27.

9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to 6 little or Ahimelech m the son of Ahitub.

10 And he inquired n of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

great.

Est.3.6.

runners,

or, guard.

11 Then the king sent to call Ahi-q De.24.16. melech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear now, thour Ex. 1. 17. son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. s ch.2.31,33. 13 And Saul said unto him, Why t ver.9,11. have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

u ch.23.6. IKi,2,26,

27.

v ch.21.1-9.

b ver.4,6,9.

ch.30.8.

2SA.5.19,23.

14 Then Áhimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faith- (CHAP. 23.) ful o among all thy servants as Da-a Jos, 15.44. vid, which is p the king's son-inlaw, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? 15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me. e Ps. 11.1. Let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house d Ju.6.39. of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, & less or more. 16 And the king said, Thou shalt

e ch.22.20.

18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew s on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, t the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named u Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21 And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.

22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: v Í have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.

23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

CHAPTER XXIII. David inquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescueth Keilah.

HEN they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, a and they rob the threshing-floors.

2 Therefore David .inquired b of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David,Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

3 And David's men said c unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah : how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again.d And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

5 So David and his men went to

Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 And it came to pass, when Abinthar the son of Alümelech e fled to

Treachery of the Keilites.

Nu.27.21,

Jer.83.3. i ver.8. Est.3.6. Pr.28.15. Ro.3.15,16. shut up. k ch.22.2.

25.13.

I Ps.11.1.

m Jos.15.55.

nPs.37.32,33.

54.3,4.

o Fr.27.9,17. Is.35,3,4. Heb.12.12.

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath p Ep.6.10. heard? O LORD God of Israel, I be-q Job 5.11-15. seech thee, tell thy servant. Andr ch.24.20. the LORD said, He will come down. s ch.20.16,42. 12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah 1 deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up: 13 T Then David and his men, k which were about six hundred, arose

25a.21.7.

t ch.26.1.

Ps.54, title. 2 on the

right hand.

David rescued from Saul.

[thy soul to come down; and u our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

21 And Saul said, Blessed v be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his 4 haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilely.

23 See therefore, and take w knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search a him out throughout all the thousands y of Judah.

21 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, z in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down 5 into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

26 And Saul went on this side of

derness.

went whithersover they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he for-u Ps.54.3. bare to go forth.

14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph.m And Saul sought him every day, but n God delivered him not into his hand.

15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

16 T And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened o his hand in God.p

17 And he said unto him, Fear not : for the hand of Saul my father shall not g find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul r my father knoweth.

18 And they twos made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

v Ju.17.2. Mi.3.11. foot shall be.

w

Juo.18.2,3.

xlKi.18.10.
y Nu.10.36.
Mi.5.2.
z ch.25.2.

5

or, from the. a Ps.31.22. b Ps. 17.9,11.

140.1-9.

c 2Ki, 19.9. 6 spread

G

upon.

i. e. The
rock of
divisions.

a 2Ch.20.2.

(CHAP. 24.)

19 T Then came t up the Ziphites a ch.23.28,29. to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not 1 after. David hide himself with us in strong b Ps.38.12. c Ps. 141.6. holds in the wood, in the hill of d Ju.3.24. Hachilah, which is 2 on the south e Ps. LVII. of 3 Jeshimon? CXLII. 20 Now therefore, O king, come fch.26.8-11. down according to all the desire of

was returned a from 1 following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to b seek David and his men

upon the rocks c of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover d his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.e

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold f the day of which the