CHAPTER
1
THE DESTRUCTION THAT CAME UPON THE PHILISTINES, AND UPON THEIR LAND, BY THE
WRATH OF GOD, ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR HAVING CARRIED THE ARK AWAY CAPTIVE; AND AFTER
WHAT MANNER THEY SENT IT BACK TO THE HEBREWS
1. When the Philistines had taken the ark of the Hebrews captive, as I
said a little before, they carried it to the city of Ashdod, and put it by their
own god, who was called Dagon,1 as one of their spoils;
but when they went into his temple the next morning to worship their god, they
found him paying the same worship to the ark, for he lay along, as having fallen
down from the basis whereon he had stood: so they took him up, and set him on
his basis again, and were much troubled at what had happened; and as they frequently
came to Dagon and found him still lying along, in a posture of adoration to
the ark, they were in very great distress and confusion. At length God sent
a very destructive disease upon the city and country of Ashdod, for they died
of the dysentery or flux, a sore distemper, that brought death upon them very
suddenly; for before the soul could, as usual in easy deaths, be well loosed
from the body, they brought up their entrails, and vomited up what they had
eaten, and what was entirely corrupted by the disease. And as to the fruits
of their country, a great multitude of mice arose out of the earth and hurt
them, and spared neither the plants nor the fruits. Now while the people of
Ashdod were under these misfortunes, and were not able to support themselves
under their calamities, they perceived that they suffered thus because of the
ark, and that the victory they had gotten, and their having taken the ark captive,
had not happened for their good; they therefore sent to the people of Askelon,
and desired that they would receive the ark among them. This desire of the people
of Ashdod was not disagreeable to those of Askelon, so they granted them that
favor. But when they had gotten the ark, they were in the same miserable condition;
for the ark carried along with it the disasters that the people of Ashdod had
suffered, to those who received it from them. Those of Askelon also sent it
away from themselves to others: nor did it stay among those others neither;
for since they were pursued by the same disasters, they still sent it to the
neighboring cities; so that the ark went round, after this manner, to the five
cities of the Philistines, as though it exacted these disasters as a tribute
to be paid it for its coming among them.
2. When those that had experienced these
miseries were tired out with them, and when those that heard of them were taught
thereby not to admit the ark among them, since they paid so dear a tribute for
it, at length they sought for some contrivance and method how they might get
free from it: so the governors of the five cities, Gath, and Ekron, and Askelon,
as also of Gaza, and Ashdod, met together, and considered what was fit to be
done; and at first they thought proper to send the ark back to its own people,
as allowing that God had avenged its cause; that the miseries they had undergone
came along with it, and that these were sent on their cities upon its account,
and together with it. However, there were those that said they should not do
so, nor suffer themselves to be deluded, as ascribing the cause of their miseries
to it, because it could not have such power and force upon them; for, had God
had such a regard to it, it would not have been delivered into the hands of
men. So they exhorted them to be quiet, and to take patiently what had befallen
them, and to suppose there was no other cause of it but nature, which, at certain
revolutions of time, produces such mutations in the bodies of men, in the earth,
in plants, and in all things that grow out of the earth. But the counsel that
prevailed over those already described, was that of certain men, who were believed
to have distinguished themselves in former times for their understanding and
prudence, and who, in their present circumstances, seemed above all the rest
to speak properly. These men said it was not right either to send the ark away,
or to retain it, but to dedicate five golden images, one for every city, as
a thank-offering to God, on account of his having taken care of their preservation,
and having kept them alive when their lives were likely to be taken away by
such distempers as they were not able to bear up against. They also would have
them make five golden mice like to those that devoured and destroyed their country,2
to put them in a bag, and lay them upon the ark; to make them a new cart also
for it, and to yoke milch kine to it;3 but to shut
up their calves, and keep them from them, lest, by following after them, they
should prove a hindrance to their dams, and that the dams might return the faster
out of a desire of those calves; then to drive these milch kine that carried
the ark, and leave it at a place where three ways met, and So leave it to the
kine to go along which of those ways they pleased; that in case they went the
way to the Hebrews, and ascended to their country, they should suppose that
the ark was the cause of their misfortunes; but if they turned into another
road, they said, "We will pursue after it, and conclude that it has no such
force in it."
3. So they determined that these men spake
well; and they immediately confirmed their opinion by doing accordingly. And
when they had done as has been already described, they brought the cart to a
place where three ways met, and left it there and went their ways; but the kine
went the right way, and as if some persons had driven them, while the rulers
of the Philistines followed after them, as desirous to know where they would
stand still, and to whom they would go. Now there was a certain village of the
tribe of Judah, the name of which was Bethshemesh, and to that village did the
kine go; and though there was a great and good plain before them to proceed
in, they went no farther, but stopped the cart there. This was a sight to those
of that village, and they were very glad; for it being then summer-time, and
all the inhabitants being then in the fields gathering in their fruits, they
left off the labors of their hands for joy, as soon as they saw the ark, and
ran to the cart, and taking the ark down, and the vessel that had the images
in it, and the mice, they set them upon a certain rock which was in the plain;
and when they had offered a splendid sacrifice to God, and feasted, they offered
the cart and the kine as a burnt-offering: and when the lords of the Philistines
saw this, they returned back.
4. But now it was that the wrath of God
overtook them, and struck seventy persons4 of the
village of Bethshemesh dead, who, not being priests, and so not worthy to touch
the ark, had approached to it. Those of that village wept for these that had
thus suffered, and made such a lamentation as was naturally to be expected on
so great a misfortune that was sent from God; and every one mourned for his
own relation. And since they acknowledged themselves unworthy of the ark's abode
with them, they sent to the public senate of the Israelites, and informed them
that the ark was restored by the Philistines; which when they knew, they brought
it away to Kirjathjearim, a city in the neighborhood of Bethshemesh. In this
city lived one Abinadab, by birth a Levite, and who was greatly commended for
his righteous and religious course of life; so they brought the ark to his house,
as to a place fit for God himself to abide in, since therein did inhabit a righteous
man. His sons also ministered to the Divine service at the ark, and were the
principal curators of it for twenty years; for so many years it continued in
Kirjathjearim, having been but four months with the Philistines.
CHAPTER
2
THE EXPEDITION OF THE PHILISTINES AGAINST THE HEBREWS AND THE HEBREWS' VICTORY
UNDER THE CONDUCT OF SAMUEL THE PROPHET, WHO WAS THEIR GENERAL
1. Now while the city of Kirjathjearim had the ark with them, the whole
body of the people betook themselves all that time to offer prayers and sacrifices
to God, and appeared greatly concerned and zealous about his worship. So Samuel
the prophet, seeing how ready they were to do their duty, thought this a proper
time to speak to them, while they were in this good disposition, about the recovery
of their liberty, and of the blessings that accompanied the same. Accordingly
he used such words to them as he thought were most likely to excite that inclination,
and to persuade them to attempt it: "O you Israelites," said he, "to whom the
Philistines are still grievous enemies, but to whom God begins to be gracious,
it behooves you not only to be desirous of liberty, but to take the proper methods
to obtain it. Nor are you to be contented with an inclination to get clear of
your lords and masters, while you still do what will procure your continuance
under them. Be righteous then, and cast wickedness out of your souls, and by
your worship supplicate the Divine Majesty with all your hearts, and persevere
in the honor you pay to him; for if you act thus, you will enjoy prosperity;
you will be freed from your slavery, and will get the victory over your enemies:
which blessings it is not possible you should attain, either by weapons of war,
or by the strength of your bodies, or by the multitude of your assistants; for
God has not promised to grant these blessings by those means, but by being good
and righteous men; and if you will be such, I will be security to you for the
performance of God's promises." When Samuel had said thus, the multitude applauded
his discourse, and were pleased with his exhortation to them, and gave their
consent to resign themselves up to do what was pleasing to God. So Samuel gathered
them together to a certain city called Mizpeh, which, in the Hebrew tongue,
signifies a watch-tower; there they drew water, and poured it out to God, and
fasted all day, and betook themselves to their prayers.
2. This their assembly did not escape the
notice of the Philistines: so when they had learned that so large a company
had met together, they fell upon the Hebrews with a great army and mighty forces,
as hoping to assault them when they did not expect it, nor were prepared for
it. This thing affrighted the Hebrews, and put them into disorder and terror;
so they came running to Samuel, and said that their souls were sunk by their
fears, and by the former defeat they had received, and "that thence it was that
we lay still, lest we should excite the power of our enemies against us. Now
while thou hast brought us hither to offer up our prayers and sacrifices, and
take oaths [to be obedient], our enemies are making an expedition against us,
while we are naked and unarmed; wherefore we have no other hope of deliverance
but that by thy means, and by the assistance God shall afford us upon thy prayers
to him, we shall obtain deliverance from the Philistines." Hereupon Samuel bade
them be of good cheer, and promised them that God would assist them; and taking
a sucking lamb, he sacrificed it for the multitude, and besought God to hold
his protecting hand over them when they should fight with the Philistines, and
not to overlook them, nor suffer them to come under a second misfortune. Accordingly
God hearkened to his prayers, and accepting their sacrifice with a gracious
intention, and such as was disposed to assist them, he granted them victory
and power over their enemies. Now while the altar had the sacrifice of God upon
it, and had not yet consumed it wholly by its sacred fire, the enemy's army
marched out of their camp, and was put in order of battle, and this in hope
that they should be conquerors, since the Jews5 were
caught in distressed circumstances, as neither having their weapons with them,
nor being assembled there in order to fight. But things so fell out, that they
would hardly have been credited though they had been foretold by anybody: for,
in the first place, God disturbed their enemies with an earthquake, and moved
the ground under them to such a degree, that he caused it to tremble, and made
them to shake, insomuch that by its trembling, he made some unable to keep their
feet, and made them fall down, and by opening its chasms, he caused that others
should be hurried down into them; after which he caused such a noise of thunder
to come among them, and made fiery lightning shine so terribly round about them,
that it was ready to burn their faces; and he so suddenly shook their weapons
out of their hands, that he made them fly and return home naked. So Samuel with
the multitude pursued them to Bethcar, a place so called; and there he set up
a stone as a boundary of their victory and their enemies' flight, and called
it the Stone of Power, as a signal of that power God had given them against
their enemies.
3. So the Philistines, after this stroke,
made no more expeditions against the Israelites, but lay still out of fear,
and out of remembrance of what had befallen them; and what courage the Philistines
had formerly against the Hebrews, that, after this victory, was transferred
to the Hebrews. Samuel also made an expedition against the Philistines, and
slew many of them, and entirely humbled their proud hearts, and took from them
that country, which, when they were formerly conquerors in battle, they had
cut off from the Jews, which was the country that extended from the borders
of Gath to the city of Ekron: but the remains of the Canaanites were at this
time in friendship with the Israelites.
CHAPTER
3
HOW SAMUEL, WHEN HE WAS SO INFIRM WITH OLD AGE THAT HE COULD NOT TAKE CARE OF
THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS, INTRUSTED THEM TO HIS SONS; AND HOW UPON THE EVIL ADMINISTRATION
OF THE GOVERNMENT BY THEM, THE MULTITUDE WERE SO ANGRY, THAT THEY REQUIRED TO
HAVE A KING TO GOVERN THEM, ALTHOUGH SAMUEL WAS MUCH DISPLEASED THEREAT
1. But Samuel the prophet, when he had ordered the affairs of the people
after a convenient manner, and had appointed a city for every district of them,
he commanded them to come to such cities, to have the controversies that they
had one with another determined in them, he himself going over those cities
twice in a year, and doing them justice; and by that means he kept them in very
good order for a long time.
2. But afterwards he found himself oppressed
with old age, and not able to do what he used to do, so he committed the government
and the care of the multitude to his sons,—the elder of whom was called Joel,
and the name of the younger was Abiah. He also enjoined them to reside and judge
the people, the one at the city of Bethel, and the other at Beersheba, and divided
the people into districts that should be under the jurisdiction of each of them.
Now these men afford us an evident example and demonstration how some children
are not of the like dispositions with their parents; but sometimes perhaps good
and moderate, though born of wicked parents; and sometimes showing themselves
to be wicked, though born of good parents: for these men turning aside from
their father's good courses, and taking a course that was contrary to them,
perverted justice for the filthy lucre of gifts and bribes, and made their determinations
not according to truth, but according to bribery, and turned aside to luxury,
and a costly way of living; so that as, in the first place, they practiced what
was contrary to the will of God, so did they, in the second place, what was
contrary to the will of the prophet their father, who had taken a great deal
of care, and made a very careful provision that the multitude should be righteous.
3. But the people, upon these injuries offered
to their former constitution and government by the prophet's sons, were very
uneasy at their actions, and came running to the prophet, who then lived at
the city Ramah, and informed him of the transgressions of his sons; and said,
that as he was himself old already, and too infirm by that age of his to oversee
their affairs in the manner he used to do, so they begged of him, and entreated
him, to appoint some person to be king over them, who might rule over the nation,
and avenge them of the Philistines, who ought to be punished for their former
oppressions. These words greatly afflicted Samuel, on account of his innate
love of justice, and his hatred to kingly government, for he was very fond of
an aristocracy, as what made the men that used it of a divine and happy disposition;
nor could he either think of eating or sleeping, out of his concern and torment
of mind at what they had said, but all the night long did he continue awake
and revolved these notions in his mind.
4. While he was thus disposed, God appeared
to him, and comforted him, saying, that he ought not to be uneasy at what the
multitude desired, because it was not he, but Himself whom they so insolently
despised, and would not have to be alone their king; that they had been contriving
these things from the very day that they came out of Egypt; that however in
no long time they would sorely repent of what they did, which repentance yet
could not undo what was thus done for futurity; that they would be sufficiently
rebuked for their contempt, and the ungrateful conduct they have used towards
me, and towards thy prophetic office. "So I command thee to ordain them such
a one as I shall name beforehand to be their king, when thou hast first described
what mischiefs kingly government will bring upon them, and openly testified
before them into what a great change of affairs they are hasting."
5. When Samuel had heard this, he called
the Jews early in the morning, and confessed to them that he was to ordain them
a king; but he said that he was first to describe to them what would follow,
what treatment they would receive from their kings, and with how many mischiefs
they must struggle. "For know ye," said he, "that, in the first place, they
will take your sons away from you, and they will command some of them to be
drivers of their chariots, and some to be their horsemen, and the guards of
their body, and others of them to be runners before them, and captains of thousands,
and captains of hundreds; they will also make them their artificers, makers
of armor, and of chariots, and of instruments; they will make them their husbandmen
also, and the curators of their own fields, and the diggers of their own vineyards;
nor will there be any thing which they will not do at their commands, as if
they were slaves bought with money. They will also appoint your daughters to
be confectioners, and cooks, and bakers; and these will be obliged to do all
sorts of work which women slaves, that are in fear of stripes and torments,
submit to. They will, besides this, take away your possessions, and bestow them
upon their eunuchs, and the guards of their bodies, and will give the herds
of your cattle to their own servants: and to say briefly all at once, you, and
all that is yours, will be servants to your king, and will become no way superior
to his slaves; and when you suffer thus, you will thereby be put in mind of
what I now say. And when you repent of what you have done, you will beseech
God to have mercy upon you, and to grant you a quick deliverance from your kings;
but he will not accept your prayers, but will neglect you, and permit you to
suffer the punishment your evil conduct has deserved."
6. But the multitude was still so foolish
as to be deaf to these predictions of what would befall them; and too peevish
to suffer a determination which they had injudiciously once made, to be taken
out of their mind; for they could not be turned from their purpose, nor did
they regard the words of Samuel, but peremptorily insisted on their resolution,
and desired him to ordain them a king immediately, and not trouble himself with
fears of what would happen hereafter, for that it was necessary they should
have with them one to fight their battles, and to avenge them of their enemies,
and that it was no way absurd, when their neighbors were under kingly government,
that they should have the same form of government also. So when Samuel saw that
what he had said had not diverted them from their purpose, but that they continued
resolute, he said, "Go you every one home for the present; when it is fit I
will send for you, as soon as I shall have learned from God who it is that he
will give you for your king."
CHAPTER
4
THE APPOINTMENT OF A KING OVER THE ISRAELITES, WHOSE NAME WAS SAUL; AND THIS
BY THE COMMAND OF GOD
1. There was one of the tribe of Benjamin, a man of a good family, and
of a virtuous disposition; his name was Kish. He had a son, a young man of a
comely countenance, and of a tall body, but his understanding and his mind were
preferable to what was visible in him: they called him Saul. Now this Kish had
some fine she-asses that were wandered out of the pasture wherein they fed,
for he was more delighted with these than with any other cattle he had; so he
sent out his son, and one servant with him, to search for the beasts; but when
he had gone over his own tribe in search after the asses, he went to other tribes,
and when he found them not there neither, he determined to go his way home,
lest he should occasion any concern to his father about himself. But when his
servant that followed him told him as they were near the city of Ramah, that
there was a true prophet in that city, and advised him to go to him, for that
by him they should know the upshot of the affair of their asses, he replied,
that if they should go to him, they had nothing to give him as a reward for
his prophecy, for their subsistence money was spent. The servant answered, that
he had still the fourth part of a shekel, and he would present him with that;
for they were mistaken out of ignorance, as not knowing that the prophet received
no such reward.6 So they went to him; and when they
were before the gates, they lit upon certain maidens that were going to fetch
water, and they asked them which was the prophet's house. They showed them which
it was; and bid them make haste before he sat down to supper, for he had invited
many guests to a feast, and that he used to sit down before those that were
invited. Now Samuel had then gathered many together to feast with him on this
very account; for while he every day prayed to God to tell him beforehand whom
he would make king, he had informed him of this man the day before, for that
he would send him a certain young man out of the tribe of Benjamin about this
hour of the day; and he sat on the top of the house in expectation of that time's
being come. And when the time was completed, he came down and went to supper;
so he met with Saul, and God discovered to him that this was he who should rule
over them. Then Saul went up to Samuel and saluted him, and desired him to inform
him which was the prophet's house; for he said he was a stranger and did not
know it. When Samuel had told him that he himself was the person, he led him
in to supper, and assured him that the asses were found which he had been to
seek, and that the greatest of good things were assured to him: he replied,
"I am too inconsiderable to hope for any such thing, and of a tribe to small
to have kings made out of it, and of a family smaller than several other families;
but thou tellest me this in jest, and makest me an object of laughter, when
thou discoursest with me of greater matters than what I stand in need of." However,
the prophet led him in to the feast, and made him sit down, him and his servant
that followed him, above the other guests that were invited, which were seventy
in number;7 and he gave orders to the servants to
set the royal portion before Saul. And when the time of going to bed was come,
the rest rose up, and every one of them went home; but Saul staid with the prophet,
he and his servant, and slept with him.
2. Now as soon as it was day, Samuel raised
up Saul out of his bed, and conducted him homeward; and when he was out of the
city, he desired him to cause his servant to go before, but to stay behind himself,
for that he had somewhat to say to him when nobody else was present. Accordingly,
Saul sent away his servant that followed him; then did the prophet take a vessel
of oil, and poured it upon the head of the young man, and kissed him, and said,
"Be thou a king, by the ordination of God, against the Philistines, and for
avenging the Hebrews for what they have suffered by them; of this thou shalt
have a sign, which I would have thee take notice of:—As soon as thou art departed
hence, thou will find three men upon the road, going to worship God at Bethel;
the first of whom thou wilt see carrying three loaves of bread, the second carrying
a kid of the goats, and the third will follow them carrying a bottle of wine.
These three men will salute thee, and speak kindly to thee, and will give thee
two of their loaves, which thou shalt accept of. And thence thou shalt come
to a place called Rachel's Monument, where thou shalt meet with those that will
tell thee thy asses are found; after this, when thou comest to Gabatha, thou
shalt overtake a company of prophets, and thou shalt be seized with the divine
spirit,8 and prophesy along with them, till every
one that sees thee shall be astonished, and wonder, and say, whence is it that
the son of Kish has arrived at this degree of happiness? And when these signs
have happened to thee, know that God is with thee; then do thou salute thy father
and thy kindred. Thou shalt also come when I send for thee to Gilgal, that we
may offer thank-offerings to God for these blessings." When Samuel had said
this, and foretold these things, he sent the young man away. Now all things
fell out to Saul according to the prophecy of Samuel.
3. But as soon as Saul came into the house
of his kinsman Abner, whom indeed he loved better than the rest of his relations,
he was asked by him concerning his journey, and what accidents happened to him
therein; and he concealed none of the other things from him, no, not his coming
to Samuel the prophet, nor how he told him the asses were found; but he said
nothing to him about the kingdom, and what belonged thereto, which he thought
would procure him envy, and when such things are heard, they are not easily
believed; nor did he think it prudent to tell those things to him, although
he appeared very friendly to him, and one whom he loved above the rest of his
relations, considering, I suppose, what human nature really is, that no one
is a firm friend, neither among our intimates, nor of our kindred; nor do they
preserve that kind disposition when God advances men to great prosperity, but
they are still ill-natured and envious at those that are in eminent stations.
4. Then Samuel called the people together
to the city Mizpeh, and spake to them in the words following, which he said
he was to speak by the command of God:—That when he had granted them a state
of liberty, and brought their enemies into subjection, they were become unmindful
of his benefits, and rejected God that he should not be their King, as not considering
that it would be most for their advantage to be presided over by the best of
beings, for God is the best of beings, and they chose to have a man for their
king; while kings will use their subjects as beasts, according to the violence
of their own wills and inclinations, and other passions, as wholly carried away
with the lust of power, but will not endeavor so to preserve the race of mankind
as his own workmanship and creation, which, for that very reason, God would
take cake of. "But since you have come to a fixed resolution, and this injurious
treatment of God has quite prevailed over you, dispose yourselves by your tribes
and sceptres, and cast lots."
5. When the Hebrews had so done, the lot
fell upon the tribe of Benjamin; and when the lot was cast for the families
of this tribe, that which was called Matri was taken; and when the lot was cast
for the single persons of that family, Saul, the son of Kish, was taken for
their king. When the young man knew this, he prevented [their sending for him],
and immediately went away and hid himself. I suppose that it was because he
would not have it thought that he willingly took the government upon him; nay,
he showed such a degree of command over himself, and of modesty, that while
the greatest part are not able to contain their joy, even in the gaining of
small advantages, but presently show themselves publicly to all men, this man
did not only show nothing of that nature, when he was appointed to be the lord
of so many and so great tribes, but crept away and concealed himself out of
the sight of those he was to reign over, and made them seek him, and that with
a good deal of trouble. So when the people were at a loss, and solicitous, because
Saul disappeared, the prophet besought God to show where the young man was,
and to produce him before them. So when they had learned of God the place where
Saul was hidden, they sent men to bring him; and when he was come, they set
him in the midst of the multitude. Now he was taller than any of them, and his
stature was very majestic.
6. Then said the prophet, "God gives you
this man to be your king: see how he is higher than any of the people, and worthy
of this dominion." So as soon as the people had made acclamation, God save the
king, the prophet wrote down what would come to pass in a book, and read it
in the hearing of the king, and laid up the book in the tabernacle of God, to
be a witness to future generations of what he had foretold. So when Samuel had
finished this matter, he dismissed the multitude, and came himself to the city
Ramah, for it was his own country. Saul also went away to Gibeah, where he was
born; and many good men there were who paid him the respect that was due to
him; but the greater part were ill men, who despised him and derided the others,
who neither did bring him presents, nor did they in affection, or even in words,
regard to please him.
CHAPTER
5
SAUL'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE NATION OF THE AMMONITES AND VICTORY OVER THEM
AND THE SPOILS HE TOOK FROM THEM
1. After one month, the war which Saul had with Nahash, the king of the
Ammonites, obtained him respect from all the people; for this Nahash had done
a great deal of mischief to the Jews that lived beyond Jordan by the expedition
he had made against them with a great and warlike army. He also reduced their
cities into slavery, and that not only by subduing them for the present, which
he did by force and violence, but by weakening them by subtlety and cunning,
that they might not be able afterward to get clear of the slavery they were
under to him; for he put out the right eyes9 of those
that either delivered themselves to him upon terms, or were taken by him in
war; and this he did, that when their left eyes were covered by their shields,
they might be wholly useless in war. Now when the king of the Ammonites had
served those beyond Jordan in this manner, he led his army against those that
were called Gileadites, and having pitched his camp at the metropolis of his
enemies, which was the city of Jabesh, he sent ambassadors to them, commanding
them either to deliver themselves up, on condition to have their right eyes
plucked out, or to undergo a siege, and to have their cities overthrown. He
gave them their choice, whether they would cut off a small member of their body,
or universally perish. However, the Gileadites were so affrighted at these offers,
that they had not courage to say any thing to either of them, neither that they
would deliver themselves up, nor that they would fight him. But they desired
that he would give them seven days' respite, that they might send ambassadors
to their countrymen, and entreat their assistance; and if they came to assist
them, they would fight; but if that assistance were impossible to be obtained
from them, they said they would deliver themselves up to suffer whatever he
pleased to inflict upon them.
2. So Nahash, contemning the multitude of
the Gileadites and the answer they gave, allowed them a respite, and gave them
leave to send to whomsoever they pleased for assistance. So they immediately
sent to the Israelites, city by city, and informed them what Nahash had threatened
to do to them, and what great distress they were in. Now the people fell into
tears and grief at the hearing of what the ambassadors from Jabesh said; and
the terror they were in permitted them to do nothing more. But when the messengers
were come to the city of king Saul, and declared the dangers in which the inhabitants
of Jabesh were, the people were in the same affliction as those in the other
cities, for they lamented the calamity of those related to them. And when Saul
was returned from his husbandry into the city, he found his fellow citizens
weeping; and when, upon inquiry, he had learned the cause of the confusion and
sadness they were in, he was seized with a divine fury, and sent away the ambassadors
from the inhabitants of Jabesh, and promised them to come to their assistance
on the third day, and to beat their enemies before sun-rising, that the sun
upon its rising might see that they had already conquered, and were freed from
the fears they were under: but he bid some of them stay to conduct them the
right way to Jabesh.
3. So being desirous to turn the people
to this war against the Ammonites by fear of the losses they should otherwise
undergo, and that they might the more suddenly be gathered together, he cut
the sinews of his oxen, and threatened to do the same to all such as did not
come with their armor to Jordan the next day, and follow him and Samuel the
prophet whithersoever they should lead them. So they came together, out of fear
of the losses they were threatened with, at the appointed time. And the multitude
were numbered at the city Bezek. And he found the number of those that were
gathered together, besides that of the tribe of Judah, to be seven hundred thousand,
while those of that tribe were seventy thousand. So he passed over Jordan, and
proceeded in marching all that night, thirty furlongs, and came to Jabesh before
sun-rising. So he divided the army into three companies; and fell upon their
enemies on every side on the sudden, and when they expected no such thing; and
joining battle with them, they slew a great many of the Ammonites, as also their
king Nahash. This glorious action was done by Saul, and was related with great
commendation of him to all the Hebrews; and he thence gained a wonderful reputation
for his valor: for although there were some of them that contemned him before,
they now changed their minds, and honored him, and esteemed him as the best
of men: for he did not content himself with having saved the inhabitants of
Jabesh only, but he made an expedition into the country of the Ammonites, and
laid it all waste, and took a large prey, and so returned to his own country
most gloriously. So the people were greatly pleased at these excellent performances
of Saul, and rejoiced that they had constituted him their king. They also made
a clamor against those that pretended he would be of no advantage to their affairs;
and they said, where now are these men?—let them be brought to punishment, with
all the like things that multitudes usually say when they are elevated with
prosperity, against those that lately had despised the authors of it. But Saul,
although he took the good-will and the affection of these men very kindly, yet
did he swear that he would not see any of his countrymen slain that day, since
it was absurd to mix this victory, which God had given them, with the blood
and slaughter of those that were of the same lineage with themselves; and that
it was more agreeable to be men of a friendly disposition, and so to betake
themselves to feasting.
4. And when Samuel had told them that he
ought to confirm the kingdom to Saul by a second ordination of him, they all
came together to the city of Gilgal, for thither did he command them to come.
So the prophet anointed Saul with the holy oil in the sight of the multitude,
and declared him to be king the second time. And so the government of the Hebrews
was changed into a regal government; for in the days of Moses, and his disciple
Joshua, who was their general, they continued under an aristocracy; but after
the death of Joshua, for eighteen years in all, the multitude had no settled
form of government, but were in an anarchy; after which they returned to their
former government, they then permitting themselves to be judged by him who appeared
to be the best warrior and most courageous, whence it was that they called this
interval of their government the Judges.
5. Then did Samuel the prophet call another
assembly also, and said to them, "I solemnly adjure you by God Almighty, who
brought those excellent brethren, I mean Moses and Aaron, into the world, and
delivered our fathers from the Egyptians, and from the slavery they endured
under them, that you will not speak what you say to gratify me, nor suppress
any thing out of fear of me, nor be overborne by any other passion, but say,
What have I ever done that was cruel or unjust? or what have I done out of lucre
or covetousness, or to gratify others? Bear witness against me, if I have taken
an ox or a sheep, or any such thing, which yet when they are taken to support
men, it is esteemed blameless; or have I taken an ass for mine own use of any
one to his grief?—lay some one such crime to my charge, now we are in your king's
presence." But they cried out, that no such thing had been done by him, but
that he had presided over the nation after a holy and righteous manner.
6. Hereupon Samuel, when such a testimony
had been given him by them all, said, "Since you grant that you are not able
to lay any ill thing to my charge hitherto, come on now, and do you hearken
while I speak with great freedom to you. You have been guilty of great impiety
against God, in asking you a king. It behoves you to remember that our grandfather
Jacob came down into Egypt, by reason of a famine, with seventy souls only of
our family, and that their posterity multiplied there to many ten thousands,
whom the Egyptians brought into slavery and hard oppression; that God himself,
upon the prayers of our fathers, sent Moses and Aaron, who were brethren, and
gave them power to deliver the multitude out of their distress, and this without
a king. These brought us into this very land which you now possess: and when
you enjoyed these advantages from God, you betrayed his worship and religion;
nay, moreover, when you were brought under the hands of your enemies, he delivered
you, first by rendering you superior to the Assyrians and their forces, he then
made you to overcome the Ammonites and the Moabites, and last of all the Philistines;
and these things have been achieved under the conduct of Jephtha and Gideon.
What madness therefore possessed you to fly from God, and to desire to be under
a king?—yet have I ordained him for king whom he chose for you. However, that
I may make it plain to you that God is angry and displeased at your choice of
kingly government, I will so dispose him that he shall declare this very plainly
to you by strange signals; for what none of you ever saw here before, I mean
a winter storm in the midst of harvest,10 I will entreat
of God, and will make it visible to you." Now, as soon as he had said this,
God gave such great signals by thunder and lightning, and the descent of hail,
as attested the truth of all that the prophet had said, insomuch that they were
amazed and terrified, and confessed they had sinned, and had fallen into that
sin through ignorance; and besought the prophet, as one that was a tender and
gentle father to them, to render God so merciful as to forgive this their sin,
which they had added to those other offenses whereby they had affronted him
and transgressed against him. So he promised them that he would beseech God,
and persuade him to forgive them these their sins. However, he advised them
to be righteous, and to be good, and ever to remember the miseries that had
befallen them on account of their departure from virtue: as also to remember
the strange signs God had shown them, and the body of laws that Moses had given
them, if they had any desire of being preserved and made happy with their king.
But he said, that if they should grow careless of these things, great judgments
would come from God upon them, and upon their king. And when Samuel had thus
prophesied to the Hebrews, he dismissed them to their own homes, having confirmed
the kingdom to Saul the second time.
CHAPTER
6
HOW THE PHILISTINES MADE ANOTHER EXPEDITION AGAINST THE HEBREWS AND WERE BEATEN
1. Now Saul chose out of the multitude about three thousand men, and he
took two thousand of them to be the guards of his own body, and abode in the
city Bethel, but he gave the rest of them to Jonathan his son, to be the guards
of his body; and sent him to Gibeah, where he besieged and took a certain garrison
of the Philistines, not far from Gilgal; for the Philistines of Gibeah had beaten
the Jews, and taken their weapons away, and had put garrisons into the strongest
places of the country, and had forbidden them to carry any instrument of iron,
or at all to make use of any iron in any case whatsoever. And on account of
this prohibition it was that the husbandmen, if they had occasion to sharpen
any of their tools, whether it were the coulter or the spade, or any instrument
of husbandry, they came to the Philistines to do it. Now as soon as the Philistines
heard of this slaughter of their garrison, they were in a rage about it, and,
looking on this contempt as a terrible affront offered them, they made war against
the Jews, with three hundred thousand footmen, and thirty thousand chariots,
and six thousand horses; and they pitched their camp at the city Michmash. When
Saul, the king of the Hebrews, was informed of this, he went down to the city
Gilgal, and made proclamation over all the country, that they should try to
regain their liberty; and called them to the war against the Philistines, diminishing
their forces, and despising them as not very considerable, and as not so great
but they might hazard a battle with them. But when the people about Saul observed
how numerous the Philistines were, they were under a great consternation; and
some of them hid themselves in caves and in dens under ground, but the greater
part fled into the land beyond Jordan, which belonged to Gad and Reuben.
2. But Saul sent to the prophet, and called
him to consult with him about the war and the public affairs; so he commanded
him to stay there for him, and to prepare sacrifices, for he would come to him
within seven days, that they might offer sacrifices on the seventh day, and
might then join battle with their enemies. So he waited,11
as the prophet sent to him to do; yet did not he, however, observe the command
that was given him, but when he saw that the prophet tarried longer than he
expected, and that he was deserted by the soldiers, he took the sacrifices and
offered them; and when he heard that Samuel was come, he went out to meet him.
But the prophet said he had not done well in disobeying the injunctions he had
sent to him, and had not staid till his coming, which being appointed according
to the will of God, he had prevented him in offering up those prayers and those
sacrifices that he should have made for the multitude, and that he therefore
had performed Divine offices in an ill manner, and had been rash in performing
them. Hereupon Saul made an apology for himself, and said that he had waited
as many days as Samuel had appointed him; that he had been so quick in offering
his sacrifices, upon account of the necessity he was in, and because his soldiers
were departing from him, out of their fear of the enemy's camp at Michmash,
the report being gone abroad that they were coming down upon him of Gilgal.
To which Samuel replied, "Nay, certainly, if thou hadst been a righteous man,12
and hadst not disobeyed me, nor slighted the commands which God suggested to
me concerning the present state of affairs, and hadst not acted more hastily
than the present circumstances required, thou wouldst have been permitted to
reign a long time, and thy posterity after thee." So Samuel, being grieved at
what happened, returned home; but Saul came to the city Gibeah, with his son
Jonathan, having only six hundred men with him; and of these the greater part
had no weapons, because of the scarcity of iron in that country, as well as
of those that could make such weapons; for, as we showed a little before, the
Philistines had not suffered them to have such iron or such workmen. Now the
Philistines divided their army into three companies, and took as many roads,
and laid waste the country of the Hebrews, while king Saul and his son Jonathan
saw what was done, but were not able to defend the land, having no more than
six hundred men with them. But as he, and his son, and Abiah the high priest,
who was of the posterity of Eli the high priest, were sitting upon a pretty
high hill, and seeing the land laid waste, they were mightily disturbed at it.
Now Saul's son agreed with his armor-bearer, that they would go privately to
the enemy's camp, and make a tumult and a disturbance among them. And when the
armor-bearer had readily promised to follow him whithersoever he should lead
him, though he should be obliged to die in the attempt, Jonathan made use of
the young man's assistance, and descended from the hill, and went to their enemies.
Now the enemy's camp was upon a precipice which had three tops, that ended in
a small but sharp and long extremity, while there was a rock that surrounded
them, like lines made to prevent the attacks of an enemy. There it so happened,
that the out-guards of the camp were neglected, because of the security that
here arose from the situation of the place, and because they thought it altogether
impossible, not only to ascend up to the camp on that quarter, but so much as
to come near it. As soon, therefore, as they came to the camp, Jonathan encouraged
his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Let us attack our enemies; and if, when
they see us, they bid us come up to them, take that for a signal of victory;
but if they say nothing, as not intending to invite us to come up, let us return
back again." So when they were approaching to the enemy's camp, just after break
of day, and the Philistines saw them, they said one to another, "The Hebrews
come out of their dens and caves:" and they said to Jonathan and to his armor-bearer,
"Come on, ascend up to us, that we may inflict a just punishment upon you, for
your rash attempt upon us." So Saul's son accepted of that invitation, as what
signified to him victory, and he immediately came out of the place whence they
were seen by their enemies: so he changed his place, and came to the rock, which
had none to guard it, because of its own strength; from thence they crept up
with great labor and difficulty, and so far overcame by force the nature of
the place, till they were able to fight with their enemies. So they fell upon
them as they were asleep, and slew about twenty of them, and thereby filled
them with disorder and surprise, insomuch that some of them threw away their
entire armor and fled; but the greatest part, not knowing one another, because
they were of different nations, suspected one another to be enemies, (for they
did not imagine there were only two of the Hebrews that came up,) and so they
fought one against another; and some of them died in the battle, and some, as
they were flying away, were thrown down from the rock headlong.
3. Now Saul's watchmen told the king that
the camp of the Philistines was in confusion; then he inquired whether any body
was gone away from the army; and when he heard that his son, and with him his
armor-bearer, were absent, he bade the high priest take the garments of his
high priesthood, and prophesy to him what success they should have; who said
that they should get the victory, and prevail against their enemies. So he went
out after the Philistines, and set upon them as they were slaying one another.
Those also who had fled to dens and caves, upon hearing that Saul was gaining
a victory, came running to him. When, therefore, the number of the Hebrews that
came to Saul amounted to about ten thousand, he pursued the enemy, who were
scattered all over the country; but then he fell into an action, which was a
very unhappy one, and liable to be very much blamed; for, whether out of ignorance
or whether out of joy for a victory gained so strangely, (for it frequently
happens that persons so fortunate are not then able to use their reason consistently,)
as he was desirous to avenge himself, and to exact a due punishment of the Philistines,
he denounced a curse13 upon the Hebrews: that if any
one put a stop to his slaughter of the enemy, and fell on eating, and left off
the slaughter or the pursuit before the night came on, and obliged them so to
do, he should be accursed. Now after Saul had denounced this curse, since they
were now in a wood belonging to the tribe of Ephraim, which was thick and full
of bees, Saul's son, who did not hear his father denounce that curse, nor hear
of the approbation the multitude gave to it, broke off a piece of a honey-comb,
and ate part of it. But, in the mean time, he was informed with what a curse
his father had forbidden them to taste any thing before sun-setting: so he left
off eating, and said his father had not done well in this prohibition, because,
had they taken some food, they had pursued the enemy with greater rigor and
alacrity, and had both taken and slain many more of their enemies.
4. When, therefore, they had slain many
ten thousands of the Philistines, they fell upon spoiling the camp of the Philistines,
but not till late in the evening. They also took a great deal of prey and cattle,
and killed them, and ate them with their blood. This was told to the king by
the scribes, that the multitude were sinning against God as they sacrificed,
and were eating before the blood was well washed away, and the flesh was made
clean. Then did Saul give order that a great stone should be rolled into the
midst of them, and he made proclamation that they should kill their sacrifices
upon it, and not feed upon the flesh with the blood, for that was not acceptable
to God. And when all the people did as the king commanded them, Saul erected
an altar there, and offered burnt-offerings upon it to God.14
This was the first altar that Saul built.
5. So when Saul was desirous of leading
his men to the enemy's camp before it was day, in order to plunder it, and when
the soldiers were not unwilling to follow him, but indeed showed great readiness
to do as he commanded them, the king called Ahitub the high priest, and enjoined
him to know of God whether he would grant them the favor and permission to go
against the enemy's camp, in order to destroy those that were in it. And when
the priest said that God did not give any answer, Saul replied, "And not without
some cause does God refuse to answer what we inquire of him, while yet a little
while ago he declared to us all that we desired beforehand, and even prevented
us in his answer. To be sure there is some sin against him that is concealed
from us, which is the occasion of his silence. Now I swear by him himself, that
though he that hath committed this sin should prove to be my own son Jonathan,
I will slay him, and by that means will appease the anger of God against us,
and that in the very same manner as if I were to punish a stranger, and one
not at all related to me, for the same offense." So when the multitude cried
out to him so to do, he presently set all the rest on one side, and he and his
son stood on the other side, and he sought to discover the offender by lot.
Now the lot appeared to fall upon Jonathan himself. So when he was asked by
his father what sin he had been guilty of, and what he was conscious of in the
course of his life that might be esteemed instances of guilt or profaneness,
his answer was this, "O father, I have done nothing more than that yesterday,
without knowing of the curse and oath thou hadst denounced, while I was in pursuit
of the enemy, I tasted of a honey-comb." But Saul sware that he would slay him,
and prefer the observation of his oath before all the ties of birth and of nature.
And Jonathan was not dismayed at this threatening of death, but, offering himself
to it generously and undauntedly, he said, "Nor do I desire you, father, to
spare me: death will be to me very acceptable, when it proceeds from thy piety,
and after a glorious victory; for it is the greatest consolation to me that
I leave the Hebrews victorious over the Philistines." Hereupon all the people
were very sorry, and greatly afflicted for Jonathan; and they sware that they
would not overlook Jonathan, and see him die, who was the author of their victory.
By which means they snatched him out of the danger he was in from his father's
curse, while they made their prayers to God also for the young man, that he
would remit his sin.
6. So Saul, having slain about sixty thousand
of the enemy, returned home to his own city, and reigned happily: and he also
fought against the neighboring nations, and subdued the Ammonites, and Moabites,
and Philistines, and Edomites, and Amalekites, as also the king of Zobah. He
had three male children, Jonathan, and Isui, and Melchishua; with Merab and
Michal his daughters. He had also Abner, his uncle's son, for the captain of
his host: that uncle's name was Ner. Now Ner, and Kish the father of Saul, were
brothers. Saul had also a great many chariots and horsemen, and against whomsoever
he made war he returned conqueror, and advanced the affairs of the Hebrews to
a great degree of success and prosperity, and made them superior to other nations;
and he made such of the young men as were remarkable for tallness and comeliness
the guards of his body.
CHAPTER
7
SAUL'S WAR WITH THE AMALEKITES, AND CONQUEST OF THEM
1. Now Samuel came unto Saul, and said to him, that he was sent by God
to put him in mind that God had preferred him before all others, and ordained
him king; that he therefore ought to be obedient to him, and to submit to his
authority, as considering, that though he had the dominion over the other tribes,
yet that God had the dominion over him, and over all things. That accordingly
God said to him, that "because the Amalekites did the Hebrews a great deal of
mischief while they were in the wilderness, and when, upon their coming out
of Egypt, they were making their way to that country which is now their own,
I enjoin thee to punish the Amalekites, by making war upon them; and when thou
hast subdued them, to leave none of them alive, but to pursue them through every
age, and to slay them, beginning with the women and the infants, and to require
this as a punishment to be inflicted upon them for the mischief they did to
our forefathers; to spare nothing, neither asses nor other beasts, nor to reserve
any of them for your own advantage and possession, but to devote them universally
to God, and, in obedience to the commands of Moses, to blot out the name of
Amalek entirely."15
2. So Saul promised to do what he was commanded;
and supposing that his obedience to God would be shown, not only in making war
against the Amalekites, but more fully in the readiness and quickness of his
proceedings, he made no delay, but immediately gathered together all his forces;
and when he had numbered them in Gilgal, he found them to be about four hundred
thousand of the Israelites, besides the tribe of Judah, for that tribe contained
by itself thirty thousand. Accordingly, Saul made an irruption into the country
of the Amalekites, and set many men in several parties in ambush at the river,
that so he might not only do them a mischief by open fighting, but might fall
upon them unexpectedly in the ways, and might thereby compass them round about,
and kill them. And when he had joined battle with the enemy, he beat them; and
pursuing them as they fled, he destroyed them all. And when that undertaking
had succeeded, according as God had foretold, he set upon the cities of the
Amalekites; he besieged them, and took them by force, partly by warlike machines,
partly by mines dug under ground, and partly by building walls on the outsides.
Some they starved out with famine, and some they gained by other methods; and
after all, he betook himself to slay the women and the children, and thought
he did not act therein either barbarously or inhumanly; first, because they
were enemies whom he thus treated, and, in the next place, because it was done
by the command of God, whom it was dangerous not to obey. He also took Agag,
the enemies' king, captive,—the beauty and tallness of whose body he admired
so much, that he thought him worthy of preservation. Yet was not this done however
according to the will of God, but by giving way to human passions, and suffering
himself to be moved with an unseasonable commiseration, in a point where it
was not safe for him to indulge it; for God hated the nation of the Amalekites
to such a degree, that he commanded Saul to have no pity on even those infants
which we by nature chiefly compassionate; but Saul preserved their king and
governor from the miseries which the Hebrews brought on the people, as if he
preferred the fine appearance of the enemy to the memory of what God had sent
him about. The multitude were also guilty, together with Saul; for they spared
the herds and the flocks, and took them for a prey, when God had commanded they
should not spare them. They also carried off with them the rest of their wealth
and riches; but if there were any thing that was not worthy of regard, that
they destroyed.
3. But when Saul had conquered all these
Amalekites that reached from Pelusium of Egypt to the Red Sea, he laid waste
all the rest of the enemy's country: but for the nation of the Shechemites,
he did not touch them, although they dwelt in the very middle of the country
of Midian; for before the battle, Saul had sent to them, and charged them to
depart thence, lest they should be partakers of the miseries of the Amalekites;
for he had a just occasion for saving them, since they were of the kindred of
Raguel, Moses's father-in-law.
4. Hereupon Saul returned home with joy,
for the glorious things he had done, and for the conquest of his enemies, as
though he had not neglected any thing which the prophet had enjoined him to
do when he was going to make war with the Amalekites, and as though he had exactly
observed all that he ought to have done. But God was grieved that the king of
the Amalekites was preserved alive, and that the multitude had seized on the
cattle for a prey, because these things were done without his permission; for
he thought it an intolerable thing that they should conquer and overcome their
enemies by that power which he gave them, and then that he himself should be
so grossly despised and disobeyed by them, that a mere man that was a king would
not bear it. He therefore told Samuel the prophet, that he repented that he
had made Saul king, while he did nothing that he had commanded him, but indulged
his own inclinations. When Samuel heard that, he was in confusion, and began
to beseech God all that night to be reconciled to Saul, and not to be angry
with him; but he did not grant that forgiveness to Saul which the prophet asked
for, as not deeming it a fit thing to grant forgiveness of [such] sins at his
entreaties, since injuries do not otherwise grow so great as by the easy tempers
of those that are injured; or while they hunt after the glory of being thought
gentle and good-natured, before they are aware they produce other sins. As soon
therefore as God had rejected the intercession of the prophet, and it plainly
appeared he would not change his mind, at break of day Samuel came to Saul at
Gilgal. When the king saw him, he ran to him, and embraced him, and said, "I
return thanks to God, who hath given me the victory, for I have performed every
thing that he hath commanded me." To which Samuel replied, "How is it then that
I hear the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the greater cattle in the
camp?" Saul made answer, that the people had reserved them for sacrifices; but
that, as to the nation of the Amalekites, it was entirely destroyed, as he had
received it in command to see done, and that no one man was left; but that he
had saved alive the king alone, and brought him to him, concerning whom, he
said, they would advise together what should be done with him." But the prophet
said, "God is not delighted with sacrifices, but with good and with righteous
men, who are such as follow his will and his laws, and never think that any
thing is well done by them but when they do it as God had commanded them; that
he then looks upon himself as affronted, not when any one does not sacrifice,
but when any one appears to be disobedient to him. But that from those who do
not obey him, nor pay him that duty which is the alone true and acceptable worship,
he will not kindly accept their oblations, be those they offer ever so many
and so fat, and be the presents they make him ever so ornamental, nay, though
they were made of gold and silver themselves, but he will reject them, and esteem
them instances of wickedness, and not of piety. And that he is delighted with
those that still bear in mind this one thing, and this only, how to do that,
whatsoever it be, which God pronounces or commands for them to do, and to choose
rather to die than to transgress any of those commands; nor does he require
so much as a sacrifice from them. And when these do sacrifice, though it be
a mean oblation, he better accepts of it as the honor of poverty, than such
oblations as come from the richest men that offer them to him. Wherefore take
notice, that thou art under the wrath of God, for thou hast despised and neglected
what he commanded thee. How dost thou then suppose that he will respect a sacrifice
out of such things as he hath doomed to destruction? unless perhaps thou dost
imagine that it is almost all one to offer it in sacrifice to God as to destroy
it. Do thou therefore expect that thy kingdom will be taken from thee, and that
authority which thou hast abused by such insolent behavior, as to neglect that
God who bestowed it upon thee." Then did Saul confess that he had acted unjustly,
and did not deny that he had sinned, because he had transgressed the injunctions
of the prophet; but he said that it was out of a dread and fear of the soldiers,
that he did not prohibit and restrain them when they seized on the prey. "But
forgive me," said he, "and be merciful to me, for I will be cautious how I offend
for the time to come." He also entreated the prophet to go back with him, that
he might offer his thank-offerings to God; but Samuel went home, because he
saw that God would not be reconciled to him.
5. But then Saul was so desirous to retain
Samuel, that he took hold of his cloak, and because the vehemence of Samuel's
departure made the motion to be violent, the cloak was rent. Upon which the
prophet said, that after the same manner should the kingdom be rent from him,
and that a good and a just man should take it; that God persevered in what he
had decreed about him; that to be mutable and changeable in what is determined,
is agreeable to human passions only, but is not agreeable to the Divine Power.
Hereupon Saul said that he had been wicked, but that what was done could not
be undone: he therefore desired him to honor him so far, that the multitude
might see that he would accompany him in worshipping God. So Samuel granted
him that favor, and went with him and worshipped God. Agag also, the king of
the Amalekites, was brought to him; and when the king asked, how bitter death
was? Samuel said, "As thou hast made many of the Hebrew mothers to lament and
bewail the loss of their children, so shalt thou, by thy death, cause thy mother
to lament thee also." Accordingly, he gave order to slay him immediately at
Gilgal, and then went away to the city Ramah.
CHAPTER
8
HOW, UPON SAUL'S TRANSGRESSION OF THE PROPHET'S COMMANDS, SAMUEL ORDAINED ANOTHER
PERSON TO BE KING PRIVATELY, WHOSE NAME WAS DAVID, AS GOD COMMANDED HIM
1. Now Saul being sensible of the miserable condition he had brought himself
into, and that he had made God to be his enemy, he went up to his royal palace
at Gibeah, which name denotes a hill, and after that day he came no more into
the presence of the prophet. And when Samuel mourned for him, God bid him leave
off his concern for him, and to take the holy oil, and go to Bethlehem, to Jesse
the son of Obed, and to anoint such of his sons as he should show him for their
future king. But Samuel said, he was afraid lest Saul, when he came to know
of it, should kill him, either by some private method or even openly. But upon
God's suggesting to him a safe way of going thither, he came to the forementioned
city; and when they all saluted him, and asked what was the occasion of his
coming, he told them he came to sacrifice to God. When, therefore, he had gotten
the sacrifice ready, he called Jesse and his sons to partake of those sacrifices;
and when he saw his eldest son to be a tall and handsome man, he guessed by
his comeliness that he was the person who was to be their future king. But he
was mistaken in judging about God's providence; for when Samuel inquired of
God whether he should anoint this youth, whom he so admired, and esteemed worthy
of the kingdom, God said, "Men do not see as God seeth. Thou indeed hast respect
to the fine appearance of this youth, and thence esteemest him worthy of the
kingdom, while I propose the kingdom as a reward, not of the beauty of bodies,
but of the virtue of souls, and I inquire after one that is perfectly comely
in that respect; I mean one who is beautiful in piety, and righteousness, and
fortitude, and obedience, for in them consists the comeliness of the soul."
When God had said this, Samuel bade Jesse to show him all his sons. So he made
five others of his sons to come to him; of all of whom Eliab was the eldest,
Aminadab the second, Shammall the third, Nathaniel the fourth, Rael the fifth,
and Asam the sixth. And when the prophet saw that these were no way inferior
to the eldest in their countenances, he inquired of God which of them it was
whom he chose for their king. And when God said it was none of them, he asked
Jesse whether he had not some other sons besides these; and when he said that
he had one more, named David, but that he was a shepherd, and took care of the
flocks, Samuel bade them call him immediately, for that till he was come they
could not possibly sit down to the feast. Now, as soon as his father had sent
for David, and he was come, he appeared to be of a yellow complexion, of a sharp
sight, and a comely person in other respects also. This is he, said Samuel privately
to himself, whom it pleases God to make our king. So he sat down to the feast,
and placed the youth under him, and Jesse also, with his other sons; after which
he took oil in the presence of David, and anointed him, and whispered him in
the ear, and acquainted him that God chose him to be their king; and exhorted
him to be righteous, and obedient to his commands, for that by this means his
kingdom would continue for a long time, and that his house should be of great
splendor, and celebrated in the world; that he should overthrow the Philistines;
and that against what nations soever he should make war, he should be the conqueror,
and survive the fight; and that while he lived he should enjoy a glorious name,
and leave such a name to his posterity also.
2. So Samuel, when he had given him these
admonitions, went away. But the Divine Power departed from Saul, and removed
to David; who, upon this removal of the Divine Spirit to him, began to prophesy.
But as for Saul, some strange and demoniacal disorders came upon him, and brought
upon him such suffocations as were ready to choke him; for which the physicians
could find no other remedy but this, that if any person could charm those passions
by singing, and playing upon the harp, they advised them to inquire for such
a one, and to observe when these demons came upon him and disturbed him, and
to take care that such a person might stand over him, and play upon the harp,
and recite hymns to him.16 Accordingly Saul did not
delay, but commanded them to seek out such a man. And when a certain stander-by
said that he had seen in the city of Bethlehem a son of Jesse, who was yet no
more than a child in age, but comely and beautiful, and in other respects one
that was deserving of great regard, who was skilful in playing on the harp,
and in singing of hymns, [and an excellent soldier in war,] he sent to Jesse,
and desired him to take David away from the flocks, and send him to him, for
he had a mind to see him, as having heard an advantageous character of his comeliness
and his valor. So Jesse sent his son, and gave him presents to carry to Saul.
And when he was come, Saul was pleased with him, and made him his armor-bearer,
and had him in very great esteem; for he charmed his passion, and was the only
physician against the trouble he had from the demons, whensoever it was that
it came upon him, and this by reciting of hymns, and playing upon the harp,
and bringing Saul to his right mind again. However, he sent to Jesse, the father
of the child, and desired him to permit David to stay with him, for that he
was delighted with his sight and company; which stay, that he might not contradict
Saul, he granted.
CHAPTER
9
HOW THE PHILISTINES MADE ANOTHER EXPEDITION AGAINST THE HEBREWS UNDER THE REIGN
OF SAUL; AND HOW THEY WERE OVERCOME BY DAVID'S SLAYING GOLIATH IN SINGLE COMBAT
1. Now the Philistines gathered themselves together again no very long
time afterward; and having gotten together a great army, they made war against
the Israelites; and having seized a place between Shochoh and Azekah, they there
pitched their camp. Saul also drew out his army to oppose them; and by pitching
his own camp on a certain hill, he forced the Philistines to leave their former
camp, and to encamp themselves upon such another hill, over-against that on
which Saul's army lay, so that a valley, which was between the two hills on
which they lay, divided their camps asunder. Now there came down a man out of
the camp of the Philistines, whose name was Goliath, of the city of Gath, a
man of vast bulk, for he was of four cubits and a span in tallness, and had
about him weapons suitable to the largeness of his body, for he had a breastplate
on that weighed five thousand shekels: he had also a helmet and greaves of brass,
as large as you would naturally suppose might cover the limbs of so vast a body.
His spear was also such as was not carried like a light thing in his right hand,
but he carried it as lying on his shoulders. He had also a lance of six hundred
shekels; and many followed him to carry his armor. Wherefore this Goliath stood
between the two armies, as they were in battle array, and sent out aloud voice,
and said to Saul and the Hebrews, "I will free you from fighting and from dangers;
for what necessity is there that your army should fall and be afflicted? Give
me a man of you that will fight with me, and he that conquers shall have the
reward of the conqueror and determine the war; for these shall serve those others
to whom the conqueror shall belong; and certainly it is much better, and more
prudent, to gain what you desire by the hazard of one man than of all." When
he had said this, he retired to his own camp; but the next day he came again,
and used the same words, and did not leave off for forty days together, to challenge
the enemy in the same words, till Saul and his army were therewith terrified,
while they put themselves in array as if they would fight, but did not come
to a close battle.
2. Now while this war between the Hebrews
and the Philistines was going on, Saul sent away David to his father Jesse,
and contented himself with those three sons of his whom he had sent to his assistance,
and to be partners in the dangers of the war: and at first David returned to
feed his sheep and his flocks; but after no long time he came to the camp of
the Hebrews, as sent by his father, to carry provisions to his brethren, and
to know what they were doing. While Goliath came again, and challenged them,
and reproached them, that they had no man of valor among them that durst come
down to fight him; and as David was talking with his brethren about the business
for which his father had sent him, he heard the Philistine reproaching and abusing
the army, and had indignation at it, and said to his brethren, "I am ready to
fight a single combat with this adversary." Whereupon Eliab, his eldest brother,
reproved him, and said that he spoke too rashly and improperly for one of his
age, and bid him go to his flocks, and to his father. So he was abashed at his
brother's words, and went away, but still he spake to some of the soldiers that
he was willing to fight with him that challenged them. And when they had informed
Saul what was the resolution of the young man, the king sent for him to come
to him: and when the king asked what he had to say, he replied, "O king, be
not cast down, nor afraid, for I will depress the insolence of this adversary,
and will go down and fight with him, and will bring him under me, as tall and
as great as he is, till he shall be sufficiently laughed at, and thy army shall
get great glory, when he shall be slain by one that is not yet of man's estate,
neither fit for fighting, nor capable of being intrusted with the marshalling
an army, or ordering a battle, but by one that looks like a child, and is really
no elder in age than a child."
3. Now Saul wondered at the boldness and
alacrity of David, but durst not presume on his ability, by reason of his age;
but said he must on that account be too weak to fight with one that was skilled
in the art of war. "I undertake this enterprise," said David, "in dependence
on God's being with me, for I have had experience already of his assistance;
for I once pursued after and caught a lion that assaulted my flocks, and took
away a lamb from them; and I snatched the lamb out of the wild beast's mouth,
and when he leaped upon me with violence, I took him by the tail, and dashed
him against the ground. In the same manner did I avenge myself on a bear also;
and let this adversary of ours be esteemed like one of these wild beasts, since
he has a long while reproached our army, and blasphemed our God, who yet will
reduce him under my power."
4. However, Saul prayed that the end might
be, by God's assistance, not disagreeable to the alacrity and boldness of the
child; and said, "Go thy way to the fight." So he put about him his breastplate,
and girded on his sword, and fitted the helmet to his head, and sent him away.
But David was burdened with his armor, for he had not been exercised to it,
nor had he learned to walk with it; so he said, "Let this armor be thine, O
king, who art able to bear it; but give me leave to fight as thy servant, and
as I myself desire." Accordingly he laid by the armor, and taking his staff
with him, and putting five stones out of the brook into a shepherd's bag, and
having a sling in his right hand, he went towards Goliath. But the adversary
seeing him come in such a manner, disdained him, and jested upon him, as if
he had not such weapons with him as are usual when one man fights against another,
but such as are used in driving away and avoiding of dogs; and said, "Dost thou
take me not for a man, but a dog?" To which he replied, "No, not for a dog,
but for a creature worse than a dog." This provoked Goliath to anger, who thereupon
cursed him by the name of God, and threatened to give his flesh to the beasts
of the earth, and to the fowls of the air, to be torn in pieces by them. To
whom David answered, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and
with a breastplate; but I have God for my armor in coming against thee, who
will destroy thee and all thy army by my hands for I will this day cut off thy
head, and cast the other parts of thy body to the dogs, and all men shall learn
that God is the protector of the Hebrews, and that our armor and our strength
is in his providence; and that without God's assistance, all other warlike preparations
and power are useless." So the Philistine being retarded by the weight of his
armor, when he attempted to meet David in haste, came on but slowly, as despising
him, and depending upon it that he should slay him, who was both unarmed and
a child also, without any trouble at all.
5. But the youth met his antagonist, being
accompanied with an invisible assistant, who was no other than God himself.
And taking one of the stones that he had out of the brook, and had put into
his shepherd's bag, and fitting it to his sling, he slang it against the Philistine.
This stone fell upon his forehead, and sank into his brain, insomuch that Goliath
was stunned, and fell upon his face. So David ran, and stood upon his adversary
as he lay down, and cut off his head with his own sword; for he had no sword
himself. And upon the fall of Goliath the Philistines were beaten, and fled;
for when they saw their champion prostrate on the ground, they were afraid of
the entire issue of their affairs, and resolved not to stay any longer, but
committed themselves to an ignominious and indecent flight, and thereby endeavored
to save themselves from the dangers they were in. But Saul and the entire army
of the Hebrews made a shout, and rushed upon them, and slew a great number of
them, and pursued the rest to the borders of Garb, and to the gates of Ekron;
so that there were slain of the Philistines thirty thousand, and twice as many
wounded. But Saul returned to their camp, and pulled their fortification to
pieces, and burnt it; but David carried the head of Goliath into his own tent,
but dedicated his sword to God [at the tabernacle].
CHAPTER
10
SAUL ENVIES DAVID FOR HIS GLORIOUS SUCCESS, AND TAKES AN OCCASION OF ENTRAPPING
HIM, FROM THE PROMISE HE MADE HIM OF GIVING HIM HIS DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE; BUT
THIS UPON CONDITION OF HIS BRINGING HIM SIX HUNDRED HEADS OF THE PHILISTINES
1. Now the women were an occasion of Saul's envy and hatred to David;
for they came to meet their victorious army with cymbals, and drums, and all
demonstrations of joy, and sang thus: the wives said, that "Saul had slain his
many thousands of the Philistines." The virgins replied, that "David had slain
his ten thousands." Now, when the king heard them singing thus, and that he
had himself the smallest share in their commendations, and the greater number,
the ten thousands, were ascribed to the young man; and when he considered with
himself that there was nothing more wanting to David, after such a mighty applause,
but the kingdom; he began to be afraid and suspicious of David. Accordingly
he removed him from the station he was in before, for he was his armor-bearer,
which, out of fear, seemed to him much too near a station for him; and so he
made him captain over a thousand, and bestowed on him a post better indeed in
itself, but, as he thought, more for his own security; for he had a mind to
send him against the enemy, and into battles, as hoping he would be slain in
such dangerous conflicts.
2. But David had God going along with him
whithersoever he went, and accordingly he greatly prospered in his undertakings,
and it was visible that he had mighty success, insomuch that Saul's daughter,
who was still a virgin, fell in love with him; and her affection so far prevailed
over her, that it could not be concealed, and her father became acquainted with
it. Now Saul heard this gladly, as intending to make use of it for a snare against
David, and he hoped that it would prove the cause of destruction and of hazard
to him; so he told those that informed him of his daughter's affection, that
he would willingly give David the virgin in marriage, and said, "I engage myself
to marry my daughter to him if he will bring me six hundred heads of my enemies,17
supposing that when a reward so ample was proposed to him, and when he should
aim to get him great glory, by undertaking a thing so dangerous and incredible,
he would immediately set about it, and so perish by the Philistines; and my
designs about him will succeed finely to my mind, for I shall be freed from
him, and get him slain, not by myself, but by another man." So he gave order
to his servants to try how David would relish this proposal of marrying the
damsel. Accordingly, they began to speak thus to him: that king Saul loved him,
as well as did all the people, and that he was desirous of his affinity by the
marriage of this damsel. To which he gave this answer:—"Seemeth it to you a
light thing to be made the king's son-in-law? It does not seem so to me, especially
when I am one of a family that is low, and without any glory or honor." Now
when Saul was informed by his servants what answer David had made, he said,—"Tell
him that I do not want any money nor dowry from him, which would be rather to
set my daughter to sale than to give her in marriage; but I desire only such
a son-in-law as hath in him fortitude, and all other kinds of virtue," of which
he saw David was possessed, and that his desire was to receive of him, on account
of his marrying his daughter, neither gold nor silver, nor that he should bring
such wealth out of his father's house, but only some revenge on the Philistines,
and indeed six hundred of their heads, than which a more desirable or a more
glorious present could not be brought him, and that he had much rather obtain
this, than any of the accustomed dowries for his daughter, viz. that she should
be married to a man of that character, and to one who had a testimony as having
conquered his enemies.
3. When these words of Saul were brought
to David, he was pleased with them, and supposed that Saul was really desirous
of this affinity with him; so that without bearing to deliberate any longer,
or casting about in his mind whether what was proposed was possible, or was
difficult or not, he and his companions immediately set upon the enemy, and
went about doing what was proposed as the condition of the marriage. Accordingly,
because it was God who made all things easy and possible to David, he slew many
[of the Philistines], and cut off the heads of six hundred of them, and came
to the king, and by showing him these heads of the Philistines, required that
he might have his daughter in marriage. Accordingly, Saul having no way of getting
off his engagements, as thinking it a base thing either to seem a liar when
he promised him this marriage, or to appear to have acted treacherously by him,
in putting him upon what was in a manner impossible, in order to have him slain,
he gave him his daughter in marriage: her name was Michal.
CHAPTER
11
HOW DAVID, UPON SAUL'S LAYING SNARES FOR HIM, DID YET ESCAPE THE DANGERS HE
WAS IN BY THE AFFECTION AND CARE OF JONATHAN AND THE CONTRIVANCES OF HIS WIFE
MICHAL: AND HOW HE CAME TO SAMUEL THE PROPHET
1. However, Saul was not disposed to persevere long in the state wherein
he was, for when he saw that David was in great esteem, both with God and with
the multitude, he was afraid; and being not able to conceal his fear as concerning
great things, his kingdom and his life, to be deprived of either of which was
a very great calamity, he resolved to have David slain, and commanded his son
Jonathan and his most faithful servants to kill him: but Jonathan wondered at
his father's change with relation to David, that it should be made to so great
a degree, from showing him no small good-will, to contrive how to have him killed.
Now, because he loved the young man, and reverenced him for his virtue, he informed
him of the secret charge his father had given, and what his intentions were
concerning him. However, he advised him to take care and be absent the next
day, for that he would salute his father, and, if he met with a favorable opportunity,
he would discourse with him about him, and learn the cause of his disgust, and
show how little ground there was for it, and that for it he ought not to kill
a man that had done so many good things to the multitude, and had been a benefactor
to himself, on account of which he ought in reason to obtain pardon, had he
been guilty of the greatest crimes; and "I will then inform thee of my father's
resolution." Accordingly David complied with such an advantageous advice, and
kept himself then out of the king's sight.
2. On the next day Jonathan came to Saul,
as soon as he saw him in a cheerful and joyful disposition, and began to introduce
a discourse about David: "What unjust action, O father, either little or great,
hast thou found so exceptionable in David, as to induce thee to order us to
slay a man who hath been of great advantage to thy own preservation, and of
still greater to the punishment of the Philistines? A man who hath delivered
the people of the Hebrews from reproach and derision, which they underwent for
forty days together, when he alone had courage enough to sustain the challenge
of the adversary, and after that brought as many heads of our enemies as he
was appointed to bring, and had, as a reward for the same, my sister in marriage;
insomuch that his death would be very sorrowful to us, not only on account of
his virtue, but on account of the nearness of our relation; for thy daughter
must be injured at the same time that he is slain, and must be obliged to experience
widowhood, before she can come to enjoy any advantage from their mutual conversation.
Consider these things, and change your mind to a more merciful temper, and do
no mischief to a man, who, in the first place, hath done us the greatest kindness
of preserving thee; for when an evil spirit and demons had seized upon thee,
he cast them out, and procured rest to thy soul from their incursions: and,
in the second place, hath avenged us of our enemies; for it is a base thing
to forget such benefits." So Saul was pacified with these words, and sware to
his son that he would do David no harm, for a righteous discourse proved too
hard for the king's anger and fear. So Jonathan sent for David, and brought
him good news from his father, that he was to be preserved. He also brought
him to his father; and David continued with the king as formerly.
3. About this time it was that, upon the
Philistines making a new expedition against the Hebrews, Saul sent David with
an army to fight with them; and joining battle with them he slew many of them,
and after his victory he returned to the king. But his reception by Saul was
not as he expected upon such success, for he was grieved at his prosperity,
because he thought he would be more dangerous to him by having acted so gloriously:
but when the demoniacal spirit came upon him, and put him into disorder, and
disturbed him, he called for David into his bed-chamber wherein he lay, and
having a spear in his hand, he ordered him to charm him with playing on his
harp, and with singing hymns; which when David did at his command, he with great
force threw the spear at him; but David was aware of it before it came, and
avoided it, and fled to his own house, and abode there all that day.
4. But at night the king sent officers,
and commanded that he should be watched till the morning, lest he should get
quite away, that he might come into the judgment-hall, and so might be delivered
up, and condemned and slain. But when Michal, David's wife, the king's daughter,
understood what her father designed, she came to her husband, as having small
hopes of his deliverance, and as greatly concerned about her own life also,
for she could not bear to live in case she were deprived of him; and she said,
"Let not the sun find thee here when it rises, for if it do, that will be the
last time it will see thee: fly away then while the night may afford thee opportunity,
and may God lengthen it for thy sake; for know this, that if my father find
thee, thou art a dead man." So she let him down by a cord out of the window,
and saved him: and after she had done so, she fitted up a bed for him as if
he were sick, and put under the bed-clothes a goat's liver;18
and when her father, as soon as it was day, sent to seize David, she said to
those that were there, that he had not been well that night, and showed them
the bed covered, and made them believe, by the leaping of the liver, which caused
the bed-clothes to move also, that David breathed like one that was asthmatic.
So when those that were sent told Saul that David had not been well in the night
he ordered him to be brought in that condition, for he intended to kill him.
Now when they came and uncovered the bed, and found out the woman's contrivance,
they told it to the king; and when her father complained of her that she had
saved his enemy, and had put a trick upon himself, she invented this plausible
defence for herself, and said, that when he had threatened to kill her, she
lent him her assistance for his preservation, out of fear; for which her assistance
she ought to be forgiven, because it was not done of her own free choice, but
out of necessity: "For," said she, "I do not suppose that thou wast so zealous
to kill thy enemy, as thou wast that I should be saved." Accordingly Saul forgave
the damsel; but David, when he had escaped this danger, came to the prophet
Samuel to Ramah, and told him what snares the king had laid for him, and how
he was very near to death by Saul's throwing a spear at him, although he had
been no way guilty with relation to him, nor had he been cowardly in his battles
with his enemies, but had succeeded well in them all, by God's assistance; which
thing was indeed the cause of Saul's hatred to David.
5. When the prophet was made acquainted
with the unjust proceedings of the king, he left the city Ramah, and took David
with him, to a certain place called Naioth, and there he abode with him. But
when it was told Saul that David was with the prophet, he sent soldiers to him,
and ordered them to take him, and bring him to him: and when they came to Samuel,
and found there a congregation of prophets, they became partakers of the Divine
Spirit, and began to prophesy; which when Saul heard of, he sent others to David,
who prophesying in like manner as did the first, he again sent others; which
third sort prophesying also, at last he was angry, and went thither in great
haste himself; and when he was just by the place, Samuel, before he saw him,
made him prophesy also. And when Saul came to him, he was disordered in mind,19
and under the vehement agitation of a spirit; and, putting off his garments,20
he fell down, and lay on the ground all that day and night, in the presence
of Samuel and David.
6. And David went thence, and came to Jonathan,
the son of Saul, and lamented to him what snares were laid for him by his father;
and said, that though he had been guilty of no evil, nor had offended against
him, yet he was very zealous to get him killed. Hereupon Jonathan exhorted him
not to give credit to such his own suspicions, nor to the calumnies of those
that raised those reports, if there were any that did so, but to depend on him,
and take courage; for that his father had no such intention, since he would
have acquainted him with that matter, and have taken his advice, had it been
so, as he used to consult with him in common when he acted in other affairs.
But David sware to him that so it was; and he desired him rather to believe
him, and to provide for his safety, than to despise what he, with great sincerity,
told him: that he would believe what he said, when he should either see him
killed himself, or learn it upon inquiry from others: and that the reason why
his father did not tell him of these things, was this, that he knew of the friendship
and affection that he bore towards him.
7. Hereupon, when Jonathan found that this
intention of Saul was so well attested, he asked him what he would have him
do for him. To which David replied, "I am sensible that thou art willing to
gratify me in every thing, and procure me what I desire. Now tomorrow is the
new moon, and I was accustomed to sit down then with the king at supper: now,
if it seem good to thee, I will go out of the city, and conceal myself privately
there; and if Saul inquire why I am absent, tell him that I am gone to my own
city Bethlehem, to keep a festival with my own tribe; and add this also, that
thou gavest me leave so to do. And if he say, as is usually said in the case
of friends that are gone abroad, it is well that he went, then assure thyself
that no latent mischief or enmity may be feared at his hand; but if he answer
otherwise, that will be a sure sign that he hath some designs against me. Accordingly
thou shalt inform me of thy father's inclinations; and that out of pity to my
case and out of thy friendship for me, as instances of which friendship thou
hast vouchsafed to accept of the assurances of my love to thee, and to give
the like assurances to me, that is, those of a master to his servant; but if
thou discoverest any wickedness in me, do thou prevent thy father, and kill
me thyself."
8. But Jonathan heard these last words with
indignation, and promised to do what he desired of him, and to inform him if
his father's answers implied any thing of a melancholy nature, and any enmity
against him. And that he might the more firmly depend upon him, he took him
out into the open field, into the pure air, and sware that he would neglect
nothing that might tend to the preservation of David; and he said, "I appeal
to that God, who, as thou seest, is diffused every where, and knoweth this intention
of mine, before I explain it in words, as the witness of this my covenant with
thee, that I will not leave off to make frequent trims of the purpose of my
father till I learn whether there be any lurking distemper in the most secret
parts of his soul; and when I have learnt it, I will not conceal it from thee,
but will discover it to thee, whether he be gently or peevishly disposed; for
this God himself knows, that I pray he may always be with thee, for he is with
thee now, and will not forsake thee, and will make thee superior to thine enemies,
whether my father be one of them, or whether I myself be such. Do thou only
remember what we now do; and if it fall out that I die, preserve my children
alive, and requite what kindness thou hast now received to them." When he had
thus sworn, he dismissed David, bidding him go to a certain place of that plain
wherein he used to perform his exercises; for that, as soon as he knew the mind
of his father, he would come thither to him, with one servant only; "and if,"
says he, "I shoot three darts at the mark, and then bid my servant to carry
these three darts away, for they are before him, know thou that there is no
mischief to be feared from my father; but if thou hearest me say the contrary,
expect the contrary from the king. However, thou shalt gain security by my means,
and shalt by no means suffer any harm; but see thou dost not forget what I have
desired of thee in the time of thy prosperity, and be serviceable to my children."
Now David, when he had received these assurances from Jonathan, went his way
to the place appointed.
9. But on the next day, which was the new
moon, the king, when he had purified himself, as the custom was, came to supper;
and when there sat by him his son Jonathan on his right hand, and Abner, the
captain of his host, on the other hand, he saw David's seat was empty, but said
nothing, supposing that he had not purified himself since he had accompanied
with his wife, and so could not be present; but when he saw that he was not
there the second day of the month neither, he inquired of his son Jonathan why
the son of Jesse did not come to the supper and the feast, neither the day before
nor that day. So Jonathan said that he was gone, according to the agreement
between them, to his own city, where his tribe kept a festival, and that by
his permission: that he also invited him to come to their sacrifice; "and,"
says Jonathan, "if thou wilt give me leave, I will go thither, for thou knowest
the good-will that I bear him." And then it was that Jonathan understood his
father's hatred to David, and plainly saw his entire disposition; for Saul could
not restrain his anger, but reproached Jonathan, and called him the son of a
runagate, and an enemy; and said he was a partner with David, and his assistant,
and that by his behavior he showed he had no regard to himself, or to his mother,
and would not be persuaded of this—that while David is alive, their kingdom
was not secure to them; yet did he bid him send for him, that he might be punished.
And when Jonathan said, in answer, "What hath he done that thou wilt punish
him?" Saul no longer contented himself to express his anger in bare words, but
snatched up his spear, and leaped upon him, and was desirous to kill him. He
did not indeed do what he intended, because he was hindered by his friends;
but it appeared plainly to his son that he hated David, and greatly desired
to despatch him, insomuch that he had almost slain his son with his own hands
on his account.
10. And then it was that the king's son
rose hastily from supper; and being unable to admit any thing into his mouth
for grief, he wept all night, both because he had himself been near destruction,
and because the death of David was determined: but as soon as it was day, he
went out into the plain that was before the city, as going to perform his exercises,
but in reality to inform his friend what disposition his father was in towards
him, as he had agreed with him to do; and when Jonathan had done what had been
thus agreed, he dismissed his servant that followed him, to return to the city;
but he himself went into the desert, and came into his presence, and communed
with him. So David appeared and fell at Jonathan's feet, and bowed down to him,
and called him the preserver of his soul; but he lifted him up from the earth,
and they mutually embraced one another, and made a long greeting, and that not
without tears. They also lamented their age, and that familiarity which envy
would deprive them of, and that separation which must now be expected, which
seemed to them no better than death itself. So recollecting themselves at length
from their lamentation, and exhorting one another to be mindful of the oaths
they had sworn to each other, they parted asunder.
CHAPTER
12
HOW DAVID FLED TO AHIMELECH AND AFTERWARDS TO THE KINGS OF THE PHILISTINES AND
OF THE MOABITES, AND HOW SAUL SLEW AHIMELECH AND HIS FAMILY
1. But David fled from the king, and that death he was in danger of by
him, and came to the city Nob, to Ahimelech the priest, who, when he saw him
coming all alone, and neither a friend nor a servant with him, he wondered at
it, and desired to learn of him the cause why there was nobody with him. To
which David answered, that the king had commanded him to do a certain thing
that was to be kept secret, to which, if he had a mind to know so much, he had
no occasion for any one to accompany him; "however, I have ordered my servants
to meet me at such and such a place." So he desired him to let him have somewhat
to eat; and that in case he would supply him, be would act the part of a friend,
and be assisting to the business he was now about: and when he had obtained
what he desired, he also asked him whether he had any weapons with him, either
sword or spear. Now there was at Nob a servant of Saul, by birth a Syrian, whose
name was Doeg, one that kept the king's mules. The high priest said that he
had no such weapons; but, he added, "Here is the sword of Goliath, which, when
thou hadst slain the Philistine, thou didst dedicate to God."
2. When David had received the sword, he
fled out of the country of the Hebrews into that of the Philistines, over which
Achish reigned; and when the king's servants knew him, and he was made known
to the king himself, the servants informing him that he was that David who had
killed many ten thousands of the Philistines, David was afraid lest the king
should put him to death, and that he should experience that danger from him
which he had escaped from Saul; so he pretended to be distracted and mad, so
that his spittle ran out of his mouth; and he did other the like actions before
the king of Gath, which might make him believe that they proceeded from such
a distemper. Accordingly the king was very angry at his servants that they had
brought him a madman, and he gave orders that they should eject David immediately
[out of the city].
3. So when David had escaped in this manner
out of Gath, he came to the tribe of Judah, and abode in a cave by the city
of Adullam. Then it was that he sent to his brethren, and informed them where
he was, who then came to him with all their kindred, and as many others as were
either in want or in fear of king Saul, came and made a body together, and told
him they were ready to obey his orders; they were in all about four hundred.
Whereupon he took courage, now such a force and assistance was come to him;
so he removed thence and came to the king of the Moabites, and desired him to
entertain his parents in his country, while the issue of his affairs were in
such an uncertain condition. The king granted him this favor, and paid great
respect to David's parents all the time they were with him.
4. As for himself, upon the prophet's commanding
him to leave the desert, and to go into the portion of the tribe of Judah, and
abide there, he complied therewith; and coming to the city Hareth, which was
in that tribe, he remained there. Now when Saul heard that David had been seen
with a multitude about him, he fell into no small disturbance and trouble; but
as he knew that David was a bold and courageous man, he suspected that somewhat
extraordinary would appear from him, and that openly also, which would make
him weep and put him into distress; so he called together to him his friends,
and his commanders, and the tribe from which he was himself derived, to the
hill where his palace was; and sitting upon a place called Aroura, his courtiers
that were in dignities, and the guards of his body, being with him, he spake
thus to them:—"You that are men of my own tribe, I conclude that you remember
the benefits that I have bestowed upon you, and that I have made some of you
owners of land, and made you commanders, and bestowed posts of honor upon you,
and set some of you over the common people, and others over the soldiers; I
ask you, therefore, whether you expect greater and more donations from the son
of Jesse? for I know that you are all inclinable to him; (even my own son Jonathan
himself is of that opinion, and persuades you to be of the same); for I am not
unacquainted with the oaths and the covenants that are between him and David,
and that Jonathan is a counselor and an assistant to those that conspire against
me, and none of you are concerned about these things, but you keep silence and
watch, to see what will be the upshot of these things." When the king had made
this speech, not one of the rest of those that were present made any answer;
but Doeg the Syrian, who fed his mules, said, that he saw David when he came
to the city Nob to Ahimelech the high priest, and that he learned future events
by his prophesying; that he received food from him, and the sword of Goliath,
and was conducted by him with security to such as he desired to go to.
5. Saul, therefore, sent for the high priest,
and for all his kindred; and said to them, "What terrible or ungrateful thing
hast thou suffered from me, that thou hast received the son of Jesse, and hast
bestowed on him both food and weapons, when he was contriving to get the kingdom?
And further, why didst thou deliver oracles to him concerning futurities? For
thou couldst not be unacquainted that he was fled away from me, and that he
hated my family." But the high priest did not betake himself to deny what he
had done, but confessed boldly that he had supplied him with these things, not
to gratify David, but Saul himself: and he said, "I did not know that he was
thy adversary, but a servant of thine, who was very faithful to thee, and a
captain over a thousand of thy soldiers, and, what is more than these, thy son-in-law,
and kinsman. Men do not choose to confer such favors on their adversaries, but
on those who are esteemed to bear the highest good-will and respect to them.
Nor is this the first time that I prophesied for him, but I have done it often,
and at other times as well as now. And when he told me that he was sent by thee
in great haste to do somewhat, if I had furnished him with nothing that he desired
I should have thought that it was rather in contradiction to thee than to him;
wherefore do not thou entertain any ill opinion of me, nor do thou have a suspicion
of what I then thought an act of humanity, from what is now told thee of David's
attempts against thee, for I did then to him as to thy friend and son-in-law,
and captain of a thousand, and not as to thine adversary."
6. When the high priest had spoken thus,
he did not persuade Saul, his fear was so prevalent, that he could not give
credit to an apology that was very just. So he commanded his armed men that
stood about him to kill him, and all his kindred; but as they durst not touch
the high priest, but were more afraid of disobeying God than the king, he ordered
Doeg the Syrian to kill them. Accordingly, he took to his assistance such wicked
men as were like himself, and slew Ahimelech and all his family, who were in
all three hundred and eighty-five. Saul also sent to Nob,21
the city of the priests, and slew all that were there, without sparing either
women or children, or any other age, and burnt it; only there was one son of
Ahimelech, whose name was Abiathar, who escaped. However, these things came
to pass as God had foretold to Eli the high priest, when he said that his posterity
should be destroyed, on account of the transgression of his two sons.
7. 22Now this
king Saul, by perpetrating so barbarous a crime, and murdering the whole family
of the high-priestly dignity, by having no pity of the infants, nor reverence
for the aged, and by overthrowing the city which God had chosen for the property,
and for the support of the priests and prophets which were there, and had ordained
as the only city allotted for the education of such men, gives all to understand
and consider the disposition of men, that while they are private persons, and
in a low condition, because it is not in their power to indulge nature, nor
to venture upon what they wish for, they are equitable and moderate, and pursue
nothing but what is just, and bend their whole minds and labors that way; then
it is that they have this belief about God, that he is present to all the actions
of their lives, and that he does not only see the actions that are done, but
clearly knows those their thoughts also, whence those actions do arise. But
when once they are advanced into power and authority, then they put off all
such notions, and, as if they were no other than actors upon a theatre, they
lay aside their disguised parts and manners, and take up boldness, insolence,
and a contempt of both human and Divine laws, and this at a time when they especially
stand in need of piety and righteousness, because they are then most of all
exposed to envy, and all they think, and all they say, are in the view of all
men; then it is that they become so insolent in their actions, as though God
saw them no longer, or were afraid of them because of their power: and whatsoever
it is that they either are afraid of by the rumors they hear, or they hate by
inclination, or they love without reason, these seem to them to be authentic,
and firm, and true, and pleasing both to men and to God; but as to what will
come hereafter, they have not the least regard to it. They raise those to honor
indeed who have been at a great deal of pains for them, and after that honor
they envy them; and when they have brought them into high dignity, they do not
only deprive them of what they had obtained, but also, on that very account,
of their lives also, and that on wicked accusations, and such as on account
of their extravagant nature, are incredible. They also punish men for their
actions, not such as deserve condemnation, but from calumnies and accusations
without examination; and this extends not only to such as deserve to be punished,
but to as many as they are able to kill. This reflection is openly confirmed
to us from the example of Saul, the son of Kish, who was the first king who
reigned after our aristocracy and government under the judges were over; and
that by his slaughter of three hundred priests and prophets, on occasion of
his suspicion about Ahimelech, and by the additional wickedness of the overthrow
of their city, and this is as he were endeavoring in some sort to render the
temple [tabernacle] destitute both of priests and prophets, which endeavor he
showed by slaying so many of them, and not suffering the very city belonging
to them to remain, that so others might succeed them.
8. But Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, who
alone could be saved out of the family of priests slain by Saul, fled to David,
and informed him of the calamity that had befallen their family, and of the
slaughter of his father; who hereupon said, He was not unapprised of what would
follow with relation to them when he saw Doeg there; for he had then a suspicion
that the high priest would be falsely accused by him to the king, and he blamed
himself as having been the cause of this misfortune. But he desired him to stay
there, and abide with him, as in a place where he might be better concealed
than any where else.
CHAPTER
13
HOW DAVID, WHEN HE HAD TWICE THE OPPORTUNITY OF KILLING SAUL DID NOT KILL HIM;
ALSO, CONCERNING THE DEATH OF SAMUEL AND NABAL
1. About this time it was that David heard how the Philistines had made
an inroad into the country of Keilah, and robbed it; so he offered himself to
fight against them, if God, when he should be consulted by the prophet, would
grant him the victory. And when the prophet said that God gave a signal of victory,
he made a sudden onset upon the Philistines with his companions, and he shed
a great deal of their blood, and carried off their prey, and staid with the
inhabitants of Keilah till they had securely gathered in their corn and their
fruits. However, it was told Saul the king that David was with the men of Keilah;
for what had been done and the great success that had attended him, were not
confined among the people where the things were done, but the fame of it went
all abroad, and came to the hearing of others, and both the fact as it stood,
and the author of the fact, were carried to the king's ears. Then was Saul glad
when he heard David was in Keilah; and he said, "God hath now put him into my
hands, since he hath obliged him to come into a city that hath walls, and gates,
and bars." So he commanded all the people suddenly, and when they had besieged
and taken it to kill David. But when David perceived this, and learned of God
that if he staid there the men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul, he took
his four hundred men and retired into a desert that was over against a city
called Engedi. So that when the king heard he was fled away from the men of
Keilah, he left off his expedition against him.
2. Then David removed thence, and came to
a certain place called the New Place, belonging to Ziph; where Jonathan, the
son of Saul, came to him, and saluted him, and exhorted him to be of good courage,
and to hope well as to his condition hereafter, and not to despond at his present
circumstances, for that he should be king, and have all the forces of the Hebrews
under him: he told him that such happiness uses to come with great labor and
pains: they also took oaths, that they would, all their lives long, continue
in good-will and fidelity one to another; and he called God to witness, as to
what execrations he had made upon himself if he should transgress his covenant,
and should change to a contrary behavior. So Jonathan left him there, having
rendered his cares and fears somewhat lighter, and returned home. Now the men
of Ziph, to gratify Saul, informed him that David abode with them, and [assured
him] that if he would come to them, they would deliver him up, for that if the
king would seize on the Straits of Ziph, David would not escape to any other
people. So the king commended them, and confessed that he had reason to thank
them, because they had given him information of his enemy; and he promised them,
that it should not be long ere he would requite their kindness. He also sent
men to seek for David, and to search the wilderness wherein he was; and he promised
that he himself would follow them. Accordingly they went before the king, to
hunt for and to catch David, and used endeavors, not only to show their good-will
to Saul, by informing him where his enemy was, but to evidence the same more
plainly by delivering him up into his power. But these men failed of those their
unjust and wicked desires, who, while they underwent no hazard by not discovering
such an ambition of revealing this to Saul, yet did they falsely accuse and
promise to deliver up a man beloved of God, and one that was unjustly sought
after to be put to death, and one that might otherwise have lain concealed,
and this out of flattery, and expectation of gain from the king; for when David
was apprised of the malignant intentions of the men of Ziph, and the approach
of Saul, he left the Straits of that country, and fled to the great rock that
was in the wilderness of Maon.
3. Hereupon Saul made haste to pursue him
thither; for, as he was marching, he learned that David was gone away from the
Straits of Ziph, and Saul removed to the other side of the rock. But the report
that the Philistines had again made an incursion into the country of the Hebrews,
called Saul another way from the pursuit of David, when he was ready to be caught;
for he returned back again to oppose those Philistines, who were naturally their
enemies, as judging it more necessary to avenge himself of them, than to take
a great deal of pains to catch an enemy of his own, and to overlook the ravage
that was made in the land.
4. And by this means David unexpectedly
escaped out of the danger he was in, and came to the Straits of Engedi; and
when Saul had driven the Philistines out of the land, there came some messengers,
who told him that David abode within the bounds of Engedi: so he took three
thousand chosen men that were armed, and made haste to him; and when he was
not far from those places, he saw a deep and hollow cave by the way-side; it
was open to a great length and breadth, and there it was that David with his
four hundred men were concealed. When therefore he had occasion to ease nature,
he entered into it by himself alone; and being seen by one of David's companions,
and he that saw him saying to him, that he had now, by God's providence, an
opportunity of avenging himself of his adversary; and advising him to cut off
his head, and so deliver himself out of that tedious, wandering condition, and
the distress he was in; he rose up, and only cut off the skirt of that garment
which Saul had on: but he soon repented of what he had done; and said it was
not right to kill him that was his master, and one whom God had thought worthy
of the kingdom; "for that although he were wickedly disposed towards us, yet
does it not behoove me to be so disposed towards him." But when Saul had left
the cave, David came near and cried out aloud, and desired Saul to hear him;
whereupon the king turned his face back, and David, according to custom, fell
down on his face before the king, and bowed to him; and said, "O king, thou
oughtest not to hearken to wicked men, nor to such as forge calumnies, nor to
gratify them so far as to believe what they say, nor to entertain suspicions
of such as are your best friends, but to judge of the dispositions of all men
by their actions; for calumny deludes men, but men's own actions are a clear
demonstration of their kindness. Words indeed, in their own nature, may be either
true or false, but men's actions expose their intentions nakedly to our view.
By these, therefore it will be well for thee to believe me, as to my regard
to thee and to thy house, and not to believe those that frame such accusations
against me as never came into my mind, nor are possible to be executed, and
do this further by pursuing after my life, and have no concern either day or
night, but how to compass my life and to murder me, which thing I think thou
dost unjustly prosecute; for how comes it about, that thou hast embraced this
false opinion about me, as if I had a desire to kill thee? Or how canst thou
escape the crime of impiety towards God, when thou wishest thou couldst kill,
and deemest thine adversary, a man who had it in his power this day to avenge
himself, and to punish thee, but would not do it? nor make use of such an opportunity,
which, if it had fallen out to thee against me, thou hadst not let it slip,
for when I cut off the skirt of thy garment, I could have done the same to thy
head." So he showed him the piece of his garment, and thereby made him agree
to what he said to be true; and added, "I, for certain, have abstained from
taking a just revenge upon thee, yet art thou not ashamed to prosecute me wit