Antiquities of the Jews - Book 6

BOOK VI

Containing the Interval of Thirty-Two Years

From the Death of Eli to the Death of Saul

CHAPTER 1

The Destruction That Came upon the Philistines and Their Land by the Wrath of God, Because They Had Taken the Ark Captive, and How They Sent It Back to the Hebrews

As I said shortly before, when the Philistines captured the ark of the Hebrews, they carried it to Ashdod and placed it beside their god, Dagon, as one of their spoils. The next morning, when they entered the temple to worship their god, they found him lying face down before the ark, as if he had fallen from the base on which he stood. They lifted him up and set him back in his place, but they were troubled by what had happened. Each time they returned to Dagon, they found him lying before the ark in the same posture of worship, and their distress and confusion grew.

At last, God sent a deadly disease upon Ashdod and the surrounding country. The people died of dysentery, a painful sickness that killed them suddenly. Before the soul could leave the body in the usual way, their bowels came out, and they vomited what they had eaten, now spoiled by the disease. Mice also rose from the earth in great numbers and ravaged the land, destroying both its plants and its crops.

The people of Ashdod could no longer endure these troubles. They understood that they were suffering because of the ark, and that their victory and capture of it had brought them no good. So they sent word to the people of Ashkelon, asking them to take the ark. The people of Ashkelon agreed, but they soon suffered the same misery, for the disasters that had struck Ashdod followed the ark to its new home. The people of Ashkelon sent it on to another city, but it brought the same troubles there. Those people, too, sent it to a neighboring city. In this way, the ark passed through all five Philistine cities, as though it demanded these disasters as tribute wherever it went.

Those who had suffered these miseries grew weary of them, while those who had heard about them learned not to welcome the ark, since it exacted so heavy a price. At last, they looked for a way to rid themselves of it. The rulers of the five cities, Gath, Ekron, Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ashdod, met to decide what they should do. At first, they thought it best to send the ark back to its own people. They agreed that God had avenged the ark, and that the troubles had come upon their cities because of it.

Others argued that they should not send it away or blame it for their suffering. The ark, they said, could not have such power over them, for if God had cared so much for it, he would not have let it fall into human hands. They urged the people to be patient and accept what had happened, saying that nature alone could explain their troubles. At certain times, they said, nature brought changes to people, the earth, plants, and everything that grew from the soil.

But the advice that won approval came from men known for their wisdom and good judgment. In their present trouble, these men seemed wiser than the rest. They said the Philistines should neither send the ark away nor keep it without making an offering to God. Instead, they should make five golden images, one for each city, as a thank-offering to God for preserving their lives when the sickness had brought them close to death. They also advised them to make five golden mice like those that had ravaged their land, put them in a bag, and place the bag on the ark.

They were to build a new cart for the ark and harness nursing cows to it. The cows' calves were to be shut away from them, so they could not follow and hinder their mothers. The mothers, missing their calves, would be more likely to return quickly. The Philistines were then to drive the cows carrying the ark to a place where three roads met and leave them there to take whichever road they chose. If they went toward the Hebrews and into their country, the Philistines would know that the ark had caused their troubles. But if the cows took another road, they said, "We will go after it and conclude that it has no such power."

The rulers agreed that this was sound advice, and they acted on it at once. After doing all that had been described, they brought the cart to a place where three roads met and left it there. Then they went away. The cows took the road that led to the Hebrews, as if someone were driving them. The Philistine rulers followed behind, eager to see where the cows would stop and where they would go.

There was a village in the territory of Judah called Beth-shemesh. The cows went there. Though a broad and level plain lay before them, they went no farther and stopped with the cart. The people of the village were overjoyed at the sight. It was summer, and they were out in the fields gathering their crops. As soon as they saw the ark, they stopped their work and ran to the cart. They took down the ark, along with the vessel that held the golden images and mice, and placed them on a rock in the plain. Then they offered a splendid sacrifice to God and held a feast. They also offered the cart and the cows as a burnt offering. When the Philistine rulers saw this, they returned home.

Then God's anger fell upon the people of Beth-shemesh. He struck seventy of them dead because, though they were not priests and had no right to touch the ark, they had approached it. The people mourned those who had died, as anyone would after such a great misfortune from God. Each person grieved for his own relative.

The people acknowledged that they were not worthy to keep the ark among them, so they sent word to the public assembly of the Israelites, telling them that the Philistines had returned it. When the Israelites heard the news, they brought the ark to Kirjath-jearim, a city near Beth-shemesh. A man named Abinadab lived there. He was a Levite by birth and was widely praised for his righteous and religious life. So the people brought the ark to his house, a place fit for God to dwell because a righteous man lived there.

Abinadab's sons served at the ark and were its chief caretakers for twenty years. The ark remained at Kirjath-jearim for that long, after spending only four months among the Philistines.

CHAPTER 2

The Philistines' Expedition Against the Hebrews, and the Hebrews' Victory Under Samuel the Prophet, Their General

While the ark remained in Kirjathjearim, the people devoted themselves to prayers and sacrifices to God. They showed great zeal and concern for his worship. Seeing how ready they were to do their duty, Samuel the prophet thought it was the right time to speak to them about recovering their freedom and the blessings that came with it. He chose the words most likely to stir their desire and persuade them to act.

"O Israelites," he said, "the Philistines remain your bitter enemies, but God is beginning to show you favor. You must do more than wish for freedom. You must take the proper steps to gain it. You cannot hope to escape your masters while continuing to do the things that keep you under their rule. Be righteous, then. Cast wickedness out of your hearts, worship the Divine Majesty with all your strength, and remain faithful in honoring him. If you do this, you will prosper, be freed from slavery, and defeat your enemies. You cannot win these blessings through weapons, physical strength, or a large army of supporters. God has not promised them by such means, but to those who are good and righteous. If you become such people, I will guarantee that God will fulfill his promises to you."

The people applauded Samuel's words and welcomed his counsel. They agreed to devote themselves to doing what pleased God. Samuel then gathered them at a city called Mizpeh, a name that means "watchtower" in Hebrew. There they drew water and poured it out before God, fasted through the day, and prayed.

The Philistines heard about the gathering. When they learned that a great crowd had assembled, they marched against the Hebrews with a large and powerful army, hoping to catch them by surprise before they could prepare. The Hebrews were frightened and thrown into confusion. They ran to Samuel and told him that fear and the memory of their former defeat had worn them down. They said, "That is why we held back, afraid of provoking our enemies. Now you have brought us here to pray, offer sacrifices, and swear our obedience, but our enemies are marching against us while we are unarmed and unprepared. We have no hope of deliverance except through you and the help God will give us in answer to your prayers."

Samuel told them to take courage and promised that God would help them. He took a young lamb and sacrificed it for the people, then prayed that God would protect them when they fought the Philistines, and would neither abandon them nor let them suffer another defeat. God heard his prayer. He accepted their sacrifice with favor and granted them victory over their enemies.

While the sacrifice still lay on the altar and had not yet been consumed by the sacred fire, the Philistine army left its camp and formed for battle. The Philistines expected to win, since they believed the Hebrews were caught in a desperate position, without weapons and gathered for worship rather than war. But what happened would scarcely have been believed, even if someone had foretold it. First, God troubled the Philistines with an earthquake, shaking the ground beneath them. Some could not keep their footing and fell; others were swept into cracks that opened in the earth. Then thunder crashed among them, and fiery lightning blazed all around, seeming ready to burn their faces. God also struck the weapons from their hands, and they fled home unarmed.

Samuel and the people pursued them as far as Bethcar. There Samuel set up a stone to mark their victory and the enemy's flight, and named it the Stone of Power, in memory of the power God had given them over their enemies.

After this defeat, the Philistines no longer marched against the Israelites. Fear and the memory of what had happened kept them at rest. The courage the Philistines had once shown against the Hebrews now belonged to the Hebrews instead. Samuel also led an expedition against the Philistines, killed many of them, and humbled their pride. He took back the territory they had seized from the Jews when they won their earlier battles, the land stretching from the borders of Gath to the city of Ekron. At that time, the remaining Canaanites were at peace with the Israelites.

CHAPTER 3

How Samuel, Grown Too Old to Manage Public Affairs, Entrusted Them to His Sons; How Their Misrule Angered the People, Who Demanded a King, Though Samuel Was Greatly Displeased

After Samuel had arranged the people's affairs in an orderly way, he assigned a city to each district. He directed the people to come to these cities whenever they had disputes, so their cases could be settled there. Twice each year, he traveled through the cities and judged the people himself. In this way, he kept the nation well ordered for a long time.

But as Samuel grew old, he no longer had the strength to do what he once had. So he entrusted the government and care of the people to his sons. The elder was named Joel, and the younger, Abiah. He ordered them to live in separate cities and judge the people, one at Bethel and the other at Beersheba. He also divided the people into districts, placing each under the authority of one of his sons.

These men show clearly that children do not always share their parents' character. Sometimes people who are good and moderate are born to wicked parents, while those born to good parents may turn out wicked. Samuel's sons abandoned their father's good ways and chose the opposite path. They twisted justice for the sake of gifts and bribes, and they gave judgments according to what they received, not according to the truth. They also turned to luxury and an extravagant way of life. First, they acted against the will of God; then they acted against the will of their father, the prophet, who had worked with great care to make the people righteous.

The people were deeply troubled by the harm Samuel's sons had done to the government and the order he had established. They hurried to Samuel, who was then living in Ramah, and told him how his sons had broken the law. They said that he was old and too weak to oversee their affairs as he once had, and they begged him to appoint a king to rule the nation and defend them against the Philistines, who deserved punishment for their past oppression.

Their words greatly distressed Samuel. He loved justice and hated kingly government, for he favored aristocracy, which he believed made those who lived under it godly and happy. His worry and anguish kept him from eating or sleeping. He stayed awake all night, turning their request over in his mind.

While Samuel was in this state, God appeared to him and comforted him. He told Samuel not to be troubled by what the people had asked, for they had not rejected Samuel, but God Himself, by refusing to have Him as their only king. They had been plotting this course ever since they came out of Egypt. Before long, they would bitterly regret what they had done, but their regret could not undo the consequences. They would be punished for their contempt and for their ungrateful treatment of God and Samuel's prophetic office.

"Therefore, appoint for them the man I will name to you as their king," God said. "But first explain the harms that kingly rule will bring upon them, and warn them openly of the great change they are rushing toward."

When Samuel heard this, he called the Jews together early the next morning. He told them he would appoint a king, but first he would explain what would follow and what they would suffer under their kings.

"Know this," he said. "First, the king will take your sons from you. He will make some drive his chariots, others serve as horsemen and bodyguards, and others run before him. He will appoint some as commanders of thousands and others as commanders of hundreds. He will also make them craftsmen, to build weapons, chariots, and other equipment. He will put them to work as farmers, tending his fields and vineyards. They will have to obey every command, as if they were slaves bought with money.

"He will also take your daughters to work as confectioners, cooks, and bakers. They will be forced to do every kind of work that women who are slaves, and fear beatings and torture, are made to do. He will take your possessions and give them to his eunuchs and bodyguards. He will take your herds and give them to his servants. In short, you and all you own will belong to your king, and you will be no better off than his slaves.

"When you suffer these things, you will remember what I have told you. You will regret your choice and beg God to have mercy on you and free you quickly from your kings. But He will not listen to your prayers. He will turn away from you and let you suffer the punishment your wicked actions deserve."

Yet the people were so foolish that they ignored Samuel's warnings about what would happen. They were too stubborn to give up a decision they had already made unwisely. Nothing could turn them from their purpose, and they paid no attention to Samuel's words. They insisted that he appoint a king at once and stop worrying about what might happen later. They said they needed someone to fight their battles and avenge them on their enemies. Since their neighbors lived under kings, they saw no reason they should not have the same form of government.

When Samuel saw that his words had not changed their minds and that they remained determined, he said, "Go home for now. When the time is right, I will send for you, after I have learned from God whom He will give you as king."

CHAPTER 4

The Israelites Receive a King Named Saul by God's Command

Kish was a man of good family and upright character, from the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was a handsome young man, tall in stature, and his good sense and character were even better than his appearance.

Kish owned some fine female donkeys that had wandered away from their pasture. He valued them more than his other livestock, so he sent Saul and one servant to search for them. Saul searched throughout his own tribe, then through other tribes, but found nothing. At last, he decided to return home before his father began to worry about him.

As they neared the city of Ramah, Saul's servant told him that a true prophet lived there. He urged Saul to visit the prophet, saying that the prophet might tell them what had happened to the donkeys. Saul replied that they had no gift to offer him as payment for his prophecy, since they had spent all the money they had brought. The servant answered that he still had a quarter of a shekel and would give it to the prophet. They did not know that the prophet accepted no such payment.

They went to the city, and near the gate they met some young women who were going to draw water. Saul and his servant asked where the prophet lived. The women pointed out his house and told them to hurry, before he sat down to supper. He had invited many guests to a feast and usually sat down before they arrived.

Samuel had gathered the guests for this very reason. Each day, he prayed that God would tell him whom He had chosen to be king. The day before, God had told him that a young man from the tribe of Benjamin would come at about that time. Samuel waited for him on the roof of his house. When the appointed hour came, Samuel went down to supper. There he met Saul, and God revealed to him that Saul was the man who would rule the Israelites.

Saul approached Samuel and greeted him. He asked where the prophet's house was, explaining that he was a stranger and did not know the way. Samuel told him that he himself was the prophet. Then he led Saul inside and assured him that the donkeys had been found. He also told him that great blessings awaited him.

Saul replied, "I am too unimportant to expect such things. My tribe is too small to produce kings, and my family is smaller than many others. You must be joking and making fun of me by speaking of such great matters when I came only to ask about the donkeys."

Still, Samuel led Saul to the feast and seated him and his servant above the other guests, who numbered seventy. He ordered the servants to place the royal portion of the meal before Saul. When it was time to go to bed, the other guests left for their homes. Saul and his servant stayed with Samuel and slept there.

At daybreak, Samuel woke Saul and escorted him on his way home. When they had left the city, Samuel asked Saul to send his servant ahead and remain behind with him, since he had something to say in private. Saul sent the servant on, and Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it over the young man's head, and kissed him.

Then Samuel said, "God has chosen you to be king, to fight the Philistines and avenge the wrongs they have done to the Hebrews. You will know this is so by the signs I am about to tell you. When you leave here, you will meet three men on the road to Bethel, going to worship God. The first will carry three loaves of bread, the second a young goat, and the third a wineskin. They will greet you warmly and give you two loaves of bread. Accept them.

"From there, you will go to a place called Rachel's Monument. There you will meet people who will tell you that the donkeys have been found. After that, when you reach Gabatha, you will meet a company of prophets. God's Spirit will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them. Everyone who sees you will be astonished and ask, 'How has the son of Kish come to such good fortune?' When these signs have come to pass, you will know that God is with you. Then go home to your father and family.

"You must also come to me at Gilgal when I send for you, so that we may offer thank offerings to God for these blessings."

After Samuel had spoken and foretold these things, he sent Saul on his way. Everything happened to Saul just as Samuel had said.

When Saul arrived at the home of his relative Abner, whom he loved more than his other relatives, Abner asked him about his journey and what had happened along the way. Saul told him everything except the matter of the kingdom. He explained that he had visited Samuel and that the prophet had told him the donkeys were found, but he said nothing about becoming king.

Saul believed that speaking of the kingdom would make Abner envious, and that such a claim would be hard to believe. Even though Abner seemed friendly and was the relative Saul loved most, Saul did not think it wise to tell him. I suppose Saul understood human nature: no one, not even a close friend or relative, remains a firm friend when God raises another person to great prosperity. People still grow resentful and envious of those who rise to high positions.

Samuel called the people together at the city of Mizpeh and told them what God had commanded him to say:

"When I gave you freedom and subdued your enemies, you forgot the benefits I had given you. You rejected God as your king, even though it would have been best for you to be ruled by the greatest of all beings. God is the greatest of all. You chose instead to have a man as king. Kings may treat their subjects like beasts, ruled by their own violence, desires, and lust for power. They will not care for humankind as God's own creation, as God does.

"But you have made your decision, and your mistreatment of God has prevailed. Now arrange yourselves by tribes and families, and cast lots."

The Israelites did as Samuel said, and the lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin. They cast lots among the families of that tribe, and the family of Matri was chosen. Then they cast lots among the members of that family, and Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen as king.

When Saul learned this, he left at once and hid himself, before anyone could summon him. I suppose he did this because he did not want people to think he had willingly seized power. His self-control and modesty were remarkable. Most people cannot hide their joy even when they gain some small advantage, and they quickly make themselves known to everyone. But Saul had been chosen to rule so many great tribes, and he showed none of that eagerness. Instead, he slipped away and hid from the very people he was to govern, leaving them to search for him with great difficulty.

When the people became anxious because Saul was missing, Samuel asked God to reveal where the young man was and bring him before them. God showed them where Saul was hiding, and they sent men to fetch him. When Saul arrived, they placed him among the people. He was taller than anyone else there, and his appearance was majestic.

Samuel said, "God has given you this man as your king. Look at him: he is taller than any of the people and worthy of this rule."

The people then cried out, "Long live the king!" Samuel wrote down what would happen and read it before the king. He placed the book in God's tabernacle, where it would stand as a witness for future generations to what he had foretold.

When Samuel had finished, he dismissed the people and returned to Ramah, his own city. Saul went to Gibeah, where he had been born. Many good men showed him the respect due to a king. But most of the people were wicked. They despised Saul and mocked those who honored him. They brought him no gifts and showed him no kindness, either in their words or their actions.

CHAPTER 5

Saul's Campaign Against the Ammonites, His Victory, and the Spoils He Took

A month later, Saul's war against Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had won him the respect of all the people. Nahash had done great harm to the Jews who lived east of the Jordan. He had marched against them with a large, well-armed army and brought their cities into slavery. He did more than conquer them by force. He weakened them through deceit, so they would have little hope of escaping his rule later. He put out the right eyes of those who surrendered to him or fell into his hands in battle. He did this so that, when they covered their left eyes with their shields, they would be useless in war.

After treating the people east of the Jordan in this way, Nahash led his army against the Gileadites. He camped before their chief city, Jabesh, and sent messengers with this command: the Gileadites must surrender, and he would put out their right eyes, or he would lay siege to their cities and destroy them. He gave them a choice between losing a small part of their bodies and perishing altogether. The Gileadites were so frightened by these terms that they could not answer him. They neither agreed to surrender nor declared that they would fight. Instead, they asked for seven days to send messengers to their countrymen and beg for help. If help came, they would fight. If no one could assist them, they would surrender and accept whatever punishment Nahash chose.

Nahash looked down on the Gileadites and their answer, so he granted them the seven days and allowed them to seek help wherever they could. The Gileadites at once sent messengers throughout Israel, city by city, telling the people what Nahash had threatened and how dire their situation was.

When the people heard the messengers from Jabesh, they wept and grieved. Their fear left them unable to do anything else. When the messengers reached Saul's city and told its people of the danger facing Jabesh, they too were overcome with sorrow for their kin. Saul had been working in the fields. When he returned to the city and saw his fellow citizens weeping, he asked what had happened. After learning the cause of their grief, he was seized by a divine fury. He sent the messengers of Jabesh back with a promise: he would come to their aid on the third day and defeat their enemies before sunrise, so that the rising sun would find them already victorious and free of fear. He told some of the messengers to stay and guide him to Jabesh.

Saul wanted to gather the people quickly for war against the Ammonites, so he warned them of the losses they would suffer if they failed to come. He cut the sinews of his oxen and threatened to do the same to the oxen of anyone who did not come armed to the Jordan the next day and follow him and the prophet Samuel wherever they led. Fear of this threat brought the people together at the appointed time. Saul counted them at Bezek. Apart from the tribe of Judah, the number came to seven hundred thousand. The men of Judah numbered seventy thousand.

Saul crossed the Jordan and marched thirty furlongs through the night, reaching Jabesh before sunrise. He divided his army into three companies and attacked the Ammonites from every side, catching them by surprise. They fought and killed many of the Ammonites, including their king, Nahash.

Saul's victory won great praise throughout Israel and brought him a remarkable reputation for courage. Some people had once despised him, but now they changed their minds and honored him as the best of men. Saul did not stop after saving the people of Jabesh. He marched into Ammonite territory, laid waste to the country, took a great deal of spoil, and returned home in triumph.

The people rejoiced at Saul's success and were glad they had made him king. They called for those who had claimed he would be of no use to them, demanding that such men be brought to punishment. People often speak this way when success lifts their spirits, turning against those they had recently scorned. Saul welcomed the people's affection, but he swore that not one of his countrymen would be killed that day. It would be wrong, he said, to mix the victory God had given them with the blood of their own kin. They should show goodwill toward one another and celebrate with a feast.

Samuel told the people that Saul's kingdom should be confirmed through a second anointing. At his command, they gathered at Gilgal. There, in front of the assembled people, the prophet anointed Saul with holy oil and declared him king for the second time.

The Hebrews' government had now become a monarchy. In the days of Moses and Joshua, his successor as general, they had lived under an aristocratic government. After Joshua's death, they had no settled government for eighteen years and lived in anarchy. Then they returned to their former way of rule, allowing the man who seemed the bravest and most skilled in war to judge them. They called that period the time of the Judges.

Samuel the prophet called another assembly and said to the people, "I charge you before Almighty God, who brought our great forefathers Moses and Aaron into the world and freed our fathers from Egypt and their slavery there: do not speak to please me, hide anything out of fear, or let any other feeling control you. Tell me plainly, have I ever acted cruelly or unjustly? Have I ever taken anything out of greed or to please another person? Bear witness against me if I have taken an ox, a sheep, or anything else from anyone. Even taking such things for one's own support is considered blameless. Have I taken anyone's donkey for my own use and caused its owner sorrow? Lay any such charge against me now, in the presence of your king."

The people cried out that Samuel had done no such thing. He had governed the nation in a holy and righteous way.

After they had all given this testimony, Samuel said, "Since you admit that you have no charge against me, listen as I speak to you freely. You have greatly offended God by asking for a king. Remember that our forefather Jacob came down to Egypt during a famine with only seventy members of his family. Their descendants multiplied there into many tens of thousands, but the Egyptians enslaved them and treated them cruelly. When our fathers prayed, God sent Moses and Aaron, brothers, and gave them the power to free the people from their suffering. They did this without a king. They led us into the very land you now possess.

"After God gave you these blessings, you turned away from his worship and his law. Yet when your enemies oppressed you, he rescued you. He gave you victory over the Assyrians and their armies, then over the Ammonites and Moabites, and finally over the Philistines. Jephthah and Gideon led you in these victories. Why, then, did you foolishly turn from God and ask for a king? Still, I have appointed as your king the man God chose for you.

"To show you that God is angry with your choice of a king, I will ask him to send a sign unlike anything you have seen here before: a winter storm in the middle of the harvest."

As soon as Samuel finished speaking, God sent thunder, lightning, and hail. These signs confirmed all that the prophet had said. The people were amazed and terrified. They confessed that they had sinned through ignorance and begged Samuel, whom they regarded as a kind and gentle father, to ask God to forgive this sin, which they had added to their other offenses against him.

Samuel promised to pray for them and ask God to forgive them. He urged them to live righteously and do good, and always remember the troubles that had come upon them when they turned away from virtue. He also told them to remember the signs God had shown them and the laws Moses had given them, if they wished to live in safety and prosper under their king. If they neglected these things, he warned, God would send great judgments upon them and their king.

After Samuel had delivered this prophecy, he sent the Hebrews back to their homes. Saul's kingdom had been confirmed for the second time.

CHAPTER 6

How the Philistines Made Another Expedition Against the Hebrews and Were Defeated

Saul chose three thousand men from among the people. He kept two thousand as his personal guard and stayed with them in Bethel. He gave the remaining thousand to his son Jonathan, who went to Gibeah. There Jonathan attacked and captured a Philistine garrison near Gilgal. The Philistines at Gibeah had already defeated the Jews, taken their weapons, and placed garrisons in the strongest positions throughout the country. They had also forbidden the Hebrews to carry or use any iron, or to make anything from it. Because of this ban, whenever farmers needed to sharpen a plowshare, a spade, or any other tool, they had to go to the Philistines.

When the Philistines heard that Jonathan had destroyed their garrison, they were furious. They treated the attack as a grave insult and went to war against the Jews with three hundred thousand foot soldiers, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen. They camped at Michmash. When Saul, king of the Hebrews, learned of their arrival, he went down to Gilgal and sent word throughout the land, calling the people to fight for their freedom. He played down the size of the Philistine force and urged the people to face it in battle. But when they saw how numerous the Philistines were, they panicked. Some hid in caves and underground shelters, while most fled across the Jordan into the land of Gad and Reuben.

Saul sent for the prophet Samuel to consult him about the war and the affairs of the kingdom. Samuel told him to wait there and prepare sacrifices. He would come within seven days, and on the seventh day they would offer sacrifices before going to battle. Saul waited, as Samuel had instructed him. But when Samuel did not arrive as soon as he expected, and Saul saw his soldiers leaving, he took the sacrifices and offered them himself. When he heard that Samuel had arrived, Saul went out to meet him.

Samuel told Saul that he had acted wrongly by disobeying his command and failing to wait. Samuel had come at the time God had appointed, but Saul had acted too soon and performed the prayers and sacrifices that should have been offered for the people. He had carried out these sacred duties improperly and had acted rashly.

Saul defended himself. He said he had waited the full number of days Samuel had named, but had offered the sacrifices because he was in urgent need. His soldiers were deserting out of fear of the Philistine camp at Michmash, and word had spread that the enemy was coming down upon them at Gilgal.

Samuel replied, "If you had been a righteous man, and had obeyed me instead of disregarding the commands God gave me about these events, you would have been allowed to reign for a long time, and your descendants after you."

Grieved by what had happened, Samuel went home. Saul returned to Gibeah with his son Jonathan and only six hundred men. Most of them had no weapons, since the country had little iron and few people who knew how to make weapons from it. As we said earlier, the Philistines had forbidden the Hebrews to possess iron or employ workers who could make weapons.

The Philistines split their army into three forces and sent them along separate routes, ravaging the Hebrew lands. Saul and Jonathan watched but could do nothing to defend the country with only six hundred men. They sat on a high hill with Abiah, the high priest, who was descended from Eli the high priest, and were deeply troubled as they watched the land being destroyed.

Saul's son agreed with his armor-bearer that they would slip into the enemy camp and throw it into confusion. The armor-bearer readily promised to follow him wherever he went, even if the attempt cost him his life. With the young man's help, Jonathan went down from the hill and approached the enemy.

The Philistine camp stood on a steep rock with three peaks, each ending in a narrow, sharp ridge. A rock wall surrounded the camp, like a line of defense against an enemy attack. Because of the strength of the position, the guards had been careless. They thought it was impossible for anyone to climb up from that side or even get close to the camp.

When they reached the camp, Jonathan encouraged his armor-bearer. "Let's attack them," he said. "If they see us and tell us to climb up to them, take that as a sign that we'll win. But if they say nothing and don't invite us up, we'll turn back."

They came near the camp just after daybreak. When the Philistines saw them, they said to one another, "The Hebrews are coming out of their caves and hiding places." Then they called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us, and we'll teach you a lesson for daring to attack us."

Jonathan took this as a sign of victory. He moved away from the place where the Philistines could see him and made his way to the rock, which had no guards because the position seemed so secure. With great effort and difficulty, the two men climbed up and overcame the natural defenses of the place. Then they attacked the Philistines, who were asleep, and killed about twenty of them.

The sudden attack threw the camp into panic. Some Philistines abandoned their armor and ran. Most of the soldiers came from different nations and did not recognize one another, so they suspected each other of being enemies. They could not imagine that only two Hebrews had climbed up to the camp. They began fighting among themselves. Some were killed in the fighting, while others fell headlong from the rock as they tried to escape.

Saul's watchmen told him that the Philistine camp was in confusion. He asked whether anyone had left the Hebrew army. When he learned that his son and Jonathan's armor-bearer were missing, he ordered the high priest to put on his priestly garments and seek God's guidance about the outcome. The priest told him they would win and overcome their enemies.

Saul then went after the Philistines and attacked them as they fought among themselves. Those who had hidden in caves and shelters heard that Saul was winning and came running to join him. When the Hebrew force gathered around Saul reached about ten thousand men, he pursued the Philistines, who were scattered across the country.

Then Saul did something deeply regrettable, for which he deserved much blame. Perhaps he acted without thinking, or perhaps his unexpected victory filled him with excitement. People who are suddenly successful often fail to use good judgment. Eager to avenge himself on the Philistines and punish them, Saul placed a curse on the Hebrews. He declared that anyone who stopped pursuing and killing the enemy to eat before nightfall would be cursed.

After Saul spoke this curse, the army entered a wooded area in Ephraim that was thick with trees and full of bees. Saul's son had not heard his father's curse or the people's approval of it. He broke off a piece of honeycomb and ate some honey. Then he was told that his father had forbidden anyone to eat before sunset under penalty of a curse. Jonathan stopped eating and said his father had acted foolishly. If the men had eaten something, they would have pursued the enemy with more strength and energy, and would have captured and killed many more of them.

The Hebrews killed many tens of thousands of Philistines. Only late in the evening did they turn to plundering the enemy camp. They took a great deal of spoil and livestock, killed the animals, and ate them with the blood still in them.

The king's scribes told Saul that the people were sinning against God by eating the sacrifices before the blood had been drained and the meat cleaned. Saul ordered a large stone brought into the middle of the camp and announced that the people must slaughter their animals on it. They were not to eat the meat with the blood, since that was not pleasing to God. The people obeyed the king. Saul then built an altar there and offered burnt offerings to God. This was the first altar Saul built.

Saul wanted to lead his men to the enemy camp before daybreak and plunder it. The soldiers were eager to follow his orders. The king called for Ahitub the high priest and told him to ask God whether he would grant them permission to attack the camp and destroy the Philistines inside it.

When the priest received no answer, Saul said, "God's silence must have a reason. A short time ago, he answered everything we asked and even gave us his answer before we could ask. Some hidden sin must be the cause. I swear by God himself that even if Jonathan, my own son, has committed this sin, I will kill him. I will appease God's anger by punishing him just as I would punish a stranger who had done the same thing."

The people urged Saul to go ahead. He separated everyone else from himself and his son, then used lots to find the guilty person. The lot fell on Jonathan. Saul asked him what he had done, and what sin or irreverence he knew himself to have committed. Jonathan answered, "Father, I did nothing more than taste some honey from a honeycomb yesterday, while pursuing the enemy. I didn't know about your curse and oath."

Saul swore that he would kill Jonathan, choosing to keep his oath rather than honor the bonds of family and nature. Jonathan was not shaken by the threat. He offered himself without fear, saying, "Father, don't spare me. I will gladly die at your hands if it comes from your devotion to God and after such a glorious victory. My greatest comfort is that I will leave the Hebrews victorious over the Philistines."

The people were grieved and distressed for Jonathan. They swore they would not stand by and let him die, since he had brought about their victory. In this way they rescued him from the curse his father had pronounced. They also prayed to God to forgive the young man for his sin.

Saul killed about sixty thousand of the enemy, then returned to his city and reigned prosperously. He fought the neighboring nations and subdued the Ammonites, Moabites, Philistines, Edomites, and Amalekites, as well as the king of Zobah. He had three sons, Jonathan, Isui, and Melchishua, and two daughters, Merab and Michal.

Saul made Abner, his cousin, commander of the army. Abner's father was Ner, who was the brother of Kish, Saul's father. Saul also had many chariots and horsemen. He returned victorious from every war he fought, greatly increasing the success and prosperity of the Hebrews and making them stronger than the surrounding nations. He chose tall, handsome young men to serve as his personal guards.

CHAPTER 7

Saul's War Against the Amalekites and His Conquest of Them

Samuel came to Saul and told him that God had sent him to remind Saul that He had chosen him above all others and appointed him king. Saul, therefore, was bound to obey God and submit to His authority. Though Saul ruled over the tribes, God ruled over him and over all things.

Samuel then delivered God's command: "The Amalekites greatly harmed the Hebrews in the wilderness, as they were leaving Egypt and making their way to the land they now possess. I command you to punish them by making war against them. Once you have defeated them, leave none alive. Pursue them through every generation and kill them, beginning with the women and infants. This is the punishment they must suffer for the harm they did to our ancestors. Spare nothing, not even the donkeys or any other animals. Keep nothing for yourselves. Devote everything to God, and, as Moses commanded, wipe out the name of Amalek completely."

Saul promised to carry out the command. He believed his obedience would be shown not only by going to war against the Amalekites, but also by acting quickly. So he gathered his forces without delay. When he counted them at Gilgal, he found about four hundred thousand men of Israel, not including the tribe of Judah, which had thirty thousand men of its own.

Saul invaded Amalekite territory and stationed groups of men in ambush along the river. He planned to attack the enemy in open battle, surprise them on the roads, surround them, and kill them. When he joined battle, he defeated the Amalekites. He pursued them as they fled and destroyed them all.

After this victory, which had gone as God had foretold, Saul attacked the Amalekite cities. He laid siege to them and captured them by force, using war machines, tunnels dug beneath the ground, and walls built around them. Some cities surrendered when famine set in; he took others by different means. At last, Saul killed the women and children. He believed this was neither cruel nor inhuman, first because they were his enemies, and also because God had commanded it, and it was dangerous to disobey Him.

Saul took Agag, the Amalekite king, prisoner. He admired Agag's handsome appearance and great height, and thought him worthy of being spared. But this was not God's will. Saul gave in to human feeling and showed compassion at a time when it was unsafe to do so. God hated the Amalekites so greatly that He had commanded Saul to spare no one, not even the infants whom people naturally pity most. Yet Saul saved their king and ruler from the suffering the Hebrews had brought upon his people, as though Agag's appearance mattered more to him than the command God had given.

The people were also guilty, for they spared the herds and flocks and took them as plunder, though God had commanded them to leave nothing alive. They carried off the rest of the Amalekites' wealth as well, destroying only what they considered worthless.

Saul defeated all the Amalekites whose lands stretched from Pelusium in Egypt to the Red Sea, then laid waste to the rest of their territory. But he did not harm the Shechemites, though they lived in the middle of the land of Midian. Before the battle, Saul had warned them to leave, so they would not share the Amalekites' fate. He had good reason to spare them, since they were related to Raguel, Moses' father-in-law.

Saul returned home pleased with his victories and the defeat of his enemies. He thought he had left nothing undone that the prophet had commanded before the campaign, and that he had followed every instruction exactly.

But God was grieved that Saul had spared the Amalekite king and that the people had taken the animals as plunder without His permission. God considered it unbearable that the Israelites should defeat their enemies by the power He had given them, only to show such open contempt for Him afterward. Even a human king would not accept being treated with such disrespect.

So God told Samuel the prophet that He regretted making Saul king, because Saul had ignored His commands and followed his own wishes. When Samuel heard this, he was distressed. All night he pleaded with God to be reconciled to Saul and not punish him. But God did not grant the prophet's request. He did not think it right to forgive such sins merely because Samuel asked. Those who have been wronged allow offenses to grow when they forgive too easily. And when they seek praise for being gentle and kind, they may encourage further wrongdoing before they realize it.

When God had refused Samuel's plea and made it clear that He would not change His decision, Samuel went to Saul at Gilgal at daybreak. The king saw him, ran to meet him, embraced him, and said, "I thank God, who has given me victory. I have done everything He commanded me."

Samuel replied, "Then why do I hear sheep bleating and cattle lowing in the camp?"

Saul answered that the people had kept the animals for sacrifices. As for the Amalekites, he said, they had been completely destroyed, just as he had been commanded, and no one had been left alive except the king. Saul had brought Agag to Samuel, he said, so they could decide together what to do with him.

But Samuel said, "God takes no pleasure in sacrifices. He delights in good and righteous people who obey His will and laws, and who consider nothing well done unless they have done exactly as He commanded. God does not feel dishonored when someone fails to offer a sacrifice. He is dishonored when someone disobeys Him.

"He will not accept offerings from those who refuse to obey Him or give Him the only worship He truly desires, no matter how many or how rich those offerings are. Even gifts made of gold and silver will be rejected. He will regard them as signs of wickedness, not devotion. God delights in those who keep one thing above all else in mind: to do whatever He declares or commands. They would rather die than break any of His commands. He does not even require a sacrifice from them. And when they do offer one, He accepts a poor person's small gift more readily than rich offerings from the wealthiest people.

"Know, then, that God is angry with you because you have rejected and disobeyed His command. How can you expect Him to accept a sacrifice made from things He ordered destroyed? Do you think offering them to God is much different from destroying them? You should expect your kingdom to be taken from you, along with the authority you have abused by acting so arrogantly and neglecting the God who gave it to you."

Saul admitted that he had acted wrongly and did not deny his sin or his disobedience to the prophet's command. But he said he had been afraid of the soldiers and had not dared to stop them from taking the plunder. "Forgive me," he said, "and show me mercy. I will be careful not to offend again."

He also asked Samuel to return with him so he could offer thanks to God. But Samuel went away, for he saw that God would not be reconciled to Saul.

Saul wanted Samuel to stay so badly that he grabbed the prophet's cloak. Samuel was leaving in haste, and the cloak tore in Saul's hand. The prophet said that in the same way, the kingdom would be torn from Saul and given to a good and just man. God would not change what He had decided. Being fickle and changing one's mind belongs to human nature, not to divine power.

Saul admitted that he had acted wickedly, but said that nothing could undo what had happened. He asked Samuel to honor him by going with him, so the people would see that Samuel joined him in worshipping God. Samuel granted this request and went with him to worship.

They also brought Agag, the king of the Amalekites, before Samuel. When Agag asked how bitter death was, Samuel said, "You caused many Hebrew mothers to mourn their children. Now your death will make your own mother mourn you." He then ordered Agag to be killed at Gilgal and went back to the city of Ramah.

CHAPTER 8

After Saul Disobeyed the Prophet's Commands, Samuel Secretly Anointed David as King, as God Had Instructed Him

Saul understood the misery he had brought upon himself and knew he had made God his enemy. He returned to his royal palace at Gibeah, a name meaning "hill," and from that day on he never again appeared before the prophet.

While Samuel mourned for Saul, God told him to put aside his grief, take the holy oil, and go to Bethlehem, to Jesse the son of Obed. There, God would show him which of Jesse's sons to anoint as the next king. Samuel feared Saul would learn of the matter and kill him, whether secretly or in the open. God showed him a safe way to make the journey, so Samuel went to Bethlehem. The people greeted him and asked why he had come. He told them he was there to offer a sacrifice to God.

After the sacrifice was prepared, Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to take part. When he saw Jesse's eldest son, a tall and handsome young man, he thought his appearance made him a likely choice for king. But Samuel had misunderstood God's purpose. When he asked God whether he should anoint the young man he admired, God answered, "People do not see as God sees. You look at this young man's fine appearance and think him worthy of the kingdom. But I grant the kingdom as a reward, not for a handsome body, but for a virtuous soul. I seek one who is truly beautiful in piety, justice, courage, and obedience, for these are the qualities that make the soul beautiful."

After hearing this, Samuel told Jesse to bring out all his sons. Jesse presented five more. Eliab was the eldest, Aminadab the second, Shammall the third, Nathaniel the fourth, Rael the fifth, and Asam the sixth. Their appearance was no less impressive than their eldest brother's, so Samuel asked God which one He had chosen to rule. God said none of them was the one.

Samuel then asked Jesse whether he had any other sons. Jesse replied that he had one more, David, who was tending the flocks. Samuel told him to call David at once, since they could not sit down to the feast until he arrived.

Jesse sent for David, and when he came, Samuel saw that he had a ruddy complexion, sharp eyes, and a handsome appearance. "This is the one God has chosen to be our king," Samuel said to himself. He sat down to the feast and placed David below him, along with Jesse and Jesse's other sons. Then, in David's presence, Samuel took the oil and anointed him. He whispered to David that God had chosen him to be king. Samuel urged him to act justly and obey God's commands. If he did, his kingdom would endure for a long time, his house would become great and renowned, and he would defeat the Philistines. Whatever nations he fought, he would win and survive the battles. He would enjoy a glorious name during his life and leave that name to his descendants.

After giving David these instructions, Samuel went away. The divine power left Saul and came upon David, who then began to prophesy. Saul, meanwhile, was seized by strange, demonic afflictions that caused choking fits and left him close to suffocating. His physicians could find only one remedy. They advised Saul to seek someone who could calm these fits by singing and playing the harp. When the affliction came upon him, that person should stand over him, play the harp, and sing hymns.

Saul acted at once and ordered his servants to find such a person. One of those present said he had seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem. Though still young, the boy was handsome, worthy of respect in every other way, skilled at playing the harp and singing hymns, and an excellent soldier. Saul sent for Jesse and asked him to take David away from the flocks and send him to the king. Saul wanted to see him because he had heard good things about his appearance and courage. Jesse sent David with gifts for Saul.

When David arrived, Saul was pleased with him and made him his armor-bearer. He held David in high regard because David could calm his afflictions. Whenever the demons troubled Saul, David played the harp and sang hymns until Saul regained his senses. Saul sent word to Jesse, David's father, asking him to let David stay at court, since he enjoyed the boy's presence and company. Jesse agreed, so as not to oppose Saul.

CHAPTER 9

How the Philistines Made Another Expedition Against the Hebrews Under Saul, and How David Defeated Them by Slaying Goliath in Single Combat

Not long afterward, the Philistines gathered a great army and went to war against the Israelites. They took up a position between Shochoh and Azekah and set up camp there. Saul also assembled his army and marched out to meet them. He camped on a hill, forcing the Philistines to leave their first position and camp on another hill across from him. A valley lay between the two hills and separated the armies.

A man named Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. He was from the city of Gath and stood four cubits and a span tall. His weapons were made to fit his enormous size. He wore a breastplate weighing five thousand shekels, along with a helmet and bronze greaves large enough to cover his limbs. His spear was so heavy that he carried it resting on his shoulder rather than holding it lightly in his right hand. Its head weighed six hundred shekels, and several men followed him to carry his armor.

Goliath stepped out between the two armies and shouted to Saul and the Hebrews, "Why should your whole army fight and risk being defeated? Choose one man to come down and fight me. The winner will decide the war, and the loser's people will serve the winner's people. It is better and wiser to settle this by risking one man than by putting both armies in danger."

After speaking, he returned to his camp. The next day he came out again and made the same challenge. He kept doing this for forty days, calling on the Hebrews to send someone against him. Saul and his army were terrified. They formed their ranks as if they meant to fight, but they never advanced into battle.

While the war between the Hebrews and the Philistines continued, Saul sent David home to his father, Jesse. He kept Jesse's three older sons with him, since they had come to help and share in the dangers of the war. David returned to tending his father's sheep and flocks.

Some time later, Jesse sent David to the Hebrew camp with provisions for his brothers and instructions to find out how they were doing. As David spoke with them, Goliath came out again and challenged the Hebrews, mocking them because none of their men dared to fight him.

David heard the Philistine insulting the army and grew angry. He said to his brothers, "I am ready to fight this man in single combat."

Eliab, his oldest brother, rebuked him. He said David was speaking rashly and behaving improperly for someone so young, then told him to return to the flocks and his father. David was embarrassed by his brother's words and left. Still, he continued telling some of the soldiers that he was willing to fight the man who had challenged them.

When the soldiers reported David's resolve to Saul, the king sent for him. Saul asked what he had to say. David answered, "My king, don't lose heart or be afraid. I will put this insolent man in his place. I will go down and fight him, and I will bring him under my power, though he is so tall and strong. Your army will win great honor when he is killed by someone who is still a boy, not yet old enough to fight or to be trusted with leading an army or commanding a battle."

Saul was amazed by David's courage and eagerness, but he doubted that the young man could fight Goliath. David's age, he said, made him too weak to face an experienced warrior.

"I will take on this fight because I trust that God is with me," David replied. "I have already seen his help. Once, a lion attacked my flock and carried off a lamb. I chased after it, pulled the lamb from its mouth, and when the lion leaped at me, I seized it by the tail and struck it to the ground. I did the same to a bear. This Philistine should be no different from those wild beasts. He has insulted our army for a long time and blasphemed our God, who will place him under my power."

Saul prayed that, with God's help, the outcome would match the boy's courage and eagerness. Then he said, "Go and fight."

He put his breastplate on David, fastened his sword around him, fitted a helmet on his head, and sent him out. But David found the armor too heavy. He was not used to wearing it and had never learned to walk in it. So he said, "Let the armor stay with you, my king. You are strong enough to wear it. Let me fight as your servant, in the way I choose."

David took off the armor. He carried his staff, picked five stones from the stream, and put them in his shepherd's bag. With a sling in his right hand, he went toward Goliath.

When Goliath saw him coming, he looked down on him and mocked him. David had come without the weapons usually used in a fight between men. Instead, he carried the sort of things people used to drive away dogs.

"Do you take me for a man, or for a dog?" Goliath asked.

"Not a dog," David replied, "but something worse."

Goliath was enraged. He cursed David by the name of God and threatened to feed his flesh to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air.

David answered, "You come against me with a sword, a spear, and a breastplate. I come against you with God as my armor. He will destroy you and your whole army through me. Today I will cut off your head and throw the rest of your body to the dogs. Everyone will learn that God protects the Hebrews, and that our armor and strength come from his providence. Without God's help, all other weapons and military strength are useless."

Goliath's armor slowed him as he tried to approach David. He moved at an unhurried pace, contemptuous of his opponent and certain he could easily kill a boy who had no armor.

But David went to meet him with an unseen ally, God himself. He took one of the stones from his shepherd's bag, fitted it into his sling, and hurled it at the Philistine. The stone struck Goliath in the forehead and sank into his brain. Goliath was stunned and fell face down on the ground.

David ran to him, stood over him, and cut off his head with Goliath's own sword, since David had no sword of his own.

When Goliath fell, the Philistines panicked and fled. Seeing their champion lying on the ground, they feared the battle was lost. They decided not to stay and made a shameful, disorderly escape, hoping to save themselves from the danger.

Saul and the whole Hebrew army shouted and rushed after them. They killed many and pursued the rest to the borders of Garb and the gates of Ekron. Thirty thousand Philistines were killed, and twice that number were wounded.

Saul returned to the Philistine camp, tore down its defenses, and burned it. David carried Goliath's head to his own tent, but gave the sword to God at the tabernacle.

CHAPTER 10

Saul Grows Jealous of David's Success and Tries to Trap Him with a Promise of Marriage to His Daughter, on the Condition That David Bring Him Six Hundred Philistine Heads

The women gave Saul cause to envy and hate David. They came out to greet the victorious army with cymbals, drums, and every sign of joy. As they sang, the married women said, "Saul has slain his thousands of the Philistines." The young women answered, "David has slain his tens of thousands."

When the king heard their song, he saw that he had received the lesser praise, while the greater share had gone to David. He thought that, after such praise, nothing remained for the young man but the kingdom. From then on, Saul feared and distrusted David. He removed him from his former post as armor-bearer, since he thought David was too close to him there. Instead, he made him captain over a thousand. The new position was an honor in itself, but Saul believed it would make him safer. He planned to send David against the enemy and into battle, hoping that he would die in one of those dangerous fights.

But God was with David wherever he went, and he prospered in all that he undertook. His success was plain to see. Saul's daughter, who was still unmarried, fell in love with him. Her affection became so strong that she could not hide it, and her father soon learned of it.

Saul was pleased when he heard the news, because he meant to use her affection as a trap for David. He hoped that the marriage would bring David into danger and lead to his death. So he told those who had informed him of his daughter's love that he would gladly give her to David in marriage. "I will give him my daughter," he said, "if he brings me six hundred heads of my enemies." Saul expected that, tempted by so great a reward and eager for glory, David would attempt a task that seemed both dangerous and impossible. He thought the Philistines would kill him, and that his own plan would succeed: he would be rid of David without having to kill him himself.

Saul ordered his servants to find out how David would respond to the offer. They told him that the king loved him, as did all the people, and that Saul wanted him to become his son-in-law by marrying his daughter. David replied, "Do you think it is a small thing to become the king's son-in-law? It does not seem small to me, especially since I come from a family of little standing and no honor."

When Saul heard what David had said, he told his servants to answer him: "I want no money or dowry from him. That would make it seem as though I were selling my daughter rather than giving her in marriage. I want a son-in-law who has courage and every other virtue." Saul knew David possessed these qualities. He said he wanted no gold or silver, nor any riches from David's father's house. He wanted only vengeance on the Philistines, and six hundred of their heads. Saul claimed this would be a more welcome and honorable gift than the customary dowry, for his daughter would be married to a man of proven character, a man who had conquered his enemies.

When Saul's words were brought to David, he was pleased. He believed Saul truly wanted him as a son-in-law. Without stopping to consider whether the task was possible or difficult, David and his companions set out at once to do what Saul had demanded as the price of the marriage.

God made everything easy for David, and he killed many Philistines, cutting off six hundred of their heads. Then he came before the king, showed him the heads, and asked to marry his daughter. Saul had no way to escape his promise. He thought it shameful either to break his word or to appear to have dealt treacherously with David by setting him an almost impossible task in the hope that he would be killed. So Saul gave David his daughter in marriage. Her name was Michal.

CHAPTER 11

How David Escaped Saul's Traps Through Jonathan's Care and His Wife Michal's Plans, and How He Went to the Prophet Samuel

Saul did not remain long in the state of mind he had shown before. When he saw that David was held in high regard by both God and the people, he became afraid. He could not hide his fear, for he believed his kingdom and his life were both in danger, and losing either would be a great disaster. So he resolved to have David killed and ordered his son Jonathan and his most trusted servants to carry it out.

Jonathan was astonished by his father's change of heart. Saul had once shown David great kindness, but now he was plotting to kill him. Because Jonathan loved David and honored him for his virtue, he told him about the secret order and his father's intentions. He advised David to stay away the next day while he spoke with Saul. If he found a good opportunity, Jonathan said, he would ask why Saul had turned against David and point out how little reason there was for it. Saul should not kill a man who had done so much for the people and had been a benefactor to the king himself. David deserved forgiveness even if he had committed the gravest offenses. "Afterward, I will tell you what my father decides." David followed this good advice and stayed out of the king's sight.

The next day, when Jonathan saw that Saul was in a cheerful mood, he began to speak with him about David.

"What wrong has David done, great or small, to make you order us to kill him? He has helped preserve your life and has done even more to defeat the Philistines. He freed the Hebrew people from shame and ridicule after they had endured the enemy's challenge for forty days. He alone had the courage to face it, and afterward he brought back as many heads of our enemies as he had been ordered to bring. As his reward, he received my sister in marriage. His death would grieve us both because of his virtue and because he is our family. Your daughter would suffer his loss and become a widow before she could enjoy the life they might have shared.

"Think about these things and soften your heart. Do no harm to a man who first did us the great service of preserving your life. When an evil spirit and demons troubled you, David drove them away and gave your soul relief. He also avenged us against our enemies. It is shameful to forget such benefits."

Saul was moved by Jonathan's words and swore to his son that he would not harm David. Jonathan's righteous plea overcame the king's anger and fear. He sent for David, told him the good news that Saul would spare him, and brought him back to the king. David remained with Saul as before.

Around this time, the Philistines made another attack on the Hebrews. Saul sent David with an army to fight them. David went into battle, killed many of the enemy, and returned victorious. But Saul did not receive him as David had expected. The king resented his success, believing that David's fame would make him an even greater threat.

When the demonic spirit came upon Saul and threw him into confusion, he called David into his bedroom. Saul held a spear and told David to soothe him by playing his harp and singing hymns. David did as he was asked, but Saul hurled the spear at him with great force. David saw it coming, avoided it, and fled to his own house, where he stayed for the rest of the day.

That night, the king sent officers to watch David until morning so he could not escape. Saul meant to bring him before the court, have him condemned, and put him to death.

Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter, learned what her father planned. She feared there was little chance David would survive, and she was also afraid for her own life, since she could not bear to live without him. She said to him, "Don't let the sun rise while you are still here. If it finds you here, it will be the last time you see it. Escape while the night gives you a chance, and may God make the night last for your sake. If my father finds you, you will be a dead man."

She lowered David from a window by a rope and saved him. Then she arranged a bed to make it look as if he were sick. Beneath the bedclothes she placed a goat's liver, which caused the bedding to move. At daybreak, when Saul sent men to seize David, Michal told them he had been ill through the night. She showed them the covered bed, and the movement of the liver made them believe David was breathing with difficulty.

When the men told Saul that David had been sick all night, the king ordered them to bring him in that condition, for he meant to kill him. But when they came and uncovered the bed, they discovered Michal's trick and reported it to Saul. He accused her of helping his enemy and deceiving him. She gave a convincing excuse, saying she had helped David escape because he had threatened to kill her, and she had acted out of fear. She said Saul should forgive her, since she had done it under pressure, not by choice. "I don't think you were so eager to kill your enemy as you were to save me."

Saul forgave his daughter. David, having escaped the danger, went to the prophet Samuel at Ramah. He told him about the traps Saul had set for him and how close he had come to death when Saul threw a spear at him. David said he had done nothing to offend the king and had never shown cowardice in battle. With God's help, he had always won. This, in fact, was the reason Saul hated him.

When the prophet learned of the king's unjust actions, he left Ramah and took David to a place called Naioth, where they stayed. Saul heard that David was with Samuel and sent soldiers to seize him and bring him back.

When the soldiers arrived and saw a company of prophets gathered with Samuel, they were filled with the Divine Spirit and began to prophesy. Saul heard what had happened and sent another group of men, but they too began to prophesy. He sent a third group, and the same thing happened. At last Saul grew angry and hurried there himself. As he came near, Samuel caused him to prophesy before Saul had even seen him. When Saul reached Samuel, he was overcome by a violent spirit and lost control of himself. He took off his clothes, fell to the ground, and lay there all day and night in Samuel and David's presence.

David left there and went to Saul's son Jonathan. He told him how his father had plotted against him. David said he had done no wrong and had not offended Saul, yet the king was determined to kill him.

Jonathan urged him not to trust his own suspicions or the slander of anyone who might have spread such reports. He told David to trust him and take heart. His father could not intend to kill David, Jonathan said, for if he had, he would have told him and asked his advice, as he did in other matters.

David swore that Saul's intentions were just as he had said. He asked Jonathan to believe him and help protect him rather than dismiss his warning. Jonathan would believe him only if he saw David killed or learned the truth from others, David said. Saul had kept his plans secret because he knew how much Jonathan loved him.

When Jonathan saw that Saul's intention was well established, he asked David what he could do to help. David answered, "I know you are willing to do anything for me and give me whatever I ask. Tomorrow is the new moon, and I have usually sat with the king at supper. If you agree, I will leave the city and hide nearby. If Saul asks why I'm absent, tell him I went to my hometown, Bethlehem, to celebrate a festival with my tribe. Tell him you gave me permission to go.

"If Saul says, as people often do when a friend has gone away, 'It is well that he went,' then you can be sure he holds no hidden anger or harmful plan against me. But if he answers otherwise, you will know he intends to hurt me. Then tell me what my father means to do, out of pity for me and because of your friendship. You have accepted my love for you and given me the same assurances in return. But if you find that I have done anything wrong, then kill me yourself before my father does."

Jonathan was angry to hear David speak this way, but he promised to do what David had asked and to tell him if his father's answer showed anger or ill intent. To make David trust him fully, Jonathan led him out into the open field and swore that he would do everything he could to keep him safe.

"I call upon God, who is everywhere and knows my intention before I speak, to witness this agreement between us. I will keep testing my father's purpose until I know whether any hidden evil lies in his heart. Once I learn the truth, I won't conceal it from you, whether he is kindly or hostile. God knows I pray he will remain with you. He is with you now, and he won't abandon you. He will make you stronger than your enemies, whether my father is among them or I am.

"Remember what we have agreed. If I die, keep my children alive, and repay them for the kindness you have shown me."

After making this oath, Jonathan sent David to a place in the open country where he used to practice. He told him that once he learned his father's intentions, he would come there with only one servant.

"If I shoot three arrows at the target and tell my servant to collect them because they are ahead of him, you will know my father means you no harm. But if you hear me say something different, you will know the king means you harm. Even then, I will help you escape, and you won't be hurt. But remember what I have asked of you while you are prosperous, and protect my children."

After Jonathan gave him these assurances, David went to the place they had chosen.

The next day was the new moon. After the king had purified himself, as custom required, he came to supper. His son Jonathan sat at his right, and Abner, the commander of his army, sat at his other side. Saul noticed that David's place was empty but said nothing, thinking David had not purified himself after being with his wife and was therefore unable to attend.

When David was absent on the second day of the month as well, Saul asked Jonathan why Jesse's son had not come to supper or the feast on either day. Jonathan replied that David had gone to his hometown as they had agreed, to attend a festival with his tribe, and that he had given him permission. He added that he had invited David to join their sacrifice. "If you allow me, I will go there too, for you know how much I care for him."

Then Jonathan understood how much his father hated David and saw his true purpose. Saul could no longer hold back his anger. He insulted Jonathan, calling him the son of a runaway and an enemy. He accused him of siding with David and helping him, and said Jonathan showed no care for himself or his mother. Saul insisted that as long as David lived, their kingdom would not be safe. He still ordered Jonathan to send for David so that he could be punished.

Jonathan answered, "What has he done to deserve punishment?" Saul could no longer contain his anger in words alone. He seized his spear and lunged at Jonathan, meaning to kill him. His friends stopped him, but his son now saw clearly that Saul hated David and was determined to destroy him. Saul had nearly killed his own son because of David.

The king's son rose quickly from supper. Grief kept him from eating, and he wept all night, both because he had nearly been killed and because David's death had been decided upon. At daybreak, he went out to the field before the city as though he meant to practice. In truth, he went to tell his friend what his father intended, as they had agreed. After carrying out their plan, Jonathan sent the servant who had followed him back to the city. He then went into the open country, where he met David and spoke with him.

David came forward, fell at Jonathan's feet, bowed before him, and called him the preserver of his life. Jonathan lifted him up, and they embraced and greeted one another at length, with many tears. They grieved over their youth and their close friendship, which envy would now take from them. The separation they faced seemed no better than death itself.

At last they recovered from their sorrow. They urged one another to remember the oaths they had made, then parted.

CHAPTER 12

How David Fled to Ahimelech, Then to the Kings of the Philistines and Moabites, and How Saul Slew Ahimelech and His Family

David fled from the king and from the death that threatened him. He came to Nob, where Ahimelech the priest lived. When Ahimelech saw him arrive alone, without a friend or servant, he was surprised and asked why no one had come with him.

David replied that the king had sent him on a secret mission. If Ahimelech wanted to know more, David said, there was no need for anyone to accompany him. "I have ordered my servants to meet me at a certain place," he added. Then he asked Ahimelech for food, saying that if he helped him, he would be acting as a friend and aiding the work he had been sent to do. After receiving food, David asked whether Ahimelech had a weapon, either a sword or a spear.

At Nob was one of Saul's servants, a Syrian named Doeg, who cared for the king's mules. The high priest said he had no weapons to give him, but added, "Here is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine, which you dedicated to God after you killed him."

David took the sword and fled from the land of the Hebrews into Philistine territory, where Achish was king. The king's servants recognized David and told the king that he was the man who had killed many tens of thousands of Philistines. David feared that Achish would put him to death, and that he would face the same danger he had escaped from Saul.

So David pretended to be mad. He let his spittle run from his mouth and acted in other ways that might persuade the king of Gath that he was suffering from madness. Achish grew angry with his servants for bringing him a madman and ordered them to drive David out of the city at once.

David escaped from Gath and returned to Judah. He stayed in a cave near the city of Adullam, then sent word to his brothers about where he was. They came to him with all their relatives. Others who were in need or afraid of King Saul also gathered there and offered to obey David's commands. Their number came to about four hundred.

With this force behind him, David took courage. He left the cave and went to the king of Moab, asking him to shelter David's parents while David's own affairs remained uncertain. The king granted his request and treated David's parents with great respect for as long as they stayed with him.

As for David, the prophet commanded him to leave the wilderness and go to the territory of Judah, where he was to remain. David obeyed and settled in the city of Hareth, which lay within that territory.

When Saul heard that David had been seen with a large group of men, he became deeply troubled. He knew David was bold and courageous, and suspected that David would soon do something extraordinary, in public, that would bring Saul grief and distress. So Saul gathered his friends, his commanders, and the men of his own tribe at the hill where his palace stood.

He sat at a place called Aroura, surrounded by his high-ranking courtiers and bodyguards, and said to them:

"You men of my own tribe, I know you remember the benefits I have given you. I have made some of you landowners, appointed some as commanders, given others positions of honor, and placed some of you over the people and others over the soldiers. Do you expect Jesse's son to give you greater rewards? I know you are all inclined to support him. Even my own son Jonathan agrees with him and urges you to do the same. I know about the oaths and agreements between him and David. Jonathan advises and helps those who are plotting against me, yet none of you is concerned. You sit in silence and wait to see how this will end."

No one present answered the king. But Doeg the Syrian, who cared for his mules, spoke up. He said he had seen David come to Nob to visit Ahimelech the high priest. He claimed that Ahimelech had learned future events through prophecy, given David food and Goliath's sword, and helped him leave safely for wherever he wished to go.

Saul sent for the high priest and all his relatives. He said to Ahimelech, "What wrong have I done to you, or what have you suffered from me, that you welcomed Jesse's son and gave him food and weapons while he was plotting to take the kingdom? Why did you also prophesy about what would happen to him? You must have known he had fled from me and hated my family."

The high priest did not deny what he had done. He admitted that he had given David what he asked for, but said he had done so in service to Saul, not to favor David. He answered, "I didn't know he was your enemy. I believed he was your faithful servant, a commander over a thousand of your soldiers, your son-in-law, and your kinsman. People don't give such help to their enemies. They give it to those they believe are loyal and devoted to them.

"This wasn't the first time I had prophesied for him. I had done so often before, at other times as well as now. When he told me you had sent him in great haste on a mission, I would have thought I was acting against you if I had refused him anything he asked for. So don't judge me harshly, or suspect that I meant harm by an act of kindness. I helped him as your friend, son-in-law, and commander of a thousand soldiers, not as your enemy."

The high priest's words did not persuade Saul. Fear had taken such hold of him that he would not accept a reasonable defense. He ordered the armed men standing around him to kill Ahimelech and all his relatives. They refused to harm the high priest, fearing disobedience to God more than disobedience to the king.

Saul then ordered Doeg the Syrian to kill them. Doeg gathered wicked men like himself and slaughtered Ahimelech and his family, three hundred and eighty-five people in all. Saul also sent men to Nob, the city of the priests, and ordered them to kill everyone there. They spared neither women nor children, nor anyone of any age, and they burned the city. Only Abiathar, one of Ahimelech's sons, escaped.

These events came to pass as God had foretold to Eli the high priest, when he said that Eli's descendants would be destroyed because of the sins of his two sons.

King Saul committed a barbarous crime when he murdered the whole family of the high priest. He showed no pity for infants and no respect for the aged. He also destroyed the city God had chosen for the priests and prophets, and for their support. It was the only city set apart for the education of such men.

Saul's actions show how people can change when they gain power. When they are private citizens of low standing, they may act fairly and moderately because they lack the power to follow their desires. They pursue what is just and devote their efforts to it. They believe God is present in every part of their lives, sees everything they do, and knows the thoughts behind their actions.

But once they rise to power, they cast off these beliefs. Like actors on a stage, they put aside their former manners and take up boldness, arrogance, and contempt for both human and divine law. This happens at the very time they most need to act with piety and justice, because they are then more exposed to envy, and everyone can see what they think and say. They behave as if God can no longer see them, or as if their power makes God fear them.

Whatever they fear because of rumors, hate by instinct, or love without reason seems to them true and certain, and pleasing both to people and to God. They give no thought to what may happen later. They honor those who have worked hard for them, then grow jealous of them. After raising them to high office, they take away what they have gained and even put them to death, using wicked charges too wild to believe. They punish people not for crimes that deserve punishment, but on the basis of slander and accusations they have not examined. They do this not only to those who deserve punishment, but to as many people as they can kill.

Saul, son of Kish, gives us a clear example. He was the first king to rule after our government under the judges. He slaughtered three hundred priests and prophets because he suspected Ahimelech, then committed the further crime of destroying their city. In effect, he tried to leave the temple, or tabernacle, without priests or prophets. He killed so many of them and destroyed their city so that no others could take their place.

Abiathar, Ahimelech's son and the only member of the priestly family to escape Saul's slaughter, fled to David. He told him of the disaster that had struck his family and the death of his father.

David replied that he had suspected what would happen when he saw Doeg there. He feared that Doeg would make a false accusation against the high priest before the king, and blamed himself for causing the misfortune. David urged Abiathar to stay with him, where he would be safer and better hidden than anywhere else.

CHAPTER 13

How David Twice Had the Chance to Kill Saul but Spared Him, and the Deaths of Samuel and Nabal

Around this time, David heard that the Philistines had raided Keilah and plundered the town. He offered to fight them, provided God granted him victory when he sought guidance through the prophet. The prophet told him God had promised success, so David and his companions attacked the Philistines without delay. They killed many of them and took their spoils. David stayed with the people of Keilah until they had safely gathered their grain and fruit.

Word of David's presence in Keilah soon reached King Saul. News of the victory had spread beyond the people who witnessed it, and both the deed and the man who had carried it out were reported to the king. Saul was pleased to hear that David was in Keilah. "God has delivered him into my hands," he said. "He has entered a city with walls, gates, and bars." Saul quickly summoned his men and ordered them to lay siege to the city and kill David once they had taken it.

When David learned of Saul's plan, he asked God what would happen if he remained there. God revealed that the people of Keilah would hand him over to Saul. So David took his four hundred men and withdrew into the wilderness, opposite a city called Engedi. When Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandoned his campaign against him.

David left that place and went to a site in the territory of Ziph known as the New Place. Jonathan, Saul's son, came to him there. He greeted David, urged him to take courage, and told him not to lose hope over his present troubles. David would be king, Jonathan said, and all the Hebrew forces would be under his command. Such good fortune, he reminded him, often came only after great hardship.

The two men swore that they would remain loyal to each other for the rest of their lives. Jonathan called God to witness and placed a curse upon himself if he ever broke their agreement or turned against David. Then he left, having eased some of David's fears, and returned home.

The people of Ziph, hoping to please Saul, told him that David was staying among them. They promised that if the king came, they would help capture him. If Saul seized the narrow passes of Ziph, they said, David would have no way to escape to another people. Saul praised them and said he had good reason to thank them for reporting the whereabouts of his enemy. He promised to repay their kindness soon.

Saul sent men to search the wilderness where David was hiding, and said he would follow them himself. They went ahead, eager not only to show their loyalty by reporting David's location, but also to prove it by delivering him into the king's hands. Their wicked plan failed. They risked nothing by revealing David's whereabouts, yet they falsely accused a man beloved by God, a man Saul unjustly sought to kill, and promised to hand him over. They did this to flatter the king and win a reward.

When David learned of the Ziphites' hostile plans and of Saul's approach, he left the narrow passes and fled to the great rock in the wilderness of Maon.

Saul hurried after David. As he marched, he learned that David had left the passes of Ziph, so Saul moved to the other side of the rock. But word came that the Philistines had invaded Hebrew territory again. Saul was called away from the pursuit just as David was about to be caught. He turned back to fight the Philistines, his people's natural enemies, judging it more important to drive them out than to spend his time capturing a personal enemy while the land was being ravaged.

In this way, David escaped the danger without warning and went to the passes of Engedi. After Saul had driven the Philistines from the land, messengers told him that David was within the borders of Engedi. Saul took three thousand chosen, armed men and set out after him.

When he came near the area, he saw a deep cave beside the road. It was long and wide, and David and his four hundred men were hiding inside. Saul entered the cave alone to relieve himself. One of David's companions saw him and said that God had given David the chance to take revenge on his enemy. He urged David to cut off Saul's head and end his life of wandering and hardship.

David rose, but only cut off the edge of Saul's robe. Soon he regretted even that. "It would be wrong to kill my master, a man whom God chose to be king," he said. "Though he means us harm, I must not treat him the same way."

After Saul left the cave, David came out and called loudly for him to listen. Saul turned around, and David bowed before him, as was customary. Then David said, "My king, don't listen to wicked men who make false accusations. Don't please them by believing their lies or suspecting those who are your true friends. Judge people by what they do. Slander deceives, but a person's actions plainly show whether he means well. Words can be true or false, but actions reveal a person's intentions.

"So judge me by what I have done. I am loyal to you and your family. Don't believe those who accuse me of plotting against you. I have never considered doing such a thing, and I couldn't carry it out even if I had wanted to. Yet you pursue me day and night, with no thought but how to take my life. Why have you accepted this false belief about me? How can you escape guilt before God when you seek to kill a man who had the chance to punish you today but refused? If you had found me in the same position, you would not have let such an opportunity pass. When I cut off the edge of your robe, I could have cut off your head as well."

David showed Saul the piece of robe, proving that his words were true. "I could have taken revenge on you, yet I held back. Still, you pursue me with unjust hatred. May God judge us both and decide what each of us deserves."

Saul was astonished to learn how narrowly he had escaped. He was moved by the young man's restraint and character, and groaned. David groaned as well. Then Saul said, "You have every reason to grieve, for you have done me good, while I have brought you trouble. Today you have shown the ancient virtue of those who spare their enemies, even when they find them helpless in the wilderness. I am now convinced that God has reserved the kingdom for you, and that you will rule all the Hebrews.

"Swear to me, then, that you won't destroy my family or wipe out my descendants because of the wrong I have done you. Spare my household and protect it."

David swore as Saul asked. Saul returned to his kingdom, while David and his men went up to the passes of Mastheroth.

Around this time, the prophet Samuel died. The Hebrews held him in extraordinary honor. The people mourned him for many days, showing both his virtue and their love for him. The solemnity of his funeral and the care they took to observe all its rites showed how deeply they grieved. They buried him in his own city, Ramah, and mourned for many days. They did not grieve as if another man had died, but as if each of them had suffered the loss himself.

Samuel was a righteous and gentle man, and for that reason he was dear to God. After the death of Eli the high priest, Samuel governed the people alone for twelve years. He then governed alongside King Saul for eighteen years. This completes the account of Samuel.

There was a wealthy man from the city of Maon in the territory of Ziph. He owned a great number of animals, with three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. David had ordered his companions to guard these flocks and not harm them. They were to do no damage, whether out of greed, need, or because the flocks were in the wilderness and unlikely to be discovered. David told them to value justice above every other consideration and to regard taking what belonged to another person as a grave offense against God's will.

He gave these orders because he believed their kindness was being shown to a good man who deserved their care. The man's name was Nabal. He was harsh and wicked in his ways, though he had a wife of good character, wise and beautiful.

When Nabal was shearing his sheep, David sent ten of his men to greet him. They wished him many more years of success and asked him to give them whatever he could spare. Nabal's shepherds, they said, could confirm that David's men had done them no harm. For a long time, they had guarded the flocks while living in the wilderness. David assured Nabal that he would never regret giving them something.

When the messengers delivered their message, Nabal answered them harshly and rudely. "Who is David?" he asked. When he learned that David was Jesse's son, he said, "These days, every runaway slave grows bold and makes a name for himself after leaving his master."

The messengers reported Nabal's words to David. David was angry and ordered four hundred armed men to follow him. He left two hundred behind to guard their supplies, since he now had six hundred men, and set out against Nabal. He swore to destroy Nabal's entire household and possessions that night. David was angry not only because Nabal had repaid their kindness with ingratitude, but also because he had insulted them without cause.

One of Nabal's shepherds told his mistress, Nabal's wife, that David had sent messengers, but Nabal had refused to give them a civil answer. Instead, he had insulted them, even though David had taken great care to protect the flocks. The shepherd warned her that what had happened would bring disaster upon her husband.

After hearing this, Abigail, whose name was Nabal's wife's, saddled her donkeys and loaded them with many kinds of gifts. She set out for David without telling her husband, who was too drunk to notice what she was doing.

As Abigail came down a hill, she met David, who was approaching with his four hundred men. When she saw him, she got off her donkey, fell face down, and bowed before him. She begged him not to hold Nabal's words against him, for she knew her husband lived up to his name. In Hebrew, the name Nabal means "fool."

She explained that she had not seen David's messengers. "Please forgive me," she said. "Thank God for keeping you from shedding blood. As long as you remain innocent, God will take vengeance on the wicked. Whatever misery awaits Nabal will fall upon your enemies. Be gracious to me, and accept these gifts. For my sake, let go of your anger toward my husband and his household. Kindness and mercy suit you, especially since you are to be our king."

David accepted her gifts and said, "Woman, God's mercy brought you here today. Otherwise, you would not have lived to see another day. I had sworn to destroy Nabal's household tonight and leave no one alive, because he treated me and my companions with wicked ingratitude. But you have stopped me in time and softened my anger. God has watched over you. Nabal may escape punishment now because of you, but he won't escape justice forever. His own evil conduct will bring about his ruin."

After saying this, David sent Abigail away. When she returned home, she found her husband feasting with a large company and drunk. She said nothing to him that night. The next day, when he was sober, she told him everything that had happened. Her words and the grief they brought on him left him as stiff as a dead man. Nabal lived for ten more days, then died.

When David heard of his death, he said that God had rightly avenged him. Nabal had been destroyed by his own wickedness and punished for his actions, while David had kept his hands clean. David understood that God does not overlook anyone. He gives the good what is right for them and punishes the wicked as they deserve.

David sent messengers to Nabal's wife and invited her to come live with him and become his wife. She told the messengers that she was not worthy even to touch his feet. Still, she came with all her servants and became his wife. She received this honor partly for her wise and righteous conduct, and partly for her beauty.

David already had a wife whom he had married from the city of Abesar. Michal, King Saul's daughter and David's wife, had been given by her father to Phalti, son of Laish, who was from the city of Gallim.

After this, some men from Ziph came to Saul and told him that David had returned to their territory. If the king would help them, they said, they could capture him. Saul went there with three thousand armed men and camped at a place called Hachilah as night fell.

When David heard that Saul was coming after him, he sent spies to find out where Saul had gone. They reported that Saul was at Hachilah. David secretly left his companions and went to Saul's camp with Abishai, the son of his sister Zeruiah, and Ahimelech the Hittite.

Saul was asleep, and his armed men lay in a circle around him. Abner, their commander, was there as well. David entered the king's camp, but even though he could see where Saul lay and where his spear was planted beside him, he did not kill him. He also stopped Abishai, who wanted very much to kill Saul.

David said it would be a terrible crime to kill a man whom God had made king, even if that man was wicked. The one who had given Saul his rule would punish him in time. So David held Abishai back. To show that he could have killed Saul if he had wanted to, he took Saul's spear and the water jug beside him as he slept. No one in the camp noticed. David and his companion left safely, having done everything the opportunity and their courage allowed.

After crossing a stream, David climbed to the top of a hill, where his voice could carry. He called out to Saul's soldiers and to Abner, waking them from their sleep. When Abner heard him, he asked who was calling. David answered, "It's I, Jesse's son, the man you've made a wanderer. What's going on? You are a high-ranking man in the king's court, yet you took so little care of your master's life. Was sleep more important to you than keeping him safe? You deserve death for your carelessness. You didn't even notice when some of us entered your camp and came right up to the king and the rest of you. Look for the king's spear and water jug, and you'll see how close a great disaster came to your camp without anyone knowing."

Saul recognized David's voice. He understood that David had found him asleep, while his guards failed to protect him, yet had spared his life when he could easily have killed him. Saul said he was grateful for David's mercy. He urged David to be brave and promised he would no longer try to harm him. He told David to return home, for he now understood that David cared for him more than he cared for himself.

Saul said he had driven away a man who could have protected him and who had shown him much kindness. He had forced David into a long exile, where he lived in fear and apart from his friends and family, yet David had saved him many times and spared his life whenever it was in danger.

David told Saul's men to recover the king's spear and water jug and take them back. He added that God would judge both their intentions and their actions. God knew that David could have killed Saul that day but chose not to.

Saul had escaped David's hands twice. He returned to his palace and his own city, while David feared that Saul would capture him if he stayed where he was. He decided it would be safer to go into Philistine territory and live there.

David and his six hundred men went to Achish, king of Gath, one of the five Philistine cities. Achish welcomed them and gave them a place to live. David brought his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, and settled in Gath.

When Saul heard about this, he stopped sending men after David and gave up pursuing him himself. Saul had nearly been captured by David twice while trying to capture him.

David did not want to remain in the city of Gath. Since Achish had received him kindly, he asked the king for another favor: a place elsewhere in the country where he could live, so he would not burden Achish by staying in the city. Achish gave him a village called Ziklag. David and his sons later loved that place while he was king and regarded it as their own inheritance. We will tell more about this elsewhere.

David lived in Ziklag, in Philistine territory, for four months and twenty days. During that time, he secretly attacked the neighboring Geshurites and Amalekites, ravaged their land, and took many animals and camels. He returned home without harming the people, for he feared they might report him to King Achish. David sent some of the spoils to Achish as a gift.

When the king asked whom David had attacked, David said they were people who lived south of Judah, out on the plain. This answer pleased Achish. He believed David had fought against his own people, and hoped David would become his servant for life and remain in Philistine territory.

CHAPTER 14

Saul Seeks a Medium When God Does Not Answer Him About the War with the Philistines. He Calls Up Samuel's Spirit and Dies with His Sons in Israel's Defeat.

Around this time, the Philistines prepared to make war against the Israelites. They sent word to all their allies, asking them to join the campaign at Reggan, near the city of Shunem. From there, they could gather their forces and launch a sudden attack on the Hebrews. Achish, king of Gath, asked David to join them with his armed men. David readily agreed, saying the time had come for him to repay the king's kindness and hospitality. Achish promised that after their victory he would appoint David as his bodyguard, if the battle went as they hoped. He made this promise to strengthen David's loyalty and zeal in serving him.

Saul, king of the Hebrews, had driven fortune-tellers, mediums, and all who practiced similar arts out of the country. He had allowed only the prophets to remain. When he heard that the Philistines had arrived and camped near Shunem, in the plain, he hurried out with his forces to oppose them. He reached a mountain called Gilboa and set up camp across from the enemy. But when he saw how large their army was, he grew deeply troubled, for it seemed far stronger than his own. He asked God through the prophets what would happen in the battle, hoping to learn its outcome in advance.

God did not answer him. Saul became even more afraid, and his courage failed. He reasonably expected disaster, since God would not come to his aid. Still, he ordered his servants to find a woman who practiced necromancy and could call up the spirits of the dead. He wanted to learn whether events would turn out in his favor. Women who practiced this art claimed that the spirits they raised could foretell the future for those who asked.

One of Saul's servants told him that such a woman lived in the city of Endor, though no one in the camp knew her. Saul put aside his royal clothes and went to Endor with two trusted servants. He asked the woman to act as a medium and call up the spirit he would name. She refused at first. She reminded him that the king had driven mediums from the country, and said it was wrong for him to trap her and expose her forbidden practice when she had done him no harm. Saul swore that no one would learn what she had done, and promised not to reveal her prediction or put her in danger.

Once his oath had persuaded her that she was safe, he told her to call up Samuel's spirit. The woman did not know who Samuel was, but she called him up from Hades. When he appeared, the woman saw an old man with a venerable, godlike appearance. Astonished and frightened, she asked Saul, "Aren't you King Saul?" Samuel had told her who he was. Saul admitted it and asked why she was so troubled. She said she saw a figure rising who looked like a god.

Saul asked her to describe the figure's appearance, clothing, and age. She said he was an old man of noble appearance, wearing a priestly robe. Saul knew from these signs that the spirit was Samuel. He fell to the ground, greeted him, and bowed before him.

Samuel's spirit asked why Saul had disturbed him and called him up. Saul spoke of the danger he faced. His enemies were pressing hard against him, he said, and he did not know what to do. God had abandoned him, and neither the prophets nor his dreams could reveal what was about to happen. "That is why I have come to you, since you always cared for me."

Samuel knew that Saul's life was near its end. He said, "There is no use asking me what will happen, when God has abandoned you. But listen to what I will tell you. David will become king, and he will bring this war to a successful end. You will lose both your kingdom and your life because you disobeyed God in the war against the Amalekites and failed to keep His commands, as I warned you while I was alive. The people will fall into the hands of their enemies, and tomorrow you and your sons will die in battle. Then you will be with me in Hades."

Saul could not speak from grief when he heard this. He fell to the floor, either overcome by Samuel's words or weakened by hunger, since he had eaten nothing the previous day or night. He could barely recover. The woman urged him to eat, asking him to grant her this favor after she had risked so much by practicing an art forbidden by the king. She had done it because she feared him, even though she had not known who he was. She begged him to let her set out food so he could regain his strength and return safely to his camp.

Saul refused at first, overcome with worry, but she persisted until he finally agreed. The woman owned one calf, which she loved and cared for, feeding it herself. She earned her living through her own labor and had no other possession. She killed the calf, prepared its meat, and served it to Saul and his servants. Saul returned to his camp while it was still night.

It is only right to praise the generosity of this woman. The king had forbidden the practice that supported her, yet she did not hold that against him. Though she had never seen him before, she did not turn away a stranger or deny him help. Instead, she felt compassion for him, comforted him, and urged him to do what he was reluctant to do. She offered the only creature she owned, and did so with great kindness. She expected no reward and sought no favor from him, for she knew he was going to die.

People often try to please those who have helped them, or readily serve those who may benefit them in return. We should follow this woman's example and help anyone in need. Nothing is better or more fitting for humankind than kindness shown to all, and nothing is more likely to win God's favor and His gifts.

That is enough about the woman. I will now turn to another subject, one that gives me a fitting chance to speak about what benefits cities, peoples, and nations, and what good people value. It may encourage all who hear it to pursue virtue, and show them how to gain honor and lasting fame. It may also inspire kings and city rulers to act with care and diligence, to face danger, and to die for their country. It teaches them to endure even the most terrible misfortunes.

Saul, king of the Hebrews, gives me reason to speak of these matters. He knew what was coming and had heard the prophet's prediction that he would soon die. Still, he did not try to escape death, nor did he cling to life so fiercely that he would betray his people to the enemy or disgrace his royal office. He exposed himself, his family, and his sons to danger. He believed it honorable to fall with them while fighting for his subjects, and better for his sons to die showing courage than to leave them to face an uncertain future. They would lose their succession and posterity, but gain praise and a lasting name.

To me, a just, courageous, and wise man is one who has these qualities. Anyone who has reached such a state, or reaches it in the future, deserves to be honored as virtuous and brave. Those who go to war hoping to win and return safely may perform glorious deeds, and they deserve some praise. But I do not think they should be called valiant merely for fighting, as many historians and other writers are accustomed to call them.

True courage belongs to those who undertake great deeds and remain undaunted by hardship, like Saul. A man who does not know how a war will turn out, yet does not lose heart and gives himself over to an uncertain future, may accomplish many great deeds. Still, that alone is not the highest example of a generous spirit. But when a man expects no good outcome, knows in advance that he must die, and understands that he will meet death in battle, yet does not shrink or stand in fear of what is coming, and goes forward to face it, that is the mark of a truly courageous man.

Saul did this. He showed that those who want to be remembered after death must act in a way that earns lasting fame. This is especially true of kings. Their high position does not excuse them from governing their subjects well, nor is it enough for them to be only moderately good rulers.

I could say much more about Saul's courage, for the subject offers plenty to discuss. But I do not want to praise him at undue length, so I will return to the history from which I digressed.

As I said, the Philistines had set up camp and counted their forces by nation, kingdom, and district. Achish arrived last with his own army, followed by David and his six hundred armed men. When the Philistine commanders saw David, they asked the king where these Hebrews had come from and who had invited them. Achish answered that it was David, who had fled from his master Saul. He had welcomed David, he said, and David now wanted to repay his kindness and take revenge on Saul, so they had become allies.

The commanders objected to taking an enemy as an ally. They urged Achish to send David away, lest he suddenly harm them and give Saul a chance to welcome him back. They advised the king to send David and his six hundred armed men to the place he had assigned them, saying that David was the man whom the young women praised in their songs for killing tens of thousands of Philistines.

When Achish heard their words, he agreed that they were right. He called David and said, "I can testify that you have served me with care and kindness. That is why I made you my ally. But the Philistine commanders do not approve of what I have done. Go back within a day to the place I gave you, and don't suspect any harm. Guard my territory there, in case one of our enemies raids it. That will be one way you can help me."

David returned to Ziklag as Achish had ordered. While David was away helping the Philistines, the Amalekites had raided Ziklag, captured its people, and burned the city. They took much other plunder from Ziklag and from other parts of Philistine territory, then departed.

When David saw that Ziklag had been destroyed and plundered, and that his two wives, the wives of his companions, and their children had been taken captive, he tore his clothes and wept and mourned with his men. He was so overwhelmed by the disaster that at last he had no tears left. His companions were deeply grieved over the capture of their wives and children, and they blamed David for what had happened. They were so angry that he was in danger of being stoned to death.

After he had recovered from his grief and turned his thoughts to God, David asked Abiathar the high priest to put on his priestly garments and seek God's word for him. He asked whether God would let him catch up with the Amalekites if he pursued them, rescue the women and children, and take revenge on the enemy. The high priest told him to pursue them.

David set out quickly with four hundred men. When they reached a stream called Besor, they found an Egyptian wandering there, close to death from hunger and thirst. He had been lost in the wilderness for three days without food. David first gave him food and drink and revived him. Then he asked the man where he had come from and whom he served.

The man said he was Egyptian by birth. His master had left him behind because he was sick and too weak to keep up. He also told David that he had been among those who plundered other parts of Judea and burned Ziklag. David used him as a guide to find the Amalekites.

When they caught up with the enemy, the Amalekites were scattered across the ground. Some were eating, others were drunk and in a disorderly state, enjoying the goods they had seized. David attacked them by surprise and slaughtered them. They were unarmed and unprepared, since they had given themselves over to drinking and feasting. David's men killed them easily. Some were struck down at their tables, and blood mixed with their food and drink. Others died while drinking together, and some were killed as they slept after their heavy meal. Those who had time to put on their armor were killed by the sword just as easily as those who were unarmed.

David's men continued the slaughter from the first hour of the day until evening. Only four hundred Amalekites escaped, riding off on camels and dromedaries. David recovered all the goods the enemy had taken, along with his own wives and those of his companions.

When they returned to the place where they had left the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to continue, those who had fought did not want to share any of the plunder with them. They said the others had not gone with them or helped pursue the enemy, and should be content simply to have their wives returned safely. David condemned this view as unjust. God had given them victory over their enemies and restored everything they had lost, he said. So they should divide the spoils equally among all, including the men who had stayed behind to guard their supplies.

From that time on, it became their law that those who guarded the supplies would receive the same share as those who fought in battle. When David returned to Ziklag, he sent portions of the plunder to all who had been close to him and to his friends in the tribe of Judah. That is how the raid on Ziklag and the slaughter of the Amalekites ended.

When the Philistines joined battle with the Israelites, a fierce fight followed. The Philistines won and killed many of their enemies. Saul and his sons fought with great courage and energy, knowing that their only hope of glory lay in dying honorably while facing the enemy's full strength. They drew the enemy's attack toward themselves until they were surrounded and killed. Before they fell, they had killed many Philistines.

Saul's sons were Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. When they were killed, the Hebrew army fled, and the Philistines pressed in on them amid confusion and slaughter. Saul escaped with a strong group of soldiers around him. But the Philistines sent men after them with javelins and arrows, and Saul soon lost all his companions except a few.

Saul fought bravely. After he had received so many wounds that he could no longer stand or resist, and was unable to kill himself, he ordered his armor-bearer to draw his sword and run him through before the enemy could capture him alive. His armor-bearer was afraid to kill his master, so Saul drew his own sword, placed its point against himself, and fell upon it. But he could not drive the sword through his body. He turned to a young man nearby and asked who he was. When the young man said he was an Amalekite, Saul told him to force the sword through him, since he could not do it himself, and give him the death he wanted.

The young man did as Saul asked. Then he took the golden bracelet from Saul's arm and the royal crown from his head and ran away. When Saul's armor-bearer saw that he was dead, he killed himself. None of the king's guards survived. They all fell on Mount Gilboa.

When the Hebrews who lived in the valley beyond the Jordan and those whose cities lay in the plain heard that Saul and his sons had fallen and the army around them had been destroyed, they abandoned their cities and fled to the strongest fortified places. The Philistines found the cities empty and moved in to live there.

The next day, the Philistines came to strip the bodies of the dead. They found Saul and his sons, stripped them, and cut off their heads. They sent messengers throughout their country to announce that their enemies had fallen. They dedicated Saul's armor in the temple of Astarte and hung the bodies of Saul and his sons on the walls of Bethshun, now called Scythepolls.

When the people of Jabesh-Gilead heard that the Philistines had mutilated the bodies of Saul and his sons, they could not bear to leave the dead without burial. The bravest and strongest men in the city, which was known for its courage in both body and spirit, traveled all night to Bethshun. They approached the enemy's wall and took down the bodies of Saul and his sons. Their courage was so great that the Philistines did not dare stop them.

The people of Jabesh wept together and buried the bodies in the finest place in their land, called Areurn. For seven days, they held a public mourning with their wives and children. They beat their breasts and mourned the king and his sons, and ate and drank nothing until evening.

Saul met this end, just as Samuel had foretold, because he disobeyed God's commands concerning the Amalekites and because he destroyed the household of Ahimelech the high priest, killing Ahimelech himself and destroying the city of the priests. Saul had reigned for eighteen years while Samuel was alive, and for twenty-two years after Samuel's death. In this way, his life came to an end.