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coolly plan the most malicious schemes, and are not to be diverted from the execution of them by any means.

eous.

From the death of Nabal we may discover, that such injustice as his is very unpleasing to the LORD; and that God will, himself, avenge the cause of the rightIt is therefore much the best way to leave the chastisement of ingratitude to the supreme Judge, who seeth the thoughts of every heart, and can determine what the measure of guilt is, which it is impossible short-sighted mortals should be capable of doing.

SECTION LXXXIII.

DAVID FINDETH SAUL ASLEEP-TAKETH HIS SPEAR AND CRUSE.

From 1 Samuel, Chap. xxvi.

AND the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host. And Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

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Then said David to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?

said, I will go down with thee.

And Abishai

So David and Abishai came to the people by night. And behold Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster; but Abner and the people lay round about him.

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed and be guiltless?

David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him: or his days shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but I pray thee take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

So David took the spear, and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away,

and no

man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill, afar off, a great space being be. tween them; and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? And David said to Abner, Art

not

not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? and David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

And he said, Wherefore doth my lord the king hear the words of his servant? If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go serve other gods.

Now therefore let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a par tridge in the mountains.

Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear: and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.

VOL. II.

S

And

And behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of

the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

When David undertook the dangerous enterprize of going into Saul's camp with only one companion, it is supposed he was prompted to it by the SPIRIT of the LORD, as in the case of his encounter with Goliath, and that he went in full confidence of Divine protection: and it appears, that Saul and his attendants were kept in profound slumber, by the immediate interposition of GOD, otherwise, as they were active warriors, some of them would have been on the watch.

David had now a fresh temptation to deliver himself from Saul's persecutions, but he remained firm to his principles of loyalty, and restrained the hand of Abishai, for he had more concern for his innocence than for his safety and as he had so lately escaped the guilt he would have incurred, if he had put Nabal's family to death, he resolved in the present instance not to be his own avenger, but gladly embraced this new opportunity of evincing his integrity. It appears that Saul and his host were soon awake after David retired; and it is likely they were convinced that the LORD had closed their eyes, and favoured David in performing that action, which placed him in so honourable a light, and that it was useless to oppose him. Conviction of David's good intentions at the same instant rushed irre

sistibly

sistibly on the mind of Saul, with a consciousness of his own wickedness and folly, and subdued his rage. David had been too often deceived by Saul to trust to his fair professions, which, though they might be well meant at that time, were not likely to be lasting.

Saul's prediction of David's advancement is very remarkable, and shews that he did wilfully oppose the LORD; for he knew that David was appointed of GoD to succeed him, yet he resolved to cut him off. Had Saul acquiesced in the dispensation which his own impious behaviour brought upon him, and suffered David as Captain of the LORD's inheritance to have command of the armies of Israel, he might as king have passed the remainder of his days with comfort and honour.

Of all the circumstances of distress which David lamented, none was so severe to him as the being excluded from the congregation of Israel; for as he was driven amongst idolaters, he and his followers were continually exposed to the temptation of worshipping false gods; at least, they were frequently eye-witnesses of those profane rites, which were abominations to the LORD; and to behold divine honours paid to idols, must have given the utmost concern to those who were zealous for the true religion.

SECTION LXXXIV.

DAVID TAKES REFUGE WITH THE PHILISTINES.

WHEN Saul was gone, David began to concert measures for the future security of himself and his army; but notwithstanding the recent instances he had had of Gon's over-ruling providence, which preserved him from danger in the midst of Saul's camp, fear operated so violently on his mind, that, without enquiring the will of the LORD, he consulted with his friends, and, in consequence

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