CHAP. XXI. when his brethren and all his father's house HEN came David to Noh to Abimelech heard it. they went down thither to him, the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid 2 And every one that was in distress, and at the meeting of David, and said unto him, every one that was in debt, and every one Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? i was discontented, gathered themselves 2 And David said unto Abimelech the unto him; and he became a captain over priest, The king hath commanded me a bu-them: and there were with hin: about four siness, and hath said unto me, Let no man hundred men. know any thing of the business whereabout 3 And David went thence to Mizpen of send thee, and what I have commanded Moab; and he said unto the king of Moab, thee: and I have appointed my servants to Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, Juch and such a place. come forth, and be with you, till I know 3 Now therefore what is under thine hand what God wili do for me. give me five loaves of bread in mine hand,│* 4 And he brought them before the king of or what there is present. Moab; and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. 5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David depart ed, and came into the forest of Hareth. 6 When Saul heard that David was dis 4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand; but there is hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. 5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept fom us about these three days, since I came covered, and the men that were with him, sat, and the vessels of the young men are holy, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in and the bread is in a manner common, yea, Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. all his servants were standing about him.) 6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for 7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood there was no bread there but the shew-bread, about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will that was taken from before the LORD, to put the son of Jesse give every one of you fields hot bread in the day when it was taken away, and vineyards, and make you all captains 7 Now, a certain man of the servants of Saul of thousands. and captains of hundreds; was there that day, detained before the LORD; 8 That all of you have conspired against and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the me, and there is none that sheweth me that chiefest of the herdinen that belonged to Saul. my son hath made a league with the son of 8¶ And David said unto Ahimelech, And Jesse? and there is none of you that is sorry is there not here under thine hand spear or for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath sword? for I have neither brought my sword stirred up my servant against me, to lie in nor my weapons with me, because the king's wait, as at this day? business required haste. 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite 9 And the priest said, The sword of Go-which was set over the servants of Saul, and fiath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, valley of Elah, behold, it is here, wrapped in to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it, for there is no other save that bere. And David said, There is none like that; give it ine. 101 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 12 And David laid ap these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath 13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the mau is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? 15 Have I need of madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence shall this fellow come into any house? CHAP. XXII. AVID therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam and DAV 10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Abitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Alitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. 13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wai, as at this day? 14 Then Alimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son-in-law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? 15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me. Let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. 16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Abimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the ci 171. And the king said unto the footmen ty for my sake. that stood about him, Turn and slay the 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up priests of the LORD: because their hand also into his hand? will Saul come down, as this with David. and because they knew when servant hath beard? O LORD God of Israel, 1 he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD servants of the king would not put forth their said, He will come down. nand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. 12 Then said David, Will the men of 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, Keilah deliver me and my men into the and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, will deliver thee up. and slew on that day fourscore and five per- 13 Then David and his inen, which were sons that did wear a linen ephod. about six hundred, arose and departed out of 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. with the edge of the sword, both men and And it was told Saul that David was escaped women, children and sucklings, and oxen, from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword. 20 ¶ And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul bad slain the LORD's priests. 22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house. 23 Abide thou with me, fear not; for he that seeketli my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shall be in safeguard. CHAP. XXIII. THEN they told David, saying. Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the thrashing floors. 14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph: and Saul sought him every day; but God delivered him not into his hand. 15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life and David was in the wil derness of Ziph in a wood. 16 And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee: and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul ny fa ther knoweth. 18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD. And David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. 2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, 19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul saying, shal! I go and smite these Philistines? to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himAnd the LORD said unto David,Go and sinite the Philistines, and save Keilali. 3 And David's men said unto him, Behold. we be afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we come to Keilal against the armies of the Philistines? 4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 5 So David and is men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote then with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilal.. 6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, fled to David to Keilah,that he came down with an ephod in his hand. self with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to coine down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. 21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. 2 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilely. 23 See therefore,and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass,if he be in the land that I will search him 7 And it was told Sau! that David was out throughout all the thousands of Judah. come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath 24 And they arose and went to Ziph bedelivered him into mine hand; for he is shut fore Saul: but David and his men rere in in, by entering into a town that hath gates the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the and bars. south of Jeshimon. 8 And Saul caled al. the people together 25 Sau! also and his men went to seek him. to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege And they told David: wherefore he came David and his men. down into a rock, and abode in the wilder 9¶ And David knew that Saul secretly ness of Maon: and when Saul heard that, he practised mischief against him; and he said pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon, to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 26 And Saul went on this side of the moun 10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, tain, and David and his men on that side of thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul the mountain: and David made haste to get after a away for fear of Saal: for Saul and his men Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; compassed David and his men round about but mine hand shall not be upon them. to take them. 14 After whom is the king of Israel come 271 But there came a messenger unto out after whom dost thou pursue Saul, saying. Haste thee, and come; for the dead dog, after a flea? Philistines have invaded the land. 15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge 23 Wherefore Saul returned from pursu-between me and thee, and see, and plead my ing after David, and went against the Phi-cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. istines: therefore they called that place Sea-hainmab-lekoth. 29¶ And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi. CHAP. XXIV. 16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? AndSaul lifted up his voice,and wept 17 And he said to David, Thon art more AND it came to pass, when Saul was re-righteous than 1; for thou hast rewarded me tarned from following the Philistines, good, whereas I have rewarded ti:ee evil. what it was told him, saying, Behold, David 18 And thou hast shewed this day how is in the wilderness of En-gedi. that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as, when the LORD had delivered ine into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3 And he came to the sheep-cotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? Wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shali be established in thine hand. 4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy intɔ] 21 Swear now therefore unto me by the thine band, that thou mayest do to him as it LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed afshall seem good unto thee. Then David ter me, and that thou wilt not destroy my arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe name out of my father's house, privily. 22 And David sware unto Saul. And 5 And it came to pass afterward, that Da-Saul went home; but David and his men rid's heart smote him, because he had cut off gat them up unto the hold. Saul's skirt. CHAP. XXV. 6 And he said unto his men, The LORD AND Samuel died; and all the Israelites Corbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. 7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. 9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt. were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wil derness of Paran. 2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail; and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance but the man was churlish, and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. 4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. 10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen Low that the LORD hath delivered thee to day! 5 And David sent out ten young men ; and into mine hand in the cave; and some bade David said unto the young men, Get you up me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee: and to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet I said, I will not put forth mine hand against in my name : my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed. m 6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. 11 Moreover, my father, see; yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither 7 And now I have heard that thou hast evil nor transgression in mine hand, and shearers: now, thy shepherds which were have not sinned against thee; yet thou hunt-with us, we hurt them not, neither was there est my soul to take it. ought missing unto them all the while they were in Carmel. 12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee; but mine Land shall not be upon thee. 13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, 8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee: wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes; (for we come in a good day) give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy audience, and hear the words of thine handson David. maid. 9 And when David's young men came, 25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard they spake to Nabal according to all those this man of Belial, eren Nabal: for as his words in the name of David, and ceased. name is, so is he; Nabal is his name. and 109 And Nabal answered David's servants. folly is with him but I, thine handmaid, and said, Who is David? and who is the son saw not the young men of my lord, whom of Jesse? There be many servants now a thou didst send. days that break away every man from his 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. 27 And now this blessing, which thine master. 11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for mny slearers, and give it unto men whom I know not whence they be? 12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and caine and told handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let t him all those sayings. even be given unto the young men that fol 13 And David said unto his men, Gird yellow my lord. on every man his sword. And they girded| 28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of on every man his sword; and David also thine handmaid: for the LORD will certaingirded on his sword: and there went up af-fly make my lord a sure house; because my ter David about four hundred men, and two lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and hundred abode by the stuff. evil hath not been found in thee all the 14 ¶ But one of the young men told Abi-days. gail. Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David 29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and sent messengers out of the wilderness to sa-to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord lute our master; and he railed on them. shail be bound in the bundle of life with the 15 But the men were very good unto us, LORD thy God; and the souls of thine eneand we were not hurt, neither missed we any mies. thein shall he sling out, as out of the thing, as long as we were conversant with middle of a sling. them, when we were in the fields. 30 And it shall come to pass, when the 16 They were a wall unto us, both by LORD shail have done to my lord according night and day, all the while we were with to all the good that he hath spoken concernthem keeping the sheep. ing thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler 17 Now therefore know and consider what over Israel, thou wilt do; for evil is determined against 31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, vur master, and against all his household:[nor offence of heart unto my lord, either for he is such a son of Belial, that a man can- that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that uot speak to him. my lord hath avenged himself: but when the 18 Then Abigail made haste, and took LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, then remember thine handmaid. and five sheep ready dressed, and five mea- 32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed sures of parched corn, and an hundred clus-be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee ters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, this day to meet me. and laid them on asses. 19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. she told not her husband Nabal. But 33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. 20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass,! 34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of that she came down by the covert of the Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hill, and, behold, David and his men came hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and down against her; and she met them. come to meet me, surely there had not been 21 (Now David had said. Surely in vain left unto Nabal by the morning light any have I kept all that this fellow hath in the that pisseth against the wall. wilderness, so that nothing was missed of al 35 So David received of her hand that that pertained unto him; and he hath requi-[which she had brought him, and said unto ted me evil for good. her, Go up in peace to thine house: see, I So and more also do God unto the ene- have hearkened to thy voice, and have acmies of David, if I leave of all that pertain cepted thy person. to him by the morning light any that pisseth 36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, beagainst the wall) hold, he held a feast in his house like the feast 23 And when Abigail saw David, she of a king: and Nabal's heart was merry with hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell be-ia him, for he was very drunken ; wherefore fore David on her face, and bowed herself to she told him nothing, less or more, until the the ground, morning light. 21 And fell at his feet, and said. Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be; and let 37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and ins fe had told him these things, that his heart, ¿ed within him, and he became as a stone. liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day 10 David said furthermore, As tlie Lond 33 And it came to pass, about ten days af- shall come to die; or he shall descend into fer- that the LORD Smote Nabal, that he died. battle. and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch 39 ¶ And when David neard that Nabal was dead, he said. Blessed be the LORD, that forth mine hand against the LORD's anointbath pleaded the cause of my reproach from' ed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear the band of Nabal, and hath kept his ser- that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, vant from evil: for the LORD hath returned and let us go. the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. 16 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. 41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet] of the servants of my lord, of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat 12 So David took the spear and the cruse it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep, them away, and no man saw it, nor knew because a deep sleep from the LORD was fal len upon them. side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off, 13 Then David went over to the other a great space being between them. 14 And David cried to the people, and to 42 And Abigail lasted, and arose, and rode thou not, Abner? Then Abner answer. Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest apon an ass, with five damsels of hers thated and said, Who art thou that criest to went after her and she went after the mes-the king sengers of David, and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; a raliant man? and who is like to thee in I 15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou and they were also both of thein his wives. 44 Bit Saul had given Michal bis daugh-ford the king? for there came one of the peorael? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy ter. David's wife, to Phalti, the son of Laish, ple in to destroy the king tiny lord. which was of Gallim. 16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to CHAP. XXVI. AND the Ziphites came unto Saul to fi die, because ye have not kept your master, heah, saying, Doth not David hide the LORD's anointed. And now see where himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is be-the king's spear is, and the cruse of water Core Jeshimon? 2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the that was at his bolster. wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand Is this thy voice, my son David And David 17 And Saul knew David's voice,and said, cise men of Israel with him, to seek Da-said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. vid in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, thus pursue after his servant? for what have 13 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord which is before Jeshimon, by the way: but I done? or what evil is in mine hand? David abode in the wilderness; and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. the king hear the words of his servant. If 19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord 4 David therefore sent out spies, and un-the LORD have stirred thee up against ine, derstood that Saul was come in very deed. 51 And David arose, and came to the children of men, cursed be they before the let him accept an offering: but if they be the place where Saul had pitched; and Davis LORD; for they have driven me out this day beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and saying, Go serve other gods. Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to 6 Then answered David, and said to Ahi-the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, the earth before the face of the LORD; for melech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of as when one doth hunt a partridge in the Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will mountains. go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. 7 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. 8 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. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy his Bot: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless? 227 21 Then said Saul, I have sinned. rethee harm, because iny soul was precious in turn, my son David; for I will no more do thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. 22 And David answered and said, Behold teousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD 24 And, behold, as thy life was much set |