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is no way excusable; though her love to her husband is commendable. Before, she behaved like David's wife, but now, like Saul's daughter. David was not such an imperious, brutish husband us she intimated; but she said any thing to turn the edge of Saul's

So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, for direction and protection, and told him all that Saul had done to 19 him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David [is] at Naioth in Ramah.

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And Saul, forgetting the reverence due to Samuel and the students, sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, singing divine songs, and celebrating the praises of God in sublime and rapturous strains, and Samuel standing [as] appointed over them, to instruct, moderate and direct them in their holy exercise, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied; they either forgot David, or their minds were brought into so good a 21 frame that they durst not do so ill a thing. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they pro22 phesied also, all were diverted from their purpose. Then went he himself also to Ramah, (surprising obstinacy!) and came to a great well that [is] in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where [are] Samuel and David? And [one] said, Behold, [they be] at Nai23 oth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah; God showed him beforehand that it was in vain he attempted to take David, whom 24 God defended. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul also among the prophets?

1.

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REFLECTIONS.

E may here observe, that there is no dependence to be placed on a man of ungoverned passion. A furious man, saith Solomon, abideth in transgression. David had every thing to secure him from violence, that would be likely to influence a reasonable man; goodness, merit, great services, affinity; Saul's reason was on his side; he had bound himself by an oath not to hurt him; yet he overlooked and broke through all. There is no trusting to a man's honour, his word, or even his oath, if he has no command over his passions; for he is in fact a madman. The fewer dealings, and the less acquaintance we have with such persons, the better. Make no friendship with an angry man ; and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways; and get a snare to thy soul. Prov. xxii. 24, 25.

Without his upper garment; so the phrase is used by the sacred writers, and by many Greek and Latin authors.

2. We see, that the hearts of all men are in God's hand, and he can turn them which way soever he will. He wonderfully overruled Saul's contrivances for David's ruin; turned his messengers for a while into prophets, and at length Saul himself also. God's power is not confined to places or persons; he has innumerable ways to confound the enemies of his people, and to defeat their de vices. He can manage the hearts and tongues of men, so as to make them serve his own purposes. Let this preserve us from the fear of man, and excite us to courage and resolution in the way of duty; for, if God be for us, who shall be against us?

3. Extraordinary gifts are no proof of true grace. A man may have excellent abilities, both natural and acquired, yea, supernatural endowments, and yet continue ignorant of God and religion. Though Saul prophesied, his heart continued corrupt and unchanged. Hence we learn, not to trust to any gifts whatever, for thus saith the apostle Paul, Though I have the gift of prophecy, like Saul, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains; though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, or give my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1 Cor. xiii. 2, 3. And our Lord declares, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. vii. 22, 23.

CHAP. XX.

In this chapter David represents his present distress to Jonathan ; who, upon discovering Saul's wicked disposition, informs David of his danger; upon which they mutually renew their covenant of friendship, and affectionately part from each other.

'A

ND David, taking the opportunity of Saul's ecstasy, fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what [is] mine iniquity? and what [is] my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? He thought there must be some extraordinary reason for all this violent opposition, and wished to know it, as he was not conscious to himself 2 of any irregularity. And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die, thou needest not fear any such thing: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me and why should my father hide this thing from me? it [is] not [so.] Jonathan seems not to have known all the steps that Saul had taken; or he trusted too much to Saul's oath, or 3 supposed he would be better when his frantic fit was over. And David sware moreover, took a solemn oath that it was so, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, of my

resolution to kill David, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a step between me and death, I stand in extreme danger, like a A man on the edge of a precipice. Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do [it] for 5 thee, to discover Saul's intention and save thy life. And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow [is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at 6 even.* If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked [leave] of me, that he might run to Bethlehem his city for [there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.t If he say thus, [It is] well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is determined by 8 him, you may conclude that he is still intent upon revenge. Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant, by informing me how Saul stands affected to me, and what is the cause of his anger; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, if I have really done any thing deserving of death, slay me thyself; for why shouldst thou bring me to thy father? why betray me to him, 9 by concealing his evil intentions from me? And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee, that thou shouldst be put to death, either by me or my father: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it 10 thee? Surely this is the least that I could do. Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly? How shall I be informed of it? for it will not be possible for thee to come to me thyself.

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And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field, that 12 they might consult the more privately about this matter. And Jonathan, whose heart was filled with generous friendship, and touched at the apprehension of being suspected by David, broke out into a pathetic exclamation, and said unto David, O Lord GOD Of Israel, or, as some versions read it, The Lord God be witness, when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time, [or] the third [day,] and, behold, [if there be] good toward David, 13 and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee; The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will show it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace and the LORD be with thee, as he 14 hath been with my father, and bring thee to the kingdom. And then thou shalt not only while yet I liye, show me the kindness 15 of the LORD, that I die not: But [also] thou shalt not cut off thy

There was a solemn sacrifice every new moon; this was kept for two days, because the moon sometimes appeared in the evening and sometimes in the morning. They feasted on what was left; and David, as an officer of the king's son, used to be there.

+ It was the custom of pious families to assemble at an yearly sacrifice, to strengthen their mutual affection, and join in thankfulness to God for common mercies.

kindness from my house for ever: nó, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the 16 earth.* So Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David, with David and his posterity, [saying,] Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of David's enemies, let this imprecation fall upon any that show themselves to be David's enemies, and 17 myself among the rest, if I do so.t And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul, and thought he could never do enough to secure his friendship.

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Then Jonathan laid a plan to secure intelligence, and said to David, Tomorrow [is] the new moon: and thou shalt be miss19 ed, because thy seat will be empty. And [when] thou hast stayed three days, [then] thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was [in hand,] and shalt remain by the stone Ezel, so called, because it showed travellers the way; probably there was some inscription 20 upon it, as it was by the highway. And I will shoot three arrows on the side [thereof,] as though I shot at a mark. Jonathan by this sign was to show David what he was to do, lest passengers or 21 spies should prevent their having an interview. And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying,] Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows [are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for [there is] peace to thee, and 22 no hurt; [as] the LORD liveth. But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows [are] beyond thee; go thy 23 way for the LORD hath sent thee away. And [as touching] the matter which thou and I have spoken of, the covenant between us, (v. 16, 17,) behold, the LORD [be] a witness or judge between thee and me for ever.

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So David, when the time was come, hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king, as wicked a man ás he was, had some regard to the sacred feast, and he sat him down 25 to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, [even] upon a seat by the wall and Jonathan arose, either when his father was coming in, or to give his uncle Abner room, and 26 Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless, Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought something hath befallen him, he [is] not clean; surely he [is] not clean; he hath contracted some ceremonial pollution, which renders him unclean till the evening. (See Lev. xi. 24. xv. 16.) 27 And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the second [day] of the month, that David's place was empty and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, in a scornful and reproachful manner, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yester28 day nor today? And Jonathan answered Saul, David earn29 estly asked [leave] of me, [to go] to Bethlehem: And he said,

This probably refers to the barbarous custom of the king's successor slaying all the royal family, to prevent disturbance.

It was in remembrance of this covenant that David was so kind to Mephibosketh.

Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother he hath commanded me [to be there:] and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto 30 the king's table. Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, he suspected that it was designed, and breaking out into a most furious passion, showing no reverence for the company, nor regard for the festival, he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman,] or, thou perverse rebel, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? By choosing my enemy for thy friend, thou provest thyself not to be my son, that thy mother is a false adulteress, and thou unworthy to inherit 31 the kingdom: For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. 32 This a little roused Jonathan's resentment. And Jonathan answered Saul his father with rather too much heat, and said unto 33 him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David; he knew there was no making any terms, or expectation of Saul's al34 tering his sentiments. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, this was one reason, and because his father had done him shame, had reproached and abused him, and attempted to take his life.

35

And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan, taking his bow and arrows, either for amusement or military exercise, went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little 36 lad with him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the

arrows which I shoot. [And] as the lad ran, he shot an arrow 37 beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad with a loud voice, so that David might hear him from under the rock, and easily distinguish the word, beyond, and said, [Is] not 38 the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up 39 the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not any 40 thing only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry [them] to the city; seeing that the coast was clear, and that there was no danger of a discovery, he was willing to have a short interview.

41

[And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times and they kissed one another, and 42 wept with one another, until David exceeded.* And Jonathan

David might weep because he was banished from his wife and family, his kindred, and the house of God. But it seems rather to be Jonathan's generosity that overwhelmed David;