按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
restrained his eagerness； but that it might appear to have been
in his power to have killed him when he refrained from it； he
took his spear； and the cruse of water which stood by Saul as he
lay asleep； without being perceived by any in the camp； who were
all asleep； and went securely away； having performed every thing
among the king's attendants that the opportunity afforded； and
his boldness encouraged him to do。 So when he had passed over a
brook； and was gotten up to the top of a hill； whence he might be
sufficiently heard； he cried aloud to Saul's soldiers； and to
Abner their commander； and awaked them out of their sleep； and
called both to him and to the people。 Hereupon the commander
heard him； and asked who it was that called him。 To whom David
replied； 〃It is I； the son of Jesse； whom you make a vagabond。
But what is the matter？ Dost thou； that art a man of so great
dignity； and of the first rank in the king's court； take so
little care of thy master's body？ and is sleep of more
consequence to thee than his preservation； and thy care of him？
This negligence of yours deserves death； and punishment to be
inflicted on you； who never perceived when； a little while ago；
some of us entered into your camp； nay； as far as to the king
himself； and to all the rest of you。 If thou look for the king's
spear and his cruse of water； thou wilt learn what a mighty
misfortune was ready to overtake you in your very camp without
your knowing it。〃 Now when Saul knew David's voice； and
understood that when he had him in his power while he was asleep；
and his guards took no care of him； yet did not he kill him； but
spared him； when he might justly have cut him off； he said that
he owed him thanks for his preservation； and exhorted him to be
of good courage； and not be afraid of suffering any mischief from
him any more； and to return to his own home； for he was now
persuaded that he did not love himself so well as he was loved by
him： that he had driven away him that could guard him； and had
given many demonstrations of his good…will to him： that he had
forced him to live so long in a state of banishment； and in great
fears of his life； destitute of his friends and his kindred；
while still he was often saved by him； and frequently received
his life again when it was evidently in danger of perishing。 So
David bade them send for the spear and the cruse of water； and
take them back； adding this withal； That God would be the judge
of both their dispositions； and of the actions that flowed from
the same； 〃who knows that then it was this day in my power to
have killed thee I abstained from it。〃
10。 Thus Saul having escaped the hands of David twice； he went
his way to his royal palace； and his own city： but David was
afraid； that if he staid there he should be caught by Saul； so he
thought it better to go up into the land of the Philistines； and
abide there。 Accordingly； he came with the six hundred men that
were with him to Achish； the king of Gath； which was one of their
five cities。 Now the king received both him and his men； and gave
them a place to inhabit in。 He had with him also his two wives；
Ahinoam and Abigail； and he dwelt in Gath。 But when Saul heard
this； he took no further care about sending to him； or going
after him； because he had been twice； in a manner； caught by him；
while he was himself endeavoring to catch him。 However； David had
no mind to continue in the city of Gath； but desired the king；
that since he had received him with such humanity； that he would
grant him another favor； and bestow upon him some place of that
country for his habitation； for he was ashamed； by living in the
city； to be grievous and burdensome to him。 So Achish gave him a
certain village called Ziklag； which place David and his sons
were fond of when he was king； and reckoned it to be their
peculiar inheritance。 But about those matters we shall give the
reader further information elsewhere。 Now the time that David
dwelt in Ziklag； in the land of the Philistines； was four months
and twenty days。 And now he privately attacked those Geshurites
and Amalekites that were neighbors to the Philistines； and laid
waste their country； and took much prey of their beasts and
camels； and then returned home； but David abstained from the men；
as fearing they should discover him to king Achish； yet did he
send part of the prey to him as a free gift。 And when the king
inquired whom they had attacked when they brought away the prey；
he said； those that lay to the south of the Jews； and inhabited
in the plain； whereby he persuaded Achish to approve of what he
had done； for he hoped that David had fought against his own
nation； and that now he should have him for his servant all his
life long； and that he would stay in his country。
CHAPTER 14。
Now Saul Upon God's Not Answering Him Concerning The Fight With
The Philistines Desired A Necromantic Woman To Raise Up The Soul
Of Samuel To Him； And How He Died； With His Sons Upon The
Overthrow Of The Hebrews In Battle；
1。 About the same time the Philistines resolved to make war
against the Israelites； and sent to all their confederates that
they would go along with them to the war to Reggan； ＇near the
city Shunem；＇ whence they might gather themselves together； and
suddenly attack the Hebrews。 Then did Achish； the king of Gath；
desire David to assist them with his armed men against the
Hebrews。 This he readily promised； and said that the time was now
come wherein he might requite him for his kindness and
hospitality。 So the king promised to make him the keeper of his
body； after the victory； supposing that the battle with the enemy
succeeded to their mind； which promise of honor and confidence he
made on purpose to increase his zeal for his service。
2。 Now Saul； the king of the Hebrews； had cast out of the country
the fortune…tellers； and the necromancers； and all such as
exercised the like arts； excepting the prophets。 But when he
heard that the Philistines were already come； and had pitched
their camp near the city Shunem； situate in the plain； he made
haste to oppose them with his forces； and when he was come to a
certain mountain called Gilboa； he pitched his camp over…against
the enemy； but when he saw the enemy's army he was greatly
troubled； because it appeared to him to be numerous； and superior
to his own； and he inquired of God by the prophets concerning the
battle； that he might know beforehand what would be the event of
it。 And when God did not answer him； Saul was under a still
greater dread； and his courage fell； foreseeing； as was but
reasonable to suppose； that mischief would befall him； now God
was not there to assist him； yet did he bid his servants to
inquire out for him some woman that was a necromancer and called
up the souls of the dead； that So he might know whether his
affairs would succeed to his mind； for this sort of necromantic
women that bring up the souls of the dead； do by them foretell
future events to such as desire them。 And one of his servants
told him that there was such a woman in the city Endor； but was
known to nobody in the camp； hereupon Saul put off his royal
apparel； an