cave the skirt of his robe was privily cut off by David, who, with his men, lay there concealed. When Saul withdrew, David went out after him, and showing him the skirt he had cut off, assured him that he had no design against his life. Saul being thus convinced, acknowledged David's innocence, made a covenant with him, and returned home.

Q. Whither did David go on leaving Engedi ?

A. To the wilderness of Paran. Being insulted while there by Nabal, a wealthy shepherd, whose flocks he had formerly protected, and of whom he had now solicited a little refreshment for his people, he resolved to avenge the injury upon the whole family. But Abigail, Nabal's wife, dreading David's resentment, hastened to meet him with a present, and by her remonstrances diverted him from his purpose. As for Nabal, the LORD smote him, and he died about ten days after.

Q. What became of Abigail?

A. David married her, and Ahinoam of Jezreel also; for "Saul had given Michal,-David's wife, to Phalti, son of Laish."

Q. Where did David's last meeting with Saul take place? A. In the wilderness of Ziph, whither Saul had pursued him. On this occasion David and Abishai entered

* The custom adopted in some parts of the East, by princes newly raised to the throne, of exterminating all the members of the preceding dynasty, of which holy writ furnishes numerous instances, made Saul, who was aware that David would succeed him, I Sam. xxiv. 20-22. justly alarmed for the safety of his posterity; and therefore he made a covenant with him.

his spear,

and

Saul's camp by night, and carried away the cruise of water from his bolster ;* and ascending a neighbouring hill, David called aloud to Abner, and showed him what they had done. He then expostulated with Saul, who, convinced of his innocence, promised to do him no more harm. But David, fully aware of Saul's treachery, fled to Achish king of Gath, with his family and all his troop: and Saul sought for him no

more.

Q. How long did he dwell among the Philistines ?

A. He dwelt one year and four months at Ziklag, a town given him by Achish.

Q. What expedition did he undertake while there? A. He attacked the Geshurites, the Gezerites, and the Amalekites, and left none alive to carry the tidings to Gath. But when Achish inquired of his warfare, he told him he had fought against the south of Judah, the south of the Jerahmeelites, and the south of the Kenites.† A. M. 2947. Q. What mark of confidence did Achish B. C. 1057. give to David?

A. He made him captain of his life-guard, and took him with him to fight against Saul; but before they

* David's firm reliance on God is admirably pourtrayed in his reply to Abishai who urged him, on this occasion, to slay Saul. 1 Sam. xxvi. 10. 11.

The sacred writers relate with scrupulous fidelity, the faults of many of the Old Testament worthies. David's breach of truth towards Abimelech, 1 Sam. xxi. 2. and towards Achish, xxvii. 10.-12. are related without any extenuation; and are designed to warn him that standeth to take heed lest he fall.

arrived at Jezreel,* the princes of the Philistines, distrusting David, insisted on his return.†

Q. What occurred during his absence from Ziklag? A. When David, and the six hundred men that were with him, returned to Ziklag on the third day, they found it burned to the ground, and entirely depopulated: "and David was greatly distressed, for the people spake of stoning him," but he "encouraged himself in the LORD his God." And he "enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." Q. Did he succeed?

:

A. Yes he went after them with his whole troop; 'but two hundred of them, becoming faint, were left be'hind at the brook Besor: he continued the pursuit however with the remainder; and, conducted by an Egyptian slave whom the Amalekites had left behind, came up with them as they were revelling in the midst of their spoil. He immediately fell upon them, and, except four hundred young men who rode upon camels and fled, put them all to the sword, recovered all that they had carried away, and much spoil.

Q. How was the spoil divided?

A. A portion being first set aside for himself, David divided the remainder among his men, including those who remained behind at the brook Besor. Of this spoil

* See note () page 129.

+ On his way back he was joined by some warriors out of Manasseh, 1 Chron. xii. 19-21.

he sent presents to his numerous friends in Israel and Judah.

Q. How was Saul occupied in the mean while?

A. He had gone with his army to Jezreel to meet the Philistines; but when he saw their host, "he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled." And when he "enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not,* neither by dreams, nor by Urim,† nor by prophets." In despair therefore, he had recourse to a woman that had a familiar spirit, and desired her to bring up Samuel, having first sworn that no punishment should happen to her for this thing.‡

Q. What was the consequence ?

A. "When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice" and Saul perceiving that it was Samuel, bowed himself with his face to the ground. " And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? and Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither

* He had not been in the habit of enquiring at the ark, 1 Chron. xiii. 3. and hence his punishment, x. 13, 14.

+"The Urim and Thummim, which was on the high priest's breast-plate, Exod. xxviii. 30. was a standing oracle, to be consulted on all great occasions, Numb. xxvii. 21. 1 Sam. xxiii. 9. xxviii. 6. xxx. 7, Ezra ii. 63. and the answers were returned by a visible signification of the divine will."HORNE'S Introd. vol. iv.

Saul's severity against wizards, and those that had familiar spirits, 1 Sam. xxviii. 3. 9. had given her just grounds of alarm.

by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do."

Q. What did Samuel reply?

A. Having first assured him that all this was the consequence of his disobedience in not executing the fierce wrath of the Lord against Amalek, he said, " Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me."

Q. How was the monarch affected?

A. "Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night." At the earnest solicitations, however, of his two servants and the woman, he took some refreshment; after which he departed. Q. What happened on the morrow?

A. The Israelites having joined battle with the Philistines were defeated with great slaughter: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons, were slain; and Saul, sore wounded of the archers, took his armour bearer's sword and fell upon it.* The Philistines finding their bodies among the slain, fastened them to the

wall of Bethshan; but sent Saul's head and armour to be hung up as trophies in the temples of Dagon and Ashtaroth.†

* His armour bearer, who, according to tradition, was Doeg the Edomite, also slew himself.

† 1 Sam. xxxi. 10. 1 Chron. x. 9, 10.