had asked leave to go to celebrate a family festival at Bethlehem. If the king graciously accepted this excuse it would show that David had only fancied that he was out of favor. If, on the other hand, his suspicions were correct, Saul would be sure to give some indication of their truth. "And then," concluded David, "be merciful to me, for we have sworn by Yahweh to be true in our friendship. If I have done wrong then slay me yourself; but betray me not to your father." Jonathan promised faithfully to report how things stood. Then they went out into the fields together to arrange some signal by which Jonathan might tell David what to do, in case they could not have another interview. There they renewed their vows of friendship, and Jonathan even made David promise not to put him to death-or his posterity should he be dead himself already—when he became Saul's successor.

The day of the new moon broke. The sacrifice was offered, and the banquet was prepared. Saul took his usual place against the wall of his house. Next him, on one side, sat Abner, while David's empty seat stood by him on the other side. Jonathan, instead of sitting as usual at his father's side, took his seat opposite him, that he might be able to observe him more narrowly. The king said nothing about David's absence. No doubt he thought that some accident had made him unclean, and so prevented his being able to take part in a sacrificial meal. But when David's place was still empty on the following day, he said to Jonathan, "Why has not the son of Jesse been present at the banquet either yesterday or to-day?" Jonathan answered as had been agreed, "David entreated me to let him go to Bethlehem, for there was a family sacrifice there to which his brothers had invited him. He wanted to see his relatives again, and that is why he is not at the king's table." Upon this Saul's rage boiled over. "Child of a rebellious woman," he burst out, "did I not know that you had conspired with Jesse's son against me? You are bringing shame upon yourself and upon your mother. For know that as long as he is alive you will never rest securely on the throne. Come, then, bring him here to me, for he must be put to death!" But Jonathan answered boldly, "Why must he die? What has he done wrong?" When Saul was in a passion it was not safe to be near him. His hand was already laid on his javelin, and Jonathan retired hastily and remained apart. He saw but too clearly how things stood,

and in mingled indignation and sorrow he fasted all that day because his father was so unjust to David.

The next morning he went to the appointed place in the fields accompanied by a boy. He told his slave to go and collect the arrows he shot, and as they flew far on beyond him he cried out, "Run! run! for they are far ahead. Make haste!" That was the sign of danger upon which he had agreed with David. If he had cried, "This way! Go no further! then his friend might have returned securely to the court. Bnt this, "Run! make haste!" was the friendly counsel to fly. The boy, who knew nothing of the matter, brought back the arrow shot by his master, and since Jonathan saw that there was no danger of being seen, he sent him back with his bow and arrows to the city, but stayed behind himself till his friend should appear. Then David came from behind the heap of stones where he had lain concealed. It was a tender and a solemn greeting. Three times he threw himself upon the ground before his faithful friend. Then they

embraced each other in silence. Their tears choked their utterance, until at last David burst into the most passionate cries of grief. It was so terrible for him to have to part with his friend, to part with everything he loved, and go- he knew not whither. At last Jonathan said to him, "Go in peace! Let the oath we both have sworn to Yahweh remain unbroken. May the bond of eternal friendship bind you to me, and your posterity to mine!" And thus they parted.

Before giving this story I mentioned in passing that it was inconsistent with the one that preceded it. For there Saul's hostility towards David was treated as a fact notorious to every one -to Jonathan amongst the rest - and bands of soldiers were sent to seize him. Here David has to open Jonathan's eyes to his father's change of disposition and the danger that threatens him. If both narratives were historical, therefore, we should have to reverse their order. But even this could not save them both, for this latter story is evidently meant for an account of the last farewell of the two friends. There is nothing left but to take these stories as two different accounts of the first outburst of Saul's suspicious hatred and the way in which David escaped from court. The latter story certainly bears the stamp of truth, but there is much that sounds natural and true in the other also. It is not of much consequence, however, that we should know exactly how Saul's fury first displayed itself.

Our stories evidently give a true account of the real cause of this fury itself. Saul, knowing as he did that many of his subjects were opposed to him, and that the prophets especially were now disaffected, naturally became suspicious. David was the darling of the people, and, as the story of his stay at Ramah indicates, stood high in favor with Samuel and his powerful following. Nothing was more natural, therefore, than that Saul, dissatisfied with himself, with the course that events were taking, and with the party of the prophets, should presently have yielded to his own suspicions, given the reins to his violent and passionate nature, and plotted against the life of his too successful son-in-law.

Jonathan's friendship was certainly not displayed exactly as our narrator would have us believe. For he makes him foresee that David is to become king, and even beg him to spare his posterity when that time should come. The writer himself knew the course that events had actually taken, and therefore - with small knowledge of human nature - placed these anticipations in the mouth of Jonathan. But in reality` neither Jonathan nor David could have known beforehand that the latter would become king. Nay, if David had intended to aim at the crown, he would have been acting most dishonorably both towards Saul and Jonathan his heir. Nor must we be content to form an unnatural conception of Jonathan himself. A story is elsewhere told us1 of his coming to David some time after open hostilities between him and Saul had broken out, and saying, "My father will never get you into his power, but you will become the king of Israel, and I shall be next to you in the kingdom. My father knows this well." This is incredible. Why should Jonathan have voluntarily resigned the throne to David? Surely it is much more natural to suppose that he believed with all his heart in the innocence of his friend, and in his loyalty to his father the king. Regarded in this light his conduct is still noble, while David's perfect confidence in his friend argues well for the characters of both.

Let us now consider the conduct of Jonathan once more. He undertakes the difficult and dangerous task of a peacemaker; he dares to speak a word on behalf of his absent friend to his infuriated father; he aids him in his escape, at the risk of being accused of high treason, in which case even his life would no longer be safe from such a man as Saul. And he does all this out of love to one who had given no proof 1 1 Samuel xxiii. 16-18.

as yet of any sinister design; but whose extraordinary success in war, whose marriage with the king's daughter, and whose popularity alike with the people and the prophets might well make him a formidable subject at some future time. But love thinks no evil, believes and hopes all things. We may think of Jonathan, after David's flight, endeavoring to console himself for the absence of his friend by carrying his thoughts on into the future. He saw himself on the throne of Israel, and David, his bosom friend, at his side. He thought how they would rush together to battle with the uncircumcised, while no ignoble jealousies wasted the strength of Israel, and they two, with united powers, raised the people to greatness. He foresaw not it is well for man that the future is veiled from him that the hour of his father's death was to be his own last hour too, and that only one of his sons would reap the fruits of his generous friendship, and - eat the bread of charity at David's table.

CHAPTER XXIX.

SAUL PERSECUTES DAVID.

1 SAMUEL XXI. 1-10 a, XXII. 1-XXIII. 15, XXIII. 19-XXVII. 4.

Dment's delay might cost him his life. Accordingly he

AVID had now no course but instant flight, for a mo

fled, as might have been expected, southwards towards Bethlehem, and came to Nob, not far from Jebus (or Jerusalem). At this place there was a temple, consecrated to Yahweh, at which a certain Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, did duty as chief priest. Now when this Ahimelech saw David drawing near he went to meet him trembling. "The king's son-inlaw!" he said to himself, "what can that mean?" For messengers from court were seldom bearers of good news any more than the prophets were. How come you here alone and unattended?" he asked in amazement; and without a moment's hesitation David answered, "The king has sent me on secret business. I have told my men to meet me elsewhere. Pray give me four or five loaves of bread, or whatever else you happen to have, as quickly as possible." The priest was ready enough to help him, but he had no common bread at hand; all he had was the shew-bread, which was reserved for

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the special use of the priests. However, he said he would give him even this if his followers were not unclean. "Never fear!" answered David, keeping up the falsehood, we were all clean when we started from home." Thus reassured Ahimelech gave him the bread. But David was not yet content. "Have you a sword or spear by you?" he asked, "for the king's business was so urgent that I had no time even to snatch up a weapon.' "We have no weapons here," answered the priest, "except the sword of Goliath, whom you slew. It is hanging up, wrapped in a cloth, behind the ephod." is the very thing!" cried David. "There is not another like it on earth! Give it me at once!" Thus provided with the sword and the loaves of bread, the fugitive pursued his way.

"That

He took refuge near Bethlehem, in a rocky stronghold probably formed by a cave. This place was almost inaccessible, and could easily be defended. It was called the cave of Adullam. Here David soon collected a number of followers. They consisted in the first place of nearly all his own relatives, for now that he was out of favor his family feared, or had perhaps already felt, the wrath of Saul. Besides these there were certain malcontents who were dissatisfied with Saul's rule, hopeless debtors and refugees of every description. Altogether they made up a troop of about four hundred men, and they all acknowledged David as their leader and threw in their lot with his. But their position was a very wretched one. How could they hope in the long run to escape the sword of Saul? And how were they to live meanwhile? David saw all the dangers that surrounded him, and his first care was for his parents. At their time of life they could never bear the privations and perils of a bandit's life. So, regardless of the risk he ran, he secretly crossed the Jordan, just by Jericho, alone or accompanied only by one or two special friends, and begged the king of Moab to receive and protect his parents until his own affairs should take a favorable turn. The prince, who was of course no friend to Saul, seized this opportunity of laying an obligation on so valiant and renowned an opponent of his neighbor, and willingly granted the request. The aged pair were then brought with all speed to Moab, and placed in safety there. It was not a moment too soon; for David himself could now no longer remain near Bethlehem. It was too close to Gibeah.

It may be asked why David himself did not seek refuge