THE APOGEE.
Establishment of a Kingdom--Saul--His Position and
Character--His secret Election at Mizpah--Humiliating
Condition of the Nation under the Philistines--Declaration
of War--Assemblage in Gilgal--Battle of Michmash--Defeat
of the Philistines--Severity of Saul--Victory over the
Ammonites--Saul's Election as King confirmed--His Court and
Attendants--His Officers and Standing Army--Victory over the
Amalekites--Disputes between Saul and Samuel--Saul's Attacks
on the neighbouring People--War with the Gibeonites--Place
of Worship in Gibeon--War against the Philistines in the
Valley of Tamarinths--Goliath and David--Meeting of Saul and
David--Saul's Jealousy turns into Madness--The Persecution of
David--Saul's last Battle against the Philistines--Defeat and
Death.
1067-1055 B. C. E.
The king who was placed at the head of the people through their own
eager insistence, and with the unwilling consent of the prophet proved,
more effectually than any objections could do, how little a monarchical
constitution was fitted to realise the expectations founded on it;
for the king, until his accession a simple and excellent man, with no
thoughts of ambition or arbitrary power, did not shrink from cruelty
and inhumanity in order to assert his dignity.
By the aid of prophetic guidance, care was taken that he should
not resemble the repulsive prototype drawn by Samuel, or become so
independent as to place himself above all laws and rules, but that
he should ever remain mindful of his lowly origin. Samuel did not
select a king from the haughty tribe of Ephraim, lest he should act
like Abimelech, who, in his presumption and ambition, had killed his
own brothers, and laid waste whole districts; but the king was chosen
from the smallest of the tribes, the tribe of Benjamin. His family,
that of Matri, was one of the lowliest in Benjamin. His father, Kish,
was not in any way distinguished; he was a simple countryman; and
nothing could be said in his praise, except that he was an upright
man. Saul was chosen because he was content to work at his plough, and
watch the increase of his father's flocks. He had no thought beyond
the village in which he was born, and barely an idea that there were
human beings to whom the possession of power was an attraction. In his
shyness he displayed the ways of a true peasant; these circumstances,
and the personal qualities of Saul seemed to be a security against any
presumption or pride on the part of the first king of Israel.
The circumstances attending the choice of a king left a deep and
pleasing impression. "See," said Samuel, "this is the man whom God has
chosen as king; his like is not to be found in all Israel." Most of
the bystanders, carried away by the solemn proceeding and by Saul's
appearance, shouted, "Long live the king!" Samuel then anointed the
newly elected king with holy oil, by which he was believed to be
rendered inviolable. The elders rejoiced that their heartfelt wish of
having a king to rule over them was at length realised. They looked
forward to happy days. This choice of a king was an important epoch in
the history of the Jewish people; it determined their entire future.
Yet during the joyful and solemn proceedings, discord had already
arisen. Some discontented people, probably Ephraimites, who had hoped
to have a king chosen from their own ranks, loudly expressed their
disappointment. "How can this man help us!" Whilst all the other
elders, according to universal custom, brought the king gifts of
homage, and a few of the most courageous followed him to Gibeah to
assist him against the enemies of Israel, the malcontents kept apart
and refused their allegiance.
Saul's courage, after his elevation to the throne, must have increased
greatly, or he must have felt himself guided by God after his
unexpected elevation. He now boldly confronted the task of opposing
his mighty enemies, and of settling the disorganised affairs of the
commonwealth. The position of the people at his accession was very sad
and humiliating, almost worse than in the days of the Judges. Their
arms, such as bows and arrows, swords, etc., had been carried off by
the victorious Philistines, who left no smith in the land to make new
weapons. The newly elected king lacked a sword,--that symbol of royalty
among all nations and at all times. His election was probably conducted
so secretly that the Philistines knew nothing of it. The Philistine
tax-gatherers exhausted the strength of the country, and at the same
time repressed every attempt at revolt. So greatly were the Israelites
humbled that some of them had to accompany the Philistines on
expeditions against their own brethren. Nought but a miraculous event
could have saved them, and such an event was brought about by Saul with
his son and kinsmen.
Saul's eldest son, Jonathan, was perhaps worthier of the kingly dignity
than his father. Modest and unselfish perhaps to a greater extent even
than his father, courageous in the very face of death, he combined
with these qualities an almost excessive kindliness and gentleness,--a
feature which endeared him to all, but which would have been a serious
failing in a ruler who had to display a certain amount of firmness and
severity. Jonathan was, besides, endowed with an enthusiastic nature
which appealed to every heart. He was truthful, and an enemy to all
deceit; he uttered his opinions freely, at the risk of displeasing,
or of losing his position and even his life, all of which qualities
made him a favourite with the people. Abner, the cousin of Saul, was
of an entirely different disposition; he was a warrior of unbending
firmness, and possessed a considerable degree of artfulness. To the
inexperienced king and the people he, too, rendered important service
in their distress. Surrounded by these and other faithful adherents of
his family, and by the tribe of Benjamin in general, who were proud
to gain importance through him, Saul set forth on the unequal contest
with the Philistines. Jonathan commenced hostilities. In the town
of Geba, or Gibeah of Benjamin, lived the Philistine tax-gatherers,
surrounded by a host of warriors. Jonathan attacked this post and
killed the garrison. This was the first declaration of war; it was made
at Saul's command and with his full approval. The king now ordered that
the trumpet-blast, announcing that the war with the Philistines had
commenced, should sound throughout the land of Benjamin. Many heard the
news with joy, others with sadness and dismay.
All who had courage assembled in order to stand by their king,
determined to aid him in casting off the disgrace of Israel, or to
perish in the attempt. Those who were cowards escaped to the opposite
side of the Jordan, or hid in caverns, in clefts of the rocks, or in
subterranean passages. A feeling of intense anxiety filled all minds as
to the result of the contest. The meeting-place of the Israelites was
then in Gilgal, the town most remote from the land of the Philistines.
This place of meeting had been appointed by the prophet Samuel. He had
directed Saul to repair thither, and stay there seven days to await
his arrival and further instructions. Gilgal probably contained the
choir of musicians and prophets, whose psalms and songs were to inspire
the Israelite warriors with martial courage and with trust in the
deliverance of their fatherland. Meanwhile the Philistines prepared
themselves for a war of extermination against the Israelites. The news
of Jonathan's attack on their outposts had exasperated them; they
were, however, more surprised than terrified. How could the cowardly,
weaponless, unarmed Israelites dare to attack the Philistines, their
masters? A numerous band of warriors, supported by cavalry, passed
through the valleys of the southern mountain-range of Ephraim, and
through the entire breadth of the land as far as Michmash; from this
camping-place they spread their marauding bands in three directions,
the most humiliating circumstance being that many Israelites were
compelled to assist the Philistines in subduing their own tribesmen.
This was a critical time for the people of Israel. Whilst the
Philistines were gradually pushing forward to Michmash, Saul,
surrounded by the brave men of his tribe, awaited in Gilgal the
prophet who was to give the warriors his inspired directions, and thus
endow them with courage. But day after day passed and Samuel did not
appear. Every hour spent in idleness seemed to destroy the chance of
a successful issue. Saul feared that the enemy would descend from the
mountains into the valley, attack Gilgal, and destroy or put to flight
the small body of Israelites. Not a few of his soldiers had already
deserted, looking on Samuel's absence as an inauspicious omen. Saul,
becoming impatient, determined on the seventh day to attack the enemy
on his own responsibility. According to ancient practice, he made a
sacrifice in order to propitiate the Deity, and to ensure his success
in the battle. Just as he was preparing the burnt-offering, Samuel
suddenly appeared, and upbraided the king severely for being carried
away by impatience. He resented this error with great austerity,
departed from Gilgal, and left Saul to his own resources--a hard blow
for him, as he had reckoned confidently on the prophet's assistance
at this dangerous juncture. After Samuel had departed from Gilgal,
Saul found it useless to remain there. He therefore repaired with
the remnant of his troops to Gibeah. On reviewing his soldiers
here, he found them to amount to not more than six hundred. It
is not surprising that Saul and Jonathan became dispirited at the
sight of this slight force, which was unarmed and had to fight the
well-appointed armies of the enemy. Saul and Jonathan alone possessed
swords. It was indeed a sad honey-moon for the young kingdom. The
most painful blow for Saul was that, through Samuel's absence, he was
deprived of the means by which the people might ascertain the will of
God.
Jonathan, however, made a good beginning at Gibeah, where Saul and his
troops lay encamped, at scarce an hour's distance from Michmash, the
site of the Philistine camp. Between the two armies lay a valley, but
the road which led from one place to the other was impracticable, the
valley being bordered by steep, almost perpendicular walls of rocks
and precipices, which closed it up on the east till it became a mere
gorge of about ten feet in width. On the west side, where the valley
formed a wide pass, the Philistines had stationed their outposts. Thus
the Philistines and Israelites could only come to an encounter in the
narrow path. At last Jonathan determined to ascend the steepest part
of the pass, and, accompanied by his sword-bearer, he climbed, on
hands and feet, up the steep sharp points of the rock on the side of
Michmash. One false step would have precipitated him into the depth,
but happily he and his man arrived safely at the highest point. When
the Philistines beheld them, they were not a little surprised that,
on this rocky road, a path had been found to their camp. Deceived by
this ruse, and fearing that other Israelites would follow, they called
out scornfully, "Look at the Hebrews, they are crawling out of their
hiding-places; come higher up, we wish to become better acquainted
with you."[16] It had been previously agreed between Jonathan and his
sword-bearer that, should they receive such a challenge, they would
press on and bravely commence the attack. The Philistines who first
beheld the daring climbers, soon left off scoffing, for twenty men
were killed at the first attack with pieces of rock and sling-stones.
The Benjamites were very skilful in the use of the sling, and Jonathan
and his sword-bearer advanced further, and continued hurling masses of
rock at the Philistines. Terror-stricken by this sudden attack from
a side where approach had seemed impossible, they could only imagine
themselves attacked by supernatural beings, and, seized with fear, they
fought each other, or broke the ranks in the wildest confusion. Saul,
who was watching from a high eminence, no sooner perceived the enemy
beginning to flee than he hurried to the scene of action, followed by
his six hundred warriors, and completed the defeat of the Philistines.
Those Israelites who had until then been compelled by the Philistines
to fight against their own brethren turned their arms against their
oppressors. Others who had hidden themselves in the clefts and grottoes
of the mountains of Ephraim took courage, when they witnessed the
flight of the Philistines, and swelled the ranks of the aggressors.
Saul's troops, thus increased, numbered ten thousand. In every town of
Mount Ephraim through which the Philistines passed in their flight,
they were attacked by the inhabitants, and cut down one by one. Though
tired and exhausted, Saul's troops pursued the retreating foe for eight
hours.
An occurrence of apparently slight consequence, but which proved to be
of great importance, put a stop to further pursuit. Saul had impressed
on his soldiers that the destruction of their enemy was not to be
interrupted even for food or refreshment, and he pronounced a curse on
him who should take the slightest nourishment. Jonathan, who was always
foremost, had heard nothing of this curse. Exhausted by the long fight
and pursuit he could not restrain himself, and tasted wild honey into
which he had dipped his staff. When his attention was drawn to his
father's peremptory command, he openly avowed his act. Saul, however,
made a serious matter of it, and determined to condemn Jonathan to
death. But the people protested vehemently. "What!" cried the warriors,
"shall Jonathan, to whom the people owes its great victory, be killed?
No, not a hair of his head shall be touched."[17] The people offered a
sin-offering for Jonathan, and thus released him from death. Through
this episode, the pursuit of the Philistines to the west of Ajalon was
suspended. Great was the joy of the Israelites at the victory they
had so unexpectedly obtained. The battle of Michmash fully restored
their reputation. They also had regained their weapons, and felt
strong enough to fight under a king whose firmness of resolve they had
experienced. But Saul returned humbly and modestly to his dwelling
place in Gibeah, and ploughed, as heretofore, his father's fields. He
was not yet blinded by his new dignity. Meanwhile the hostilities of
the Ammonites against the tribes on the other side of the Jordan had
increased. Nahash, king of the Ammonites, besieged the fortress of
Jabesh-Gilead. The inhabitants were unable to hold out for long, and
negotiated with Nahash about a capitulation. He offered a hard, inhuman
condition to the Gileadites of Jabesh. As a disgrace to Israel, all men
should consent to lose their right eye. What were the Gileadites to
do? They treated for a delay of seven days in order to send messages
to their fellow-tribesmen. When Saul was one day returning home with
his yoke of bullocks from the field, he met the inhabitants of Gibeah
in great excitement and bathed in tears. Astonished at this, he asked
the cause of their grief, and the messengers from Jabesh-Gilead
related what would befall their town if speedy assistance were not at
hand. Incensed at the disgraceful condition imposed by the king of the
Ammonites, Saul immediately determined to bring aid to the Gileadites
of Jabesh. For the first time he exercised his royal prerogative by
summoning all Israel to take part in the campaign against the Ammonites.
Samuel supported this summons by declaring that he too would join in
the expedition. By Saul's command all the warriors assembled at the
meeting-place. The anarchy of the era of the Judges was now at an
end, and a stern will ruled. A large body of Israelites crossed the
Jordan; the Ammonites, attacked on the south, north, and west, fled in
all directions, and no two of them remained together. The people of
Jabesh were saved, and ever after displayed the deepest gratitude to
Saul and his house for the help so quickly and energetically rendered
to them. On his recrossing the Jordan, after his second victory over
the enemy, Saul was greeted with tumultuous joy. Samuel, who was a
witness to these expressions of delight, thought it wise to remind the
king and his people that their triumph should not turn into pride, and
that they should not consider the kingly dignity as an end, but only
as a means. He therefore summoned a large gathering of the Israelites,
and determined to call the king's and the people's attention to their
duties. Samuel again anointed Saul as king; the people renewed their
homage, and made joyful offerings.
In the midst of these rejoicings Samuel delivered an address, which
bears testimony to the powers of his mind and to his greatness as a
prophet.
Saul's two important victories, and the assemblage at Gilgal, where
homage had been rendered to him by nearly all the tribes, confirmed
his power, and the royal dominion was placed on a permanent basis.
Although Samuel praised and extolled the days of the Judges, yet the
people felt that it could better appreciate a king than a hero-judge.
The nation willingly exchanged its republican liberty for the prize
of unity and the power obtained thereby. The kingly estate led to
various changes. Saul had to employ responsible men for the execution
of his commands; he required a number of officers and servants.
Officers of war were appointed to rule over hundreds and thousands
respectively, and councillors, who were admitted to the king's table.
A special band of men served as runners (_razim_), an armed force who
became the obedient instruments of the king's will. These and their
chief formed the king's court. Saul's leader of the guard was named
Doag, an Idumæan by birth. Owing to the presence of the standing army
and attendants, Gibeah, till then only a small town, now became the
capital. Towards Samuel, Saul at first showed submission. When the
prophet, in the name of God, commanded him to declare war to the death
with the Amalekites, Saul immediately made preparations, and summoned
his warriors. The Amalekites were the implacable and hereditary enemies
of the Israelites, and had displayed the greatest cruelty towards them
during their wanderings in the desert, and on their entry into the
Holy Land. These enemies often joined other nations in order to crush
the Israelites. The Amalekite king Agag appears to have caused great
trouble to the tribe of Judah in the days of Saul.
It was, however, no light task to undertake hostilities against the
Amalekites. Agag was considered a great hero, and inspired all around
him with fear; but although the Amalekites were renowned for their
courage and power, Saul did not hesitate to prepare for this hazardous
campaign. He appears to have carried on the strife with skill and
courage, and to have drawn the enemy into an ambush, by which he was
enabled to obtain a complete victory. He took the capital (possibly
Kadesh), killed the men, women and children, and captured the dreaded
king Agag. Only a few of the people who escaped with their lives took
refuge in the great neighbouring desert which leads to Egypt. The
Israelite warriors carried off rich booty, including flocks of sheep,
herds of cattle, and camels. According to Samuel's command, this spoil
was to be destroyed, so that every trace of the memory of Amalek might
be lost. The soldiers, however, did not wish this rich spoil to be
given up to destruction. Saul, ordinarily so rigid in his discipline,
permitted the preservation of the booty, and thus transgressed the
prophet's directions. Saul was very proud of his victory over the
dreaded Amalekites, and he caused the king Agag to be led in chains as
a living sign of triumph. His success in battle intoxicated him, and
caused him to forget his former humility. On his return he erected a
monument of his victory in the oasis of Carmel. Meanwhile, Samuel, in
a prophetic vision, had learned that the king had not fulfilled the
instructions given him, and was therefore to be punished.
Samuel had to announce this to the victorious king; but the task was
difficult, and he struggled and prayed a whole night. At last he
determined to proceed to meet Saul. But hearing on the way that Saul
was so dominated by pride as to cause a monument to be raised, he
turned back and repaired to Gilgal. When Saul heard of this journey,
he followed him thither. The elders of Benjamin and the neighbouring
tribes also proceeded to Gilgal to salute the victorious king. Here
they were witnesses to a strife which foreboded evil times.
As though nothing had occurred, the king met the prophet with these
words, "I have fulfilled God's commands." On which Samuel sternly
replied to him, "What is the meaning of the bleating of the sheep which
I hear?" "It was the people," answered Saul, "who spared the best of
the sheep and the oxen, in order to sacrifice them on the altar at
Gilgal." At these words the prophet Samuel could no longer repress his
anger, and he replied in winged words: "Hath the Lord as great delight
in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying His voice? Behold, to
obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rams.
For the sin of witchcraft comes from rebellion, and the iniquity of
Teraphim from stubbornness. Because thou hast rejected the word of the
Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king."
Saul was so deeply humiliated by these words and by the stern and
austere attitude which the prophet adopted that he confessed his fault
and, in the effort to prevent him from going away, he seized Samuel's
robe so firmly that it was torn. Samuel then said, "This is a sign: God
will tear thy kingly dignity from thee and will give it to a better
man, even though Israel be torn asunder in the act." Once more Saul
entreated the prophet. "At least honour me now before the elders of my
tribe and of Israel, and return with me."[18]
In consideration of this entreaty, Samuel accompanied him to the altar,
where the king humbled himself before God. Samuel then ordered that the
fettered king Agag should be led forth. The Amalekite king exclaimed
in his fear, "Oh! how bitter, how bitter is death!"[18] To this
exclamation Samuel replied, "As thy sword hath made women childless, so
shall thy mother be childless among women," and Samuel hewed Agag in
pieces before the king in Gilgal.[18]
After this scene in Gilgal, the king and the prophet avoided each
other. The victory which Saul obtained over Amalek was a defeat for
him--his pride was crushed. The announcement that God had abandoned
him threw a dark shadow over his soul. His gloom, which later on
developed into madness, owed its rise to the threatening words of
Samuel, "God will give the kingdom of Israel to a better man."[19]
These terrible words were ever ringing in Saul's ears. Just as he had
at first hesitated to accept the reins of government, so he was now
unwilling to let them pass from his hands. At the same time he felt
himself helpless. What could he do against the severity of the prophet?
In order to divert himself, he plunged into warfare. There were many
enemies on the borders of Israel whom he wished to subdue. He also
pursued another course in order to impress the people with a sense of
his importance.
There still lived amongst the Israelites a few Canaanite families and
small clans who had not been expelled when the country was conquered,
and could not be ejected now. These had led the Israelites to honour
false gods, and to indulge in idolatrous errors. Saul therefore thought
that he would greatly benefit the nation, and serve the law of Israel,
if he removed these idolatrous neighbours, and everything that was
foreign. Among the strangers who had been suffered to remain were the
men of Gibeon, they having voluntarily submitted to the conquering
Israelites. Saul did not respect the oath given to the Gibeonites, but
ordered a wholesale massacre amongst them, from which but few escaped.
Together with the foreign Canaanite nations he also persecuted the
sorcerers who took part in idolatrous practices. Whilst Saul, on the
one hand, endeavoured to acquire the good will of his people, and
showed himself the severe champion of the laws given by God, he tried,
on the other hand, to impress the nation with submissive dread of
the kingly power. He wore a golden crown on his head, as a sign of
greatness and exaltation above the masses. His contemporaries, who had
known him as a plough-man, and might have been inclined to treat him
as their equal, were to forget his past and become accustomed to gaze
at him with awe as the anointed wearer of the holy crown. Saul also
indulged in the royal luxury of polygamy. He took wives in addition
to his first wife Ahinoam, whom he had married when he was still a
peasant. Among them was the beautiful and courageous Rizpah.
Saul showed much energy in his raids against the enemy and, no doubt
in order to dissipate the fears aroused by the prophet's harsh words,
displayed great pomp and ostentation, until then foreign to his nature.
But sooner than he had anticipated, the evil spirit of his imagination
took form in the shape of a youth that charmed him despite himself.
It happened during one of the frequent fights with the enemy that
Saul's troops were drawn up in martial array against the Philistines,
and the two armies stood face to face, separated from each other only
by a deep ravine. Both were fearful of taking the first decisive step.
At length the Philistines made the proposal that the battle should be
settled by single combat, and they sent forth as their champion the
gigantic warrior Goliath. King Saul would gladly have seen one of his
army go forth to the duel, and he promised the victor rich presents,
exemption from taxes, freedom from compulsory service, and the hand
of one of his daughters. But not even at such a price did any one of
the Israelite army dare to oppose himself to Goliath. Then, as if
by chance, a shepherd boy of Bethlehem, a town near to the field of
battle, presented himself, and brought about a decisive issue.
This shepherd of Bethlehem, directly or indirectly, was the cause of a
revolution in the history of Israel, and in the history of the human
race. David, then known only to the inhabitants of the village or town
of Bethlehem, has since become a celebrated name throughout the world.
After his disagreement with Saul, Samuel had received the prophetic
mission to repair to Bethlehem in order to anoint the future king of
Israel from amongst the eight sons of the aged Jesse as successor
to Saul. Samuel set out in secret, lest he should be pursued by the
king. The prophet selected David as the future king chosen by God, and
anointed him as king of Israel in the presence of his brothers. This
simple but important act was naturally performed in privacy, and was
kept secret by David's father and brothers.
Jesse, the father of David, was not descended from a distinguished
house of Judah, but, like all the inhabitants of Bethlehem, belonged to
a very humble family. David was about eighteen years old when he was
anointed, and was not distinguished either by his experience or by any
deed. The beautiful pasture-land round about Bethlehem had till then
composed his world. But faculties lay dormant in him which only needed
to be aroused to make him excel his contemporaries intellectually as
Saul surpassed them physically. David was pre-eminently gifted with
poetic and musical talent, and whilst he yet tended his flock, his harp
awakened the echoes of the mountains. A single circumstance, however,
sufficed to change this youth into a man.
Samuel returned to Ramah as secretly as he had left; but he kept an
eye on the youth whom he had anointed, and drew him into the circle
of his disciples. Here David's poetic talents were developed. Here he
was able to perfect himself in the use of musical instruments. But he
learnt something more in Samuel's surroundings; he learnt "to know
God." His spirit was pervaded with the Divine presence, and became
instinct with that piety which refers all things to God, and submits in
all things to Divine guidance. This reliance on God had been awakened
and strengthened in him by the influence of Samuel. David frequently
journeyed from Bethlehem to Ramah, and from Samuel's house to the
flocks of his father. The noble courage, with which his anointment
and the influence of Samuel inspired him, did not desert him when
he tended his flocks in the meadows of Bethlehem. When war with the
Philistines broke out, in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem, David could
no longer remain a shepherd of his flocks, and he gladly undertook to
deliver a message to his brothers who were serving in the army, so
as to have an excuse for entering the camp. On his arrival there, he
timidly told the bystanders that he was willing to risk an encounter
with the blaspheming Philistine that reviled the army of the living
God. The news soon reached the king's ears that a youth had offered
himself for the combat. Half convinced, half in scorn, Saul gave him
permission to engage in the duel, and offered him his own armour. The
first stone, cast with his skilled hand from the sling, struck the
heavily-armed giant from afar; he fell to the ground. David threw
himself upon Goliath, drew the sword out of the scabbard, and cut off
the giant's head. The Philistines, from the hilltops, had witnessed the
fall of their champion, whom they had thought invincible; they declared
themselves conquered, and no longer sought to prolong the war, but fled
to their fastnesses. The troops of Israel, on the other hand, carried
away by David's victory, followed their enemy in hot pursuit.
Holding the bleeding head in his hand, the youthful victor was led
before Saul, to whom he had till then been unknown. He had not the
remotest suspicion that this youth, from whom he could not withhold
his admiration, might become a dreaded rival. He felt great joy at the
signal victory. His son Jonathan, who had an open, tender and unselfish
heart, was enchanted with the young victor. His love and attachment for
David became stronger than man's love for woman. The fame of David's
name and the victory he had obtained in Ephes-Damim soon resounded
throughout the valley of Terebinths, and in the territories of all
the tribes. David, however, returned to his father's house as though
nothing had happened, and merely took Goliath's shield and armour with
him as memorials. But he did not long remain at home. The destiny of
Saul had begun to be fulfilled, and David was its chosen instrument.
The gloom of dejection, which had obscured the soul of the king since
his breach with the prophet, became still darker. His ill-humour
deepened into sadness and melancholy, and sometimes paroxysms of wild
madness took hold of him. "An evil spirit hath entered the king,"
his servants whispered to each other. Instrumental music alone was
capable of rousing him; his faithful servants therefore proposed that
a skilled musician and poet should come to the court, and they advised
him to select the son of Jesse, who was handsome, brave, eloquent, and
a harpist. David came, and his musical talent, as well as his general
bearing, delighted the king. Whenever Saul fell into melancholy, David
touched the harp, and the king was relieved from his depression. Saul
felt himself enchained by David. He began to consider him as a son,
and at length entreated David's father to leave him permanently at
court. Saul appointed him his armour-bearer, thus securing to himself
the cheering influence of his presence. This was the first step
towards David's rise. But not only was the king attracted by him,
David exercised an influence over the entire court, and all hearts
turned towards him. Jonathan, however, loved him best of all. Saul's
second daughter, Michal, was also secretly devoted to him. At the
court, David learnt the use of weapons, and exchanged the harp for
the sword. As he was full of courage, he soon distinguished himself
in the small frays in which he took part, and came off victorious and
successful. On one occasion, when David had inflicted a signal defeat
on the Philistines, and when there were great rejoicings throughout
the Israelite territory, the women and maidens of the various cities
which he traversed on his return came forth to meet him with songs,
timbrels and cymbals, dancing around him, and joyfully proclaiming him
victor, saying: "Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of
thousands." These honours, unanimously and enthusiastically offered to
the youthful hero, at length opened Saul's eyes. This was "the better
man," the one whom God had chosen as king over Israel; the rival with
whom Samuel had threatened him, whom he dreaded so greatly, but who had
hitherto only appeared to him as a visionary being, was now actually
before him in the person of his own favourite and that of his people.
It was a terrible disillusion for Saul. "To me they give but thousands,
and to him tens of thousands--they place him above me. What is yet
wanting to make him king?" The joyous shouts of the singing and dancing
choruses of women rang in his ears from that time, and brought to mind
the words of the prophet: "Thou art deserted of God." Saul's love for
David now changed to bitter hate, which soon turned to madness.
On the very day succeeding David's return from his triumphal
procession, Saul was seized with frenzy, and twice hurled a spear at
David, who skilfully avoided the thrust. When the mad fit had left
Saul, the failure of this attempt seemed to him a proof that God was
protecting his enemy. From that time he sought to destroy his rival by
stratagem. He pretended to honour David; made him the leader of the
picked detachment of a thousand men, ordered him to direct attacks
of great importance and danger, and offered him his eldest daughter,
Merab, as a wife. Saul hoped to bring the man whom he hated to ruin
by these apparent marks of favour. David, however, avoided the danger
by refusing to marry Merab, and, on the other hand, he had the good
fortune to defeat the Philistines. He was to have the king's second
daughter in marriage, if he brought proofs of having killed one hundred
Philistines. He brought evidence of having slain double the number, and
Saul was obliged to keep his promise, and give him his daughter Michal.
She and Jonathan sided with David against their father, thus incensing
Saul still more. He sought to take David's life, at first secretly, and
then openly by leading his forces against him. David was proclaimed an
outlaw, and became utterly desperate. He was now joined by youths and
men as forlorn as himself, and anxious for war. Chief amongst these was
his kinsman, Joab, who, with his two brothers, formed the nucleus of
the body of _heroic warriors_ (_Gibborim_), by whose assistance David
was to rise step by step to the throne. A prophet, named Gad, belonging
to the school of Samuel, also joined him. The last representatives of
the sacerdotal family of Eli, the high-priest, were driven by Saul into
the arms of his supposed enemy. Saul, hearing that the priests of Nob,
the relations and descendants of Eli, had been aiding David, caused
them to be cruelly murdered, and the priestly city to be destroyed.
One family alone, that of Abiathar, escaped death, and fled to David,
who received the fugitives with open arms. Hatred of his rival made
Saul cruel and bloodthirsty. All attempts on the part of Jonathan, who
desired to mediate between his father and his friend, proved fruitless,
and only served to widen the breach. Saul being clearly in the wrong,
a part of the nation sided with David; but unable to assist him
openly, they gave him secret help, by which he was enabled to escape
from repeated persecutions. It is to be deplored that David, in his
wanderings and privations, was obliged to form friendly relations with
the enemies of his country--with the king of Moab, with the Ammonite
king, Nahash, and with the king of the Philistines, Achish. He thus
incurred the suspicion of having become a traitor to his country, and
apparently justified Saul's enmity towards him. The terms of David's
alliance with Achish, by whom he had been at first refused protection,
but with whom he had, on the second occasion, found refuge, seemed
especially apt to implicate him. Achish granted him protection on the
condition that he would break entirely with Saul and his country, so
that, in case of war, he and his troops, amounting to six hundred men,
might join the Philistines against his own tribe, and, in times of
peace, make incursions on the remote portions of Judah, and deliver
up a part of the booty to his liege lord. David, it is true, appears
to have determined to evade these conditions, and eventually even to
join his own people against his allies. But thus he was compelled to
enter upon crooked ways, and to give up the honesty of purpose which
had hitherto distinguished him. It is probable that the wild appearance
of David's troops did not make a very pleasant impression on the
inhabitants of Philistia. The Philistine chiefs were displeased that
their sovereign should ally himself with a leader who owed his glory
to victories over their own people. King Achish, however, expected so
much from this alliance that he paid no heed to the warning of his
counsellors. But David himself felt the discomfort of living amongst
the Philistine population. He therefore begged Achish to assign to
him and his followers a dwelling-place in one of his citadels. This
proposition being agreeable to the Philistine king, he gave David the
town of Ziklag. No sooner had the news spread that a special city had
been appointed for David's occupation, than warlike men, both strangers
and natives, joined him, many of whom distinguished themselves by their
heroism later on. Achish believed that, in David, he had secured a
faithful ally, who was employing his military knowledge and courage
against members of his own tribe, and who, consequently, could never
again make peace with his own people.
Thus adroitly deluded by David, Achish thought himself secure in
undertaking a decisive war against the Israelites. Saul was sunk in
melancholy, and since his quarrel with his son-in-law had lost his
former energy in warfare. The strong arm which had fought for him, and
the quick brain which had planned for him, were now turned against
him. The bravest youths and men in Israel had placed themselves under
David's command. Achish summoned all his troops, in order to inflict
a decisive blow on Israel. Marching through the plain along the coast
of the Mediterranean (which belonged to the Philistines since their
victory over the Phœnicians), he led his army right into the valley of
Jezreel. This territory, apart from political considerations, offered
a better field than the mountain regions for employing the cavalry and
chariots. In consequence of their treaty, Achish demanded that David
should aid him in this great war against Saul, and unite his troops
with the Philistine army. David's heart must indeed have been heavy
when he joined the army, but he had no choice; he had sold himself to
the enemies of his nation. The Philistine nobles, however, delivered
him from his equivocal position. They loudly and vehemently demanded
that the king should send away David and his soldiers, whose fidelity
they mistrusted. The Philistine king was forced, by their almost
rebellious demand, to dismiss David. After giving him the assurance of
his unshaken confidence in his fidelity, he sent him back to Ziklag.
This was fortunate for David, as he was thus saved from the dilemma of
either becoming a traitor to his own people, or breaking faith with his
ally Achish.
The Philistines meanwhile went forth to the number of thousands, and
encamped near the town of Shunem. Saul, who had received news of the
preparations of the Philistines, and of their final expedition, called
together the Israelitish troops, advanced in forced marches to meet
the enemy, and encamped at first at the foot of Mount Gilboa. He then
marched around the opposite heights, and, having proceeded northward,
encamped at the north-west base of the mountain range near Endor.
Saul lost heart at the sight of the great number of Philistines,
especially when he beheld their cavalry; the evil days which he had
brought on himself had deprived him of his former courage. He felt
himself deserted by God, since neither priest nor prophet gave an
answer to his inquiry as to the result of the war. Having waited in
vain for an inspiration to come to him in a dream, he finally, in
despair, went to a ventriloquist in Endor, who had escaped persecution,
and practised her witchcraft in secret. It was peculiar that Saul had
to have recourse to the arts of jugglery, which formerly he had desired
to banish from his dominions. Discouraged by the ominous predictions
of the witch, Saul went into battle with a heavy heart, and as though
his fears had infected his troops, the result proved disastrous. The
Israelites, indeed, fought bravely, and the battle lasted the whole
day, but they could not contend with the cavalry and war chariots
on the plain. They fled to the mountains of Gilboa, but they were
pursued, and routed by the Philistines. Saul's three sons, the amiable
Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua, all fell, and the father found
himself suddenly alone, attended only by his armour-bearer, whilst
the Philistine bowmen pressed on him. He did not wish to flee, nor to
be taken prisoner, and exposed to the scorn of the Philistines. He,
therefore, entreated his servant to give him the death-blow, and when
the latter refused to lay hands on the king, Saul had no alternative
but to fall on his own sword, and die a death worthy of a king. The
destruction was fearful. The flower of the Israelite troops lay strewn
on Mount Gilboa and the plain of Jezreel.
After resting during the night from their hard day's work, the
Philistines revisited the battle-field, and stripped the slain of
their clothing and ornaments. Here they found the corpses of Saul and
his three sons. The king's head and his weapons they sent as trophies
to Philistia; the skull they preserved in the temple of Dagon, and
the weapons, in a temple of Astarte to commemorate the great victory
over Israel. They then forced their way into the towns in the plain of
Jezreel, and into those in the north-eastern territory near the Jordan
and occupied them. The inhabitants, on hearing of the defeat at Gilboa,
had fled to the opposite side of the Jordan. The Philistines, as an
insult to the Israelites, hung the headless bodies of Saul and his son
Jonathan on the walls of Bethshan. It appears that the Philistines,
following up their victory, turned to the south of Mount Gilboa and
Bethshan, and occupied every town of importance. Saul's capital,
Gibeah-Saul, was filled with terror at the approach of the Philistines.
The inhabitants fled to the mountains, and while attempting to save
Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, then five years old, his nurse dropped
him, and he was lamed for life.
At his death, Saul left the country in a deplorable position, for
things were even worse than they had been at his accession. The
defeat was so thorough and unexpected that, at the moment, there was
no thought of resistance, all courage having vanished. It was even
considered an act of daring that some men of Jabesh-Gilead (from the
opposite side of the Jordan), ventured, out of gratitude to Saul who
had brought aid to their town, to rescue the king's body from its
disgraceful exposure. They crossed the Jordan, at Bethshan, by night,
took Saul's and Jonathan's bodies from the walls, buried them under
a terebinth, and mourned for them during seven days. The tribes
on this side of the Jordan were not equally courageous, or perhaps
felt no gratitude to Saul, who had brought misery on the land by his
persecution of David. Such was the end of a king whose election the
nation had hailed with so much hope and joy.