both here and frequently elsewhere, means no more than consulting God by
Urim, which the reader is still to bear in mind upon all occasions. And
if St. John, who was contemporary with Josephus, and of the same
country, made use of this style, when he says that "Caiaphas being high
priest that year, prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and
not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one
the children of God that were scattered abroad," chap. 11;51, 52, he may
possibly mean, that this was revealed to the high priest by an
extraordinary voice from between the cherubims, when he had his
breastplate, or Urim and Thummim, on before; or the most holy place of
the temple, which was no other than the oracle of Urim and Thummim. Of
which above, in the note on Antiq. B. III. ch. 8. sect. 9.]
11 (return) [ This great number of seventy-two reguli, or small kings,
over whom Adonibezek had tyrannized, and for which he was punished
according to the lex talionis, as well as the thirty-one kings of Canaan
subdued by Joshua, and named in one chapter, Joshua 12., and thirty-two
kings, or royal auxiliaries to Benhadad king of Syria, 1 Kings 20:1;
Antiq. B. VIII. ch. 14. sect. 1, intimate to us what was the ancient
form of government among several nations before the monarchies began,
viz. that every city or large town, with its neighboring villages, was a
distinct government by itself; which is the more remarkable, because
this was certainly the form of ecclesiastical government that was
settled by the apostles, and preserved throughout the Christian church
in the first ages of Christianity. Mr. Addison is of opinion, that "it
would certainly be for the good of mankind to have all the mighty
empires and monarchies of the world cantoned out into petty states and
principalities, which, like so many large families, might lie under the
observation of their proper governors, so that the care of the prince
might extend itself to every individual person under his protection;
though he despairs of such a scheme being brought about, and thinks that
if it were, it would quickly be destroyed." Remarks on Italy, 4to, p.
151. Nor is it unfit to be observed here, that the Armenian records,
though they give us the history of thirty-nine of their ancientest
heroes or governors after the Flood, before the days of Sardanapalus,
had no proper king till the fortieth, Parerus. See Moses Chorehensis, p.
55. And that Almighty God does not approve of such absolute and
tyrannical monarchies, any one may learn that reads Deuteronomy 17:14-
20, and 1 Samuel 8:1-22; although, if such kings are set up as own him
for their supreme King, and aim to govern according to his laws, he hath
admitted of them, and protected them and their subjects in all
generations.]
12 (return) [ Josephus's early date of this history before the beginning
of the Judges, or when there was no king in Israel, Judges 19;1, is
strongly confirmed by the large number of Benjamites, both in the days
of Asa and Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 14:8, and 16:17, who yet were here
reduced to six hundred men; nor can those numbers be at all supposed
genuine, if they were reduced so late as the end of the Judges, where
our other copies place this reduction.]
13 (return) [ Josephus seems here to have made a small mistake, when he
took the Hebrew word Bethel, which denotes the house of God, or the
tabernacle, Judges 20:18, for the proper name of a place, Bethel, it no
way appearing that the tabernacle was ever at Bethel; only so far it is
true, that Shiloh, the place of the tabernacle in the days of the
Judges, was not far from Bethel.]
14 (return) [ It appears by the sacred history, Judges 1:16; 3:13, that
Eglon's pavilion or palace was at the City of Palm-Trees, as the place
where Jericho had stood is called after its destruction by Joshua, that
is, at or near the demolished city. Accordingly, Josephus says it was at
Jericho, or rather in that fine country of palm-trees, upon, or near to,
the same spot of ground on which Jericho had formerly stood, and on
which it was rebuilt by Hiel, 1 Kings 16:31. Our other copies that avoid
its proper name Jericho, and call it the City of Palm-Trees only, speak
here more accurately than Josephus.]
15 (return) [ These eighty years for the government of Ehud are
necessary to Josephus's usual large numbers between the exodus and the
building of the temple, of five hundred and ninety-two or six hundred
and twelve years, but not to the smallest number of four hundred and
eighty years, 1 Kings 6:1; which lesser number Josephus seems sometimes
to have followed. And since in the beginning of the next chapter it is
said by Josephus, that there was hardly a breathing time for the
Israelites before Jabin came and enslaved them, it is highly probable
that some of the copies in his time had here only eight years instead of
eighty; as had that of Theophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolye. 1. iii., and
this most probably from his copy of Josephus.]
16 (return) [ Our present copies of Josephus all omit Tola among the
judges, though the other copies have him next after Abimelech, and allot
twenty-three years to his administration, Judges 10:1, 2; yet do all
Josephus's commentators conclude, that in Josephus's sum of the years of
the judges, his twenty-three years are included; hence we are to
confess, that somewhat has been here lost out of his copies.]
17 (return) [ Josephus justly condemns Jephtha, as do the Apostolical
Constitutions, B. VII. ch. 37., for his rash vow, whether it were for
sacrificing his daughter, as Josephus thought, or for dedicating her,
who was his only child, to perpetual virginity, at the tabernacle or
elsewhere, which I rather suppose. If he had vowed her for a sacrifice,
she ought to have been redeemed, Leviticus 27:1-8; but of the sense of
ver. 28, 29, as relating not to things vowed to. God, but devoted to
destruction, see the note on Antiq. B. V. ch. 1. sect. 8.]
18 (return) [ I can discover no reason why Manoah and his wife came so
constantly into these suburbs to pray for children, but because there
was a synagogue or place of devotion in those suburbs.]
19 (return) [ Here, by a prophet, Josephus seems only to mean one that
was born by a particular providence, lived after the manner of a
Nazarite devoted to God, and was to have an extraordinary commission and
strength from God for the judging and avenging his people Israel,
without any proper prophetic revelations at all.]
20 (return) [ This fountain, called Lehi, or the Jaw-bone, is still in
being, as travelers assure us, and was known by this very name in the
days of Josephus, and has been known by the same name in all those past
ages. See Antiq. B. VII. ch. 12. sect. 4.]
21 (return) [ See this justly observed in the Apostolical Constitutions,
B. VII. ch. 37., that Samson's prayer was heard, but that it was before
this his transgression.]
22 (return) [ Although there had been a few occasional prophets before,
yet was this Samuel the first of a constant succession of prophets in
the Jewish nation, as is implied in St. Peter's words, Acts 3:24 "Yea,
and all the prophets, from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many
as have spoken, have likewise foretold of those days." See also Acts
13:20. The others were rather sometime called righteous men, Matthew
10:41; 13:17.]
BOOK VI. Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years.—From The Death Of
Eli To The Death Of Saul.
CHAPTER 1. The Destruction That Came Upon The Philistines, And Upon
Their Land, By The Wrath Of Go On Account Of Their Having Carried The
Ark Away Captive; And After What Manner They Sent It Back To The
Hebrews.
1. When the Philistines had taken the ark of the Hebrews captive, as I
said a little before, they carried it to the city of Ashdod, and put it
by their own god, who was called Dagon, 1 as one of their spoils; but
when they went into his temple the next morning to worship their god,
they found him paying the same worship to the ark, for he lay along, as
having fallen down from the basis whereon he had stood: so they took him
up, and set him on his basis again, and were much troubled at what had
happened; and as they frequently came to Dagon and found him still lying
along, in a posture of adoration to the ark, they were in very great
distress and confusion. At length God sent a very destructive disease
upon the city and country of Ashdod, for they died of the dysentery or
flux, a sore distemper, that brought death upon them very suddenly; for
before the soul could, as usual in easy deaths, be well loosed from the
body, they brought up their entrails, and vomited up what they had
eaten, and what was entirely corrupted by the disease. And as to the
fruits of their country, a great multitude of mice arose out of the
earth and hurt them, and spared neither the plants nor the fruits. Now
while the people of Ashdod were under these misfortunes, and were not
able to support themselves under their calamities, they perceived that
they suffered thus because of the ark, and that the victory they had
gotten, and their having taken the ark captive, had not happened for
their good; they therefore sent to the people of Askelon, and desired
that they would receive the ark among them. This desire of the people of
Ashdod was not disagreeable to those of Askelon, so they granted them
that favor. But when they had gotten the ark, they were in the same
miserable condition; for the ark carried along with it the disasters
that the people of Ashdod had suffered, to those who received it from
them. Those of Askelon also sent it away from themselves to others: nor
did it stay among those others neither; for since they were pursued by
the same disasters, they still sent it to the neighboring cities; so
that the ark went round, after this manner, to the five cities of the
Philistines, as though it exacted these disasters as a tribute to be
paid it for its coming among them.
2. When those that had experienced these miseries were tired out with
them, and when those that heard of them were taught thereby not to admit
the ark among them, since they paid so dear a tribute for it, at length
they sought for some contrivance and method how they might get free from
it: so the governors of the five cities, Gath, and Ekron, and Askelon,
as also of Gaza, and Ashdod, met together, and considered what was fit
to be done; and at first they thought proper to send the ark back to its
own people, as allowing that God had avenged its cause; that the
miseries they had undergone came along with it, and that these were sent
on their cities upon its account, and together with it. However, there
were those that said they should not do so, nor suffer themselves to be
deluded, as ascribing the cause of their miseries to it, because it
could not have such power and force upon them; for, had God had such a
regard to it, it would not have been delivered into the hands of men. So
they exhorted them to be quiet, and to take patiently what had befallen
them, and to suppose there was no other cause of it but nature, which,
at certain revolutions of time, produces such mutations in the bodies of
men, in the earth, in plants, and in all things that grow out of the
earth. But the counsel that prevailed over those already described, was
that of certain men, who were believed to have distinguished themselves
in former times for their understanding and prudence, and who, in their
present circumstances, seemed above all the rest to speak properly.
These men said it was not right either to send the ark away, or to
retain it, but to dedicate five golden images, one for every city, as a
thank-offering to God, on account of his having taken care of their
preservation, and having kept them alive when their lives were likely to
be taken away by such distempers as they were not able to bear up
against. They also would have them make five golden mice like to those
that devoured and destroyed their country 2 to put them in a bag, and
lay them upon the ark; to make them a new cart also for it, and to yoke
milch kine to it 3 but to shut up their calves, and keep them from them,
lest, by following after them, they should prove a hinderance to their
dams, and that the dams might return the faster out of a desire of those
calves; then to drive these milch kine that carried the ark, and leave
it at a place where three ways met, and So leave it to the kine to go
along which of those ways they pleased; that in case they went the way
to the Hebrews, and ascended to their country, they should suppose that
the ark was the cause of their misfortunes; but if they turned into
another road, they said, "We will pursue after it, and conclude that it
has no such force in it."
3. So they determined that these men spake well; and they immediately
confirmed their opinion by doing accordingly. And when they had done as
has been already described, they brought the cart to a place where three
ways met, and left it there and went their ways; but the kine went the
right way, and as if some persons had driven them, while the rulers of
the Philistines followed after them, as desirous to know where they
would stand still, and to whom they would go. Now there was a certain
village of the tribe of Judah, the name of which was Bethshemesh, and to
that village did the kine go; and though there was a great and good
plain before them to proceed in, they went no farther, but stopped the
cart there. This was a sight to those of that village, and they were
very glad; for it being then summer-time, and all the inhabitants being
then in the fields gathering in their fruits, they left off the labors
of their hands for joy, as soon as they saw the ark, and ran to the
cart, and taking the ark down, and the vessel that had the images in it,
and the mice, they set them upon a certain rock which was in the plain;
and when they had offered a splendid sacrifice to God, and feasted, they
offered the cart and the kine as a burnt-offering: and when the lords of
the Philistines saw this, they returned back.
4. But now it was that the wrath of God overtook them, and struck
seventy persons of the village of Bethshemesh dead, who, not being
priests, and so not worthy to touch the ark, had approached to it. 4
Those of that village wept for these that had thus suffered, and made
such a lamentation as was naturally to be expected on so great a
misfortune that was sent from God; and every one mourned for his own
relation. And since they acknowledged themselves unworthy of the ark's
abode with them, they sent to the public senate of the Israelites, and
informed them that the ark was restored by the Philistines; which when
they knew, they brought it away to Kirjathjearim, a city in the
neighborhood of Bethshemesh. In this city lived one Abinadab, by birth a
Levite, and who was greatly commended for his righteous and religious
course of life; so they brought the ark to his house, as to a place fit
for God himself to abide in, since therein did inhabit a righteous man.
His sons also ministered to the Divine service at the ark, and were the
principal curators of it for twenty years; for so many years it
continued in Kirjathjearim, having been but four months with the
Philistines.
CHAPTER 2. The Expedition Of The Philistines Against The Hebrews And The
Hebrews' Victory Under The Conduct Of Samuel The Prophet, Who Was Their
General.
1. Now while the city of Kirjathjearim had the ark with them, the whole
body of the people betook themselves all that time to offer prayers and
sacrifices to God, and appeared greatly concerned and zealous about his
worship. So Samuel the prophet, seeing how ready they were to do their
duty, thought this a proper time to speak to them, while they were in
this good disposition, about the recovery of their liberty, and of the
blessings that accompanied the same. Accordingly he used such words to
them as he thought were most likely to excite that inclination, and to
persuade them to attempt it: "O you Israelites," said he, "to whom the
Philistines are still grievous enemies, but to whom God begins to be
gracious, it behooves you not only to be desirous of liberty, but to
take the proper methods to obtain it. Nor are you to be contented with
an inclination to get clear of your lords and masters, while you still
do what will procure your continuance under them. Be righteous then, and
cast wickedness out of your souls, and by your worship supplicate the
Divine Majesty with all your hearts, and persevere in the honor you pay
to him; for if you act thus, you will enjoy prosperity; you will be
freed from your slavery, and will get the victory over your enemies:
which blessings it is not possible you should attain, either by weapons
of war, or by the strength of your bodies, or by the multitude of your
assistants; for God has not promised to grant these blessings by those
means, but by being good and righteous men; and if you will be such, I
will be security to you for the performance of God's promises." When
Samuel had said thus, the multitude applauded his discourse, and were
pleased with his exhortation to them, and gave their consent to resign
themselves up to do what was pleasing to God. So Samuel gathered them
together to a certain city called Mizpeh, which, in the Hebrew tongue,
signifies a watch-tower; there they drew water, and poured it out to
God, and fasted all day, and betook themselves to their prayers.
2. This their assembly did not escape the notice of the Philistines: so
when they had learned that so large a company had met together, they
fell upon the Hebrews with a great army and mighty forces, as hoping to
assault them when they did not expect it, nor were prepared for it. This
thing affrighted the Hebrews, and put them into disorder and terror; so
they came running to Samuel, and said that their souls were sunk by
their fears, and by the former defeat they had received, and "that
thence it was that we lay still, lest we should excite the power of our
enemies against us. Now while thou hast brought us hither to offer up
our prayers and sacrifices, and take oaths [to be obedient], our enemies
are making an expedition against us, while we are naked and unarmed;
wherefore we have no other hope of deliverance but that by thy means,
and by the assistance God shall afford us upon thy prayers to him, we
shall obtain deliverance from the Philistines." Hereupon Samuel bade
them be of good cheer, and promised them that God would assist them; and
taking a sucking lamb, he sacrificed it for the multitude, and besought
God to hold his protecting hand over them when they should fight with
the Philistines, and not to overlook them, nor suffer them to come under
a second misfortune. Accordingly God hearkened to his prayers, and
accepting their sacrifice with a gracious intention, and such as was
disposed to assist them, he granted them victory and power over their
enemies. Now while the altar had the sacrifice of God upon it, and had
not yet consumed it wholly by its sacred fire, the enemy's army marched
out of their camp, and was put in order of battle, and this in hope that
they should be conquerors, since the Jews 5 were caught in distressed
circumstances, as neither having their weapons with them, nor being
assembled there in order to fight. But things so fell out, that they
would hardly have been credited though they had been foretold by
anybody: for, in the first place, God disturbed their enemies with an
earthquake, and moved the ground under them to such a degree, that he
caused it to tremble, and made them to shake, insomuch that by its
trembling, he made some unable to keep their feet, and made them fall
down, and by opening its chasms, he caused that others should be hurried
down into them; after which he caused such a noise of thunder to come
among them, and made fiery lightning shine so terribly round about them,
that it was ready to burn their faces; and he so suddenly shook their
weapons out of their hands, that he made them fly and return home naked.
So Samuel with the multitude pursued them to Bethcar, a place so called;
and there he set up a stone as a boundary of their victory and their
enemies' flight, and called it the Stone of Power, as a signal of that
power God had given them against their enemies.
3. So the Philistines, after this stroke, made no more expeditions
against the Israelites, but lay still out of fear, and out of
remembrance of what had befallen them; and what courage the Philistines
had formerly against the Hebrews, that, after this victory, was
transferred to the Hebrews. Samuel also made an expedition against the
Philistines, and slew many of them, and entirely humbled their proud
hearts, and took from them that country, which, when they were formerly
conquerors in battle, they had cut off from the Jews, which was the
country that extended from the borders of Gath to the city of Ekron: but
the remains of the Canaanites were at this time in friendship with the
Israelites.
CHAPTER 3. How Samuel When He Was So Infirm With Old Age That He Could
Not Take Care Of The Public Affairs Intrusted Them To His Sons; And How
Upon The Evil Administration Of The Government By Them The Multitude
Were So Angry, That They Required To Have A King To Govern Them,
Although Samuel Was Much Displeased Thereat.
1. But Samuel the prophet, when he had ordered the affairs of the people
after a convenient manner, and had appointed a city for every district
of them, he commanded them to come to such cities, to have the
controversies that they had one with another determined in them, he
himself going over those cities twice in a year, and doing them justice;
and by that means he kept them in very good order for a long time.
2. But afterwards he found himself oppressed with old age, and not able
to do what he used to do, so he committed the government and the care of
the multitude to his sons,—the elder of whom was called Joel, and the
name of the younger was Abiah. He also enjoined them to reside and judge
the people, the one at the city of Bethel, and the other at Beersheba,
and divided the people into districts that should be under the
jurisdiction of each of them. Now these men afford us an evident example
and demonstration how some children are not of the like dispositions
with their parents; but sometimes perhaps good and moderate, though born
of wicked parents; and sometimes showing themselves to be wicked, though
born of good parents: for these men turning aside from their father's
good courses, and taking a course that was contrary to them, perverted
justice for the 'filthy lucre of gifts and bribes, and made their
determinations not according to truth, but according to bribery, and
turned aside to luxury, and a costly way of living; so that as, in the
first place, they practiced what was contrary to the will of God, so did
they, in the second place, what was contrary to the will of the prophet
their father, who had taken a great deal of care, and made a very
careful provision that the multitude should be righteous.
3. But the people, upon these injuries offered to their former
constitution and government by the prophet's sons, were very uneasy at
their actions, and came running to the prophet, who then lived at the
city Ramah, and informed him of the transgressions of his sons; and
said, That as he was himself old already, and too infirm by that age of
his to oversee their affairs in the manner he used to do, so they begged
of him, and entreated him, to appoint some person to be king over them,
who might rule over the nation, and avenge them of the Philistines, who
ought to be punished for their former oppressions. These words greatly
afflicted Samuel, on account of his innate love of justice, and his
hatred to kingly government, for he was very fond of an aristocracy, as
what made the men that used it of a divine and happy disposition; nor
could he either think of eating or sleeping, out of his concern and
torment of mind at what they had said, but all the night long did he
continue awake and revolved these notions in his mind.
4. While he was thus disposed, God appeared to him, and comforted him,
saying, That he ought not to be uneasy at what the multitude desired,
because it was not he, but Himself whom they so insolently despised, and
would not have to be alone their king; that they had been contriving
these things from the very day that they came out of Egypt; that however
in no long time they would sorely repent of what they did, which
repentance yet could not undo what was thus done for futurity; that they
would be sufficiently rebuked for their contempt, and the ungrateful
conduct they have used towards me, and towards thy prophetic office. "So
I command thee to ordain them such a one as I shall name beforehand to
be their king, when thou hast first described what mischiefs kingly
government will bring upon them, and openly testified before them into
what a great change of affairs they are hasting."
5. When Samuel had heard this, he called the Jews early in the morning,
and confessed to them that he was to ordain them a king; but he said
that he was first to describe to them what would follow, what treatment
they would receive from their kings, and with how many mischiefs they
must struggle. "For know ye," said he, "that, in the first place, they
will take your sons away from you, and they will command some of them to
be drivers of their chariots, and some to be their horsemen, and the
guards of their body, and others of them to be runners before them, and
captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; they will also make
them their artificers, makers of armor, and of chariots, and of
instruments; they will make them their husbandmen also, and the curators
of their own fields, and the diggers of their own vineyards; nor will
there be any thing which they will not do at their commands, as if they
were slaves bought with money. They will also appoint your daughters to
be confectioners, and cooks, and bakers; and these will be obliged to do
all sorts of work which women slaves, that are in fear of stripes and
torments, submit to. They will, besides this, take away your
possessions, and bestow them upon their eunuchs, and the guards of their
bodies, and will give the herds of your cattle to their own servants:
and to say briefly all at once, you, and all that is yours, will be
servants to your king, and will become no way superior to his slaves;
and when you suffer thus, you will thereby be put in mind of what I now
say. And when you repent of what you have done, you will beseech God to
have mercy upon you, and to grant you a quick deliverance from your
kings; but he will not accept your prayers, but will neglect you, and
permit you to suffer the punishment your evil conduct has deserved."
6. But the multitude was still so foolish as to be deaf to these
predictions of what would befall them; and too peevish to suffer a
determination which they had injudiciously once made, to be taken out of
their mind; for they could not be turned from their purpose, nor did
they regard the words of Samuel, but peremptorily insisted on their
resolution, and desired him to ordain them a king immediately, and not
trouble himself with fears of what would happen hereafter, for that it
was necessary they should have with them one to fight their battles, and
to avenge them of their enemies, and that it was no way absurd, when
their neighbors were under kingly government, that they should have the
same form of government also. So when Samuel saw that what he had said
had not diverted them from their purpose, but that they continued
resolute, he said, "Go you every one home for the present; when it is
fit I will send for you, as soon as I shall have learned from God who it
is that he will give you for your king."
CHAPTER 4. The Appointment Of A King Over The Israelites, Whose Name Was
Saul; And This By The Command Of God.
1. Ther was one of the tribe of Benjamin, a man of a good family, and of
a virtuous disposition; his name was Kish. He had a son, a young man of
a comely countenance, and of a tall body, but his understanding and his
mind were preferable to what was visible in him: they called him Saul.
Now this Kish had some fine she-asses that were wandered out of the
pasture wherein they fed, for he was more delighted with these than with
any other cattle he had; so he sent out his son, and one servant with
him, to search for the beasts; but when he had gone over his own tribe
in search after the asses, he went to other tribes, and when he found
them not there neither, he determined to go his way home, lest he should
occasion any concern to his father about himself. But when his servant
that followed him told him as they were near the city of Ramah, that
there was a true prophet in that city, and advised him to go to him, for
that by him they should know the upshot of the affair of their asses, he
replied, That if they should go to him, they had nothing to give him as
a reward for his prophecy, for their subsistence money was spent. The
servant answered, that he had still the fourth part of a shekel, and he
would present him with that; for they were mistaken out of ignorance, as
not knowing that the prophet received no such reward 6 So they went to
him; and when they were before the gates, they lit upon certain maidens
that were going to fetch water, and they asked them which was the
prophet's house. They showed them which it was; and bid them make haste
before he sat down to supper, for he had invited many guests to a feast,
and that he used to sit down before those that were invited. Now Samuel
had then gathered many together to feast with him on this very account;
for while he every day prayed to God to tell him beforehand whom he
would make king, he had informed him of this man the day before, for
that he would send him a certain young man out of the tribe of Benjamin
about this hour of the day; and he sat on the top of the house in
expectation of that time's being come. And when the time was completed,
he came down and went to supper; so he met with Saul, and God discovered
to him that this was he who should rule over them. Then Saul went up to
Samuel and saluted him, and desired him to inform him which was the
prophet's house; for he said he was a stranger and did not know it. When
Samuel had told him that he himself was the person, he led him in to
supper, and assured him that the asses were found which he had been to
seek, and that the greatest of good things were assured to him: he
replied, "I am too inconsiderable to hope for any such thing, and of a
tribe to small to have kings made out of it, and of a family smaller
than several other families; but thou tellest me this in jest, and
makest me an object of laughter, when thou discoursest with me of
greater matters than what I stand in need of." However, the prophet led
him in to the feast, and made him sit down, him and his servant that
followed him, above the other guests that were invited, which were
seventy in number 7 and he gave orders to the servants to set the royal
portion before Saul. And when the time of going to bed was come, the
rest rose up, and every one of them went home; but Saul staid with the
prophet, he and his servant, and slept with him.
2. Now as soon as it was day, Samuel raised up Saul out of his bed, and
conducted him homeward; and when he was out of the city, he desired him
to cause his servant to go before, but to stay behind himself, for that
he had somewhat to say to him when nobody else was present. Accordingly,
Saul sent away his servant that followed him; then did the prophet take
a vessel of oil, and poured it upon the head of the young man, and
kissed him, and said, "Be thou a king, by the ordination of God, against
the Philistines, and for avenging the Hebrews for what they have
suffered by them; of this thou shalt have a sign, which I would have
thee take notice of:—As soon as thou art departed hence, thou will find
three men upon the road, going to worship God at Bethel; the first of
whom thou wilt see carrying three loaves of bread, the second carrying a
kid of the goats, and the third will follow them carrying a bottle of
wine. These three men will salute thee, and speak kindly to thee, and
will give thee two of their loaves, which thou shalt accept of. And
thence thou shalt come to a place called Rachel's Monument, where thou
shalt meet with those that will tell thee thy asses are found; after
this, when thou comest to Gabatha, thou shalt overtake a company of
prophets, and thou shalt be seized with the Divine Spirit, 8 and
prophesy along with them, till every one that sees thee shall be
astonished, and wonder, and say, Whence is it that the son of Kish has
arrived at this degree of happiness? And when these signs have happened
to thee, know that God is with thee; then do thou salute thy father and
thy kindred. Thou shalt also come when I send for thee to Gilgal, that
we may offer thank-offerings to God for these blessings." When Samuel
had said this, and foretold these things, he sent the young man away.
Now all things fell out to Saul according to the prophecy of Samuel.
3. But as soon as Saul came into the house of his kinsman Abner, whom
indeed he loved better than the rest of his relations, he was asked by
him concerning his journey, and what accidents happened to him therein;
and he concealed none of the other things from him, no, not his coming
to Samuel the prophet, nor how he told him the asses were found; but he
said nothing to him about the kingdom, and what belonged thereto, which
he thought would procure him envy, and when such things are heard, they
are not easily believed; nor did he think it prudent to tell those
things to him, although he appeared very friendly to him, and one whom
he loved above the rest of his relations, considering, I suppose, what
human nature really is, that no one is a firm friend, neither among our
intimates, nor of our kindred; nor do they preserve that kind
disposition when God advances men to great prosperity, but they are
still ill-natured and envious at those that are in eminent stations.
4. Then Samuel called the people together to the city Mizpeh, and spake
to them in the words following, which he said he was to speak by the
command of God:—That when he had granted them a state of liberty, and
brought their enemies into subjection, they were become unmindful of his
benefits, and rejected God that he should not be their King, as not
considering that it would be most for their advantage to be presided
over by the best of beings, for God is the best of beings, and they
chose to have a man for their king; while kings will use their subjects
as beasts, according to the violence of their own wills and
inclinations, and other passions, as wholly carried away with the lust
of power, but will not endeavor so to preserve the race of mankind as
his own workmanship and creation, which, for that very reason, God would
take cake of. "But since you have come to a fixed resolution, and this
injurious treatment of God has quite prevailed over you, dispose
yourselves by your tribes and scepters, and cast lots."
5. When the Hebrews had so done, the lot fell upon the tribe of
Benjamin; and when the lot was cast for the families of this tribe, that
which was called Matri was taken; and when the lot was cast for the
single persons of that family, Saul, the son of Kish, was taken for
their king. When the young man knew this, he prevented [their sending
for him], and immediately went away and hid himself. I suppose that it
was because he would not have it thought that he willingly took the
government upon him; nay, he showed such a degree of command over
himself, and of modesty, that while the greatest part are not able to
contain their joy, even in the gaining of small advantages, but
presently show themselves publicly to all men, this man did not only
show nothing of that nature, when he was appointed to be the lord of so
many and so great tribes, but crept away and concealed himself out of
the sight of those he was to reign over, and made them seek him, and
that with a good deal of trouble. So when the people were at a loss, and
solicitous, because Saul disappeared, the prophet besought God to show
where the young man was, and to produce him before them. So when they
had learned of God the place where Saul was hidden, they sent men to
bring him; and when he was come, they set him in the midst of the
multitude. Now he was taller than any of them, and his stature was very
majestic.
6. Then said the prophet, "God gives you this man to be your king: see
how he is higher than any of the people, and worthy of this dominion."
So as soon as the people had made acclamation, God save the king, the
prophet wrote down what would come to pass in a book, and read it in the
hearing of the king, and laid up the book in the tabernacle of God, to
be a witness to future generations of what he had foretold. So when
Samuel had finished this matter, he dismissed the multitude, and came
himself to the city Rainah, for it was his own country. Saul also went
away to Gibeah, where he was born; and many good men there were who paid
him the respect that was due to him; but the greater part were ill men,
who despised him and derided the others, who neither did bring him
presents, nor did they in affection, or even in words, regard to please
him.
CHAPTER 5. Saul's Expedition Against The Nation Of The Ammonites And
Victory Over Them And The Spoils He Took From Them.
1. After one month, the war which Saul had with Nahash, the king of the
Ammonites, obtained him respect from all the people; for this Nahash had
done a great deal of mischief to the Jews that lived beyond Jordan by
the expedition he had made against them with a great and warlike army.
He also reduced their cities into slavery, and that not only by subduing
them for the present, which he did by force and violence, but by
weakening them by subtlety and cunning, that they might not be able
afterward to get clear of the slavery they were under to him; for he put
out the right eyes 9 of those that either delivered themselves to him
upon terms, or were taken by him in war; and this he did, that when
their left eyes were covered by their shields, they might be wholly
useless in war. Now when the king of the Ammonites had served those
beyond Jordan in this manner, he led his army against those that were
called Gileadites, and having pitched his camp at the metropolis of his
enemies, which was the city of Jabesh, he sent ambassadors to them,
commanding them either to deliver themselves up, on condition to have
their right eyes plucked out, or to undergo a siege, and to have their
cities overthrown. He gave them their choice, whether they would cut off
a small member of their body, or universally perish. However, the
Gileadites were so affrighted at these offers, that they had not courage
to say any thing to either of them, neither that they would deliver
themselves up, nor that they would fight him. But they desired that he
would give them seven days' respite, that they might send ambassadors to
their countrymen, and entreat their assistance; and if they came to
assist them, they would fight; but if that assistance were impossible to
be obtained from them, they said they would deliver themselves up to
suffer whatever he pleased to inflict upon them.
2. So Nabash, contemning the multitude of the Gileadites and the answer
they gave, allowed them a respite, and gave them leave to send to
whomsoever they pleased for assistance. So they immediately sent to the
Israelites, city by city, and informed them what Nabash had threatened
to do to them, and what great distress they were in. Now the people fell
into tears and grief at the hearing of what the ambassadors from Jabesh
said; and the terror they were in permitted them to do nothing more. But
when the messengers were come to the city of king Saul, and declared the
dangers in which the inhabitants of Jabesh were, the people were in the
same affliction as those in the other cities, for they lamented the
calamity of those related to them. And when Saul was returned from his
husbandry into the city, he found his fellow citizens weeping; and when,
upon inquiry, he had learned the cause of the confusion and sadness they
were in, he was seized with a divine fury, and sent away the ambassadors
from the inhabitants of Jabesh, and promised them to come to their
assistance on the third day, and to beat their enemies before sun-
rising, that the sun upon its rising might see that they had already
conquered, and were freed from the fears they were under: but he bid
some of them stay to conduct them the right way to Jabesh.
3. So being desirous to turn the people to this war against the
Ammonites by fear of the losses they should otherwise undergo, and that
they might the more suddenly be gathered together, he cut the sinews of
his oxen, and threatened to do the same to all such as did not come with
their armor to Jordan the next day, and follow him and Samuel the
prophet whithersoever they should lead them. So they came together, out
of fear of the losses they were threatened with, at the appointed time.
And the multitude were numbered at the city Bezek. And he found the
number of those that were gathered together, besides that of the tribe
of Judah, to be seven hundred thousand, while those of that tribe were
seventy thousand. So he passed over Jordan, and proceeded in marching
all that night, thirty furlongs, and came to Jabesh before sun-rising.
So he divided the army into three companies; and fell upon their enemies
on every side on the sudden, and when they expected no such thing; and
joining battle with them, they slew a great many of the Ammonites, as
also their king Nabash. This glorious action was done by Saul, and was
related with great commendation of him to all the Hebrews; and he thence
gained a wonderful reputation for his valor: for although there were
some of them that contemned him before, they now changed their minds,
and honored him, and esteemed him as the best of men: for he did not
content himself with having saved the inhabitants of Jabesh only, but he
made an expedition into the country of the Ammonites, and laid it all
waste, and took a large prey, and so returned to his own country most
gloriously. So the people were greatly pleased at these excellent
performances of Saul, and rejoiced that they had constituted him their
king. They also made a clamor against those that pretended he would be
of no advantage to their affairs; and they said, Where now are these
men?—let them be brought to punishment, with all the like things that
multitudes usually say when they are elevated with prosperity, against
those that lately had despised the authors of it. But Saul, although he
took the good-will and the affection of these men very kindly, yet did
he swear that he would not see any of his countrymen slain that day,
since it was absurd to mix this victory, which God had given them, with
the blood and slaughter of those that were of the same lineage with
themselves; and that it was more agreeable to be men of a friendly
disposition, and so to betake themselves to feasting.
4. And when Samuel had told them that he ought to confirm the kingdom to
Saul by a second ordination of him, they all came together to the city
of Gilgal, for thither did he command them to come. So the prophet
anointed Saul with the holy oil in the sight of the multitude, and
declared him to be king the second time. And so the government of the
Hebrews was changed into a regal government; for in the days of Moses,
and his disciple Joshua, who was their general, they continued under an
aristocracy; but after the death of Joshua, for eighteen years in all,
the multitude had no settled form of government, but were in an anarchy;
after which they returned to their former government, they then
permitting themselves to be judged by him who appeared to be the best
warrior and most courageous, whence it was that they called this
interval of their government the Judges.
5. Then did Samuel the prophet call another assembly also, and said to
them, "I solemnly adjure you by God Almighty, who brought those
excellent brethren, I mean Moses and Aaron, into the world, and
delivered our fathers from the Egyptians, and from the slavery they
endured under them, that you will not speak what you say to gratify me,
nor suppress any thing out of fear of me, nor be overborne by any other
passion, but say, What have I ever done that was cruel or unjust? or
what have I done out of lucre or covetousness, or to gratify others?
Bear witness against me, if I have taken an ox or a sheep, or any such
thing, which yet when they are taken to support men, it is esteemed
blameless; or have I taken an ass for mine own use of any one to his
grief?—lay some one such crime to my charge, now we are in your king's
presence." But they cried out, that no such thing had been done by him,
but that he had presided over the nation after a holy and righteous
manner.
6. Hereupon Samuel, when such a testimony had been given him by them
all, said, "Since you grant that you are not able to lay any ill thing
to my charge hitherto, come on now, and do you hearken while I speak
with great freedom to you. You have been guilty of great impiety against
God, in asking you a king. It behoves you to remember that our
grandfather Jacob came down into Egypt, by reason of a famine, with
seventy souls only of our family, and that their posterity multiplied
there to many ten thousands, whom the Egyptians brought into slavery and
hard oppression; that God himself, upon the prayers of our fathers, sent
Moses and Aaron, who were brethren, and gave them power to deliver the
multitude out of their distress, and this without a king. These brought
us into this very land which you now possess: and when you enjoyed these
advantages from God, you betrayed his worship and religion; nay,
moreover, when you were brought under the hands of your enemies, he
delivered you, first by rendering you superior to the Assyrians and
their forces, he then made you to overcome the Ammonites and the
Moabites, and last of all the Philistines; and these things have been
achieved under the conduct of Jephtha and Gideon. What madness therefore
possessed you to fly from God, and to desire to be under a king?—yet
have I ordained him for king whom he chose for you. However, that I may
make it plain to you that God is angry and displeased at your choice of
kingly government, I will so dispose him that he shall declare this very
plainly to you by strange signals; for what none of you ever saw here
before, I mean a winter storm in the midst of harvest, 10 I will entreat
of God, and will make it visible to you." Now, as soon as he had said
this, God gave such great signals by thunder and lightning, and the
descent of hail, as attested the truth of all that the prophet had said,
insomuch that they were amazed and terrified, and confessed they had
sinned, and had fallen into that sin through ignorance; and besought the
prophet, as one that was a tender and gentle father to them, to render
God so merciful as to forgive this their sin, which they had added to
those other offenses whereby they had affronted him and transgressed
against him. So he promised them that he would beseech God, and persuade
him to forgive them these their sins. However, he advised them to be
righteous, and to be good, and ever to remember the miseries that had
befallen them on account of their departure from virtue: as also to
remember the strange signs God had shown them, and the body of laws that
Moses had given them, if they had any desire of being preserved and made
happy with their king. But he said, that if they should grow careless of
these things, great judgments would come from God upon them, and upon
their king. And when Samuel had thus prophesied to the Hebrews, he
dismissed them to their own homes, having confirmed the kingdom to Saul
the second time.
CHAPTER 6. How The Philistines Made Another Expedition Against The
Hebrews And Were Beaten.
1. Now Saul chose out of the multitude about three thousand men, and he
took two thousand of them to be the guards of his own body, and abode in
the city Bethel, but he gave the rest of them to Jonathan his son, to be
the guards of his body; and sent him to Gibeah, where he besieged and
took a certain garrison of the Philistines, not far from Gilgal; for the
Philistines of Gibeah had beaten the Jews, and taken their weapons away,
and had put garrisons into the strongest places of the country, and had
forbidden them to carry any instrument of iron, or at all to make use of
any iron in any case whatsoever. And on account of this prohibition it
was that the husbandmen, if they had occasion to sharpen any of their
tools, whether it were the coulter or the spade, or any instrument of
husbandry, they came to the Philistines to do it. Now as soon as the
Philistines heard of this slaughter of their garrison, they were in a
rage about it, and, looking on this contempt as a terrible affront
offered them, they made war against the Jews, with three hundred
thousand footmen, and thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horses;
and they pitched their camp at the city Michmash. When Saul, the king of
the Hebrews, was informed of this, he went down to the city Gilgal, and
made proclamation over all the country, that they should try to regain
their liberty; and called them to the war against the Philistines,
diminishing their forces, and despising them as not very considerable,
and as not so great but they might hazard a battle with them. But when
the people about Saul observed how numerous the Philistines were, they
were under a great consternation; and some of them hid themselves in
caves and in dens under ground, but the greater part fled into the land
beyond Jordan, which belonged to Gad and Reuben.
2. But Saul sent to the prophet, and called him to consult with him
about the war and the public affairs; so he commanded him to stay there
for him, and to prepare sacrifices, for he would come to him within
seven days, that they might offer sacrifices on the seventh day, and
might then join battle with their enemies. So he waited 11 as the
prophet sent to him to do; yet did not he, however, observe the command
that was given him, but when he saw that the prophet tarried longer than
he expected, and that he was deserted by the soldiers, he took the
sacrifices and offered them; and when he heard that Samuel was come, he
went out to meet him. But the prophet said he had not done well in
disobeying the injunctions he had sent to him, and had not staid till
his coming, which being appointed according to the will of God, he had
prevented him in offering up those prayers and those sacrifices that he
should have made for the multitude, and that he therefore had performed
Divine offices in an ill manner, and had been rash in performing them.
Hereupon Saul made an apology for himself, and said that he had waited
as many days as Samuel had appointed him; that he had been so quick in
offering his sacrifices, upon account of the necessity he was in, and
because his soldiers were departing from him, out of their fear of the
enemy's camp at Michmash, the report being gone abroad that they were
coming down upon him of Gilgal. To which Samuel replied, "Nay,
certainly, if thou hadst been a righteous man, 12 and hadst not
disobeyed me, nor slighted the commands which God suggested to me
concerning the present state of affairs, and hadst not acted more
hastily than the present circumstances required, thou wouldst have been
permitted to reign a long time, and thy posterity after thee." So
Samuel, being grieved at what happened, returned home; but Saul came to
the city Gibeah, with his son Jonathan, having only six hundred men with
him; and of these the greater part had no weapons, because of the
scarcity of iron in that country, as well as of those that could make
such weapons; for, as we showed a little before, the Philistines had not
suffered them to have such iron or such workmen. Now the Philistines
divided their army into three companies, and took as many roads, and
laid waste the country of the Hebrews, while king Saul and his son
Jonathan saw what was done, but were not able to defend the land, having
no more than six hundred men with them. But as he, and his son, and
Abiah the high priest, who was of the posterity of Eli the high priest,
were sitting upon a pretty high hill, and seeing the land laid waste,
they were mightily disturbed at it. Now Saul's son agreed with his
armor-bearer, that they would go privately to the enemy's camp, and make
a tumult and a disturbance among them. And when the armor-bearer had
readily promised to follow him whithersoever he should lead him, though
he should be obliged to die in the attempt, Jonathan made use of the
young man's assistance, and descended from the hill, and went to their
enemies. Now the enemy's camp was upon a precipice which had three tops,
that ended in a small but sharp and long extremity, while there was a
rock that surrounded them, like lines made to prevent the attacks of an
enemy. There it so happened, that the out-guards of the camp were
neglected, because of the security that here arose from the situation of
the place, and because they thought it altogether impossible, not only
to ascend up to the camp on that quarter, but so much as to come near
it. As soon, therefore, as they came to the camp, Jonathan encouraged
his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Let us attack our enemies; and if,
when they see us, they bid us come up to them, take that for a signal of
victory; but if they say nothing, as not intending to invite us to come
up, let us return back again." So when they were approaching to the
enemy's camp, just after break of day, and the Philistines saw them,
they said one to another, "The Hebrews come out of their dens and
caves:" and they said to Jonathan and to his armor-bearer, "Come on,
ascend up to us, that we may inflict a just punishment upon you, for
your rash attempt upon us." So Saul's son accepted of that invitation,
as what signified to him victory, and he immediately came out of the
place whence they were seen by their enemies: so he changed his place,
and came to the rock, which had none to guard it, because of its own
strength; from thence they crept up with great labor and difficulty, and
so far overcame by force the nature of the place, till they were able to
fight with their enemies. So they fell upon them as they were asleep,
and slew about twenty of them, and thereby filled them with disorder and
surprise, insomuch that some of them threw away their entire armor and
fled; but the greatest part, not knowing one another, because they were
of different nations, suspected one another to be enemies, [for they did
not imagine there were only two of the Hebrews that came up,] and so
they fought one against another; and some of them died in the battle,
and some, as they were flying away, were thrown down from the rock
headlong.
3. Now Saul's watchmen told the king that the camp of the Philistines
was in confusion; then he inquired whether any body was gone away from
the army; and when he heard that his son, and with him his armor-bearer,
were absent, he bade the high priest take the garments of his high
priesthood, and prophesy to him what success they should have; who said
that they should get the victory, and prevail against their enemies. So
he went out after the Philistines, and set upon them as they were
slaying one another. Those also who had fled to dens and caves, upon
hearing that Saul was gaining a victory, came running to him. When,
therefore, the number of the Hebrews that came to Saul amounted to about
ten thousand, he pursued the enemy, who were scattered all over the
country; but then he fell into an action, which was a very unhappy one,
and liable to be very much blamed; for, whether out of ignorance or
whether out of joy for a victory gained so strangely, [for it frequently
happens that persons so fortunate are not then able to use their reason
consistently,] as he was desirous to avenge himself, and to exact a due
punishment of the Philistines, he denounced a curse 13 upon the Hebrews:
That if any one put a stop to his slaughter of the enemy, and fell on
eating, and left off the slaughter or the pursuit before the night came
on, and obliged them so to do, he should be accursed. Now after Saul had
denounced this curse, since they were now in a wood belonging to the
tribe of Ephraim, which was thick and full of bees, Saul's son, who did
not hear his father denounce that curse, nor hear of the approbation the
multitude gave to it, broke off a piece of a honey-comb, and ate part of
it. But, in the mean time, he was informed with what a curse his father
had forbidden them to taste any thing before sun-setting: so he left off
eating, and said his father had not done well in this prohibition,
because, had they taken some food, they had pursued the enemy with
greater rigor and alacrity, and had both taken and slain many more of
their enemies.
4. When, therefore, they had slain many ten thousands of the
Philistines, they fell upon spoiling the camp of the Philistines, but
not till late in the evening. They also took a great deal of prey and
cattle, and killed them, and ate them with their blood. This was told to
the king by the scribes, that the multitude were sinning against God as
they sacrificed, and were eating before the blood was well washed away,
and the flesh was made clean. Then did Saul give order that a great
stone should be rolled into the midst of them, and he made proclamation
that they should kill their sacrifices upon it, and not feed upon the
flesh with the blood, for that was not acceptable to God. And when all
the people did as the king commanded them, Saul erected an altar there,
and offered burnt-offerings upon it to God 14 This was the first altar
that Saul built.
5. So when Saul was desirous of leading his men to the enemy's camp
before it was day, in order to plunder it, and when the soldiers were
not unwilling to follow him, but indeed showed great readiness to do as
he commanded them, the king called Ahitub the high priest, and enjoined
him to know of God whether he would grant them the favor and permission
to go against the enemy's camp, in order to destroy those that were in
it. And when the priest said that God did not give any answer, Saul
replied, "And not without some cause does God refuse to answer what we
inquire of him, while yet a little while ago he declared to us all that
we desired beforehand, and even prevented us in his answer. To be sure
there is some sin against him that is concealed from us, which is the
occasion of his silence. Now I swear by him himself, that though he that
hath committed this sin should prove to be my own son Jonathan, I will
slay him, and by that means will appease the anger of God against us,
and that in the very same manner as if I were to punish a stranger, and
one not at all related to me, for the same offense." So when the
multitude cried out to him so to do, he presently set all the rest on
one side, and he and his son stood on the other side, and he sought to
discover the offender by lot. Now the lot appeared to fall upon Jonathan
himself. So when he was asked by his father what sin he had been guilty
of, and what he was conscious of in the course of his life that might be
esteemed instances of guilt or profaneness, his answer was this, "O
father, I have done nothing more than that yesterday, without knowing of
the curse and oath thou hadst denounced, while I was in pursuit of the
enemy, I tasted of a honey-comb." But Saul sware that he would slay him,
and prefer the observation of his oath before all the ties of birth and
of nature. And Jonathan was not dismayed at this threatening of death,
but, offering himself to it generously and undauntedly, he said, "Nor do
I desire you, father, to spare me: death will be to me very acceptable,
when it proceeds from thy piety, and after a glorious victory; for it is
the greatest consolation to me that I leave the Hebrews victorious over
the Philistines." Hereupon all the people were very sorry, and greatly
afflicted for Jonathan; and they sware that they would not overlook
Jonathan, and see him die, who was the author of their victory. By which
means they snatched him out of the danger he was in from his father's
curse, while they made their prayers to God also for the young man, that
he would remit his sin.
6. So Saul, having slain about sixty thousand of the enemy, returned
home to his own city, and reigned happily: and he also fought against
the neighboring nations, and subdued the Ammonites, and Moabites, and
Philistines, and Edomites, and Amalekites, as also the king of Zobah. He
had three male children, Jonathan, and Isui, and Melchishua; with Merab
and Michal his daughters. He had also Abner, his uncle's son, for the
captain of his host: that uncle's name was Ner. Now Ner, and Kish the
father of Saul, were brothers. Saul had also a great many chariots and
horsemen, and against whomsoever he made war he returned conqueror, and
advanced the affairs of the Hebrews to a great degree of success and
prosperity, and made them superior to other nations; and he made such of
the young men as were remarkable for tallness and comeliness the guards
of his body.
CHAPTER 7. Saul's War With The Amalekites, And Conquest Of Them.
1. Now Samuel came unto Saul, and said to him, that he was sent by God
to put him in mind that God had preferred him before all others, and
ordained him king; that he therefore ought to be obedient to him, and to
submit to his authority, as considering, that though he had the dominion
over the other tribes, yet that God had the dominion over him, and over
all things. That accordingly God said to him, that "because the
Amalekites did the Hebrews a great deal of mischief while they were in
the wilderness, and when, upon their coming out of Egypt, they were
making their way to that country which is now their own, I enjoin thee
to punish the Amalekites, by making war upon them; and when thou hast
subdued them, to leave none of them alive, but to pursue them through
every age, and to slay them, beginning with the women and the infants,
and to require this as a punishment to be inflicted upon them for the
mischief they did to our forefathers; to spare nothing, neither asses
nor other beasts, nor to reserve any of them for your own advantage and
possession, but to devote them universally to God, and, in obedience to
the commands of Moses, to blot out the name of Amalek entirely." 15
2. So Saul promised to do what he was commanded; and supposing that his
obedience to God would be shown, not only in making war against the
Amalekites, but more fully in the readiness and quickness of his
proceedings, he made no delay, but immediately gathered together all his
forces; and when he had numbered them in Gilgal, he found them to be
about four hundred thousand of the Israelites, besides the tribe of
Judah, for that tribe contained by itself thirty thousand. Accordingly,
Saul made an irruption into the country of the Amalekites, and set many
men in several parties in ambush at the river, that so he might not only
do them a mischief by open fighting, but might fall upon them
unexpectedly in the ways, and might thereby compass them round about,
and kill them. And when he had joined battle with the enemy, he beat
them; and pursuing them as they fled, he destroyed them all. And when
that undertaking had succeeded, according as God had foretold, he set
upon the cities of the Amalekites; he besieged them, and took them by
force, partly by warlike machines, partly by mines dug under ground, and
partly by building walls on the outsides. Some they starved out with
famine, and some they gained by other methods; and after all, he betook
himself to slay the women and the children, and thought he did not act
therein either barbarously or inhumanly; first, because they were
enemies whom he thus treated, and, in the next place, because it was
done by the command of God, whom it was dangerous not to obey. He also
took Agag, the enemies' king, captive,—the beauty and tallness of whose
body he admired so much, that he thought him worthy of preservation. Yet
was not this done however according to the will of God, but by giving
way to human passions, and suffering himself to be moved with an
unseasonable commiseration, in a point where it was not safe for him to
indulge it; for God hated the nation of the Amalekites to such a degree,
that he commanded Saul to have no pity on even those infants which we by
nature chiefly compassionate; but Saul preserved their king and governor
from the miseries which the Hebrews brought on the people, as if he
preferred the fine appearance of the enemy to the memory of what God had
sent him about. The multitude were also guilty, together with Saul; for
they spared the herds and the flocks, and took them for a prey, when God
had commanded they should not spare them. They also carried off with
them the rest of their wealth and riches; but if there were any thing
that was not worthy of regard, that they destroyed.
3. But when Saul had conquered all these Amalekites that reached from
Pelusium of Egypt to the Red Sea, he laid waste all the rest of the
enemy's country: but for the nation of the Shechemites, he did not touch
them, although they dwelt in the very middle of the country of Midian;
for before the battle, Saul had sent to them, and charged them to depart
thence, lest they should be partakers of the miseries of the Amalekites;
for he had a just occasion for saving them, since they were of the
kindred of Raguel, Moses's father-in-law.
4. Hereupon Saul returned home with joy, for the glorious things he had
done, and for the conquest of his enemies, as though he had not
neglected any thing which the prophet had enjoined him to do when he was
going to make war with the Amalekites, and as though he had exactly
observed all that he ought to have done. But God was grieved that the
king of the Amalekites was preserved alive, and that the multitude had
seized on the cattle for a prey, because these things were done without
his permission; for he thought it an intolerable thing that they should
conquer and overcome their enemies by that power which he gave them, and
then that he himself should be so grossly despised and disobeyed by
them, that a mere man that was a king would not bear it. He therefore
told Samuel the prophet, that he repented that he had made Saul king,
while he did nothing that he had commanded him, but indulged his own
inclinations. When Samuel heard that, he was in confusion, and began to
beseech God all that night to be reconciled to Saul, and not to be angry
with him; but he did not grant that forgiveness to Saul which the
prophet asked for, as not deeming it a fit thing to grant forgiveness of
[such] sins at his entreaties, since injuries do not otherwise grow so
great as by the easy tempers of those that are injured; or while they
hunt after the glory of being thought gentle and good-natured, before
they are aware they produce other sins. As soon therefore as God had
rejected the intercession of the prophet, and it plainly appeared he
would not change his mind, at break of day Samuel came to Saul at
Gilgal. When the king saw him, he ran to him, and embraced him, and
said, "I return thanks to God, who hath given me the victory, for I have
performed every thing that he hath commanded me." To which Samuel
replied, "How is it then that I hear the bleating of the sheep and the
lowing of the greater cattle in the camp?" Saul made answer, That the
people had reserved them for sacrifices; but that, as to the nation of
the Amalekites, it was entirely destroyed, as he had received it in
command to see done, and that no one man was left; but that he had saved
alive the king alone, and brought him to him, concerning whom, he said,
they would advise together what should be done with him. But the prophet
said, "God is not delighted with sacrifices, but with good and with
righteous men, who are such as follow his will and his laws, and never
think that any thing is well done by them but when they do it as God had
commanded them; that he then looks upon himself as affronted, not when
any one does not sacrifice, but when any one appears to be disobedient
to him. But that from those who do not obey him, nor pay him that duty
which is the alone true and acceptable worship, he will not kindly
accept their oblations, be those they offer ever so many and so fat, and
be the presents they make him ever so ornamental, nay, though they were
made of gold and silver themselves, but he will reject them, and esteem
them instances of wickedness, and not of piety. And that he is delighted
with those that still bear in mind this one thing, and this only, how to
do that, whatsoever it be, which God pronounces or commands for them to
do, and to choose rather to die than to transgress any of those
commands; nor does he require so much as a sacrifice from them. And when
these do sacrifice, though it be a mean oblation, he better accepts of
it as the honor of poverty, than such oblations as come from the richest
men that offer them to him. Wherefore take notice, that thou art under
the wrath of God, for thou hast despised and neglected what he commanded
thee. How dost thou then suppose that he will respect a sacrifice out of
such things as he hath doomed to destruction? unless perhaps thou dost
imagine that it is almost all one to offer it in sacrifice to God as to
destroy it. Do thou therefore expect that thy kingdom will be taken from
thee, and that authority which thou hast abused by such insolent
behavior, as to neglect that God who bestowed it upon thee." Then did
Saul confess that he had acted unjustly, and did not deny that he had
sinned, because he had transgressed the injunctions of the prophet; but
he said that it was out of a dread and fear of the soldiers, that he did
not prohibit and restrain them when they seized on the prey. "But
forgive me," said he, "and be merciful to me, for I will be cautious how
I offend for the time to come." He also entreated the prophet to go back
with him, that he might offer his thank-offerings to God; but Samuel
went home, because he saw that God would not be reconciled to him.
5. But then Saul was so desirous to retain Samuel, that he took hold of
his cloak, and because the vehemence of Samuel's departure made the
motion to be violent, the cloak was rent. Upon which the prophet said,
that after the same manner should the kingdom be rent from him, and that
a good and a just man should take it; that God persevered in what he had
decreed about him; that to be mutable and changeable in what is
determined, is agreeable to human passions only, but is not agreeable to
the Divine Power. Hereupon Saul said that he had been wicked, but that
what was done could not be undone: he therefore desired him to honor him
so far, that the multitude might see that he would accompany him in
worshipping God. So Samuel granted him that favor, and went with him and
worshipped God. Agag also, the king of the Amalekites, was brought to
him; and when the king asked, How bitter death was? Samuel said, "As
thou hast made many of the Hebrew mothers to lament and bewail the loss
of their children, so shalt thou, by thy death, cause thy mother to
lament thee also." Accordingly, he gave order to slay him immediately at
Gilgal, and then went away to the city Ramah.
CHAPTER 8. How, Upon Saul's Transgression Of The Prophet's Commands,
Samuel Ordained Another Person To Be King Privately, Whose Name Was
David, As God Commanded Him.
1. Now Saul being sensible of the miserable condition he had brought
himself into, and that he had made God to be his enemy, he went up to
his royal palace at Gibeah, which name denotes a hill, and after that
day he came no more into the presence of the prophet. And when Samuel
mourned for him, God bid him leave off his concern for him, and to take
the holy oil, and go to Bethlehem, to Jesse the son of Obed, and to
anoint such of his sons as he should show him for their future king. But
Samuel said, he was afraid lest Saul, when he came to know of it, should
kill him, either by some private method or even openly. But upon God's
suggesting to him a safe way of going thither, he came to the
forementioned city; and when they all saluted him, and asked what was
the occasion of his coming, he told them he came to sacrifice to God.
When, therefore, he had gotten the sacrifice ready, he called Jesse and
his sons to partake of those sacrifices; and when he saw his eldest son
to be a tall and handsome man, he guessed by his comeliness that he was
the person who was to be their future king. But he was mistaken in
judging about God's providence; for when Samuel inquired of God whether
he should anoint this youth, whom he so admired, and esteemed worthy of
the kingdom, God said, "Men do not see as God seeth. Thou indeed hast
respect to the fine appearance of this youth, and thence esteemest him
worthy of the kingdom, while I propose the kingdom as a reward, not of
the beauty of bodies, but of the virtue of souls, and I inquire after
one that is perfectly comely in that respect; I mean one who is
beautiful in piety, and righteousness, and fortitude, and obedience, for
in them consists the comeliness of the soul." When God had said this,
Samuel bade Jesse to show him all his sons. So he made five others of
his sons to come to him; of all of whom Eliab was the eldest, Aminadab
the second, Shammall the third, Nathaniel the fourth, Rael the fifth,
and Asam the sixth. And when the prophet saw that these were no way
inferior to the eldest in their countenances, he inquired of God which
of them it was whom he chose for their king. And when God said it was
none of them, he asked Jesse whether he had not some other sons besides
these; and when he said that he had one more, named David, but that he
was a shepherd, and took care of the flocks, Samuel bade them call him
immediately, for that till he was come they could not possibly sit down
to the feast. Now, as soon as his father had sent for David, and he was
come, he appeared to be of a yellow complexion, of a sharp sight, and a
comely person in other respects also. This is he, said Samuel privately
to himself, whom it pleases God to make our king. So he sat down to the
feast, and placed the youth under him, and Jesse also, with his other
sons; after which he took oil in the presence of David, and anointed
him, and whispered him in the ear, and acquainted him that God chose him
to be their king; and exhorted him to be righteous, and obedient to his
commands, for that by this means his kingdom would continue for a long
time, and that his house should be of great splendor, and celebrated in
the world; that he should overthrow the Philistines; and that against
what nations soever he should make war, he should be the conqueror, and
survive the fight; and that while he lived he should enjoy a glorious
name, and leave such a name to his posterity also.
2. So Samuel, when he had given him these admonitions, went away. But
the Divine Power departed from Saul, and removed to David; who, upon
this removal of the Divine Spirit to him, began to prophesy. But as for
Saul, some strange and demoniacal disorders came upon him, and brought
upon him such suffocations as were ready to choke him; for which the
physicians could find no other remedy but this, That if any person could
charm those passions by singing, and playing upon the harp, they advised
them to inquire for such a one, and to observe when these demons came
upon him and disturbed him, and to take care that such a person might
stand over him, and play upon the harp, and recite hymns to him. 16
Accordingly Saul did not delay, but commanded them to seek out such a
man. And when a certain stander-by said that he had seen in the city of
Bethlehem a son of Jesse, who was yet no more than a child in age, but
comely and beautiful, and in other respects one that was deserving of
great regard, who was skillful in playing on the harp, and in singing of
hymns, [and an excellent soldier in war,] he sent to Jesse, and desired
him to take David away from the flocks, and send him to him, for he had
a mind to see him, as having heard an advantageous character of his
comeliness and his valor. So Jesse sent his son, and gave him presents
to carry to Saul. And when he was come, Saul was pleased with him, and
made him his armor-bearer, and had him in very great esteem; for he
charmed his passion, and was the only physician against the trouble he
had from the demons, whensoever it was that it came upon him, and this
by reciting of hymns, and playing upon the harp, and bringing Saul to
his right mind again. However, he sent to Jesse, the father of the
child, and desired him to permit David to stay with him, for that he was
delighted with his sight and company; which stay, that he might not
contradict Saul, he granted.
CHAPTER 9. How The Philistines Made Another Expedition Against The
Hebrews Under The Reign Of Saul; And How They Were Overcome By David's
Slaying Goliath In Single Combat.
1. Now the Philistines gathered themselves together again no very long
time afterward; and having gotten together a great army, they made war
against the Israelites; and having seized a place between Shochoh and
Azekah, they there pitched their camp. Saul also drew out his army to
oppose them; and by pitching his own camp on a certain hill, he forced
the Philistines to leave their former camp, and to encamp themselves
upon such another hill, over-against that on which Saul's army lay, so
that a valley, which was between the two hills on which they lay,
divided their camps asunder. Now there came down a man out of the camp
of the Philistines, whose name was Goliath, of the city of Gath, a man
of vast bulk, for he was of four cubits and a span in tallness, and had
about him weapons suitable to the largeness of his body, for he had a
breastplate on that weighed five thousand shekels: he had also a helmet
and greaves of brass, as large as you would naturally suppose might
cover the limbs of so vast a body. His spear was also such as was not
carried like a light thing in his right hand, but he carried it as lying
on his shoulders. He had also a lance of six hundred shekels; and many
followed him to carry his armor. Wherefore this Goliath stood between
the two armies, as they were in battle array, and sent out aloud voice,
and said to Saul and the Hebrews, "I will free you from fighting and
from dangers; for what necessity is there that your army should fall and
be afflicted? Give me a man of you that will fight with me, and he that
conquers shall have the reward of the conqueror and determine the war;
for these shall serve those others to whom the conqueror shall belong;
and certainly it is much better, and more prudent, to gain what you
desire by the hazard of one man than of all." When he had said this, he
retired to his own camp; but the next day he came again, and used the
same words, and did not leave off for forty days together, to challenge
the enemy in the same words, till Saul and his army were therewith
terrified, while they put themselves in array as if they would fight,
but did not come to a close battle.
2. Now while this war between the Hebrews and the Philistines was going
on, Saul sent away David to his father Jesse, and contented himself with
those three sons of his whom he had sent to his assistance, and to be
partners in the dangers of the war: and at first David returned to feed
his sheep and his flocks; but after no long time he came to the camp of
the Hebrews, as sent by his father, to carry provisions to his brethren,
and to know what they were doing. While Goliath came again, and
challenged them, and reproached them, that they had no man of valor
among them that durst come down to fight him; and as David was talking
with his brethren about the business for which his father had sent him,
he heard the Philistine reproaching and abusing the army, and had
indignation at it, and said to his brethren, "I am ready to fight a
single combat with this adversary." Whereupon Eliab, his eldest brother,
reproved him, and said that he spoke too rashly and improperly for one
of his age, and bid him go to his flocks, and to his father. So he was
abashed at his brother's words, and went away, but still he spake to
some of the soldiers that he was willing to fight with him that
challenged them. And when they had informed Saul what was the resolution
of the young man, the king sent for him to come to him: and when the
king asked what he had to say, he replied, "O king, be not cast down,
nor afraid, for I will depress the insolence of this adversary, and will
go down and fight with him, and will bring him under me, as tall and as
great as he is, till he shall be sufficiently laughed at, and thy army
shall get great glory, when he shall be slain by one that is not yet of
man's estate, neither fit for fighting, nor capable of being intrusted
with the marshalling an army, or ordering a battle, but by one that
looks like a child, and is really no elder in age than a child."
3. Now Saul wondered at the boldness and alacrity of David, but durst
not presume on his ability, by reason of his age; but said he must on
that account be too weak to fight with one that was skilled in the art
of war. "I undertake this enterprise," said David, "in dependence on
God's being with me, for I have had experience already of his
assistance; for I once pursued after and caught a lion that assaulted my
flocks, and took away a lamb from them; and I snatched the lamb out of
the wild beast's mouth, and when he leaped upon me with violence, I took
him by the tail, and dashed him against the ground. In the same manner
did I avenge myself on a bear also; and let this adversary of ours be
esteemed like one of these wild beasts, since he has a long while
reproached our army, and blasphemed our God, who yet will reduce him
under my power."
4. However, Saul prayed that the end might be, by God's assistance, not
disagreeable to the alacrity and boldness of the child; and said, "Go
thy way to the fight." So he put about him his breastplate, and girded
on his sword, and fitted the helmet to his head, and sent him away. But
David was burdened with his armor, for he had not been exercised to it,
nor had he learned to walk with it; so he said, "Let this armor be
thine, O king, who art able to bear it; but give me leave to fight as
thy servant, and as I myself desire." Accordingly he laid by the armor,
and taking his staff with him, and putting five stones out of the brook
into a shepherd's bag, and having a sling in his right hand, he went
towards Goliath. But the adversary seeing him come in such a manner,
disdained him, and jested upon him, as if he had not such weapons with
him as are usual when one man fights against another, but such as are
used in driving away and avoiding of dogs; and said, "Dost thou take me
not for a man, but a dog?" To which he replied, "No, not for a dog, but
for a creature worse than a dog." This provoked Goliath to anger, who
thereupon cursed him by the name of God, and threatened to give his
flesh to the beasts of the earth, and to the fowls of the air, to be
torn in pieces by them. To whom David answered, "Thou comest to me with
a sword, and with a spear, and with a breastplate; but I have God for my
armor in coming against thee, who will destroy thee and all thy army by
my hands for I will this day cut off thy head, and cast the other parts
of thy body to the dogs, and all men shall learn that God is the
protector of the Hebrews, and that our armor and our strength is in his
providence; and that without God's assistance, all other warlike
preparations and power are useless." So the Philistine being retarded by
the weight of his armor, when he attempted to meet David in haste, came
on but slowly, as despising him, and depending upon it that he should
slay him, who was both unarmed and a child also, without any trouble at
all.
5. But the youth met his antagonist, being accompanied with an invisible
assistant, who was no other than God himself. And taking one of the
stones that he had out of the brook, and had put into his shepherd's
bag, and fitting it to his sling, he slang it against the Philistine.
This stone fell upon his forehead, and sank into his brain, insomuch
that Goliath was stunned, and fell upon his face. So David ran, and
stood upon his adversary as he lay down, and cut off his head with his
own sword; for he had no sword himself. And upon the fall of Goliath the
Philistines were beaten, and fled; for when they saw their champion
prostrate on the ground, they were afraid of the entire issue of their
affairs, and resolved not to stay any longer, but committed themselves
to an ignominious and indecent flight, and thereby endeavored to save
themselves from the dangers they were in. But Saul and the entire army
of the Hebrews made a shout, and rushed upon them, and slew a great
number of them, and pursued the rest to the borders of Garb, and to the
gates of Ekron; so that there were slain of the Philistines thirty
thousand, and twice as many wounded. But Saul returned to their camp,
and pulled their fortification to pieces, and burnt it; but David
carried the head of Goliath into his own tent, but dedicated his sword
to God [at the tabernacle].
CHAPTER 10. Saul Envies David For His Glorious Success, And Takes An
Occasion Of Entrapping Him, From The Promise He Made Him Of Giving Him
His Daughter In Marriage; But This Upon Condition Of His Bringing Him
Six Hundred Heads Of The Philistines.
1. Now the women were an occasion of Saul's envy and hatred to David;
for they came to meet their victorious army with cymbals, and drums, and
all demonstrations of joy, and sang thus: The wives said, that "Saul had
slain his many thousands of the Philistines." The virgins replied, that
"David had slain his ten thousands." Now, when the king heard them
singing thus, and that he had himself the smallest share in their
commendations, and the greater number, the ten thousands, were ascribed
to the young man; and when he considered with himself that there was
nothing more wanting to David, after such a mighty applause, but the
kingdom; he began to be afraid and suspicious of David. Accordingly he
removed him from the station he was in before, for he was his armor-
bearer, which, out of fear, seemed to him much too near a station for
him; and so he made him captain over a thousand, and bestowed on him a
post better indeed in itself, but, as he thought, more for his own
security; for he had a mind to send him against the enemy, and into
battles, as hoping he would be slain in such dangerous conflicts.
2. But David had God going along with him whithersoever he went, and
accordingly he greatly prospered in his undertakings, and it was visible
that he had mighty success, insomuch that Saul's daughter, who was still
a virgin, fell in love with him; and her affection so far prevailed over
her, that it could not be concealed, and her father became acquainted
with it. Now Saul heard this gladly, as intending to make use of it for
a snare against David, and he hoped that it would prove the cause of
destruction and of hazard to him; so he told those that informed him of
his daughter's affection, that he would willingly give David the virgin
in marriage, and said, "I engage myself to marry my daughter to him if
he will bring me six hundred heads of my enemies 17 supposing that when
a reward so ample was proposed to him, and when he should aim to get him
great glory, by undertaking a thing so dangerous and incredible, he
would immediately set about it, and so perish by the Philistines; and my
designs about him will succeed finely to my mind, for I shall be freed
from him, and get him slain, not by myself, but by another man." So he
gave order to his servants to try how David would relish this proposal
of marrying the damsel. Accordingly, they began to speak thus to him:
That king Saul loved him, as well as did all the people, and that he was
desirous of his affinity by the marriage of this damsel. To which he
gave this answer:—"Seemeth it to you a light thing to be made the king's
son-in-law? It does not seem so to me, especially when I am one of a
family that is low, and without any glory or honor." Now when Saul was
informed by his servants what answer David had made, he said,—"Tell him
that I do not want any money nor dowry from him, which would be rather
to set my daughter to sale than to give her in marriage; but I desire
only such a son-in-law as hath in him fortitude, and all other kinds of
virtue," of which he saw David was possessed, and that his desire was to
receive of him, on account of his marrying his daughter, neither gold
nor silver, nor that he should bring such wealth out of his father's
house, but only some revenge on the Philistines, and indeed six hundred
of their heads, than which a more desirable or a more glorious present
could not be brought him, and that he had much rather obtain this, than
any of the accustomed dowries for his daughter, viz. that she should be
married to a man of that character, and to one who had a testimony as
having conquered his enemies.
3. When these words of Saul were brought to David, he was pleased with
them, and supposed that Saul was really desirous of this affinity with
him; so that without bearing to deliberate any longer, or casting about
in his mind whether what was proposed was possible, or was difficult or
not, he and his companions immediately set upon the enemy, and went
about doing what was proposed as the condition of the marriage.
Accordingly, because it was God who made all things easy and possible to
David, he slew many [of the Philistines], and cut off the heads of six
hundred of them, and came to the king, and by showing him these heads of
the Philistines, required that he might have his daughter in marriage.
Accordingly, Saul having no way of getting off his engagements, as
thinking it a base thing either to seem a liar when he promised him this
marriage, or to appear to have acted treacherously by him, in putting
him upon what was in a manner impossible, in order to have him slain, he
gave him his daughter in marriage: her name was Michal.
CHAPTER 11. How David, Upon Saul's Laying Snares For Him, Did Yet Escape
The Dangers He Was In By The Affection And Care Of Jonathan And The
Contrivances Of His Wife Michal: And How He Came To Samuel The Prophet.
1. However, Saul was not disposed to persevere long in the state wherein
he was, for when he saw that David was in great esteem, both with God
and with the multitude, he was afraid; and being not able to conceal his
fear as concerning great things, his kingdom and his life, to be
deprived of either of which was a very great calamity, he resolved to
have David slain, and commanded his son Jonathan and his most faithful
servants to kill him: but Jonathan wondered at his father's change with
relation to David, that it should be made to so great a degree, from
showing him no small good-will, to contrive how to have him killed. Now,
because he loved the young man, and reverenced him for his virtue, he
informed him of the secret charge his father had given, and what his
intentions were concerning him. However, he advised him to take care and
be absent the next day, for that he would salute his father, and, if he
met with a favorable opportunity, he would discourse with him about him,
and learn the cause of his disgust, and show how little ground there was
for it, and that for it he ought not to kill a man that had done so many
good things to the multitude, and had been a benefactor to himself, on
account of which he ought in reason to obtain pardon, had he been guilty
of the greatest crimes; and "I will then inform thee of my father's
resolution." Accordingly David complied with such an advantageous
advice, and kept himself then out of the king's sight.
2. On the next day Jonathan came to Saul, as soon as he saw him in a
cheerful and joyful disposition, and began to introduce a discourse
about David: "What unjust action, O father, either little or great, hast
thou found so exceptionable in David, as to induce thee to order us to
slay a man who hath been of great advantage to thy own preservation, and
of still greater to the punishment of the Philistines? A man who hath
delivered the people of the Hebrews from reproach and derision, which
they underwent for forty days together, when he alone had courage enough
to sustain the challenge of the adversary, and after that brought as
many heads of our enemies as he was appointed to bring, and had, as a
reward for the same, my sister in marriage; insomuch that his death
would be very sorrowful to us, not only on account of his virtue, but on
account of the nearness of our relation; for thy daughter must be
injured at the same time that he is slain, and must be obliged to
experience widowhood, before she can come to enjoy any advantage from
their mutual conversation. Consider these things, and change your mind
to a more merciful temper, and do no mischief to a man, who, in the
first place, hath done us the greatest kindness of preserving thee; for
when an evil spirit and demons had seized upon thee, he cast them out,
and procured rest to thy soul from their incursions: and, in the second
place, hath avenged us of our enemies; for it is a base thing to forget
such benefits." So Saul was pacified with these words, and sware to his
son that he would do David no harm, for a righteous discourse proved too
hard for the king's anger and fear. So Jonathan sent for David, and
brought him good news from his father, that he was to be preserved. He
also brought him to his father; and David continued with the king as
formerly.
3. About this time it was that, upon the Philistines making a new
expedition against the Hebrews, Saul sent David with an army to fight
with them; and joining battle with them he slew many of them, and after
his victory he returned to the king. But his reception by Saul was not
as he expected upon such success, for he was grieved at his prosperity,
because he thought he would be more dangerous to him by having acted so
gloriously: but when the demoniacal spirit came upon him, and put him
into disorder, and disturbed him, he called for David into his bed-
chamber wherein he lay, and having a spear in his hand, he ordered him
to charm him with playing on his harp, and with singing hymns; which
when David did at his command, he with great force threw the spear at
him; but David was aware of it before it came, and avoided it, and fled
to his own house, and abode there all that day.
4. But at night the king sent officers, and commanded that he should be
watched till the morning, lest he should get quite away, that he might
come into the judgment-hall, and so might be delivered up, and condemned
and slain. But when Michal, David's wife, the king's daughter,
understood what her father designed, she came to her husband, as having
small hopes of his deliverance, and as greatly concerned about her own
life also, for she could not bear to live in case she were deprived of
him; and she said, "Let not the sun find thee here when it rises, for if
it do, that will be the last time it will see thee: fly away then while
the night may afford thee opportunity, and may God lengthen it for thy
sake; for know this, that if my father find thee, thou art a dead man."
So she let him down by a cord out of the window, and saved him: and
after she had done so, she fitted up a bed for him as if he were sick,
and put under the bed-clothes a goat's liver 18 and when her father, as
soon as it was day, sent to seize David, she said to those that were
there, That he had not been well that night, and showed them the bed
covered, and made them believe, by the leaping of the liver, which
caused the bed-clothes to move also, that David breathed like one that
was asthmatic. So when those that were sent told Saul that David had not
been well in the night he ordered him to be brought in that condition,
for he intended to kill him. Now when they came and uncovered the bed,
and found out the woman's contrivance, they told it to the king; and
when her father complained of her that she had saved his enemy, and had
put a trick upon himself, she invented this plausible defense for
herself, and said, That when he had threatened to kill her, she lent him
her assistance for his preservation, out of fear; for which her
assistance she ought to be forgiven, because it was not done of her own
free choice, but out of necessity: "For," said she, "I do not suppose
that thou wast so zealous to kill thy enemy, as thou wast that I should
be saved." Accordingly Saul forgave the damsel; but David, when he had
escaped this danger, came to the prophet Samuel to Ramah, and told him
what snares the king had laid for him, and how he was very near to death
by Saul's throwing a spear at him, although he had been no way guilty
with relation to him, nor had he been cowardly in his battles with his
enemies, but had succeeded well in them all, by God's assistance; which
thing was indeed the cause of Saul's hatred to David.
5. When the prophet was made acquainted with the unjust proceedings of
the king, he left the city Ramah, and took David with him, to a certain
place called Naioth, and there he abode with him. But when it was told
Saul that David was with the prophet, he sent soldiers to him, and
ordered them to take him, and bring him to him: and when they came to
Samuel, and found there a congregation of prophets, they became
partakers of the Divine Spirit, and began to prophesy; which when Saul
heard of, he sent others to David, who prophesying in like manner as did
the first, he again sent others; which third sort prophesying also, at
last he was angry, and went thither in great haste himself; and when he
was just by the place, Samuel, before he saw him, made him prophesy
also. And when Saul came to him, he was disordered in mind 19 and under
the vehement agitation of a spirit; and, putting off his garments, 20 he
fell down, and lay on the ground all that day and night, in the presence
of Samuel and David.
6. And David went thence, and came to Jonathan, the son of Saul, and
lamented to him what snares were laid for him by his father; and said,
that though he had been guilty of no evil, nor had offended against him,
yet he was very zealous to get him killed. Hereupon Jonathan exhorted
him not to give credit to such his own suspicions, nor to the calumnies
of those that raised those reports, if there were any that did so, but
to depend on him, and take courage; for that his father had no such
intention, since he would have acquainted him with that matter, and have
taken his advice, had it been so, as he used to consult with him in
common when he acted in other affairs. But David sware to him that so it
was; and he desired him rather to believe him, and to provide for his
safety, than to despise what he, with great sincerity, told him: that he
would believe what he said, when he should either see him killed
himself, or learn it upon inquiry from others: and that the reason why
his father did not tell him of these things, was this, that he knew of
the friendship and affection that he bore towards him.
7. Hereupon, when Jonathan found that this intention of Saul was so well
attested, he asked him what he would have him do for him. To which David
replied, "I am sensible that thou art willing to gratify me in every
thing, and procure me what I desire. Now tomorrow is the new moon, and I
was accustomed to sit down then with the king at supper: now, if it seem
good to thee, I will go out of the city, and conceal myself privately
there; and if Saul inquire why I am absent, tell him that I am gone to
my own city Bethlehem, to keep a festival with my own tribe; and add
this also, that thou gavest me leave so to do. And if he say, as is
usually said in the case of friends that are gone abroad, It is well
that he went, then assure thyself that no latent mischief or enmity may
be feared at his hand; but if he answer otherwise, that will be a sure
sign that he hath some designs against me, Accordingly thou shalt inform
me of thy father's inclinations; and that out of pity to my case and out
of thy friendship for me, as instances of which friendship thou hast
vouchsafed to accept of the assurances of my love to thee, and to give
the like assurances to me, that is, those of a master to his servant;
but if thou discoverest any wickedness in me, do thou prevent thy
father, and kill me thyself."
8. But Jonathan heard these last words with indignation, and promised to
do what he desired of him, and to inform him if his father's answers
implied any thing of a melancholy nature, and any enmity against him.
And that he might the more firmly depend upon him, he took him out into
the open field, into the pure air, and sware that he would neglect
nothing that might tend to the preservation of David; and he said, "I
appeal to that God, who, as thou seest, is diffused every where, and
knoweth this intention of mine, before I explain it in words, as the
witness of this my covenant with thee, that I will not leave off to make
frequent trims of the purpose of my father till I learn whether there be
any lurking distemper in the most secret parts of his soul; and when I
have learnt it, I will not conceal it from thee, but will discover it to
thee, whether he be gently or peevishly disposed; for this God himself
knows, that I pray he may always be with thee, for he is with thee now,
and will not forsake thee, and will make thee superior to thine enemies,
whether my father be one of them, or whether I myself be such. Do thou
only remember what we now do; and if it fall out that I die, preserve my
children alive, and requite what kindness thou hast now received to
them." When he had thus sworn, he dismissed David, bidding him go to a
certain place of that plain wherein he used to perform his exercises;
for that, as soon as he knew the mind of his father, he would come
thither to him, with one servant only; "and if," says he, "I shoot three
darts at the mark, and then bid my servant to carry these three darts
away, for they are before him, know thou that there is no mischief to be
feared from my father; but if thou hearest me say the contrary, expect
the contrary from the king. However, thou shalt gain security by my
means, and shalt by no means suffer any harm; but see thou dost not
forget what I have desired of thee in the time of thy prosperity, and be
serviceable to my children." Now David, when he had received these
assurances from Jonathan, went his way to the place appointed.
9. But on the next day, which was the new moon, the king, when he had
purified himself, as the custom was, came to supper; and when there sat
by him his son Jonathan on his right hand, and Abner, the captain of his
host, on the other hand, he saw David's seat was empty, but said
nothing, supposing that he had not purified himself since he had
accompanied with his wife, and so could not be present; but when he saw
that he was not there the second day of the month neither, he inquired
of his son Jonathan why the son of Jesse did not come to the supper and
the feast, neither the day before nor that day. So Jonathan said, That
he was gone, according to the agreement between them, to his own city,
where his tribe kept a festival, and that by his permission: that he
also invited him to come to their sacrifice; "and," says Jonathan, "if
thou wilt give me leave, I Will go thither, for thou knowest the good-
will that I bear him." And then it was that Jonathan understood his
father's hatred to David, and plainly saw his entire disposition; for
Saul could not restrain his anger, but reproached Jonathan, and called
him the son of a runagate, and an enemy; and said he was a partner with
David, and his assistant, and that by his behavior he showed he had no
regard to himself, or to his mother, and would not be persuaded of
this,—that while David is alive, their kingdom was not secure to them;
yet did he bid him send for him, that he might be punished. And when
Jonathan said, in answer, "What hath he done that thou wilt punish him?"
Saul no longer contented himself to express his anger in bare words, but
snatched up his spear, and leaped upon him, and was desirous to kill
him. He did not indeed do what he intended, because he was hindered by
his friends; but it appeared plainly to his son that he hated David, and
greatly desired to despatch him, insomuch that he had almost slain his
son with his own hands on his account.
10. And then it was that the king's son rose hastily from supper; and
being unable to admit any thing into his mouth for grief, he wept all
night, both because he had himself been near destruction, and because
the death of David was determined: but as soon as it was day, he went
out into the plain that was before the city, as going to perform his
exercises, but in reality to inform his friend what disposition his
father was in towards him, as he had agreed with him to do; and when
Jonathan had done what had been thus agreed, he dismissed his servant
that followed him, to return to the city; but he himself went into the
desert, and came into his presence, and communed with him. So David
appeared and fell at Jonathan's feet, and bowed down to him, and called
him the preserver of his soul; but he lifted him up from the earth, and
they mutually embraced one another, and made a long greeting, and that
not without tears. They also lamented their age, and that familiarity
which envy would deprive them of, and that separation which must now be
expected, which seemed to them no better than death itself. So
recollecting themselves at length from their lamentation, and exhorting
one another to be mindful of the oaths they had sworn to each other,
they parted asunder.
CHAPTER 12. How David Fled To Ahimelech And Afterwards To The Kings Of
The Philistines And Of The Moabites, And How Saul Slew Ahimelech And His
Family.
1. But David fled from the king, and that death he was in danger of by
him, and came to the city Nob, to Ahimelech the priest, who, when he saw
him coming all alone, and neither a friend nor a servant with him, he
wondered at it, and desired to learn of him the cause why there was
nobody with him. To which David answered, That the king had commanded
him to do a certain thing that was to be kept secret, to which, if he
had a mind to know so much, he had no occasion for any one to accompany
him; "however, I have ordered my servants to meet me at such and such a
place." So he desired him to let him have somewhat to eat; and that in
case he would supply him, he would act the part of a friend, and be
assisting to the business he was now about: and when he had obtained
what he desired, he also asked him whether he had any weapons with him,
either sword or spear. Now there was at Nob a servant of Saul, by birth
a Syrian, whose name was Doeg, one that kept the king's mules. The high
priest said that he had no such weapons; but, he added, "Here is the
sword of Goliath, which, when thou hadst slain the Philistine, thou
didst dedicate to God."
2. When David had received the sword, he fled out of the country of the
Hebrews into that of the Philistines, over which Achish reigned; and
when the king's servants knew him, and he was made known to the king
himself, the servants informing him that he was that David who had
killed many ten thousands of the Philistines, David was afraid lest the
king should put him to death, and that he should experience that danger
from him which he had escaped from Saul; so he pretended to be
distracted and mad, so that his spittle ran out of his mouth; and he did
other the like actions before the king of Gath, which might make him
believe that they proceeded from such a distemper. Accordingly the king
was very angry at his servants that they had brought him a madman, and
he gave orders that they should eject David immediately [out of the
city].
3. So when David had escaped in this manner out of Gath, he came to the
tribe of Judah, and abode in a cave by the city of Adullam. Then it was
that he sent to his brethren, and informed them where he was, who then
came to him with all their kindred, and as many others as were either in
want or in fear of king Saul, came and made a body together, and told
him they were ready to obey his orders; they were in all about four
hundred. Whereupon he took courage, now such a force and assistance was
come to him; so he removed thence and came to the king of the Moabites,
and desired him to entertain his parents in his country, while the issue
of his affairs were in such an uncertain condition. The king granted him
this favor, and paid great respect to David's parents all the time they
were with him.
4. As for himself, upon the prophet's commanding him to leave the
desert, and to go into the portion of the tribe of Judah, and abide
there, he complied therewith; and coming to the city Hareth, which was
in that tribe, he remained there. Now when Saul heard that David had
been seen with a multitude about him, he fell into no small disturbance
and trouble; but as he knew that David was a bold and courageous man, he
suspected that somewhat extraordinary would appear from him, and that
openly also, which would make him weep and put him into distress; so he
called together to him his friends, and his commanders, and the tribe
from which he was himself derived, to the hill where his palace was; and
sitting upon a place called Aroura, his courtiers that were in
dignities, and the guards of his body, being with him, he spake thus to
them:—"You that are men of my own tribe, I conclude that you remember
the benefits that I have bestowed upon you, and that I have made some of
you owners of land, and made you commanders, and bestowed posts of honor
upon you, and set some of you over the common people, and others over
the soldiers; I ask you, therefore, whether you expect greater and more
donations from the son of Jesse? for I know that you are all inclinable
to him; [even my own son Jonathan himself is of that opinion, and
persuades you to be of the same]; for I am not unacquainted with the
oaths and the covenants that are between him and David, and that
Jonathan is a counselor and an assistant to those that conspire against
me, and none of you are concerned about these things, but you keep
silence and watch, to see what will be the upshot of these things." When
the king had made this speech, not one of the rest of those that were
present made any answer; but Doeg the Syrian, who fed his mules, said,
that he saw David when he came to the city Nob to Ahimelech the high
priest, and that he learned future events by his prophesying; that he
received food from him, and the sword of Goliath, and was conducted by
him with security to such as he desired to go to.
5. Saul therefore sent for the high priest, and for all his kindred; and
said to them, "What terrible or ungrateful tiring hast thou suffered
from me, that thou hast received the son of Jesse, and hast bestowed on
him both food and weapons, when he was contriving to get the kingdom?
And further, why didst thou deliver oracles to him concerning
futurities? For thou couldst not be unacquainted that he was fled away
from me, and that he hated my family." But the high priest did not
betake himself to deny what he had done, but confessed boldly that he
had supplied him with these things, not to gratify David, but Saul
himself: and he said, "I did not know that he was thy adversary, but a
servant of thine, who was very faithful to thee, and a captain over a
thousand of thy soldiers, and, what is more than these, thy son-in-law,
and kinsman. Men do not choose to confer such favors on their
adversaries, but on those who are esteemed to bear the highest good-will
and respect to them. Nor is this the first time that I prophesied for
him, but I have done it often, and at other times as well as now. And
when he told me that he was sent by thee in great haste to do somewhat,
if I had furnished him with nothing that he desired I should have
thought that it was rather in contradiction to thee than to him;
wherefore do not thou entertain any ill opinion of me, nor do thou have
a suspicion of what I then thought an act of humanity, from what is now
told thee of David's attempts against thee, for I did then to him as to
thy friend and son-in-law, and captain of a thousand, and not as to
thine adversary."
6. When the high priest had spoken thus, he did not persuade Saul, his
fear was so prevalent, that he could not give credit to an apology that
was very just. So he commanded his armed men that stood about him to
kill him, and all his kindred; but as they durst not touch the high
priest, but were more afraid of disobeying God than the king, he ordered
Doeg the Syrian to kill them. Accordingly, he took to his assistance
such wicked men as were like himself, and slew Ahimelech and all his
family, who were in all three hundred and eighty-five. Saul also sent to
Nob, 21 the city of the priests, and slew all that were there, without
sparing either women or children, or any other age, and burnt it; only
there was one son of Ahimelech, whose name was Abiathar, who escaped.
However, these things came to pass as God had foretold to Eli the high
priest, when he said that his posterity should be destroyed, on account
of the transgression of his two sons.
7. 22 Now this king Saul, by perpetrating so barbarous a crime, and
murdering the whole family of the high-priestly dignity, by having no
pity of the infants, nor reverence for the aged, and by overthrowing the
city which God had chosen for the property, and for the support of the
priests and prophets which were there, and had ordained as the only city
allotted for the education of such men, gives all to understand and
consider the disposition of men, that while they are private persons,
and in a low condition, because it is not in their power to indulge
nature, nor to venture upon what they wish for, they are equitable and
moderate, and pursue nothing but what is just, and bend their whole
minds and labors that way; then it is that they have this belief about
God, that he is present to all the actions of their lives, and that he
does not only see the actions that are done, but clearly knows those
their thoughts also, whence those actions do arise. But when once they
are advanced into power and authority, then they put off all such
notions, and, as if they were no other than actors upon a theater, they
lay aside their disguised parts and manners, and take up boldness,
insolence, and a contempt of both human and Divine laws, and this at a
time when they especially stand in need of piety and righteousness,
because they are then most of all exposed to envy, and all they think,
and all they say, are in the view of all men; then it is that they
become so insolent in their actions, as though God saw them no longer,
or were afraid of them because of their power: and whatsoever it is that
they either are afraid of by the rumors they hear, or they hate by
inclination, or they love without reason, these seem to them to be
authentic, and firm, and true, and pleasing both to men and to God; but
as to what will come hereafter, they have not the least regard to it.
They raise those to honor indeed who have been at a great deal of pains
for them, and after that honor they envy them; and when they have
brought them into high dignity, they do not only deprive them of what
they had obtained, but also, on that very account, of their lives also,
and that on wicked accusations, and such as on account of their
extravagant nature, are incredible. They also punish men for their
actions, not such as deserve condemnation, but from calumnies and
accusations without examination; and this extends not only to such as
deserve to be punished, but to as many as they are able to kill. This
reflection is openly confirmed to us from the example of Saul, the son
of Kish, who was the first king who reigned after our aristocracy and
government under the judges were over; and that by his slaughter of
three hundred priests and prophets, on occasion of his suspicion about
Ahimelech, and by the additional wickedness of the overthrow of their
city, and this is as he were endeavoring in some sort to render the
temple [tabernacle] destitute both of priests and prophets, which
endeavor he showed by slaying so many of them, and not suffering the
very city belonging to them to remain, that so others might succeed
them.
8. But Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, who alone could be saved out of
the family of priests slain by Saul, fled to David, and informed him of
the calamity that had befallen their family, and of the slaughter of his
father; who hereupon said, He was not unapprised of what would follow
with relation to them when he saw Doeg there; for he had then a
suspicion that the high priest would be falsely accused by him to the
king, and he blamed himself as having been the cause of this misfortune.
But he desired him to stay there, and abide with him, as in a place
where he might be better concealed than any where else.
CHAPTER 13. How David, When He Had Twice The Opportunity Of Killing Saul
Did Not Kill Him. Also Concerning The Death Of Samuel And Nabal.