THE WOMEN GIVE THE GLORY TO DAVID. 43

mind of the king. The chorus of the Hebrew women's song was this, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." These words fell as a death knell on the ears of Saul. That he, first in official rank, and of more than ordinary mental and physical power, should be second in military prowess to any man in his army, and that man an inexperienced youth, was quite enough for the mind of Saul to bear, if no one knew it but himself; but that this should be paraded before the public by the songs of women; that they, in awarding him their gratitude and love, should place the shepherd boy as tenfold more their benefactor than himself, was more than his proud spirit could bear; so that in great anguish of mind he murmured, "What can he have more but the kingdom?"

David returned with Saul to his residence, and remained there for some time,—how long, we are not informed; but the significant note of the sacred writer, seems to intimate that it was but for a very short period. We are told that "Saul eyed David from that day and forward;" (1 Sam. xviii. 9;) that is, he looked on David as on one whom he envied, hated, and of whom he was afraid.* This must have made the residence of David at court exceedingly unpleasant. It cannot be supposed that he could entirely divest himself of the ideas which his solemn anointing by the prophet Samuel must have fixed in his mind, and which in all probability would derive increasing power from his victory over Goliath; and to live under these influences, with the jealous eye of the king always on him, marking his conduct, and scrutinizing all his

* This last is the rendering of the Septuagint, "Saul was alarmed on account of David."

actions, was more than the pious, honourable, and ingenuous mind of David could bear; so that after residing for some time with Saul he returned to his father's house, and resumed his former occupation of keeping the sheep.

CHAPTER IV.

FROM DAVID'S RETURN TO COURT TO THE TIME OF HIS SEEKING REFUGE IN THE CAVE OF ADULLAM.

How long David remained at his father's house, after his return from the court of Saul, cannot be exactly ascertained. Dr. Hales estimates the period at about six years, and the sacred text seems to bear out this conclusion. For although at his first appearance he was a ruddy youth, a stripling, he was at this time a man of established reputation as a musician, warrior, and man of general prudence and ability.

During this period the mental condition of Saul had become much worse. David having returned to his peaceful shepherd life, his former military popularity, and the jealousy which it had excited, were soon forgotten. But meanwhile an affliction fell on Saul, the magnitude of which it is not easy for us to estimate. In all his public labours and efforts for the improvement and consolidation of his kingdom, and in all his aspirations for the prosperity of his family, the words of the venerable seer rang in his ear, "The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou." Although this predicted doom was not actually carried into effect, yet it was sufficient to blight all the ambitious hopes he had indulged in respect to himself and his family, and, acting on his excitable temperament, produced a settled melancholy in his mind. This was not all. The sacred text says that

"the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him." (1 Sam. xvi. 14.) There does not seem to be any difficulty in perceiving the meaning of the former part of this sentence. It evidently means that the Spirit of the Lord, which came on him when he was anointed king to qualify him to discharge the duties of that high office, was now withdrawn. But what are we to understand by an evil spirit from the Lord troubling Saul ? We shall not presume to solve this question. Some writers of note have regarded this infliction as a case of real demoniacal possession; but in that case it is not easy to conceive how music could administer relief, as we know that it did. Dr. Adam Clarke adopts the opinion of Dr. Scheuchzer, who refers it to a nervous disease. Without pronouncing an opinion on these theories, we may commend the observation of Dr. Delany on this subject to serious attention. Referring to the words quoted above, he says, "What more may be meant by this, than that God, for Saul's hardened impenitence, withdrew His restraining and guiding grace, I cannot say this only I am sure of, that no man living needs a heavier chastisement from Almighty God, than the letting his own passions loose upon him. The consequence to the mind would, I apprehend, in that case be much the same as it would be to the body, if the restraining presence of the air were removed, and all the muscles, vessels, and humours, left to the full freedom of their own powers and tendencies."

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Whatever might have been the precise nature of Saul's disorder, there can be no doubt that it subjected him to fits of morbid melancholy, with occasional paroxysms of violent emotion, which gave his family and friends the gravest concern. Many measures for his restoration to

STRANGE CURATIVE EFFECT OF MUSIC.

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health were undoubtedly first tried; and these failing, it was suggested that probably the soothing influence of music might have a favourable effect on the mind of the king. But although music was cultivated by the Hebrews, it does not appear that it had, at this time, assumed the character of a profession. If it had beer, no doubt some practised professional performer would have been employed to play before the king. But failing this, the servants of Saul had to inquire for and search out some one who was skilful in this art, to wait on the king, and to play before him. In prosecuting these inquiries, some of them thought of David, and mentioned his name to the king, saying, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him." (1 Sam. xvi. 18.)

Saul adopted the suggestion of his servants, and sent a message to Jesse to this effect, "Send me David thy son who is with the sheep." Jesse complied; and sent David with a kid, a bottle of wine, and bread, as a present to the king. David soon entered on the duties of his office, peculiar as it was. When this overwhelming and unhappy influence swept like a torrent over the mind of Saul, the son of Jesse took his harp and played, and under the soothing influence of the music the paroxysm passed away, and the king was well.* The happy effect of this operation greatly

* Dr. Kitto, in his "Bible Illustrations," gives some instances of the similar effect of music in the removal of disease. "One of these is the case of a person who was seized with fever, which soon threw him into very violent delirium, almost without any interval, accompanied by bitter cries, by tears, by terrors, and by an almost constant wakefulness. On the third day, a hint that fell from himself suggested the idea of trying the effect of music. Gradually, as the strain proceeded, his