sisting between them; and that, therefore, he would carefully conceal from Jonathan his vindictive purpose, adding the emphatic assurance, "Truly, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death."

The young men then arranged a plan by which the intentions of Saul respecting David might be ascer tained without exposing him to danger. The following day being the new moon, the usual feast of two or three days would immediately follow, when every member of the royal household would, in regular order, occupy his proper place at the king's table; and as all the recent violence of Saul had taken place without any public condemnation of David, or declaration. of hostility toward him, he also would be expected to be present. Jonathan then proposed that David should be absent; and promised that if Saul inquired for him, he would elicit the king's purpose respecting his friend.

This course was taken, and fully answered the expectation of the parties. On the first day, David's seat was empty, but the king made no reference to it. On the second day, seeing the place again empty, Saul asked Jonathan why the son of Jesse was not with them; then the prince gave the reply which had been preconcerted between them, namely, that he had given him leave to go to Bethlehem. On hearing this, the king became greatly enraged, and poured forth a torrent of invective against his son, declaring that, so long as the son of Jesse lived, he could not be established in the kingdom; and that David, whose cause he advocated, should certainly be put to death. Jonathan then earnestly appealed to his father on behalf of his friend; saying, "Wherefore shall he be slain? What hath he done?' As these questions admitted of no reply which justified the determination of the king, he became furious, and

DAVID RESOLVES TO FLY TO GATH.

actually cast a javelin at his son.

59

Jonathan left the

table in great anger, and on the next morning met David, according to the arrangement between them. The meeting was a most affecting one. The young friends wept together in deep sorrow: and, as no hope could now be entertained of removing the malignant determination of Saul, they renewed their solemn covenant of perpetual friendship, and separated.

The condition and prospects of David were at this time extremely gloomy. Persecuted with deadly ferocity by the sovereign whom he had so nobly served at the hazard of his life, and at the same time an object of hatred and abhorrence to the Philistines, on whom, in his patriotic efforts to defend his country, he had inflicted such terrible defeats, where could he look for safety or refuge? Disposed rather to trust himself. with open and avowed enemies than remain within reach of Saul's malice and power, he resolved to make his way to the land of the Philistines. In his last interview with Jonathan, that prince had advised him to seek safety in flight; and, when taking this step, he expressed his feelings, fears, and confidence, in the following language :

THE ELEVENTH PSALM.

"In the Lord put I my trust:

How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain ?

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow upon the string,

That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

If the foundations be destroyed,

What can the righteous do?

The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord's throne is in heaven:

His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous:

But the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth.

Upon the wicked He shall reign snares,

Fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest:
This shall be the portion of their cup.

For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness;
His countenance doth behold the upright."

This Psalm gives us a clear insight into the secret workings of David's mind. He is alone, unprotected, and defenceless; yet he is confident. He has neither power nor friends on which to rely, but God is his refuge. "Why urge me to fly as a bird to the mountains, when God is my refuge?" It is true, he admits that he is in as much danger as a bird, when the fowler is preparing the arrow or the sling to shoot it; but he remembers that God is in His holy temple, from heaven the Almighty beholds him, and although He trieth the righteous, His fearful wrath rests upon the wicked, and a horrible tempest shall be their portion.

Having resolved to seek refuge among the Philistines, David proceeded towards Gath; and, totally unprovided as he was with weapons or provisions, he came to the little city of Nob, where the Mosaic taber- . nacle was then standing, under the charge of Ahimelech, the high priest. David called on him, and pretending that he was on a special mission in the service of the king, and that its haste was so urgent that he had left home without necessary provisions or weapons, appealed to the high priest for assistance. Ahimelech, knowing that David was the king's son-in-law, suspected no deception, and having no other at hand, gave

IS PROTECTED BY ACHISH THE KING.

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him bread from the table of shew-bread in the tabernacle, and the sword of Goliath, which had been deposited there. Having obtained this temporary relief, he went on to Gath, and placed himself under the protection of Achish, the king.

Here he was soon discovered to be the Hebrew hero whose powers had inflicted such terrible losses on the Philistine forces; and, although the king treated him kindly, the clamours of the people were so urgent, that he was reduced to very extreme danger, and at length compelled to feign madness in order to secure his safety. He acted his part so well, that Achish scorned the appeal of his servants, and dismissed David from his presence. It was, however, very evident that this was an expedient which, however successful for the moment, could not be continued or repeated.

In this extremity, as he was wont, he sought refuge in God, and addressed Heaven in the language of the fifty-sixth Psalm :

"Be merciful unto me, O God: For man would swallow me up; He fighting daily oppresseth me.

Mine enemies would daily swallow me up:

For there be many that fight against me, O Thou Most High.

What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

In God I will praise His word,

In God I have put my trust;

I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Every day they wrest my words:

All their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together,

G

They hide themselves, they mark my steps,
When they wait for my soul.

Shall they escape by iniquity?

In Thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Thou tellest my wanderings:

Put Thou my tears into Thy bottle:

Are they not in Thy book?

When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back:

This I know; for God is for me.

In God will I praise His word:

In the Lord will I praise His word.

In God have I put my trust:

I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God:

I will render praises unto Thee.

For Thou hast delivered my soul from death:
Wilt Thou not deliver my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God in the land of the living?"

But, notwithstanding this strong confidence in God, and this earnest looking to Him, David's danger was imminent; some plan of action must be devised. What was to be done? Where now could this persecuted fugitive hope to find a refuge? Driven to the last extremity, he remembered that in the mountains near Bethlehem there were many natural caverns, and that in one of these he might find concealment, while he would be sufficiently near his native place to obtain supplies of provisions. Leaving Gath, he accordingly crossed the country, and selected the cave of Adullam, about six miles from Bethlehem, for his hiding-place. This is described as an immense natural cavern, the mouth of which can only be approached on foot, along the side of the cliff. Travellers who have visited it