THE CAVE OF ADULLAM.

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say, that it * ". runs in by a long-winding, narrow passage, with small chambers, or cavities, on either side. We soon came to a large chamber, with natural arches of great height; from this last there were numerous passages, leading in all directions, occasionally joined by others at right angles, and forming a perfect labyrinth, which our guides assured us had never been perfectly explored, the people being afraid of losing themselves. The passages are generally four feet high, by three feet wide, and were all on a level with each other. There were a few petrifactions where we were nevertheless, the grotto was perfectly clean, and the air pure and good." +

It is scarcely possible to find the case of a young man like David in the whole range of history; so meritorious, yet so persecuted; fully entitled to friendship and sympathy, yet completely friendless; the

It must be admitted that this is not regarded as a settled question. The town of Adullam was much farther to the west, near Eleuth ropolis; but this city stood on the lowlands of Judah, a place not favourable to the concealment of a band of men. And if it be supposed that the cave was situated in the neighbouring hills, still it is not likely that David would be well acquainted with this locality, while it would be far from all his friends, and, if driven to fly from thence, he would have to go quite across the country to escape from the power of Saul. All these disadvantages are removed, and important benefits secured, if we suppose the cave of Adullam to be situated as stated above. If David took refuge in this large cavern, he would be near his family and friends, he would be within a short distance of the frontiers of Ammon and Moab; and, lastly, this cave is celebrated in monastic tradition, reaching back to the time of the Crusades, as the veritable hiding-place of David. All this appears to be confirmed by the facts, that soon after his arrival here, his family and friends are known to have gathered around him; and he took his father and mother, and placed them under the protection of the king of Moab.

IRBY and MANGLES' Travels, pp. 340–1.

hero of the Hebrew army, and the successful champion of the state, yet hunted with brutal ferocity, and all the power of the government placed in requisition to shed his blood. But if any parallel can be found to him in these respects, in one aspect of his character he is confessedly unrivalled. No man can be found placed in such circumstances, evincing such piety of purpose, and such unfailing faith in God. See him driven from Gath by the clamour of the Philistines and the judgment of the king, wending his way through his own land, a country which his valour had saved from foreign domination,—like a fugitive and an outlaw, to seek safety in caverns and dens of the earth; and then inquire, What are the thoughts of his mind? What the aspirations that rise from his heart to heaven? They are these:—

PSALM XXXIV.

"I will bless the Lord at all times:

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:
The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me!

And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto Him, and were lightened:

And their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them

that fear Him,

And delivereth them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good!

DAVID'S INNER life.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

O fear the Lord, ye His saints!

For there is no want to them that fear Him.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:

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But they that seek the Lord shall not want any goɔd thing.

Come, ye children, hearken unto me:

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

What man is he that desireth life,

And loveth many days, that he may see good?
Keep thy tongue from evil,

And thy lips from speaking guile.

Depart from evil, and do good;

Seek peace, and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,

And His ears are open unto their cry.

The face of the Lord is against them that do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth,

And delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous:

But the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

He keepeth all his bones:

Not one of them is broken.

Evil shall slay the wicked:

And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants;
And none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate."

What a marvellous contrast is here seen between the outward circumstances and the inner life of this young

Hebrew! Externally, he is in the utmost danger, exposed to privation and suffering, without provisions, or a place to lay his head; yet inwardly, he is full of confidence and peace. His heart swells with thanksgiving and praise to God. He is sure of Divine protection, for the angel of the Lord protects those that fear Him. If he sees approaching evil or impending danger, it is not in his own case, but because" the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut them off;" because "evil shall slay the wicked." In this state of mind, David returned to his native neighbourhood, and took refuge in the cave of Adullam,

CHAPTER V.

FROM DAVID'S RETIREMENT TO ADULLAM, TO THE DEATH OF SAUL.

ON taking up his abode in the cave, David acquainted his family and friends of the step which he had taken ; and on receiving this intelligence, his brethren and all his father's house joined him; many other persons also appear to have eagerly availed themselves of the opportunity of rallying around him. "Every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him, and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men." (1 Sam. xxii. 2.) The circumstances of David now assume a new aspect. From the time that he was driven from his house and the court of Saul until now, he appears as a solitary fugitive; but from this time, he must be regarded as the chief of a company of men, pledged to his service, and prepared to support his cause by force of arms.

It is necessary to form as correct an estimate as possible of this new position of the son of Jesse, in order to our perceiving the propriety of his conduct, and the real character of his future proceedings. David must not be regarded as a private citizen. He was not such, either in public opinion, or in his own conscientious convictions. The public knew him as a valiant young man, who had dared a danger from which every other man in the kingdom shrunk back in terror, and who in numerous victories had wrought out deliverance for Israel, and greatly humbled her proud