13 Therefore Saul removed him from him; and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David,because he went out and came in before them. 17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight

56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose the LORD's battles: for Saul said, Let not son the stripling is. mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of

18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I?

57 And as David returned from the slaugh-the Philistines be upon him. ter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul, with the head of and what is my life, or my father's family in the Philistine in his hand. Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king? 19 But it came to pass, at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and anto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

54¶ And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem: but he put his armour in his tent.

55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? and Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse

the Beth-lehemite.

CHAP. XVIII.

ND it came to pass, when he had made an

20 And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing

of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day

3 Then Jonathan and David made a cove- be my son-in-law in the one of the twain. nant, because he loved him as his own soul. 22 And Saul commanded his servants, 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the saying, Commune with David secretly, and robe that was upon him, and gave it to Da-say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, vid, and his garments, even to his sword, and all his servants love thee: now therefore and to his bow, and to his girdle. be the king's son-in-law.

5¶ And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely and Saul set him over the men of war; and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

61 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him: and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and

23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's sonin-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law: and the days were not expired. 27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men: and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And 10 And it came to pass on the morrow, Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, 28 And Saul saw and knew that the and he prophesied in the midst of the house; LORD was with David, and that Michal, and David played with his hand, as at other Saul's daughter, loved him. times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David;

forward.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, and Saul became David's enemy continually. I will smite David even to the wall with it. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went And David avoided out of his presence twice. forth: and it came to pass after they went 12 And Saul was afraid of David, be- forth, that David behaved himself more ce the LORD was with him, and was de-wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that ed from Saul his name was much set by.

CHAP. XIX.

18 So David fled, and escaped, and ND Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all

muel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

David.

2 But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee. Now 20 And Saul sent messengers to take Datherefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself vid: and when they saw the company of until the morning, and abide in a secret the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standplace, and hide thyself; ing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against 22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came David; because he hath not sinned against to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked thee, and because his works have been to and said, Where are Samuel and David? And thee-ward very good: one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23 And he went thither to Naioth in

5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, him also, and he went on and prophesied, unand didst rejoice; wherefore then wilt thou til he came to, Naioth in Ramah. sin against innocent blood, to slay David 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and without a cause? prophesied before Samuel in like manner, 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of and lay down naked all that day, and all Jonathan and Saul sware, As the LORD that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul alliveth, he shall not be slain. so among the prophets? CHAP. XX.

7 And Jonathan called David, and Jona-|

ND David fled from Naioth in Ramah,

than shewed him all those things and Jona-And came and said before Jonathan, than brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

What have I done? what is mine iniquity and what is my sin before thy father, that

81 And there was war again: and David went out and fought with the Philistines, he seeketh my life? and slew them with a great slaughter; and 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou they fled from him. shalt not die: behold, my father will do no9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon thing, either great or small, but that he will Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin shew it me; and why should iny father hide in his hand: and David played with his hand. this thing from me? it is not so.

10 And Saul sought to smite David even 3 And David sware moreover, and said,Thy to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped father certainly knoweth that I have found away out of Saul's presence, and he smote grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not the javelin into the wall: and David fled, Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but and escaped that night. truly, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liv

111 Saul also sent messengers unto Da-eth, there is but a step between me and death vid's house to watch him, and to slay him 4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatin the morning: and Michal, David's wife, soever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, to-morrow thou shalt be slain.

thee.

121 So Michal let David down through a window; and he went, and fled, and escaped.

5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is the new-moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me, that he might run to Beth-lehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him."

16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.

8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy ser vant into a covenant of the LORD with thee:

17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal an-slay me thyself; for why shouldest swered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

bring me to thy father?

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it f

1. SAMUEL.

I knew certainly that evil were deter-which was the second day of the month, d by my father to come upon thee, then that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh d not I tell it thee? Then said David to Jonathan, Who not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yestertell me? or what if thy father answer day nor to-day? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David roughly? 11 And Jonathan said unto David, earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethme, and let us go out into the field. And lehem:

29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; went out both of them into the field. 2 And Jonathan said unto David, O for our family bath a sacrifice in the city; RD God of Israel, when I have sounded and my brother, he hath commanded me to father about to-morrow any time, or the be there: and now, if I have found favour in d day, and behold, if there be good thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and ward David, and I then send not unto see my brethren: therefore he cometh not unto the king's table. ee, and shew it thee; 30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against 13 The LORD do so, and much more, to nathan: but if it please my father to do Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son ee evil, then I will 'shew it thee, and send of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I ee away, that thou mayest go in peace; know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse nd the LORD be with thee, as he hath been to thine own confusion, and unto the confu sion of thy mother's nakedness? ith my father.

14 And thou shalt not only, while yet I ve, shew me the kindness of the LORD, that

31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom: wherefore now send and fetch him unto me; for he shall surely die.

die not:

32 And Jonathan answered Saul his fabe slain? what hath he done? ther, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he

15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindess from my house for ever; no, not when he LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month; for he was grieved for Da

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 181 Then Jonathan said to David, To-vid, because his father had done him shame. 35 ¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the morrow is the new-moon; and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. 19 And when thou hast stayed three days, time appointed with David, and a little lad then thou shalt go down quickly, and come with him. to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.

36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

21 And behold, I will send a lad, saying, If I expressly say Go, find out the arrows. unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for speed, haste, stay not. there is peace to thee, and no hurt, as the LORD liveth.

38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make And Jonathan's lad master. gathered up the arrows, and came to his

39 But the lad knew not any thing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.

23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.

40 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.

41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, ed himself three times and they kissed one and fell on his face to the ground, and bowanother, and wept one with another, until David exceeded."

:

42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of

25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing us in the name of the LORD, saying, The that day: for he thought, Something hath LORD be between me and thee, and between befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is my seed and thy seed for ever. And be arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the not clean. 27 And it came to pass on the morrow, leity.

692

24 ¶ So David hid himself in the field: and when the new-moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

CHAP. XXI.

when his brethren and all his father's house THEN came David to Nob to Ahimelech heard it, they went down thither to him. the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid 2 And every one that was in distress, and at the meeting of David, and said unto him, every one that was in debt, and every one Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? that was discontented, gathered themselves

TH

2 And David said unto Ahimelech the unto him; and he became a captain over priest, The king hath commanded me a bu- them: and there were with him about four siness, and hath said unto me, Let no man hundred men. know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

31 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand; but there is hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. 6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shew-bread, about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will that was taken from before the LORD, to put the son of Jesse give every one of you fields hot bread in the day when it was taken away. and vineyards, and make you all captains

7 Now, a certain man of the servants of Saul of thousands, and captains of hundreds; was there that day, detained before the LORD; 8 That all of you have conspired against and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the me, and there is none that sheweth me that chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul. my son hath made a league with the son of 8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry is there not here under thine hand spear or for me, or sheweth unto me that my son bath sword ? for I have neither brought my sword stirred up my servant against me, to lie in nor my weapons with me, because the king's wait, as at this day? business required haste.

9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it, for there is no other save here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11 And the servants of Achish said unto

him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

4 And he brought them before the king of Moab; and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

51 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

61 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Raman, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him,) 7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood

DAVID

11 ¶ Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob. and they came all of them to the king.

12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of

12 And David laid up these words in his heart, Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait,

13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, as at this day? and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

15 Have I need of madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house? CHAP. XXII.

AVID therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam and

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son-in-law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me. Let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

16 And the king said, Thou shalt sure! To

Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. seeketli to come to Keilah, to destroy the ci17 ¶ And the king said unto the footmen ty for my sake.

that stood about him, Turn and slay the 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up priests of the LORD: because their hand also into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy as with David, and because they knew when servant hath heard? O LORD God of Ísrael, 1 he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD servants of the king would not put forth their said, He will come down. hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

19 And Nob,the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

2011 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.

22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.

23 Abide thou with me, fear not; for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

CHAP. XXIII.

12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilahı deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

13 ¶ Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah,and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph: and Saul sought him every day; but God delivered him not into his hand.

15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

16 And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

17 And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee: and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shal! he next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

THEN they told David, saying, Behold, 18 And they two made a covenant before the Philistines fight against Keilah, and the LORD. And David abode in the wood, they rob the thrashing-floors. and Jonathan went to his house.

2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, 19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul saying, shall I go and smite these Philistines? to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himAnd the LORD said unto David,Go and smite self with us in strong holds in the wood, in the Philistines, and save Keilah. the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

22 Go, I pray you, prepare vet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilely.

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, 6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar, the and come ye again to me with the certainty, son of Ahimelech, fled to David to Keilah,that and I will go with you: and it shall come to he came down with an ephod in his hand. pass,if he be in the land,that I will search him 7 And it was told Saul that David was out throughout all the thousands of Judah. come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath 24 And they arose and went to Ziph bedelivered him into mine hand; for he is shut fore Saul: but David and his men were in in, by entering into a town that hath gates the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the and bars. sonth of Jeshimon.

8 And Saul called all the people together 25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege And they told David: wherefore he came David and his men. down into a rock, and abode in the wilder9 And David knew that Saul secretly ness of Maon: and when Saul heard that, he practised mischief against him; and he said pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 26 And Saul went on this side of the moun10 Then said David,O LORD God of Israel, tain, and David and his men on that side of thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul the mountain: aud David made haste to get