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signifies folly。 So she made her apology； that she did not see
the messengers whom he sent。 〃Forgive me； therefore；〃 said she；
〃and thank God； who hath hindered thee from shedding human blood；
for so long as thou keepest thyself innocent； he will avenge thee
of wicked men； （25） for what miseries await Nabal； they will fall
upon the heads of thine enemies。 Be thou gracious to me； and
think me so far worthy as to accept of these presents from me；
and； out of regard to me； remit that wrath and that anger which
thou hast against my husband and his house； for mildness and
humanity become thee； especially as thou art to be our king。〃
Accordingly； David accepted her presents； and said； 〃Nay； but； O
woman； it was no other than God's mercy which brought thee to us
today； for； otherwise； thou hadst never seen another day； I
having sworn to destroy Nabal's house this very night； and to
leave alive not one of you who belonged to a man that was wicked
and ungrateful to me and my companions； but now hast thou
prevented me； and seasonably mollified my anger； as being thyself
under the care of God's providence： but as for Nabal； although
for thy sake he now escape punishment； he will not always avoid
justice； for his evil conduct； on some other occasion； will be
his ruin。〃
8。 When David had said this； he dismissed the woman。 But when she
came home and found her husband feasting with a great company；
and oppressed with wine； she said nothing to him then about what
had happened； but on the next day； when he was sober； she told
him all the particulars； and made his whole body to appear like
that of a dead man by her words； and by that grief which arose
from them； so Nabal survived ten days； and no more； and then
died。 And when David heard of his death； he said that God had
justly avenged him of this man； for that Nabal had died by his
own wickedness； and had suffered punishment on his account； while
he had kept his own hands clean。 At which time he understood that
the wicked are prosecuted by God； that he does not overlook any
man； but bestows on the good what is suitable to them； and
inflicts a deserved punishment on the wicked。 So he sent to
Nabal's wife； and invited her to come to him； to live with him；
and to be his wife。 Whereupon she replied to those that came；
that she was not worthy to touch his feet； however； she came；
with all her servants； and became his wife； having received that
honor on account of her wise and righteous course of life。 She
also obtained the same honor partly on account of her beauty。 Now
David had a wife before； whom he married from the city Abesar；
for as to Michal； the daughter of king Saul； who had been David's
wife； her father had given her in marriage to Phalti； the son of
Laish； who was of the city of Gallim。
9。 After this came certain of the Ziphites； and told Saul that
David was come again into their country； and if he would afford
them his assistance； they could catch him。 So he came to them
with three thousand armed men； and upon the approach of night； he
pitched his camp at a certain place called Hachilah。 But when
David heard that Saul was coming against him； he sent spies； and
bid them let him know to what place of the country Saul was
already come； and when they told him that he was at Hachilah； he
concealed his going away from his companions； and came to Saul's
camp； having taken with him Abishai； his sister Zeruiah's son；
and Ahimelech the Hittite。 Now Saul was asleep； and the armed
men； with Abner their commander； lay round about him in a circle。
Hereupon David entered into the king's tent； but he did neither
kill Saul； though he knew where he lay； by the spear that was
stuck down by him； nor did he give leave to Abishai； who would
have killed him； and was earnestly bent upon it so to do； for he
said it was a horrid crime to kill one that was ordained king by
God； although he was a wicked man； for that he who gave him the
dominion would in time inflict punishment upon him。 So he
restrained his eagerness； but that it might appear to have been
in his power to have killed him when he refrained from it； he
took his spear； and the cruse of water which stood by Saul as he
lay asleep； without being perceived by any in the camp； who were
all asleep； and went securely away； having performed every thing
among the king's attendants that the opportunity afforded； and
his boldness encouraged him to do。 So when he had passed over a
brook； and was gotten up to the top of a hill； whence he might be
sufficiently heard； he cried aloud to Saul's soldiers； and to
Abner their commander； and awaked them out of their sleep； and
called both to him and to the people。 Hereupon the commander
heard him； and asked who it was that called him。 To whom David
replied； 〃It is I； the son of Jesse； whom you make a vagabond。
But what is the matter？ Dost thou； that art a man of so great
dignity； and of the first rank in the king's court； take so
little care of thy master's body？ and is sleep of more
consequence to thee than his preservation； and thy care of him？
This negligence of yours deserves death； and punishment to be
inflicted on you； who never perceived when； a little while ago；
some of us entered into your camp； nay； as far as to the king
himself； and to all the rest of you。 If thou look for the king's
spear and his cruse of water； thou wilt learn what a mighty
misfortune was ready to overtake you in your very camp without
your knowing it。〃 Now when Saul knew David's voice； and
understood that when he had him in his power while he was asleep；
and his guards took no care of him； yet did not he kill him； but
spared him； when he might justly have cut him off； he said that
he owed him thanks for his preservation； and exhorted him to be
of good courage； and not be afraid of suffering any mischief from
him any more； and to return to his own home； for he was now
persuaded that he did not love himself so well as he was loved by
him： that he had driven away him that could guard him； and had
given many demonstrations of his good…will to him： that he had
forced him to live so long in a state of banishment； and in great
fears of his life； destitute of his friends and his kindred；
while still he was often saved by him； and frequently received
his life again when it was evidently in danger of perishing。 So
David bade them send for the spear and the cruse of water； and
take them back； adding this withal； That God would be the judge
of both their dispositions； and of the actions that flowed from
the same； 〃who knows that then it was this day in my power to
have killed thee I abstained from it。〃
10。 Thus Saul having escaped the hands of David twice； he went
his way to his royal palace； and his own city： but David was
afraid； that if he staid there he should be caught by Saul； so he
thought it better to go up into the land of the Philistines； and
abide there。 Accordingly； he came with the six hundred men that
were with him to Achish； the king of Gath； which was one of their
five cities。 Now the king received both him and his men； and gave
them a place to inhabit in。 He had with him also his two wives；
Ahinoam and Abigail； and he dwelt in Gath。 But when Saul heard
this； he took no further care about sending to him； or going
after him； because he had been twice； in a manner； caught by him；
while he was himself endeavoring to catch him。 However； David had
no mind to continue in the city of Gath； but desired the king；
that since he had received him with such humanity； that he would
grant him another favor； and bestow upon him some place of that
country for his habitation； for he was ashamed； by living in the
city； to be grievous and burdensome to him。 So Achish gave him a
certain village called Ziklag； which place David and his sons
were fond of when he was king； and reckoned it to be their
peculiar inheritance。 But about those matters we shall give the
reader further information elsewhere。 Now the time that David
dwelt in Ziklag； in the land of the Philistines； was four months
and twenty days。 And now he privately attacked those Geshurites
and Amalekites that were neighbors to the Philistines； and laid
waste their country； and took much prey of their beasts and
camels； and then returned home； but David abstained from the men；
as fearing they should discover him to king Achish； yet did he
send part of the prey to him as a free gift。 And when the king
inquired whom they had attacked when they brought away the prey；
he said； those that lay to the south of the Jews； and inhabited
in the plain； whereby he persuaded Achish to approve of what he
had done； for he hoped that David had fought against his own
nation； and that now he should have him for his servant all his
life long； and that he would stay in his country。
CHAPTER 14。
Now Saul Upon God's Not Answering Him Concerning The Fight With
The Philistines Desired A Necromantic Woman To Raise Up The Soul
Of Samuel To Him； And How He Died； With His Sons Upon The
Overthrow Of The Hebrews In Battle；
1。 About the same time the Philistines resolved to make war
against the Israelites； and sent to all their confederates that
they would go along with them to the war t