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The 18th Chapter
And when he had made an end of
speaking unto Saul, the soul of Jonathas was knit with the soul of
David. Insomuch that he loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him
that day and would let him go no more home to his fathers house. And
Jonathas and David bound themselves the one to the other, for
Jonathas loved him as his own soul. And Jonathas put off his own
coat that was upon him, and gave it David, and thereto his mantle,
his sword, his bow and his girdle. And David went out to all that
Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely. And when Saul had set him
over his men of war, he pleased all the people, and Sauls servants
thereto.
And it happened as they went, when David was returned from the
slaughter of the Philistine, that women came out of all cities of
Israel singing and dancing, against Saul, with timbrels, with joy,
and with fiddles. And the women that played sang thereto, and said:
Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand. Then was
Saul exceeding wroth and that saying displeased him, and he said:
they have ascribed unto David ten thousand, and to me but a
thousand. And what can he more have save the kingdom? Wherefore Saul
looked on side of David from that day forward. And it happened on
the morrow, that the evil spirit sent of God came upon Saul, so that
he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played on the
instrument with his hand as he was daily *wont. And Saul had a spear
in his hand, and hurled it intending to have nailed David to the
wall. But David avoided out of his presence two times. For Saul was
afeared of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed
from Saul. And then Saul put David from him and made him a captain
over a thousand, and he went out and in before the people. And David
was wise in all that he took in hand, and the Lord was with him.
Wherefore when Saul saw that he was so exceeding wise, he was afraid
of him. But all Israel and Juda loved David, because he went out and
in before them. Then said Saul to David. Behold my eldest daughter
Merob, her I will give thee to wife: Only play the man and fight the
Lords battles. For Saul thought mine hand shall not be upon him, but
the hand of the Philistines. And David answered Saul: what am I? and
what is my life or the kindred of my father in Israel, that I should
be son in law to the king: How be it when the time was come that
Merob Sauls daughter should have been given to David she was given
unto Adziel a Neholothite, to wife. How be it Michol Sauls daughter
loved David. And when it was showed Saul: the thing pleased him
well. And he said: I will give him her that she may be a snare to
him, to bring the hand of the Philistines upon him. And Saul said to
David: thou shalt this day be my son in law again. And Saul
commanded his servants to commune with David secretly and say:
Behold the King hath a favour to thee, and all his servants love
thee, be therefore the kings son in law.
And Sauls servants spake those words in the ears of David. But
David answered: seemeth it to you a light thing to be the kings son
in law, when I am a poor man and of small reputation? And Sauls
servants told him again saying: of this manner answered David. Then
said Saul: this wise say to David: the king careth for no other
dowry but for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged
of the kings enemies. For Saul thought to make David fall into the
hands of the Philistines. Then his servants told David these words,
and it pleased David well to be the kings son in law. And shortly
after that David arose with his men, and went, and slew of the
Philistines, two hundred men, and brought their foreskins, and
satisfied the King thereof to be his son in law. And so Saul gave
him Michol his daughter to wife. And when Saul saw and understood,
how that the Lord was with David, and that Michol his daughter loved
him, he was the more afraid of David, and became Davids enemy for
ever. And when the Philistines went out to war, David behaved
himself wiser than all the servants of Saul: so that his name was
much set by.
*wont (daily done or on a regular basis)
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The 19th Chapter
Then Saul communed with Jonathas
his son, and with all his servants, that they should kill David. But
Jonathas Sauls son had a great favour to David, and told David
saying: Saul my father goeth about to slay thee. Now therefore take
heed to thyself *betimes and abide in some secret place and hide
thyself. And I will go out and stand by my father in the field where
thou art, and will commune with my father of thee, and if I can
perceive *ought I will tell thee. And Jonathas spake the best of
David unto Saul his father and said unto him: let not the king sin
against his servant David, for he hath not sinned against thee, and
his works are to thee ward very good. For he did put his life in his
hand and slew the Philistine, and the Lord gave a great victory to
all Israel. And thou sawest it, and thou rejoiced, wherefore then
shouldest thou sin against innocent blood, and slay David for nought?
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathas and sware: as truly as
the Lord liveth, he shall not die. Then Jonathas called David and
showed him all those words, and brought him to Saul. And he was in
his presence as in times past.
And the war began again, and David went out and fought with
the Philistines and slew a great slaughter, and put them to flight.
And the evil spirit of the Lord was upon Saul as he sat in his house
having a *Javelin in his hand, and David played with his hand. And
Saul intended to nail David to the wall with the *Javelin: But David
rid himself out of Sauls presence and he smote the spear into the
wall. But David fled and saved himself that same night. Then Saul
sent messengers unto Davids house, to watch him and to slay him in
the morning. But Michol his wife told it him saying: If thou save
not thyself this night, tomorrow thou art a dead man. And so Michol
let David down through a window, and he went and fled and saved
himself. And then she took an Image and laid it in the bed, and put
a pillow stuffed with goats hair under the head of it, and covered
it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to fetch David, she
said that he was sick. Then Saul sent the messengers to see David
saying: bring him to me, bed and all, that he may be slain. And when
the messengers were come in: Behold there lay an Image in the bed,
with a pillow of goats hair under the head of it. Then said Saul to
Michol: why hast thou mocked me so, and sent away mine enemy, that
he is escaped? And Michol answered Saul: he said unto me, let me go,
or else I will kill thee. And so David fled and escaped and went to
Samuel to Ramath and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he,
and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
And it was told Saul saying: Behold, David is at Naioth in
Ramath, then Saul sent messengers to fetch David. And when they saw
a company of prophets prophesying and Samuel standing fast by them,
the spirit of God fell upon the messengers of Saul, and they
prophesied too. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers,
and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers yet again the
third time which prophesied also. Then went he himself to Ramath,
and when he came to a great well that is in Socoh, he asked and
said: where are Samuel and David? And they said: see they be at
Naioth in Ramath and as he went thither to Naioth in Ramath the
spirit of God came upon him also and he went prophesying, until he
came to Naioth in Ramath. And he stripped off his clothes and
prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and fell naked all that day
and all that night, wherefore it is a common saying, is Saul also
among the prophets?
*betimes (quickly,
soon) *ought (anything) *J capital as recorded *Javelin :
throwing spear
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The 20th Chapter
And David fled from Naioth in
Ramath and went and said before Jonathas: What have I done? wherein
am I faulty? what is the sin that I have committed before thy father
that he seeketh my life? And Jonathas answered him: God forbid, thou
shalt not die. For see my father will do nothing either great or
small, but that he will show it me. For why should my father hide
this thing from me? there shall be no such thing. And David sware
again and said: thy father knoweth that I have found grace in thine
eyes and therefore he thinketh, Jonathas shall not know it, lest he
be sorry. For in very deed even as truly as the Lord liveth, and as
truly as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
Then said Jonathas unto David, whatsoever thy soul desireth that I
will do unto thee. And David said unto Jonathas: Behold, tomorrow is
the first day of the month, and I should sit with the king at meat.
But let me go that I may hide myself in the fields unto this day
three days at evening. If thy father miss me, then say: David asked
leave of me, that he might go to Bethlehem to his own city, for
there is holden a yearly feast for all his kin. And if thy father
say thus: it is well done, then thy servant shall have peace. But
and if he be angry: then be sure that wickedness is utterly
concluded of him. And then thou shalt show mercy unto thy servant,
for thou hast made with me thy servant a bond in the Lord.
Notwithstanding if there be in me any trespass, then slay me
thyself, for what needeth thee to bring me to thy father?
And Jonathas answered: God keep that from thee, that I should
know, that wickedness were concluded of my father, to come upon
thee: and should not tell it thee. Then said David, who shall tell
me, if thy father answer cruelly? Then said Jonathas to David, come
and let us go out into the fields. And they went out both of them
into the fields.
And Jonathas said unto David: O' Lord God of Israel, when I
have groped my fathers mind, one time or other within this three
days, that it stand well with David: and I then send not unto thee
and shew it thee, the Lord do so and so unto Jonathas. And in like
manner, if evil to thee ward please my father, I will show thee and
send thee away, that thou mayst go in peace. And the Lord be with
thee as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt perform unto me
the mercy of the Lord, not only while I live but even when I am dead
pluck not thy mercy away from my house forever: No not when the Lord
hath destroyed the enemies of David every one from the face of the
earth.
And so Jonathas made a bond with the house of David, desiring
that the Lord should seek out of the hands of Davids enemies their
wickedness. And with other words Jonathas adjured David, because he
loved him. For as his own soul he loved him.
Then said Jonathas to David: tomorrow shall be the first day
of the moon. And thou shalt be missed, because the place shall
appear empty. But this day three days come in any wise unto the
place where thou shalt hide thy self, when it is workday: even by
the stone Esell. And I will shoot three arrows by the one side
thereof, as though I shot at a mark, and will send after a lad, and
bid him go seek the arrows. If I say unto the lad: see the arrows
are on this side thee, bring them: then come thou: for it is peace
and nothing to do, as sure as the Lord liveth. But and if I say thus
unto the young fellow, behold, the *Arrows are beyond thee, then go,
for the Lord hath sent thee away. And of this which thou and I have
spoke: behold the Lord is witness between thee and me for ever. And
so David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon was come,
the king sat him down at meat, for to eat. And the king sat him down
after the old manner, in his seat by the wall. And Jonathas arose,
and Abner sat by Sauls side, and Davids place was empty.
Nevertheless yet Saul said nothing at all that day. For he thought
something had chanced him that he is not clean. But on the morrow
which was the second day of the moon, when Davids place appeared
empty, Saul said unto Jonathas his son: wherefore cometh not the son
of Isai to meat, neither yesterday nor today? And Jonathas answered
unto Saul, David asked license of me to go to Bethlehem saying: let
me go I pray thee, for our kindred hold an offering in the city, and
my brother hath sent for me. Now therefore if I have found favour in
thine eyes let me go and see my brother. And therefore he cometh not
unto the table of the King. Then was Saul angry with Jonathas and
said unto him: O froward and rebellious, thinkest thou I know not
how thou hast chosen the son of Isai unto thine own rebuke, and unto
the rebuke and shame of thy mother. For as long as the son of Isai
lieth upon the earth, thou shalt not be stablished, nor yet thy
kingdom, wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he is the
child of death.
But Jonathas answered Saul his father and said to him:
wherefore should he die? what hath he done? Then Saul cast a spear
at him to hit him, whereby Jonathas knew well, that it was utterly
determined of his father, to slay David. And so Jonathas arose from
the table in a great anger and did eat no meat the second day of the
month, for he was sorry for David, because his father had done him
shame. On the next morning Jonathas went out unto the field, at the
time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said
unto the boy: run and find out mine arrows which I shoot. And as the
boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to
the place whither Jonathas had shot the arrow, Jonathas cried after
him and said: the arrow is beyond thee. And he cried after the lad:
haste, make speed and stand not still. And Jonathas lad gathered up
the arrow and came to his master. But the lad knew nothing of the
matter: Only Jonathas and David knew it. Then Jonathas gave his
weapons unto the lad and said unto him: go and carry them to the
town. And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place
that was toward the south and fell on his face to the ground and
bowed himself three times. And they kissed either other and wept
together, but David more abundantly. And Jonathas said to David: go
in peace which we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord
saying: the Lord be between thee and me, and between thy seed and
mine for ever. And he rose and departed. And Jonathas went in to the
town.
* Cap A as recorded
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The 21st Chapter
Then came David to Nob to
Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was astounded at his coming and
said unto him: Why cometh thou thyself alone, and no man with thee?
And David said to Ahimelech the priest: the king hath commanded me
to do a certain thing and said unto me, let no man know whereabout I
send and what I have commanded thee to do. And therefore I have
appointed my servants to such and such places. And now what hast
thou under thine hand? give me five leaves of bread or what cometh
to hand.
And the priest answered David and said: there is no common
bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread, if the young men
had abstained only from women. And David answered the priest and
said unto him: of a truth women hath been locked up from us about a
three days, when I came out: and the vessels of the young men were
holy. How be it this way is unpure, but it shall be hallowed in the
vessel. And so the priest gave him hallowed bread, for there was
none other bread there save showbreads that were taken from before
the Lord, to put fresh bread there, the day that it was taken away.
And there was there the same day a certain man of the servants
of Saul abiding before the Lord named Doeg an Edomite, the chiefest
of Sauls herdsmen. And David said unto Ahimelech: is not here under
thine hand other spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword
nor mine harness with me, because the Kings business required haste.
Then the priest answered: the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom
thou slewest in Oakdale, that is here wrapped in a cloth behind the
Ephod. If thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save
that here. And David said: there is none to that, give it me.
And David arose and fled the same day from the presence of
Saul, and went to Achis the king of Geth. And the servants of Achis
said of him: is not this David the King of the land? did they not
sing unto this fellow in dances saying: Saul hath slain his
thousand, and David his ten thousand? And David put those words into
his heart and was sore afraid of Achis the King of Geth. And he
changed his countenance before them, and raved in their hands, and
*scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down
upon his beard.
Then said Achis unto his servant. Lo ye saw that this man was
beside himself, wherefore then have ye brought him to me? lack I
madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my
presence? he shall not come into my house.
*scrabbled: to scrape and mark with the hands frantically.
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The 22nd Chapter
And David departed thence and
escaped, and came unto the cave Odollam. When his brethren and all
his fathers house heard it, they went thither to him. And there
gathered unto him all men that were in cumbrance and in debt and
troubled in their hearts, and he became a captain over them. And
there were with him upon a four hundred men. And David went thence
to Mazphah in the land of Moab, and said unto the King of Moab: Let
my father and mother I pray thee, have their abiding with you, till
I know what God will do with me. And he left them with the King of
Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David kept himself
in holds. And the prophet Gad said unto David: Abide not in castles,
but depart and go to the land of Juda. Then David departed and came
into the forest Hareth. And Saul heard of it: for David was known
and also the men that were with him. And as Saul sat in Gabaah under
a grove upon a high bank with his spear in his hand and all his men
about him, he said unto his servants that stood about him: Hear I
pray you, you sons of Jemini: will the son of Isai also give every
one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains over
thousands and over hundreds? that ye have all conspired against me,
so that there is none of you that openeth mine ear, insomuch that my
son hath made a bond with the son of Isai, neither is there any of
you that mourneth for me or showeth it in mine ear: because my son
hath set up my servant to lie await against me, as it appeareth this
day.
Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which had the oversight of the
servants of Saul and said: I saw the son of Isai, when he came to
Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitob, which asked counsel of the Lord
for him, and gave him victuals, and the sword of Goliath the
Philistine also. Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest the
son of Ahitob, and all his fathers house: that is to say, the
priests that were in Nob. And they came all to the King. And Saul
said: hear thou son of Ahitob. And he said: here I am my lord. Then
said Saul to him: why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son
of Isai, insomuch that thou hast given him victual and a sword, and
hast asked counsel of God for him, that he should arise against me
and lie await as it is come to pass this day? And Ahimelech answered
the king and said: who is so faithful among all thy servants as
David and thereto the kings son in law, and goeth at thy bidding,
and is had in honor in thine house? have I this day begun first to
ask counsel of God for him? God forbid that from me: let not the
king put such a thing unto his servant and on all the house of my
father. For thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, either less or
more.
But for all that the king said: thou shalt surely die
Ahimelech, both thou and all thy fathers house. Then said the king
unto his footmen that stood about him: turn and slay the priests of
the Lord, both because their hand is with David and because they
knew when David fled and showed it not to me. But the servants of
the king would not move their hands, to run upon the priests of the
Lord. Then said the King to Doeg: turn thou and smite the priests.
And Doeg the Edomite turned and ran upon the priests and slew that
same day four score and five persons that did wear each man a linen
Ephod. And Nob the city of the priests he smote with the edge of the
sword, both man and woman, child and suckling, with ox, ass and
sheep.
But yet one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitob, named
Abiathar, escaped and fled to David, and showed David, how that Saul
had slain the Lords priests. And David said unto Abiathar: I knew it
the same day, that Doeg the Edomite which was there would tell it
Saul. And I am cause of the death of all the Souls of thy fathers
house. Abide with me and fear not: he that seeketh thy soul, shall
seek mine, and with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
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The 23rd Chapter
Then men told David saying:
Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and spoil the barns.
Then David asked the Lords advice saying: shall I go and smite the
Philistines? And the Lord said unto David: go and smite the
Philistines and save Keilah. Then said Davids men unto him: see we
be afraid here in Juda. What shall we then be, when we come to
Keilah, to the host of the Philistines? Then David asked the Lord
again. And the Lord answered him and said: up and go to Keilah, for
I will deliver the Philistines into thine hands.
And so David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the
Philistines, and drove away their cattle and slew a great slaughter
of them. And so David saved the inhabiters of Keilah. And it chanced
when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah that he
brought an Ephod in his hand.
And it was told Saul, that David was come to Keilah. Then said
Saul: God hath delivered him into mine hand. For he is shut in, that
he is come into a town with gates and bars. And Saul called all the
people to war, for to go to Keilah to besiege David and his men. But
David had knowledge that Saul imagined mischief against him, and
said therefore to Abiathar the priest: Bring the Ephod. Then said
David, O' Lord God of Israel, thy servant heareth that Saul is about
to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake: will the men of
Keilah deliver me into his hand? or will Saul come as thy servant
heareth say? Lord God of Israel tell thy servant. And the Lord said:
he will come. Then said David: will the men of Keilah deliver me and
my men into the hand of Saul? and the Lord said they will deliver
you.
Then David and his men which were upon a six hundred, arose
and departed out of Keilah and went whither chance drove them. And
when it was told Saul, that David was fled from Keilah, he let the
journey alone. And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds,
and in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him all
his life, but God delivered him not into his hand. And David saw
that Saul was come out, to seek his life, while David was in the
wilderness of Ziph in a thicket. And Jonathas Sauls son arose and
went to David to the thicket, and strengthened him in God, and 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 must be next unto
thee: And Saul my father thereto knoweth that it shall be so. And
they made a bond both of them together before the Lord. And David
tarried still in the thicket, and Jonathas went to his house.
Then came the Ziphites to Saul, to Gabaah saying: David hideth
himself fast by us in strong holds that are in a thicket in the hill
of Hachilah right side of the wilderness. Now therefore sir king,
come down with lust that thy soul hath to come. And our part shall
be to deliver him into the hands of the king. Then said Saul:
Blessed are ye in the Lord: for ye have compassion on me. Go I pray
you and mark more diligently, and know and see his haunt, where his
foot hath been, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that
he is very subtle. See therefore and know all the lurking where he
lurketh, and come again to me with the certainty, and I will go with
you. And then if he be in the land, I will hunt him out with all the
thousands of Juda.
And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his
men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the wild field, on the right
hand wilderness. For when Saul was gone with his men to seek, it was
told David. And therefore he went unto a *Rock and dwelt in the
wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he followed after
David into the wilderness of Moan. And Saul and his men went on the
one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other. And
David as a man amazed, made haste to get from Saul. For Saul and his
men had compassed David and his men round to take them.
But there came a messenger to Saul saying: Haste thee and
come, Philistines are come in and rove the land. Wherefore Saul
returned from persecuting David, and went against the Philistines.
And therefore the called *Selah Mahelecoth. And then David went
thence and dwelt in holds at Engadi.
*Rock exactly as recorded. *Selah Mahelecoth: that is the "Rock of
division" from the Hebrew.
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The 24th Chapter
When Saul was come again from
the Philistines, there were that told him saying: behold, David is
in the wilderness of Engadi. Then Saul took three thousand men out
of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in the *Rocks,
where no thing haunted but wild goats. And he came to the flocks of
sheep by a ways side where was a cave. And Saul went in to *cover
his feet. And David and his men sat a long by the sides of the cave.
And the of David said unto him: see the day is come, of which the
Lord said unto thee: Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine
hand, and thou shalt do with him what it pleaseth thee. Then David
arose and cut off a lap of Sauls coat privily. And immediately
Davids heart smote him, because he had cut off a lap of Sauls coat.
And he said unto his men: the Lord keep me from doing that thing
unto my master that is the Lords anointed, to lay mine hand upon
him, seeing he is the Lords anointed. And so David kept of his
servants with words, and suffered them not to go upon Saul.
And when Saul was up out of the cave and gone away, David
arose and went out of the cave and cried after Saul saying: My lord
king. And Saul looked behind him. And David stooped to the earth and
bowed himself, and said to Saul: wherefore giveth thou an ear to
mens words, that say, David seeketh thee evil? Behold this day thine
eyes have seen, how that the Lord had delivered thee this day, into
mine hand in the cave. When they bade kill thee, mine eye had
compassion on thee: and I said: I will not lay my hands on my
master, for he is the Lords anointed. And moreover my father, see
yet the lap of thy coat in my hand. And in as much as I killed thee
not too, when I cut off the lap of thy coat, understand and see,
that there is neither evil nor rebelliousness in me, and that I have
not sinned against thee. And yet thou huntest after my soul to take
it. The Lord be judge between thee and me, and the Lord avenge me of
thee. But mine hand be not upon thee. According to the old proverb,
wickedness shall proceed out of the wicked: But mine hand be not
upon thee. After whom art thou come out, thou king of Israel? After
whom chasest thou, even after a dead dog, and after a flea. The Lord
be judge and judge between thee and me, and see and *pleate my
cause, and judge me free out of thine hand. When David had made an
end of speaking all these words to Saul, Saul said: is this thy
voice my son David? and he lifted up his voice and wept, and said to
David: thou art righteouser than I, for thou hast rewarded me with
good, and I have rewarded thee with evil. And thou hast showed this
day how that thou hast dealt lovingly with me, for as much as when
the Lord had locked me in thine hands, thou slewest me not. For who
shall find his enemy, and let him depart a good way. Wherefore the
Lord reward thee with good, for that thou hast done unto me this
day. And now I know well that thou shalt be King, and that the
kingdom of Israel shall be stablished in thine hand. Swear therefore
unto me by the Lord, that thou shalt not destroy my seed after me,
and that thou shalt not destroy my name out of my fathers house. And
David sware unto Saul, and Saul went home. But David and his men gat
up unto an hold.
*Rocks: as recorded * to cover his feet; is to rest, as Boaz was
doing when Ruth came to him, book of Ruth. *pleate: plead
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