commiseration of a reprobate was not suffered to continue: B. C. ten years after the war with the Amalekites he was (4) commanded by God to anoint David, (*) the young1064. est son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, and then about 15 years of age, who from that time became endued with the spirit of THE LORD, while it "departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from THE LORD troubled him."+ The remainder of his reign formed one continued series of troubles and distresses, which he still struggled against by opposing worldly expedience to divine justice. Instead of applying with humility to the offended LORD of spirits, Saul sought relief in the soothing effects of music (1 Sam. xvi. 14-23); when invaded by a powerful army of the Philistines supported by the terrific Goliath, he sought deliverance in human courage, which he endeavoured to stimulate by rich

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* Dr. Hales.

"It is worthy of observation, that the spirit of the LORD which 66 come upon Saul and turned him into another man,' as foretold by "Samuel x. 6. by no means interfered with his free will or free agency; he was still free to act as occasion should serve, or require, x. 7; and accordingly, when his uncle wanted him to tell "what the prophet had said unto him, he mentioned the finding of "the asses, 'but of the matter of the kingdom whereof Samuel spoke, he told him not,' x. 16. He followed the dictates of his own prudence on this occasion, as afterwards, in 'holding his "peace' when insulted by the seditious. But he was still at liberty "to'grieve the spirit' and even to 'quench the spirit, and to "be possessed, on the contrary, with an evil spirit from THE LORD, "when he lost that modesty and humility which first recommended "him, and became envious, jealous, cruel, and tyrannical." Dr. Hales. From the circumstance of these two persons being endued with a special portion of "the spirit from THE LORD," when removed by God's appointment from the humble sphere in which they were born to posts of high responsibility, we learn that we are never called by the Providence of God to the fulfilment of arduous or painful duties, without being provided (so long as we humbly depend upon the Almighty giver) with the necessary powers of exertion; a reflection equally calculated to restrain the prosperous, and to comfort and support the children of adversity.

rewards; he promised to give the man who should kill the giant "great riches, and his daughter in marriage, and to make his father's house free in Israel." When David B. C. had performed, by divine assistance, (5) what no (5) other man had dared to attempt, the same principle 1062. of worldly expedience operated to make Saul the

enemy and persecutor of his deliverer; he refused to bestow the reward he had gratuitously offered, and under the baneful influence of jealousy, left no means untried to bring destruction upon the man whom he knew to be destined by God to succeed him in the throne. Twice he attempted to kill him with his own hand; he gave him a post of danger in his army, in the hope that he might perish by the hands of the Philistines; and even his own son Jonathan had nearly fallen a sacrifice to his friendship to David, who at length took refuge with Samuel; but even there Saul's vengeance pursued him; he sent messengers three several times to apprehend him, who being all divinely restrained from executing the commission, Saul went himself to Ramah, where he was similarly affected, and lay on the ground all day and all night, "and prophesied before Samuel," predicting the future elevation of his rival to the throne.

At length David, by the advice of his friend Jonathan, determined to escape to Gath, () and on (6) his way obtained arms and provisions of Ahimelech 1059. the high-priest, who imagined him commissioned by Saul.

David finding himself an object of jealousy and distrust to the principal people of Gath, feigned himself mad, and at length escaped to Adullam, where he was joined by his family and friends to the number of 400 persons. His first care was to find a place of safety for his parents, whom he placed under the protection of the king of Moab, and then being warned by the prophet Gad, he removed with his followers to the forest of Hareth, whither Saul pursued

him with a considerable force, and being informed by Doeg his chief herdsman of the assistance afforded to David by Ahimelech, he caused him and all the priests of the family of Eli (to the number of 85) to be put to death, and de stroyed all the inhabitants of Nob. Ahitub, the son of Ahimelech, made his escape to David, who upon being informed of the late tragical event, took him under his protection.

During David's abode in the wilderness of Hareth, being informed of the distress of the inhabitants of Keilah from the incursions of the Philistines, he having enquired of the LORD, and being encouraged by him, marched against the enemy, defeated them, and relieved the town. Saul hearing of this exploit determined to surprise David in Keilah, but being warned by God of his design, the latter left that place and went into the desert of Ziph, where he received another visit from his faithful friend Jonathan, who besought his friendship for his family. The people of Ziph now offered to deliver David up to Saul, who still continued his pursuit of him; but while on his march he was informed of an invasion of the Philistines, which obliged him to turn his arms against them, and David removed to Engidi. In the mean time, Saul, having repulsed the Philistines, returned to his pursuit of David, but having fallen into his power in a cave, was so affected by his generous conduct as to acknowledge his innocence, B. C. and promise to desist from persecuting him.

(1) 1057.

About this time died Samuel, aged 98.(7)

David now removed with his followers into the wilderness of Paran, whence he sent to Nabal the Carmelite for provisions, and being refused, resolved in anger to destroy him and all his household; but before he could carry this rash design into execution his anger was appeased by the prudent conduct of Abigail, the wife of Nabal, who dying soon afterwards, David married her.

Saul having got over his temporary contrition resumed

(8)

his vindictive conduct towards David, and went in search of him with an army of 3000 men; upon this occasion it was, that David entering the camp at night, found Saul asleep, and took from him his javelin and a cruse of water which stood by him, and which he afterwards shewed him as pledges of his upright intentions; upon which Saul again expressed compunction, and promised to desist from all further persecution of him. David however, not choosing to rely upon this promise, retired a second time to B. C. Gath, (8) where he was kindly received by Achish, king of that place, who appointed Ziklag for his 1056. residence. Here he remained sixteen months, occasionally making excursions against the enemies of Israel in that neighbourhood, which he carried on with such caution and dexterity as to elude the knowledge of the Philistines, who supposed him to be intent upon harassing the country of Judah. At length Achish having resolved upon an invasion of Judea, proposed to give David an active part in it; but the jealousy of the principal commanders in the Philistine army released the latter from this dilemma, and he was sent back to Ziklag, which he found had been? sacked by the Amalekites, who had carried off both the property and persons of the inhabitants; but David having traced their route by means of an Egyptian slave whom the Amalekites had left in their march, overtook and totally defeated them, and brought back all the captives and booty they had taken.

And now approached the crisis of Saul's fate.-Terrified at the force which the Philistines had brought against him, after a feeble application to God, not for direction as to the conduct he should pursue under the existing difficulty, but for information respecting the result of the battle, he sought it from an infernal power, and unable to survive the disgrace of his defeat ended his life by suicide. (9). (9) "So Saul died for his transgression which he com- 1055. mitted against the LORD, even against the word of

the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit to enquire of it, and enquired not of the LORD; therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse."

The death of Saul and the loss of the battle struck a general consternation into the Israelites; they forsook their cities which were seized by the Philistines, who finding the bodies of Saul and his sons on the field of battle, affixed them by way of trophy to the walls of Bethshan, whence they were rescued by the people of Jabesh-gilead, who gave them an honourable interment

It was not till the third day after the battle that the news of its fatal issue reached David at Ziklag, by an Amalekite, who thought to ingratiate himself with the new king by pretending that he had been instrumental to the death of his predecessor; but the "law of THE LORD" was "in the heart" of David, and formed a standard of judgment that was not to be warped by any views of selfinterest; he slew the messenger who had boasted that he had slain Saul, and pronounced an affecting elegy upon him and his son Johathan. (See 2d Sam. i. 17-27.)

David now by the command of God repaired to Hebron, where he was anointed and proclaimed king over the tribe of Judah, but Abner, captain of Saul's host, had in the mean time set up Ish-bosheth,* the only surviving son of Saul, as king over the other tribes of Israel.

David's first care was to testify his approbation of the respectful treatment of the remains of Saul and his sons by the people of Jabesh-gilead. For two years he and Ishbosheth continued in peaceable possession of their respective thrones; but at the end of that time the restless spirit of Abner made him urge Ish-bosheth to attempt the acquisition of the tribe of Judah, and it was not long before hos

* His name was originally Eshbaal, 1 Chron. viii. 33. ix. 39, but nicknamed Ishbosheth "a man of shame " from his weakness and incapacity. Hales.