little or great； hast thou found so exceptionable in David； as to
induce thee to order us to slay a man who hath been of great
advantage to thy own preservation； and of still greater to the
punishment of the Philistines？ A man who hath delivered the
people of the Hebrews from reproach and derision； which they
underwent for forty days together； when he alone had courage
enough to sustain the challenge of the adversary； and after that
brought as many heads of our enemies as he was appointed to
bring； and had； as a reward for the same； my sister in marriage；
insomuch that his death would be very sorrowful to us； not only
on account of his virtue； but on account of the nearness of our
relation； for thy daughter must be injured at the same time that
he is slain； and must be obliged to experience widowhood； before
she can come to enjoy any advantage from their mutual
conversation。 Consider these things； and change your mind to a
more merciful temper； and do no mischief to a man； who； in the
first place； hath done us the greatest kindness of preserving
thee； for when an evil spirit and demons had seized upon thee； he
cast them out； and procured rest to thy soul from their
incursions： and； in the second place； hath avenged us of our
enemies； for it is a base thing to forget such benefits。〃 So Saul
was pacified with these words； and sware to his son that he would
do David no harm； for a righteous discourse proved too hard for
the king's anger and fear。 So Jonathan sent for David； and
brought him good news from his father； that he was to be
preserved。 He also brought him to his father； and David continued
with the king as formerly。
3。 About this time it was that； upon the Philistines making a new
expedition against the Hebrews； Saul sent David with an army to
fight with them； and joining battle with them he slew many of
them； and after his victory he returned to the king。 But his
reception by Saul was not as he expected upon such success； for
he was grieved at his prosperity； because he thought he would be
more dangerous to him by having acted so gloriously： but when the
demoniacal spirit came upon him； and put him into disorder； and
disturbed him； he called for David into his bed…chamber wherein
he lay； and having a spear in his hand； he ordered him to charm
him with playing on his harp； and with singing hymns； which when
David did at his command； he with great force threw the spear at
him； but David was aware of it before it came； and avoided it；
and fled to his own house； and abode there all that day。
4。 But at night the king sent officers； and commanded that he
should be watched till the morning； lest he should get quite
away； that he might come into the judgment…hall； and so might be
delivered up； and condemned and slain。 But when Michal； David's
wife； the king's daughter； understood what her father designed；
she came to her husband； as having small hopes of his
deliverance； and as greatly concerned about her own life also；
for she could not bear to live in case she were deprived of him；
and she said； 〃Let not the sun find thee here when it rises； for
if it do； that will be the last time it will see thee： fly away
then while the night may afford thee opportunity； and may God
lengthen it for thy sake； for know this； that if my father find
thee； thou art a dead man。〃 So she let him down by a cord out of
the window； and saved him： and after she had done so； she fitted
up a bed for him as if he were sick； and put under the
bed…clothes a goat's liver （18） and when her father； as soon as
it was day； sent to seize David； she said to those that were
there； That he had not been well that night； and showed them the
bed covered； and made them believe； by the leaping of the liver；
which caused the bed…clothes to move also； that David breathed
like one that was asthmatic。 So when those that were sent told
Saul that David had not been well in the night he ordered him to
be brought in that condition； for he intended to kill him。 Now
when they came and uncovered the bed； and found out the woman's
contrivance； they told it to the king； and when her father
complained of her that she had saved his enemy； and had put a
trick upon himself； she invented this plausible defense for
herself； and said； That when he had threatened to kill her； she
lent him her assistance for his preservation； out of fear； for
which her assistance she ought to be forgiven； because it was not
done of her own free choice； but out of necessity： 〃For；〃 said
she； 〃I do not suppose that thou wast so zealous to kill thy
enemy； as thou wast that I should be saved。〃 Accordingly Saul
forgave the damsel； but David； when he had escaped this danger；
came to the prophet Samuel to Ramah； and told him what snares the
king had laid for him； and how he was very near to death by
Saul's throwing a spear at him； although he had been no way
guilty with relation to him； nor had he been cowardly in his
battles with his enemies； but had succeeded well in them all； by
God's assistance； which thing was indeed the cause of Saul's
hatred to David。
5。 When the prophet was made acquainted with the unjust
proceedings of the king； he left the city Ramah； and took David
with him； to a certain place called Naioth； and there he abode
with him。 But when it was told Saul that David was with the
prophet； he sent soldiers to him； and ordered them to take him；
and bring him to him： and when they came to Samuel； and found
there a congregation of prophets； they became partakers of the
Divine Spirit； and began to prophesy； which when Saul heard of；
he sent others to David； who prophesying in like manner as did
the first； he again sent others； which third sort prophesying
also； at last he was angry； and went thither in great haste
himself； and when he was just by the place； Samuel； before he saw
him； made him prophesy also。 And when Saul came to him； he was
disordered in mind （19） and under the vehement agitation of a
spirit； and； putting off his garments； （20） he fell down； and lay
on the ground all that day and night； in the presence of Samuel
and David。
6。 And David went thence； and came to Jonathan； the son of Saul；
and lamented to him what snares were laid for him by his father；
and said； that though he had been guilty of no evil； nor had
offended against him； yet he was very zealous to get him killed。
Hereupon Jonathan exhorted him not to give credit to such his own
suspicions； nor to the calumnies of those that raised those
reports； if there were any that did so； but to depend on him； and
take courage； for that his father had no such intention； since he
would have acquainted him with that matter； and have taken his
advice； had it been so； as he used to consult with him in common
when he acted in other affairs。 But David sware to him that so it
was； and he desired him rather to believe him； and to provide for
his safety； than to despise what he； with great sincerity； told
him： that he would believe what he said； when he should either
see him killed himself； or learn it upon inquiry from others： and
that the reason why his father did not tell him of these things；
was this； that he knew of the friendship and affection that he
bore towards him。
7。 Hereupon； when Jonathan found that this intention of Saul was
so well attested； he asked him what he would have him do for him。
To which David replied； 〃I am sensible that thou art willing to
gratify me in every thing； and procure me what I desire。 Now
tomorrow is the new moon； and I was accustomed to sit down then
with the king at supper： now； if it seem good to thee； I will go
out of the city； and conceal myself privately there； and if Saul
inquire why I am absent； tell him that I am gone to my own city
Bethlehem； to keep a festival with my own tribe； and add this
also； that thou gavest me leave so to do。 And if he say； as is
usually said in the case of friends that are gone abroad； It is
well that he went； then assure thyself that no latent mischief or
enmity may be feared at his hand； but if he answer otherwise；
that will be a sure sign that he hath some designs against me；
Accordingly thou shalt inform me of thy father's inclinations；
and that out of pity to my case and out of thy friendship for me；
as instances of which friendship thou hast vouchsafed to accept
of the assurances of my love to thee； and to give the like
assurances to me； that is； those of a master to his servant； but
if thou discoverest any wickedness in me； do thou prevent thy
father； and kill me thyself。〃
8。 But Jonathan heard these last words with indignation； and
promised to do what he desired of him； and to inform him if his
father's answers implied any thing of a melancholy nature； and
any enmity against him。 And that he might the more firmly depend
upon him； he took him out into the open field； into the pure air；
and sware that he would neglect nothing that might tend to the
preservation of David； and he said； 〃I appeal to that God； who；
as thou seest； is diffused every where； and knoweth this
intention of mine； before I explain it in words； as the witness
of this my covenant with thee； that I will not leave off to make
frequent trims of the purpose of my father till I learn whether
there be any lurking distemper in the most secret parts of his
soul； and when I have learnt it； I will not conceal it from thee；
but will discover it to thee； whether he be gently or peevishly
disposed； for this God himself knows； that I pray he may always
be with thee； for he is with thee now； and will not forsake thee；
and will make thee superior to thine enemies； whether my father
be one of them； or whether I myself be such。 Do thou only
remember what we now do； and if it fall out that I die； preserve
my children alive； and requite what kindness thou hast now
received to them。〃 When he had thus sworn； he dismissed David；
bidding him go to a certain place of that plain wherein he used
to perform his exercises； for that； as soon as he knew the mind
of his father； he would come thither to him； with one servant
only； 〃and if；〃 says he； 〃I shoot three darts at the mark； and
then bid my servant to carry these three darts away； for they are
before him； know thou t