then bid my servant to carry these three darts away； for they are
before him； know thou that there is no mischief to be feared from
my father； but if thou hearest me say the contrary； expect the
contrary from the king。 However； thou shalt gain security by my
means； and shalt by no means suffer any harm； but see thou dost
not forget what I have desired of thee in the time of thy
prosperity； and be serviceable to my children。〃 Now David； when
he had received these assurances from Jonathan； went his way to
the place appointed。
9。 But on the next day； which was the new moon； the king； when he
had purified himself； as the custom was； came to supper； and when
there sat by him his son Jonathan on his right hand； and Abner；
the captain of his host； on the other hand； he saw David's seat
was empty； but said nothing； supposing that he had not purified
himself since he had accompanied with his wife； and so could not
be present； but when he saw that he was not there the second day
of the month neither； he inquired of his son Jonathan why the son
of Jesse did not come to the supper and the feast； neither the
day before nor that day。 So Jonathan said； That he was gone；
according to the agreement between them； to his own city； where
his tribe kept a festival； and that by his permission： that he
also invited him to come to their sacrifice； 〃and；〃 says
Jonathan； 〃if thou wilt give me leave； I Will go thither； for
thou knowest the good…will that I bear him。〃 And then it was that
Jonathan understood his father's hatred to David； and plainly saw
his entire disposition； for Saul could not restrain his anger；
but reproached Jonathan； and called him the son of a runagate；
and an enemy； and said he was a partner with David； and his
assistant； and that by his behavior he showed he had no regard to
himself； or to his mother； and would not be persuaded of this； …
that while David is alive； their kingdom was not secure to them；
yet did he bid him send for him； that he might be punished。 And
when Jonathan said； in answer； 〃What hath he done that thou wilt
punish him？〃 Saul no longer contented himself to express his
anger in bare words； but snatched up his spear； and leaped upon
him； and was desirous to kill him。 He did not indeed do what he
intended； because he was hindered by his friends； but it appeared
plainly to his son that he hated David； and greatly desired to
despatch him； insomuch that he had almost slain his son with his
own hands on his account。
10。 And then it was that the king's son rose hastily from supper；
and being unable to admit any thing into his mouth for grief； he
wept all night； both because he had himself been near
destruction； and because the death of David was determined： but
as soon as it was day； he went out into the plain that was before
the city； as going to perform his exercises； but in reality to
inform his friend what disposition his father was in towards him；
as he had agreed with him to do； and when Jonathan had done what
had been thus agreed； he dismissed his servant that followed him；
to return to the city； but he himself went into the desert； and
came into his presence； and communed with him。 So David appeared
and fell at Jonathan's feet； and bowed down to him； and called
him the preserver of his soul； but he lifted him up from the
earth； and they mutually embraced one another； and made a long
greeting； and that not without tears。 They also lamented their
age； and that familiarity which envy would deprive them of； and
that separation which must now be expected； which seemed to them
no better than death itself。 So recollecting themselves at length
from their lamentation； and exhorting one another to be mindful
of the oaths they had sworn to each other； they parted asunder。
CHAPTER 12。
How David Fled To Ahimelech And Afterwards To The Kings Of The
Philistines And Of The Moabites； And How Saul Slew Ahimelech And
His Family；
1。 But David fled from the king； and that death he was in danger
of by him； and came to the city Nob； to Ahimelech the priest；
who； when he saw him coming all alone； and neither a friend nor a
servant with him； he wondered at it； and desired to learn of him
the cause why there was nobody with him。 To which David answered；
That the king had commanded him to do a certain thing that was to
be kept secret； to which； if he had a mind to know so much； he
had no occasion for any one to accompany him； 〃however； I have
ordered my servants to meet me at such and such a place。〃 So he
desired him to let him have somewhat to eat； and that in case he
would supply him； be would act the part of a friend； and be
assisting to the business he was now about： and when he had
obtained what he desired； he also asked him whether he had any
weapons with him； either sword or spear。 Now there was at Nob a
servant of Saul； by birth a Syrian； whose name was Doeg； one that
kept the king's mules。 The high priest said that he had no such
weapons； but； he added； 〃Here is the sword of Goliath； which；
when thou hadst slain the Philistine； thou didst dedicate to
God。〃
2。 When David had received the sword； he fled out of the country
of the Hebrews into that of the Philistines； over which Achish
reigned； and when the king's servants knew him； and he was made
known to the king himself； the servants informing him that he was
that David who had killed many ten thousands of the Philistines；
David was afraid lest the king should put him to death； and that
he should experience that danger from him which he had escaped
from Saul； so he pretended to be distracted and mad； so that his
spittle ran out of his mouth； and he did other the like actions
before the king of Gath； which might make him believe that they
proceeded from such a distemper。 Accordingly the king was very
angry at his servants that they had brought him a madman； and he
gave orders that they should eject David immediately ＇out of the
city＇。
3。 So when David had escaped in this manner out of Gath； he came
to the tribe of Judah； and abode in a cave by the city of
Adullam。 Then it was that he sent to his brethren； and informed
them where he was； who then came to him with all their kindred；
and as many others as were either in want or in fear of king
Saul； came and made a body together； and told him they were ready
to obey his orders； they were in all about four hundred。
Whereupon he took courage； now such a force and assistance was
come to him； so he removed thence and came to the king of the
Moabites； and desired him to entertain his parents in his
country； while the issue of his affairs were in such an uncertain
condition。 The king granted him this favor； and paid great
respect to David's parents all the time they were with him。
4。 As for himself； upon the prophet's commanding him to leave the
desert； and to go into the portion of the tribe of Judah； and
abide there； he complied therewith； and coming to the city
Hareth； which was in that tribe； he remained there。 Now when Saul
heard that David had been seen with a multitude about him； he
fell into no small disturbance and trouble； but as he knew that
David was a bold and courageous man； he suspected that somewhat
extraordinary would appear from him； and that openly also； which
would make him weep and put him into distress； so he called
together to him his friends； and his commanders； and the tribe
from which he was himself derived； to the hill where his palace
was； and sitting upon a place called Aroura； his courtiers that
were in dignities； and the guards of his body； being with him； he
spake thus to them： … 〃You that are men of my own tribe； I
conclude that you remember the benefits that I have bestowed upon
you； and that I have made some of you owners of land； and made
you commanders； and bestowed posts of honor upon you； and set
some of you over the common people； and others over the soldiers；
I ask you； therefore； whether you expect greater and more
donations from the son of Jesse？ for I know that you are all
inclinable to him； （even my own son Jonathan himself is of that
opinion； and persuades you to be of the same）； for I am not
unacquainted with the oaths and the covenants that are between
him and David； and that Jonathan is a counselor and an assistant
to those that conspire against me； and none of you are concerned
about these things； but you keep silence and watch； to see what
will be the upshot of these things。〃 When the king had made this
speech； not one of the rest of those that were present made any
answer； but Doeg the Syrian； who fed his mules； said； that he saw
David when he came to the city Nob to Ahimelech the high priest；
and that he learned future events by his prophesying； that he
received food from him； and the sword of Goliath； and was
conducted by him with security to such as he desired to go to。
5。 Saul therefore sent for the high priest； and for all his
kindred； and said to them； 〃What terrible or ungrateful tiring
hast thou suffered from me； that thou hast received the son of
Jesse； and hast bestowed on him both food and weapons； when he
was contriving to get the kingdom？ And further； why didst thou
deliver oracles to him concerning futurities？ For thou couldst
not be unacquainted that he was fled away from me； and that he
hated my family。〃 But the high priest did not betake himself to
deny what he had done； but confessed boldly that he had supplied
him with these things； not to gratify David； but Saul himself：
and he said； 〃I did not know that he was thy adversary； but a
servant of thine； who was very faithful to thee； and a captain
over a thousand of thy soldiers； and； what is more than these；
thy son…in…law； and kinsman。 Men do not choose to confer such
favors on their adversaries； but on those who are esteemed to
bear the highest good…will and respect to them。 Nor is this the
first time that I prophesied for him； but I have done it often；
and at other times as well as now。 And when he told me that he
was sent by thee in great haste to do somewhat； if I had
furnished him with nothing that he desired I should have thought
that it was rather in contradiction to thee than to him；
wherefore do not thou entertain any ill opinion of me； nor do