great length and breadth； and there it was that David with his
four hundred men were concealed。 When therefore he had occasion
to ease nature； he entered into it by himself alone； and being
seen by one of David's companions； and he that saw him saying to
him； that he had now； by God's providence； an opportunity of
avenging himself of his adversary； and advising him to cut off
his head； and so deliver himself out of that tedious； wandering
condition； and the distress he was in； he rose up； and only cut
off the skirt of that garment which Saul had on： but he soon
repented of what he had done； and said it was not right to kill
him that was his master； and one whom God had thought worthy of
the kingdom； 〃for that although he were wickedly disposed towards
us； yet does it not behoove me to be so disposed towards him。〃
But when Saul had left the cave； David came near and cried out
aloud； and desired Saul to hear him； whereupon the king turned
his face back； and David； according to custom； fell down on his
face before the king； and bowed to him； and said； 〃O king； thou
oughtest not to hearken to wicked men； nor to such as forge
calumnies； nor to gratify them so far as to believe what they
say； nor to entertain suspicions of such as are your best
friends； but to judge of the dispositions of all men by their
actions； for calumny deludes men； but men's own actions are a
clear demonstration of their kindness。 Words indeed； in their own
nature； may be either true or false； but men's actions expose
their intentions nakedly to our view。 By these； therefore it will
be well for thee to believe me； as to my regard to thee and to
thy house； and not to believe those that frame such accusations
against me as never came into my mind； nor are possible to be
executed； and do this further by pursuing after my life； and have
no concern either day or night； but how to compass my life and to
murder me； which thing I think thou dost unjustly prosecute； for
how comes it about； that thou hast embraced this false opinion
about me； as if I had a desire to kill thee？ Or how canst thou
escape the crime of impiety towards God； when thou wishest thou
couldst kill； and deemest thine adversary； a man who had it in
his power this day to avenge himself； and to punish thee； but
would not do it？ nor make use of such an opportunity； which； if
it had fallen out to thee against me； thou hadst not let it slip；
for when I cut off the skirt of thy garment； I could have done
the same to thy head。〃 So he showed him the piece of his garment；
and thereby made him agree to what he said to be true； and added；
〃I； for certain； have abstained from taking a just revenge upon
thee； yet art thou not ashamed to prosecute me with unjust
hatred。 （23） May God do justice； and determine about each of our
dispositions。〃 … But Saul was amazed at the strange delivery he
had received； and being greatly affected with the moderation and
the disposition of the young man； he groaned； and when David had
done the same； the king answered that he had the justest occasion
to groan； 〃for thou hast been the author of good to me； as I have
been the author of calamity to thee； and thou hast demonstrated
this day； that thou possessest the righteousness of the ancients；
who determined that men ought to save their enemies； though they
caught them in a desert place。 I am now persuaded that God
reserves the kingdom for thee； and that thou wilt obtain the
dominion over all the Hebrews。 Give me then assurances upon oath；
That thou wilt not root out my family； nor； out of remembrance of
what evil I have done thee； destroy my posterity； but save and
preserve my house。〃 So David sware as he desired； and sent back
Saul to his own kingdom； but he； and those that were with him；
went up the Straits of Mastheroth。
5。 About this time Samuel the prophet died。 He was a man whom the
Hebrews honored in an extraordinary degree： for that lamentation
which the people made for him； and this during a long time；
manifested his virtue； and the affection which the people bore
for him； as also did the solemnity and concern that appeared
about his funeral； and about the complete observation of all his
funeral rites。 They buried him in his own city of Ramah； and wept
for him a very great number of days； not looking on it as a
sorrow for the death of another man； but as that in which they
were every one themselves concerned。 He was a righteous man； and
gentle in his nature； and on that account he was very dear to
God。 Now he governed and presided over the people alone； after
the death of Eli the high priest； twelve years； and eighteen
years together with Saul the king。 And thus we have finished the
history of Samuel。
6。 There was a man that was a Ziphite； of the city of Maon； who
was rich； and had a vast number of cattle； for he fed a flock of
three thousand sheep； and another flock of a thousand goats。 Now
David had charged his associates to keep these flocks without
hurt and without damage； and to do them no mischief； neither out
of covetousness； nor because they were in want； nor because they
were in the wilderness； and so could not easily be discovered；
but to esteem freedom from injustice above all other motives； and
to look upon the touching of what belonged to another man as a
horrible crime； and contrary to the will of God。 These were the
instructions he gave； thinking that the favors he granted this
man were granted to a good man； and one that deserved to have
such care taken of his affairs。 This man was Nabal； for that was
his name； … a harsh man； and of a very wicked life； being like a
cynic in the course of his behavior； but still had obtained for
his wife a woman of a good character； wise and handsome。 To this
Nabal； therefore； David sent ten men of his attendants at the
time when he sheared his sheep； and by them saluted him； and also
wished he might do what he now did for many years to come； but
desired him to make him a present of what he was able to give
him； since he had； to be sure； learned from his shepherds that we
had done them no injury； but had been their guardians a long time
together； while we continued in the wilderness； and he assured
him he should never repent of giving any thing to David。 When the
messengers had carried this message to Nabal； he accosted them
after an inhuman and rough manner； for he asked them who David
was？ and when he heard that he was the son of Jesse； he said；
〃Now is the time that fugitives grow insolent； and make a figure；
and leave their masters。〃 When they told David this； he was
wroth； and commanded four hundred armed men to follow him； and
left two hundred to take care of the stuff； （for he had already
six hundred； （24）） and went against Nabal： he also swore that he
would that night utterly destroy the whole house and possessions
of Nabal； for that he was grieved； not only that he had proved
ungrateful to them； without making any return for the humanity
they had shown him； but that he had also reproached them； and
used ill language to them； when he had received no cause of
disgust from them。
7。 Hereupon one of those that kept the flocks of Nabal； said to
his mistress； Nabal's wife； that when David sent to her husband
he had received no civil answer at all from him； but that her
husband had moreover added very reproachful language； while yet
David had taken extraordinary care to keep his flocks from harm；
and that what had passed would prove very pernicious to his
master。 When the servant had said this； Abigail； for that was his
wife's name； saddled her asses； and loaded them with all sorts of
presents； and； without telling her husband any thing of what she
was about； （for he was not sensible on account of his
drunkenness；） she went to David。 She was then met by David as she
was descending a hill； who was coming against Nabal with four
hundred men。 When the woman saw David； she leaped down from her
ass； and fell on her face； and bowed down to the ground； and
entreated him not to bear in mind the words of Nabal； since he
knew that he resembled his name。 Now Nabal； in the Hebrew tongue；
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 suitab