The saga of King Saul trying to kill David, the slayer of Goliath, the Philistine, continues fueled by Saul’s jealousy over his loyal subject David’s popularity.
Saul’s own son, who loved David exceedingly, patched things up at first. Saul was appeased, swearing that “as the Lord liveth David shall not be slain,” until the evil spirit of the Lord came upon him and he tried to kill David with a spear but missed. David’s wife Michol helped him escape, allegedly under a threat that David would kill her if she didn’t.
So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the spirit of the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy… Saul sent other messengers: but they also prophesied… and again Saul sent messengers the third time: and they prophesied also…
Saul became exceedingly angry and went also himself… and the spirit of the Lord came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied… and he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied with the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. This gave occasion to a proverb: What! Is Saul too among the prophets?
The saga continues with Jonathan pledging his support to David: “Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I will do for thee.”
Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David’s enemies. And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul.
Then Saul became angry at Jonathan… therefore fetch David to me: for he is the son of death… so Jonathan rose from the table in great anger… for he was grieved for David, because his father had put him to confusion.
After secretly signaling David to leave for his own safety, Jonathan once again pledged that: “The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.”
David fled, first to Achimelech the priest who was surprised David came alone: “Why are thou alone and no men with thee?”
David was deceitful and lied a good lie to Achimelech: “The king hath commanded me a business, and said: Let no man know the thing for which thou art sent by me…”
The priest therefore gave David hallowed bread: for there was no bread there, but only the loaves of proposition. I believe this also may be a sin committed by the future King of Israel?
Then David asked Achimelech for a weapon: “Hast thou here at hand a spear, or a sword?” And in an odd twist of faith, the only weapon Achimelech has he gives to David: Lo, here is the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom thou slowest…
And David arose and fled that day from the face of Saul: and came to Achis the king of Gath whose servants wondered: “Is this not David the king of the land?”
And David changed his countenance before them… and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard… and King Achis questioned his servants: “You saw the man was mad: why have you brought him to me?”
Now why on earth would David pretend to be mad?
David fled to the cave of Odollam and when his brethren, and all his father’s house… and under the affliction of mind gathered themselves unto David: and David became their prince, and there were with him about four hundred men.
And David left his father and mother under the eyes of the king of Moab, and they abode with him all the days that David was in the hold.
And Gad the prophet said to David: Abode not in the hold, depart, and go into the land of Juda.
And Doug the Edomite, the chief among the servants of Saul said “I saw David with Achimelech…
Then the king sent to call for Achimelech the priest… and they came all of them to the king and Saul said to Achimelech: “Why have conspired against me, thou and David? And thou hast given him bread and a sword, and hast consulted the Lord for him, that he should rise up against me, continuing a traitor to this day.
Achimelech lied to Saul: Far be this from me: let not the king suspect such a thing against his servant, or any one in all my father’s house: for thy servant knew nothing of this matter, either little or great.
King Saul did not believe Achimelech and said: Dying thou shall die, Achimelech, thou and all thy father’s house.
King Saul to his messengers: Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord, for their hand is with David… and the King’s servants would not put forth their hands against the priests of the Lord.
King to Doug the Edomite: Turn thou and fall upon the priests. And Doug the Edomite turned, and fell upon the priests and slew in that day eighty-five men that wore the linen ephod.
But one of the sons of Achimelech… escaped, and fled to David and told him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord. Saul realized his role in this tragedy: I have been the occasion of the death of all the souls of thy father Achimelech’s house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life, seeketh thy life also, and with me thou shall be saved.
The game of ‘cat and mouse’ continued into the mountains and deserts with both Saul and David feeling that the Lord had delivered the other into his hands.
And Saul sought him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands.
And Jonathan… went to David… and strengthened his hands with God: and he said to David: “Fear not: for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee, yea, and my father knoweth this. And the two made a covenant before the Lord.
And Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain… wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines. I guess no bear went over the mountain to see what he could see or who was on the other side of the mountain?
Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek after Israel. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave. And the servants of David said to him: “Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayst do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes.”
To ease nature…
Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
David to his men: “The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord’s anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.”
David to Saul: My lord the king… I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed… Reflect and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou list in wait for my life, to take it away.
The Lord judge between me and thee and the Lord revenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee. As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee.
Saul to David: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Thou are more just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil… the Lord has reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day. And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand; swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father. And David swore to Saul.
This is truly an amazing story of forgiveness and make up but is it too good to believe? Is this going to be the first orderly transfer of power in biblical times? We will see…
Far be it for me to say but King Saul was an evil man to kill 85 priests.
Day 99: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Far be it for Me to Say but King Saul was an Evil Man to Kill 85 Priests.
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Kings Chapters 19-24
Bible Notes:
This and the following Book are also called the Books of Samuel, because they tell of Samuel and the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. After the history of Heli and Samuel, the last of the Judges, this book records the beginning of the Jewish monarchy and the rule of the first king, Saul.
1 Kings Chapter 19: Jonathan reveals Saul’s murderous plans; Jonathan reconciles Saul and David; Saul again attempts to kill David; Michol tricks Saul and saves David; David flees; Saul pursues him; Saul prophesies.
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul loved David exceedingly. And Jonathan told David, saying: Saul my father seeketh to kill thee…
And Jonathan spoke good things of David to Saul his father; and said to him: Sin not, O king, against thy servant, David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good towards thee.
And when Saul heard this he was appeased with the words pf Jonathan, and swore; As the Lord liveth he shall not be slain.
And the evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul…
David played (the harp with) his hand. And Saul endeavored to nail David to the wall with his spear. And David slipped away out of the presence of Saul; and the spear missed him, and was fastened to the wall, and David fled and escaped into the night.’
(His wife Michol) let him down through a window. And he went and fled away and escaped… and Michol answered Saul (as to why she deceived him) and Michol answered Saul: Because he said to me: Let me go, or else I will kill thee.
So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the spirit of the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy… Saul sent other messengers: but they also prophesied… and again Saul sent messengers the third time: and they prophesied also…
Saul became exceedingly angry and went also himself… and the spirit of the Lord came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied… and he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied with the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. This gave occasion to a proverb: What! IS Saul too among the prophets?
Prophesy—to foretell or predict; to indicate beforehand; to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration; to utter in prophecy or as a prophet; to make inspired declarations of what is to come; to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God’s stead; Archaic: to teach religious subjects.
1 Kings Chapter 20: David and Jonathan consult; Jonathan renews his pledge to David; Jonathan’s method of signaling David; Saul seeks to kill Jonathan; Jonathan signals to David; Jonathan sends David away.
David to Jonathan: But truly as the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, there is but one step (as I may say) between me and death.
Jonathan to David: Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I will do for thee.
Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David’s enemies. And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul.
Then Saul became angry at Jonathan… therefore fetch David to me: for he is the son of death… so Jonathan rose from the table in great anger… for he was grieved for David, because his father had put him to confusion.
Jonathan to the little boy and David: Behold the arrow is there further beyond thee… Make haste speedily, stand not… and when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place… and kissing one another, they wept together, but David more…
Jonathan to David: The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And David arose, and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
1 Kings Chapter 21: Achimelech gives holy bread to David; David takes Goliath’s sword; David feigns madness before King Achis.
And David came to… Achimelech the priest: and Achimelech was astonished at David’s coming: “Why are thou alone and no men with thee?”
David to Achimelech: The king hath commanded me a business, and said: Let no man know the thing for which thou art sent by me…
The priest therefore gave David hallowed bread: for there was no bread there, but only the loaves of proposition.
David to Achimelech: Hast thou here at hand a spear, or a sword?
Achimelech to David: Lo, here is the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom thou slowest…
And David arose and fled that day from the face of Saul: and came to Achis the king of Gath.
Is this not David the king of the land?
And David changed his countenance before them… and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard…
King Achis: “You saw the man was mad: why have you brought him to me?”
1 Kings Chapter 22: Many join David at Odollam; David’s parents dwell with the king of Moab; David goes to the forest of Haret; Saul accuses his servants of conspiring; Doeg accuses Achimelech of feeding David; Saul orders the splaying of the priests; Abiathar escapes and informs David.
David therefore went from thence and fled to the cave of Odollam. And when his brethren, and all his father’s house… and under the affliction of mind gathered themselves unto David: and David became their prince, and there were with him about four hundred men.
And David left his father and mother under the eyes of the king of Moab, and they abode with him all the days that David was in the hold.
And Gad the prophet said to David: Abode not in the hold, depart, and go into the land of Juda.
Saul: my son Jonathan hath raised up with my servant David against me, plotting against me to this day.
And Doug the Edomite, the chief among the servants of Saul said “I saw David with Achimelech…
Then the king sent to call for Achimelech the priest… and they came all of them to the king.
Saul to Achimelech: “Why have conspired against me, thou and David? And thou hast given him bread and a sword, and hast consulted the Lord for him, that he should rise up against me, continuing a traitor to this day.
Achimelech to Saul: Far be this from me: let not the king suspect such a thing against his servant, or any one in all my father’s house: for thy servant knew nothing of this matter, either little or great.
King Saul to Achimelech: Dying thou shall die, Achimelech, thou and all thy father’s house.
King Saul to his messengers: Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord, for their hand is with David… and the King’s servants would not put forth their hands against the priests of the Lord.
King to Doug the Edomite: Turn thou and fall upon the priests. And Doug the Edomite turned, and fell upon the priests and slew in that day eighty-five men that wore the linen ephod.
But one of the sons of Achimelech… escaped, and fled to David and told him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord.
Saul: I have been the occasion of the death of all the souls of thy father Achimelech’s house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life, seeketh thy life also, and with me thou shall be saved.
1 Kings Chapter 23: David plans to help Ceila; David consults the Lord and conquers; Saul prepares to besiege David in Ceila; God warns David; David escapes to Ziph; Jonathan encourages David; The Ziphites conspire to betray David; David narrowly escapes Saul.
And the Lord said to David: Go, and thou shall smite the Philistines… for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.
Saul: The Lord hath delivered David into thy hand…
Lord to David: Saul will come down… and Ceila will deliver you up!
David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departing from Celia…
And Saul sought him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands.
And Jonathan… went to David… and strengthened his hands with God: and he said to David: “Fear not: for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee, yea, and my father knoweth this. And the two made a covenant before the Lord.
And Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain… wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines.
1 Kings Chapter 24: Saul falls into David’s hands; David spares Saul; David pleads his innocence; Saul acknowledges David’s innocence.
Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek after Israel. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave. And the servants of David said to him: “Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayst do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes.”
Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
David to his men: “The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord’s anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.”
David to Saul: My lord the king… I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed… Reflect and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou list in wait for my life, to take it away.
The Lord judge between me and thee and the Lord revenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee. As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee.
Saul to David: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Thou are more just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil… the Lord has reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day. And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand; swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father. And David swore to Saul.
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