Antiquities of the Jews — Book 6, Chapter 13

1. About this time it was that David heard how the Philistines had made
an inroad into the country of Keilah, and robbed it; so he offered
himself to fight against them, if God, when he should be consulted by
the prophet, would grant him the victory. And when the prophet said that
God gave a signal of victory, he made a sudden onset upon the
Philistines with his companions, and he shed a great deal of their
blood, and carried off their prey, and staid with the inhabitants of
Keilah till they had securely gathered in their corn and their fruits.
However, it was told Saul the king that David was with the men of
Keilah; for what had been done and the great success that had attended
him, were not confined among the people where the things were done, but
the fame of it went all abroad, and came to the hearing of others, and
both the fact as it stood, and the author of the fact, were carried to
the king's ears. Then was Saul glad when he heard David was in Keilah;
and he said, "God hath now put him into my hands, since he hath obliged
him to come into a city that hath walls, and gates, and bars." So he
commanded all the people suddenly, and when they had besieged and taken
it to kill David. But when David perceived this, and learned of God that
if he staid there the men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul, he
took his four hundred men and retired into a desert that was over
against a city called Engedi. So that when the king heard he was fled
away from the men of Keilah, he left off his expedition against him.

2. Then David removed thence, and came to a certain place called the New
Place, belonging to Ziph; where Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to him,
and saluted him, and exhorted him to be of good courage, and to hope
well as to his condition hereafter, and not to despond at his present
circumstances, for that he should be king, and have all the forces of
the Hebrews under him: he told him that such happiness uses to come with
great labor and pains: they also took oaths, that they would, all their
lives long, continue in good-will and fidelity one to another; and he
called God to witness, as to what execrations he had made upon himself
if he should transgress his covenant, and should change to a contrary
behavior. So Jonathan left him there, having rendered his cares and
fears somewhat lighter, and returned home. Now the men of Ziph, to
gratify Saul, informed him that David abode with them, and [assured him]
that if he would come to them, they would deliver him up, for that if
the king would seize on the Straits of Ziph, David would not escape to
any other people. So the king commended them, and confessed that he had
reason to thank them, because they had given him information of his
enemy; and he promised them, that it should not be long ere he would
requite their kindness. He also sent men to seek for David, and to
search the wilderness wherein he was; and he promised that he himself
would follow them. Accordingly they went before the king, to hunt for
and to catch David, and used endeavors, not only to show their good-will
to Saul, by informing him where his enemy was, but to evidence the same
more plainly by delivering him up into his power. But these men failed
of those their unjust and wicked desires, who, while they underwent no
hazard by not discovering such an ambition of revealing this to Saul,
yet did they falsely accuse and promise to deliver up a man beloved of
God, and one that was unjustly sought after to be put to death, and one
that might otherwise have lain concealed, and this out of flattery, and
expectation of gain from the king; for when David was apprized of the
malignant intentions of the men of Ziph, and the approach of Saul, he
left the Straits of that country, and fled to the great rock that was in
the wilderness of Maon.

3. Hereupon Saul made haste to pursue him thither; for, as he was
marching, he learned that David was gone away from the Straits of Ziph,
and Saul removed to the other side of the rock. But the report that the
Philistines had again made an incursion into the country of the Hebrews,
called Saul another way from the pursuit of David, when he was ready to
be caught; for he returned back again to oppose those Philistines, who
were naturally their enemies, as judging it more necessary to avenge
himself of them, than to take a great deal of pains to catch an enemy of
his own, and to overlook the ravage that was made in the land.

4. And by this means David unexpectedly escaped out of the danger he was
in, and came to the Straits of Engedi; and when Saul had driven the
Philistines out of the land, there came some messengers, who told him
that David abode within the bounds of Engedi: so he took three thousand
chosen men that were armed, and made haste to him; and when he was not
far from those places, he saw a deep and hollow cave by the way-side; it
was open to a 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." 26

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 suitable to them, and inflicts a deserved punishment on
the wicked. So he sent to Nabal's wife, and invited her to come to him,
to live with him, and to be his wife. Whereupon she replied to those
that came, that she was not worthy to touch his feet; however, she came,
with all her servants, and became his wife, having received that honor
on account of her wise and righteous course of life. She also obtained
the same honor partly on account of her beauty. Now David had a wife
before, whom he married from the city Abesar; for as to Michal, the
daughter of king Saul, who had been David's wife, her father had given
her in marriage to Phalti, the son of Laish, who was of the city of
Gallim.

9. After this came certain of the Ziphites, and told Saul that David was
come again into their country, and if he would afford them his
assistance, they could catch him. So he came to them with three thousand
armed men; and upon the approach of night, he pitched his camp at a
certain place called Hachilah. But when David heard that Saul was coming
against him, he sent spies, and bid them let him know to what place of
the country Saul was already come; and when they told him that he was at
Hachilah, he concealed his going away from his companions, and came to
Saul's camp, having taken with him Abishai, his sister Zeruiah's son,
and Ahimelech the Hittite. Now Saul was asleep, and the armed men, with
Abner their commander, lay round about him in a circle. Hereupon David
entered into the king's tent; but he did neither kill Saul, though he
knew where he lay, by the spear that was stuck down by him, nor did he
give leave to Abishai, who would have killed him, and was earnestly bent
upon it so to do; for he said it was a horrid crime to kill one that was
ordained king by God, although he was a wicked man; for that he who gave
him the dominion would in time inflict punishment upon him. So he
restrained his eagerness; but that it might appear to have been in his
power to have killed him when he refrained from it, he took his spear,
and the cruse of water which stood by Saul as he lay asleep, without
being perceived by any in the camp, who were all asleep, and went
securely away, having performed every thing among the king's attendants
that the opportunity afforded, and his boldness encouraged him to do. So
when he had passed over a brook, and was gotten up to the top of a hill,
whence he might be sufficiently heard, he cried aloud to Saul's
soldiers, and to Abner their commander, and awaked them out of their
sleep, and called both to him and to the people. Hereupon the commander
heard him, and asked who it was that called him. To whom David replied,
"It is I, the son of Jesse, whom you make a vagabond. But what is the
matter? Dost thou, that art a man of so great dignity, and of the first
rank in the king's court, take so little care of thy master's body? and
is sleep of more consequence to thee than his preservation, and thy care
of him? This negligence of yours deserves death, and punishment to be
inflicted on you, who never perceived when, a little while ago, some of
us entered into your camp, nay, as far as to the king himself, and to
all the rest of you. If thou look for the king's spear and his cruse of
water, thou wilt learn what a mighty misfortune was ready to overtake
you in your very camp without your knowing it." Now when Saul knew
David's voice, and understood that when he had him in his power while he
was asleep, and his guards took no care of him, yet did not he kill him,
but spared him, when he might justly have cut him off, he said that he
owed him thanks for his preservation; and exhorted him to be of good
courage, and not be afraid of suffering any mischief from him any more,
and to return to his own home, for he was now persuaded that he did not
love himself so well as he was loved by him: that he had driven away him
that could guard him, and had given many demonstrations of his good-will
to him: that he had forced him to live so long in a state of banishment,
and in great fears of his life, destitute of his friends and his
kindred, while still he was often saved by him, and frequently received
his life again when it was evidently in danger of perishing. So David
bade them send for the spear and the cruse of water, and take them back;
adding this withal, That God would be the judge of both their
dispositions, and of the actions that flowed from the same, "who knows
that then it was this day in my power to have killed thee I abstained
from it."

10. Thus Saul having escaped the hands of David twice, he went his way
to his royal palace, and his own city: but David was afraid, that if he
staid there he should be caught by Saul; so he thought it better to go
up into the land of the Philistines, and abide there. Accordingly, he
came with the six hundred men that were with him to Achish, the king of
Gath, which was one of their five cities. Now the king received both him
and his men, and gave them a place to inhabit in. He had with him also
his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, and he dwelt in Gath. But when Saul
heard this, he took no further care about sending to him, or going after
him, because he had been twice, in a manner, caught by him, while he was
himself endeavoring to catch him. However, David had no mind to continue
in the city of Gath, but desired the king, that since he had received
him with such humanity, that he would grant him another favor, and
bestow upon him some place of that country for his habitation, for he
was ashamed, by living in the city, to be grievous and burdensome to
him. So Achish gave him a certain village called Ziklag; which place
David and his sons were fond of when he was king, and reckoned it to be
their peculiar inheritance. But about those matters we shall give the
reader further information elsewhere. Now the time that David dwelt in
Ziklag, in the land of the Philistines, was four months and twenty days.
And now he privately attacked those Geshurites and Amalekites that were
neighbors to the Philistines, and laid waste their country, and took
much prey of their beasts and camels, and then returned home; but David
abstained from the men, as fearing they should discover him to king
Achish; yet did he send part of the prey to him as a free gift. And when
the king inquired whom they had attacked when they brought away the
prey, he said, those that lay to the south of the Jews, and inhabited in
the plain; whereby he persuaded Achish to approve of what he had done,
for he hoped that David had fought against his own nation, and that now
he should have him for his servant all his life long, and that he would
stay in his country.