Abigail's wise conduct. B. C. about 1060. † Heb. flew upon them. B. C. wilderness to salute our master; and own hand, now let thine enemies, 15 But the men were very good unto us, and "we were not hurt, neither +Heb.shamed. missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields. n ver. 7. o Ex. 14. 22. Job 1. 10. p ch. 20. 7. q Deut. 13. 13. Judg. 19. 22. r Gen. 32. 13. Prov. 18. 16. & 21. 14. || Or, lumps. s Gen. 32. 16, 20. t Ps. 109. 5. Prov. 17. 13. u Ruth 1. 17. ch. 3. 17. & 20. 13, 16. 16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for Pevil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of a Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. 18 T Then Abigail made haste, and rtook two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. S 19 And she said unto her servants, band Nabal. 21 Now David had said, Surely in t X 22 "So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morny 1 Kings 14. ing light any that pisseth against the wall. x ver. 34. 10. & 21. 21. z Josh. 15. 18. Judg. 1. 14. + Heb. ears. + Heb. lay it to his heart. || That is, Fool. a 2 Kings 2. 2. b Gen. 20. 6. ver. 33. c Rom. 12. 19. + Heb. saving thyself. y 23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine † audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. 25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. 32 T And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, k Gen. 24. 27. which sent thee this day to meet me: 33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. 34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath mkept me back from hurting thee, m ver. 26. except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had "not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 36 ¶ And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his 12 Sam. 18.23. house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. 37 But it came to pass in the morn x Ruth 2. 10, 13. 'Prov. 15. 33. + Heb. at her feet, ver. 27. y Josh. 15. 56. z ch. 27, 3, & 30.5. a 2 Sam. 3. 14. || Phaltiel, 2 Sam. 3. 15. b Is. 10.30. a ch. 23. 19. Ps. 54, title. 40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. 41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let * thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. 42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay about 1060. in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. || Or, midst of his carriages, ch. 17. 20. 6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishaib ch. 14. 50. & the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. c 1 Chr. 2. 16. d Judg. 7. 10, 11. up, ch. 24. 18. 8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine † Heb. shut hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. 12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them. k 13 ¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space being between them : 14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? 15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. Ps. 94. 1, 2, 23. Luke 18. 7. Rom. 12. 19. g See Gen. 47. 29. Deut. 31. 14. Job 7. 1. & 14. 5. 37. 13. Ps. h ch. 31. 6. i ch. 24. 6, 12. k Gen. 2. 21. & 15. 12. 16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have Heb. the not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the sons of death, 2 Sam. 12. 5. Saul acknowledgeth his sin. B. C. about 1060. 1 ch. 24. 16. m ch. 24. 9, 11. n 2 Sam. 16. o Deut. 4. 28. Ps. 120. 5. † Heb. cleaving. p 2 Sam. 14. 16. & 20. 19. 9 ch. 24. 14. r ch. 15. 24. & 24. 17. 8 ch. 18.30. t Ps. 7. 8. & 18. 20. u Gen. 32. 28. about 1058. † Heb. be consumed. I. SAMUEL. king's spear is, and the cruse of water 17 And Saul knew David's voice, 18 And he said, m Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? 19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have "stirred thee up against me, let him †accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the P inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods. David fleeth unto Achish. a 2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. b 3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 5 ¶ And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? B. C. about 1058. a ch. 25. 13. b ch. 21. 10. c ch. 25. 43. 31. & 19. 5. 6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that 20 Now therefore, let not my blood 22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed. 24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. 25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. David fleeth to Gath, and Saul seeketh no more for ing, He hath made his people Ísrael 9, 25. k Judg. 1. 16. of Israel : so shall I escape out of his AND it came to pass in those days, hand. f Job 18. 11. g ch. 14. 37. Prov. 1. 28. Lam. 2. 9. h Num. 12. 6. i Ex. 28. 30. Num. 27, 21. Deut. 33. 8. k Deut. 18. 11. 1 Chr. 10. 13. Is. 8. 19. 1 ver. 3. m Ex. 22. 28. 2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. b 3 ¶ Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. d 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in e Gilboa. f 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, & the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor.. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and * he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. 1 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I Samuel appeareth to him. B. C. 14 And he said unto her, + What form is he of? And she said, An old about 1056. man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 15 ¶ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and P God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. q 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? + Heb. What is his form? n ch. 15. 27. 2 Kings 2. 8, 13. 18 Because thou obeyedst not the ch. 15. 9. voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 10. 13. 48. 10. + Heb. made haste, and fell with the fulness of his stature. 21 ¶ And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and t Judg. 12. 3. have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he rose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded ch. 19. 5. Job 13. 14.. 13 Then said the princes of the Phi- AND it came to pass, when Da listines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, & See ch. 27. 7. which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day? e Dan. 6. 5. d h ch. 18, 7. & 21. 11. i 2 Sam. 3. 25. 2 Kings 19. 27. k ver. 3. + Heb. thou art not good in the eyes of the lords. 5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, h Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands ? 6 T Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and ithy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless † the lords favour thee not. 7 Wherefore now return, and go in + Heb. do not peace, that thou isplease not the lords of the Philistines. evil in the eyes of the lords. 8 ¶ And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so + Heb. before long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king? thee. 20. & 19. 9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good 12am14,17, in my sight, 'as an angel of God: notwithstanding, "the princes of the m ver. 4. B. C. about 1056. n 2 Sam. 4. 4. vid and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the a Amalekites had invaded the south, a See ch. 15.7. and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 3 ¶ So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. + & 27. 8. b ch. 25. 42, 43. 2 Sam. 2. 2. c 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, Ex. 17. 4. because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. + Heb. bitter, Judg. 18. 25. ch. 1. 10. 2 Sam. 17. 8. 2 Kings 4. 27. d Ps. 42. 5. & 56. 3, 4, 11. Hab. 3. 17, 18. e ch. 23. 6, 9. 8 f And David inquired at the LORD, f ch. 23. 2, 4. saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. |