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went do^vn to the wilderness of Paran," (c. 25. 1.) which 

 must have been from Engedi, his last resort, and evidently 

 after the death of Samuel. The wilderness of Parau is not 

 far from Carmel, where he soon removed and married Abigail, 

 the widow of Nabal, and immediately after this, he was pur- 

 sued by Saul, and again saved the king's life from the attempt 

 of Abishai, who accompanied him into the camp. (26. 9.) 

 He fled from thence to Gatli a second time, (27- !•) " And 

 the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines 

 was a full year and four months," (27- 7-) which was until the 

 .reat invasion of Israel by the Philistines, in which David 

 accompanied his benefactor, the king of Gath, (29-2.) and 

 in the course of which Saul and liis sons were slam, and the 

 armies of Israel completely defeated in Mount Gilboa (c.31.) 

 David succeeded to the throne of Judah immediately after 

 beina aged 30 years, as we are informed in many texts ot 

 Scripture. (2 Sam. c. 5. v. 4.) It is therefore impossible, that 

 there could have intervened more than twelve years from the 

 time he was anointed by Samuel, and was sent for by Saul, 

 which was immediately after, till the recognition of his title 

 to the crown ; as many learned commentators suppose, that 

 the cause of Saul's melancholy was the departure of the spirit 

 of God from him, which we are told, settled on David froni 

 ihe moment he was anointed by the Prophet, (Saml. l6. 13.) 

 and perhaps, indeed, the interval was not more than five or 

 .iK vear^. Vossius and Pezron would read two years in place 



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