DAVID. 
threw a dagger at him, which he alfo avoided, and ae 
ately withdrew us the 
liverance alarm 
n him, and gave him 
océation as eae its fervice wa 
- : 
ss f, 
him, yet fecured him the efteem of all Ifrael and Judah 
becaufe they found him a g commander, and fuccefsful 
in all the expeditions in which he employed his troops. 
Saul, being thus ena by David’ 
to give his elder ne Merab fee P 
that by venturing on ‘fome ene pales a the 
Philiftines, in order the more effe€tually to merit the king’s 
daughter, he would be fome time or other cut off in 
an engagement by their hands. David received the pro- 
pofal with humility and gratitude ; but Saul broke his pro- 
mife, and otherwife difpofed of his daughter. 
o cuto 
aes or their ‘ing a at 
war with the Philiftines, or ‘che neceliicy of it to weaken th 
to the public; and 2 bal from chip any breach of the 
rules of religion or morality, w proof of real pa- 
triotifm and public fpivit highly sie tea the thanks of his 
ng and country, an rendere im more Piihog of the 
by the mar- 
David,. therefore, notwith landing 
riters of inferior 
> yet 
deter- 
nd when fuch 
ary to the eae and fafety 
In the cafe before us, David, by the deftruc- 
tion of thefe Ph uliftines, docs not feem to have a€ted con- 
war with his prince and people and, therefore, lawful prize 
wherever he = lay hold of en d in asath expedition 
in which he was employed to harafs and deftra 
David cared “Michal, who afieCtionately eo him » and 
_ Saul, it is plain that he n 
fixed ee exact a aaahee of | 
= ke with regret and vexation, ony God prote&<d 
; thus his apprehenfions and dread of David were 
increafe, and his hatred and malice to aude him rendered 
{til more and more implacable. Soon after this, the Philif. 
a ae their holtilities elas the Hebrews. David 
was in the adti nce and bravery became fo 
e was deem ne feperior to all the coms 
David was p Ps ordin 
radtice, for the kind purpofe of Sivertng his melancholy, 
Saul threw a javelin with {uch force at ee , which, happily 
miffing him, ftuck faft into the wall 0 00 re 
was fitting. avid immediately fled, ne retreated to his 
own houfe. purfued him, and appointed his guards 
to watch him, and to prevent his efcape ; but by the artifice 
and affittance of his wife, he was refcued from th:s danger, 
and got fafe to Samuel at Ramah. As foon as Saul had 
heard of the place of his retreat, he difpatched, at three 
feveral times, meflengers to oe him ; but they were 
deprived, in an extraordinary manner, of the di fpofition and 
David efcaped unhurt. 
a noble evidence of the innocence and loyalty of Samuel a 
of David; and at t a pleafing inftanc 
generous compaffionate mind, of the care of Providence over 
perfecuted virtue, and mpotence of human malice 
owards thofe whom God is determined to preferve. David 
availed himfelf of the opportunity that now bas itfelf of 
making his efcape to Jonathan, and of en 
ference with Saul in his 
the part of a Faithful friend : andin fod 
refentment of his father 
than, David went to Nob, acity belonging to the prieits, in 
his way to the Philiftines, nhc re na he he nded ta 
take refuge from the perfecutions ving at this 
place recovered Golial:’s fword, he hae to Achiih, king 
of Gath ; aan hettile defigns he counteraéted, by feign 
sng himfelf m t has pe faid, by thofe who have ca- 
lumniated the ian ct of David, that he intended to enter 
ty of 
apprehenfion of being affaflinated by 
ing ordered immediately to leave the dominions of Achifh, 
he made the beft of his way out of the territories of the 
Philiftines ; and, in. acknowledgment of his happy deliver- 
ance, he aa the 34th pfaim. Upon his coming aes 
gifttelfed with think 3 and in order to procure water for him 
hree of his worthies broke voneh the hoft of the Philif- 
tines aoe mpe ethlehem, and brought i 
David ; but fu a were his felf. a ~ forbearance, that 
he gedlined drinking it, becaufe een obtained for 
him at cs hazard of the lives of his. Giends: 
eae 
it to. 
The cave 
of 
, 
