THE KING'S MIRROR 333 



though innocent, because he found that God loved him; 

 and he slew the bishop, though guiltless, and so fierce 

 was he that he slew everything in the city that had life 

 and afterward burned the city. But where God had 

 commanded him to use severity of this sort, there he 

 had spared; here, however, he slew God's servants in 

 defiance of God's command. But in David's case God 

 passed a more lenient judgment for the reason that, 

 just as he perceived the ferocity in Saul's heart, he 

 found true repentance and clemency in David's heart, 

 as I shall now show you. 



There was a son of the bishop Ahimelech, Abiathar 

 by name, who was hid in a cave when all those were 

 slain of whom I have just spoken. Abiathar fled to 

 David and told him all these happenings. But when 

 David heard these tidings, he sighed and spoke thus 

 in deep sorrow: "May God in His mercy forgive me 

 for this slaughter, for I have too great a share in it, 

 having eaten your father's bread. And' now since you 

 have come hither, abide with me; and if God permits 

 me to live, He will also protect you with me, and let 

 whatever God wishes happen to us both." Thereupon 

 David elevated him to the bishop's office which his 

 father had held. But when David's kinsmen learned 

 that he was abiding in the forest, they joined him with 

 a large force counting not fewer than four hundred men; 

 and from that time on David grew in strength as God 

 willed.* He camped among the hills with this force and 

 made repeated attacks on Saul's enemies, but never on 

 the king himself or his men. But whenever Saul learned 



* / Samuel, xxii, 1-2, 20-23. 



