the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, "Here I am, my lord.

13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lic in wait, as at this day?

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me : let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, 'less or more.

16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand

also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD,

18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.

22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Docg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.

23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

7 Or, guard.

2. Every one that was in distress," &c.-See the note on Judges xi. 3.

8 Heb. runners.

3. Let my father and my mother.....be with you.”—This is the last we hear of David's parents. The Jews think that his brethren were included; but that the king of Moab destroyed the whole family, except one brother who was preserved by Nahash, king of the Ammonites, and that this was the kind act of that king for which David afterwards (2 Sam. x. 2) expresses his gratitude.

3. “ Forest of Hareth.”—Jerome says that there was in his time a village called Arath, which had been the abode of David. It was west of Jerusalem; by which, with the usual latitude, we may understand south-west or south-west by west, which was probably the true direction, as David's present refuge does not seem to have been far from Keilah. This place is only mentioned here.

6. "In Gibeah under a tree in Ramah."-This is not intelligible. Ramah means a high place, or hill, and should not here be rendered as a proper name. Boothroyd's version is, "Saul was sitting on a hill, in Gibeah, under a tamarisktree." This determination of the kind of tree is very probable, as the Hebrew word ashe) is similar to that (ather) which denotes a species of tamarisk which occurs frequently in Western Asia. Probably there was no house large enough in Gibeah for him to hold his court within doors; and if there had been such, he might still probably have preferred the situation in which he now appears, with the height for his throne, the tree for his canopy, and the spear for his sceptre. The assembly is described in such a manner as to suggest the idea that this was the regular form in which Saul sat in state to administer public affairs, and not merely an accidental occurrence. It is, in fact, such a position as a modern Oriental prince or chief would select when any emergency required him to hold his court o. transact his affairs in the open air; and which those who do so habitually, regularly prefer, both for the sake of state and convenience. It will be observed that Saul is almost never mentioned without a spear in his hand. Spears seem to have been the earliest sceptres, to illustrate which Bishop Patrick cites a passage from Justin (lib. xliii. cap. 3), who, speaking of the early times of the Romans, says, "In those days kings hitherto had spears as signs of royal authority, which the Greeks called sceptres: for in the beginning of things, the ancients worshipped spears for immortal gods; in memory of which religion, spears are still added to the images of the gods." And as some of the Greeks called spears sceptres," so others, who had called a spear by its common name, even when regarded as a sceptre, continued long after to call their sceptres "spears." So Pausanias tells us that sceptres were called spears by the kings of Argos. 18. "He fell upon the priests, and slew...fourscore and five persons."-Thus the unrighteous command of Saul accomplished to the letter the Lord's threatenings against the house of Eli:-" Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin I will also make an end," ch. iii. 11, 12; see also ii. 27–36. Abiathar indeed escaped, and was afterwards exalted to the high-priesthood; but it was one of the first acts of Solomon's reiga to "thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord, that he might fulfil the word of the Lord which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh" (1 Kings ii. 27). The prediction does not, however, extenuate the atrocity cf Saul's conduct in sacrificing so many innocent and venerable persons to his blind rage.

CHAPTER XXIII.

. David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescueth Keilah. 7 God shewing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites, he escapeth from Keilah. 14 In Ziph Jonathan cometh and comforteth him. 19 The Ziphites discover him to Saul. 25 At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines. 29 He dwelleth at En-gedi.

THEN they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech 'fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.

hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David

was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

16 ¶ And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

25 Saul also and his men went to seek 12 Then said David, Will the men of him. And they told David: wherefore he Keilah 'deliver me and my men into the came down into a rock, and abode in the 3 Heb, on the right hand. 4 Or, the wilderness. Heb. foot shall be.

1 Chap. 22. 20.

2 Heb, shut up.

27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying. Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have 'invaded the land.

wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

Heb. spread themselves upon, &c.

28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.

7 That is, the rock of divisions.

Verse 2. "Keilah."-The context evidently places this in the western portion of Judah's territory; probably not far from Adullam. It is mentioned, in Josh. xv. 44, among the western towns of Judah. Jerome says that it existed in the fourth century as a small village, eight miles from Eleutheropolis, on the road to Hebron, where the tomb of the prophet Habakkuk was shown.

15. "Wilderness of Ziph."-See the note on Josh. xv. 21; where it is seen that there were two Ziphs, one of which | Jerome identifies with the Ziph of the present history, and places eight miles east of Hebron; and as Ziph, Carmel, and Maon were apparently at no very considerable distance from each other-as appears from this history, and from Josh. xv. 55, where they are named together-this location is corroborated by that in which he finds Carmel at ten miles from Hebron. The other Ziph, mentioned in verse 24 of the same chapter, as being in the south country, may have been more distant from Hebron than that mentioned by Jerome; but if, with Calmet and others, we determine this more remote Ziph to be that of David's history, it then ceases to be that in the vicinity of Carmel, which the history seems to require it to be; and it ceases indeed to be in the same district with Carmel, since the other Ziph was in the south country, whereas Ziph, Carmel, and Maon were in the hill country. The maps usually place Ziph and Carmel respectively at about double the distances given by Jerome. But as this alteration implies that Jerome was mistaken in two statements at once, concerning a district in which he resided at a time when the sources of topographical illustration were more complete than at present, we feel reluctant to depart from his account, particularly as we do not perceive that any historical statement is improved by the alteration. But we may understand Jerome's description of "east," with the usual latitude, as explained in the note to chap. xiii. 5. If the history should require it, we might, speaking loosely, place Ziph to the north-east from Hebron, and Carmel to the south-east, at the assigned distances. One thing seems probable, that, of the three towns, Maon and Carmel were considerably more to the south than Ziph. These three places, together with Hebron, seem to have been the principal towns in the mountainous country between the central mountains and the Dead Sea; and if the conjecture be tenable, it would obviate many difficulties to consider that "the wilderness of Ziph," called from the town of that name, served to distinguish the northern half of the hill country-say, north of a line drawn from Hebron to the Dead Sea; and the wilderness of Maon and the district of Carmel constituted the southern half of the same region. This southern district was apparently divided, longitudinally, into two parts, that denominated from Maon being the eastern, nearest the Dead Sea, and that denominated from Carmel being the western, or nearest to the central mountains. A hilly region was often called a wilderness, as at present by the Arabs; and it usually took its name from some principal town within its limits.

19. “In the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon.”—This hill was, of course, “ the mountain in the wilderness of Ziph," of verse 14. Being to the south (literally on the right hand"—that is, to the south of one facing the east) of Jeshimon, the position of the latter necessarily determines that of the hill. The only datum, separate from conjecture, which we have for finding Jeshimon, is that afforded by Jerome, who says that it lay ten miles to the south of Jericho, near the Dead Sea. If this position be allowed, then the hill Hachilah, on the south of Jeshimon, would agree exceedingly well with that of the remarkable hill, twelve miles to the south (Jeshimon being ten) of Jericho, where, after-times, the high-priest Jonathan built the famous castle of Masada; and which, from its impregnable character, was the chosen retreat of desperate or persecuted people. Josephus describes it as a high rocky hill, of large circumfetence, surrounded with valleys of such vast depth downward, that the eye could scarcely penetrate their profundity from the hill The cliffs of this rock were so craggy that no animal could tread them, except at one or two places, where the ascent was practicable, though full of danger and difficulty. The path from the west was of easiest ascent; but the other, which led by an ascent of thirty furlongs from the Dead Sea, was called the "Serpent," on account of its narrowLess and numerous and intricate windings. The path was broken off at the prominent parts of the rock, and returned frequently into itself; and it was at the same time so narrow that a person was obliged, as it were, to proceed first on ole leg and then on the other; while the fearful chasms and precipices rendered destruction inevitable if the foot slipped, and were enough to quell the stoutest heart. At the top of the mountain was a plain, on which Jonathan built the fortress which was rebuilt by Herod, who also added a palace, and enclosed the whole level at the top with a high wall, seven furlongs in extent. This fortress acquired considerable fame in the later wars of the Jews. It is, however, apparently too far north to have been in the wilderness of Ziph, unless on such a supposition as that with which we concluded the preceding note.

21. « In the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon." 25. "He came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon."-That is, when David heard of Saul's approach, he left the hill Hachilah, and removed are to the south, into a plain in the wilderness of Maon, and from thence to a strong rocky hill in the same wilderLess. We think this passage rather corroborates our impression concerning the wildernesses of Ziph and Maon. As to the town of the latter name, we know no precise data for determining its relative place, unless by the inferences wich the history of David affords. In the note to Josh. xv. 21, we gave the common statement, "about thirty miles south of Jerusalem," but our idea as to the probable extent of the wilderness of Maon would allow it to be placed much more to the south, if the history should seem to require it, as perhaps it does; for, by enlarging the wilderness, we are the less restricted in the location of the town. The bearing of some of the remarks on this chapter will appear in the 25th.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 David in a cave at En-gedi, having cut off Saul's skirt, spareth his life. 8 He sheweth thereby his innocency. 16 Saul, acknowledging his fault, taketh an oath of David, and departeth.

AND it came to pass, when Saul was returned from 'following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.

against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.

11 Morcover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek Da-hand shall not be upon thee. vid and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

7 So David 'stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee: and I said, I will not put forth mine hand

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice. my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thec evil.

18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had 'delivered m into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will h let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast dond unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well tha thou shalt surely be king, and that the king dom of Israel shall be established in thing hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my see after me, and that thou wilt not destroy m name out of my father's house.

22 And David sware unto Saul. An Saul went home; but David and his me gat them up unto the hold.

"Heb. cut off. 4 Heb. judge. 5 Heb. shut up.

Verse 1. "Wilderness of En-gedi."-In the note to Josh. xv. 21, we remarked on the different positions assigned En-gedi. All agree in putting the place somewhere on the western coast of the Dead Sea; but while some fix it the northern extremity of the sea, others place it at the southern, and some in the middle. It seems to us that all th difference results from reasoning upon the old ideas concerning the extent of this sea, rather than from the more acc rate information which modern travellers have given. Thus. Josephus places En-gedi 300 furlongs from Jerusalen and as in another place he says that the Dead Sea (meaning of course its head) was at the same distance from Jer salem, it was inferred-and so far not without reason--that he intended to place En-gedi at the northern extremity

the lake. But Jerome declared that En-gedi was at its southern extremity: and Reland was thought to have proved the impossibility of this, because, as he said, the Dead Sea being 580 furlongs in length, En-gedi, if towards the southern extremity, must have been 500 or 600 furlongs from Jerusalem, instead of 300 as stated by Josephus. But our improved knowledge of Palestine shows that the statement of Josephus, as to the distance, and of Jerome, as to the direction, very well coincide; for if we measure off 300 furlongs from Jerusalem towards the southern termination of the Dead Sea, in the reduced form which it now bears in our maps, we find that the given distance brings us sufficiently near the southern end of the lake, to claim for the statement of Jerome that respectful deference which his intimate knowledge of Palestine in general, and particularly of a district in which he for so many years resided, fairly demands. Josephus does not say that En-gedi was at the northern end of the lake, and Jerome does say that it was at the southern; and as these separate statements are shown to be compatible, we certainly prefer the result obtained from their concurrence, to the inferential conclusion deduced from widely separated passages in Josephus, and at variance with the account of Jerome. It seems also far more probable that David should have retired to a somewhat greater distance, than that he should have at once returned to the neighbourhood from which Saul had recently chased him, and where his power was necessarily stronger than in the distant wilderness of Maon. Indeed, Josephus himself seems to confirm the southern position of En-gedi, when, in enumerating the provincial capitals in this part of Judæa, he counts them from south to north in this order-"Idumea, Engaddi, Herodium, Jericho." As the order is here obvious, Engaddi would surely have been named after Herodium, had it been in the northern position.

2. Wild goats" (y, yeailim).-This had, perhaps, better have been left untranslated here, as a proper name. That some animal of the Capra genus is intended seems certain. but the species has been variously determined. The name is derived from a verb (y, alah) which signifies to ascend or mount up; and which expressively refers to the distinguishing characteristic in the habits of these animals, which impels them to leave the valleys and the plains, to ascend the rocks and rejoice upon the mountains. Our woodcut represents a variety of the Capra mambrica, which, with some variations, is common to Egypt, Syria, and other parts of the East; and which is perhaps as likely as any that has been mentioned to be the animal intended. Indeed the common accounts say that the specific name of sambrica is derived from the mountains of Mambre, in the centre of Palestine, near the river Hebron, where the animals abound. This is a confused account, since there is no mountain of Mambre or river of Hebron; and if the mountains ef Mamre, the ancient name for the locality of the town of Hebron, be intended, as we suppose, it is not in the centre, but in the south of Palestine. The mountains of Mamre, or Hebron, are doubtless meant; and this is important, because it was among the mountains in the southern part of Palestine that this "rock of the wild goats" occurred. The Capra mamirica, in all its varieties, is chiefly distinguished by its long, pendulous, but still moveable, ears. The usual domestic variety of the Levant is that which is figured in the cut to Levit. xvi.; but whether that, in its wild state, be the goat now in question, or that more remarkable variety, with a head nearly resembling that of a sheep, which our present woodcut exhibits, it is impossible to conjecture. The figures in the cut are from living specimens in the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris.

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