by Septuagint
[35] And morning came, and Jonathan went out to the field, as he appointed to do for a signal to David, and a little boy was with him. [36] And he said to the boy, Run, find me the arrows which I shoot: and the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow, and sent it beyond him. [37] And the boy came to the place where the arrow was which Jonathan shot; and Jonathan cried out after the lad, and said, The arrow is on that side of thee and beyond thee. [38] And Jonathan cried out after his boy, saying, Make all speed, and stay not. And Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and brought the arrows to his master. [39] And the boy knew nothing, only Jonathan and David knew. [40] And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to his boy, Go, enter into the city.
[41] And when the lad went in, then David arose from the argab, and fell upon his face, and did obeisance to him three times, and they kissed each other, and wept for each other, for a great while. [42] And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, and as we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord shall be witness between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever — even so let it be. And David arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
Chapter 21
[1] And David comes to Nomba to Abimelech the priest: and Abimelech was amazed at meeting him, and said to him, Why art thou alone, and nobody with thee? [2] And David said to the priest, The king gave me a command to-day, and said to me, Let no one know the matter on which I send thee, an concerning which I have charged thee: and I have charged my servants to be in the place that is called, The faithfulness of God, phellani maemoni. [3] And now if there are under thy hand five loaves, give into my hand what is ready. [4] And the priest answered David, and said, There are no common loaves under my hand, for I have none but holy loaves: if the young men have been kept at least from women, then they shall eat them. [5] And David answered the priest, and said to him, Yea, we have been kept from women for three days: when I came forth for the journey all the young men were purified; but this expedition is unclean, wherefore it shall be sanctified this day because of my weapons.
[6] So Abimelech the priest gave him the shewbread; for there were no loaves there, but only the presence loaves which had been removed from the presence of the Lord, in order that hot bread should be set on, on the day on which he took them.
[7] And there was there on that day one of Saul’s servants detained before the Lord, and his name was Doec the Syrian, tending the mules of Saul. [8] And David said to Abimelech, See if there is here under thy hand spear or sword, for I have not brought in my hand my sword or my weapons, for the word of the king was urgent. [9] And the priest said, Behold the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou smotest in the valley of Ela; and it is wrapt in a cloth: if thou wilt take it, take it for thyself, for there is no other except it here. And David said, Behold, there is none like it; give it me.
[10] And he gave it him; and David arose, and fled in that day from he presence of Saul: and David came to Anchus king of Geth. [11] And the servants of Anchus said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did not the dancing women begin the son to him, saying, Saul has smitten his thousand, and David his ten thousands? [12] And David laid up the words in his heart, and was greatly afraid of Anchus king of Geth. [13] And he changed his appearance before him, and feigned himself a false character in that day; and drummed upon the doors of the city, and used extravagant gestures with his hands, and fell against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard. [14] And Anchus said to his servants, Lo! ye see the man is mad: why have ye brought him in to me? [15] Am I in want of madmen, that ye have brought him in to me to play the madman? He shall not come into the house.
Chapter 22
[1] And David departed thence, and escaped; and he comes to the cave of Odollam, and his brethren hear, and the house of his father, and they go down to him there. [2] And there gathered to him every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was troubled in mind; and he was a leader over them, and there were with him about four hundred men.
[3] And David departed thence to Massephath of Moab, and said to the king of Moab, Let, I pray thee, my father and my mother be with thee, until I know what God will do to me. [4] And he persuaded the King of Moab, and they dwell with him continually, while David was in the hold. [5] And Gad the prophet said to David, Dwell not in the hold: go, and thou shalt enter the land of Juda. So David went, and came and dwelt in the city of Saric. [6] And Saul heard that David was discovered, and his men with him: now Saul dwelt in the hill below the field that is in Rama, and his spear was in his hand, and all his servants stood near him. [7] And Saul said to his servants that stood by him, Hear now, ye sons of Benjamin, will the son of Jessae indeed give all of you fields and vineyards, and will he make you all captains of hundreds and captains of thousands? [8] That ye are conspiring against me, and there is no one that informs me, whereas my son has made a covenant with the son of Jessae, and there is no one of you that is sorry for me, or informs me, that my son has stirred up my servant against me for an enemy, as it is this day?
[9] And Doec the Syrian who was over the mules of Saul answered and said, I saw the son of Jessae as he came to Nomba to Abimelech son of Achitob the priest. [10] And the priest enquired of God for him, and gave him provision, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
[11] And the king sent to call Abimelech son of Achitob and all his father’s sons, the priests that were in Nomba; and they all came to the king. [12] And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Achitob. And he said, Lo! I am here, speak, my lord. [13] And Saul said to him, Why have thou and the son of Jessae conspired against me, that thou shouldest give him bread and a sword, and shouldest enquire of God for him, to raise him up against me as an enemy, as he is this day? [14] And he answered the king, and said, And who is there among all thy servants faithful as David, and he is a son-in-law of the king, and he is executor of all thy commands, and is honourable in thy house? [15] Have I begun to-day to enquire of God for him? By no means: let not the king bring a charge against his servant, and against thee whole of my father’s house; for thy servant knew not in all these matters anything great or small.
[16] And king Saul said, Thou shalt surely die, Abimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house. [17] And the king said to the footmen that attended on him, Draw nigh and slay the priests of the Lord, because their hand is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and they did not inform me. But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to fall upon the priest of the Lord. [18] And the king said to Doec, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests: and Doec the Syrian turned, and slew the priests of the Lord in that day, three hundred and five men, all wearing an ephod. [19] And he smote Nomba the city of the priest with the edge of the sword, both man, and woman, infant and suckling, and calf, and ox, and sheep.
[20] And one son of Abimelech son of Achitob escapes, and his name was Abiathar, and he fled after David. [21] And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain all the priests of the Lord. [22] And David said to Abiathar, I knew it in that day, that Doec the Syrian would surely tell Saul: I am guilty of the death of the house of thy father. [23] Dwell with me; fear not, for wherever I shall seek a place of safety for my life, I will also seek a place for thy life, for thou art safely guarded while with me.
Chapter 23
[1] And it was told David, saying, behold, the Philistines war in Keila, and they rob, they trample on the threshing-floors. [2] And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said, Go, and thou shalt smite these Philistines, and shalt save Keila. [3] And the men of David said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judea; and how shall it be if we go to Keila? Shall we go after the spoils of the Philistines? [4] And David enquired yet again of the Lord; and the Lord answered him, and said to him, Arise and go down to Keila, for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hands. [5] So David and his men with him went to Keila, and fought with the Philistines; and they fled fro
m before him, and he carried off their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter, and David rescued the inhabitants of Keila. [6] And it came to pass when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David, that he went down with David to Keila, having and ephod in his hand.
[7] And it was told Saul that David was come to Keila: and Saul said, God has sold him into my hands, for he is shut up, having entered into a city that has gates and bars. [8] And Saul charged all the people to go down to war to Keila, to besiege David and his men. [9] And David knew that Saul spoke openly of mischief against him: and David said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod of the Lord. [10] And David said, Lord God of Israel, thy servant has indeed heard, that Saul seeks to come against Keila to destroy the city on my account. [11] Will the place be shut up? And now will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, It will be shut up.
[12] 13 And David arose, and the men with him, in number about four hundred, and they went forth from Keila, and went whithersoever they could go: and it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keila, and he forbore to come. [14] And he dwelt in Maserem in the wilderness, in the narrow passes; and dwelt in the wilderness in mount Ziph, in the dry country. And Saul sought him continually, but the Lord delivered him not into his hands. [15] And David perceived that Saul went forth to seek David; and David was in the dry mountain in the New Ziph.
[16] And Jonathan son of Saul rose, and went to David to Caene, and strengthened his hands in the Lord. [17] And he said to 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 second to thee; and Saul my father knows it. [18] So they both made a covenant before the Lord; and David dwelt in Caene, and Jonathan went to his home.
[19] And the Ziphites came up out of the dry country to Saul to the hill, saying, Behold, is not David hidden with us in Messara, in the narrows in Caene in the hill of Echela, which is on the right of Jessaemon? [20] And now according to all the king’s desire to come down, let him come down to us; they have shut him up into the hands of the king. [21] And Saul said to them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, for ye have been grieved on my account. [22] Go, I pray you, and make preparations yet, and notice his place where his foot shall be, quickly, in that place which ye spoke of, lest by any means he should deal craftily. [23] Take notice, then, and learn, and I will go with you; and it shall come to pass that if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Juda. [24] And the Ziphites arose, and went before Saul: and David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, westward, to the right of Jessaemon.
[25] And Saul and his men went to seek him: and they brought word to David, and he went down to the rock that was in the wilderness of Maon: and Saul heard, and followed after David to the wilderness of Maon. [26] And Saul and his men go on one side of the mountain, and David and his men are on the other side of the mountain: and David was hiding himself to escape from Saul: and Saul and his men encamped against David and his men, in order to take them.
[27] And there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come hither, for the Philistines have invaded the land. [28] So Saul returned from following after David, and went to meet the Philistines: therefore that place was called The divided Rock.
Chapter 24
[1] And David rose up from thence, and dwelt in the narrow passes of Engaddi. [2] And it came to pass when Saul returned from pursuing after the Philistines, that it was reported to him, saying, David is in the wilderness of Engaddi. [3] And he took with him three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of Saddaeem. [4] And he came to the flocks of sheep that were by the way, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to make preparation, and David and his men were sitting in the inner part of the cave. [5] And the men of David said to him, Behold, this is the day of which the Lord spoke to thee, that he would deliver thine enemy into thy hands; and thou shalt do to him as it is good in thy sight. So David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s garment secretly. [6] And it came to pass after this that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of his garment. [7] And David said to his men, The Lord forbid it me, that I should do this ting to my lord the anointed of the Lord, to lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord. [8] So David persuaded his men by his words, and did not suffer them to arise and slay Saul: and Saul arose and went his way.
[9] And David rose up and went after him out of the cave: and David cried after Saul, saying, My lord, O king! and Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance to him.
[10] And David said to Saul, Why dost thou hearken to the words of the people, saying, Behold, David seeks thy life? [11] Behold, thine eyes have seen this day how that the Lord has delivered thee this day into my hands in the cave; and I would not slay thee, but spared thee, and said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed. [12] And behold, the skirt of thy mantle is in my hand, I cut off the skirt, and did not slay thee: know then and see to-day, there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou layest snares for my soul to take it. [13] The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord requite thee on thyself: but my hand shall not be upon thee. [14] As the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: but my hand shall not be upon thee. [15] And now after whom dost thou come forth, O king of Israel? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea? [16] The Lord be judge and umpire between me and thee, the Lord look upon and judge my cause, and rescue me out of thy hand.
[17] And it came to pass when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, Son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. [18] And Saul said to David, Thou art more righteous that I, for thou hast recompensed me good, but I have recompensed thee evil. [19] And thou hast told me to-day what good thou hast done me, how the Lord shut me up into thy hands to-day, and thou didst not slay me. [20] And if any one should find his enemy in distress, and should send him forth in a good way, then the Lord will reward him good, as thou has done this day. [21] And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand. [22] Now then swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, that thou wilt not blot out my name from the house of my father. [23] So David swore to Saul: and Saul departed to his place, and David and his men went up to the strong-hold of Messera.
Chapter 25
[1] And Samuel died, and all Israel assembled, and bewailed him, and they bury him in his house in Armathaim: and David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Maon.
[2] And there was a man in Maon, and his flocks were in Carmel, and he was a very great man; and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand she-goats: and he happened to be shearing his flock in Carmel. [3] And the man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigaia: and his wife was of good understanding and very beautiful in person: but the man was harsh, and evil in his doings, and the man was churlish. [4] And David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal the Carmelite was shearing his sheep. [5] And David sent ten young men, and he said to the young men, Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and ask him in my name how he is. [6] And thus shall ye say, May thou and thy house seasonably prosper, and all thine be in prosperity.
[7] And now, behold, I have heard that thy shepherds who were with is in the wilderness are shearing thy sheep, and we hindered them not, neither did we demand any thing from them all the time they were in Carmel. [8] Ask thy servants, and they will tell thee. Let then thy servants find grace in thine eyes, for we are come on a good day; give we pray thee, whatsoever thy hand may find, to thy son David.
[9] So the servants come and speak these words to Nabal, according to all these words in the name of David. [10] And Nabal sprang up, and answered the servants of David, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jessae? Now-a-
days there is abundance of servants who depart every one from his master. [11] And shall I take my bread, and my wine, and my beasts that I have slain for my shearers, and shall I give them to men of whom I know not whence they are? [12] So the servants of David turned back, and returned, and came and reported to David according to these words. [13] And David said to his men, Gird on every man his sword. And they went up after David, about four hundred men: and two hundred abode with the stuff.
[14] And one of the servants reported to Abigaia the wife of Nabal, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our lord; but he turned away from them. [15] And the men were very good to us; they did not hinder us, neither did they demand from us any thing all the days that we were with them. [16] And when we were in the field, they were as a wall round about us, both by night and by day, all the days that we were with them feeding the flock. [17] And now do thou consider, and see what thou wilt do; for mischief is determined against our lord and against his house; and he is a vile character, and one cannot speak to him.
[18] And Abigaia hasted, and took two hundred loaves, and two vessels of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five ephahs of fine flour, and one homer of dried grapes, and two hundred cakes of figs, and put them upon asses. [19] And she said to her servants, Go on before me, and behold I come after you: but she told not her husband. [20] And it came to pass when she had mounted her ass and was going down by the covert of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down to meet her, and she met them. [21] And David said, Perhaps I have kept all his possessions in the wilderness that he should wrong me, and we did not order the taking anything of all his goods; yet he has rewarded me evil for good. [22] So God do to David and more also, if I leave one male of all that belong to Nabal until the morning.
