Samuel died

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1 Samuel 25:1, “And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.”

Samuel had been a good judge for Israel and had overseen a very difficult period in their history. He supervised the transition from the period of the Judges to the time of the monarchy. The Lord trusted Samuel’s leadership through the failure of Saul’s reign, when the people had chosen to have a king like their neighbouring nations. When that had failed Samuel faithfully obeyed the Lord and anointed the Lord’s choice of king, a man whose heart was pure before the Lord. When his work was done, Samuel was offered the rest of those who obey the Lord. After that David moved even further away and went right down into the Sinai. He didn’t feel as safe without Samuel as he had felt as long as Samuel was alive because he knew that Samuel was praying for him. There are many people today who feel that they aren’t much use in serving the Lord but everyone who prays is very useful.

The Lord reward thee good

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1 Samuel 24:16–22, “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. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.”

Saul recognised David’s voice after David called out. David was Saul’s son in law so Saul called David his son. Even though he had been obsessed by the thought of killing David, he had a lucid moment and realised what he was trying to do. He wept for the relationship that he had destroyed and admitted that David had been good to him while he wanted to do evil to David. Who would ever let his enemy escape when he had the chance to kill him? David, instead had acted with a pure heart and Saul understood that the Lord would respect David’s attitude. Saul asked David not to kill all of his descendants after his kingdom was finished and David had taken over as king.

A dead dog

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1 Samuel 24:9–15, “And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 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 against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed. Moreover, 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. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.”

David called out to Saul to let the king know that he wasn’t trying to kill him. David believed that some of Saul’s men had poisoned the king’s mind against David and he wanted to show the king that he wasn’t trying to kill the king. He showed Saul the part of the coat that he had taken to prove that he wasn't trying to kill Saul. After all, if David was close enough to remove part of the coat that Saul was wearing then he was close enough to kill Saul. Surely this was sufficient proof for Saul. Even though David had been anointed king over Israel by Samuel the prophet, Saul still occupied the throne. David believed that he should trust the Lord to work according to His own timetable and not to try and force things to happen. He knew that killing one king could well lead to the murder of another king, himself. He didn’t want to start a long vendetta in Israel. David also compared himself as a dead dog to Saul the powerful and mighty king.

Upon the rocks of the wild goats

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1 Samuel 24:1–8, “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 Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 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. 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. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 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. 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. 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.”

David escaped when the Lord intervened and the Philistines attacked Israel. There are some people who don’t believe that the Lord will use someone like the Philistines to further His purposes, that was the major issue that troubled the prophet Habakkuk when the Lord used to Babylonians to take Israel into exile but he understood what the Lord was doing and finished his prophecy with these words; “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” (Hab 3:17–19) David was saved at that stage. However, Saul became increasingly obsessed with eliminating David as he was overcome, more and more, by the evil spirit that the Lord sent to him. Saul went down to Engedi, where David was hiding, in the hope of finally capturing David. Engedi was known as a place of the wild goat kids, that’s why we read that Saul and his three thousand men went to find David in the rocks of the wild goats. They came to a place where the sheep where penned near the oasis and Saul needed to have a comfort stop so he went into a cave, as is appropriate for a king. David and his men were hiding in the back of the cave while Saul was taking his comfort. David’s men wanted to kill Saul while he was there but David had great respect for the Lord and the fact that the Lord had anointed Saul king over Israel. Even though Saul had proven himself to be disobedient to the Lord David didn’t see that as on opportunity for him to disobey the Lord. However, David cut of part of Saul’s coat as he was occupied in the cave. When Saul went out of the cave, David repented that he had done something that might humiliate the Lord’s anointed. He went out of the cave and called out to Saul and treated the king with the correct royal protocol by bowing down to the king.

The Philistines have invaded the land

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1 Samuel 23:19–29, “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? 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. And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.  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. 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. 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. Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 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. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.”

Some of the people who lived in that dry remote region knew that David was living there and hoped to get some favour from the king for themselves. They went to Saul and told him that David was hiding out in their region. Saul was glad and blessed them for letting him know about David’s hiding place. He told them to secretly find David’s position and let him know so that he could ambush Davis. The men of Ziph told Saul where David’s hiding place was and Saul set out to capture David. David was hiding in the very barren hills on the western side of the Dead Sea. Saul managed to get very close to where David was hiding and David moved away because he was afraid that Saul might capture him. Before long, Saul and his men had managed to surround David and his men and were ready to spring the trap. Just at that moment, Saul received a message from home telling him that a raiding part of Philistines had come up from the coastal plains and were attacking Israel. Saul had to leave David so that he could defend his country from these invaders. David moved away from that area and went to hide in Engedi, which is an oasis on the shores of the Dead Sea.

Ziph

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1 Samuel 23:14–18, “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. And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 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. And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.”

David stayed away from inhabited places and lived in the south of Israel. The area in the south, known as the Negev, gets drier as one moves south into the Sinai, where it eventually becomes desert. David lived in these remote isolated places, where few people but nomads lived. He didn’t want to be in the same position that he was when he was in Keilah. If if stayed away from towns then there would be no one who could betray him to Saul. Saul, on the other hand, became obsessed with killing David and spent a large amount of resources, that should have been used elsewhere, trying to find David. Jonathan was a good man who trusted the Lord and understood that the Lord had chosen David over Saul. Jonathan was willing to risk his life and remain loyal to his friend so he went and met David and they encouraged each other. Jonathan promised David that Saul would not find him where he was hiding. He also promised, by saying this, that he wouldn’t betray David. They reinforced the agreement that they had made to care for each other and their families. Jonathan went back to his duties as Saul’s heir and David returned to his hiding place.

They will deliver thee up

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1 Samuel 23:7–13, “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. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 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. 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. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up. 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.”

David had defended Keilah from the Philistine attacks and remained in the city for some time with his men and his priest. Saul heard, from his spies, that David was in Keilah and decided that this was the ideal situation to deal with David, once and for all. He believed that if could find David in a walled city then he could surround the city with his army and David would not be able to escape. On the other hand, David knew that Saul was determined to kill him so he was wary. He called the priest and asked him to enquire of the Lord as to what he should do. He asked the Lord, who knows the future, in contrast to Satan, who can read the Bible but doesn’t know the future, what would happen. David wanted to know if the people in Keilah would hand him over to Saul if Saul besieged the city and threatened to destroy it. Even though David had saved the city, they had no real and long term loyalty to David. The Lord told David that they would  not protect him so David went away to another place. Saul had mustered his armies to destroy David but, when he heard that David had gone, he stood his army down and didn’t go to Keilah. It is a pity that Saul didn’t go to save Keilah as he had save Jabeshgilead.

David enquired of the Lord

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1 Samuel 23:1–6, “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 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. 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? 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. 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. 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.”

As long as Saul was fighting against the Lord and trying to destroy his own best man, the Philistines were able to come and attack Israel to take plunder. When David heard that the Philistines were conducting raids against the Israeli farmers he realised that he would have to save Israel from these incursions. His first step was to ask the Lord if that was the best things to do. He had a priest, Abiathar, with him so he would not follow Saul’s example and act as a priest. The Lord told David to go and attack the Philistines, after all, they were Israel’s true enemies. David went and saved the people from Keilah, not only that, they took spoil from the Philistines rather than letting the take spoil from Israelis. David was actually doing the job that Saul as the anointed king should be doing. We should also note that Ahimelech, the priest brought the ephod with him when the rest of his clan were slaughtered. The ephod was part of the ceremonial garments worn by the priest when he conducted his ceremonial duties. Some people believe that this garment was indicative of the Lord’s presence and was associated with Urim and Thummim, the stones used to discover the Lord’s will. When Saul tried to discover the Lord’s will the Lord didn’t answer him the Lord didn’t automatically answer everyone, only those who had a true and proper relationship with the Lord under His Divine terms. Obviously, the connection of the presence of the priest and David’s true heart led to the proper circumstance for the Lord to show His presence and lead David according to His will.

Abiathar

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1 Samuel 22:20–23, “And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD’S priests. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”

One of the priest’s sons was able to escape from the slaughter and came to let David know Saul had committed this grave crime against the Lord and His priests David told the priest, Abiathar, to stay with him as he would be safe while the Lord protected David and his men from Saul. David knew that Doeg, the Edomite was the guilty party but he also grieved that he was partly responsible for the death of an entire priestly clan.

Hear now, ye Benjamites

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1 Samuel 22:6–19, “When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. Then the king sent to call Ahimelech 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. And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. 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 lie in wait, as at this day? 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? 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. And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house. 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. 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. 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.”

Saul heard that David had been at Adullam and told his servants that David came from a different tribe and wouldn’t do anything for the men from Benjamin. After all, the rest of the Israelis had tried to destroy Benjamin earlier. He played on their fears so that they would support him as the king. Then Saul blamed his men for being on David’s side because no one told him that Jonathan and David were friends. Of course, it was quite obvious to everyone that they were friends and everyone assumed that Saul would know. However, Doeg, who wasn’t even an Israeli, was looking to get some favour with the king and he told Saul that David got Goliath’s sword from Ahimelech the priest. Saul was still paranoid and affected by the evil spirit that came to him when he disobeyed the Lord. He called for the priest and asked them why they had helped David. The priest didn’t even know that there was any problem between David and Saul. As far as he knew, David was Saul’s most loyal soldier and had done more for Saul and the kingdom than any other man. Saul became very angry and told his men to execute the entire family of priests for helping David. All Saul’s soldiers were afraid to kill the priests because they were afraid of the Lord and His holiness. Doeg, however, was a foreigner and didn’t even care about the Lord or his ways so he embarked on a massive pogrom and executed the entire priestly clan including their wives and children.

Distressed, in debt and discontented

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1 Samuel 22:1–5, “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.”

Adullam is south west of Jerusalem an in Israel, however it was a remote and isolated place. It was fairly close to Bethlehem, David’s home. David sent for his family and asked them to come to him. By this time he was a senior military leader in Israel so his brothers would be willing to come to him, unlike their attitude when he first went to fight against Goliath. David was afraid that Saul might kill his whole family in revenge for the fact that David had escaped his clutches. David made an arrangement with the king of Moab to look after his parents because they were too old to live in caves and keep moving to try and escape Saul. At least they would be safe there. Quite a few people heard about David and respected the fact that he had defeated Goliath, many others who wanted to escape their debts, their mundane lives or the problems they faced came to follow David trusting him to give them a better life. Before long, David had his own small army of four hundred men and became a war lord on the edges of Israel. Gad, the Lord’s prophet came and told David to move away from Adullam so he moved further south into a forested region where he would be safer.

Feigned himself mad

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1 Samuel 21:10–15, “And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?”

David had remained loyal to the king of Israel and had kept true to the Lord but now he found himself forced out of his own home and away from his friends. He didn’t know what to do so he went to Achish the king of Gath. He had previously beaten Goliath, the Philistine giant, who came from Gath in a battle. At this stage, David had lost hope because everything seemed to be against him and he was afraid that he would be killed if he remained anywhere in Israel. However, the courtiers and military leaders in Gath recognised David and told their king about him. David was even more afraid that he would be killed. David still had faith in the Lord and he knew that he had been anointed king over Israel but he had run out of hope. He was tired and afraid and was acting out of instinct rather than faith because he was so afraid that he would be killed. When David realised that the Philistines in Gath were talking about him he pretended to be mad so that they wouldn’t kill him. When they thought that David was mad, they sent him away because they didn’t want another madman hanging around. The attitude to people with mental illnesses was quite different in those days that it is today.

Goliath's sword

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1 Samuel 21:1–9, “Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away. Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul. And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste. And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.”

By this time Saul had become a paranoid and erratic leader so everyone in the kingdom was on edge. No one knew if someone else was watching and would pass a message on to say that they weren’t behaving in the king’s interests. Ahimelech, the priest, was concerned when David came to meet him because David was alone even though he was a senior commander in the army. David told the priest that he was doing secret business for the king and would meet his men in another place so no one else should know what was happening. David was hungry and he knew his men would be hungry so he wanted some food and asked the priest if there was any food. There was only bread that was dedicated to the priests but Ahimelech told David he could take it for his men as long as they were ceremonially clean. David also needed a weapon and Goliath’s sword, that David had taken as a trophy in combat with the giant was also evadable so David took that sword as well. One of Saul’s spies saw what was happening, He wasn’t even an Israeli but came from the Edom, the home of Esau’s descendants. He was in charge of the king’s herds. He saw what was happening.

Carry them to the city

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1 Samuel 20:35–42, “And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.”

After Jonathan discovered his father’s true intentions, he chose to be loyal to David rather than Saul. He went out into the countryside and followed the plan that he had made with David. Because Jonathan was a senior leader in the army he had a young boy to come with him and look after his equipment. Jonathan was also an archer so he wanted to test his bow and the arrows. Each arrow that was used in practice had to be retrieved and kept for future use so Jonathan shot at the target he had in mind and then sent the boy to get the arrows. When the boy returned with the arrows, Jonathan gave the boy his bow and told him to return to the city. David understood the meaning of Jonathan signal so he came out of hiding to meet Jonathan and say his farewell. These men had developed a very strong relationship of mutual admiration from the times that they had fought in battle together so this goodbye was very difficult. They renewed the promise they had made to respect and keep each other and their families for as long as they both lived.

When the new moon was come

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1 Samuel 20:24–34, “So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.”

When Jonathan went back to the king palace, David his in the fields. He had been a shepherd for many years and also was an experienced soldier so he was used to living out in the open. After a few days it was time for the new moon festival and the king’s senior advisors and staff were expected to celebrate the new lunar month by eating with the king. On the first day of the new moon Saul wasn’t too concerned because he thought that David may have done something to make him ceremonially impure so that he could not attend the meal. On the second day, Saul was upset and asked Jonathan why David hadn’t attended, as protocol demanded. Jonathan had agreed with David that they would say that David had to attend to his own family business. When Saul heard what his son said, he suspected that Jonathan had conspired with David to that David could escape his death sentence. Saul abused Jonathan for not protecting his own interests as the heir to the throne but protecting another contender for the throne instead. Jonathan asked his father why David was to be executed even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. Saul told Jonathan that his responsibility was to find David and bring him to be killed. Saul was so angry that he tried to kill his own son for protecting David. Jonathan was very angry because he knew that Saul was intending to betray David even though David was loyal and honourable.

Let us go out into the field

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1 Samuel 20:9–23, “And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth. But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.”

Jonathan was a loyal and godly many, he would never betray his friendship with David by seeking to ambush and kill his friend. He told David that king Saul would certainly have discussed any plan to kill David with him. David wanted to know if Jonathan could find out the king’s attitude to him. Jonathan didn’t want to discuss the issue with David in the palace or any other place where spies might hear their conversation so he suggested that they both go outside into the open fields. Jonathan promised David that he would sound his father out and find out the king’s attitude towards David and then he would come and let his friend know what was happening. Jonathan also knew that the Lord was with David and had left Saul so he asked David to promise him that their friendship would remain forever even if something happened to king Saul. David agreed with Jonathan that their friendship and care for each other should continue no matter what happened to either of them. These two men devised a plan whereby Jonathan could find out Saul’s attitude to David and then he could let David know in such a way as David would not be betrayed if anyone was secretly following him when the met again later.

What is my sin?

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1 Samuel 20:1–8, “And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?”

When David realised that Saul was at Naioth he left there and went to find Jonathan. David knew that he could trust Jonathan because they both had a great respect for each other. David asked his friend what was wrong, he wanted to know what he had down wrong and why Saul wanted to kill him. Jonathan was mystified, he didn’t realise that his father was trying to kill David. He told David that Saul consulted him in every matter but hadn’t discussed anything about David with him. David told Jonathan that Saul knew David and Jonathan were very close so the king hadn’t told his son anything about David. Jonathan asked David what he could do to help David. David asked Jonathan to talk to his father while David hid. Jonathan was to tell Saul that David had other business and couldn’t come to the palace for a while even though there was a new moon festival. (Many Israelis, at that time, still celebrated some of the pagan, fertility festivals that the people of the Land celebrated.) Jonathan was to find out what Saul’s attitude was and then to let David know. David also told Jonathan to execute him if Jonathan found out that David had done anything worthy of death.

Naioth

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1 Samuel 19:18–24, “So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?”

David had to leave Saul’s palace if he wanted to stay alive. He went to Ramah where Samuel had gone after he told Saul that he had disqualified himself as king of Israel. Samuel had anointed David as king of Israel so David wanted to see if Samuel understood the situation at all. Both Samuel and David moved to a place called Naioth, this was in Ramah and housed a prophetic school that Samuel led. Saul sent messengers to demand that David return to the palace but when these messengers arrived the started to prophesy. This happened to a second and third set of messengers. Saul went to Ramah himself to find out why his messengers started prophesying when they should be bringing David back. When Saul got to a well near Ramah he asked some local people where Samuel and David where and they told him to go to Naioth in Ramah. When Saul arrived at the prophetic school he stripped off his clothes and began to prophesy. This was a kind of ecstatic prophecy and not a true message from the Lord to tell His people what to do. The Lord controlled Saul and Saul didn’t control the Lord.

Michal told him

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1 Samuel 19:11–17, “Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?”

Saul tried to kill David twice when David was with him in his quarters. Both times he failed but he was becoming increasingly obsessed with killing David so he decided to ambush David near his home. He even told David’s wife, his daughter Michal, about his plan to kill David. In those days, a kings daughter was used in marriage for political purposes. Her job, especially if she married another king with many wives, was to look after her father’s interests and her sons’ interests rather than her husband’s interests. On the other hand, the queen would also be a hostage who could be killed if her father did anything against her husband. Saul assumed that Michal would look after his interests. Michal loved David, however, and didn’t want to see him killed so she told David to go away that very night. Michal took a statue, probably some kind of idol, and put it in David’s bed with some goats hair to look like his hair. Saul’s servants came to take David to be killed but they just found a statue in his bed. Saul was angry with Michal because she hadn’t looked after his interests and he asked her why she pretended that David was still there. Michal was afraid and told Saul that David had threatened to kill her.

David slipped away

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1 Samuel 19:8–10, “And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.”

David was now fully involved in his new role as a leader in Israel’s armies. The Lord was with David because David trusted the Lord and obeyed the Lord day by day. The Lord kept His promises and David was successful in battle. On the other hand, Saul was still determined to kill David. He had become obsessed with the fact that the Lord blessed David but no longer blessed him. He persuaded himself that if were able to kill David then everything would be okay again. Even though David went out as a soldier, he still played for the king and was allowed into the king’s inner sanctums. Even though Saul had told Jonathan that he didn’t want to kill David, when Saul had a chance he took a spear and tried to kill David but David was able to escape.

As in times past

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1 Samuel 19:1–7, “And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.”

Saul had become convinced that David had to die. He told all his family and servants that someone had to find David and kill him. Jonathan and David were very close friends and Jonathan admired David so he told his friend that his father wanted him dead. Jonathan told David to go and hide while he went to his father and asked the king what was happening. Jonathan told Saul that David was a good man. He hadn’t sinned agains anyone in Israel and had, in fact, risked his life out of loyalty to the Lord, the king and Israel. Saul was in a good mood that day and promised that he would rescind the order to kill David. After that Jonathan brought David back to the palace and David was allowed to eat his meals at the king’s table like he had before.

One hundred Philistines

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1 Samuel 18:12–30, “And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king? But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law. And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired. Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.”

Saul didn’t want to be replaced as king because that would mean that he would have to die. The Lord was with David and David had won a great victory therefore Saul wanted to make sure that David was killed. Saul made David into one of his generals and made his go out to fight against the Philistines, this seemed to be the best way of eliminating David. After all, David was a man of undoubted courage and showed a willingness to fight even the most powerful of enemies. In spite of this, David didn't die and the people of both Israel and Judah loved David because he was such a mighty warrior. Saul promised David that he would be able to marry Merab’s his daughter when David defeated Goliath but Saul gave Merab to another man. Saul’s second daughter, Michal loved David and Saul though that he would use her as means of eliminating David from the scene. He told his servants to let everyone, including David, that he would be happy to let David marry Michal. David was a poor man and had nothing to give the king as a present. Saul let David know that all he had to do was kill one hundred Philistines. The major difference between Philistines and Israelis was the the first were uncircumcised and the second were circumcised. If David had been asked to bring one hundred heads there would have been no real way of proving who they belonged to. However, if David killed Israelis he would not have any foreskins to bring. Saul didn’t want the foreskins, he wanted David to be killed while he was trying to kill one hundred Philistines. David went with his men and killed two hundred Philistines and brought the evidence to the king. After this Saul was even more afraid of David because he tried everything he could to kill David but the Lord kept David alive.

Saul eyed David

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1 Samuel 18:6–11, “And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.”

Every time a victorious army returned from battle, not just in Israel, the people who supported that army would come out to watch them parade. The victors would come into their home towns with the trophies of war and march behind their king and the other notable leaders. Of course, by the time the army had finished all the mopping up, the message had already been sent home so the people knew that there had been a victory and were ready to show their pleasure. On the other hand, if there was a defeat most of the people would hide so that they would not be taken as slaves by the other side. When Saul’s army returned from this battle the people were there to welcome them. As they marched in the women sang that Saul had slain thousands but David had slain tens of thousands. This was just a literary device that they used but it demonstrated that David was the real hero and Saul had just played a secondary role in that battle. Saul was already deeply troubled over the fact that Samuel had told him he would lose the kingdom himself and none of his sons would form a dynasty. He saw that David might be a rival for the kingship. After all, David showed that he was the kind of leader that the Lord supported while Saul was just a king like the neighbouring nations had. Saul looked for a chance to eliminate David so that he would never be a rival for the crown of Israel. This caused Saul to sink into one of his black moods and David came to play music for him. While David was playing the music, and defenceless, Saul grabbed hold of his spear and tried to kill David. He threw the spear a David, hoping to pin him to the wall but David was able to jump out of the way twice and stay alive.

David and Jonathan

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1 Samuel 18:1–5, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”

David and Jonathan were similar in nature. They both trusted the Lord and had been involved in significant victories over the Philistines. After David had defeated the Philistine giant, he was called to meet the king. While he was there, he also met Jonathan. Because these men were so similar they developed a strong and enduring friendship of mutual respect and admiration. Jonathan saw that David was only dressed as a simple shepherd to he gave David his own princely robes so that David would be dressed like the mighty warrior that David had proved himself to be. Saul realised that David was a great warrior as well and conscripted him into the army as well as being his musician. Israel was at war with the Philistines so Saul gave David command of one of his military divisions and everyone realised that David was a worthy man.