BRAGADAYJAH 891

BRAGADAYJAH 891

David escapes Saul net at Engedi

After Jonathon and David had parted, Jonathon to his house, and David to his cave, the Ziphites went to Saul and informed him that David was hiding out in strongholds in the woods on the south side of Jeshimon, and urged him to go down with them according to the desires of his soul, and they would deliver David to him.  And Saul thanked and blessed them, because in his words, they had shown him compassion. So Saul instructed his informers to go back and watch and make sure they spied out David’s exact location, where he was, and take careful note of all the places he frequents, and all the places where he hides himself. And when they had all the exact details about David’s haunts and dwelling places, to return to him and inform him so that he would go down. So the informers went away to Ziph; but by that time David and his men had left that place and were in a wilderness of Maon in the plain on the south side of Jeshimon.   In the meantime Saul and his men set out looking for David and David was also informed of Saul’s maneuvers, and had gone to Maon; and so Saul sought him there. And Saul and his men surrounded David while he was hiding in a rock in Maon; but while Saul was thus engaged, a messenger came to him with an urgent message to the effect that the Philistines had invaded the land; and so Saul had to refrain from pursuing after David and went to engage the Philistines. So the place where that took place was called Selahammahlekoth. The possible meaning and or symbolism of the name Selahammahlekoth is smooth rock, or smoothness; for whereas David was surrounded and in a rough place, a rough and hard rock, God smoothed things out for him. And after Saul departed David went away from there and dwelt in caves at Engedi which was part of the inheritance of the children of the tribe of Judah.

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BRAGADAYJAH 890

BRAGADAYJAH 890

Jonathon covenanted with David in the Wilderness

David was made aware of what Saul was up to; so he told Abiathar the priest to bring to him the ephod he had with him when he escaped the slaughter of his family; and Abiathar gave it to him and David said, “O Lord God of Israel, thy servant has certainly heard that Saul plans to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up to his hand? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee tell thy servant.” And the Lord told David that Saul would come down.  Then David asked the Lord if the men of Keilah would deliver him and his men up to Saul, and the Lord told him they would.  So David and his men which were about six hundred, rose and departed out of Keilah and were on the run, finding refuge and shelter wherever they could.  And it was told Saul that David and his men had escaped from Keilah, and so he did not go down. And David dwelt in caves in the mountain in the wilderness of Ziph.   And Saul continued to hunt for him daily; but the Lord would not allow him to find him. Eventually Jonathon, Saul’s son went and found David in the wilderness and gave him encouragement. He told David, not to fear, for the hand of Saul his father would not find him. He also told David that Saul knew that eventually he would be king over Israel, and that he Jonathan would be next to him, hence the reason why his father wanted to kill him. And the two of them, Jonathon and David, made a covenant before the Lord.  And David remained in the wood, and Jonathon returned to his house.

BRAGADAYJAH 889

BRAGADAYJAH 889

David took time out and slayed the Philistines

While Saul was chasing after David to kill him, the Philistines no doubt thinking it was the most opportune time, rose up against the Israelites. So when David was told that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah, and overran it, David enquired of the Lord whether he should go and fight against the Philistines, and the Lord told him yes. But David’s men told him that they were afraid where they were in hiding, and asked him why should they then go and fight against the armies of the Philistines? This made David enquire of the Lord again what he should do; and the Lord told him to go and fight against the philistines, for he would deliver the Philistines into his hand.  So David and his men went to Keilah and fought against the Philistines, and slaughtered them and took away their livestock, thereby saving Keilah. But when Saul heard that David had gone to Keilah and saved the town, Saul saw his opportunity of killing David; for he said to himself the town had gates and bars and so he thought surely, the Lord had delivered David into his hand at last. So he gathered his men and prepared to march on David while he was entrapped in the city.

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BRAGADAYJAH 889

BRAGADAYJAH 889

David took time out and slayed the Philistines

While Saul was chasing after David to kill him, the Philistines no doubt thinking it was the most opportune time, rose up against the Israelites. So when David was told that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah, and overran it, David enquired of the Lord whether he should go and fight against the Philistines, and the Lord told him yes. But David’s men told him that they were afraid where they were in hiding, and asked him why should they then go and fight against the armies of the Philistines? This made David enquire of the Lord again what he should do; and the Lord told him to go and fight against the philistines, for he would deliver the Philistines into his hand.  So David and his men went to Keilah and fought against the Philistines, and slaughtered them and took away their livestock, thereby saving Keilah. But when Saul heard that David had gone to Keilah and saved the town, Saul saw his opportunity of killing David; for he said to himself the town had gates and bars and so he thought surely, the Lord had delivered David into his hand at last. So he gathered his men and prepared to march on David while he was entrapped in the city.

BRAGADAYJAH 888

BRAGADAYJAH 888

Saul then ordered his footmen to slay all the priests of the Lord, because they were with David, and because they knew when he fled and they did not inform him. But Saul’s servants would not put forth their hands to slay the priests of the Lord. So he ordered Doeg, the head of his servants, to fall upon the priests and slay them; and Doeg fell upon them and slayed them one by one, some 85 of them that day, every one that wore a linen ephod. Then he turned to Nob, the city of the priests and there he smote men, women and children, even those who were sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep with the edge of the sword. And one of the sons of Abimelech, the son of Ahitub whose name was Abiathar, escaped and fled after David, and he told David that Saul had slaughtered all the priests of the Lord. And David said, “I knew it that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul.  I am responsible for all the deaths in your father’s house. Abide with me; fear not; for he that seeks my life seeks also your life also; but if you remain with me you will be safe. There is little doubt that David, the man who killed Philistines by the thousands, could have killed Doeg that day if he wanted to, knowing that he was Saul’s top servant, and would report what he had seen to Saul. Yet David continued to exercise this unbelievable restraint, the kind of restraint that is absolutely incomprehensible in human terms.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 887

BRAGADAYJAH 887

Saul’s Verbal Assault on those Around Him

Abimelech the priest sentenced to death.

With great rage and much verbal assault, Saul told his very servants.  “Hear now you Benjamites, will the son of Jesse give very one of you fields, and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?  Yet all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that reveal to me that my son has made a league with the son of Jesse, and  that there is none of you who is sorry for me, or to show me that my son has stirred up my servants against me. To lie in wait as at this day!” Then Doeg the Edomite which was head over the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob to Abimelech 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.”  For this Doeg was there at the house of Abimelech when David was there and received the showbread and was given the sword of Goliath.” The king then sent to call Abimelech the priest the son of Ahitub and all his father’s house, and all the priests who were in Nob, and they came to him. And Saul said, “Hear now you son of Ahitub.” And Ahitub answered, “Here I am now my Lord.” And Saul said unto him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me in that you gave him bread and a sword and enquired of God for him that he should rise against me, to lie in wait for me this day?”  Then Abimelech answered and said, and who is so faithful among all your servants as David which is the king’s son in law and goes about at your bidding, and honorable in your house? Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? Be it far from me; let not the king impute anything unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father for thy servants knew nothing of all this less or more. And the king said, “Thou shall surely die Abimelech, you and all your father’s house.”

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BRAGADAYJAH 886

BRAGADAYJAH 886

David gathered Mighty men of Adullam

Leaving Gath, David fled and dwelt in a cave called Adullam; and when his family heard about it they gathered themselves unto him there, and so did all that were in distress, those who were in debt, and everyone that was discontented, they all gathered themselves unto David until he had a company of about four hundred men.  Thereafter David went to the King of Moab and asked him to allow his father and his mother to remain with him until he found out what the Lord had in store for him; and the king consented. So David took his father and his mother and they dwelt with the king while David was in his stronghold. And while there, the prophet Gad told David to leave his stronghold and go to the land of Judah. And so David departed and came into the forest of Hareth.   In the meantime, Saul was still hunting David and while he was under a tree, spear in hand, and surrounded by his men in the land of Gibeah, he started a tirade against David, is own son Jonathon, and all around him accusing them of conspiracy with David, and loving David more than him. 

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BRAGADAYJAH 885

BRAGADAYJAG 885

David Feigned Madness

Having received the showbread, David enquired of Abimelech whether he had to hand a sword or spear or any weapon since he had not brought his sword or his weapon with him, because the King’s business required haste. And the priest told him that the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom he had slain in the valley of Elah, was there wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod, and he was welcome to have it since there was no other weapon available. So having taken the sword, David still endeavoring to avoid Saul, fled to Achish the King of Gath. On arrival the servants of Achish asked David if Saul was not still King of the land, and whether he is not the same king about whom his people sang, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.” And hearing these words, David feared for his life at the hand of Achish. So he changed his behaviour in the presence of Achish’s servants and behaved as one who was insane. He scratched at the doors of the gate and drooled and let it run down his beard.  And Achish asked his servants why they had brought him a mad man, stating he would not allow a mad man to enter his house. So David departed from there.

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BRAGADAYJAH 884

BRAGADAYJAH 884

David before Abimelech the Priest

David was not exactly open with Abimelech. After all he probably knew he was a cowardly and over cautious type and thought it prudent, while he needed his help not to be too forthright with him.  In any event David saw fear in him; so when he asked David his business he told him that he was on an urgent secret matter pertaining to King Saul, which was not really untrue. He was secretly running for his life from Saul, and the less he said about it the better. Then David asked Abimelech for bread, more particularly five loaves of bread or whatever was available.  And the priest answered David and said that he had no common bread; that is to say he had no ordinary bread, but the sacred bread which was meant only to be eaten in connection with the priestly office, and by young men who had kept themselves from women. And David verified that indeed there had been no women in their lives for the three days since they had been on the road, and therefore, the vessels of his young men are holy. So the priest gave him hallowed bread since there was no bread there, but the showbread that was taken from before the Lord to put hot bread on the day when it was taken away. This account here is one of the great passages of Scripture which eminently authenticates both the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture as a whole, and the Authority of Christ, when he rebuked the Pharisees who dared to challenge His authority when he asked them, “Have you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry, he and those with him, how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and did eat the showbread which is not lawful to eat but for the priest, and gave also to them that were with him?”  The story of David’s life was written during the 10^th century B.C. and is part of the Old Testament which many ignorantly dismiss as fairy tale. But during His life and ministry Jesus quoted it, thereby authenticating it. (Vide 1Sam. 21: 6 cf. Mark 2: 25-26)

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BRAGADAYJAH 883

BRAGADAYJAH 883

We see that at Jonathon’s signal David was prepared to run for his life. And after the two young men embraced, Jonathon wished David God speed. We note in the narrative, that there was never any suggestion that David should confront Saul. His reaction was to run and Jonathon, Saul’s son’s reaction was the same, to run. Indeed we may determine that while Jonathon was willing to help David to escape, there was no suggestion that they might join forces against Saul to perhaps slay him. It was one thing for Jonathon to aid his father’s enemy to escape, notwithstanding that he knew David was an innocent victim; but it would have been quite another thing to collude with David to slay his father. For as was said earlier, David never entertained the idea that he might in fact fight Saul and perhaps slay him.  Apart from anything else, David was not his own man.  He was anointed of God and operated under the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit. Therefore, whatever he thought and did, had to be in keeping with the plan, will, and purpose of God. For as Scripture puts it, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” So hungry and alone, David fled to Nob, and presented himself to the priest Abimelech.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 882

BRAGADAYJAH 882

Jonathon signaled David to Run

Now on the following morning, being the third day, Jonathon went out into the field as arranged taking his lad with him. And he told the lad, “Run now and find the arrows which I shall shoot.  ”And as the lad ran, Jonathon shot an arrow beyond him; and when the lad went to the place where the arrow was shot Jonathon cried out to the lad and said, “Is not the arrow beyond thee? Make speed, haste and stay not.” In the meantime the boy found the arrows and brought them to his master. Of course the lad had no idea what was going on; but both Jonathon and David knew. And Jonathon gave his artillery to the lad and told him to go and carry them into the city. And as soon as the lad was gone, David rose from his hiding place and he and Jonathon embraced and cried together; and Jonathon told David to go in peace because they had sworn each of them to the other in the name of the Lord, saying, “The Lord shall be between us and our seed forever.”  And David departed; and Jonathon went into the city.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 881

BRAGADAYJAH 881

Predictably, and as David well knew and told Jonathon his friend, Saul would go into a mad rage when he found out that David was not coming to his table so he could take one more and perhaps a final stab at him.  Perhaps he had instructed his cook to prepare a special portion of meat or wine for David.  In any event David was not there, and he was not coming. So Saul aimed his invective at his son Jonathon, even to calling him what in modern parlance as a son of a …. you know what. Here’s what he said to Jonathon.  “Thou son of the perverse, rebellious women, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thy own confusion, and to the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?  For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth thou shall not be established nor thy kingdom?  Therefore go and fetch him to me so that he shall surely die.”  Having heard his father’s words, Jonathon asked his father, why should David be slain and for what cause, and what has he done? And Saul cast a javelin at Jonathon intending to kill him and it missed; but Jonathon was left in no doubt that his father’s intention was to kill David. So Jonathon rose from the table in fierce anger and did not eat; for he was grieved for David because his father had done him shame.

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Trump! Ace of Spades or Deuce of Hearts?

Ace of Spades or Deuce of Hearts

Card players would tell you that often a trump is a trump, whether it is the Ace of Spades or the Deuce of hearts. Right now on the political scene, there is a trump at large, and while it is not an ace, it is a trump never-the-less. Looking at him, and listening to him speak, I have great difficulty deciding whether he is indeed a trump, or just a chump; whether he is a valuable card, or what bridge players call just a trash card. I was thinking on these things when I realized, for all his shortcomings, it is not really the chump’s fault.  I realized that the man never intended in the first place to be taken seriously.  Like Ross Perot of former times, he thought to himself he would just enter the game for laughs, tell a few jokes and insult as many people as he could.  Why not he told himself. He had the dollars to spend, and he could always set them off against his profits. Nothing to lose he thought. But a strange thing happened.  People began to take him seriously, and the more he tried to be ridiculous, the more people, a large section of the American electorate, took him seriously. Eventually he started to take himself seriously and here he is the village idiot attracting bigger idiots. 

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BRAGADAYJAY 880

BRAGADAYJAH 880

Saul Railed Against Jonathon

The two friends Jonathon and David having renewed their pledges of loyalty one toward the other, Jonathon told David that the morrow being the new moon, that he would be missed at table for his seat would be empty; so after three days he should proceed to the hiding place they had used before which is by the stone Ezel. At that time, Jonathon said, he would shoot three arrows into the side of the stone as though he was practicing. And afterwards he would send a boy with instructions to go and find the arrows. Then if he said to the boy, “the arrows are on this side of you take them, then you may show yourself for there is peace with my father; but if I say to the lad, the arrows are beyond you, go your way for the Lord has sent you away. And as far as our pledge to each other is concerned, the Lord is between you and me forever.”  And David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon had come, the King sat himself down in his usual place by the wall, and Abner sat beside him, and Jonathon remained standing; and David’s seat was empty. Saul noticed the empty seat and said nothing; for he thought to himself it might be that something bad had befallen David. But when on the second day, which was the second day of the month, and David’s seat was still empty, Saul asked Jonathon why David had not come to meat for two days. And Jonathon said he had given David leave to go to Bethlehem, and that is why he is not there.  He explained that David had requested leave of absence in order to attend a special family sacrifice in the city, and his brother had commanded him to be there, hence he had granted him leave to be absent. And of course Saul flew into a rage and railed against Jonathon.

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BRAGADAYJAH 879

BRAGADAYJAH 879

Jonathon’s Covenant with David

Moreover David said to Jonathon, “Deal kindly with me; for you have bound me into a covenant of the Lord with you. However, if you find any fault in me, slay me yourself and not bring me to your father.” And Jonathon said, “Far be it from you. For I know of a certainty that if evil was determined by my father to come to you, I will surely tell you of it.”  And David asked Jonathon who should tell him, and how would he know if his father spoke roughly to him. And Jonathon told David to let them both go out into the field and they both went out. And Jonathon said to David, “O Lord God, of Israel, when I have sounded out my father about tomorrow, or any time between then and the third day, and there be good toward David and I did not tell him may the Lord deal with me according to his pleasure; but likewise if there be evil, I will certainly tell him and help him to get away and escape from my father. And may the Lord God be with him. And I pray, O Lord, that thou will while I yet live, You show kindness unto me that I die not, and will not cut off the kindness of my house when the Lord would have cut off the enemies of David, everyone from the face of the earth.” So Jonathon made a covenant with the house of David saying, “Let the Lord require it even at the hand of David’s enemies.” And Jonathon caused David to swear again; for he loved him as the Lord loved him.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 878

BRAGADAYJAH 878

David’s Bewilderment

David knew for sure that Saul wanted to kill him; but why?  So speaking to Jonathon he asked him, “What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he wants to kill me?” Jonathon’s reply was, “God forbid that thou shalt die; for behold my father shall do nothing either great or small unless he tells me about it. So why should my father hide this thing from me?  It is not so.” But David affirmed and said, “Your father knows that I have found grace in your eyes, and, therefore, he was not going to let you know about his intention to kill me, lest he be grieved; but truly as the Lord liveth, and as my soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.” And Jonathon assured David that whatever his soul desired he would do it for him. And David told Jonathon that the following day was the coming of the new moon; and he could not sit with the king at meat; but if Jonathon would let him go, he would go and hide himself in the field until the third day at evening. And if his father asked for him, he should tell him he had to run to Bethlehem, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all his family. And if his father said, “Very well, your servant shall have peace; but if he becomes angry with you, then you will know that there is evil in his heart.”  

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BRAGADAYJAH 877

BRAGADAYJAH 877

Saul’s relentless pursuit of David

Learning that David had fled from Ramah to Naioth, he sent his messengers to take David; but when they saw the large number of prophets prophesying and Samuel standing in the midst of them and over them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they too prophesied. And when reports reached Saul, he sent other messengers; but they prophesied likewise. And when Saul heard of it, he sent a third set of messengers and they too prophesied also. Then Saul himself went to Ramah and came to a great well.  And stopping there he asked about Samuel and David; and he was told that they are at Naioth in Ramah. Saul then set out for Naioth in Ramah and the spirit of the Lord came upon him also and he began to prophesy. And he stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel naked all that day and night to the point that many asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” And while Saul was thus under the influence and power of the spirit of God, David escaped and went and reasoned with Jonathon his friend, Saul’s son, trying to find a reason why Saul was after his life.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 876

BRAGADAYJAH 876

David Runs for his life

I can hear the voices of doubt and criticism asking, “Why did David run for his life?  Why did he not just kill Saul and his assassins since he was such a mighty killer of Philistines?”  A correct approach to those or any such questions would be to understand that David was not a murderer.  His God given role was to kill Philistines, the enemy of Israel and of God.  True he killed thousands of Philistines; but he was not called to kill any of God’s people for any cause. On the other hand David loved Saul, and even though Saul sought his life, that in his mind was not reason enough to slay him like he slayed Philistines.  Saul was, therefore, left to God for Him to deal with.  Lastly, David saw Saul as God’s anointed and, therefore, he did not see it as within his province to touch the Lord’s anointed; so he ran for his life.  But when Saul found out that his daughter, Michal, David’ wife helped David to escape, he saw it as betrayal on her part; so he asked her, “Why has thou deceived me so, and sent away my enemy, that he is escaped?” And Michal said, “He told me to let him go as he did not want to kill me.” Michal’s response to her father was not at all true; but it shows that even she, had no illusions about how her own father would treat her, if she told him the truth. In the meantime David fled and escaped came to a place called Ramah where Samuel was; and he told Samuel all that Saul had done to him; and so David and Samuel departed from there and went and dwelt at a place called Naioth. But it was not long before Saul found out where David was’ for he was still hell bent on killing David.

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BRAGADAYJAH 875

BRAGADAYJAH 875

So Jonathon was able to achieve what he and David thought was peace between Saul his father and David his friend; but what was accomplished was but a truce, a mere diplomatic entente at best; for there is no making peace with the Devil. Soon after that, there was again full scale war with the Philistines; and David went out and slaughtered them with a great slaughter, so much so that the Philistines were afraid to fight against him, and fled at his approach. And when David returned from war, he was sitting in Saul’s house, playing on his harp, when evil again stirred up the heart of Saul who sat there playing with his javelin, and seeking his chance he threw the Javelin at David, intending to pin him against the wall and transfix him; but David eluded the javelin and fled that night for his lifwww.chaberbooks.come. Saul also sent assassins to David’s house with instructions to watch the house and slay David should he be found there in the morning. And David’s wife Michal told David not to remain there until morning, but run for his life that night. So Michal let her husband down through a window and he escaped and fled. In the meantime, Michal made up David’s bed to give the appearance he was still lying in bed; and so when Saul’s assassins arrived in the morning, Michal told them that her husband was ill in bed. So they returned to Saul and reported that David was ill in bed.  And Saul sent them back to David’s house with instructions to bring his to him in his bed so that he may kill him.

BRAGADAYJAH 874

BRAGADAYJAH 874

Saul open plot against David

Behold now how foolish are the proud of heart! And how futile are the machinations of the godless! Saul knew that that God, The Almighty God of heaven and earth was with David. The Philistine giant Goliath could not kill him. The legions of the Philistines could not kill him.  And yet Saul tried to enlist the help of his son Jonathon and his servants to kill David. Anyway trying to set up Jonathan against David was equally futile; because God had already favorably attuned Jonathon’s heart towards David.  We noted earlier that Jonathon loved David as much as he loved himself; so there was no hope that Jonathon, son or not, would turn against David. In fact, Jonathon, true to the love he felt for David, told him that his father Saul was trying to kill him. So it being nighttime, Jonathon hid David in a secret place in the field, and told him to remain there until the morning.  Jonathon’s plan was that he would lure his father into the field near to the place where David was hiding, and he would then speak to his father in a voice that he David could hear; so that in fact, while he spoke to his father, he was actually speaking for David’s benefit. So in the hearing of David, though Saul did not know it, Jonathon reminded his father that David had killed the Philistine giant and slaughtered many Philistines; so much so that Saul rejoiced.  He also reasoned with his father and showed him how good and faithful David was to him and pointed out that it would be a sin to shed David’s blood he being innocent. And so Jonathon convinced his father and he promised not to hurt David, and allowed David to come into his presence as at former times.   

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BRAGADAYJAH 873

BRAGADAYJAH 873

David accepts Saul’s Daughter

Saul’s servants having spoken to David and learnt his heart, reported back to Saul that David was not against the idea of marriage to his daughter, but worried that he may not be good enough and also that he had no dowry fit for a king. So Saul hastily advised his servants to go back to David and tell him that the king required no dowry of him, but instead a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on the king’s enemies.  Of course this was in pursuit of Saul’s deeper scheme to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines.  And so when Saul’s servants told David these words of Saul’s, it pleased David to be the king’s son-in-law. So David rose and with his men slew two hundred Philistines, and took their foreskins to Saul; and Saul gave David his daughter Michal to be his wife. In the meantime Saul saw and knew that the Lord loved David, and also that his daughter Michal loved him also. Yet Saul became even more afraid of David, and took David to be his enemy.  But David continued to fight against and vanquish the Philistines, so that his name was much adored by all Israel which vexed Saul even more.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 872

BRAGADAYJAH 872

Saul offers David his elder daughter in marriage.

Now Saul invited David to marry his elder daughter Merab on condition that he would fight bravely with the Philistines.  For indeed Saul had tried and failed repeatedly to assassinate David.  So now his invitation to David was a mere guise as revealed by the condition he attached, to marry his daughter. But Saul’s reasoning was if David wouldn’t die at his hands, it would be just as well and even better if he died at the hand of the Philistines, hence his caveat to fight bravely with the Philistines. But David asked Saul to tell him who he was and what was the value of his life that he should become the son-in-law to a king? But to show the insincerity of Saul’s offer, his very daughter Merab was given to Adreil a Mecholathite for wife. And Saul’s other daughter Michal loved David and it was told to Saul; and the thing pleased him. And so Saul promised to give her to David that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. To that end Saul declared to David that he was going to be his son-in-law by being married to his second daughter. And Saul commanded his servants and told them to reason with David secretly and tell him that the king was well pleased with him, and all the king’s servants loved him; and that he should become the king’s son-in-law. But David asked them if it seemed a light thing to be the king’s son in law, seeing he was but a poor man. And lightly esteemed?   

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BRAGADAYJAH 871

BRAGADAYJAH 871

Saul tried to kill David

The songs and words of the women troubled Saul greatly; for they sang, “Saul has killed his thousands but David his ten thousands.”  “Therefore,” fumed Saul, “There is nothing left for him to have but the kingdom itself.”  And Saul kept an evil eye on David from that day onward. And it came to pass that the very next day an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house while David played on the harp as was his custom.  And while David was thus engaged, Saul twice threw his javelin at David in an attempt to kill him, and it missed on both occasions. And Saul became even more afraid of David, because he saw that the spirit of the Lord was departed from him and was with David. So then Saul removed David from being captain over the whole army and made him to lead only one thousand; but David continued to go in and out before the people. But in the meantime, David continued to conduct himself wisely in every way; for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that David behaved himself with wisdom in all things, Saul became even more jealous and afraid. But all Israel and all Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them and conducted himself properly in all things. 

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BRAGADAYJAH 870

BRAGADAYJAH 870

David and Jonathon became friends

And after that, it happened that while David was speaking to Saul, Jonathon, Saul’s son became very attached to David; and they became bonded together as one. And Saul took David that day, and would not let him return to his father’s house; and Jonathon and David made a pact because each loved the other as he loved himself. And Jonathon stripped himself of the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, as well as his garment, his sword, his bow and his girdle. And David went wherever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war; and David was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. And it happened that when David had returned from the slaughter of the Philistines the women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with timbrels, and with joy, and with instruments of music. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.”

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BRAGADAYJAH 869

BRAGADAYJAH 869

David’s final words to Goliath

“Moreover,” said David to Goliath, “when I slay you, not only will all the earth know that there is a God in Israel; but they shall also know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s and He will deliver you into our hands.” At these words Goliath started, no doubt in a rage, to advance towards David who himself ran toward him; and putting his hand in his bag, David took out a stone and slung it at Goliath and smote him and he fell own dead. But David had no sword; so he ran and stood upon Goliath and took Goliath’s own sword and cut off his head; and when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines through the valley even to the gates of Ekron, with many dead and wounded falling by the way, into the Philistine strongholds of Shaaraim, Gath and Ekron. And having ransacked and spoiled the tents of the Philistines along the way, they returned to their own tents. And David took the head of Goliath and brought it in Jerusalem; but he put his armor in the tents. And when David presented the head of the enemy of Israel to Saul, he asked him, “Whose son are you young man?”  And David answered him, “My father’s name is Jesse the Bethlehemite.   

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BRAGADAYJAH 868

BRAGADAYJAH 868

Saul finally gave David his blessing to go after Goliath; and he then armed him with his armor. He put a helmet of brass upon his head and gave him a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armor and turned to leave; but he changed his mind and said he could not wear the armor because he had not tried and tested them; and so he took them off. And so for his armor, David took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in his shepherd’s bag; and taking his sling in hand, he drew near to the Philistines. As David approached the Philistine, Goliath advanced towards David, his armor bearer walking in front of him.  And when Goliath saw David, and saw that he was but a tender looking youth, he disdained him, and asked David if he Goliath was a dog that he should come after him with a stick? and he cursed David in the name of his god. Then he challenged David to come to him so that he could feed his flesh to the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the field. Then David said to Goliath, “You come at me with a sword and a spear and a shield; but I come to you in the name of the living God, the Lord of Hosts, God of the armies of Israel whom you defied.  This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand and I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day to the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”

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BRAGADAYJAH 867

BRAGADAYJAH 867

Hearing little David speak thus about Goliath, Eliab, David’s oldest brother was angry with him and asked him why he had come to the battlefield, and with whom he had left the care of the sheep?  Eliab told David that he knew him well. In particular he told him, he knew his pride and the haughtiness of his heart, and that he had come down for no other purpose than to take part in the battle. And David asked his brother to tell him what he had done, and asked him further whether there was not cause for him to be concerned. Still David continued to enquire what was to be done to the man who kills Goliath and the men all told him what they had told him before. Then eventually David’s words were told to Saul and he sent for David; and asked him what was going on.  And David told him that he was prepared to go and fight against Goliath; but Saul told David that he was just a youth and not strong enough to go and fight against Goliath.  But David responded to Saul and told him once when he was tending his father’s sheep that a lion and a bear attacked the sheep and the lion actually had one of the lambs in his mouth, and how he had confronted the lion and rescued the lamb from its mouth, and killed both the lion and the bear. So as far as the uncircumcised Philistine called Goliath was concerned, he count him no more ferocious that the lion and the bear, and promised to kill him too, just as he had killed the lion and the bear, because he dared  insult the people of God. And moreover said David, “The same Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine.”  And Saul said unto him, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”  

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BRAGADAYJAH 866

BRAGADAYJAH 866

Young David had the anointing of the Lord God Almighty upon him.  Yet he did not change his demeanor.  His humility and his attention to his father’s wishes remained the same.  So now his father Jesse called him and told him to go to the field of battle and take supplies for his brothers; and without hesitation David complied. David rose up early in the morning and left his sheep with a keeper, and went to the trench just as the hosts had sounded the battle cry, and joined in battle one army against the other. And David left his victuals in the hand of the driver of the carriage, and went to his brothers; and as he was talking to them, Goliath the Philistine champion appeared and shouted out his challenge to Israel and David heard him. And the men of Israel when they saw Goliath were sore afraid and fled from his presence. In the meantime the men of Israel exclaimed one to another, “Have you seen this Goliath? He is indeed a monster and we are afraid of him.”  But it is offered to the man who kills him great fortune as well as the hand of the king’s daughter in marriage.” And David asked them to tell him what was to be done to the man who killed Goliath and took away the reproach from Israel. “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

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BRAGADAYJAH 865

BRAGADAYJAH 865

Goliath the Giant

One may easily imagine why the Philistines would place victory or defeat on the shoulders of one man, Goliath.  By any standard of measurement he was a giant, a colossus. There would have been few men on either side capable of carrying his armament alone, much less stand before him in battle. Hence is arrogant challenge to Israel.  Indeed he said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man that we may fight together.  And when Saul and the men of Israel saw this great monster of a man, and heard his words, they quaked with fear. In the meantime David had left Saul’s side to look after his flock, while his three eldest brothers followed Saul to battle. In the meantime, Goliath drew nearer and nearer each day to the Israelites and repeated his challenge over a period of forty days while the Philistines and the Israelites were engaged in battle; but no one man dared take up Goliath’s challenge.

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BRAGADAYJAH 864

BRAGADAYJAH 864

Goliath’s challenge to Israel

At that time the Philistines gathered themselves in battle array, and pitched their camps at Shochoh of Judah.  And Saul and the men of Israel gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set themselves in battle array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on one side of a mountain, and Israel stood on the opposite side of the mountain, there being a valley between them. And Goliath their champion went out of the camp of the Philistines.  He was a very tall man whose height was six cubits and a span.  This Goliath had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail made of 5000 shekels of brass, and the armor on his legs was of brass, and also brass armament between his shoulders. He carried a mighty spear the head of which was the weight of six hundred shekels of iron; he also had a shield bearer who went ahead of him. And Goliath stood and challenged the men of Israel and asked them why they were come out to do battle. “I am a Philistine,” he mocked them; “and you are servants of Saul.  “Therefore,” he challenged them, “choose a man of your choice and let him come down and fight with me. If he fights with me and kills me, then we all will surrender to you; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall surrender to us and serve us.  

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BRAGADAYJAH 863

BRAGADAYJAH 863

Saul enquired of his servants who informed him that he had seen a son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite who was a skillful player as well as a man of great bravery; he was also a very discreet person of a charming personality, and beside the Lord was with him.  Saul then sent messengers to Jesse with a message, saying, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul.  And when David came and stood before Saul, he liked David immediately; and David became his armor-bearer.  And Saul sent to Jesse asking him to allow David to stand before him because he liked David. And it came to pass that every time the evil spirit came upon Saul, David would play on his harp, and Saul would be revived, and the evil spirit would go away.  

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