The first intention of the fugitive seems to have been to settle in a tract still occupied by the Canaanites which lay between Judah and Philistia. It enjoyed the double advantage of lying near the settlements of his own kindred, and of olFering the desert for a last retreat. There he might hope to set up an independent principality without going over to the hereditary enemy ; and the inter- mittent war along the western frontier might draw the kind's attention away from his escaped captain. Once, therefore, he attempted to settle in a town at Keilah (23'^- )• But the district was devoted to the king, and Saul drove him headlong from this refuge. He then betook himself to the pasture country S.E. of Judah and adjoining the Dead Sea. But here also, though he allied himself with the strong clan of the Calebites by his marriage with Abigail, he was unable to maintain himself. Saul's government was powerful enough to expel him even from this comer of the realm (chs. 24-26), and he was finally driven to find refuge under the protection of Aciiish in Gath (27-). The Philistine princes, recognizing his worth, and especi- ally his aptitude for the border warfare in wliich he had annoyed themselves, settled the fugitive in Ziklag (v."), where he might cover their unguarded flank, and keep the ' way of the sea,' the trade-route for Egypt, against the unruly tribes of the desert.
It is a strong proof of the extent to which the kingdom had been consolidated even during these years of war, that Saul was able to drive out of this remote part of his government one who combined with his popularity as captain family ties in that very region. The young realm must also have included much on the eastern side of the Jordan, for the last stand of Saul's house under Ishbosheth was made at Mahanaim (2 S 2"'-). It now began to creep along the backbone of the hill-countrj" and to aim at overpassing the valley of Jezreel into the Northern tribes. Had this succeeded, it would not only have gained a great accession of strength in linking the Northern tribes more closely with the Southern, it would also have cut the line of communication by which the trade of the Euphrates found its way over Damascus and Philistia to Egypt. This would have meant draining one chief artery of the life-blood in that trading com- munity. (Only on this view of the problem can we understand why the final grapple between the two powers was not fought in the South near tlie head- quarters of them both, but in the comparatively far-off North.)
Threatened in their most vulnerable point, the Philistines roused themselves to action, and marched by Sharon and Megiddo into Esdraelon to clear the threatened route. Saul followed them along the hUIs, and crossing by En-gannim posted his army on Mt. Gilboa at the opposite side of the valley from Shunem where his adversaries lay.*
• No reference has been made to the other positions occupied
by Saul and the Philistines, because, so Iotij; as the position
of Aphelt depends on nothing better than conjecture, all the
I rest must remain uncertain also. For a careful discussion of
SAUL
SAVOUR, SAVOURY
ill
In this position he commanded both Jordan and K.ilraelon. Thisi was no longer a guerilla contest, but a CTapple of sheer bodily strength between the two Ivin^donis. Sa\il realized it, suspected also that the I'hilislines were too strong for him. Ilis visit to the witch at Endor (ch. 28) both betrayed and increased the agitation with which he faced the battle. Men said he went into tho fif;ht knowing what was before him ; that the evening before, Samuel, who had tirst anointed him to lead the armies of Israel, summoned him to a trj-st at the grave. So it fell out. The ground on which the light befell was not such as could protect the Isr. infantry from the dreaded chariots of the enemy. The Philistines cros.sed the valley and mounted the hill slopes. Saul saw his army routed, his sons slain, and retained only strength enough to command his own death. I'he Philis- tines next day found their great enemy dead, consecrated his armour in the temple of tlie Ash- taroth, and hung his decapitated body in the public square of Bethshan. But gratitude was as strong as hate, for men of Jabeshgilead crossed the Jordan in the night, took down the body of the prince to whom they owed so much, and buried it on the site of his first victorj' (ch. 31).
Saul had been called to the task of freeing Israel from the Philistines, for without that freedom no advance was possible for the nation. And what had prompted him to seat himself on the throne had oeen no personal ambition, but a recognition of this fact, a very call of J". Because they could not fail to recognize this and the excellence of the deed, his people could not fail to reverence his memory, and even he who had fared worst at the king's liands sang his imperisliable lament over him (2 S !'»"•). Yet Saul had failed in his attempt, and died on Mount Gilboa. How that could lie po.ssible was the problem which long puzzled men in Israel. May it not be that they did not look w idcly enough ? For Saul had done his work, despite his failure. No one ever questioned but that the kingdom must continue ; lie had proved its value too well for that. The only question which still remained w.asas to the man who should succeed and complete the imperfect task. That some one must, was a foregone conclusion. The first king, though outward circumstances h.ad proved too strong for him, and though he had been unable to resolve the many difliculties which the new condition of all'airs raised within Israel itself, had done enougli to make the way clear for his successor : Saul died on Gilboa, but he made David jwssilile.