bably by his servants, slew in that day four- 23). Vers. 20-23.-Abiathar escaped. Pro- -9oore and flve persous that did wear a linen bably he was left in charge of the sanctuary ephod. The fact that they were thus clad in when Ahimelech and the rest were summoned their official dress added not to the wicked- into the king's presence, and on news bein" ness, bu. to the impiety of this revolting act. brought of Saul's violence, at once made hi~ And, not satisfied with thus wreaking his escape. Naturally, as representing a family rage on innocent men, he next destroyed the who, though originally Saul's friends, had city of the priests, barbarously massacring suffered so much for David, he was kindly .their whole families, both men and women, received, and a friendship commenced which children and sucklings, and even their oxen, lasted all David's life ; but, taking at last asses, and sheep, as if Noh was a city placed Adonijah's side, he was deprived by Solomon under the ban. It is a deed in strange contrast of the high priesthood, and sent in to lion, with the pretended merc.y that spared Agag ourable banishment at Anathoth (1 Kings iL and the best of the Amalekite spoil on the 26). On hearing of the terrible tragedy from pretext of religion. Only once before had so which Abiathar had escaped, David, with terrible a calamity befallen the descendants characteristic tenderness of conscience, accuses ,of Aaron, and that was when the Philistines himself of being the cause of all this blood- destroyed Shiloh. But they were enemies, shed. Perhaps he felt that when he saw and provoked by the people bringing the ark Doeg at Nob he ought at once to have gone to the battle, and even then women and chil- away, without implicating Abimelech in his •dren escaped. It was left to the anointed cause; but he could never have imagined that king, who had himself settled the 1;>riests at Saul would have treated innocent men so Nob and restore1d Jehovah's worship there, barbarously, and may have supposed that to perpetrate an act unparalleled in Jewish their sacred character as well .as their guilt- historyforits barbarity. Nor was it an act of lessness would have secured them from more barbarity only, but also of insane and wanton than temporary displeasure. David now stupidity. The heart of every thoughtful warmly promises Abiatbar safety and friend- person must now have turned away in horror ship, and possibly the inversion of the na- from the king whom they had desired ; n.nd tural order, he that seeketh my life seeketh no wonder that when, two or three years 4hy life (where the my and thy are tr:IBsposed aftewards, war came Saul found himself a by the Septuagint in one of its usual im- king without an armyi and fell into that deep, provements of the Hebrew text), is meant to despondent melancho y which drove him, in express this entire oneness and close union need of some human sympathy, to seek it henceforward of the two friends. As to the from a reputed witch. question when and where Abiathar joined Es0Al'E OF ABIATHAR TO DAVID (vers. 20- David, see on eh. x:xiii 6.
HOMILETICS.
Vera. 1-5.-IJijficult circumstances. The facts are-1. David, escaping from Gath, takes refuge in the cave of Adullam. 2. Here he is joined by his kindred and a miscellaneous band of men, over whom he exercises authority as captain. 3. Anxious for the comfort of his father and mother, he desires and obtains of the king of Moab permission for them to dwell at Mizpeh. 4. On being advised by the prophet Gad, he returns to Judah. This section covers the conduct of David up to the point when the "walking in darkness" terminated in a merciful Divine interventi011. Four leading characters are here set before us: David, his adherents, his parents, a11d the seer; and the teaching of the passage may be arranged by making each of these in succession the prominent figure. I. PRUDENCE IN IJIFFICULTY. The line of action taken by David after his escape from the dangers of Gath is a remarkable instance of prudence, when regard is had to the utterly hopeless condition to which he was apparently reduced, and that uc. light was afforded him from any prophetic source. Lonely and bunted, he sought au impregnable cave for shelter, abstaining from any publicity to attract men into revolt against Saul. Being, apart from his choice, surrounded by men who for various private reasons were in sympathy with him, he simply organised them for defence in case of need. Knowing the peril of parents advancing in years, he sought out a place of safety where they wouid he free from possibility of annoyance. To secure this, and also to betake himself as far as possible from collision with Saul, he availed himself of the advantage of a kinship through Ruth, and yet, after having made thC\ best .lisposition of afftiirs his judgmc11t could suggest, he at once yielded to the 414 THE 1''111ST BOOK OF SA!llUEL. [cH. 'XXll. 1-23.