Jo’s Place

David among the Philistines David kept thinking to himself, “Someday, Saul is going to get me.  The best thing I can do is escape, to the Philistines.  Then, Saul will stop hunting for me, in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.”  So, David took his 600 men, and went over …and joined Achish, son of Maoch, the king of Gath.  David, and his men …and their families, settled there, with Achish, at Gath.  David brought his two wives …along with him—Ahinoam, from Jezreel, and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel.  Word soon reached Saul, that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him.  One day, David said to Achish,  “If it is all right with you, we would rather live, in one of the country towns, instead of here, in the royal city.”  So, Achish gave him the town of Ziklag (which still belongs to the kings of Judah, to this day), and they lived there, among the Philistines, for a year and four months.  David and his men s...

David Spares Saul Again Some men, from Ziph, came to Saul, at Gibeah, to tell him,  “David is hiding, on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.”  So, Saul took 3,000 …of Israel’s elite troops, and went to hunt David down, in the wilderness of Ziph.  Saul camped along the road, beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding.  When David learned, that Saul had come after him, into the wilderness, he sent out spies, to verify the report, of Saul’s arrival.  David slipped over, to Saul’s camp, one night, to look around.  Saul and Abner, son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, were sleeping, inside a ring, formed by the slumbering warriors.  “Who will volunteer, to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech, the Hittite, and Abishai, son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother.  “I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied.  So, David and Abishai went, right into Saul’s camp …and found him asleep, with his spear… stuck in the ground, besid...

Abigail Intercedes for Nabal and David Marries Abigail When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey, and bowed low before him.  She fell at his feet and said,  “I accept all blame, in this matter, my lord.  Please listen to what I have to say.  I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him.  He is a fool, just as his name suggests.  But, I never even saw the young men you sent.  “Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives, and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering, and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies, and those who try to harm, you be as cursed as Nabal is.  And here is a present, that I, your servant, have brought to you …and your young men.  Please forgive me, if I have offended you, in any way.  The Lord will surely reward you, with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles.  And you have not done wrong, throughout ...