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thou save thyself this night, to-morrow thou shalt die." She then let him down through a window, and he fled and escaped. Michol took an image and laid it on the bed, and put a goatskin with the hair on at the head

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came to seize David, an answer was sent back that he was sick. Saul again sent to see David, saying: "Bring him to me in the bed that he may die." And when

the messengers were come in, they found an image upon the bed, and a goatskin at its head.

§ 70. Jonathan's friendship for David, and Saul's hatred. David fled, and passing from place to place he came at last back to Jonathan his friend, and said to him: "What have I done against thy father, that he seeketh my life? As the Lord liveth, there is but one step as I may say between me and death." Jonathan said to David: "Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me I will do for thee." They then agreed together that as David's seat would be empty the following day at the banquet, Jonathan should take occasion to speak to his father respecting David in case he noticed his absence. In the meantime David was to lie hid in the field. The first day Saul said nothing; but the second day he asked why David did not come to the feast either that day or the day before. Jonathan gave his father the answer that had been agreed upon, that David had asked leave to go to Bethlehem. Saul was exceeding angry with Jonathan, and said: "As long as the son of Isai liveth upon earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Therefore now presently send and fetch him to me: for he is the son of death." And Jonathan answering Saul his father, said: "Why shall he die? what hath he done?" And Saul caught up a spear to strike him. And Jonathan understood that it was determined by his father to kill David. So Jonathan rose from the table in great anger, and did not eat bread on the second day after the new moon, for he was grieved

DAVID AND JONATHAN.

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for David, because his father had put him to confusion. And when the morning came, Jonathan went into the field, according to the appointment with David, and a little boy with him. And he said to his

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JONATHAN'S SIGNAL TO DAVID.

boy: "Go, and fetch me the arrows which I shoot." And when the boy ran, he shot another arrow beyond the boy. The boy therefore came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot: and Jonathan cried

after the boy, and said: "Behold the arrow is there further beyond thee." And Jonathan cried again after the boy, saying: "Make haste speedily, stand not." And Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and brought them to his master: and he knew not at all what was doing: for only Jonathan and David knew the matter. Jonathan therefore gave his arms to the boy, and said to him: "Go, and carry them into the city." And when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place, which was towards the south, and falling on his face to the ground, adored thrice: and kissing one another, they wept together, but David more. And Jonathan said to David: "Go in peace: and let all stand that we have both of us sworn in the name of the Lord, saying: "The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever." And David arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

§ 71. David's danger in the court of Achis, king of Gath.

David fled and took refuge with Achis, king of Gath. And the servants of Achis, when they saw David, said to him: "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to him in their dances, saying: 'Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?'" But David laid up these words in his heart, and was exceedingly afraid at the face of Achis the king of Gath. And he changed his countenance before them, and slipt down between their hands: and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard. And Achis said to

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his servants: "You saw the man was mad: why have you brought him to me? Have we need of madmen, that you have brought in this fellow, to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?"

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David was now a fugitive, almost like Cain; and to protect himself, he was forced to gather about him a

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