The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-08-13

Saul Tries to Kill David.
1t was soon evident that David's
valorous deed was not sporadic in
cident. 1t was the natural fruit of
a valorous life, and there was more
fruit of the same kind to follow. In
the quaint phrase of the narrative, he
behaved himself wisely He was so
prudent that he disarmed even the
courtiers who would naturally have
been jealous of his advancement. They
might have disdained the intrusion of
a shepherd boy in court. They would
have done so if the slightest pretext
or opportunity had been given. Sue
cess had evidently not made David
conceited, the especial bane of mill
tary men.
But the murderous envy of Saul is
the inky agate on which the character
of David stands out like fair cameo
in clear cut aud lovely outline. The
provoking cause of Saul's jealousy in
this instance seemed to be the popu-
lar ovation in which in Oriental style
for such occasion the women took
conspicuous part. The rule of their
exclusion made this exceptional APP
pearance the more effective. They
chanted some favorite old folksong
and added as refrain, Saul had
slain his thousands and David his
myriads." 1t was an outburst of pa
triotic joy. The song was antiphonal,
one chorus responding to another
with the accompaniment of some
crude instrument, called literally "the
three" describing, perhaps, the trail
angle or an instrument of three strings.
The youthful and beautiful singers
accentuated their song with rhythmic
movement of the body. The refrain
was so constantly repeated that it be-
came the sustaining expression of the
whole affair. In it the need OF praise
was distinctly given to the Bethlehe-
mite STRIPPING. Comparisons on such
an occasion are especially odious. 1t
is quantity said that lavish common
dations of those whom we admire in
such a world as this often prove a
cal injury. So the daughters and
matrons of Israel did David an uncon-
scious, but veritable, disservice. The
self-centered king could not brook the
supposed indignity.
This account is drawn to the line
psychologically. Saul harbored a
mean passion. 1t confused his moral
sense. He became its veriest slave.
He had heard Samuel's intimation
that a neighbor better than himself
should take his crown. He was on
the watch for that rival, and recog-
nized him in David. He saw in this
incident the unfolding of a divine
purpose to supplant him, and determ-
ined rashly and impiously to nip that
purpose in the bud.
Saul tried one expedient after anoth
er to secure his cruel and wicked end.
Twice with his own hand, in murder
Gus rage, he hurled his javelin at his
young armorbearer, aiming to pinion
him to the wall. But David in both
instances availed himself of that dex-
terity he had learned in meeting
other wild beasts. Next Saul required
dangerous exploits at David's hands
anticipating that in some of them he
would be slain, but David seemed in
vulnerable, covered with the impene-
trable shield of providence. The new
positions which the king gave him
with such sinister motives put him in
touch with the populace, as one at
tached to an Oriental court could
never be. So that Saul soon found he
had only given new opportunities to
his rival.
Saul next sought to achieve in the
boudoir what he had failed to accom-
plish afield. He would fain use his
own daughter as a bait to catch David
with. Paternal feeling was so expelled
by another passion that he regarded
her feelings no more than the fisher
man does the angle worm. Before he
was through with it he had sacrificed
the happiness of two daughters, re-
viled his own wife, and sought the
life of son as well as a son-in-law.