Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-09-05

one other bloody details OF the ter
ribe battle the people talked, and
wondered what further misfortune
awaited the nation.
with Saul and his three sons dead,
Confusion and uncertainty prevailed.
Even Abncr the leader OF the
hosts of Israel was apparently
unable to rally his forces and
suggest some plan of action. The
people were as sheep without a shep-
herd. So for days and weeks the dis
order and confusion continued, even as
far south as in the land of Judah And
there the stirring reports of the bat.
tie with it's i'll consequences to Israel
were repeated over and over again,
and the same questions stirred the
hearts of the people as to who now
would lead them as troubled the
northern tribes. In the spirit of much
depression the elders of judah came
together to consider the situation,
meeting secretly in one of the little
obscure towns lest if they assembled
at Hebron, their chief city, news OF
the meeting might reach the ears
of the Philistines and stir them to
immediate attack.
1t was but natural that the first
thought should be of David, and some
were for an immediate sending of
q messenger to him inviting his re-
turn to Judah, but just as they were
oh tN Il hrn oh
ings that David had joined his forces
with those Of Achish, the Philistine
king and had shared in the recent bat
tie which had resulted so disastrously
to the army of Israel.
What, David fight against his
claimed.
YES" replied the messenger.
Thou knowest how he has been
dwelling in the land of the Philistines
for now these many months, and how
King Achish gave him Ziklag in which
to dwell. And Achish made league
with him and trusted him as he might
brother, so that when he gathered
his armies to go out against the arm
les of Israel he took David and his
men along"
A long painful silence followed this
disconcerting news. Whittier, now,
indeed, would Judah turn. David had
failed them, Now that he had taken
up arms against his own countrymen
there could never more be place for
him in Judah. And with even great
err depression than before the elders
departed to their homes,
But the next day strange things had
! happened in Judah. The elders sent
messengers to each other with the
| query:
Hath David sent aught to thee?
Behold, when arrived home / found
there awaiting me goodly portion of
the spoil which David had sent with
loyal greetings. What thinkest thou
concerning it?"
1t can be imagined what surprise
and establishment such tidings brought
to each of the elders and hastily they
reassembled early on the followine
day to consider the matter. Then il
was that the full details of David's re
turn to Ziklag, his pursuit of the en-
envy which had burned his city anC
carried off the women and children
and of his recovery of everything
which had been taken, were made
known.
Then he did not fight with the
Philistines against Israeli" they ex
claimed, one to the other, their de
preston giving place to the joy of {
. new hope.
Let us send greetings at once t.
David, and invite him to return" Gag
erly suggested one.
But who is there who will dare e
into the land of the Philistines t.
carry him word. If the coming o
such messenger reaches the ears O
the Philistines, l fear it will go har,
with David, and may bring the Phil
, istine armies down upon u.s." spok
, up another cautiously.
Then followed an earnest discussion
I which was suddenly interrupted b
' the entrance of a breathless rune
p who exclaimed as soon as he wa
A able to recover the power of speech
I David! Hebron!"
D What's that you say?" fairly shou
n ed the elders, so excited were the,
o David has come to Hebron?"
: The messenger nodded his head 1
assent, and added:
q Yea, and he hath brought all hi
h men and all his substance, and HI
). wives and all whatsoever he hath"
d Then let us go up to Hebron an
o there anoint him as our king. Sur
;. ly God has looked down upon us in OF
+ distress, and hath sent a deliverer."
q And so it was that the men of j
dab came and there they anointe
. David king over the house of Judah.