Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-08-29

there the stirring reports Of the bat,
tie with It's I'll consequences to Israel
we're repeated over and over again.
and the same questions stirred thel
hearts Of the people as to who now
would lead them rs troubled thei
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 II 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
a messenger to him inviting his re-
turn to Judah, but Just as they were
about to do so a runner brought It'd
ings that David had Joined his forces
with those Of Achish, the Philistlne
king, and had shared In the recent bat.
tie which had resulted 30 disastrously
to the army Of Israel.
What, David fight against his
brethren In Israeli" the elders OK.
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 truatad htm No ho rivht
a brother, SC 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
d~isconcerting news. Whittier. now,
indeed, would judah turn. David had
failed them. Now that he had taken
up arms against his own c%ountrymen
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:
AiaNh bdNiu EtHt duklt W tUtt.
Behold, when ! arrived home l found
tnere awaiting me a goodly portion Of
the spoil which David had tent with
loyal greetings. Whas thinkest thou
concerning IT."
1t can be imagined what surprise
and establishment such tidings brought
to each Of the elders and hastily they
Taaganrnh1nA aarI,~ An tha follol-r
day to consider the matter. Then 1t
was that the full details Of David's re.
turn to Ziklag, his pursuit Of the en-.
envy which had burned his city and
carried of the women and children.
and Of his recovery OF everything
which had been taken, were made
known.
Then ne did not fight with the
Philistines against Israeli" they ex.
claimed, one TO the other, their de-
preston giving place to the Joy of a
new hope.
LET us send greetings at once to
David, and invite him to return" Gag
erly suggested one.
But who is there who will dare 70
lulO lnt ldnu OF tne fnlllStlneS TO
carry him word. II the coming of
such messenger reaches the ears of
the Philistines. l fear It will go hard
with David, and may bring the Phil
istine armies down upon u.s. spoke
up another cautiously.
Then followed an earnest discussion
which was suddenly interrupted by
the entrance of a GREATNESS runner
who exclaimed as soon as he was
able to recover the power of speech:
David! Hebron!"
What's that you say" fairly shout
ed the elders, so excited were they,
David has come to Hebron"
The messenger nodded his head In
assent, and added:
Yea, and he hath brought all his
men and all his substance, and his
wives and all whatsoever he hath"
Then let us go up to Hebron ant
there anoint him as our king. Sure
~ God has looked down upon us in oul
distress, and hath sent a deliverer."
And so it was that the men of Ju
dab came and there they ~anointet
David king owe the house OF Judah.