Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-08
DAVID AND KING SAUL

DAVID AND KING SAUL
Instructive Bible Story that Makes
Good Every Day Reading.
David and those few men who were
his followers had made the hills their
refuge; and after them, up rocky de-
files and dim paths that lost them
selves upon the barren heights, toiled
King Saul, eager to slay. The specter
Of a crown on David's brow was ever
with the king, and he would in no wise
be turned aside from his purpose to
slay. This was he Of whom the people
had sung, Saul has slain his thous-
ands and David his ten thousands" It
was not hard to see what talk like that
led to; and the foundations of dynas-
ty must sometimes be cemented with
blood.
But surely the man David was like
the very wild goats Of the hills in his
agility, and wary as the eagle. He
could turn and double and seek cover.
and suddenly. when you were almost
at his heels, be gone clean out of the
country Once, when 1t seemed certain
Saul had hemmed him in, a messenger
had come, gaunt and breathless bring
ing news Of an incursion of Philistines,
and 1t had been imperative to turn
back the whole force. Surely never
was king harried So
They were sad days for David. who
had loved the king. He minded how
the evil spell had grown upon the king,
and how he had been used to sit glow
ering, torn by dark doubts and hatred,
and David had played to him upon his
harp and sung his verse until the day
when Saul, in an excess Of madness,
had flung his spear that stuck quiver-
ing in the wall just where he had been.
And David had done no wrong. AL
he had ever done had been to fight for
the king Of Israel with the best
strength that was in him.
At MONDAY David and his men lay
stretched out in the cool darkness Of a
cave over against Engedi on q NOUN
tain side. 1t was far up above the
haunts Of men, and only the wild goats
played there, their young skipping
from rock to rock. Suddenly David
and his friends heard with surprise
feet coming up the trail. 1t was too
late to leave the cave, and at a sign
from their leader they drew back into
one Of the many branching passages
that led from the main chamber, and
whose existence you had never guessed
unless you happened to have known Of
that entrance, hidden in the shadows.
From 1t they watched the king him
self come in, signing relief at his es-
cape from the hot sunlight that blazed
outside. And Saul stretched himself
out and went to sleep.
Then David's friends drew close to
him and whispered their delight.
Truly" exclaimed one man, now
have I lived to see the day Of which
the Lord God spoke when he said, Be
hold, / will deliver thine enemy into
thy hand. Now slay him while he
sleeps"
Say, but the word and he is a dead
man." whispered another, licking his
grim lips.
Before the eyes Of David rose the
vision of an old, old man, amounting a
ruddy boy and mumbling strange words
of kingship and one chosen by the
Lord, who in the days to come should
rule the land. Was the time come? He
shook himself. The thing was beyond
him. He minded the time when this
same sleeping king had offered tho
ruddy boy his own armour to go out
and fight against Goliath Of Gath. And
had afterward taken him into his
house and reared him with his own
son.
His followers saw him tiptoe for
ward, knife in hand, and bend above
the sleeping king. They poised to hear
the impact Of a blow. What was he
doing, crouching there so long. David
came back, and they saw held in his
hand a ragged piece Of the skirt Of the
kings robe.
And in a little while the king STIR
red in his sleep, awoke, and went out
of the cave. When he was gone their
leader motioned theI to follow him. 1t
had been a mad thin to let the king
go so, but there was no one Of the band
who cared to tell him so.
The king was out of bowshot, but
not out Of earshot, down below there
on the side Of the hill. And David stood
boldly out and called to him, from the
top Of fiat rock:
why dost thou hark," he cried, ito
those who say that David seeks the
kings hurt? Behold, this day have
thing own eyes not seen the thing Is
false? For the Lord delivered Saul into
mine hand in the cave; and there were
those who bade me kill thee, which
might have done by stretching out
hand; see, now, my father. how hold
the skirt Of thy robe in my hand, cut
off with mine own dagger, and judge II
there be any sin in me.
The Lord judge between thee and
me, and the Lord avenge me Of thee;
yet will l not lift mine hand against
the Lords anointed."
And Saul beheld him, and he lifted
up his voice and wept. And he said:
Thou art more righteous than ]. and
thou has rewarded me with good for
evil. The Lord reward thee for the
good thou hast done me. And now hear
my voice, son Of Jesse For I know now
thou shalt surely be king, nor shall
any son of Saul sit on the throne OF
Israel. Swear to me now that in that
day thou will not slay my descendants,
nor seek their blood as have sought
thine"
And David, lifted up his hands, and
said;
"I swear the thing"
Then Saul went down to his house,
but David abode In the hills.
va A girl should allow her parents to