38 MATTHEW 0 7 WESTMINSTER. B.C. 1055. placed an image in his bed instead of him. By the kindness of Samuel he saw Saul prophesying in Naioth, without receiving any injury from him. And he made a treaty with Jonathan, who practised shooting arrows.8 In Nob he ate the priests' bread, having pretended to be mad at Achish. Abiathar was the only one of the priests who escaped when the rest were slain by Doeg, after which David slew the robbers and delivered Keilah. Once, while Saul was asleep, he privily took away a pitcher of water and his spear, and forded the river, delivering his lord the king from àie enemies that were coming against him. 'Afterwards, when Saul pursued him he cut off the skirt of his garment. When Nabal, who was a foolish man, died, he married his wife Abigail. Returning from Achish to Ziklag, he smote the Amalekites, and slew the man who brought him news of Saul's death, and composed a mourn ful elegy over him, and lamented him. After Ishbosheth died he reigned alone in Jerusalem, which was formerly called Solema, casting the Jebusites out of it ; and he built Mello. Having defeated the Philistines in Baalpharosin, the ark of the Lord is brought back to Jerusalem, and David danced before the ark, for which he is laughed at by Michal. Posterity is promised him, but he is forbidden himself to build a house for the Lord. He measured the Moabites with a line and smote them, and overthrew the Philistines and Edomites in the valley of Salt, and delivered Israel out of their hands. He distributed official dignities, and slew-Uriah by the hand of the Ammonites. He fled before Absolom, who had at first been rejected by him, and who afterwards pursued him ; and when he was slain, and when Ahitophel had hanged himself, he returned to Jerusalem, and by numbering the people brought the anger of God upon himself. David was both king and prophet, born of the tribe of Judah, the son of Jesse, born in Bethlehem : as a boy he was a keeper of sheep, he was the youngest of his brothers, but superior to them in genius. He was called by the Lord to the kingdom, and anointed king by the prophet. In war he was brave, for personal courage he was conspicuous, he triumphed gloriously : he was a veteran in victory, patient in Jonathan gave notice to David of Saul's disposition towards him by shooting arrows, see 1 Sam. xx. 20. 9 David cut off Saul's skirt before he took bis spear and cruse, 1 Sam. xxiv. 4 ; xxiv. 12.