He went to Nob, in Benjamin, where the tabernacle was; and there he saw Abimelech,

the priest.

David knew that he could not

now go often to worship God in the holy place; for he must hide from Saul, that he might thereby save his life.

Abimelech wondered very much to see David, and asked why he had come. "King Saul sent me here," he said," upon secret business. He commanded me not to say what the business is. Give me, I pray thee, some of the bread I see there." Now the bread which Abimelech had was the shew-bread. It was hallowed bread, of which the priests alone might eat. But Abimelech gave some to David and to the men with him, because they were hungry and could get no other.

Then David asked the priest to give him some armor. Abimelech had there the sword

of Goliath, and this he showed to David. David was pleased to see this sword again; for it made him remember how God hath helped him to conquer and kill the great giant, so short a time before.

David took the sword and went to Gath, and to King Achish. Achish was a kind king; but he was a Philistine. Naturally his people did not love David, remembering what he had done in times past to the Philistines. And so David was unhappy at Gath. He was afraid of Achish and of his people; he knew they might kill him or tell Saul about him. Still he dared not go away without reason.

He ran

So he pretended to be mad. about wildly, and scratched upon the doors, and did many more seemingly mad things. Then Achish sent him away; and, free to do as he pleased, he went and hid in a cave.

While David was in the tabernacle at Nob, talking to the priests, a man came whose name was Doeg. He was the keeper of Saul's cattle, a very wicked man, and an enemy of David. Saul had heard that David was escaping from place to place, and so tried to find him, that he might kill him. He asked his servants to tell him all they knew about David, who were his friends, and who had helped him to escape.

And Doeg said, “I saw David come to Nob, to Abimelech the priest; and I saw Abimelech give him food and the sword of the giant Goliath." At once, then, Saul sent for Abimelech, and all the priests that were at Nob. "Why hast thou given bread and a sword to David my enemy, and helped him to fight against me, and kill me?" he cried. Abimelech answered, " David is not an enemy!

He is faithful and obedient to the king; and I knew nothing of all this."

But Saul would not believe Abimelech, and he commanded the servants who stood by to slay Abimelech, and to put all the other priests to death !

holy priests.

But the servants would not kill these Then Saul turned to Doeg. "Kill thou these priests!" Doeg, cruel as Saul, was glad to obey. He drew his sword, and slew them all, eighty-five in number, and then went to Nob and killed the people there, men, and women, and children. Only one son of Abimelech, named Abithar, escaped, and he ran to David, and told him the sad story.

But David was not alone in his wanderings. Many men came to help him; ready to follow wherever he went. He was their

captain, and they obeyed him.

The Philistines were now fighting again. against Israel; and David and his men went to try to conquer them. One day David was very tired and thirsty with long fighting. The Philistines camp was then at Bethlehem; and there was a well of water near it. Oh! that one would give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem!" David cried. David's soldiers, hearing the cry, ran in through their enemies, drew the water and brought it to David. So much did they love their master that they thought not of their own danger! But when David saw his friends in peril, he said, “No, I will not drink it! My brave soldiers have suffered more than I, and they are thirsty too. This water is too good for me; I will give it to God." So he poured it out, an offering to the Lord.

But where was Jonathan all this time?