Jonathan and Michal Save David

But Saul was not inclined to stay long in that frame of mind. When he saw that David was held in great esteem both by God and by the people, he was afraid; and being unable to hide his fear, which concerned great things, his kingdom and his life, to lose either of which was a very great calamity, he resolved to have David killed, and ordered his son Jonathan and his most trusted servants to kill him. But Jonathan was astonished at his father’s change toward David, that it should go so far, from showing him no small goodwill to plotting how to have him killed. Because he loved the young man and respected him for his virtue, he told him of the secret order his father had given and what he intended toward him. He advised him to take care and to stay away the next day, for he would greet his father and, if he found a favorable moment, would speak with him about David, learn the cause of his displeasure, and show how little ground there was for it: that for such a reason he ought not to kill a man who had done so much good to the people and had been a benefactor to Saul himself, for which he ought in reason to be pardoned even if he had been guilty of the greatest crimes. And Jonathan said, “Then I will tell you what my father has decided.” David followed this sound advice and kept out of the king’s sight.

The next day, as soon as Jonathan saw Saul in a cheerful and happy mood, he came to him and began to bring up the subject of David: “Father, what wrong, small or great, have you found in David so objectionable as to lead you to order us to kill a man who has been of great service to your own safety, and of still greater service in punishing the Philistines? He is the man who freed the people of the Hebrews from the disgrace and mockery they suffered for forty days on end, when he alone had the courage to take up the enemy’s challenge; and after that he brought as many heads of our enemies as he was told to bring, and had my sister in marriage as his reward. So his death would be a great grief to us, not only because of his virtue but because he is so closely related to us; for your daughter would be wronged at the same moment he is killed, and would be made to know widowhood before she can come to enjoy any benefit from their life together. Consider these things, and change your mind to a more merciful temper. Do no harm to a man who, first, has done us the greatest kindness of saving you, for when an evil spirit and demons had seized you, he drove them out and gave your soul rest from their attacks; and who, second, has avenged us on our enemies. It is shameful to forget such benefits.” Saul was calmed by these words and swore to his son that he would do David no harm, for a just argument proved stronger than the king’s anger and fear. So Jonathan sent for David and brought him the good news from his father that he would be spared. He also brought him to his father, and David stayed with the king as before.

About this time the Philistines made a new expedition against the Hebrews, and Saul sent David with an army to fight them. He joined battle with them and killed many of them, and after his victory he returned to the king. But Saul did not receive him as he expected after such success. He was grieved at his good fortune, because he thought David would be more dangerous to him for having acted so gloriously. And when the demonic spirit came on him and threw him into disorder and troubled him, he called David into the bedroom where he lay, and with a spear in his hand ordered him to soothe him by playing on his harp and singing hymns. When David did as he was told, Saul hurled the spear at him with great force; but David saw it coming before it reached him, dodged it, fled to his own house, and stayed there all that day.

But at night the king sent officers and ordered that David be watched until morning, so that he could not get away altogether, and so that he might be brought into the hall of judgment, handed over, condemned and killed. But when Michal, David’s wife and the king’s daughter, understood what her father intended, she came to her husband. She had little hope that he would escape, and was greatly concerned for her own life too, for she could not bear to live if she were deprived of him. She said, “Do not let the sun find you here when it rises, for if it does, that will be the last time it sees you. Flee, then, while the night still gives you the chance, and may God lengthen it for your sake! For know this: if my father finds you, you are a dead man.” So she let him down by a rope out of the window and saved him. When she had done this, she made up a bed for him as if he were sick, and put a goat’s liver under the bedclothes. As soon as it was day her father sent to seize David, and she told those who came that he had been unwell during the night. She showed them the bed covered up, and by the quivering of the liver, which made the bedclothes move too, made them believe that David was breathing like a man with asthma. [a]

When those who had been sent told Saul that David had been unwell in the night, he ordered him to be brought in just as he was, for he meant to kill him. But when they came and uncovered the bed and discovered the woman’s trick, they told the king. Her father complained that she had saved his enemy and played a trick on him; but she made up this plausible defense for herself. She said that when David had threatened to kill her, she had helped him to escape out of fear, and she ought to be forgiven for that help, because it was not given of her own free choice but out of necessity. And she said, “For I do not suppose you were as eager to kill your enemy as you were to have me saved.” So Saul forgave the young woman. But David, having escaped this danger, came to the prophet Samuel at Ramah and told him what snares the king had laid for him, and how he had come very near to death when Saul threw a spear at him, although he had done Saul no wrong and had not been cowardly in his battles with his enemies, but had succeeded in them all with God’s help, which was indeed the very cause of Saul’s hatred of David.

When the prophet learned of the king’s unjust conduct, he left the city of Ramah and took David with him to a place called Naioth, and stayed there with him. But when Saul was told that David was with the prophet, he sent soldiers and ordered them to seize him and bring him back. When they came to Samuel and found a gathering of prophets there, they came to share in the Divine Spirit and began to prophesy. When Saul heard of it, he sent others after David; and when these prophesied in the same way as the first, he sent still others. When this third group prophesied too, he finally grew angry and hurried there himself; and when he was close to the place, Samuel, before he even saw him, made him prophesy also. When Saul came to him, he was disordered in mind and under the violent agitation of a spirit; and stripping off his garments, he fell down and lay on the ground all that day and night in the presence of Samuel and David. [b]

From there David went to Jonathan, Saul’s son, and lamented to him the snares his father was laying for him. He said that though he had done no wrong and had not offended against Saul, Saul was very eager to have him killed. Jonathan urged him not to believe these suspicions of his own, nor the slanders of those who spread such reports, if anyone did, but to rely on him and take courage; for his father had no such intention, since if he had, he would have told Jonathan of it and taken his advice, as he was used to consulting him jointly when he acted in other matters. But David swore to him that it was so, and asked him rather to believe him and see to his safety than to dismiss what he was telling him in all sincerity; otherwise, he said, Jonathan would believe him only when he either saw David killed with his own eyes or learned of it by inquiring of others. And the reason his father had not told him of these things was that he knew of the friendship and affection Jonathan bore toward David.

Jonathan, grieved that his assurances about Saul’s intentions had not convinced David, asked him what he wanted him to do for him. David replied, “I know that you are willing to do me every kindness and to get me whatever I want. Now, tomorrow is the new moon, and I have been accustomed to sit down to supper with the king then. If you think it good, I will go out of the city and stay hidden in the plain; and if Saul asks why I am absent, tell him that I have gone to my own city, Bethlehem, to keep a festival with my own tribe, and add this too, that you gave me permission to do so. If he says, as people usually say of friends who have gone away, ‘It is good that he went,’ then you may be sure that no hidden harm or hostility need be feared from him; but if he answers otherwise, that will be a sure sign that he has some design against me. Then you will tell me your father’s intentions, out of pity for my situation and out of your friendship for me; as tokens of that friendship you have been pleased to accept the pledges of my love for you and to give me the like pledges in return, that is, those of a master to his servant. But if you find any wickedness in me, forestall your father and kill me yourself.” [e]

Jonathan heard these last words with indignation, and promised to do what David asked and to tell him if his father’s answers showed anything gloomy or any hostility toward him. And so that David might rely on him all the more firmly, he took him out into the open field, into the clear air, and swore that he would leave nothing undone that might help to save David. He said, “I call on God, who, as you see, is present everywhere and knows this intention of mine before I put it into words, as the witness of this covenant of mine with you: I will not stop testing my father’s purpose again and again until I find out what it is and reach the most secret places of his soul. And when I have learned it, I will not hide it from you but will reveal it to you, whether he is gently or angrily disposed. For God himself knows that I pray he may always be with you; for he is with you now, and will not abandon you, and will make you stronger than your enemies, whether my father is one of them or I myself. Only remember what we are doing now; and if it happens that I die, keep my children alive, and repay to them the kindness you have now received.” When he had sworn this, he sent David away, telling him to go to a certain spot in the plain where he used to take his exercise; for as soon as he knew his father’s mind, he would come there to him with only one servant. He said, “If I throw three javelins at the target and then tell my servant to bring the javelins back, because they are lying in front of him, know that there is no harm to be feared from my father; but if you hear me say the opposite, expect the opposite from the king. Either way you will find safety through me and will suffer no harm at all; only see that you do not forget what I have asked of you in the time of your prosperity, and be good to my children.” When David had received these assurances from Jonathan, he went off to the appointed place. [f]

The next day, which was the new moon, the king purified himself, as the custom was, and came to supper. His son Jonathan sat at his right hand and Abner, the commander of his army, on the other side. Saul saw that David’s seat was empty but said nothing, supposing that he had not purified himself after being with his wife and so could not be present. But when he saw that David was not there on the second day of the month either, he asked his son Jonathan why the son of Jesse had not come to the supper and the feast, either the day before or that day. Jonathan said that David had gone, according to the agreement between them, to his own city, where his tribe was keeping a festival, and with his permission; and that David had also invited him to come to their sacrifice. And Jonathan added, “If you will give me leave, I will go there, for you know the goodwill I bear him.” [h]

Then Jonathan understood his father’s hatred of David and plainly saw his whole disposition. For Saul could not restrain his anger, but reproached Jonathan and called him the son of a renegade, and an enemy. He said that Jonathan was David’s partner and helper, that by his behavior he showed he had no regard for himself or for his mother, and that he would not be persuaded of this: that while David was alive their kingdom was not secure. Yet he told him to send for David, so that he could be punished. When Jonathan answered, “What has he done, that you would punish him?” Saul no longer contented himself with expressing his anger in mere words, but snatched up his spear and sprang at him, wanting to kill him. He did not in fact do what he intended, because his friends held him back; but it was now plain to his son that he hated David and greatly wanted to be rid of him, so much so that he had almost killed his own son with his own hands on David’s account.

Then the king’s son rose hastily from supper. Unable to take anything into his mouth for grief, he wept all night, both because he himself had come near to death and because David’s death had been decided. As soon as it was day he went out into the plain in front of the city, as if to take his exercise, but in reality to let his friend know how his father felt toward him, as he had agreed to do. When Jonathan had done what they had agreed, he sent the servant who had followed him back to the city; and as all was quiet, David was free to come out into his sight and talk with him. David appeared and fell at Jonathan’s feet, bowed down to him, and called him the preserver of his life. But Jonathan lifted him up from the ground, and they embraced each other and took a long farewell, and not without tears. They lamented their youth, and the companionship that envy would take from them, and the separation they now had to expect, which seemed to them no better than death itself. At last, recovering themselves from their lamentation and urging each other to remember the oaths they had sworn to one another, they parted. [i]