* 1 Sam. xxv. 1.
** Ver. 5—9.
*** Ver. 7.
**** Ver. 10, 11.
(5) Ver. 13, 14-22.
And this motive certainly had its force, since she could not as yet have known David's intention: we may observe she was told of it by David at their meeting.* She prepared a present, and went to David, saying, very sententiously, "Upon me, my Lord, upon me let this iniquity be:"** judging, very humanely, that could she get him to transfer his revenge upon her, she might possibly contrive to pacify him, without proceeding to disagreeable extremities. Nor was she wrong in her judgment; for we are told, "So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, go up in peace to thine house; see I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person."*** But however agreeable this meeting might have been to Abigail, we do not find that Nabal was so well pleased with the composition his wife had made for him; for when he came to understand so much of the story as she chose to inform him of, he guessed the remainder, broke his heart, and died in ten days afterward. David loses no time, but returned God thanks for the old fellow's death, and then Mrs. Abigail was promoted to the honour of being one of the Captain's ladies.(5)
We are now told another story extremely resembling that of the cave of En-gedi. Saul again pursues David with three thousand chosen men; again fell into his hands during his sleep; only that here David stole upon him in his own camp; he ran away with the king's spear and bottle of water, and Saul went back again as wise as he came.(6)
* I Sam. xxv. 34.
** Ver. 24.
*** Ver. 35.
****Ver. 37,38.
(5) Ver. 39.
(6) Ch. xxvi.
The opinion of Mons. Bayle seems most probable concerning this adventure, who looks upon it but as another detail of the former affair at En-gedi; and that for very good reasons. For, upon a comparison of both, as laid down in the 23d, 24th, and 26th chapters of 1 Samuel, we may remark,
I. That in each relation Saul pursues him with the same number of chosen men.
II. That both adventures happened at or very near the same place.
III. That in each story David comes upon Saul in much the same manner, withholds his people from killing him, and contents himself with taking away a testimonial of the king's having been in his power.
IV. That in the second account, When David is pleading the injustice of Saul's persecuting him, as he terms it, he does not strengthen his plea by representing to him that this was the second time of his sparing him, when he had his life so entirely in his power; and that Saul's pursuing him this second time, was a flagrant instance of ingratitude, after what had happened on the former occasion.
V. That in the second relation, Saul, when he acknowledges David's forbearance and mercy to him in the present instance, makes no mention of any former obligation of this kind, although it was so recent, and in the main circumstance so similar.