This would secure him not only the means of information as to Saul's movements, but also of easy

communication with his own family, and with those who would naturally s ympathize with him.

Adullam was only a few hours distant from Bethlehem, and David's family, who no longer felt themselves

safe in their home, soon joined him in his new refuge. But not only they. Many there must have been in the

troublous times of Saul's reign who were "in distress," oppressed and persecuted; many who under such

misgovernment would fall "into debt" to unmerciful and violent exactors; many also, who, utterly

dissatisfied with the present state of things, would, in the expressive language of the sacred text, "be bitter

of soul." Of these the more active and ardent now gathered around David, first to the number of about four

hundred, which soon increased to six hundred (23:13). They were not a band in rebellion against Saul. This

would not only have been utterly contrary to David's constantly avowed allegiance and oft proved loyalty

to Saul, but to the higher purpose of God. The latter, if we may venture to judge, seems to have been

spiritually to fit David for his calling, by teaching him constant dependence on God, and by also outwardly

training him and his followers for the battles of the Lord - not against Saul, but against Israel's great enemy,

the Philistines; in short, to take up the work which the all-absorbing murderous passion of Saul, as well as

his desertion by God, prevented him from doing. Thus we see once more how, in the Providence of God, the

inward and the outward training of David were the result of circumstances over which he had no control,

and which seemed to threaten consequences of an entirely different character. How in those times of

persecution outlaws became heroes, and of what deeds of personal bravery they were capable in the wars of

the Lord, we learn from the record of their names (1 Chronicles 12), and of some of their achievements (2

Samuel 23:13, etc. comp. 1 Chronicles 11:15, etc.).

But there were among them those nearest and dearest to David, his own aged father and mother, whose

presence could only impede the movements of his followers, and whose safety he must secure. Besides, as

such a band could not long escape Saul's notice, it seemed desirable to find a better retreat than the caves

about Adullam. For this twofold object David and his followers now passed to the other side of Jordan.

From the account of the war between Saul and Moab in 1 Samuel 14:47, we infer that the latter had advanced

beyond their own territory across the border, and were now occupying the southern part of the trans-

Jordanic country which belonged to Israel. This was within easy reach of Bethlehem. Accordingly David

now went to Mizpeh Moab, the "outlook," mountain -height or "Tor" (as we might call it) of Moab, probably

over against Jericho in the "Arboth of Moab" (Numbers 22:1; Deuteronomy 34:1, 8; Joshua 13:32), perhaps,

as the name seems to indicate, on the fields of the Zophim (or outlookers), on the top of Pisgah (Numbers

To the king of Moab, whose protection he could invoke in virtue of their descent from Ruth the Moabitess,

he commended his father and mother, with the expressive remark, till he should know "what Elohim202 would

do" unto him. He himself and his followers meantime entrenched on that "mountain -height,"  203 associated

with the prophecy there delivered by Balaam concerning Israel's future.

It was impossible that such a movement on the part of David could long remain unknown. In two quarters it

excited deep feelings, though of a very different character. It seems highly probable that the tidings reached

the Naioth, and that it was from thence that Gad (afterwards David's "seer" and spiritual adviser, 2 Samuel

24:11-19.; 1 Chronicles 21:9, and the chronicler of his reign, 1 Chronicles 29:29) went to David by Divine

But the stay in the land of Moab was not in accordance with the purpose of God. David must not flee from

the discipline of suffering, and God had some special work for him in the land of Israel which Saul could. no

longer do. In accordance with this direction, David left his entrenched position, recrossed the Jordan, and

sought shelter in "the forest of Hareth,"  205 within the boundaries of Judah. But meantime Saul also had

heard that "David had become known, and the men that were with him" (22:6).

Being aware of his position, he would secure his prey. A royal court is held at Gibeah. The king sits, as so

often before, "under the tamarisk-tree on the height," his spear as scepter in his hand, and surrounded by all