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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
The Antiquities of the Jews
Written by Flavius Josephus
Translated by William Whiston
Book Six
Chapter 12
How David Fled To Ahimelech And Afterwards To
The Kings Of The Philistines And Of The Moabites, And How Saul
Slew Ahimelech And His Family
1. But David fled from the king, and that death he was in danger
of by him, and came to the city Nob, to Ahimelech the priest,
who, when he saw him coming all alone, and neither a friend nor
a servant with him, he wondered at it, and desired to learn of
him the cause why there was nobody with him. To which David
answered, That the king had commanded him to do a certain thing
that was to be kept secret, to which, if he had a mind to know
so much, he had no occasion for any one to accompany him;
"however, I have ordered my servants to meet me at such and such
a place." So he desired him to let him have somewhat to eat; and
that in case he would supply him, be would act the part of a
friend, and be assisting to the business he was now about: and
when he had obtained what he desired, he also asked him whether
he had any weapons with him, either sword or spear. Now there
was at Nob a servant of Saul, by birth a Syrian, whose name was
Doeg, one that kept the king's mules. The high priest said that
he had no such weapons; but, he added, "Here is the sword of
Goliath, which, when thou hadst slain the Philistine, thou didst
dedicate to God."
2. When David had received the sword, he fled out of the country
of the Hebrews into that of the Philistines, over which Achish
reigned; and when the king's servants knew him, and he was made
known to the king himself, the servants informing him that he
was that David who had killed many ten thousands of the
Philistines, David was afraid lest the king should put him to
death, and that he should experience that danger from him which
he had escaped from Saul; so he pretended to be distracted and
mad, so that his spittle ran out of his mouth; and he did other
the like actions before the king of Gath, which might make him
believe that they proceeded from such a distemper. Accordingly
the king was very angry at his servants that they had brought
him a madman, and he gave orders that they should eject David
immediately [out of the city].
3. So when David had escaped in this manner out of Gath, he came
to the tribe of Judah, and abode in a cave by the city of
Adullam. Then it was that he sent to his brethren, and informed
them where he was, who then came to him with all their kindred,
and as many others as were either in want or in fear of king
Saul, came and made a body together, and told him they were
ready to obey his orders; they were in all about four hundred.
Whereupon he took courage, now such a force and assistance was
come to him; so he removed thence and came to the king of the
Moabites, and desired him to entertain his parents in his
country, while the issue of his affairs were in such an
uncertain condition. The king granted him this favor, and paid
great respect to David's parents all the time they were with
him.
4. As for himself, upon the prophet's commanding him to leave
the desert, and to go into the portion of the tribe of Judah,
and abide there, he complied therewith; and coming to the city
Hareth, which was in that tribe, he remained there. Now when
Saul heard that David had been seen with a multitude about him,
he fell into no small disturbance and trouble; but as he knew
that David was a bold and courageous man, he suspected that
somewhat extraordinary would appear from him, and that openly
also, which would make him weep and put him into distress; so he
called together to him his friends, and his commanders, and the
tribe from which he was himself derived, to the hill where his
palace was; and sitting upon a place called Aroura, his
courtiers that were in dignities, and the guards of his body,
being with him, he spake thus to them: - "You that are men of my
own tribe, I conclude that you remember the benefits that I have
bestowed upon you, and that I have made some of you owners of
land, and made you commanders, and bestowed posts of honor upon
you, and set some of you over the common people, and others over
the soldiers; I ask you, therefore, whether you expect greater
and more donations from the son of Jesse? for I know that you
are all inclinable to him; (even my own son Jonathan himself is
of that opinion, and persuades you to be of the same); for I am
not unacquainted with the oaths and the covenants that are
between him and David, and that Jonathan is a counselor and an
assistant to those that conspire against me, and none of you are
concerned about these things, but you keep silence and watch, to
see what will be the upshot of these things." When the king had
made this speech, not one of the rest of those that were present
made any answer; but Doeg the Syrian, who fed his mules, said,
that he saw David when he came to the city Nob to Ahimelech the
high priest, and that he learned future events by his
prophesying; that he received food from him, and the sword of
Goliath, and was conducted by him with security to such as he
desired to go to.
5. Saul therefore sent for the high priest, and for all his
kindred; and said to them, "What terrible or ungrateful tiring
hast thou suffered from me, that thou hast received the son of
Jesse, and hast bestowed on him both food and weapons, when he
was contriving to get the kingdom? And further, why didst thou
deliver oracles to him concerning futurities? For thou couldst
not be unacquainted that he was fled away from me, and that he
hated my family." But the high priest did not betake himself to
deny what he had done, but confessed boldly that he had supplied
him with these things, not to gratify David, but Saul himself:
and he said, "I did not know that he was thy adversary, but a
servant of thine, who was very faithful to thee, and a captain
over a thousand of thy soldiers, and, what is more than these,
thy son-in-law, and kinsman. Men do not choose to confer such
favors on their adversaries, but on those who are esteemed to
bear the highest good-will and respect to them. Nor is this the
first time that I prophesied for him, but I have done it often,
and at other times as well as now. And when he told me that he
was sent by thee in great haste to do somewhat, if I had
furnished him with nothing that he desired I should have thought
that it was rather in contradiction to thee than to him;
wherefore do not thou entertain any ill opinion of me, nor do
thou have a suspicion of what I then thought an act of humanity,
from what is now told thee of David's attempts against thee, for
I did then to him as to thy friend and son-in-law, and captain
of a thousand, and not as to thine adversary."
6. When the high priest had spoken thus, he did not persuade
Saul, his fear was so prevalent, that he could not give credit
to an apology that was very just. So he commanded his armed men
that stood about him to kill him, and all his kindred; but as
they durst not touch the high priest, but were more afraid of
disobeying God than the king, he ordered Doeg the Syrian to kill
them. Accordingly, he took to his assistance such wicked men as
were like himself, and slew Ahimelech and all his family, who
were in all three hundred and eighty-five. Saul also sent to
Nob, (21) the city of the priests, and slew all that were there,
without sparing either women or children, or any other age, and
burnt it; only there was one son of Ahimelech, whose name was
Abiathar, who escaped. However, these things came to pass as God
had foretold to Eli the high priest, when he said that his
posterity should be destroyed, on account of the transgression
of his two sons.
7. (22) Now this king Saul, by perpetrating so barbarous a
crime, and murdering the whole family of the high-priestly
dignity, by having no pity of the infants, nor reverence for the
aged, and by overthrowing the city which God had chosen for the
property, and for the support of the priests and prophets which
were there, and had ordained as the only city allotted for the
education of such men, gives all to understand and consider the
disposition of men, that while they are private persons, and in
a low condition, because it is not in their power to indulge
nature, nor to venture upon what they wish for, they are
equitable and moderate, and pursue nothing but what is just, and
bend their whole minds and labors that way; then it is that they
have this belief about God, that he is present to all the
actions of their lives, and that he does not only see the
actions that are done, but clearly knows those their thoughts
also, whence those actions do arise. But when once they are
advanced into power and authority, then they put off all such
notions, and, as if they were no other than actors upon a
theater, they lay aside their disguised parts and manners, and
take up boldness, insolence, and a contempt of both human and
Divine laws, and this at a time when they especially stand in
need of piety and righteousness, because they are then most of
all exposed to envy, and all they think, and all they say, are
in the view of all men; then it is that they become so insolent
in their actions, as though God saw them no longer, or were
afraid of them because of their power: and whatsoever it is that
they either are afraid of by the rumors they hear, or they hate
by inclination, or they love without reason, these seem to them
to be authentic, and firm, and true, and pleasing both to men
and to God; but as to what will come hereafter, they have not
the least regard to it. They raise those to honor indeed who
have been at a great deal of pains for them, and after that
honor they envy them; and when they have brought them into high
dignity, they do not only deprive them of what they had
obtained, but also, on that very account, of their lives also,
and that on wicked accusations, and such as on account of their
extravagant nature, are incredible. They also punish men for
their actions, not such as deserve condemnation, but from
calumnies and accusations without examination; and this extends
not only to such as deserve to be punished, but to as many as
they are able to kill. This reflection is openly confirmed to us
from the example of Saul, the son of Kish, who was the first
king who reigned after our aristocracy and government under the
judges were over; and that by his slaughter of three hundred
priests and prophets, on occasion of his suspicion about
Ahimelech, and by the additional wickedness of the overthrow of
their city, and this is as he were endeavoring in some sort to
render the temple [tabernacle] destitute both of priests and
prophets, which endeavor he showed by slaying so many of them,
and not suffering the very city belonging to .them to remain,
that so others might succeed them.
8. But Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, who alone could be saved
out of the family of priests slain by Saul, fled to David, and
informed him of the calamity that had befallen their family, and
of the slaughter of his father; who hereupon said, He was not
unapprised of what would follow with relation to them when he
saw Doeg there; for he had then a suspicion that the high priest
would be falsely accused by him to the king, and he blamed
himself as having been the cause of this misfortune. But he
desired him to stay there, and abide with him, as in a place
where he might be better concealed than any where else.
Continue on to
Book
Six,
Chapter 13,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
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