WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.657 Day 100 and 94 00:00:05.152 --> 00:00:10.092 one day near Hoish David received the news that Saul was on the way to 00:00:10.092 --> 00:00:12.582 Ziff to search for him and kill him. 00:00:13.432 --> 00:00:18.442 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. 00:00:19.152 --> 00:00:21.892 Don't be afraid, Jonathan reassured him. 00:00:22.412 --> 00:00:24.242 My father will never find you. 00:00:24.662 --> 00:00:29.282 You are going to be the King of Israel and I will be next to you as my father. 00:00:29.282 --> 00:00:30.392 Saul is well aware. 00:00:31.582 --> 00:00:34.662 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. 00:00:35.342 --> 00:00:39.122 Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh. 00:00:40.082 --> 00:00:45.252 But now the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. 00:00:45.932 --> 00:00:48.142 We know where David is hiding, they said. 00:00:48.492 --> 00:00:50.742 He is in the strongholds of Horesh. 00:00:50.972 --> 00:00:55.252 On the hill of Hakkila, which is in the southern part of Jishaimun. 00:00:55.972 --> 00:00:58.912 Come down whenever you're ready, O king, and we will catch 00:00:58.912 --> 00:01:00.622 him and hand him over to you. 00:01:01.692 --> 00:01:03.942 The Lord bless you, Saul said. 00:01:04.492 --> 00:01:07.032 At last, someone is concerned about me. 00:01:07.632 --> 00:01:12.002 Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him 00:01:12.002 --> 00:01:14.712 there, for I know that he is very crafty. 00:01:15.412 --> 00:01:18.912 Discover his hiding places and come back when you are sure. 00:01:19.312 --> 00:01:23.822 Then I'll go with you, and if he is in the area at all, I'll track 00:01:23.822 --> 00:01:27.712 him down, even if I have to search every hiding place in Judah. 00:01:28.622 --> 00:01:31.212 So the men of Ziph returned home ahead of Saul. 00:01:32.232 --> 00:01:37.242 Meanwhile, David and his men had moved into the wilderness of Mahan, in the 00:01:37.262 --> 00:01:39.722 Arabah Valley, south of Jeshimon. 00:01:40.562 --> 00:01:44.232 When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went 00:01:44.242 --> 00:01:45.892 even farther into the wilderness. 00:01:46.317 --> 00:01:51.257 To the Great Rock, and he remained there in the wilderness of Mayon, but 00:01:51.257 --> 00:01:53.447 Saul kept after him in the wilderness. 00:01:54.657 --> 00:01:57.987 Saul and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain. 00:01:58.607 --> 00:02:02.897 Just as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men, an 00:02:02.927 --> 00:02:07.547 urgent message reached Saul that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. 00:02:08.197 --> 00:02:12.397 So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. 00:02:13.132 --> 00:02:16.852 Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has 00:02:16.852 --> 00:02:18.782 been called the Rock of Escape. 00:02:19.712 --> 00:02:23.522 David then went to live in the strongholds of En Gedi. 00:02:25.112 --> 00:02:29.602 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had 00:02:29.602 --> 00:02:31.742 gone into the wilderness of En Gedi. 00:02:32.472 --> 00:02:38.292 So Saul chose 3, 000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and 00:02:38.292 --> 00:02:41.092 his men near the rocks of the wild goats. 00:02:41.987 --> 00:02:45.877 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went 00:02:45.887 --> 00:02:47.857 into a cave to relieve himself. 00:02:48.517 --> 00:02:54.387 But as it happens, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave. 00:02:55.267 --> 00:02:58.507 Now's your opportunity, David's men whispered to him. 00:02:59.087 --> 00:03:02.897 Today the Lord is telling you, I will certainly put your enemy into 00:03:02.897 --> 00:03:04.937 your power to do with as you wish. 00:03:06.072 --> 00:03:10.462 So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul's robe. 00:03:11.562 --> 00:03:14.772 But then David's conscience began bothering him, because 00:03:14.772 --> 00:03:16.182 he had cut Saul's robe. 00:03:16.882 --> 00:03:21.722 He said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. 00:03:22.272 --> 00:03:27.032 I shouldn't attack the Lord's anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him. 00:03:27.732 --> 00:03:31.422 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. 00:03:32.522 --> 00:03:36.752 After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, David came out and 00:03:36.752 --> 00:03:39.372 shouted after him, My lord the king! 00:03:40.392 --> 00:03:44.002 And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. 00:03:44.962 --> 00:03:48.512 Then he shouted to Saul, Why do you listen to the people who 00:03:48.512 --> 00:03:50.182 say I am trying to harm you? 00:03:50.872 --> 00:03:54.772 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn't true. 00:03:55.472 --> 00:03:58.682 For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. 00:03:59.322 --> 00:04:02.422 Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. 00:04:02.942 --> 00:04:05.532 For I said, I will never harm the king. 00:04:05.672 --> 00:04:07.772 He is the Lord's anointed one. 00:04:08.597 --> 00:04:11.227 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. 00:04:11.817 --> 00:04:13.797 It is a piece of the hem of your robe. 00:04:14.457 --> 00:04:16.837 I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. 00:04:17.487 --> 00:04:20.947 This proves that I am not trying to harm you, and that I have not 00:04:20.957 --> 00:04:25.047 sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. 00:04:26.017 --> 00:04:27.987 May the Lord judge between us. 00:04:28.427 --> 00:04:31.537 Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to 00:04:31.537 --> 00:04:33.607 me, but I will never harm you. 00:04:34.267 --> 00:04:38.687 As that old proverb says, From evil people come evil deeds. 00:04:39.142 --> 00:04:41.402 So you can be sure I will never harm you. 00:04:42.182 --> 00:04:45.032 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? 00:04:45.602 --> 00:04:48.802 Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as 00:04:48.802 --> 00:04:50.802 a dead dog or a single flea? 00:04:51.632 --> 00:04:56.252 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. 00:04:56.772 --> 00:05:00.652 He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power. 00:05:01.602 --> 00:05:04.942 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, Is 00:05:04.942 --> 00:05:06.822 that really you, my son David? 00:05:07.867 --> 00:05:09.097 Then he began to cry. 00:05:09.987 --> 00:05:14.097 And he said to David, You are a better man than I am, for you 00:05:14.107 --> 00:05:16.127 have repaid me good for evil. 00:05:16.927 --> 00:05:21.447 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord 00:05:21.447 --> 00:05:24.567 put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn't do it. 00:05:25.177 --> 00:05:29.167 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? 00:05:29.957 --> 00:05:34.697 May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today, and 00:05:34.697 --> 00:05:39.027 now I realize that you are surely going to be king and that the kingdom of 00:05:39.037 --> 00:05:41.427 Israel will flourish under your rule. 00:05:42.257 --> 00:05:46.757 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens, you will not kill my family 00:05:46.757 --> 00:05:48.587 and destroy my line of descendants. 00:05:49.857 --> 00:05:52.337 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. 00:05:53.067 --> 00:05:58.097 Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold. 00:06:00.277 --> 00:06:04.477 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. 00:06:05.277 --> 00:06:07.527 They buried him at his house in Ramah. 00:06:09.297 --> 00:06:11.887 Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon. 00:06:12.487 --> 00:06:16.597 There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. 00:06:17.087 --> 00:06:20.737 He had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats, and 00:06:20.737 --> 00:06:22.277 it was sheep shearing time. 00:06:23.067 --> 00:06:26.927 This man's name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a 00:06:26.937 --> 00:06:28.507 sensible and beautiful woman. 00:06:29.237 --> 00:06:34.617 But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was crude and mean in all his dealings. 00:06:35.537 --> 00:06:39.847 When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, he sent ten of his young men 00:06:39.847 --> 00:06:41.817 to Carmel with this message for Nabal. 00:06:42.607 --> 00:06:46.797 Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own. 00:06:47.547 --> 00:06:49.857 I am told that it is sheep shearing time. 00:06:50.437 --> 00:06:54.387 While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them. 00:06:54.637 --> 00:06:56.457 And nothing was ever stolen from them. 00:06:57.187 --> 00:07:00.147 Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. 00:07:00.977 --> 00:07:04.947 So, would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? 00:07:05.667 --> 00:07:08.727 Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us. 00:07:09.027 --> 00:07:14.137 And with your friend David, David's young men gave this message to Nabal in 00:07:14.137 --> 00:07:16.877 David's name, and they waited for a reply. 00:07:18.097 --> 00:07:19.597 Who is this fellow David? 00:07:19.597 --> 00:07:21.747 Nabal sneered to the young men. 00:07:22.437 --> 00:07:24.607 Who does this son of Jesse think he is? 00:07:25.237 --> 00:07:28.507 There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. 00:07:29.087 --> 00:07:32.197 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I've 00:07:32.197 --> 00:07:33.797 slaughtered for my shearers? 00:07:34.272 --> 00:07:37.652 And give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where? 00:07:38.682 --> 00:07:42.512 So David's young men returned and told him what Nabal had said. 00:07:43.442 --> 00:07:47.632 Get your swords, was David's reply as he strapped on his own. 00:07:48.502 --> 00:07:52.962 Then 400 men started off with David and 200 remained behind 00:07:52.972 --> 00:07:54.122 to guard their equipment. 00:07:55.142 --> 00:07:58.922 Meanwhile, one of Nabal's servants went to Abigail and told her, 00:07:59.392 --> 00:08:02.642 David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, 00:08:02.992 --> 00:08:04.932 but he screamed insults at them. 00:08:05.482 --> 00:08:09.302 These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. 00:08:09.822 --> 00:08:12.922 Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us. 00:08:13.392 --> 00:08:18.002 In fact, day and night, they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep. 00:08:18.682 --> 00:08:22.382 You need to know this and figure out what to do, for there is going to be trouble 00:08:22.382 --> 00:08:24.342 for our master and his whole family. 00:08:24.882 --> 00:08:27.962 He's so ill tempered that no one can even talk to him. 00:08:29.022 --> 00:08:30.712 Abigail wasted no time. 00:08:31.412 --> 00:08:36.922 She quickly gathered 200 loaves of bread, two wineskins full of wine, five 00:08:36.922 --> 00:08:42.562 sheep that had been slaughtered, nearly a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters 00:08:42.562 --> 00:08:45.107 of raisins, And two hundred fig cakes. 00:08:45.717 --> 00:08:49.647 She packed them on donkeys and said to her servants, Go on ahead. 00:08:49.797 --> 00:08:51.117 I will follow you shortly. 00:08:51.867 --> 00:08:54.687 But she didn't tell her husband, Nabel, what she was doing. 00:08:55.927 --> 00:09:00.007 As she was riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David 00:09:00.017 --> 00:09:01.567 and his men coming toward her. 00:09:02.137 --> 00:09:06.087 David had just been saying, A lot of good it did to help this fellow. 00:09:06.657 --> 00:09:11.147 We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. 00:09:11.687 --> 00:09:13.947 But he has repaid me evil for good. 00:09:14.547 --> 00:09:18.677 May God strike me and kill me, if even one man of his household 00:09:18.677 --> 00:09:20.377 is still alive tomorrow morning. 00:09:21.737 --> 00:09:26.957 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. 00:09:27.617 --> 00:09:32.347 She fell at his feet and said, I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. 00:09:32.727 --> 00:09:34.927 Please, listen to what I have to say. 00:09:34.927 --> 00:09:38.707 I know Nabal is a wicked and ill tempered man. 00:09:39.377 --> 00:09:41.537 Please don't pay any attention to him. 00:09:41.847 --> 00:09:45.477 He is a fool, just as his name suggests, but I never even 00:09:45.477 --> 00:09:47.007 saw the young men you sent. 00:09:47.987 --> 00:09:53.347 Now, my Lord, as surely as the Lord lives, and you yourself live since the 00:09:53.347 --> 00:09:57.277 Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, 00:09:57.667 --> 00:10:02.407 let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as naval is. 00:10:02.967 --> 00:10:06.897 And here is a present that I, your servant have brought to you and your young men. 00:10:07.527 --> 00:10:10.617 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. 00:10:11.202 --> 00:10:15.182 The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting 00:10:15.182 --> 00:10:19.922 the Lord's battles, and you have not done wrong throughout your entire life. 00:10:20.622 --> 00:10:24.532 Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is 00:10:24.532 --> 00:10:29.122 safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in His treasure pouch, 00:10:29.772 --> 00:10:33.962 but the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling. 00:10:34.702 --> 00:10:39.302 When the Lord has done all He promised and has made you leader of Israel, don't 00:10:39.342 --> 00:10:41.532 let this be a blemish on your record. 00:10:42.097 --> 00:10:45.597 Then your conscience won't have to bear the staggering burden of 00:10:45.597 --> 00:10:47.477 needless bloodshed and vengeance. 00:10:48.267 --> 00:10:51.327 And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please 00:10:51.937 --> 00:10:53.877 remember me, your servant. 00:10:55.387 --> 00:11:00.677 David replied to Abigail, Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who 00:11:00.677 --> 00:11:02.597 has sent you to meet me today. 00:11:03.337 --> 00:11:05.477 Thank God for your good sense. 00:11:06.057 --> 00:11:09.657 Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out 00:11:09.657 --> 00:11:11.587 vengeance with my own hands. 00:11:12.427 --> 00:11:16.807 For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting 00:11:16.807 --> 00:11:22.267 you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, Not one of Nabal's men 00:11:22.267 --> 00:11:24.087 would still be alive tomorrow morning. 00:11:25.167 --> 00:11:29.537 Then David accepted her present and told her, Return home in peace. 00:11:30.067 --> 00:11:31.427 I have heard what you said. 00:11:32.017 --> 00:11:33.667 We will not kill your husband. 00:11:34.797 --> 00:11:39.297 When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party 00:11:39.327 --> 00:11:41.027 and was celebrating like a king. 00:11:41.717 --> 00:11:45.197 He was very drunk, so she didn't tell him anything about her meeting 00:11:45.197 --> 00:11:47.177 with David until dawn the next day. 00:11:47.907 --> 00:11:51.667 In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. 00:11:52.357 --> 00:11:57.327 As a result, he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone. 00:11:58.057 --> 00:12:02.087 About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died. 00:12:03.527 --> 00:12:08.387 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Praise the Lord, who has avenged 00:12:08.397 --> 00:12:13.097 the insult I received from Nabal, and has kept me from doing it myself. 00:12:13.807 --> 00:12:16.517 Nabal has received the punishment for his sin. 00:12:17.607 --> 00:12:22.017 Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife. 00:12:23.312 --> 00:12:27.782 When the messengers arrived at Carmel, they told Abigail, David has sent 00:12:27.782 --> 00:12:29.822 us to take you back to marry him. 00:12:30.862 --> 00:12:34.872 She bowed low to the ground and responded, I, your servant, 00:12:35.302 --> 00:12:37.172 would be happy to marry David. 00:12:37.892 --> 00:12:41.752 I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet of his servants. 00:12:42.622 --> 00:12:46.122 Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her servant girls 00:12:46.122 --> 00:12:50.612 as attendants, mounted her donkey, and went with David's messengers. 00:12:51.292 --> 00:12:53.092 And so she became his wife. 00:12:54.312 --> 00:12:59.522 David also married Ahinoam from Jezreel, making both of them his wives. 00:13:00.152 --> 00:13:05.422 Saul, meanwhile, had given his daughter Michael, David's wife, to a man from 00:13:05.422 --> 00:13:08.632 Galem named Paltai, son of Laish. 00:13:10.282 --> 00:13:13.132 This concludes today's Immerse Reading Experience. 00:13:13.272 --> 00:13:14.462 Thank you for joining us.