rvant
that followed him, to return to the city; but he himself went into the
desert, and came into his presence, and communed with him. So David
appeared and fell at Jonathan's feet, and bowed down to him, and called
him the preserver of his soul; but he lifted him up from the earth, and
they mutually embraced one another, and made a long greeting, and that
not without tears. They also lamented their age, and that familiarity
which envy would deprive them of, and that separation which must now
be expected, which seemed to them no better than death itself. So
recollecting themselves at length from their lamentation, and exhorting
one another to be mindful of the oaths they had sworn to each other,
they parted asunder.

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, he 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
dang