er by what he said.

But he spoke boldly, because of his love for David, saying: "Let not
the King sin against David, because he hath not sinned against thee,
and because his works have been to thee very good. For he did put his
life in his hand and slew the Philistines, and the Lord wrought a great
salvation for all Israel. Thou sawest it and did rejoice, wherefore
then, wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a
cause."

It was a brave thing for Jonathan to speak so frankly to his father,
and he would have been more frightened in doing it, had not his love of
David given him courage. And he had his reward, for not only did Saul
listen attentively to him, but was touched by his plea, and when he
finished speaking, swore solemnly:

"As the Lord liveth, he shall _not_ be slain."

Jonathan scarcely waited to hear the words, before he hurried from his
father's presence and ran as fast as he could run to David's
hiding-place to tell him the good news, that he was not to be killed.
And then he insisted that David should go back with him to the king's
court, which David did, and when Saul saw him, old memories stirred in
his heart and he welcomed David affectionately as he had done in times
past.

For a while David remained with Saul and Jonathan and as all went on
peacefully, he and Jonathan had many happy hours together. Then there
was war again with the Philistines, and David was sent out to fight
them, and was again victorious over them, slaying them with such a
great slaughter that those who remained alive fled from him, in fear
and dismay. And although Saul was glad of David's victory over the
enemies of Israel, the old jealousy of his young and powerful rival
again overcame him and he had or pretended to have one of his old
attacks of rage, and as in old times, David was called to soothe his
inflamed spirit. But while he was playing, Saul was filled with jealous
fury, and again hurled his spear at the young musician, and again David
slipped aside and escaped it, and the spear hit the wall instead of his
body--then he fled to his own house, more worried than he had ever been
before; for now he saw clearly that Saul would never give up his
purpose to kill him.

This he told his wife, Michal, who knew her father's cruel, jealous
disposition, even better than Saul did, and was much alarmed for her
husband's safety.

That night, Saul, following out his determination, to rid himself of
David, sen