er 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?