THE FATHER OF A RACE OF KINGS. 183

was, “ Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the
Philistines into thine hand.” This promise was enough.
His men could object yo more. They accompanied
David to Keilah, fought with the Philistines, and con-
quered. Saul heard that David was at Keilah, and
doubtless heard too what had brought him there; but
instead of thinking how he could honour the man who
had avenged his country’s wrongs, the jealous sovereign
thought only of puttiag to death the man who was ex-
ceeded by none of his subjects in greatness and in good-
ness. It was anexcellent opportunity, the king thought,
to seize his enemy, when he was in a walled town; so
he assembled an army and went to besiege Keilah.
When David heard of Saul’s intentions, he besought di-
rection from God. ‘ Will Saul come down, as thy
servant hath heard ?” ‘ He will come down,” was the
reply of the Lord. Then David asked, “ Will the men
of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul ?”
The reply of the Lord was, “They will deliver thee up.”

Marianne. What wicked people they must have been,
when he had fought for them so bravely, to think of
giving him up to the king who wished to kill him.

Grandfather. We learn from David’s conduct in re-
gard to them to “ cease from man,” and to put our trust
entirely in God.

George. Did they give him up?

Grandfather. They had it not in their power, for he
and his men, now about six hundred in number, left
Keilah, and when Saul heard that David had escaped,