THE FATHER OF A RACE OF KINGS. 185

was a good opportunity. An end would be put to the
strife which troubled the land, and the homeless fugitive
would be seated on the throne. It was a great tempta-
tion, yet David did not yield to it. He did not touch
the king himself, but only cut off a part of the skirt of
his robe.

Johnnie. But, grandfather, why did he not kill Saul?
I am sure he deserved it from David, for he was al-
ways trying to kill him. ;

Grandfather. He tells us the reason himself in these
words: “ The Lord forbid that I should do this thing
unto my master, the Lord’s anointed; to stretch forth
mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the
Lord.” As Saul was walking out of the cave, uncon-
scious of the danger he had been exposed to, he heard
a voice behind him saying, “ My Lord the King.” He
turned, and saw David bowing with his face to the
ground. He listened to David pleading in his own de-
fence, that though his life was sought for by his sovereign,
yet when that sovereign’s life was in his power, he did
not take it. Saul heard, and when the son of Jesse
ceased to speak, “Is this thy voice, my son David?”
the Benjamite king said, and wept. The hard-hearted
pursuer of David was softened, and he spoke earnestly
in praise of one whom lately he had been seeking to
slay. He said he knew that David would be king, and
asked him to promise not to cut off his descendants.
The promise was given. Saul retired, and David re-
mained, thinking himself safer in the wilderness than at
the court of Saul.