186 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

Marianne. But surely he need not have been afraid
after Saul had repented of his conduct to him.

Grandfather. The repentance of Saul was not heart-
felt, so it did not deserve the name of repentance. It
was merely a feeling of sorrow and shame for the wrong
he had done. He did not turn from the evil of his way.
Not long after, the jealous king, accompanied by three
thousand chosen men of Israel, went to the wilderness
with the intention of taking the life of his successor.
David hearing of this, went to take a look at the camp
of his determined foe. As he looked down on Saul and
his army, he asked two of his chief men if either of them
would go with him to the camp. Abishai, the son of
Zeruiah, volunteered. So the two went down together.
Not a sentinel was at his post. The king slept soundly,
and Abner, his captain, along with all the soldiers, lay
sleeping round. In the stillness of the camp the voice of
Abishai was heard, and these were the words he said:
“ God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this
day. Now, therefore, let me smite him, I pray thee,
with the spear, even to the earth at once, and I will
not smite him the second time.” Again David was
tempted, and again he was strengthened to resist the
temptation.

Johnnie. But he might have allowed Abishai to kill
him if he did not like to do it himself.

Grandfather. The sin would have been the same on
David’s part, even though the deed were not done by
his own hand. “ Destroy him not,” he said to Abishai,