The Sacred Mirror; Or, Compendious View of Scripture History

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1803 edition. Excerpt: ...at Ramah. David, having removed from the vicinage ofEngedi to the wilderness of Paran/sent a.message to an opulent Carmelite, called Nabal, who was then celebrating a feast with his sheep shearers, desiring him to send some refreshments for his little army, which had rigidly abstained from committing any depredations on the adjacent country, or its inhabitants. Nabal, being naturally of a churlish and covetous disposition, returned so insolent an answer to this request, that David threatened to extirpate his whole family. However Abigail, the Carmelite's wife, prevented the execution of this design, by going in person to David's retreat, with an ample supply of provisions, and making a handsome apology for the rudeness of her husband. On her return home, she acquainted Nabal with the danger he had incurred by his unprovoked brutality; upon which he was immediately taken ill and died.--A circumstance which induced David to espouse the widow, with whose modesty and discretion he had been greatly charmed. Forgetful of his protestations at Engedi, Saul again resolved on tlie destruction of his rival, and accordingly encamped against him. at the head of three thousand chosen men, in the desert of Ziph. Here David had a fresh opportunity of demonstrating his innocence for having penetrated, with Abishai, into the enemy's camp, at midnight, and discovered Saul reposing in his tent, with a spear stuck in the ground by his bolster, and several ofhis officers sleeping around him, he positively refused to kill him, and contented himself with carrying away the spear and a cruse of water, that was placed under the monarch's head. On his return to his stronghold ho called aloud to Saul's general, and upbraided him with negligence in regard to his master's...