Extraterrestrial & Sex Vol. 5: The Real Theme of the Bible

Extraterrestrials

And Sex

The Real Theme of the Bible Volume 5: 2nd Samuel &

1st Chronicles, or

The Books of King David

Russell Dan Smith

Copyright © 2009 by Russell Dan Smith.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009912914

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4500-0865-5

Softcover 978-1-4500-0864-8

Ebook 978-1-4500-0866-2

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The Holy Bible is the Bible used in this book. The technical names for The Holy Bible are

(1) The King James Version and

(2) The Authorized Version of 1611.

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Dedicated to my wife, who puts up with my

hours and hours of work on these

treatises.

Chapter 1

1st Chronicles 10

2nd Samuel 22

Psalms 18, 34, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59, 63, 142

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. (1Ch. 10:1) This information is where 1st Samuel (Name of God) ended. The war between Israel (Contender with God) and the five city-states of the Philistines had been going on for decades with only short periods between battles. To some extent, the war had provided David (The Beloved One) and his men some relief. There were times when King Saul (Asked of God) had seemed about to catch David only to find himself having to divert due to another invasion by the Philistines. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. (1Ch. 10:2) Three of Saul’s four sons were killed in battle. Saul himself was severely wounded. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. (1Ch. 10:3) It is doubtful that the archers had had any idea that they had wounded Saul. They would not know this until they had arrived on sight to investigate who was dead and wounded. Saul knew this, of course. He fully expected that the Philistines would find him alive and helpless and take him away to be tortured. Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. (1Ch. 10:4a)

Saul’s armor bearer refused to kill Saul though. Saul was the king and there were those who would consider killing the king—no matter the purpose being righteous or unrighteous—an offense deserving execution. Even were he to escape execution, the armor bearer would find his life very disturbed by those around him. He knew this and so refused to grant the king’s request. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. (1Ch. 10:4b) Instead, the armor bearer allowed Saul to commit suicide. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. (1Ch. 10:4c) After that, the armor bearer did the same. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. (1Ch. 10:5) Perhaps he was crushed at having to watch his king kill himself. Or maybe he believed Israel to be lost to the Philistines, though it was not. So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together. And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. (1Ch. 10:6, 7)

It is possible that King Saul might have bled to death by the time the Philistine armies moved in. And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people. And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. (1Ch. 10:8-10) The Philistines beheaded the king and his sons’ bodies, taking their heads and their armors. They spread these around in their temples, including the temple of the fish god Dagon, the earliest known version of Poseidon and Neptune. What they left were the naked and headless bodies shamefully rotting on the ground.

The very first battle the newly-appointed King Saul had ever fought was to bring freedom to the people of Jabesh-Gilead (The Watchtower’s Dry Desert) while they were under siege by the Ammonites. Saul had been born a Benjamite, and the people of Jabesh-Gilead and Benjamin had long had a relationship. When certain Benjamites had raped and murdered a young woman and the people of Benjamin had failed to bring them to justice, the rest of Israel went to war with Benjamin to seek justice. The people of Benjamin were very nearly wiped out. The people of Israel had sworn to never intermarry with the surviving Benjamites. Since no women survived, this vow virtually guaranteed the demise of all Benjamites. As it happened, it was noted that no one from Jabesh-Gilead had gone to war against Benjamin and therefore had not sworn to withhold their women. Ergo, Israel took all unmarried women from Jabesh-Gilead and gave them to the men of Benjamin. This and other actions gave the Benjamites new life. King Saul and the Benjamites remembered that they were part Jabesh-Gileadite when that city had come under siege. In turn, the people of Jabesh-Gilead remembered that Saul had come to their aid, and that saw this as a time when even the dead Saul and his sons needed them. And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, they arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (1Ch. 10:11, 12) The people of that city took it upon themselves to correct the shameful way the Philistines had treated Saul’s family.

It might probably be that Saul would not have died at this time if he had not sought information from a witch. In many ways this was simply the last straw for Jehovah (See Psalm 83 herein.) in His dealings with Saul. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. (1Ch. 10:13, 14)

Many of the psalms have what are called by most scholars the superscription. This word means something that is written, printed or engraved above, outside or on the surface of something else. The word superscription does not appear anywhere in any Bible, of course, being an addition here for purposes of denoting the subtitle over the psalms. It is a description added by this author. It notifies the reader that the words following are something that is . . . printed . . . above . . . something else. Throughout the book of Psalms, there are superscriptions, with varying purposes and information. The superscription to this following psalm is a perfect example.

Psalm 52

(from Book 2 of the Psalms)

Superscription:

To the chief Musician. Maschal. A Psalm of David,

when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

1: Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.

2: Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.

3: Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness.—Selah.

4: Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

5: God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living.—Selah.

6: The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:

7: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

8: But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

9: I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

When David fled from King Saul, he went to Ahimelech seeking food and any weapon that might be laying around. He did not reveal to Ahimelech that he had become a fugitive. Doeg the Edomite saw him there and told Saul in such a way as to make it seem that the High Priest had been one of David’s confederates. Consequently, Doeg the Edomite carried out Saul’s assignment to execute the entire priesthood. Only a couple of priests survived, by seeking refuge with David. (See Volume 4)

Emphasis according to the general thought as to the meaning of the word Selah is as aforementioned and italicized. Emphasized are:

Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. (vs. 3) And:

God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. (vs. 5)

David obviously had Doeg in mind.

2nd Samuel 22

Superscription:

And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: and he said, (2Sa. 22:1, 2a)

2b: The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3: the God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.

4: I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

5: When the ways of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men

6: The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death made me afraid; prevented me, in my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God:

7: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

8: Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

9: There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

10: He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

11: And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12: And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13: Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

14: The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

15: And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16: And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17: He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

18: he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19: They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

20: He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21: The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

22: For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23: For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24: I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

25: Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

26: With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

27: With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

28: And the afflicted people thou wilt save, but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

29: For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

30: For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

31: As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried;

32: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? And who is a rock, save our God?

33: God is my strength and power, and he maketh my way perfect.

34: He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

35: He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

36: Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

37: Thou hast enlarged my steps under me so that my feet did not slip.

38: I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them and turned not again until I had consumed them.

39: And I have consumed them and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

40: For thou hast girded me with strength to battle:

41: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

42: Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

43: They looked, but there was none to save even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

44: Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

45: Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

46: Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47: The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

48: It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, and that bringeth me forth from mine enemies:

49: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me. Thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

50: Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

51: He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

The series of psalms presented in this chapter were specifically connected to the activities of King David and his tormentor, King Saul. This song speaks to the end of Saul’s pursuit of David and his army. Historically, David had signed on with the Philistines, but had been refused the chance to march to war beside them. David had intended to turn on the Philistines from within their ranks, but the Philistines got that into their minds as well. Nevertheless, it was a good thing that David and his men had returned home. Upon arriving back in their little hamlet of Ziklag, they found that Amalekite marauders had attacked their unprotected town and taken all of their families as slaves and their properties as spoils. David and his soldiers were very much depressed over this matter, until they decided to go in pursuit of the Amalekites. After retrieving their peoples and properties and returning home, David’s army got word that King Saul and most of his family had been killed in the battles with the Philistines. An Amalekite mercenary fighting for Israel came to Ziklag and reported that he had answered King Saul’s command to kill him.

Indeed, Saul had seen his sons die, and he was abandoned and severely wounded. True, Saul had had every expectation that the Philistines might find him and torture him. Yes, King Saul had begged his armorbearer to kill him, and the armorbearer had refused. There was one problem, however. The mercenary had not killed Saul. Saul had committed suicide. His armorbearer—whether or not he was wounded—had also committed suicide, likely because he was afraid that the Israelites might abuse him for not protecting the king. As for the Amalekite mercenary, he was only seeking whatever reward he imagined David might give him. David was very consistent about his thinking as to how the anointed ones (Hebrew: messiahs; Greek: christs) should be respected. When he himself had twice had the opportunity to kill Saul (an anointed one) he, David (himself an anointed one), had refused to act on it. David believed that if Jehovah anointed someone, they should be executed only by Jehovah. Anybody else would be a murderer. That is exactly where the mercenary placed himself. David viewed the man as a murderer and had him executed.

In time David brought an end to the dynasty of King Saul. The state of Judah seceded from Israel and formed their own nation, coronating David as king. It would take several years to reunite the nation.

Psalm 18

(from Book 1 of the Psalms)

Superscription:

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all the enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said,

1: I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

2: The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

3: I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4: The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5: The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

6: In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

7: Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

8: There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

9: He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

10: And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11: He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12: At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed hail stones and coals of fire.

13: The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

14: Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

15: Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD: at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16: He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. For they were too strong for me.

17: He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me:

18: They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

19: He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20: The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21: For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22: For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23: I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24: Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25: With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26: with the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27: For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

28: For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29: For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30: As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried; he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31: For who is God save the LORD? Or who is a rock save our God?

32: It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

33: He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

34: He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

35: Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up. And thy gentleness hath made me great.

36: Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

37: I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38: I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

39: For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle. Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40: Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

41: They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

42: Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43: Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45: The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

46: The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock. And let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47: It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

48: He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49: Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD; among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

50: Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

When David and his 600 soldiers marched with the Philistine forces from the five cities of the Philistine confederacy to invade Israel, their intention was to switch sides once they got into the war zones. As it happened, most of the kings over the Philistine armies guessed as much and sent them back to their village of Ziklag. This turned out to be a good thing, because a marauder band of Amalekites had attacked Ziklag and taken their families as slaves, and all of their cattle and foods. David and his men were able to catch up with the Amalekites and retrieve all of their peoples and their things. While this happened, the Philistines killed off most of King Saul’s sons, and the king himself being mortally wounded hastened his death by committing suicide. The eleven northern states coronated the last remaining son of Saul, while David was made king over Judah. Several years later the other eleven states made David king over them, too.

Psalm 34

(from Book 1 of the Psalms)

Superscription:

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Ahimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

1: I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2: My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3: O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4: I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5: They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6: This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7: The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8: O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9: O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10: The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11: Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12: What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13: Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14: Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15: The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16: The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17: The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18: The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

20: He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21: Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22: The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

This psalm covers the same period as Psalm 56 concerned. The king of Gath was Achish, but is in this superscription he is called Ahimelech. Scholars have presented that Ahimelech is here a title rather than a name, much as Pharaoh was a title in Egypt. Twice in the book of Genesis the variation Abimelech is named in chapters 20, 21 and in chapter 26 as king of Gerar, another Philistine city.

The main evidence that Abimelech is a title rather than a name is in the fact that the Genesis chapters 20, 21 and chapter 26 were around 75 years apart. There was little difference between Ahimelech and Abimelech, and the two could easily differ between city-states of the same language. A further evidence is in the meanings of the words; Ahimelech might possibly mean My Brother Is King; Abimelech is established to mean My Father Is King.

Another similarity in chapters 20, 21 and in chapter 26 is the name—or probably the title—Phicol, who was the General of the Army of the Philistine autonomous state of Gerar. He accompanied King Abimelech in the visits to Abraham and, 75 years later, his son Isaac.

Psalm 54

(from Book 2 of the Psalms)

Superscription:

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil. A Psalm of David,

when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

1: Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

2: Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3: For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them.—Selah.

4: Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

5: He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

6: I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.

7: For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

As mentioned above, there was a period when David and his army was hiding in the deserts of the south. Again, the psalm indicates that David was at this time under a great deal of pressure. Not only did he have King Saul and the nation’s army seeking him with a kill on sight order, but there were common people turning him in at every opportunity, perhaps to win some favor or financial benefit from the king. In this particular instance, the Ziphims (or Ziphites) attempted unsuccessfully to turn him in to King Saul. David wrote this song about it.

Assuming that the word Selah calls for the emphasizing of a particular verse (and in a lack of another meaning, it must be so assumed) then states the verse:

For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. (vs. 3)

It is a matter of note that David equates the worship of Jehovah (See Psalm 83 herein.) with the hunting of David himself. It is an appropriate comparison. King Saul had been anointed in the style of the times, with the prophet Samuel (Name of God) pouring olive oil onto his head. When Saul had made some grave errors without repentance, Jehovah—who is the true source of the anointing—removed the anointing and ordered Samuel to anoint David as the succeeding king. This was, of course, the reason that David was in hiding from King Saul, who sought to defy Jehovah’s anointing by killing David.

The Neginoth was apparently a stringed instrument. It probably resembled a harp more than the ancient lyre and other such instruments as gave rise to the modern stringed instruments. The Maschal (or Maskil) is believed to signify a comtemplative song. Thirteen songs have received this designation. Each one has verses that seem to fit that description.

Psalm 56

(from Book 2 of the Psalms)

Superscription:

To the chief Musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim,

Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.

1: Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

2: Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

3: What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

4: In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

5: Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6: They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

7: Shall they escape by iniquity? In thine anger cast down the people, O God.

8: Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

9: When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

10: In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

11: In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12: Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

13: For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Jonath-Elem-Rechokim translates into the Silent Dove among those far away. The incident refers to where King Saul had issued a kill-on-sight order on David. So David took refuge in Gath, an autonomous city of the five-city Philistine confederacy. Upon being recognized, David was taken to the Philistine king, Achish, where he feigned insanity of the grossest magnitude. The Bible says that he let spittle run down his beard, and that he drew figures on the walls with his fingers. All in all, he must have been a disgusting individual, because he was sent on his way to later regroup with his soldiers. It was much later upon discovering the ruse that the Philistines began to see David’s worth to them. This was particularly so when the Philistines noted that his army was growing phenomenally.

A psalm that is said to be a Michtam or Miktam is believed to be a true story. This song does not tell the story, of course, so much as it describes David’s feelings during the episode. Obviously, David is afraid. He begs Jehovah to protect him from his enemies.

Psalm 57

(from Book 2 of the Psalms)

Superscription:

To the chief Musician, Al-Taschith, Michtam of David,

when he fled from Saul in the cave.

1: Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

2: I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

3: He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.—Selah.

God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

4: My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

5: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

6: They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.—Selah.

7: My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

8: Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

9: I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

10: For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

11: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Al-Taschith means Do not bring to ruin. The incident referred to is probably that where Saul had gone into the cave to relieve himself. David and his army and their