The Bible In Paintings, #106: DAVID SPARES SAUL’S LIFE – TWICE!

Bing Images ^ | c. 2200 BC -- c. 95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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DAVID SPARES
SAUL’S LIFE – TWICE!

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1^st. . S A M U E L . . 2 4 . .& . .2 6
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd – the complete text is in your Bible
OR
TO READ 1^ST SAMUEL 24 IN FULL, Click Here
TO HEAR MAX McLEAN READING IT, Click Here
TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF IT, Click Here
TO WATCH AN OVERVIEW OF 1^ST SAMUEL , Click Here

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1 0 1 1 . . B. C.

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2 Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men.

3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 7 And Saul left the cave and went his way.

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1

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2
by CHARLES EDMUND BROCK
“Once He Saved Saul's Life When He Found Him in a Cave, Sleeping”

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3

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4
MACIEJOWSKI BIBLE, Leaf 33

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5

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6

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7

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8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 11 “See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.

16 Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

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8
by JAMES TISSOT
“David and Saul in the Cave”

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9
by GUSTAVE DORÉ
“David Showing Saul that He Had Spared His Life”

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10

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11

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12

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13

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14

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15
by WILLEM DE POORTER
“Saul and David in the cave of En-Gedi”

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16

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CHAPTER 26

2 Saul went, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness.

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17
by JAMES TISSOT
“David in the Wilderness”

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When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

5 Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 11 Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

12 No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner? 15 “Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord!”

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

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18

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19

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20

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21

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22
by RICHARD DADD
“David Spareth Saul’s Life”

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23

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24

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25
by JULIUS SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD
“David Spares Saul’s Life”

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26

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27
by JAMES TISSOT
“David Takes Saul’s Spear and Water Bottle”

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28

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29

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30

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31

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32

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33

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34

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35

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

DAVID, ABIGAIL,
AND NABAL THE FOOL

If you're sensing the Holy Spirit is suggesting
that you read ahead, we'll be in 1^ST SAMUEL 25

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

DAVID SPARES SAUL’S LIFE

Where no attribution appears below a work,
the artist's name is unknown
Works are numbered to facilitate your commenting

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Finally, here are links to the
PREVIOUS 105 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles to assist you in finding those which interest you

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

Q u a l i t y The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art:
this is The Bible in Paintings, not “Great Paintings” nor even “Good Paintings.” So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don’t need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby’s. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm asking the Holy Spirit to guide. Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

P a c i n gThe pace may seem glacial to those eager to see their favorite events. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence; if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic. But where there is no art, that Bible passage goes untold here. The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing. Always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I’m just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

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P I N G… .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

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To be alerted to each new posting,
either reply here or FRmail me.

No contracts, startup charges or monthly fees;
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[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to-right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is coming soon. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year’s viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: “Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast.” Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent (I don’t recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 43 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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F o r . . y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

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[left that other site]

I love this story.

Even though Saul was a complete jerk, David had respect for the office (the anointing) and acted accordingly.

[Hebrews 11:6]

One of the few times David did not live up to God’s description of him as a blood-shedding warrior, precisely because—and only because—of the respect you cite.

[ConorMacNessa]

David's "Respect for the Office" is something sadly lacking in contemporary society. Thanks very much for this impressive presentation of Biblical Art!

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

[Hebrews 11:6]

The mark of a Christian: reliant respect for God’s office as Lord.

[etabeta]

I am enjoying reading of the complex relationship between Saul and David.

Dramatic rendering by Gustave Dore’ in #9. Love it.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Now that you've mentioned it, I considered it and realized that David faced several serious foes: Goliath, Saul, Absolom, and God, plus all the opposing armies. Further, the Bible details his struggles in more depth than anyone other than perhaps Joseph, Job, Daniel, Jesus and Paul.

Doré's immense talent, imagination, intelligence, craftsmanship and persistence are always obvious, but never moreso than in the one you cited.

[Maudeen]

Love the pics!

[Hebrews 11:6]

“Pics” is my middle name.