Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON "DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL..."

In the name of the Lord, my God!

The Philistine fortress has fallen.

Thanks be to God.

You live in my house.

You eat from my table.

You bed my daughter!

What have I done to grieve you?

I sent you not for victory, but to die!

No, Father! No!

If you don’t escape tonight, you’ll be dead by morning.

- Do not forget about me. - I will not.

Sleep.

Silence! Enough!

Hi, I’m Zachary Levi and welcome back to our story.

David, the famed giant-killer, defender of Israel,

chosen by God as the future king,

is now an outlaw.

There’s a price on his head,

put there by his own father-in-law, King Saul.

Shattered and abandoned,

he hides from Saul in the caves of Adullam,

about 13 miles west of Bethlehem.

King Saul wants to kill David

so that he cannot be a threat to the house of Saul.

But for Christians, David’s struggle in the cave

takes on a much larger meaning.

When David becomes king,

his line will be prophesied to extend

all the way to the future Messiah, Christ the Lord.

So here in the cave,

even the demonic forces want David dead.

This is not only a war of flesh and blood,

it’s a battle for David’s soul and the future Messiah.

Awake my soul.

I cry aloud to the Lord.

I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.

I have no refuge...

no one cares for my life.

I cry to you, O Lord.

You are my refuge, my champion in the land of the living.

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need.

Rescue me from those who pursue me,

for they are too strong for me.

Set me free from my prison,

that I may praise your name.

In the Psalms, David exposes us

to what is in his very soul,

in his heart.

God is with him when he succeeds

and God is with him when he fails.

God is with him at every momen.

Psalms give us a model

of how to relate to God at every moment in our life.

God wants to hear from us when we are delirious with joy.

God wants to hear from us when we are overcome with sorrow.

And God seeks to be part of our lives

at every one of those moments.

Then the righteous will gather about me.

DAVID HOLDS ON TO THE PROMISE OF GOD

THAT HE WILL ONE DAY BE KING OF ISRAEL.

BUT ONCE AGAIN SUBMITS TO GOD N HOW AND WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN.

JUST AS DAVID IS FAITHFUL TO THE LORD,

SO IS THE LORD FAITHFUL TO DAVID.

KING SAUL HAS NOT ONLY PUT A DEATH SENTENCE ON DAVID,

BUT ON HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.

ALONG WITH JESSE AND HIS SONS,

OTHER OUTCASTS HAVE JOINED THE JOURNEY

TO FIND THE OUTLAW DAVID.

EVERY MAN IN DISTRESS, EVERY MAN WITH A CREDITOR,

AND EVERY MAN EMBITTERED IN SPIRIT,

GATHERED TO DAVID AND HE BECAME THEIR LEADER.

Who are the people that would willingly

choose to associate with David?

When he is on the run.

When he is the number one outlaw.

Who’s going to associate with him?

People who have nothing to los.

People who, they themselves, are outlaws.

They themselves have no home.

They themselves have no sense of connection

to the greater society.

David, essentially, is bringing in the broken,

the homeless, the unloved, the unwanted.

Because David, in many ways, is all those things himself.

THEY BRING WITH THEM NEWS FROM PRINCE JONATHAN.

NEWS THAT KING SAUL HAS GIVEN DAVID’S WIFE,

PRINCESS MICHAL, TO ANOTHER MA.

DAVID HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF HIS TITLE AS THE KING’S SON-IN-LAW,

MAKING HIS BANISHMENT FINAL.

I am sorry, my son.

Truly, I am.

YET, AS KING SAUL’S PARANOID DELUSIONS INTENSIFY...

FAR AWAY IN THE SHADOWS OF THE CAVE,

DAVID PRAYS TO THE LORD FOR STRENGTH.

David’s in the caves of Adulla.

I mean, the passage that talks about him in those caves

is just one of deep searching

and trying to find the resolve to carry on.

That’s what takes place in the dark night of the soul.

Not everyone comes out of those caves like he did.

WORD REACHES KING SAUL THAT MEN ARE RALLYING TO DAVID.

SAUL FEARS THAT IN THE DARKNESS OF THE CAVES,

AN INSURRECTION IS BEING PLANNED.

Listen, men of Benjamin!

Has that son of Jesse

promised every one of you fields and vineyards?

Has he promised to make you all generals

and captains in his army?

Is that why you... you conspired against me?

For not one of you told me when my own son

made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse.

You’re not even sorry for me.

Think of it!

My own son...

encouraging David to kill me,

as he’s trying to do this very day!

My king!

My king.

I saw David at the Holy Village of Nob.

The High Priest Ahimelech consulted the Lord for him.

Then he gave him food

and the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.

Bring me Ahimelech.

- Yes, my king. - Bring them all!

All the priests of Nob.

Saul’s mad rage is about to explode

with horrific consequences.

And yet David’s faith in the Lord is unflinching.

From this cave, his humble prayer is captured in Psalm 57.

Have mercy on me, O God. Have mercy on me,

for in You my soul takes refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings

until the disaster has passed.

But the disaster has not passed,

either for David or for the priests of Nob.

Quite the contrary.

Father! Father!

GENERAL ABNER INFORMS AHIMELECH THAT SAUL DEMANDS THAT HE

AND ALL THE PRIESTS OF NOB APPEAR BEFORE THE KING.

WORD OF THIS REACHES DAVID

AND HE KNOWS THAT HIS OWN FAMILY IS NOW IN MORTAL DANGER.

We can’t stay here.

It isn’t safe.

Come with me.

DAVID IS ABLE TO BROKER A DEAL WITH THE KING OF MOAB

FOR HIS FAMILY TO TAKE REFUGE THERE

UNTIL THE DANGER HAS PASSED.

OF THE REMAINING REFUGEES,

THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY WITH DAVID IN THE CAVES

MUST LEARN TO SURVIVE, HUNT,

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY DEFEND THEMSELVES.

SAUL WOULD STOP AT NOTHING TO FIND AND KILL DAVID

AND ALL OF THOSE WHO SIDE WITH HIM.

Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?

Why did you give him food

and a sword?

Why have you consulted God for him?

Why have you encouraged him to kill me,

as he is trying to do this very day?

But sir,

is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David,

your son-in-law?

Why, he’s captain of your bodyguard

and an honored member of your household!

Certainly not the first time I have consulted God for him?

May the king not accuse me and my family

in this matter,

for we had no idea of a plot against you.

Kneel before your King.

We shall not kneel.

You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all of your kind.

King Saul?! What do you speak of?

Kill them all.

You heard me!

Do as commanded. You and your men.

My king?

You want us to strike down the Priests of the Lord?

Yes. Of course!

They are all allies and conspirators with David!

They knew he was running away from me,

but they didn’t tell me!

My king...

I will not raise a hand against the Lord’s priests.

Nor will any of my men.

You betray your King!

Saul has killed his thousands and David his tens of thousand.

WHILE SAUL RAGES AGAINST THE PRIEST OF NOB, WORD REACHES SAL

THAT THE PHILISTINES ARE ONCE AGAIN ON THE MOVE.

ISRAEL’S ENEMY IS ABOUT TO INVADE, AT A TIME SAUL’S ARMIES

ARE WEAK AND UNPREPARED FOR BATTLE.

ANTICIPATING HIS FATE, AHIMELECH REMOVES THE EPHOD

USED BY ALL HIGH PRIESTS SINCE THE TIME OF AARON

TO COMMUNICATE WITH GOD,

AND GIVES IT TO HIS SON ABIATHAR.

Commander...

Kill these men.

My king...

Our enemies are gathering to invade. We need to prepare.

Enough of this talk of... killing priests.

I am surrounded by cowards!

Are there none here who will obey my orders?

Or do you all side with David?

You!

Here. You do it.

Strike down the priests!

You and your men will be greatly rewarded.

Serve the one who serves the Lord.

Run!

The Lord God shall judge you!

My king.

AS DEMONIC WHISPERS MIX WITH THE SOUNDS OF DEATH,

THE KING OF ISRAEL HAS INVITED HELL INTO HIS THRONE ROOM.

IN ORDER TO FINALIZE SAUL’S EVIL EDICT,

DOEG THE EDOMITE AND HIS MEN

RETURN TO THE HOLY VILLAGE OF NOB.

AND ON KING SAUL’S ORDERS THEY KILL EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHIL.

THEY KILL INFANTS, CATTLE, DONKEYS AND SHEEP.

The wiping out of the priests of Nob

is one of the darkest episodes in the Bible.

Of all the crimes that Saul commits, it’s by far the worst.

And it only-- again, it shows the extent of where,

when someone thinks that they know better than God,

which is the genesis of Saul’s problem,

we see the places that it can lead one to.

The atrocious thing, the horrific thing is

those insecurities lead to the assassination of godly men

and the whole family line. Only one escapes.

It is a terrible thing.

They acted in good conscience

and doing the right thing,

and Saul misinterpreted.

He was being led by fear,

not by truth, not by principle.

By fear, and when fear guides us, lives get destroyed.

AFTER FINDING THEIR WAY TO DAVID, THE THREE...

DAVID’S MOST ELITE WARRIORS,

REPORT THAT WHILE SAUL OBSESSED OVER DAVID,

AND WAS THREATENING THE PRIESTS OF NOB,

THE PHILISTINES HAD LAID SIEGE TO THE ISRAELITE CITY OF KEILA.

THE CITY IS THE MAIN FOOD SUPPLIER OF THE REGION .

THOUSANDS OF ISRAELITES ARE AT RISK OF STARVATION

IF ACTION ISN’T TAKEN SOON.

WHAT’S MORE, DAVID AND THE THREE SOON COME TO LEARN

THAT SAUL HAD GONE THROUGH WITH HIS THREATS,

WHEN THEY ARE JOINED BY THE ONY SURVIVOR OF THE PRIESTS OF NOB,

THE HIGH PRIEST’S SON, ABIATHA.

David!

The king has killed my father...

and all of our kind.

I am the last of our clan of priests.

I knew on that day that Doeg the Edomite was there...

and that he would certainly inform Saul.

I am responsible for the death of your father’s whole family.

Forgive me.

The man who is seeking your life

is also seeking mine.

You will be safe with me...

I swear it.

DAVID ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MASSACRE OF THE PRIESTS

AND ASKS FOR FORGIVENESS.

DAVID IS QUICK TO DISPLAY A LEADERSHIP TRAIT

THAT HAS LONG BEEN LACKING IN THE HOUSE OF SAUL...

HUMILITY.

THIS FURTHER ENDEARS THE THREE AND THE OUTLAWS TO DAVID.

THIS FUTURE KING CAN BE TRUSTE.

As David’s in the cave, Abiathar comes to him.

He’s the last of all these priests who...

who were slaughtered.

And David commits to him and makes him his priest,

his high priest, if you will, for the rest of his days.

There was a commitment.

And there was a unity there.

And there was also a recognitin

that this position in his group was important.

You think about it, he needed soldiers...

and he’s saying, this is my priest.

You have cast your lot with mine

in hopes of finding a better life.

I cannot say I am the one to lead you to that better life.

Look where you find me?

Hiding in a hole like a lost and frightened lamb

waiting for the lion to have his way.

Is that the same fate you wish upon yourselves?

For those of you who think I plan to lead an insurrection

against King Saul...

know now that will never happen.

No matter if he pursues me to the ends of the earth

I will not harm God’s anointed King of Israel.

God will be his judge...

Not I.

Should you choose to stay with me, you will take that same vow.

So...

if you won’t fight your enemy,

what is your plan?

Hide in your hole until the lion pounces?

I did not say I will not fight the enemy.

I said I will not fight God’s anointed king.

I took an oath to defend Israel from her enemies.

I plan on keeping that vow.

Should you choose to stay with me you will take that same vow.

You’re going to lead this bunch into battle?

If the Lord commands.

THE LORD CONFIRMS THAT DAVID SHOULD LEAD

HIS BAND OF RAG TAG OUTLAWS TO ATTACK THE PHILISTINES,

WHO HAD CAPTURED THE ISRAELITE CITY OF KEILAH.

ALTHOUGH MANY ARE NOT TRAINED WARRIORS,

THE MEN ARE EMBOLDENED BY THE WORD OF THE LORD

AND BY THE BRAVERY OF DAVID AND THE THREE.

DAVID’S ARMY FIGHTS FIERCELY

AND DOES WHAT KING SAUL HAD FAILED TO DO.

THEY FIGHT TO FREE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL FROM THEIR ENEMY.

GOD GIVES A MIRACULOUS VICTORY TO DAVID AND HIS RENEGADE ARMY.

THE PHILISTINES ARE OVERCOME

AND THE CITY OF KEILAH IS RETURNED TO HER PEOPLE.

The job of a lion is to defend the pack.

David, the descendant of Judah,

will be a great leader

because he feels as we see from the very beginning of the story

in the stand against Goliath

a covenantal responsibility for the entire people.

He’s not just the leader of the pack, if you will,

he is the defender of the pack.

That’s why Judah, and ultimately the monarchy of Judah,

is compared to a lion.

WORD OF THE MIGHTY DEEDS OF DAVID THE WARLORD

SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM.

He had a Special Forces that was a core of his army.

In places in scripture, it will recount

the great feats of these people

and it’s amazing, the kinds of things that they did.

And so, he starts with three and he ends up in his life

with the Special Force of thirty or more.

All powerful, committed warriors.

WHEN KING SAUL HEARS OF DAVID’S VICTORY OVER THE PHILISTINES,

HE QUICKLY MOBILIZES AN ARMY.

AN ARMY NOT TO AID DAVID

WITH THE LIBERATION AND REBUILDING OF KEILAH,

BUT AN ARMY TO CAPTURE AND KILL DAVID AND HIS REBEL ARMY.

They are near!

Just on the other side of the canyon. Thousands of them!

Our men are too tired to keep running.

And definitely too tired to fight that number.

Wait here. I need to relieve myself.

Guards!

- Let me alone! - Go.

- My king. - I said leave me!

The Lord has answered your prayers

and given your enemy over to you.

This is a very good thing.

David’s followers, they’re egging him on.

They’re, like, go get him! This is the moment God has given you.

We’ve all been waiting for this moment.

Here it is. Go kill Saul.

David, what do you want to do?

And the people, they’re upset.

They’re, like, we’re living on the run.

And they viewed this as a golden opportunity.

And David tells him no. That’s just not how we do it.

Right? That’s not how I’m going to become king.

That is-- We will not have a hand

in taking out the king of Israel.

The anointed of God.

My lord! My king!

Is that your voice, David, my son?

Look, Father, at what I have in my hand.

It is a piece of the hem of your robe!

I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you.

This proves that I am not trying to harm you.

I have not wronged you,

and yet you are hunting me down to take my life!

May the Lord judge which one of us is right

and punish the guilty one.

He is my advocate, and He will rescue me from your power.

My son, David.

You are a better man than I am,

for you have repaid me good for evil.

Indeed, you have been very kind to me today,

for when the Lord put me in a place

where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.

Who else would have let his enemy get away

when he had him in his power?

May the Lord reward you well

for the kindness you have shown me today.

The complexity and tragedy of Saul

lies in the split at the center of his soul.

On the one hand, he tries to kill David,

on the other hand, when David confronts him in the desert,

he weeps and pronounces his love for David.

Which one is it? Does he want to murder David,

or does he love David? Both.

And now I realize...

that you will surely be king.

And that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.

Swear to me now by the Lord that when that day comes

you will not kill my family

and destroy my line of descendants.

I give you my oath, my king,

that I will forever honor

and bring no harm to the House of Saul.

Good.

Good, my son. Then this...

Then this matter is settled.

Picture that type of pressure in that situation,

where you’re on the run.

And you’re all a bunch of tough guy warriors,

and Saul’s trying to kill him, and we’re hiding from him,

and then, oh my gosh, we’re here. Victory’s at hand,

and David’s like, no, we’re not going to do that.

David’s leadership comes through big time. With these guys.

Especially if you picture the type of people they are.

And David is-- David molds them...

into righteous men.

They didn’t start out as righteous men.

But he molds them into his people.

And they become the leadership.

They become the people around David,

his trusted advisors and his military leaders

that we see later on in his kingship.

They all come out of that grou.

A broken and weary King Saul leaves David in the desert

and leads his men back home to his capital city of Gibeah.

David has learned not to trust the promise of the volatile king

so he remains in the wilderness with his warriors.

Back in the town of Ramah, the prophet Samuel,

who anointed David as the future king,

is dying.

One of the most important verses in the book of Samuel,

about Samuel,

is the description of how he spent his time as leader.

He would make a circuit

going all the way around the Holy Land.

Every year was living for others,

every year was fostering unity.

Samuel’s greatest gift was restoring unity.

ISRAEL’S LAST AND GREATEST JUDGE, THE RIGHTEOUS SAMUEL,

WHO SERVED GOD WITHOUT QUESTION, IS GONE.

ALL OF ISRAEL MOURNS THE LOSS.

DAVID, MEANWHILE, LEADS HIS MEN DEEP INTO THE DESERT OF MAON.

HE MUST LEARN TO SURVIVE AND PROVIDE FOR HIS MEN.

IN RETURN FOR PAYMENT,

THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL,

WHO LIVE IN THESE REMOTE AND DANGEROUS PLACES.

PROTECTION FROM BANDITS, FOREIN ENEMIES AND EVEN WILD ANIMALS.

ONE OF THOSE UNDER DAVID’S PROTECTION IS NABAL,

A HARSH BARON WHO RULES OVER HIS VAST PROPERTIES AND SLAVES

WITH ARROGANCE AND CRUELTY.

HIS VERY NAME, "NABAL," MEANS "PIGGISH," OR, "FOOLISH."

HE IS BOTH.

Hurry it up, you lazy asses!

My merchants lose patience while you piss away the day!

Must I do everything myself?!

Wine! Fetch me more wine, you daft half-wit!

Come now, husband. Such behavior is beneath you.

Carmi, go to the well and get cleaned up.

I will get the master’s wine.

Your servant girl is thick in the head!

You must show strength

or they’ll turn on you like a caged beast!

I’ve warned you of this before.

You’d do well to listen to me, wife!

Of course, Nabal.

- And bring a carafe! - Of course, husband.

We come to you on behalf of David.

He says long life and shalom to you, your family,

and everything you own.

David heard that it’s sheep shearing time.

In the spirit of this celebration,

and for all the protection we provided you and your property,

would you please share,

what you can, with us and your friend David?

Who is this, David?

Another servant on the run from his master?!

Why must I take my bread, my water, my meat...

and give it to a band of outlaws on the run from who knows where?

Now, take your vagrants and get off my land!

We will report back to David exactly what you have said.

I hear we had visitors?

Beggars sent from that outcast, David.

- And what did you say to them? - Enough questions!

This is no business of a wife!

Quit your jabbering and leave me in peace!

One of the remarkable things about the biblical story

is that the voice of women are frequently heard.

It’s almost nowhere else found in ancient literature,

and one of the voices that we hear is that of Abigail.

She’s an amazing woman.

Get the donkey.

No!

Go the back way. Do not let the master see you. Be quick.

She’s very wise, and she understands that her husband

is making a foolish decision.

David lost it. He became angry.

He felt like his rightful response was not given to him

and the normal self-control

that we’ve seen him display on several occasions

was not there.

Ah!

After all that we’ve done for him this is how we’re repaid?

Get your weapons!

By morning, there will not be one male alive

that belongs to this fat and repulsive man!

AS DAVID AND HIS MEN APPROACH THE HOUSE OF NABAL

WITH LETHAL INTENT,

ABIGAIL AND HER SERVANT GIRL

ARE THE ONLY ONES STANDING IN THE WAY

OF DAVID’S WRATH AND SWORD.

It’s all my fault, my lord, all my fault!

Please, let your servant speak

and listen to what I have to say.

I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man.

Please, don’t pay any attention to him.

He is a fool, just as his name suggests.

I didn’t see the men you sent...

but, please, take this gift of food that I’ve brought

and share it with your men.

Please, forgive me if I say a little more.

The Lord will always protect you and your dynasty,

because you fight for Him.

I pray that you won’t do anything evil

as long as you live.

The Lord your God will keep you safe

when your enemies try to kill you,

their lives will disappear like stones from a sling!

When the Lord has done all He has promised

and has made you leader of Israel,

don’t let this be an obstacle to you,

and your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of

needless bloodshed and vengeance.

Do not lose the blessing of the Lord

over the death of my foolish husband

Please.

Abigail, she has the confidenc. And also, the sense of purpose.

Just like David had. Just like Jonathan had.

She understood in that moment,

that God was calling her to do something

that would ultimately ensure

that David becomes the person who he was meant to become.

In this briefly recorded story in the Bible,

in the life of David, perhaps, were among the most significant.

Thank God for your good sense.

May you be blessed for your good judgment

and for keeping me from bloodshed on this day

and from avenging myself with my own hands.

If you had not hurried out to meet me,

not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.

Go home in peace. I have heard you.

I will not kill your husband.

My lord!

Yes?

Remember me.

And what is the name I’m to remember?

My name is Abigail.

Abigail... I will remember you.

THE NEXT MORNING ABIGAIL INFORMS THE NOW SOBER NABAL

THAT SHE TALKED DAVID OUT OF KILLING HIM

AND DESTROYING THE HOUSE OF NABAL.

You are a fool, Nabal. And you almost got us killed!

Do you hear me, Nabal? You almost got us killed!

From the eighteenth psalm,

to the faithful,

you show yourself faithful.

To the blameless,

you show yourself blameless.

To the pure, you show yourself pure.

But to the crooked, you show yourself shrewd.

You save the humble,

but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

Word reaches David that Nabal is dead.

David immediately sends his men to Abigail with a message

and a question.

THE MESSAGE IS THAT DAVID DID NOT FORGET HIS PROMISE

TO REMEMBER ABIGAIL.

AND THE QUESTION IS, WILL YOU BE MY WIFE?

THE COURAGEOUS DAVID AND ABIGAL ARE MARRIED BEFORE THE LORD,

FORMING A POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP IN THE LEADING OF THEIR PEOPLE.

In Abigail, David has found a wise and courageous partner.

Important qualities,

as King Saul’s pursuit of David is relentless.

He must now find a place of safety

for his ever-expanding army.

A place where David and his men can be with their wives

and start families.

IN DESPERATION,

DAVID DECIDES TO OFFER HIS SWORD AND ARMY

TO THE PHILISTINE ENEMY, KING ACHISH.

DAVID ASKS IF IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS MERCENARY ARMY,

THE PHILISTINE KING WOULD GIVE REFUGE FOR THE FAMILIES

OF DAVID’S MEN.

It seems that David’s not only gambling with his life

as he had done before at these very gates,

he now appears to be gambling with the lives of his new bride,

his men and their families.

But David does not see it that way.

For him, this is an act of faith,

believing that once again,

if he steps out in boldness, God will be faithful,

and God’s name will be made great.

Join me next time for another episode

of "David, King of Israel."

UP NEXT...

A messenger from the king!

Tell King Achish his loyal champion is on his way.

You cannot fight our own people.

Fight Jonathan?

Finally, I get to see you fight.

The battle belongs to the Lord!

There is a witch in Endor.

Tell me, Witch. What do you see?

You have condemned yourself to death!

I am counted among those who go down to the pit.