David Spares Saul a Second Time, Kidnapped
Old Testament Miniatures with Latin, Persian, and Judeo-Persian inscriptions
Purchased by J.P. Morgan (1867–1943) in 1916
David Spares Saul a Second Time
Saul's army has encamped outside of the wilderness of Ziph. David, followed by his commander Abishai, slips into the pavilion where the king is sleeping and steals the royal cup and spear. Later, from the safety of a mountain top, David calls to Saul and the commander of his army, Abner. He displays before them the stolen cup and spear and berates Abner for his carelessness in protecting the king. (1 Kings 26:7–25)
Kidnapped
David's wives and the families of his followers have been taken captive by the Amalekites, along with all of the inhabitants of Ziklag. With six-hundred men, David sets out to rescue them. On the way, he meets an Egyptian boy, abandoned by the Amalekites, who agrees to guide David to the enemy. (1 Kings 30:5–15)
Folio 34r (Latin)
Upper half: How, when Saul, pursuing David, had encamped in the desert, David entered his tent at night with one companion, as all were sleeping deeply. Although he could have killed him, he did not wish to do so, but took only a spear which lay at the head of his bed and a cup, and, without anyone’s knowledge, carried them and went to the nearest mountain. Crying from there, he aroused the king and Abner, the captain of his army, showing them what had happened. Then, rebuking the king’s guards for their lack of care, he told them to send someone to bring back the spear. Moved by this, the king asks David to come back to him. (I Samuel 26)
Lower half: How David, perceiving the king’s implacable hatred toward him, decides to yield to him and go, and thus goes out of the borders of Israel with his men, to live in the land of the Philistines. (I Samuel 27: 1–4)
Folio 34r (Persian)
Upper right margin: One night, King Saul was sleeping in the tent and the guards were surrounding the tent. David crept into the tent and removed the king’s spear with the cup from the scene. He went atop the mountain and cried, "Is this how you protect the king? If it were anyone but me, he would have slain the king; I removed the king’s cup and spear from the residence and you did not know."
Lower half, below Latin inscription: Regardless of David’s increasing good deeds, the king’s enmity did not diminish. [David] rose and set out for another province.
Folio 34r (Judeo-Persian)
Upper right margin, furthest right: The king was sleeping in the tent surrounded by his guards. David came into the king’s tent accompanied by Abishai and skillfully brought out his [the king’s] spear. [Then] they went to the top of a hill and, shouting, informed the king [of their deed].
Lower half, above Latin: [Since] David saw that the king’s vengefulness continued, he moved from the land he was in and traveled on another road.
Content consultant: Richard Leson
Persian translated by Sussan Babaie
Judeo-Persian translated by Vera Basch Moreen
Latin translation by Eran Lupu
After the commentary volume accompanying the Fine Art Facsimile edition by Faksimile Verlag Luzern