The Story Of King Saul And king David

Shavuot is the anniversary of the passing of King David
King Shaul (Saul) had lost grace in the eyes of G-d. G-d told the Prophet Shmuel (Samuel) to travel to Beit Lechem, where he would find the new king among the sons of Yishai (Jesse). Although the older sons were all upstanding young men, Shmuel asked, "Is there another son?" Yes, the youngest who was tending the flocks. When David was summoned, Shmuel knew at once; this boy would be the next king. David was quickly anointed, but many travails would precede his ascension to the throne. It was at this time that Shaul became very depressed. David was summoned to play his harp for the king and to ease his spirit with beautiful music. Ironically, Shaul couldn't know that the lad who played so soothingly would soon replace him on the royal throne.
The war against the Jewish people's bitter enemy, the Philistines, continued unresolved. One day, as the two armies lay encamped opposite each other, a gigantic soldier, completely covered in armor, appeared from among the Philistine ranks. Goliath roared out a challenge to the Jews: "Send out a man to fight me one on one." No one came forth.
David was shepherding his father's sheep at the time, oblivious to the danger confronting his brethren, until his father sent him to the Jewish camp to deliver supplies to his brothers. When he saw the Philistine giant, David volunteered to fight him. King Shaul refused to allow the slight youth to sacrifice himself. But David was persistent, and professed such a staunch faith in G-d's protection that Shaul finally succumbed to his plea.
David faced Goliath armed with only a staff and a sling. When the giant saw his opponent he scoffed at him. But David countered, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to you in the name of the L-rd of Hosts, the G-d of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Everyone here will know that G-d saves not with a sword and spear. The battle is the L-rd's and He will deliver you into our hands."
Goliath advanced and David readied his sling. With a well-aimed stone, he pierced the giant through his skull; Goliath toppled to the ground. David leaped forward and cut off his head. The Philistines fled in panic.
As a reward for his courage, Shaul gave David his daughter Michal's hand in marriage. Shaul's son, Jonathan, became David's closest friend. The king, however, felt more and more threatened by the young warrior, whose popularity with the people continued to grow. Shaul's jealousy grew ever more bitter, until it hardened into a deep hatred. Shaul realized his days as king were numbered and that G-d's choice had fallen upon his young son-in-law.
It was Jonathan who alerted David to the king's implacable anger. David was forced to flee the king's wrath. He fled to the hills until he came to the town of Nob where many kohanim (priests) lived. David, known as a great hero and the son-in-law of the king, was provided with food and a sword. However, he was being watched.
As David continued his journey, the actions of the priests of Nob were reported to Shaul. Shaul summoned them, and all 86 innocent priests were condemned to death.
David's travails continued unabated, as the king hunted him across the land in between battles with the dreaded Philistines. During one chase, the exhausted king entered a cave to rest. Unknown to him, he had chosen the very cave where David and his warriors were hidden. David's loyal troops tried to convince him that this was a Divinely- planned chance to be rid of his royal foe. But, David still held his allegiance to the anointed king sacred. As the king sat tired and dispirited, David quietly approached and with his sword, cut off some fabric from the hem of the king's robes.
David bided his time. After the king left the cave, he approached Shaul with deep respect and showed him the severed cloth. The king gazed at the evidence of David's greatness, for surely David could have killed him, and said, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repayed me good for evil." The two parted, but Shaul's battle against David continued.
Another time, the king's troops lay encamped in a valley while David watched from above. Shaul was left unguarded as his soldiers slept around him, and for a second time Shaul's fate lay in David's hands. Again, David was entreated to attack, but he responded, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against G-d's anointed and be guiltless?"
Instead, David descended into the king's camp and stealthily approaching him, removed the king's water flask and his spear. When he returned to his perch on the opposite hill, David called out to the king's guard, "As G-d lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not guarded you master, the L-rd's anointed; now, look where the king's spear and cruse of water lie which were near his head!"
Shaul recognized David's voice and for the moment, his jealousy ebbed. Shaul countered with these words, "Blessed are you, my son David; you will undertake great things and you will prevail." Those prophetic words were the last the tragic king would ever speak to David. Divine Providence fated that they never meet again in this world.