Exceptional Brussels tapestry finely woven in wool and silk in the middle of the 16th century (1530-1550) having for register The meeting of Saul with David. Tapestry signed in bottom on the left B.B with a beautiful and rich border decorated with a fall of fruits and flowers.

The meeting of Saul with David

The Philistine army threatens Israel once again and a giant named Goliath proposes a single combat with their champion whose winner will give the victory to all his people. Saul and all his leaders are frightened, no one dares to take up the challenge until a young man named David decides to face the terrible warrior. Saul offered him his armor, but David was still too young to take a step forward because of the weight of the weapon. It is with his bare hands, with his slingshot and a stick, like a shepherd that he is, that he will confront the Philistine warrior. A stone thrown at his forehead is enough to bring down the colossus who collapses. David is the glory of his people and yet a rivalry begins to emerge between the king, jealous of this success, and the young man. Other traditions date the meeting between Saul and David to the time when the former was suffering from frequent attacks of neurasthenia since an evil spirit had taken hold of him, abandoned by God. During one of his crises, a young man is brought in who knows how to play the lyre marvelously. His name is David and the music he plays for his king calms his fever. Musician with the divine lyre, warrior with the weapons of a shepherd, David will have in the biblical account a long destiny.

Saul becomes king and, at first, he succeeds in defeating his enemies. But this success makes his head and heart spin and he thinks he is the only one who is clever and wise. His son Jonathan has a good friend named David. He is an ordinary boy who looks after his father's sheep. Because of Saul's sins, God chooses David to succeed him instead of Jonathan or one of his brothers. Normally, it was the sons who inherited their father's throne.

When David wins against Goliath, Saul becomes jealous and tries to kill him, but David escapes and Saul pursues him for many months with the intention of harming him.

- SAMUEL

David leaves the area of the Rock of Separation. He goes to live near En-Guedi, in a high place. When Saul returns from the battle with the Philistines, he is told, "Now David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi." So Saul takes 3,000 men, the best soldiers in the army of Israel. He goes in search of David and his men. They are in front of the Rocks of the Wild Animals. Saul passes by the sheep pens by the roadside. He sees a cave and enters it to relieve himself. David is hidden at the bottom of the cave with his men. They said to him: "This is the time announced by the LORD. He said to you, 'One day I will put your enemy in your power. And you shall do with him as you please. So David goes forward and gently cuts off a piece of Saul's clothing. After that, David's heart begins to beat very fast, because he has cut off a piece of Saul's clothing. He said to his men, "You advise me to kill my master. May the LORD prevent me from doing so! For it is the LORD himself who has anointed Saul as king." With these words, David stops his men. He does not allow them to attack Saul. So Saul leaves the cave and goes on his way. David comes out of the cave after him. Then he starts shouting to Saul, "My master the king!" Saul looks behind him. David bows deeply to the ground before him. Then he said to the king, "Some people say that I am trying to hurt you. Why do you listen to these people? You see it now with your own eyes: today, in the cave, the LORD has delivered you to me. My men advised me to kill you. But I had pity on you and said, "I will not kill you, my master. For it is the LORD who has anointed you king." Look, father, look what I have in my hand: a piece of your garment! I have only cut a piece of your garment, but I have not killed you! So you see, I have no intention of hurting you, nor of rising up against you. You see, I have committed no sin against you. It is you who are looking for me everywhere to take my life.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT...

Saul understands that David has spared his life and that David will be the new king. David promises Saul that he will not take revenge on his sons once he is dead (which kings tended to do to get rid of potential competitors). David has the opportunity to take revenge, but he chooses not to! This is because he trusts what God has revealed to him about his own destiny.