The Secret Chord

Natan begins his next interview with Shammah, David’s bitter brother, from whom he hears the “true” story of David’s first famous deed: the slaying of Goliath. Shammah claims that the heroic tales of his “holy, miraculous, mighty brother, beloved of all” mask the reality of a “sly little shit” (54). While admitting that Goliath was formidable, he claims everything about the encounter has been exaggerated. Shammah also reveals he was there at Natan’s first prophecy and believes Natan’s religious claims are fraudulent.

What follows is the story of David’s battle with Goliath. The Israelite army is in a stalemate at Wadi Elah, facing off against a raiding army of Plishtims (also known as Philistines). Their champion, Goliath, comes out to mock the Israelites daily and challenge them to single combat, which Shaul and his general Avner wisely forbid. David, bringing food from home for his brothers in the army, cannily gathers up the camp gossip and sees his longshot chance for fame. He volunteers to fight the large warrior by relying on speed and ranged attacks with his sling, claiming to have killed lions that way. Shaul agrees, thinking the probable death of the shepherd boy no real loss.

David in fact succeeds in surprising and killing the Plishtim champion. David’s religious side also appears for the first time as he shouts out on the battlefield that he is fighting to show God’s support for his people. Shammah calls the talk “uncanny” since no one else in his family talks about God in that way. Shaul rewards David by making him the royal armorbearer. Shaul’s son Yonatan also takes notice of the new star and begins a sexual relationship with him, perhaps that very night.

When Natan returns to Jerusalem after these interviews, his servant Muwat brings him gossip from the palace. David has been trying unsuccessfully to have sex with his concubines. Natan tries to see David but is turned away. In hindsight, he knows this is when David first sees Batsheva and begins the crime that will cause so many people grief. Natan wonders if he could have prevented it—and even if he should have prevented it because something great will come out of that misery (a veiled reference to Shlomo).

Thinking about David’s sexual appetites leads Natan to remember Avigail, David’s third wife. In Natan’s first days with David’s outlaw band, Avigail became his mentor. He grew in understanding of people under her tutelage while being taught how to fight by one of the men. He also learned to read and write. As Natan grew, so too did David’s followers, under Avigail’s watchful eye. It was she who vetted new volunteers and advised David.

This chapter takes place during the time when Natan is a follower of David’s outlaw band. One night, Natan sees a soldier of Shaul’s army sneaking into David’s camp. A worried Natan discovers Yonatan and David having sex. He learns that Yonatan is the great love of the young David, and that David’s men know and approve of it. Yonatan sneaks into camp whenever possible, both for the romantic trysts and to warn David when Shaul gets too close.

With Natan and one other companion, David sneaks into Shaul’s camp. David has the chance to kill Shaul as he sleeps, but he refuses to harm God’s anointed king. The camp remains mystically asleep even as Natan loudly shouts a new prophecy predicting Shaul’s death in battle. David and the others leave the camp with Shaul’s spear and water jug. When safely outside, David shouts to Shaul and shows him the objects as proof that he means him no harm. Shaul promises to leave David alone, calling him a son, but Natan urges David not to trust Shaul.

David and his band flee Israel and enter the service of their people’s enemy, Achish, the Plishtim king of Gath. Achish gives David’s men the fortress of Ziglag as their base. Here Natan is surprised to see the piety and goodness of his people’s enemies and, in contrast, horrified to see the lengths to which the creed of “what was necessary” (85) takes his own companions. David is supposed to be attacking the Israelites. Instead, he attacks Amalekite villages and fools Achish into believing the plunder is from Israel. To maintain the deception, David slaughters every man, woman, and child in the villages. The horror drives Natan to drink. The horror is brought home to the rest of the band when their own wives and children are captured by the Amalekites. David and his men are away with Achish’s main army but are dismissed out of justified concerns over their loyalty. Returning to Ziglag to find it plundered, they pursue the Amalekites, slaughter them, and regain their families.