House of David

Previously on House of David…

Master, where are we going now?

To find a king.

Should he anoint another, he must be slain.

Who did this?

Your people have a legend, do they not?

- Giants. - Prepare the horses.

- Where are we going? - To summon new gods.

This royal visit is a distraction. Their king is losing his mind.

I've got it. Leave it!

I'm sorry, Josiah.

- Father? Father! - All is forgotten!

David, run!

- Saul. -

Oh, Saul.

Let go, Saul.

Samuel, is it you?

Speak with me.

His name shall be Jonathan.

My son. Jonathan.

Future king.

He will never be king.

- Because of you. - No. No.

Because of your pride. You destroyed him.

- You destroyed us. -

- - Your time has passed.

Jonathan!

Abner!

Joab!

Wait. Samuel! I will make amends.

- Wait! - God is not mocked.

Father!

- No! -

No. My son.

No! Jonathan. Look at me!

Would I have been a good king?

No. My son.

No!

No!

Let go, Saul.

Let go of what is no longer yours.

No.

No!

This is my kingdom!

I am the king of Israel!

Samuel!

Saul.

No, please. Don't go.

Be with my brother, Lord.

Protect him.

Do not take him from me.

Please.

Do not let him pay for my mistakes.

Nathaneel, make sure the women stay outside.

You will hold him down.

I want you to see the pain you have caused.

This must be quick.

We must sear the wound before he bleeds to death,

and pray it lifts the fever.

You understand?

- All right. -

- Ready. -

- -

- Strength, Son. -

- -

- -

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I do not need apologies.

Only obedience.

- -

- -

Curious.

- Lord Abner. - Doeg.

I am honored by your presence down here in the shadows.

When animals are your business they lose their foul smell.

What uncleanliness is this, Doeg?

I am no Hebrew, lord, as you know.

And I'm a man of questions.

I need someone followed.

Mmm.

Whose footsteps do you wish me to trace?

The seer.

Which seer? There are many.

Samuel.

Samuel?

Does he frighten you?

Very much.

Would you like me to kill him?

Follow him only,

and take note of every warrior, lord, and leader he meets.

- Report back to me. - Mmm.

Me only.

Do it quietly, and at once.

Lord Abner.

Would it not be better

to convince Samuel to lift the king's curse?

What curse?

Oh, yes. Indeed.

What curse?

Oh, your hair.

Come. I'll fix it. Come.

Look at you.

- You were up there all night. - I was.

He spoke to you?

He did.

What the Lord asks pains you.

"Why do you still weep for Saul when I have chosen another?"

And so the Lord asks me to commit treason.

What?

It's just funny.

The Most High is funny.

Funny?

Saul could kill me.

Treason?

Treason against who?

Does the wind on your skin commit treason

for cooling us and not Saul?

Does the mountain commit treason for standing taller than the great king?

Men can play with swords and crowns and words like treason,

but our God brings life to all.

And he is the great author of this story.

Let him write it.

I think if only I had been a better father,

then perhaps none of this would have come to pass.

Samuel.

Maybe the people would not have demanded a king.

Perhaps God would've been enough for them.

What's done is done.

For Saul, and for me.

Is it?

For you?

Everything we know is about to change.

Hila, I am anointing a new king in a nation that has one,

and a beloved one no less.

Well, be sure to anoint a better one this time.

Ah.

Do you know where you're supposed to find this new king?

I do.

- Then why are you waiting? - Mmm.

I've not finished my tea yet, huh.

God is the great author of this story.

I like that. I'm stealing it from you.

I saw him only days ago.

He was right there, just outside my window.

My queen,

forgive me,

but I do not understand.

Josiah was not a soldier.

He was gentle, caring.

How-How could he die like this?

The house of Saul has still many enemies.

A veiled assassin evaded our guardsmen and attempted to kill the king,

but your brave son jumped in front of the blow

and spared him.

Please, Your Grace, say this is not true.

Why would God do this?

Why would he allow something so cruel?

I want you to have this.

A small gesture that will never repay.

I cannot, my queen.

This is too sacred.

No, no. It will better serve you than I.

What is written inside?

"I am with you.

I will never forsake or abandon you."

I would do anything to protect my family.

Anything.

So, you take this and in return…

…I will carry your suffering as if I myself was responsible for it.

- -

Oh, did I miss a family chat?

You all look so sour.

You didn't hear?

Oh. Still crying over the servant boy.

The one that Father skewered.

You know, he may be losing his mind,

but it seems like Father's aim is still the stuff of legends.

- Eshbaal. - Show some respect.

Thousands of soldiers have died on the battlefield for our family.

I don't recall you crawling into bed and salting your pillow for them.

They died willingly, in combat.

Yet they died just the same, so what does it matter?

Just one more life sacrificed on the altar of our noble royal family.

Esh, enough.