Every evidence that the protecting care of God was over David seemed to imbitter and deepen his one engrossing and determined purpose. The failure to accomplish his own designs appeared in marked contrast to the success of the fugitive in eluding his search, but it only made the determination of the king the more unrelenting and firm. He was not careful to conceal his designs toward David, nor scrupulous as to what means should be employed in accomplishing his purpose.{2BC 1019.3}

Ethvert bevis på at Guds beskyttende omsorg var over David virkede til at forbitre og uddybe hans så altopslugende og beslutsomme hensigt. Fejlen ved at udrette hans egne planer viser sig i påfaldende modsætning til hans kortvarige succes med at undgå sin søgning, men det gør kun kongens beslutning mere ubøjelig og fast. Han var ikke så omhyggelig med at skjule sine planer for David, heller ikke så omhyggelig for hvad det betyder at være beskæftiget med at udrette sin hensigt.