The First Book of Samuel (The First Book of the Kings)

Translation in British English

1:1 In Ramathaimzophim of Mount Ephraim, there lived a man named Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite by birth.
1:2 Elkanah had two wives; Hannah was the name of one, and Peninnah, the other. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
1:3 Annually, Elkanah journeyed from his town to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. There, Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as priests of the Lord.
1:4 On the occasion of his sacrifices, Elkanah would distribute portions to his wife Peninnah and all her children.
1:5 To Hannah, however, he gave a double portion, for he cherished her, even though the Lord had closed her womb.
1:6 Hannah’s rival tormented her relentlessly, to aggravate her, for the Lord had made her barren.
1:7 This went on year after year, every time Hannah went up to the Lord’s house. This taunting reduced her to tears, and she would not eat.
1:8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
1:9 After eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple.
1:10 Deeply distressed, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.
1:11 She made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if you will look upon the misery of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will dedicate him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
1:12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.
1:13 Hannah was praying silently; her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk.
1:14 Eli said to her, “How long will you persist in drunkenness? Put away your wine.”
1:15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.
1:16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.”
1:17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”
1:18 She said, “Let your servant find favour in your eyes.” Then the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
1:19 They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
1:20 In due time, Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”
1:21 The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the annual sacrifice and to fulfil his vow.
1:22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and remain there forever.”
1:23 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord confirm his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
1:24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young.
1:25 They slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
1:26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord.
1:27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him.
1:28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshipped the Lord there.
2:1 Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
2:2 There is no one holy like the Lord; indeed, there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God.
2:3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
2:6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
2:7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and also exalts.
2:8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honour. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.
2:9 He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.
2:10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
2:11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
2:12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.
2:13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.
2:14 He would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot, and the priest would take for himself all that the fork brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
2:15 Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”
2:16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.”
2:17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord; for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
2:18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod.
2:19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
2:20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.
2:21 Indeed, the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.
2:22 Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
2:23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people.
2:24 No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad.
2:25 If one person sins against another, someone can intercede for the sinner with the Lord; but if someone sins against the Lord, who can make intercession?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the Lord to kill them.
2:26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with the Lord and with the people.
2:27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus the Lord has said, ‘I revealed myself to your ancestor’s house when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh.
2:28 I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before me; and I gave to your ancestor’s house all the offerings by fire of the Israelites.
2:29 Why then look with greed at my sacrifices and at my offerings that I commanded, and honour your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’
2:30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever’; but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me; for those who honour me I will honour, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
2:31 The days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
2:32 Then in distress you will look on my dwelling place, even though your family is good in Israel; and there will never be an old man in your house.
2:33 The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart; and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men.
2:34 And this shall be the sign to you that will come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall both die.
2:35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and mind; I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.
2:36 Then everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and shall say, “Please put me in one of the priestly offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.”‘”
3:1 The boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
3:2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;
3:3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
3:4 Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!”
3:5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
3:6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”
3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
3:8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.
3:9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
3:10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
3:11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.
3:12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
3:13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.
3:14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.”
3:15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.
3:16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.”
3:17 Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”
3:18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”
3:19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
3:20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.
3:21 And the LORD appeared once more in Shiloh, for there He was revealed to Samuel through the word of the LORD.
4:1 The message of Samuel reached all Israel. Now Israel went to battle against the Philistines, encamping by Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.
4:2 The Philistines arranged themselves for battle against Israel. As the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.
4:3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel questioned, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.”
4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who sits above the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
4:5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD arrived in the camp, all Israel raised such a mighty shout that the ground shook.
4:6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines wondered, “What is this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” Realising that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,
4:7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they lamented, “Woe to us! For such a thing has not happened before.
4:8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
4:9 Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men and fight!”
4:10 The Philistines fought, Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.
4:11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
4:12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
4:13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his chair by the roadside, watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city and reported it, the whole city cried out.
4:14 Hearing the outcry, Eli asked, “What is the meaning of this commotion?” The man hurriedly came and told Eli.
4:15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes were set so that he could not see.
4:16 The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle. I fled from the battlefield today.” Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”
4:17 The messenger replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
4:18 Upon hearing the mention of the ark of God, Eli fell off his seat backward beside the gate, and his neck broke, and he died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
4:19 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, due to give birth. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.
4:20 And about the time of her death, the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not respond or pay attention.
4:21 She named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
4:22 She said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”
5:1 The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
5:2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, setting it beside Dagon.
5:3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen face down on the ground before the ark of the LORD. They took Dagon and put him back in his place.
5:4 But the next morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen face down on the ground before the ark of the LORD. His head and both his hands were broken off, lying on the threshold; only his trunk remained.
5:5 That is why to this day the priests of Dagon and all who enter Dagon’s temple do not step on the threshold in Ashdod.
5:6 The hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; He brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors.
5:7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god.”
5:8 So they sent word and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be moved around to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.
5:9 But after they had moved it, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a great panic. He afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.
5:10 Therefore, they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.”
5:11 So they called together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly panic throughout the whole city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
5:12 The men who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
6:1 The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
6:2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”
6:3 They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return a guilt offering to Him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand has not been lifted from you.”
6:4 Then they asked, “What guilt offering shall we return to Him?” They replied, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords.
6:5 Therefore, you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, your gods, and your land.
6:6 Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed?
6:7 Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows on which a yoke has never come. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves back home away from them.
6:8 Take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart; put the golden objects that you are returning to Him as a guilt offering in a box beside it. Then send it off and let it go its way.
6:9 And watch; if it goes up on the way to its own territory, to Beth-shemesh, then He has done us this great harm. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance.”
6:10 The men did so. They took two milch cows and hitched them to the cart and shut up their calves at home.
6:11 They put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the box, the golden mice, and the images of their tumors.
6:12 The cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They did not turn aside to the right or to the left, and the lords of the Philistines followed them to the border of Beth-shemesh.
6:13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley. When they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it.
6:14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A large stone was there, and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
6:15 The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was with it, in which were the golden objects, and placed them on the large stone. The men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrifices the same day to the LORD.
6:16 When the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
6:17 These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron;
6:18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages. The large stone on which they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.
6:19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they looked upon the ark of the LORD. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great blow.
6:20 Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who can stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall He go up away from us?”
6:21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you.”
7:1 Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated his son Eleazar to keep the ark of the LORD.
7:2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
7:3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
7:4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only.
7:5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”
7:6 So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
7:7 When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
7:8 The people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
7:9 Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
7:10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.
7:11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.
7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”
7:13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
7:14 The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
7:15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
7:16 He went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.
7:17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD.
8:1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
8:2 Now the eldest son of Joel was named Joel; and his younger brother, Abiah: they served as judges in Beersheba.
8:3 Yet, his sons did not follow his path, instead they pursued greed, accepted bribes, and twisted justice.
8:4 Consequently, Israel’s elders united and approached Samuel at Ramah,
8:5 stating, “Observe, you are advanced in years, and your sons do not emulate your ways: now appoint a king to govern us, akin to other nations.”
8:6 This request for a king disheartened Samuel, who then sought the LORD’s guidance in prayer.
8:7 The LORD instructed Samuel, “Listen to the populace’s demands in all they request from you: for it’s not you they have spurned, but me, from reigning over them.
8:8 As they have consistently acted since their exodus from Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other deities, they are similarly treating you.
8:9 Now heed their voice; however, firmly caution them and reveal the nature of the monarchy that will rule over them.”
8:10 Samuel communicated all the LORD’s words to the people who requested a king.
8:11 He explained, “The regime of the king who will rule over you will be thus: He will conscript your sons for his chariots and horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.
8:12 He will appoint commanders over thousands and fifties, and they will plough his fields, harvest his crops, and fabricate his war machinery and chariotry.
8:13 He will take your daughters as confectioners, cooks, and bakers.
8:14 He will seize your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and hand them over to his retainers.
8:15 He will take a tenth of your grain and vineyards, distributing them among his officials and servants.
8:16 He will commandeer your male and female servants, the finest of your young men, and your donkeys, employing them in his work.
8:17 He will take a tenth of your flocks: and you will become his subjects.
8:18 And you will lament in that day due to the king you have chosen; yet the LORD will not respond to you then.”
8:19 Nevertheless, the people refused Samuel’s warning; they insisted, “No, we desire a king over us,
8:20 so we may be like all nations; with a king to judge us, lead us, and fight our battles.”
8:21 Samuel relayed all the people’s words to the LORD.
8:22 The LORD said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and appoint them a king.” Samuel then instructed the Israelites, “Everyone return to their city.”
9:1 There was a Benjamite named Kish, son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, great-grandson of Bechorath, and descendant of Aphiah, a man of valor.
9:2 Kish had a son named Saul, outstandingly handsome and taller than anyone in Israel, standing head and shoulders above the rest.
9:3 The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, went missing. Kish said to Saul, “Take one of the servants and search for the donkeys.”
9:4 They traversed the hill country of Ephraim, the region of Shalisha, Shalim, and the land of the Benjaminites, yet found them not.
9:5 Arriving in the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Let’s return, lest my father worry more about us than the donkeys.”
9:6 The servant replied, “In this city is a man of God, highly respected; everything he says comes true. Let’s visit him; perhaps he’ll show us the way we should take.”
9:7 Saul said, “But what can we offer him? Our food is gone, and we have no gift to present to the man of God. What do we have?”
9:8 The servant responded, “I have a quarter shekel of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God to tell us our path.”
9:9 (Formerly in Israel, anyone seeking God’s guidance would say, “Let’s go to the seer,” for prophets were previously known as seers.)
9:10 Saul agreed, “Well spoken; let’s go.” So, they went to the city where the man of God was.
9:11 As they ascended the city’s hill, they met young women drawing water and asked, “Is the seer here?”
9:12 They replied, “He is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he’s come today for a sacrifice at the high place.
9:13 As soon as you enter the city, you’ll find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t start eating until he arrives, as he blesses the sacrifice; after that, the invited eat. Go up now; you’ll meet him immediately.”
9:14 They went up to the city, and as they entered, Samuel was coming out towards them, on his way to the high place.
9:15 Now the LORD had informed Samuel a day before Saul’s arrival,
9:16 “Tomorrow at this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines; for I have seen my people’s affliction, and their cry has reached me.”
9:17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD indicated, “This is the man I told you about. He will govern my people.”
9:18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
9:19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you will eat with me. Tomorrow I will let you go and reveal all that’s in your heart.
9:20 Regarding your donkeys lost three days ago, worry not; they’ve been found. And for whom is all Israel longing? Is it not for you and your father’s family?”
9:21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and isn’t my clan the least among the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
9:22 Samuel led Saul and his servant into the banquet hall and seated them at the head of the guests, about thirty in number.
9:23 Samuel instructed the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, the one I told you to keep aside.”
9:24 The cook lifted the thigh and what was on it and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “See, what was reserved is set before you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, since I invited the people.” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.
9:25 After descending from the high place to the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the rooftop.
9:26 They rose early; around dawn, Samuel called Saul on the rooftop, “Get ready, so I may send you off.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside together.
9:27 As they were going to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go ahead of us,” and he went ahead. “But you, stay here for a while, that I may impart to you the word of God.”
10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t the LORD anointed you leader over His inheritance?
10:2 When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will tell you the donkeys you sought have been found, and your father has stopped worrying about them and is anxious for you, saying, ‘What shall I do about my son?’
10:3 Then proceed from there until you reach the Plain of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine.
10:4 They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.
10:5 After that, you will come to the Hill of God where the Philistine garrison is located. When you arrive in the city, you will meet a group of prophets descending from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps before them; they will be prophesying.
10:6 The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you powerfully, and you will prophesy with them; you will be transformed into a different person.
10:7 Once these signs have happened to you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
10:8 Go down ahead of me to Gilgal; I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices of peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”
10:9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God transformed his heart, and all those signs occurred that day.
10:10 When they arrived at the hill, a group of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he prophesied among them.
10:11 When all who had known him previously saw that he prophesied with the prophets, the people asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
10:12 A man from there answered, “And who is their father?” Thus it became a saying, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
10:13 When he finished prophesying, he went to the high place.
10:14 Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” He replied, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw they were not found, we went to Samuel.”
10:15 Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”
10:16 Saul told his uncle, “He assured us the donkeys were found.” But he did not mention anything about the kingdom that Samuel had spoken of.
10:17 Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah;
10:18 he said to the Israelites, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and delivered you from the Egyptians’ hands and from all kingdoms oppressing you.’
10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from your calamities and distresses; and you have said, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
10:20 When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
10:21 He then brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families, and the Matrite family was chosen. Saul, son of Kish, was chosen; but when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
10:22 Therefore, they inquired of the LORD further, “Has the man come here yet?” The LORD replied, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”
10:23 They ran and fetched him from there; when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of them from his shoulders upwards.
10:24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
10:25 Then Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of the monarchy, wrote them in a book, and laid it before the LORD. Samuel dismissed the people, each to their home.
10:26 Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, accompanied by a group of men whose hearts God had touched.
10:27 But some scoundrels said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts, but he remained silent.
11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh-gilead. The men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
11:2 Nahash the Ammonite replied, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you: that I may gouge out all your right eyes and bring disgrace upon all Israel.”
11:3 The elders of Jabesh said, “Give us seven days’ respite to send messengers throughout Israel’s territory. If no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
11:4 The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people; they all wept aloud.
11:5 Just then, Saul returned from the field with his oxen and asked, “Why are the people weeping?” They relayed the news from the men of Jabesh.
11:6 On hearing this, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and his anger burned intensely.
11:7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout Israel’s territory by messengers, saying, “Whoever does not follow Saul and Samuel will have his oxen treated likewise.” The fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they united as one.
11:8 Saul mustered them at Bezek; the Israelites numbered three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
11:9 They told the messengers from Jabesh, “Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.” The messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, who were delighted.
11:10 The men of Jabesh then said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do with us as you please.”
11:11 The next day, Saul divided his forces into three groups; they entered the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so no two of them were left together.
11:12 The people said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men, so we may put them to death.”
11:13 But Saul said, “No one shall be put to death today, for today the LORD has delivered Israel.”
11:14 Samuel then spoke to the populace, “Come, let us journey to Gilgal and there reaffirm the monarchy.”
11:15 All the people made their way to Gilgal, and in Gilgal, they proclaimed Saul king in the presence of the LORD. There, they offered peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites celebrated with great joy.
12:1 Samuel addressed all Israel, “I have listened to your requests in all that you have said to me and have appointed a king over you.
12:2 Now, here is the king leading you, while I am aged and grey-headed. Look, my sons are among you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day.
12:3 Here I stand. Testify against me before the LORD and his anointed: whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? If so, I will return it.”
12:4 They replied, “You have not wronged us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”
12:5 He said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they responded, “He is a witness.”
12:6 Samuel said to the people, “It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt.
12:7 Now then, stand still so I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous deeds of the LORD that he performed for you and your ancestors.
12:8 When Jacob entered Egypt and your ancestors cried to the LORD, the LORD sent Moses and Aaron. They brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
12:9 But they forgot the LORD their God. He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.
12:10 They cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned by forsaking the LORD and serving the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now, deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
12:11 Then the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, so you lived in safety.
12:12 But when you saw Nahash king of the Ammonites coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.
12:13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the LORD has set a king over you.
12:14 If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God—good!
12:15 But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.
12:16 Now then, stand and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!
12:17 Is it not the wheat harvest now? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the LORD when you asked for a king.”
12:18 Then Samuel called on the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel.
12:19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”
12:20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
12:21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.
12:22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.
12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
12:24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
12:25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”
13:1 Saul was [thirty] years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- two years.
13:2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
13:3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
13:4 So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
13:5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven.
13:6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.
13:7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
13:8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
13:9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
13:10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
13:11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
13:12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
13:13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
13:14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
13:15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.
13:16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
13:17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the district of Shual,
13:18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness.
13:19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!”
13:20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plowpoints, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened.
13:21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plowpoints and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
13:22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
13:23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.
14:1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
14:2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,
14:3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
14:4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh.
14:5 One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
14:7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
14:8 Jonathan said, “Very well, then, we will cross over toward them and let them see us.
14:9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.
14:10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands.”
14:11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.”
14:12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.” So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”
14:13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.
14:14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
14:15 Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.
14:16 Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.
14:17 Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.
14:18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)
14:19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
14:20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.
14:21 Those Israelites who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
14:22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit.
14:23 So on that day the LORD saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
14:24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
14:25 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground.
14:26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.
14:27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
14:28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”
14:29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
14:30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Wouldn’t the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
14:31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, the troops were very tired.
14:32 They pounced on the plunder and took sheep, cattle and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood still in them.
14:33 They then reported to Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with blood.” He replied, “You have broken faith. Roll a large stone to me today.”
14:34 Saul then commanded, “Spread out among the people and say, ‘Bring me each his ox or sheep, slaughter them here and eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with blood.'” So, that night, each person brought their ox and slaughtered it there.
14:35 Saul built an altar to the LORD; this was the first altar he erected to the LORD.
14:36 Saul proposed, “Let us attack the Philistines by night, plunder them till dawn, and leave none alive.” They agreed, “Do whatever you think best.” Then the priest said, “Let us approach God here.”
14:37 Saul inquired of God, “Shall I pursue the Philistines? Will you deliver them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.
14:38 Saul ordered, “All leaders of the people must come here. Investigate and ascertain what sin has been committed today.”
14:39 “As surely as the LORD lives, the saviour of Israel, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he shall surely die.” But no one among the people responded.
14:40 Then he said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, I and Jonathan my son will stand on the other.” The people replied to Saul, “Do what you think best.”
14:41 Therefore, Saul prayed to the LORD God of Israel, “Decide the truth.” Saul and Jonathan were indicated by lot, but the people were cleared.
14:42 Saul then said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.
14:43 Saul questioned Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan confessed, “I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now, I must die.”
14:44 Saul declared, “May God punish me severely if you are not put to death, Jonathan.”
14:45 But the people protested to Saul, “Should Jonathan die, who achieved such a great victory in Israel? God forbid! As the LORD lives, not a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he worked with God today.” So, the people saved Jonathan from death.
14:46 Saul ceased pursuing the Philistines, and they returned to their territory.
14:47 Saul, having assumed control over Israel, fought against his enemies on all sides: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.
14:48 He valiantly defeated the Amalekites, rescuing Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
14:49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua. His daughters were named Merab, the elder, and Michal, the younger.
14:50 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz. His army’s commander was Abner, son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
14:51 Kish was Saul’s father; Ner, father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.
14:52 Throughout Saul’s reign, there was harsh warfare with the Philistines. Whenever Saul saw any strong or brave man, he conscripted him.
15:1 Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel. Now listen to the words of the LORD.
15:2 “This is what the LORD of hosts says: ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how they ambushed them on the way as they came up from Egypt.
15:3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything they have. Do not spare them; kill men, women, children, infants, cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.'”
15:4 Saul assembled the people, counted them in Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah.
15:5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.
15:6 Saul warned the Kenites, “Move away from the Amalekites so you won’t be destroyed with them, for you showed kindness to all Israelites when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
15:7 Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, near the border of Egypt.
15:8 He captured Agag, king of the Amalekites, alive but completely destroyed all the people with the sword.
15:9 Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, cattle, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good, unwilling to destroy them, but everything that was worthless and weak, they completely destroyed.
15:10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel:
15:11 “I regret making Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was troubled and cried out to the LORD all night.
15:12 Early in the morning, Samuel went to meet Saul. It was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel, where he set up a monument for himself, then turned and went down to Gilgal.”
15:13 When Samuel reached Saul, Saul said, “Blessed be you of the LORD! I have carried out the LORD’s command.”
15:14 But Samuel asked, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle I hear?”
15:15 Saul replied, “They were brought from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we have totally destroyed.”
15:16 “Stop,” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.
15:17 Samuel said, “Though you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.
15:18 He sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’
15:19 Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”
15:20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.
15:21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.
15:22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and gave in to them.
15:25 Now please forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.”
15:26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!”
15:27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.
15:28 Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.
15:29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.”
15:30 Saul pleaded, “I have sinned. But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”
15:31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
15:32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him confidently, thinking, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
15:33 But Samuel declared, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal.
15:34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
15:35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
16:2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
16:3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
16:4 Samuel did what the LORD said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
16:5 “Yes, in peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” He consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
16:6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”
16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”
16:10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
16:11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
16:12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
16:14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
16:15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
16:16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”
16:17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
16:18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him.”
16:19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
16:20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.
16:21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.
16:22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
16:23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah.
17:2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines.
17:3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
17:4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.
17:5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels;
17:6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back.
17:7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
17:8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.
17:9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.”
17:10 The Philistine proclaimed, challenging the Israeli forces this day: “Send forth a man that we may engage in combat.”
17:11 Upon hearing the Philistine’s declaration, Saul and all Israel were struck with dismay and great trepidation.
17:12 David, son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah named Jesse, who had eight sons, lived in the era of Saul’s rule. Jesse was advanced in years.
17:13 Jesse’s three eldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The names of his three sons who took part in the conflict were Eliab, the eldest, followed by Abinadab, and then Shammah.
17:14 David, the youngest, remained behind while the three eldest accompanied Saul.
17:15 Meanwhile, David oscillated between Saul and Bethlehem to tend his father’s sheep.
17:16 Each morning and evening, the Philistine presented himself for forty days.
17:17 Jesse instructed his son David, “Take this ephah of parched grain and these ten loaves to your brothers at camp;
17:18 also these ten cheeses for their unit commander. Check on your brothers’ welfare and bring back news of them.”
17:19 At this time, Saul, the Israeli army, and all Israel’s men were in the Valley of Elah, clashing with the Philistines.
17:20 David rose early, left the sheep with a caretaker, took the provisions, and set off as Jesse had directed. He reached the encampment as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting their war cry.
17:21 Israel and the Philistines arrayed themselves for battle, army opposite army.
17:22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines, and greeted his brothers.
17:23 As he conversed with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and spoke the same words as before, and David heard them.
17:24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.
17:25 The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he comes to defy Israel. The king will lavish great wealth on the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter and exempt his family from taxes in Israel.”
17:26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
17:27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
17:28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
17:29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”
17:30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
17:31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, who sent for him.
17:32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
17:33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
17:34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,
17:35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.”
17:36 “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
17:37 David added, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”
17:38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.
17:39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.
17:40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
17:41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.
17:42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.
17:43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
17:44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
17:46 “Today the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”
17:47 “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
17:48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
17:49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
17:50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
17:51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
17:52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
17:53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
17:54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.
17:55 As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”
17:56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”
17:57 As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.
17:58 “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him. David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”
18:1 After David had finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
18:2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.
18:3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
18:5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
18:6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.
18:7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
18:8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
18:9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
18:10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand
18:11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
18:12 Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
18:13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.
18:14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.
18:15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him.
18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
18:17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”
18:18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
18:19 So when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah instead.
18:20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.
18:21 “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”
18:22 Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.'”
18:23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it’s a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”
18:24 When Saul’s servants told him what David had said,
18:25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.
18:26 When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed,
18:27 David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
18:28 When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,
18:29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy the rest of his days.
18:30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.
19:1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David
19:2 and warned him: “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there.
19:3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”
19:4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.
19:5 He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?”
19:6 Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”
19:7 So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.
19:8 Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.
19:9 But an evil spirit from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre,
19:10 Saul attempted with great force to pin David to the wall using a javelin, but David evaded him, causing Saul to embed the javelin in the wall instead. That night, David made his escape.
19:11 Saul dispatched men to David’s residence to monitor and kill him in the morning. However, Michal, David’s wife, warned him, saying, “If you don’t save yourself tonight, you’ll be dead by tomorrow.”
19:12 Michal helped David escape by lowering him from a window. He then fled to safety.
19:13 Michal placed a statue in the bed, using a goat’s hair pillow as its headrest, and covered it with a cloth.
19:14 When Saul’s men came to capture David, Michal informed them that David was ill.
19:15 Undeterred, Saul sent his men back to see David, instructing them to bring him in his bed so that Saul could kill him.
19:16 The messengers, upon entering, found the statue in the bed with the goat’s hair pillow.
19:17 Saul confronted Michal, asking why she had deceived him and allowed his enemy to escape. Michal replied that David had threatened her, saying, “Why should I kill you?”
19:18 David, having fled, reached Samuel in Ramah and told him all that Saul had done. Together, they went to live in Naioth.
19:19 News reached Saul that David was in Naioth in Ramah.
19:20 Saul sent men to capture David. Upon seeing the prophets prophesying with Samuel overseeing them, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men, and they also began to prophesy.
19:21 Learning of this, Saul sent other messengers, but they too began to prophesy. Saul then sent a third group, who also prophesied.
19:22 Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah, stopping at a large well in Sechu to inquire about Samuel and David. He learned they were in Naioth in Ramah.
19:23 Saul continued to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he prophesied all the way to Naioth in Ramah.
19:24 There, Saul stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and night, leading to the saying, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
20:1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah and asked Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? Why is your father trying to kill me?”
20:2 Jonathan assured him, “God forbid! You won’t die. My father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. Why would he hide this from me? It’s not true.”
20:3 David swore, saying, “Your father knows I have found favour in your eyes, and thinks, ‘Jonathan must not know this, or he’ll be distressed.’ But truly, as the LORD lives, and as you live, there’s only a step between me and death.”
20:4 Jonathan promised to do whatever David wished.
20:5 David explained that he was expected at the king’s new moon feast the next day, but he would hide in the field until the evening of the third day.
20:6 If Saul noticed his absence, Jonathan should explain that David urgently needed to go to Bethlehem for his family’s annual sacrifice.
20:7 David added, “If your father is agreeable, then I’m safe. But if he’s angry, know that he intends harm.”
20:8 David asked Jonathan to show him kindness for the sake of their covenant before the LORD, saying, “If I’m guilty, kill me yourself rather than delivering me to your father.”
20:9 Jonathan reassured David that he would inform him if he learned of any planned harm from his father.
20:10 David inquired how he would know if Saul’s response was harsh.
20:11 Jonathan suggested they go to the field, where he would share his father’s reaction.
20:12 Jonathan prayed to the LORD, pledging to inform David if his father intended good or harm.
20:13 If Saul planned evil, Jonathan would let David know so he could leave in peace. He prayed, “May the LORD be with you as He was with my father.”
20:14 Jonathan asked David to show him the LORD’s kindness while he lived, and not to withdraw his kindness from Jonathan’s family, even after eliminating David’s enemies.
20:15 He made a covenant with David, saying, “May the LORD require it of David’s enemies.”
20:16 Jonathan reaffirmed the covenant with David for his love for him, as he loved his own life.
20:17 Jonathan made David swear again because of his love for him.
20:18 Jonathan reminded David about the new moon feast and his expected absence.
20:19 He advised David to hide for three days and then go to the place where he had hidden before, staying near the stone Ezel.
20:20 Jonathan planned to shoot three arrows as if aiming at a target.
20:21 He would send a boy to find the arrows. If he told the boy the arrows were near, David could return safely, as the LORD lives.
20:22 But if Jonathan told the boy the arrows were beyond him, David should leave, as the LORD had sent him away.
20:23 Jonathan reaffirmed the importance of their agreement before the LORD.
20:24 David hid in the field. At the new moon feast, Saul sat in his usual seat by the wall.
20:25 Jonathan stood while Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
20:26 Saul said nothing that day, thinking David might be ceremonially unclean.
20:27 When David’s seat remained empty the next day, Saul asked Jonathan why David hadn’t come to the feast.
20:28 Jonathan explained that David urgently needed to attend a family sacrifice in Bethlehem.
20:29 He added that David requested permission, emphasizing the importance of the family event and his need to see his brothers, hence his absence from the king’s table.
20:30 Saul’s anger flared at Jonathan, accusing him of choosing David to his own and his mother’s disgrace.
20:31 Saul declared that as long as David lived, Jonathan’s kingdom would not be established, urging him to bring David, who deserved death.
20:32 Jonathan questioned his father, asking why David should be killed and what he had done.
20:33 In response, Saul hurled a javelin at Jonathan, confirming his intention to kill David.
20:34 Jonathan left the feast in anger, distressed for David and shamed by his father.
20:35 The next morning, Jonathan went to the field to meet David, bringing a young boy with him.
20:36 He instructed the boy to find the arrows he would shoot.
20:37 When the boy reached the arrow, Jonathan called out that it was beyond him.
20:38 Jonathan urged the boy to hurry and retrieve the arrows.
20:39 The boy, unaware of their significance, returned them to Jonathan.
20:40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and told him to take them to the city.
20:41 After the boy left, David emerged from his hiding place, bowed three times before Jonathan, and they both wept, with David weeping the most.
20:42 Jonathan then said to David, “Depart in peace, for we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, affirming, ‘May the Lord be witness between you and me, and between your offspring and mine forever.'” He then got up and left, while Jonathan returned to the city.
21:1 Subsequently, David arrived at Nob, approaching Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech, trembling at meeting David, questioned, “Why are you alone and without any companions?”
21:2 David replied to Ahimelech, “The king has entrusted me with a task and instructed me, ‘Let no one be aware of the mission I am sending you on or what I have commanded you.’ I have directed my men to meet me at a certain location.
21:3 Now, what provisions do you have on hand? Please give me five loaves of bread or whatever is available.”
21:4 The priest responded to David, “I have no ordinary bread on hand, only holy bread, provided the men have refrained from women.”
21:5 David assured the priest, “Indeed, women have been kept from us for about three days since I set out. The men’s equipment is clean, and even though it is an ordinary journey, the bread becomes sacred once it enters our possession.
21:6 So the priest gave him the sacred bread, as there was no bread there except the showbread removed from the presence of the Lord, to be replaced by fresh bread on the day it was taken.
21:7 Now, one of Saul’s servants, detained before the Lord that day, was there. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds.
21:8 David then asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword here? I’ve brought neither my sword nor any weapons with me, as the king’s business was urgent.”
21:9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you defeated in the Valley of Elah, is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you wish to take it, do so, for there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
21:10 David then arose and fled that day from Saul, seeking refuge with Achish, king of Gath.
21:11 But Achish’s servants said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Didn’t they sing about him in their dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
21:12 David took these words to heart and was greatly afraid of Achish, king of Gath.
21:13 So he changed his behavior before them, feigned insanity in their hands, scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down his beard.
21:14 Achish said to his servants, “You see the man is mad. Why have you brought him to me?
21:15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to act as a madman in my presence? Shall this man enter my house?”
22:1 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down to join him there.
22:2 Everyone who was in distress, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
22:3 David then went from there to Mizpeh of Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.”
22:4 He left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him throughout the time David was in the stronghold.
22:5 The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold. Depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hareth.
22:6 Saul, hearing that David had been discovered, and the men with him, was in Gibeah, sitting under a tree in Ramah, spear in hand, with all his servants standing around him.
22:7 He said to his servants, “Listen, Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give you all fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and hundreds,
22:8 that you have all conspired against me? No one discloses to me that my son has made a pact with the son of Jesse, and none of you feels sorry for me or tells me that my son has incited my servant against me, as is evident today?”
22:9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s servants, spoke up, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.
22:10 He inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and handed him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
22:11 Saul then summoned Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king.
22:12 Saul said, “Now listen, son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”
22:13 Saul questioned him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me, lying in wait as he does today?”
22:14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, who obeys your orders and is highly respected in your household?
22:15 Was it today that I began to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse his servant or any of my father’s house, for your servant knew nothing of all this, much or little.”
22:16 The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father’s entire house.”
22:17 The king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to raise their hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
22:18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests, killing eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod that day.
22:19 He also struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword, killing men and women, children and infants, and cattle, donkeys, and sheep.
22:20 However, one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, managed to escape and fled to join David.
22:21 Abiathar informed David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests.
22:22 David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the deaths of all your father’s family.
22:23 Stay with me; do not fear. For the one who seeks my life seeks yours, but with me, you shall be safe.”
23:1 Then it was reported to David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and robbing the threshing floors.”
23:2 Therefore, David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord replied to David, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
23:3 But David’s men said to him, “We are afraid here in Judah. How much more so if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
23:4 Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”
23:5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines, drove off their livestock, and inflicted a heavy defeat on them. Thus, David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
23:6 When Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in hand.
23:7 Saul was informed that David had gone to Keilah. He said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for he is trapped by entering a town with gates and bars.”
23:8 Saul summoned all his forces for battle, to descend upon Keilah and besiege David and his men.
23:9 David, aware that Saul was plotting harm against him, said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
23:10 David prayed, “O lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.
23:11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O Lord, God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant.” The Lord replied, “He will come down.”
23:12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.”
23:13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and moved about freely. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
23:14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day, Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
23:15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life.
23:16 Jonathan, Saul’s son, went to David at Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God.
23:17 He said to him, “Do not fear; my father Saul’s hand will not find you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”
23:18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then David stayed at Horesh, while Jonathan returned home.
23:19 The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Isn’t David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon?
23:20 Now then, O king, come down whenever you wish, and it will be our duty to hand him over to the king.”
23:21 Saul replied, “The Lord bless you for your compassion towards me.
23:22 Go and make further preparation. Find out where David usually stays and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty.
23:23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you. If he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah.”
23:24 So the Ziphites set out ahead of Saul. Meanwhile, David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.
23:25 Saul and his men began the search, and David was informed. He went down to a rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he pursued David in the Desert of Maon.
23:26 Saul was on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, as Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
23:27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have raided the land.”
23:28 So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to meet the Philistine threat. This is why that place was called Selahammahlekoth.
23:29 David then went up from there and lived in the strongholds at En Gedi.
24:1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
24:2 Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
24:3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; there was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
24:4 The men of David said to him, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
24:5 Afterwards, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
24:6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”
24:7 With these words, David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.
24:8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
24:9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, claiming, ‘David intends to harm you’?
24:10 This very day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
24:11 Moreover, my father, see, yes, indeed, observe the edge of your robe in my grip: for it was I who sliced off the edge of your robe and yet spared your life, understand and recognise that there is neither wickedness nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul to capture it.
24:12 The Lord adjudicate between you and me, and may the LORD exact retribution on you for my sake: but my hand shall not be against you.
24:13 As the ancient saying goes, ‘Evil stems from the wicked’: but my hand shall not be against you.
24:14 Whom does the king of Israel pursue? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog? A mere flea?
24:15 May the Lord therefore be the judge, and decide between you and me, and observe, and plead my case, and rescue me from your grasp.
24:16 And it came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul asked, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
24:17 He then said to David, “You are more righteous than I: for you have repaid me with good, whereas I have repaid you with evil.
24:18 And today you have shown how you have dealt well with me: for when the Lord had delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
24:19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go unharmed? Therefore, may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
24:20 And now, behold, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be firmly established in your hand.
24:21 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not obliterate my name from my father’s lineage.
24:22 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
25:1 And Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
25:2 Now there was a man in Maon, who had his estate in Carmel; and the man was exceedingly prosperous, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
25:3 The name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful countenance: but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings, and he was of the house of Caleb.
25:4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
25:5 And David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, visit Nabal, and greet him in my name:
25:6 And thus shall you say to him who lives in prosperity, ‘Peace be to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have.
25:7 Now I have heard that you have shearers: your shepherds who were with us, we did not harm them, nor was anything missing from them, all the time they were in Carmel.
25:8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore, let the young men find favour in your eyes: for we come on a good day: please give whatever you can spare to your servants, and to your son David.'”
25:9 And when David’s young men arrived, they spoke to Nabal all those words in the name of David, and then waited.
25:10 But Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away from their masters.
25:11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have prepared for my shearers, and give it to men who I don’t know where they come from?”
25:12 So David’s young men turned their way, and went back, and came and reported all these statements to him.
25:13 And David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” And they all girded on their swords; and David also girded on his sword: and about four hundred men followed David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.
25:14 But one of the young men informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master; and he hurled insults at them.
25:15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we were not harmed, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields:
25:16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
25:17 Now therefore, consider what you will do; for harm is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a worthless man, that one cannot speak to him.”
25:18 Then Abigail hurried, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.
25:19 And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
25:20 And as she rode on the donkey, coming down covertly by the hillside, behold, David and his men came down towards her; and she met them.
25:21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I protected all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him: and he has repaid me evil for good.
25:22 May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave by morning light any male of all who belong to him.”
25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from the donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
25:24 And fell at his feet, and said, “Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and please let your handmaid speak in your presence, and listen to the words of your handmaid.
25:25 Please, my lord, pay no attention to this worthless man, Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I, your handmaid, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
25:26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, since the Lord has prevented you from coming to shed blood, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies, and those who seek harm for my lord, be as Nabal.
25:27 And now this blessing which your handmaid has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
25:28 Please, forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house; because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and no evil has been found in you throughout your days.
25:29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you, and to seek your life: but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies, He shall sling out, as from the hollow of a sling.
25:30 And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel;
25:31 This will not be a cause of grief or a troubled heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself: but when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.”
25:32 And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me:
25:33 And blessed be your advice, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with my own hand.
25:34 For in truth, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light not a male belonging to Nabal would have been left.”
25:35 So David accepted from her hand that which she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house; see, I have listened to your voice, and have respected your person.”
25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk: therefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
25:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
25:38 And it happened about ten days later, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
25:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, that has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil: for the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.” And David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her to him as wife.
25:40 And when the servants of David had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David sent us to you, to take you to him as wife.”
25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, “Behold, let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”
25:42 And Abigail hastened, and arose and rode upon a donkey, with five maids of hers that attended her; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife.
25:43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they both became his wives.
25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
26:1 And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is it not David hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?”
26:2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
26:3 And Saul pitched camp on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, along the road. But David remained in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul was coming after him into the wilderness.
26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and learned that Saul had indeed arrived.
26:5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had camped: and David observed the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army: and Saul lay within the encampment, and the people were encamped around him.
26:6 Then David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
26:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and there Saul lay sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay around him.
26:8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore let me pin him to the earth with the spear in one strike, and I will not need to strike him twice.”
26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can lay his hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?”
26:10 David furthermore said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him; or his time will come to die; or he will go down into battle and perish.
26:11 The Lord forbid that I should lay my hand on the Lord’s anointed. But now, take the spear that is at his head, and the jug of water, and let us go.”
26:12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head; and they went away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did anyone wake up: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
26:13 Then David crossed over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great distance being between them:
26:14 And David called to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
26:15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For someone came into the camp to destroy the king your lord.
26:16 This is not good that you have done. As the Lord lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was at his head.”
26:17 And Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David replied, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”
26:18 “Why does my lord pursue his servant so? What have I done, or what evil lies in my hand?
26:19 Now, let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, may He accept an offering; but if men are responsible, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out today, denying me a place in the Lord’s inheritance, commanding, ‘Go, serve other gods.'”
26:20 “So now, let not my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out seeking a mere flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
26:21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. I will harm you no more, for you valued my life today. Indeed, I have been foolish and erred greatly.”
26:22 David replied, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of your young men come over and retrieve it.
26:23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.
26:24 As your life was highly valued this day in my eyes, so may my life be highly valued in the eyes of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all distress.”
26:25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David. You will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
27:1 David thought to himself, “One of these days I will perish by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
27:2 So David and his six hundred men set out and went over to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.
27:3 David stayed with Achish at Gath, with his men, each with his family, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow.
27:4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
27:5 David said to Achish, “If I have found favour in your eyes, let a place be given to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”
27:6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.
27:7 David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.
27:8 David and his men raided the Geshurites, Gizrites, and Amalekites, who had inhabited the region for a long time, extending to Shur and the land of Egypt.
27:9 Whenever David attacked the land, he left no man or woman alive but took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.
27:10 When Achish asked, “Where have you raided today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah,” or “Against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites,” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.”
27:11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, thinking, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.'” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.
27:12 Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself so odious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant forever.”
28:1 In those days, the Philistines gathered their forces to fight Israel. Achish said to David, “You and your men will certainly march out with me in the army.”
28:2 David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.” Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
28:4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.
28:5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.
28:6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
28:7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said.
28:8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
28:9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
28:10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”
28:11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said.
28:12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
28:13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”
28:14 “What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
28:15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
28:16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy?
28:17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbours—to David.
28:18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today.
28:19 The Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
28:20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.
28:21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do.
28:22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”
28:23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his men, joined by the woman, urged him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
28:24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread.
28:25 She set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. Then they rose and left that night.
29:1 The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
29:2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish.
29:3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and I have found no fault in him since the day he defected to me.”
29:4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favour than by taking the heads of our men?
29:5 Isn’t this the David they sing about in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
29:6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. But the Philistine commanders have not approved of you.
29:7 Now then, go back and do so peacefully; do not displease the Philistine commanders.”
29:8 David asked Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
29:9 Achish answered, “I know that you are as good as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.'”
29:10 “Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you. As soon as you get up in the morning and have light, leave.”
29:11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
30:1 When David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it,
30:2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
30:3 When David and his men reached the city, they found it burned with fire and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive.
30:4 Then David and the people with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.
30:5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
30:6 David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
30:7 David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him,
30:8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will surely overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
30:9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind.
30:10 David continued the pursuit with four hundred men, while two hundred stayed behind, too exhausted to cross the valley.
30:11 They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat
30:12 a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. When he had eaten, he revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.
30:13 David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” He said, “I am a young Egyptian, servant to an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago.
30:14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory of Judah and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag.”
30:15 David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?” He answered, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.”
30:16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking, and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.
30:17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.
30:18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.
30:19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.
30:20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”
30:21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them.
30:22 Then all the malevolent men and sons of worthlessness, who were among David’s followers, responded, saying, “Since they did not accompany us, we shall not share with them any of the spoil we have reclaimed, except for each man’s wife and children. Let them take these and leave.”
30:23 David then declared, “My brothers, you must not act thus with what the Lord has bestowed upon us. He has safeguarded us and surrendered into our hands the group that opposed us.”
30:24 “Who will listen to your words in this matter? Just as his portion is who descends into the battle, so shall it be for him who stays behind with the baggage: they shall share alike.”
30:25 And from that day onwards, David established it as a law and a decree in Israel, which remains to this very day.
30:26 Upon David’s return to Ziklag, he distributed part of the spoil to the elders of Judah, his allies, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the spoil of the Lord’s enemies;”
30:27 To those in Bethel, those in southern Ramoth, those in Jattir,
30:28 Those in Aroer, those in Siphmoth, those in Eshtemoa,
30:29 Those in Rachal, those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, those in the cities of the Kenites,
30:30 Those in Hormah, those in Chorashan, those in Athach,
30:31 Those in Hebron, and all the places where David and his men had frequented.
31:1 Now the Philistines engaged Israel in battle: the Israelites fled before the Philistines, falling slain on Mount Gilboa.
31:2 The Philistines pursued Saul and his sons relentlessly; they killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s sons.
31:3 The battle intensified against Saul, and he was gravely injured by archers.
31:4 Saul then said to his armour-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it; lest these uncircumcised come and maltreat me.” But his armour-bearer was too terrified to do it. So, Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.
31:5 When his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell upon his sword and perished with him.
31:6 Thus, Saul, his three sons, his armour-bearer, and all his men died together on that same day.
31:7 When the Israelites on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled; the Philistines then came and occupied them.
31:8 On the following day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
31:9 They cut off his head, stripped his armour, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim the news in the temples of their gods and among their people.
31:10 They placed his armour in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
31:11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
31:12 all the valiant men set out, travelled all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Bethshan. They brought them to Jabesh and cremated them there.
31:13 They then gathered their bones, buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.

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