The Book of Kingdoms
Kings and Chronicles
SAMUEL
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 1
In the original Bible, as God ordained it, the next single book encompassed 4 KJV books today; 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. 1 and 2 Kings in the KJV does not come after Samuel, but it should in the proper arrangement of scripture as God intended it to be read.
1 Now there was a certain man from Ramah who lived in in the region of Zuph in the hill country of Ephraimnamed named Elkanah . He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim.
4 One day, when Elkanah was presenting his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children.
5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah, even though the LORD(Jesus) had kept her from having children.
6 So her rival[wives] would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD(Jesus) had kept her from having children.
Rival: In Hebrew means the other wife or wives. The plural word for wife in Hebrew is rivals!
7 He did this every year—she would taunt her very much and (Hannah) would be reduced to tears and would not even eat, as they went to the Tabernacle.
8 Elkanah would ask, “Why are you crying, Hannah? Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”
Hannah’s Prayer for a Son:
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of of the Tabernacle of the LORD(Jesus)10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD(Jesus).
11 And she vowed a vow, and said: “O LORD(Jesus) of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD(Jesus), his hair will never be cut or drink wine or strong liquor”
12 As she was praying to the LORD(Jesus), Eli was watching her.
13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she was drunk.
14 “How long will you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”
15 But Hannah replied, “Oh no, sir! I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD(Jesus).
16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”
17 Then Eli said to her, “In that case, go in peace! May the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”
18 She replied, “Oh, thank you, sir!” Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.
Samuel’s Birth and Dedication:
19 They got up early the next morning and went to worship the LORD(Jesus) once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD(Jesus) remembered her plea,20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the LORD(Jesus) for him.”
Samuel sounds like the Hebrew term for “asked of God(Elohim/Theos)” or “heard by God(Elohim/Theos).”
21 The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the LORD(Jesus).
22 But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the LORD(Jesus) I will offer him as a Nazirite for all time.”
23 “Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the LORD(Jesus) help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.
24 When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine.
25 After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.
26 And she said, "My lord(adown), as sure as you live, my lord(adown), I am the woman who stood here near you, praying to the LORD(Jesus).
Adown means “sir” nothing to do with God.
27 I asked the LORD(Jesus) to give me this boy, and he has granted my request.
28 Now I am giving him to the LORD(Jesus), and he will belong to the LORD(Jesus) his whole life.” And he worshiped the LORD(Jesus) there.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 2
Hannah’s Prayer of Praise:
1 Then Hannah prayed:My heart rejoices in the LORD(Jesus)! The LORD(Jesus) has made me strong.Now I have an answer for my enemies;
I can gloat over them, because of my joy at your saving me.
2 No one is holy like the LORD(Jesus)! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God(Elohim/Theos).
THE ROCK: Jesus is the LORD(Jesus) and the ROCK!
3 “Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the LORD(Jesus) is a God(Elohim/Theos) who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken, while the feeble are armed with strength.
5 The well-fed hire themselves for bread, while those who were hungry hunger no more. The barren woman has borne seven, while the mother of many wastes away.
6 The LORD(Jesus) gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave[sheol] but raises others up.
Sheol rendered “hell” in KJV simply means grave
7 The LORD(Jesus) makes poor, and he makes rich; he humbles, and he exalts.
8 He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD(Jesus)’s, and he has set the world in order.
9He will guard the steps of his faithful, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. For it is not by strength that a person prevails -
10 Those who fight the LORD(Jesus) will be broken to pieces. Out of heaven; the LORD(Jesus) wiill rage and judge throughout the earth. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one.
11 Elkanah went home to Ramah, while the child began serving the LORD(Jesus)(Yahweh) under the direction of Eli the priest.
Eli’s Sons:
12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the LORD(Jesus).13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling,
14 the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant would come, demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.
16 The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.”
17 So the sin of these young men was very serious in the LORD(Jesus)’s sight, for they treated the LORD(Jesus)’s offerings with contempt.
18 But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the LORD(Jesus). He wore a linen garment of linen (like that of a priest).
19 Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice.
20 Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD(Jesus) give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the LORD(Jesus).”
21 And the LORD(Jesus) gave Hannah three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD(Jesus).
22 Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle--This was an institution of holy women of a strictly ascetic order, who had relinquished worldly cares and devoted themselves to the Lord; an institution which continued down to the time of Christ (Luke 2:37). Eli was, on the whole, a good man, but lacking in the moral and religious training of his family. He erred on the side of parental indulgence; and though he reprimanded them yet, from fear or indolence, he shrank from laying on them the restraints, or subjecting them to the discipline, their gross delinquencies called for. In his judicial capacity, he winked at their flagrant acts of maladministration and suffered them to make reckless encroachments on the constitution, by which the most serious injuries were inflicted both on the rights of the people and the laws of God. (Jamieson)
23 Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning?
24 You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the LORD(Jesus)’s people are not good.
25 If a person commits a sin against another person, the judges can mediate between them. But if a person commits a sin against God(Elohim/Theos), who can intercede for him?" However, they wouldn't pay attention to what their father said, because the LORD(Jesus) had decided to kill them.
26 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the LORD(Jesus) and with the people.
27 One day a man of God(Elohim/Theos) came to Eli and gave him this message from the LORD(Jesus): I revealed myself to your ancestors when the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt.
28 I chose your ancestor (Aaron) from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest[ephod] as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests.
29 So why are you showing such disrespect for my sacrifices and offerings, which I ordered to be made at my dwelling? Why do you show more honor to your sons than to me, making yourselves fat with the choicest parts of all the offerings of Israel my people?'
30 Therefore, the LORD(Jesus), the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, says: I did indeed say that your family and your father's family would walk in my presence forever.' But now the LORD(Jesus) says, 'Forget it! I respect those who respect me, but those who despise me will meet with contempt!
31 The day is coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's family, so that no one in your family will live to old age.
32 You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days.
33 Those who survive will live in sadness and grief, and their children will die like mortals
34 And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!
35 I will raise up for myself a faithful cohen who will do what I want and what I intend. I will make his family faithful, and he will serve in the presence of my anointed one forever.
36 Everyone left in your family will come, prostrate himself before him for a silver coin or a loaf of bread, and say, "Please, won't you give me some work as a cohen, so I can have a scrap of bread to eat?
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 3
The LORD Speaks to Samuel:
1 And the child Samuel served the LORD(Jesus) by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD(Jesus) were very rare, and visions were uncommon.His ministry consisted, of course, of such duties in or about the sanctuary as were suited to his age, which is supposed now to have been about twelve years. Whether the office had been specially assigned him, or it arose from the interest inspired by the story of his birth, Eli kept him as his immediate attendant; and he resided not in the sanctuary, but in one of the tents or apartments around it, assigned for the accommodation of the priests and Levites, his being near to that of the high priest.
2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
3 The lamp of God(Elohim/Theos) had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle[temple] near the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos).
The "temple" seems to have become the established designation of the tabernacle, and the time indicated was towards the morning twilight, as the lamps were extinguished at sunrise (see Leviticus 6:12,13).
4 The LORD(Jesus) called out, “Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Yes? What is it?”
5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. You called me?” And Eli replied, “I didn’t call you, Go back to bed.” So he did.
6 Then the LORD(Jesus) called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “I'm here. Did you call me?” Eli said again, “I didn’t call you, my son,” Go back to bed!”
7 Samuel did not yet know the LORD(Jesus) because he had never had a message from the LORD(Jesus) before.
8 So the LORD(Jesus) called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD(Jesus) who was calling the boy.
9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down: again, and if HE calls you again,then say say, Speak, LORD(Jesus); for your servant hears you. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD(Jesus) came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant hears you.”
11 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Samuel: I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.
12 I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end.
13 For I have told him that I will execute judgment against his family forever, because of his wickedness in not rebuking his sons, even though he knew that they had brought a curse on themselves.
14 Therefore I have sworn to the family of Eli that the wickedness of Eli's family will never be atoned for by any sacrifice or offering.
15 Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as custom. Now he was afraid to tell Eli what the LORD(Jesus) had said to him.
16 But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered back, “Yes”
17 “What did the LORD(Jesus) say to you? Tell me everything. And may God(Elohim/Theos) strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!”
18 So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the LORD(Jesus)’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
It is evident that his sleeping chamber was close to that of the aged high priest and that he was accustomed to be called during the night. The three successive calls addressed to the boy convinced Eli of the divine character of the speaker, and he therefore exhorted the child to give a reverential attention to the message. The burden of [the Lord's message] was an extraordinary premonition of the judgments that impended over Eli's house; and the aged priest, having drawn the painful secret from the child, exclaimed, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good." Such is the spirit of meek and unmurmuring submission in which we ought to receive the dispensations of God, however severe and afflictive. But, in order to form a right estimate of Eli's language and conduct on this occasion, we must consider the overwhelming accumulation of judgments denounced against his person, his sons, his descendants--his altar, and nation. With such a threatening prospect before him, his piety and meekness were wonderful. In his personal character he seems to have been a good man, but his sons' conduct was flagrantly bad; and though his misfortunes claim our sympathy, it is impossible to approve or defend the weak and unfaithful course which, in the retributive justice of God, brought these adversities upon him.(Jamieson)
19 Samuel grew, and the LORD(Jesus) was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be true.
20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD(Jesus).
21 The LORD(Jesus) continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 4
1 And the word of Samuel was known to all Israel. Now Israel went to war against the Philistines and camped beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines camped in Aphek.
1 And the word of Samuel was known to all Israel. Now Israel went to war against the Philistines and camped beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines camped in Aphek.
The Philistines Capture the Ark:
2 The Philistines grouped in battle formation and attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.3 And when the people returned to camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD(Jesus) fought against us us to day before the Philistines? Let's get the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD(Jesus) out of Shiloh now! Maybe He will come among us and save us from our enemies."
4 So the people of Shiloh brought the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD(Jesus) of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God(Elohim/Theos).
5 When all of Israel saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD(Jesus) coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What all that noise back there mean from the camp of the Hebrews? And they realized that the ark of the Ark of the LORD(Jesus) had arrived,
7 so they panicked. “Gods(Elohim/Theos) have come into their camp! This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before!
8 We're lost! Who will rescue us from the power of these mighty gods(Elohim/Theos)? These are the gods(Elohim/Theos) that completely overthrew the Egyptians in the desert.
Elohim God: They have no idea who God here is. The word Elohim is a generic word for God. Just as the English word is. There is no holiness to the word, unlike Yahweh, which is the personal name of the God Family of Christ and the Father. The English word God, is really then an excellent rendering of Elohim or Theos! There is no holiness in the name, and it is not suppose to have any, except when one is “thinking” of the true God at the time. It is our hearts and thoughts that matter and not our words!
9 Be strong; and behave like men, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. It was a terrible slaughter - 30,000 of Israel's foot soldiers fell.
11 Moreover, the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos) was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
12 A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and ran to Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief.
13 Eli was beside the road waiting on news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos). When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town.
14 On hearing the cries, Eli asked, “What is all the noise about?” The messenger ran to Eli,
15 who was 98 years old and blind.
16 He said to Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I was there this very day.” And Eli asked, “How did things go, my son?”
17 The one who had come with the news answered, "Israel fled before the Phisitines, and there was a terrible slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed; and the ark of God(Elohim/Theos) has been captured.”
18 As soon as he mentioned what had happened to the ark of God(Elohim/Theos), Eli fell backward from his seat next to the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and very fat. He had been Israel’s judge for forty years.
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos) had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she bent over and gave birth.
20 She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.
21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying that the glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22 Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos) has been captured.”
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 5
The Ark in Philistine hands:
1 The Philistines took the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos) and brought it from Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod.
2 The Philistines brought the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos) into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon.
3 But when the people of Ashdod arose early the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the LORD(Jesus)! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again.
4 Early the following morning, when they got up, Dagon was fallen down again with his face to the ground before the Ark of the LORD(Jesus). This time the head of Dagon, and his hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. All that was left of Dagon was his torso.
5 This is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and those entering his temple never walk on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod.
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw what had happened, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel any longer! For HIS hand is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god(Elohim/Theos).”
8 They summoned all the leaders of the Philistine and asked, “What are we to do with the Ark of the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel?” And they all answered, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel to Gath.
9 But after it arrived there, the hand of the LORD(Jesus) fell on its men too, both young and old; He struck them with a plague of hemorrhoids, and there was a great panic.
Hemorrhoids can do that to a people I guess!
10 Next they sent the Ark of God(Elohim/Theos) to Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel here to kill us, too!”
11 So they all summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel back to its own country, so that it won't kill us all!” For the deadly plague from God(Elohim/Theos) had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town.
12 Those who didn’t die were afflicted with hemorrhoids; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 6
The Philistines Return the Ark:
1 The Ark of the LORD(Jesus) stayed in Philistine for seven months. 2 And the Philistines called in their priests and diviners and asked them, “What should we do about the Ark of the LORD(Jesus)? Tell us how to return it to its own country.”
3 They answered, “Don't send the Ark of the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel back without a gift. Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.”
4 They asked, "What kind of guilt offering should we send him?" and they replied, "Five gold models of hemorrhoids and five gold rats, because that's how many leaders the Philistine's have, and you and your leaders all had the same illness.
Five golden hemorrhoids --Votive or thank offerings were commonly made by the heathen in prayer for, or gratitude after, deliverance from lingering or dangerous disorders, in the form of metallic (generally silver) models or images of the diseased parts of the body. This is common still in Roman Catholic countries, as well as in the temples of the Hindus and other modern heathen.
5 So make models of your hemorrhoids and models of your rats that are infesting your land, and show respect to the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land.
6 Why should we be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God(Elohim/Theos) was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.
7 “Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen.
8 Put the Ark of the LORD(Jesus) on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want.
9 If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh, we will know it was the LORD(Jesus) who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.”
Beth-shemesh--that is, "house of the sun," now Ain Shems...a city of priests in Judah, in the southeast border of Dan, lying in a beautiful and extensive valley. JOSEPHUS says they were set a-going near a place where the road divided into two--the one leading back to Ekron, where were their calves, and the other to Beth- shemesh. Their frequent lowings attested their ardent longing for their young, and at the same time the supernatural influence that controlled their movements in a contrary direction.
10 The men did it. They took two milk-cows, harnessed them to the cart and confined their calves to the shed.
11 Then they put the Ark of the LORD(Jesus) and the chest containing the gold rats and gold hemorrhoids and placed them on the cart.
12 The cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.
13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the Ark, they were very happy!
14 The cart came into the field of a man named Joshua and stopped beside a large rock. So the people broke up the wood of the cart for a fire and killed the cows and sacrificed them to the LORD(Jesus) as a burnt offering.
15 And the Levites lifted the Ark of the LORD(Jesus) and the chest containing the gold rats and gold hemorrhoids from the cart and placed them on the large rock. Many sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered to the LORD(Jesus) that day by the people of Beth-shemesh.
16 The when the five rulers of the Philistines watched all this, thery then returned to Ekron that same day.
17 The five gold hemorrhoids sent by the Philistines as a guilt offering to the LORD(Jesus) were gifts from the rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
18 The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers. The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the LORD(Jesus), still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there.
19 But the LORD(Jesus) killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the LORD(Jesus). And the people mourned greatly because of what the LORD(Jesus) had done.
This is the number the The New Living Translation argues and I agree.. Possibly, "he smote fifty out of a thousand," being only fourteen hundred in all who indulged this curiosity. God, instead of decimating, according to an ancient usage, slew only a twentieth part; that is, according to JOSEPHUS, seventy out of fourteen hundred (see Numbers 4:18-22).
20 The people of Beit-Shemesh cried “Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD(Jesus), this holy God(Elohim/Theos)? And to whom can we send it, to get it away from us? Where can we send the Ark from here?”
21 And they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, “The Philistines have returned the Ark of the LORD(Jesus). Come down and bring it back up with you.”
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 7
1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came and brought back the Ark of the LORD(Jesus). They took it to the home ofAbinadab on the hill and ordained Eleazar, his son, to be in charge of it.
2 The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the LORD(Jesus) had abandoned them.
3 Samuel spoke to the people of Israel, “If you are truly returning to the LORD(Jesus), get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Easter. Determine to obey only the LORD(Jesus); then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 4 So all of Israel got rid of their images of Baal and Easter and worshiped only the LORD(Jesus).
5 Samuel said, “Gather all of Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD(Jesus) for you.”
6 So they gathered at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before the LORD(Jesus). They also fasted all day and confessed that they had sinned against the LORD(Jesus). (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)
7 When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they marched against Israel. And when the people of Israel learned that the Philistines were approaching, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 The people of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop pleading with the LORD(Jesus) our God(Elohim/Theos) to save us from the Philistines!”
9 Samuel took a baby lamb and offered it to the LORD(Jesus) as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the LORD(Jesus) to help Israel, and the LORD(Jesus) answered him.
10 As Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the LORD(Jesus) spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.
11 The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.
12 Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the LORD(Jesus) has helped us!”
13 Thus the Philistines were beaten and didn’t invade Israel. And throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the LORD(Jesus)’s powerful hand was raised against the Philistines.
14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coastlands where given back to israel from the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel for the rest of his life.
16 Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places.
17 Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the LORD(Jesus) at Ramah.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 8
The People demand a King!
1 When Samuel grew old, he made his sons to be judges over Israel.
3 Now they were not like their father, for they were greedy and cared only about making money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
5 They said to him, “Look you are now old, and your sons are nothing like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
6 Samuel was upset with their request and went to the LORD(Jesus) for guidance.
7 The LORD(Jesus) replied: Do what they ask of you, for they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting me! They don’t want me to be their king any longer.
This is perhaps the saddest moment in all the Bible. God comforts Samuel by telling him that he should not feel like he has failed God, for the people are not rejecting him, but they are rejecting their God. Their savior, who delivered them from Egypt, as well as time and again from their enemies, who had already planned to come to earth as a man and die for everyone's sin. Yes, God was the one being rejected, and although God's heart was breaking, he was still trying to comfort Samuel. God would give the people what they wanted. Oh, how we constantly hurt God, and how God always forgives and loves us.
8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and whored after other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.
9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.
10 So Samuel reported to the people everything that the LORD(Jesus) warned him about them asking him for a king.
11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.
12 He will appoint them to serve him as officers in charge of a thousand or of fifty, plowing his fields, gathering his harvest, and making his weapons and the equipment for his chariots.
13 He will take your daughters and have them be perfume-makers, cooks and bakers.
14 He confiscate your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.
15 He will take a tithe (10%) of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.
16 He will take your male and female servants, your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.
17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
A Tithe: A Ten percent tax. Tithe is old English for “tenth part”
18 When that happens, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the LORD(Jesus) will not help you.”
19 However, the people refused to listen to what Samuel told them, and they said, "No! We want a king over us!”
20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
21 So Samuel repeated to the LORD(Jesus) what the people had said,
22 and the LORD(Jesus) replied: “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.
They sneered at Samuel's description as a bugbear to frighten them. Determined, at all hazards, to gain their object, they insisted on being made like all the other nations, though it was their glory and happiness to be unlike other nations in having the Lord for their King and Lawgiver (Numbers 23:9, Deuteronomy 33:28). Their demand was conceded, for the government of a king had been provided for in the law; and they were dismissed to wait the appointment, which God had reserved to Himself (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). (Jamieson)
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 9
SAUL:
1 There was a man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin and wealthy and influential.
2 He had a son named Saul who was the most handsome man in all Israel. He stood head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.
4 So he took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere.
5 On reaching the territory of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!”
6 His servant replied, "Here now, there is a man of God(Elohim/Theos) in this city, a man who is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let's go find him; maybe he can tell us something about where we should go."
7 “But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”
8 Then the servant replied, “See, I have one tenth of an ounce silver coin[quarter shekel]. We can at least offer it to the man of God(Elohim/Theos) and see what happens!”
9 (In Israel, back in the old days, when someone went to consult God(Elohim/Theos), he would say, "Come, let's go to the seer"; because a person now called a prophet used to be called a seer.)
10 “Well said,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God(Elohim/Theos) lived.
11 As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?”
12 The girls answered them, "He's here, he's right ahead of you. Hurry now, he just came into the city today, because the people are sacrificing today at the high place.
13 Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.”
14 So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship.
15 Now the LORD(Jesus) had told Samuel the previous day:
16 About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the king over my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD(Jesus) said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.”
18 Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way.
20 As for your donkeys that got lost three days ago, don't worry about them; they've been found. Now, who is it that all Israel wants? Isn't it you, and all your father's household?"
21 Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.
23 Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor.
24 So the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. “Go ahead and eat it,” Samuel said. “I was saving it for you even before I invited these others!” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
the cook took up the shoulder . . . and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left; set it before thee, and eat--that is, reserved This was, most probably, the right shoulder; which, as the perquisite of the sacrifice, belonged to Samuel, and which he had set aside for his expected guest. In the sculptures of the Egyptian shambles, also, the first joint taken off was always the right shoulder for the priest. The meaning of those distinguished attentions must have been understood by the other guests.(Jamieson)
25 On coming down from the high place to the city, he spoke with Saul on the roof.
26 At daybreak the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, “Get up! It’s time you were on your way.” So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together.
27 As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God(Elohim/Theos).”
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 10
Samuel Anoints Saul as King:
1 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the LORD(Jesus) has appointed you. And you will rule over the LORD(Jesus)’s people and save them from their enemies around them. This will be the sign to you that the LORD(Jesus) has appointed you to be leader over his special possession.This was the ancient (Judges 9:8) ceremony of investiture with the royal office among the Hebrews and other Eastern nations. But there were two unctions to the kingly office; the one in private, by a prophet (1 Samuel 16:13), which was meant to be only a prophetic intimation of the person attaining that high dignity--the more public and formal inauguration (2 Samuel 2:4, 5:3) was performed by the high priest, and perhaps with the holy oil, but that is not certain. The first of a dynasty was thus anointed, but not his heirs, unless the succession was disputed (1 Kings 1:39, 2 Kings 11:12, 23:30, 2 Chronicles 23:11).
kissed him--This salutation, as explained by the words that accompanied it, was an act of respectful homage, a token of congratulation to the new king (Psalms 2:12).
2 After you leave me here today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, which borders Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’
3 “When you get to the Tabor oak tree, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God(Elohim/Theos) at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine.
4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.
5 “After that you will come to the hill of God(Elohim/Theos),where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying.
6 And the Spirit of the LORD(Jesus) will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
the Spirit of the Lord will come upon --literally, "rush upon thee," suddenly endowing thee with a capacity and act in a manner far superior to thy previous character and habits; and instead of the simplicity, ignorance, and sheepishness of a peasant, thou wilt display an energy, wisdom, and magnanimity worthy of a prince. Rush and Spirit is a play on words here because the Spirit means wind. The wind rushes. This is yet more proof that the Holy Spirit is an “it” and not a God.
7 When these signs come over you, just do whatever you feel like doing, because God(Elohim/Theos) is with you.
8 Then you are to go down ahead of me to Gilgal, and there I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and present sacrifices as peace offerings. Wait there seven days, until I come to you and tell you what to do."
According to JOSEPHUS, was to be a standing rule for the observance of Saul while the prophet and he lived; that in every great crisis, such as a hostile incursion on the country, he should repair to Gilgal, where he was to remain seven days, to afford time for the tribes on both sides Jordan to assemble, and Samuel to reach it.
9 As it happened, as soon as he had turned his back to leave, God(Elohim/Theos) gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.
10 When they arrived at the hill, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God(Elohim/Theos) came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy.
11 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?”
Influenced by the words of Samuel, as well as by the accomplishment of these signs, Saul's reluctance to undertake the onerous office was overcome. The fulfilment of the two first signs [1 Samuel 10:7,8] is passed over, but the third is specially described. The spectacle of a man, though more fit to look after his father's cattle than to take part in the sacred exercises of the young prophets--a man without any previous instruction, or any known taste, entering with ardor into the spirit, and skilfully accompanying the melodies of the sacred band, was so extraordinary a phenomenon, that it gave rise to the proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (see 1 Samuel 19:24). The prophetic spirit had come upon him; and to Saul it was as personal and experimental an evidence of the truth of God's word that had been spoken to him, as converts to Christianity have in themselves from the sanctifying power of the Gospel. (Jamieson)
12 Someone in the crowd answered, "Must prophets' fathers be special?" So it became an expression “Is even Saul a prophet?”
13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship.
14 Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" He(Saul) answered, "To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they hadn't been found, we went to Samuel."
15 “Oh? And what did he say?” his uncle asked.
16 “He told us that the donkeys had already been found,” Saul replied. But Saul didn’t tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.
Saul Is made King:
17 Later Samuel called all the people to meet before the LORD(Jesus) at Mizpah.18 He said to the people of Israel, “This is what the LORD(Jesus), the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you.
19 But today, you have rejected your God(Elohim/Theos) who HIMSELF rescues you from all your trials and tribulations. You have said, ‘No, we want a king!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the LORD(Jesus) by tribes and clans.”
20 So Samuel had all the tribes come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen (by lot).
21 He had the tribe of Benjamin come before the LORD(Jesus), and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared!
22 So they asked the LORD(Jesus), “Where is he?” And the LORD(Jesus) answered, “There! He is hiding among the stuff (baggage)!”
23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.
24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the LORD(Jesus) has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel instructed the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the LORD(Jesus). Then Samuel sent the people home again.
26 Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, accompanied by warriors whose hearts God(Elohim/Theos) had touched went with him.
27 True, there were some scoundrels who said, "How can this man save us?"They showed him no respect and brought him no gift, but he(Saul) held his peace.
1 Samuel 10:27 This paragraph, which is not included in the Masoretic Text, is found in Dead Sea Scroll 4QSama. [Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn’t allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn’t a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.](NLT)
In Eastern countries, the honor of the sovereign and the splendor of the royal household are upheld, not by a fixed rate of taxation, but by presents brought at certain seasons by officials, and men of wealth, from all parts of the kingdom, according to the means of the individual, and of a customary registered value. Such was the tribute which Saul's opponents withheld, and for want of which he was unable to set up a kingly establishment for a while. But "biding his time," he bore the insult with a prudence and magnanimity which were of great use in the beginning of his government.(Jamieson)
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 11
1 About a month later,[in Greek version] King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. “Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,” they pleaded.
2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out and thus bring disgrace on all of Israel." 1 About a month later,[in Greek version] King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. “Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,” they pleaded.
3 And the leaders of Jabesh said uto him, “Give us a seven day grace period, that we may send messengers to all the land of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will surrender to you.
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, all the people broke into tears and cried.
5 Now, Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, “What’s the matter? Why is everyone crying?” So they told him about the message from Jabesh.
6 Then the Spirit of God(Elohim/Theos) came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.
7 He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!” And the LORD(Jesus) made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one.
8 When Saul numbered them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 70,000(30,000) men from Judah.
Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read 70,000, the Hebrew says 30,000.
9 So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, “We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!” There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived!
10 The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish.”
11 But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, “Now where are those men who said, ‘Why should Saul rule over us?’ Bring them here, and we will kill them!”
13 But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the LORD(Jesus) has rescued Israel!”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom.”
15 So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the LORD(Jesus) they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the LORD(Jesus), and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 12
Samuel Speaks to the People:
1 Then Samuel spoke to all Israel: “I have done as you asked and given you a king. 2 Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you. I am an old, gray-haired man, and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.
3 Now testify against me in the presence of the LORD(Jesus) and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.”
4 And they replied, “No, you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”
5 “The LORD(Jesus) and his anointed one are my witnesses today,” Samuel declared, “that my hands are clean.” Ans they answered back, “Yes, he is a witness.”
6 “It was the LORD(Jesus) who appointed Moses and Aaron,” Samuel continued. “He brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt.
7 Now stand here quietly before the LORD(Jesus) as I remind you of all the great things the LORD(Jesus) has done for you and your ancestors.
8 “When Jacob was in Egypt and cried out to the LORD(Jesus), he sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land.
When Jacob was. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.
9 But the people soon forgot about the LORD(Jesus) their God(Elohim/Theos), so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor’s army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.
10 And they cried unto the LORD(Jesus), and said, “We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD(Jesus), and have worshipped Baalim and Easter: but now save us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.
11 And the LORD(Jesus) sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived securely. .
12 “But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) was already your king.
13 All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the LORD(Jesus) has granted your request.
14 “Now if you fear and worship the LORD(Jesus) and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD(Jesus)’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD(Jesus) as your God(Elohim/Theos).
15 But if you rebel against the LORD(Jesus)’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.
16 “Now stand here and see the great thing the LORD(Jesus) is about to do.
17 You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the LORD(Jesus) to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the LORD(Jesus) for a king!”
18 So Samuel called to the LORD(Jesus), and the LORD(Jesus) sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the LORD(Jesus) and of Samuel.
19 “Pray to the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samuel. “For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.”
20 “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly sinned, but make sure now that you worship the LORD(Jesus) with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him.
21 Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you which are totally worthless!
22 The LORD(Jesus) will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD(Jesus) to make you his very own people.
23 “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD(Jesus) by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.
24 But be sure to fear the LORD(Jesus) and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.
25 But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away.”
1 Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned for 42 years.
30 years old 42 years: As in a few Greek manuscripts; the number is missing in the Hebrew.
2 Saul chose 3,000 men from Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of these men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.
3 And Jonathan defeated the garrison of Philistines that was located in Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul blew the ram’s horn[shofar] throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!” Saul blew the shofar throughout all the land--This, a well-known sound, was the usual Hebrew war summons; the first blast was answered by the beacon fire in the neighboring places. A second blast was blown-- then answered by a fire in a more distant locality, whence the proclamation was speedily diffused over the whole country. As the Philistines resented what Jonathan had done as an overt attempt to throw off their yoke, a levy, en masse, of the people was immediately ordered, the rendezvous to be the old camping ground at Gilgal.
4 All Israel heard that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven.
6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tough spot, because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.
7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
Saul’s Disobedience:
8 He waited seven days, as Samuel had instructed; but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal; so the army began to drift away from him.9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
10 As soon as he had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, suddenly Samuel had come, and Saul went out to meet and greet him.
11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle.
12 I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the LORD(Jesus)’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
13 Samuel exclaimed. “You did a foolish thing. You have not kept the command the LORD(Jesus) your GOD(Elohim/Theos) gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD(Jesus) would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 But now your kingdom will not continue, for the LORD(Jesus) has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD(Jesus) has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD(Jesus)’s command.”
15 Samuel then left Gilgal and went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!
16 Saul and Jonathan, his son, and the men with them were staying at Geba in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash.
17 Then raiding parties began coming out from the camp of the Philistines, three in all: One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual,
18 another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness.
19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.
20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or plowshares, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith.
21 The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver[pim] for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce for sharpening an ax, a sickle, or an ox goad.
22 So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.
23 The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 14
1 One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But he did not tell his father what he was doing.
3 Among Saul’s men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD(Jesus) who had served at Shiloh. No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp.
4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh.
5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans, Perhaps the LORD(Jesus) will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD(Jesus). He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
7 His armor-bearer replied, "Do everything you think you should; I'm with you, whatever you decide."
8 Then Jonathan said, “All right then, we will cross over and let them see us.
9 If they say, 'Wait till we come to you,' we'll stand still where we are and not go up to them.
10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the LORD(Jesus)’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”
11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they yelled, “Look! The Hebrews are coming out of their holes!”
12 Then the men from the outpost answered Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, climb right behind me, for the LORD(Jesus) will help us defeat them!”
13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armourbearer beside him, and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor-bearer following him finished them off.
14 They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over 200 yards.
15 There was panic in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. Besides, just then an earthquake struck, everyone became terrified.
16 And Saul's watchmen (in Gibeah of Benjamin) looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
18 And Saul said to Ahiah, Bring the Ark of GOD(Elohim/Theos) here. For Ark of GOD(Elohim/Theos) was at that time with the children of Israel.
19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder. So Saul said to the priest, “Never mind; Put your hand down."
20 Shaul and the entire force with him assembled and went to battle, but they found the Philistines all fighting each other in utter confusion.
21 At an earlier time some of the Hebrews had been on the side of the Philistines. They had gone up with them to their camp. But now they changed sides. They joined the people of Israel who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise, some of the people had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim. They heard that the Philistines were running away. They quickly joined the battle and chased after them.
23 So the LORD(Jesus) saved Israel that day. And the fighting continued to rage even beyond Beth-aven.
24 The men of Israel became very hungry that day. That's because Saul had put the army under an oath. He had said, "None of you must eat any food before evening comes. You must not eat until I've paid my enemies back for what they did. If you do, may you be under a curse!" So none of the troops ate any food at all.
25 The whole army entered the woods. There was honey on the ground.
26 When the people had entered the forest, they saw there the honeycomb with honey dripping out; but no one put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.
27 But Jonathan hadn't heard that his father had put the army under an oath. Jonathan had a long stick in his hand. He reached out and dipped the end of it into the honeycomb. He put some honey in his mouth. It gave him new life.
28 But one of the people saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”
29 “My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey.
30 If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”
31 That day the men of Israel struck the Philistines down. They killed them from Micmash to Aijalon. By that time they were tired and worn out.
32 That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood.
33 Saul was told, “Look, the men are sinning against the LORD(Jesus) by eating meat that still has blood in it.” And Saul replied, “That is very wrong. Find a large stone and roll it over here.
34 Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the LORD(Jesus) by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there.
35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD(Jesus); it was the first of the altars he built to the LORD(Jesus).
36 Then Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines tonight. Let's not leave even one of them alive. Let's take everything they have before it gets light." "Do what you think is best," they replied. But the priest said, "Let's ask GOD(Elohim/Theos) for advice first."
37 So Saul asked GOD(Elohim/Theos), “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But GOD(Elohim/Theos) made no reply that day.
38 Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today.
39 I vow by the name of the LORD(Jesus) who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
40 Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." The people replied to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."
41 Then Saul prayed, “O LORD(Jesus), GOD(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent” Then they cast lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared blameless.
42 Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was chosen.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him, "I only used the end of my stick to get a little honey and taste it. And now do I have to die?"
44 “Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May GOD(Elohim/Theos) strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”
45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the LORD(Jesus) lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for GOD(Elohim/Theos) helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46 Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
47 Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.
48 He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
49 Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. His older daughter was named Merab. His younger daughter was named Michal.
50 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
51 Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 15
1 Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD(Jesus) sent me to anoint you as king of his people, over Israel. Now listen from me the voice of the LORD(Jesus)!
2 The LORD(Jesus) who rules over all says: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.
3 Now go and utterly destroy the Amalekite nation, and spare nothing! Kill all the men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.
destroy:The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD(Jesus), either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in 15:8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21.
4 So Saul gathered his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of the Amalekites and laid wait in the valley.
6 Then saul said to the Kenites: “Get away from where the Amalekites live, or you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites packed up and moved away from there.
7 Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which was near the eastern border of Egypt.
8 And he took captive Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else.
9 Saul and his people spared Agag and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.
The LORD(Jesus) Rejects Saul:
10 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Samuel:
11 “It repents me that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel heard this and became deeply moved and he cried out to the LORD(Jesus) all night.12 Early the next morning Samuel arose and went to find Saul. Samuel was told, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”
13 When Samuel came to Saul, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the LORD(Jesus) bless you. I have carried out the LORD(Jesus)’s commandment!”
14 “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel asked.
15 “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos). We have destroyed everything else.”
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stay, and I will tell you what the LORD(Jesus) says to me tonight. And he (Saul) replied"OK,Tell me."
17 And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD(Jesus) has anointed you king of Israel.
18 And the LORD(Jesus) sent you on a journey and told you, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’
19 Why didn't you obey the LORD(Jesus)? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD(Jesus)’s sight?”
20 “But I did obey the LORD(Jesus),” Saul insisted. "I went to do what he sent me to do. I totally destroyed the Amalekites. I brought back Agag, their king.
21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from what had been taken from our enemies. They took the best of what had been set apart to God(Elohim/Theos). They wanted to sacrifice them to the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) at Gilgal." notice he keeps telling Samuel “YOUR GOD,” not HIS God! Very telling..
22 But Samuel replied, "What pleases the LORD(Jesus) more? Burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying him? It is better to obey than to offer a sacrifice. It is better to do what he says than to offer the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD(Jesus), he has rejected you as king.”
Saul begs for Forgiveness:
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD(Jesus)’s command, for I was afraid of the people so I did what they told me to do.
25 But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the LORD(Jesus).”
26 But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the LORD(Jesus)’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”
27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe.
28 And Samuel said to him, “The LORD(Jesus) has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else. Someone who is better than you.
29 The One who is the Glory of Israel does not lie. He doesn't change his mind. That's because he isn't a mere man. If he were, he might change his mind."
30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos).”
Notice that Saul is still more worried about what the people think than what God thinks!
31 So Samuel went back with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD(Jesus).
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.” Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought, “Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!”
33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD(Jesus) at Gilgal.
34 Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah of Saul.
35 Until the day Samuel died, he didn't go to see Saul again. Samuel was filled with sorrow because of Saul. And the LORD(Jesus) was very sorry he had made Saul king over Israel.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 16
Samuel Anoints David as King:
1 The LORD(Jesus) said to Samuel: How long will you mourn for Saul? You know that I have rejected him as king of Israel. Fill your animal horn with olive oil and go on your way. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it. Then he'll kill me." The LORD(Jesus) said: Take a young cow with you. Tell the elders of Bethlehem, 'I've come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.'
3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and then I will show you which of his sons you are to anoint for me.
4 So Samuel did as the LORD(Jesus) instructed. He arrived at Bethlehem. The elders of the town came to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked trembling. “Have you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied. “Yes, I have come to sacrifice to the LORD(Jesus) in peace. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.
6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the LORD(Jesus)’s anointed!”
7 But the LORD(Jesus) said to Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or height, for I have not selected him. The LORD(Jesus) doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD(Jesus) looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD(Jesus) hasn't chosen him as well.”
9 Then Jesse had Shammah walk by, but Samuel said, “The LORD(Jesus) hasn't chosen him either!”
10 In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD(Jesus) has not chosen any of them.”
11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these the only sons you have?" "No," Jesse answered. "My youngest son is taking care of the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him. We won't sit down to eat until he arrives."
12 So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and very handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the LORD(Jesus) said, “Arise because this is the one! Anoint him.”
he was ruddy, &c.--JOSEPHUS says that David was ten, while most modern commentators are of the opinion that he must have been fifteen years of age. Ruddy meanshaving a reddish complexion and maybe red hair. This is important because both Adam and Jesus looked like this!
13 So Samuel got the animal horn that was filled with olive oil. He anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, the SPIRIT[wind or breath] of the LORD(Jesus) came on David with power. Samuel went back to Ramah.
14 Now the SPIRIT[wind or breath] of the LORD(Jesus) had left Saul, and the LORD(Jesus) sent a evil spirit that filled him with depression and fear.
Regarding the English word "spirit" THE ROOTS OF ENGLISH, page 229 says: "[Latin SPIRARE, to breathe." Thus it equals both the Hebrew (RUACH) and Greek (PNEUMA) for "breath." The phrase "spirit of God" is reasonably rendered "Breath of God" or "Wind of God." The word "spirit" has taken on a corporeal tone like the word "ghost." Likely, if the word PNEUMA had been rendered "breath" or "wind" in English the Holy Spirit would not have developed so strongly in English as a Person part of the Trinitarian Godhead. Some translators actually do render RUACH as "wind" in Genesis 1:2. (NJB: a divine wind)”
15 Saul's attendants said to him, "An evil spirit that was sent by God(Elohim/Theos) is troubling you.
16 Let our lord(here means “sir” from Hebrew adown) allow us to find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.”
17 “All right,” Saul said. “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.”
18 One of the servants said, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave man, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD(Jesus) is with him.”
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.”
20 Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, with a donkey loaded with bread, along with a young goat, and a wineskin full of wine.
21 And David was brought to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.
22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
23 And whenever the tormenting evil spirit from God(Elohim/Theos) troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 17
David and Goliath:
1 The Philistines now gathered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul and the army of Israel gathered together. They camped in the Valley of Elah. They lined up their men to fight against the Philistines.
3 The Philistine army was camped on one hill. Israel's army was on another. The valley was between them.
4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!
Hebrew 6 cubits and 1 span [which totals about 9.75 feet or 3 meters]; Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read 4 cubits and 1 span [which totals about 6.75 feet or 2 meters].
5 He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed over 100 pounds.
6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed about 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the soldiers of Israel. He said, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? I'm a Philistine. You are servants of Saul. Choose one of your men. Have him come down and face me.
9 If he's able to fight and kill me, we'll become your slaves. But if I win and kill him, you will become our slaves and serve us."
10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!”
11 When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.
12 Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons.
13 Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The oldest son was Eliab. The second was Abinadab. The third was Shammah.
14 David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army,
15 but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.
16 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.
17Jesse said to his son David, "Get at least half a bushel of grain that has been cooked. Also get ten loaves of bread. Take all of it to your brothers. Hurry to their camp.
18 Take along these ten chunks of cheese to the commander of their company. Find out how your brothers are doing. Bring me back some word about them.
19 They are with Saul and all of the men of Israel. They are in the Valley of Elah. They are fighting against the Philistines."
20 Early in the morning David left his father's flock in the care of a shepherd. David loaded up the food and started out, just as Jesse had directed. David reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions. The soldiers were shouting the war cry.
21 The Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army.
22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers.
23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.
24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.
25 The men of Israel had been saying, "Just look at how this man keeps stepping forward! Again and again he dares Israel to fight him. The king will make the man who kills him very wealthy. He will also give him his daughter to be his wife. He won't require anyone in his family to pay any taxes in Israel."
26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God(Elohim/Theos)?”
27 The men told David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
28 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here? What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
29 “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”
30 He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.
31 Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
David Kills Goliath:
32 David said to Saul, "Don't let anyone lose hope because of that Philistine. I'll go out and fight him."33 Saul replied, "You aren't able to go out there and fight that Philistine. You are too young. He's been a fighting man ever since he was a boy."
34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,
35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.
36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God(Elohim/Theos)!
37 The LORD(Jesus) saved me from the paw of the lion. He saved me from the paw of the bear. And he'll save me from the powerful hand of this Philistine too." Saul finally agreed. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD(Jesus) be with you!”
38 Then Saul dressed David his own armor: A bronze helmet and a coat of armor.
39 David put on Saul's sword over his clothes. He walked around for a while in all of that armor because he wasn't used to it. "I can't go out there in all of this armor," he said to Saul. "I'm not used to it." So he took it off.
40 Then David picked up his wooden staff. He went down to a stream and chose five smooth stones. He put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag. Then he took his sling in his hand and approached Goliath.
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him,
42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.
43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods(elohim/theos).
44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!”
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD(Jesus) of Heaven’s Armies—the God(Elohim/Theos) of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 Today the LORD(Jesus) will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God(Elohim/Theos) in Israel!
47 And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD(Jesus) rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD(Jesus)’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet him.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took out a stone, and put it in his sling, and hit the Philistine in his forehead, the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.
51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.
52 Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as the valley of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.
53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they took all their possessions.
54 David picked up Goliath's head. He brought it to Jerusalem. He put Goliath's weapons in his own tent.
55 Saul had been watching David as he went out to meet the Philistine. He spoke to Abner, the commander of the army. He said to him, "Abner, whose son is that young man?" Abner replied, "King Saul, I don't know. And that's just as sure as you are alive."
56 The king said, "Find out whose son that young man is."
57 As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.
58 “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 18
Saul Becomes Jealous of David:
1 After David finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king's son, and he and David became close friends. Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself. 2 From that time on, Saul kept David with him. He didn't let him return to his father's home.
3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him just as he loved himself.
4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes. He even gave him his sword, his bow and his belt.
5 David did everything Saul sent him to do. He did it so well that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. That pleased Saul's whole army, including his officers.
6 After David had killed Goliath, the men of Israel returned home. The women came out of all of the towns of Israel to meet King Saul. They danced and sang joyful songs. They played musical instruments and tambourines.
7 This was their song: "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!"
8 And Saul became very angry. It really upset him. He said to himself, "They are saying David has killed tens of thousands of men. But they are saying I've killed only thousands. The only thing left for him to get is the kingdom itself."
9 From that time on, Saul became very jealous of David. So he watched him closely.
10 The next day an evil spirit that was sent by God(Elohim/Theos) came on Saul with power. Saul began to prophesy in his house. At that same time David began to play the harp, just as he usually did. Saul was holding a spear.
11 He threw it at David. As he did, he said to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David. The LORD(Jesus) with him, but had left Saul.
13 Finally, Saul banned him from his presence and appointed him commander over only a thousand men, but David faithfully led his troops into battle.
14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD(Jesus) was with him.
15 When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.
17 Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I'll give her to you to be your wife. Just serve me bravely and fight the LORD(Jesus)'s battles." Saul said to himself, "I won't have to lift my hand to strike him down. The Philistines will do that!"
18 But David said to Saul, "Who am I? Is anyone in my whole family that important in Israel? Am I worthy to become the king's son-in-law?"
19 But when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab to David. Instead, Saul gave her to Adriel from Meholah to be his wife.
20 And Michal, Saul's daughter was in love with David. When they told Saul about it, he was pleased.
21 Saul said, "I'll give her to him to be his wife. Then maybe she'll trap him. And maybe the powerful hand of the Philistines will strike him down." So Saul said to David, "Now you have a second chance to become my son-in-law."
22 Then Saul gave an order to his attendants. He said, "Speak to David in private. Tell him, 'The king is pleased with you. All of his attendants like you. So become his son-in-law.' "
23 Saul's attendants spoke those very words to David. But David said, "Do you think it's a small thing to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man. I'm not very well known."
24 Saul's attendants told him what David had said.
25 Saul said, "Tell David, 'Here's the price the king wants for the bride. He wants you to kill 100 Philistines. Then bring back the skins you cut off when you circumcise them. That's how Saul will get even with his enemies.' " Saul hoped that the powerful hand of the Philistines would strike David down.
26 And when his attendants told David those things. Then David was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the day that was set for the wedding,
27 David and his men got up early in the morn, went out and killed 200 Philistines. They cut of their foreskins (of their penis'). Then David brought all of the skins and gave them to the king. By doing that, he could become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave David his daughter Michal to be his wife.
28 Saul realized that the LORD(Jesus) was with David. He also realized that his daughter Michal loved David.
29 So Saul became even more afraid of him. He remained David's enemy as long as he was king.
30 The Philistine commanders kept on going out to battle. Every time they did, David had more success against them than the rest of Saul's officers. So his name became well known.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 19
Michal Helps David Escape Saul:
1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all of the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan liked David too much. 2 So Jonathan warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be very careful tomorrow morning. Find a place to hide and stay there.
3 My father and I will come and stand in the field where you are hiding. I'll speak to him about you. Then I'll tell you what I find out."
4 Jonathan told his father Saul some good things about David. He said to him, "Please don't do anything to harm David. He hasn't done anything to harm you. And what he's done has helped you a lot.
5 He put his own life in danger when he killed Goliath. The LORD(Jesus) used him to win a great battle for the whole nation of Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. So why would you do anything to harm a man like David? He isn't guilty of doing anything to harm you. Why would you want to kill him without any reason?"
6 Saul paid attention to Jonathan. He took an oath and made a promise. He said, "You can be sure that the LORD(Jesus) lives. And you can be just as sure that David will not be put to death."
7 And Jonathan called for David and told him everything he and Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served Saul as he had done before.
8 And war broke out again. So David went out and fought against the Philistines. He struck them down with so much force that they ran away from him.
9 But an evil spirit that was sent by the LORD(Jesus) came on Saul. It happened as he was sitting in his house and holding his spear. While David was playing the harp,
10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David got away from him just as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David escaped.
11 Saul sent some men to watch David's house. He told them to kill David the next morning. David's wife Michal warned him. She said, "You must run for your life tonight. If you don't, tomorrow you will be killed."
12 So Michal helped David escape through a window. He ran and got away.
13 Then Michal took an idol and laid it on David's bed. She covered it with clothes. And she put some goat hair at the place where David's head would have been.
"an idol" literally, "the teraphim," and laid, not in the bed, but literally on the "divan"; and "the pillows," that is, the cushion, which usually lay at the back of the divan and was stuffed with "goat's hair," she took from its bolster or heading at the upper part of the divan. This she placed lower down, and covered with a mantle, as if to foster a proper warmth in a patient; at the same time spreading the goat's hair skin, so as to resemble human hair in a dishevelled state. The pretext was that David lay there sick. The first messengers of Saul, keeping at a respectable distance, were deceived; but the imposition was detected on a closer inspection. (Jamieson)
14 And when Saul's messengers went to capture David, she told them, "He's sick."
15 Then Saul sent the men back to see David. He told them, "Bring him up here to me in his bed. Then I'll kill him."
16 But when the men entered, they found nothing but the statue in the bed. Some goat hair was at the place where David's head would have been.
17 Saul said to Michal, "Why did you trick me like this? Why did you help my enemy escape?" Michal told him, "He said to me, 'Help me get away. If you don't, I'll kill you.' "
18 After David had run away and escaped, he went to Samuel at Ramah. He told him everything Saul had done to him. Then David and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
19 Saul was told, "David is in Naioth at Ramah."
20 So Saul sent some men to capture him. When they got there, they saw a group of prophets who were prophesying. Samuel was standing there as their leader. Then the Spirit(breath) of God(Elohim/Theos) came on Saul's men. So they also began to prophesy.
21 Saul was told about it. So he sent some more men. They began to prophesy too. Saul sent some men a third time. And they also began to prophesy.
22 Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah and arrived at the great well in Secu. "Where are Samuel and David?" he demanded."They are at Naioth in Ramah," someone told him.
23 But on the way to Naioth the Spirit(breath) of God(Elohim/Theos) came on him. He walked along and prophesied until he came to Naioth.
24 There he took off his royal robes. Then he prophesied in front of Samuel. He lay there without his robes on all that day and night. That's why people say, "Is Saul also one of the prophets?"
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 20
Jonathan Helps David Get Escape:
1 David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. "What have I done?" he exclaimed. "What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?"2 "That will never happen!" Jonathan replied. "You aren't going to die! My father doesn't do anything at all without telling me. So why would he hide that from me? He isn't going to kill you!"
3 But David took an oath. Then he said, "Your father knows very well that you are pleased with me. He has said to himself, 'I don't want Jonathan to know I'm planning to kill David. If he finds out, he'll be very sad.' But I'm very close to being killed. And that's just as sure as the LORD(Jesus) and you are alive."
4 Then Jonathan said to David, "Tell me what I can do."
5 So David said, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Month Feast. I've always eaten with your father on this occasion, but tomorrow I'll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day.
The beginning of a new month was always celebrated by special sacrifices, followed by feasting, at which the head of a family expected all its members to be present. David, both as the king's son-in-law and a distinguished courtier, dined on such occasions at the royal table, and from its being generally known that David had returned to Gibeah, his presence in the palace would be naturally expected. This occasion was chosen by the two friends for testing the king's state of feeling. As a suitable pretext for David's absence, it was arranged that he should visit his family at Beth-lehem, and thus create an opportunity of ascertaining how his non-appearance would be viewed. The time and place were fixed for Jonathan reporting to David; but as circumstances might render another interview unsafe, it was deemed expedient to communicate by a concerted signal.
6 If your father misses me, then tell him, 'David begged me to let him hurry home to Bethlehem. A yearly sacrifice is being offered there for his whole family group.'
7 And if he says, 'That's all right.' If he does, it will mean I'm safe. But he might become very angry. If he does, you can be sure he's made up his mind to harm me.
8 "Show mw kindness. You have made a covenant with me in the sight of the LORD(Jesus). If I'm guilty, kill me yourself! Don't hand me over to your father!"
9 Jonathan said, "I would never do that! If I had even the smallest notion that my father had made up his mind to harm you. Then I would tell you."
10 David asked, "Who will tell me if your father answers you in a mean way?"
11 "Come on out to the field," said Jonathan, So they went there together.
12 Then Jonathan told David. He said, "I promise you by the LORD(Jesus), the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, is my witness, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know.
13 But if he is angry and wants you killed, may the LORD(Jesus) kill me if I don't warn you so you can escape and live. May the LORD(Jesus) be with you as he used to be with my father.
14 "But always be kind to me, just as the LORD(Jesus) is. Be kind to me as long as I live. Then I won't be killed.
15 And never stop being kind to my family. Don't stop even when the LORD(Jesus) has cut off every one of your enemies from the face of the earth."
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with David and his family. He said, "May the LORD(Jesus) make David's enemies accountable for what they've done."
17 Jonathan had David take an oath again because he loved him. In fact, Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself.
18 Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Month Feast. You will be missed, because your seat at the table will be empty.
19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid before, and wait there by the stone pile
20 I will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile as though I were shooting at a target.
21 Then I'll send a boy out there. I'll tell him, 'Go and find the arrows.' Suppose I say to him, 'The arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.' Then come. That will mean you are safe. You won't be in any danger. And that's just as sure as the LORD(Jesus) is alive.
22 But suppose I tell the boy, 'The arrows are far beyond you.' Then go. That will mean the LORD(Jesus) is sending you away.
23 "And remember what we talked about. Remember that the LORD(Jesus) is a witness between you and me forever."
24 So David hid in the field. When the time for the New Moon Feast came, the king sat down to eat.
25 He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul. But David's place was empty.
26 Saul didn't say anything that day. He said to himself, "Something must have happened to David to make him 'unclean.' That must be why he isn't here."
27 But the next day, David's place was empty again. It was the second day of the (new) month. Finally, Saul spoke to his son Jonathan. He said, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal? He hasn't been here yesterday or today."
28 Jonathan replied, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem.
29 He said, 'Let me go. Our family is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother has ordered me to be there. Are you pleased with me? If you are, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to eat at your table."
30 Saul burned with anger against Jonathan. He said to him, "You are an evil son. You have refused to obey me. I know that you are on the side of Jesse's son. You should be ashamed of that. And your mother should be ashamed of having a son like you.
31 You will never be king as long as Jesse's son lives on this earth. And you will never have a kingdom either. So send for the son of Jesse. Bring him to me. He must die!"
32 "Why do you want to put him to death?" Jonathan asked his father. "What has he done?"
33 But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David.
34 So Jonathan got up from the table. He was burning with anger. On that second day of the month, he refused to eat. He was very sad that his father was treating David so badly.
35 The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a young boy with him.
36 He said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow far beyond him.
37 When the boy had almost reached the arrow, Jonathan shouted, "The arrow is still ahead of you.
38 And Jonathan cried "Hurry up! Run fast! Don't stop!" The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
39 The boy didn't know what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew.
40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told him, "Go back to town. Take the weapons with you."
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down in front of Jonathan with his face to the ground. He did it three times. Then they kissed each other and cried. But David cried more than Jonathan did.
42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. In the name of the LORD(Jesus) we have taken an oath. We've promised to be friends. We've said, 'The LORD(Jesus) is a witness between you and me. He's a witness between your children and my children forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 21
Ahimelech Helps David:
1 David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech trembled with fear when he met him. He asked David, "Why are you alone? Why isn't anyone with you?" 2 David answered the priest Ahimelech, "The king ordered me on a special mission. He said to me, 'I don't want anyone to know what I'm sending you to do. So don't say anything about it.' I've told my men to meet me at a certain place.
3 Do you have anything for us to eat? Give me five loaves of bread, or anything else you can find."
4 But the priest answered David, "There is no common (unholy) bread here. I only have some holy matzoh here. But it's for men who haven't made love to women recently."
5 David replied, "Well, we haven't made love to women recently. That's the way it is every time I lead my men out to battle. We keep ourselves holy even when we do jobs that aren't holy. And that's even more true today."
6 So the priest gave him the holy matzoh (bread without yeast). It was the only bread he had. It had been removed from the table that was in front of the Lord. On the same day, hot bread had been put in its place.
7 One of Saul's servants was there that day. He had been made to stay at the holy tent for a while. He was Doeg from Edom. He was Saul's chief shepherd.
8 David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon. That's because the king's business had to be done right away."
9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath, the Philistine, is here. You killed him in the Valley of Elah. His sword is wrapped in a cloth. It's behind the sacred linen apron. If you want it, take it. It's the only sword here." David said, "There isn't any sword like it. Give it to me."
10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
11 But the servants of Achish spoke to him. They said, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one the Israelites sing about when they dance? They sing,
" 'Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands.' "
12 David paid close attention to what the servants were saying. He became very much afraid of what Achish, the king of Gath, might do.
13 So he pretended to be insane when he was with them. As long as he was in Gath, he acted like someone who was crazy. He made marks on the doors of the city gate. He let spit run down his beard.
14 Achish said to his servants, "Just look at the man! He's crazy! Why bring him to me?
15 Don't I have enough crazy people around me already? So why do you have to bring this fellow here? Just look at how he's carrying on in front of me! Why do you have to bring this man into my house?"
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 22
1 David departed and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and the other members of his family heard about it. So they went down to join him there.
2 Everyone who was in trouble or in debt or was discontented gathered to him. He became their leader. About 400 men were with him.
4 So he left his parents with the king of Moab. They stayed with him as long as David was in his usual place of safety.
5 And the prophet Gad spoke to David. He said, "Don't stay in your usual place of safety. Go into the land of Judah." Then David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
Saul Kills the Priests of Nob :
6 When Saul heard that the place where David and his men were hiding had been discovered. Saul was sitting under a tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah. He was holding his spear. All of his officials were standing around him.7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, "Men of Benjamin, listen to me! Do you think Jesse's son will give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he'll make some of you commanders of thousands of soldiers? Do you think he'll make the rest of you commanders of hundreds?
8 Is that why all of you have conspired against me? For not one of you has ever told me that my own son made a covenant with Jesse's son. None of you is concerned about me. No one tells me that my son has stirred up Jesse's son to hide and wait to attack me. But that's exactly what's happening now."
9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, answered He said, "I saw Jesse's son David come to Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech is the son of Ahitub.
10 Ahimelech asked the LORD(Jesus) a question for David. He also gave him food and the sword of Goliath, the Philistine."
11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub. He sent for all of the men in his family. They were the priests at Nob. All of them came to the king.
12 When they arrived, Saul shouted at him, "Listen to me, you son of Ahitub!” Ans Ahimelech asked. “What is it, my king?”
13 Saul said to him, "Why have you and Jesse's son joined together against me? Why did you give him bread and a sword? Why did you ask God(Elohim/Theos) a question for him? Now he has turned against me. He is hiding and waiting to attack me right now."
14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, "David is true to you. In fact, he's more true to you than anyone else who serves you. He's your own son-in-law. He's the captain of your own personal guards. He's highly respected by everyone in your palace.
15 Was that day the first time I asked God(Elohim/Theos) a question for him? Of course not! "Please don't bring charges against me. Please don't bring charges against anyone in my family. I don't know anything at all about this whole matter."
16 But the king said, "Ahimelech, you will certainly be put to death. You and your whole family will be put to death."
17 Then the king gave an order to the guards who were at his side. He said, "Go and kill the priests of the LORD(Jesus). They are on David's side too. They knew he was running away from me. And they didn't even tell me." But the king's officials wouldn't raise a hand to strike down the priests of the LORD(Jesus).
18 Then the king said to Doeg, "You go and strike the priests down." And Doeg, the Edomite, went and struck them down. That day he killed 85 men who wore linen aprons.
19 He also killed the people of Nob with his sword. Nob was a town where priests lived. Doeg killed its men and women. He killed its children and babies. He also destroyed its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
20 But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escaped. Ahimelech was the son of Ahitub. Abiathar ran away and joined David.
21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD(Jesus).
22 Then David said to Abiathar, "One day I was at Nob. I saw Doeg, the Edomite, there. I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. Your whole family has been killed. And I'm accountable for it.
23 So stay with me. Don't be afraid. The man who wants to kill you wants to kill me too. You will be safe with me."
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 23
1 Then they told David, saying, "The Philistines are fighting against the town of Keilah. They are stealing grain from the threshing floors."
2 So he asked the LORD(Jesus) for advice. He said, "Should I go and attack those Philistines?" The LORD(Jesus) answered him, "Go and attack them. Save Keilah."
4 Once again David asked the LORD(Jesus) what he should do.
David asked the LORD : most probably through Gad (2 Samuel 24:11, 1 Chronicles 21:9), who was present in David's camp (1 Samuel 22:5), probably by the recommendation of Samuel. To repel unprovoked assaults on unoffending people who were engaged in their harvest operations, was a humane and benevolent service. But it was doubtful how far it was David's duty to go against a public enemy without the royal commission; and on that account he asked, and obtained, the divine counsel. A demur on the part of his men led David to renew the consultation for their satisfaction; after which, being fully assured of his duty, he encountered the aggressors and, by a signal victory, delivered the people of Keilah from further molestation.
The LORD(Jesus) answered him, "Go down to Keilah. I am going to hand the Philistines over to you."
5 So David and his men went to Keilah. They fought against the Philistines and carried off their livestock. David wounded and killed large numbers of Philistines. And he saved the people of Keilah.
6 Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, had brought the ephod down with him from Nob. He did it when he ran away to David at Keilah.
ephod--in which was the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30). It had, probably, been committed to his care, while Ahimelech and the other priests repaired to Gibeah, in obedience to the summons of Saul.
7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. He said, "God(Elohim/Theos) has handed him over to me. David has trapped himself by entering a town that has gates and heavy metal bars."
8 So Saul brought together all of his soldiers to go to battle. He ordered them to go down to Keilah. He told them to surround David and his men. He told them to get ready to attack them.
9 David understood that Saul was planning to attack him. So he said to the priest Abiathar, "Bring the ephod (linen apron.)"
10 Then David said, "LORD(Jesus), you are the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. I know for sure that Saul plans to come to Keilah. He plans to destroy the town because of me.
11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down here, as I've heard he would? LORD(Jesus), you are the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel. Please answer me."
The LORD(Jesus) said, "He will come down."
12 Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?"
And the LORD(Jesus) said, "They will deliver you up to him."
13 So David and his men left Keilah. The total number of them was about 600. They kept moving from place to place. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah. So he didn't go there.
14 David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God(Elohim/Theos) didn't hand David over to him.
15 And David realized that Saul was seeking his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods.
16 And Jonathan, Saul's son, went to David at Horesh. He told David that God(Elohim/Theos) would make him strong.
17 He said to him, "Don't be afraid, My father Saul won't lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel. And I will be next in command. Even my father Saul knows this."
18 The two of them made a covenant in the sight of the LORD(Jesus). Then Jonathan went home. But David remained at Horesh.
19 The people of Ziph went up to Saul at Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding among us. He's hiding in places of safety at Horesh. Horesh is south of Jeshimon on the hill of Hakilah.
20 so come down, Oh king, when it pleases you to come. It will be our duty to hand David over to you."
21 Saul replied, "May the LORD(Jesus) bless you because you were concerned about me.
22 Make sure you are right. Go and check things out again. Find out where David usually goes. Find out who has seen him there. People tell me he's very tricky.
23 Find out about all of the hiding places he uses. Come back to me with all of the facts. I'll go with you. Suppose he's in the area. Then I'll track him down among all of the family groups of Judah."
24 So they started out. They went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the Desert of Maon. Maon is south of Jeshimon in the Arabah Valley.
25 Saul and his men started out to look for David. David was told about it. So he went down to a rock in the Desert of Maon to hide. Saul heard he was there. So he went into the Desert of Maon to chase David.
26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul. Saul and his army were closing in on David and his men. They were about to capture them.
27 But a messenger came to Saul. He said, "Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking the land."
28 So Saul stopped chasing David. He went to fight against the Philistines. That's why they call that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
29 David left that place. He went and lived in places of safety near En Gedi.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 24
David Spares Saul's Life:
1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of EnGedi. 2 So Saul took 3,000 of the best soldiers from the whole nation of Israel. He started out to look for David and his men. He planned to look near the Rocky Cliffs of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to some sheep pens along the way. A cave was there. Saul went in to go to the toilet. David and his men were far back in the cave.
4 David's men said, "This is the day the LORD(Jesus) told you about. He said to you, 'I will hand your enemy over to you. Then you can deal with him as you want to.' " So David came up close to Saul without being seen. He cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
5 Later, David felt sorry that he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
6 He said to his men, "May the LORD(Jesus) keep me from doing a thing like that to my master again. He is the LORD(Jesus)'s anointed king. So I promise that I will never lift my hand to strike him down. The LORD(Jesus) has anointed him."
7 David said that to warn his men. He didn't allow them to attack Saul. So Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, "King Saul! My master!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.
9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is trying to harm you'?
10 Behold, this very day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD(Jesus) handed you over to me in the cave. Some of my men begged me to kill you. But I spared you. I said, 'I will never lift my hand to strike my master down. He is the LORD(Jesus)'s anointed king.'
11 "Look, my father! Look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe. But I didn't kill you. I want you to know and understand that I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. I haven't turned against you. I haven't done anything to harm you. But you are hunting me down. You want to kill me.
12 "May the LORD(Jesus) judge between you and me. And may the LORD(Jesus) pay you back because of the wrong things you have done to me. But I won't lay a hand on you.
13 As that old proverb says, 'From evil people come evil deeds.' So you can be sure I will never harm you.
14 King Saul, who are you trying to catch? Who do you think you are chasing? I'm nothing but a dead dog or a flea!
15 May the LORD(Jesus) be our judge. May he decide between us. May he consider my case and stand up for me. May he show that I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. May he save me from your powerful hand."
16 When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul asked him a question. He said, "My son David, is that your voice?" And Saul sobbed out loud.
17 And he said to David, "You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.
18 You have just now told me about the good things you did to me. The LORD(Jesus) handed me over to you. But you didn't kill me.
19 Suppose a man finds his enemy. He doesn't let him get away without harming him. May the LORD(Jesus) reward you with many good things. May he do it because of the way you treated me today.
20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and Israel will flourish under your rule.
21 Nowswear to me in the name of the LORD(Jesus). Promise me that you won't cut off my children from my family. Also promise me that you won't wipe out my name from my family line."
22 So David took an oath and swore that promise to Saul. Then Saul returned home. But David and his men went up to his usual place of safety.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 25
David Marries Abigail and others:
1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. Samuel died--After a long life of piety and public usefulness, he left behind him a reputation which ranks him among the greatest of Scripture worthies.
buried him in his house at Ramah--that is, his own mausoleum. The Hebrews took as great care to provide sepulchers anciently as people do in the East still, where every respectable family has its own house of the dead. Often this is in a little detached garden, containing a small stone building (where there is no rock), resembling a house, which is called the sepulcher of the family--it has neither door nor window. (Jamieson)
2 A certain man in Maon (Paran?) was very wealthy. He owned property there at Carmel. He had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep. He was clipping the wool off the sheep in Carmel.
3 His name was Nabal. His wife's name was Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But her husband was rude and mean in the way he treated others. He was from the family of Caleb.
4 When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
5 David sent ten of his young men saying, “get yourself to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name saying,
6 'May you live a long time! May everything go well with you and your family! And may things go well with everything that belongs to you!
7 I hear that you are clipping the wool off your sheep. When your shepherds were with us, we treated them well. The whole time they were at Carmel nothing that belonged to them was stolen.
8 Ask the young men, and they'll tell you. We've come to you now at a happy time of the year. Please show favor to my young men. Please give me and my men anything you can find for us.' "
9 When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal the message from David. And waited.
10 Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are running away from their masters these days.
11 Why should I give away my bread and water? Why should I give away the meat I've prepared for those who clip the wool off my sheep? Why should I give food to men who come from who knows where?"
12 So David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported to David every word Nabal had spoken.
13 David said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So they put their swords on. David put his on too. About 400 men went up with David. Two hundred men stayed behind with the supplies.
14 But one of the young men told Nabal's wife Abigail. He said, "David sent some messengers from the desert to give his greetings to our master. But Nabal shouted at them and made fun of them.
15 David's men had been very good to us. They treated us well. The whole time we were near them out in the fields, nothing was stolen.
16 We were taking care of our sheep near them. During that time, they were like a wall around us night and day. They kept us safe.
17 Now think it over. See what you can do. Horrible trouble will soon come to our master and his whole family. He's such an evil man that no one can even talk to him."
18 Abigail didn't waste any time. She got 200 loaves of bread and two bottles of wine. The bottles were made out of animal skins. She got five sheep that were ready to be cooked. She got a bushel of grain that had been cooked. She got 100 raisin cakes. And she got 200 cakes of pressed figs. She loaded all of it on the backs of donkeys.
19 Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead. I'll follow you." But she didn't tell her husband Nabal about it.
20 Abigail rode her donkey into a mountain valley. There she saw David and his men. They were coming down toward her.
21 David had just said, "Everything we've done hasn't been worth a thing! I watched over that fellow's property in the desert. I made sure none of it was stolen. But he has paid me back evil for good.
22 May God(Elohim/Theos) strike and kill the enemies of David. I won't leave even one of his men alive until morning. If I do, may God(Elohim/Theos) punish me greatly!"
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bowed down in front of David with her face toward the ground.
24 She fell at his feet. She said, "Please let me speak to you, sir. Listen to what I'm saying. Let me take the blame myself.
25 Don't pay any attention to that evil man Nabal. His name means Foolish Person. And that's exactly what he is. He's always doing foolish things. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to see the men you sent.
Nabal means “fool.”
26 "Now therefore, Sir (lord-adown), the LORD(Jesus) has kept you from killing Nabal and his men. He has kept you from using your own hands to get even. May what's about to happen to Nabal happen to all of your enemies. May it also happen to everyone who wants to harm you. And may it happen just as surely as the LORD(Jesus) and you are alive.
27 " Now, I've brought a gift for you. Give it to the men who follow you.
28 Please forgive me for what I've done wrong. "The LORD(Jesus) will certainly give you and your family line a kingdom that will last. That's because you fight the LORD(Jesus)'s battles. Don't do anything wrong as long as you live.
29 Someone may chase you and try to kill you. But the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos) will keep your life safe like a treasure that is hidden in a bag. And he'll destroy your enemies. Their lives will be thrown away, just as a stone is thrown from a sling.
30 The LORD(Jesus) will do for you every good thing he promised to do. He'll appoint you leader over Israel.
31 When that happens, you won't have this heavy load on your mind. You won't have to worry about how you killed people without any reason. You won't have to worry about how you got even. The LORD(Jesus) will give you success. When that happens, please remember me."
32 David said to Abigail, "Give praise to the LORD(Jesus), the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel! He has sent you today to find me.
33 May the LORD(Jesus) bless you for what you have done. You have shown a lot of good sense. You have kept me from killing Nabal and his men this very day. You have kept me from using my own hands to get even.
34 For I swear by the LORD(Jesus), the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal's men would be alive tomorrow morning."
35 Then David accepted from her what she had brought him. He said, "Go home in peace. I've heard your words. I'll do what you have asked."
36 Abigail went back to Nabal. He was having a dinner party in the house. It was the kind of dinner a king would have. He had been drinking too much wine. He was very drunk. So she didn't tell him anything at all until sunrise on the next day.
37 The next morning Nabal wasn't drunk anymore. Then his wife told him everything. When she did, his heart failed him. He became like a stone.
38 About ten days later, the LORD(Jesus) struck Nabal down. And he died.
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise the LORD(Jesus), who has paid back Nabal and kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin." Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife.
40 His servants went to Carmel. They said to Abigail, "David has sent us to you. He wants you to come back with us and become his wife."
41 Abigail bowed down with her face toward the ground. She said, "Here I am. I'm ready to serve him. I'm ready to wash the feet of his servants."
42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and went with David's messengers. Her five female servants went with her. She became David's wife.
43 David had also gotten married to Ahinoam from Jezreel. Both of them became his wives.
44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's first wife, to Paltiel. Paltiel was from Gallim. He was the son of Laish.
This was not legal for Saul to do, and therefore her marriage was more like a rape than a divorce.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 26
1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah. It faces Jeshimon."
3 Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. But David knew of Saul was chasing him and where he was.
4 David sent out scouts. From them he learned that Saul had arrived.
5 Then David arose, and came to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner were lying down. Saul was lying inside the camp. The army was camped all around him. Abner was commander of the army. He was the son of Ner.
6 Then David answered Ahimelech, the Hittite. He also spoke to Joab's brother Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He asked them, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I'll go with you."
7 So that night David and Abishai went into the camp at night. They found Saul lying asleep inside the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.
8 Then Abishai said to David, "Today God(Elohim/Theos) has handed your enemy over to you. So let me pin him to the ground. I can do it with one jab of my spear. I won't even have to strike him twice."
9 David replied to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! No one can lay a hand on the LORD(Jesus)'s anointed and not be guilty.”
10 David said furthermore, As the LORD(Jesus) lives, you can be just as sure that the LORD(Jesus) himself will strike Saul down. Perhaps he'll die a natural death. Or perhaps he'll go into battle and be killed.
11 But the LORD(Jesus) forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But I'll tell you what – we'll take his spear and his jug of water and then get out of here!"
12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul's head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw them. No one knew about what they had done. In fact, no one even woke up. Everyone was sleeping. That's because the LORD(Jesus) had put them into a deep sleep.
13 David went across to the other side of the valley. He stood on top of a hill far away from Saul's camp. There was a wide space between them.
14 And David cried out to the people and to Abner, the son of Ner. He said, "Abner! Aren't you going to answer me?"
Abner replied, "Who is calling out to the king?"
15 David said to Abner, "You are a great soldier, aren't you? There isn't anyone else like you in Israel. So why didn't you guard the king? He's your master, isn't he? Someone came into the camp to destroy him.
16 This isn't good at all! I swear by the LORD(Jesus) that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the LORD(Jesus)'s anointed! Look around! Where are the king's spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?"
David replied, "Yes it is, King my lord (adown-master) and king"
18 He said, "Why is my lord (master-adown) chasing me? What evil thing have I done? What am I guilty of?
19 "Therefore I beg you, please listen to what I'm saying. Was it the LORD(Jesus) who made you angry with me? If it was, may he accept my offering. Was it people who made you angry at me? If it was, may the LORD(Jesus) send down a curse on them. They have now driven me from my share of the LORD(Jesus)'s land. By doing that, they might as well have said, 'Go and serve other gods(elohim/theos).'
20 Don't spill my blood on the ground far away from where the LORD(Jesus) lives. King Saul, you have come out to look for nothing but a flea. It's as if you were hunting a partridge in the mountains."
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. My son David, come back. Today you thought my life was very special. So I won't try to harm you again. I've really acted like a foolish person. I've made a huge mistake."
22 Then David said, "Here's the king's spear! Let one of your young men come over to get it.
23 The LORD(Jesus) rewards everyone for doing what is right and being faithful. He handed you over to me today. But I wouldn't lay a hand on you. You are the LORD(Jesus)'s anointed king.
24 Today I thought your life had great value. In the same way, may the LORD(Jesus) think of my life as having great value. May he save me from all trouble."
25 Then Saul said to David, "My son David, may the LORD(Jesus) bless you. You will do great things. You will also have great success." So David went on his way. And Saul returned home.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 27
1 David thought, "Some day the powerful hand of Saul will destroy me. So the best thing I can do is escape. I'll go to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop looking for me everywhere in Israel. His hand won't be able to reach me."
3 David and his men settled down in Gath near Achish. Each of David's men had his family with him. David had his two wives with him. They were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel. Abigail was Nabal's wife(widow).
4 Saul was told that David had fled to Gath. So he didn't look for David anymore.
5 David said to Achish, "If I have found grace in your eyes, give me a place in one of your country towns. I can live there. I don't really need to live near you in the royal city."
6 Then Achish gave David the town of Ziklag. It has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since that time.
7 David lived in Philistine territory for a full year and four months.
8 David and his men went out and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites – people who had lived near Shur, along the road to Egypt, since ancient times.
9 And David conquered the land, leaving no man or woman alive. But he would take their sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothes. Then he would return to Achish.
10 Achish asked "Who did you attack today?" David would answer, "The people who live in the Negev Desert of Judah." Or he would answer, "The people in the Negev Desert of Jerahmeel." Or he would answer, "The people in the Negev Desert of the Kenites."
11 David wouldn't leave a man or woman alive to be brought back to Gath. He thought, "They might tell on us. They might tell Achish who we really attacked." That's what David did as long as he lived in Philistine territory.
12 Achish trusted David. He thought, "David has made himself smell very bad to his people, the Israelites. So he'll serve me forever."
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 28
Saul Seeks out a Witch:
1 About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, "You and your men will be expected to join me in battle." 2 And David said, "I understand. You will see for yourself what I can do." And Achish replied, "All right. I'll make you my own personal guard for life."
3 Meanwhile, Samuel had died. The whole nation of Israel was filled with sorrow because he was dead. They had buried his body in his own town of Ramah. Saul had gotten rid of people who get messages from those who have died. He had also gotten rid of people who talk to the spirits of the dead. He had thrown all of them out of the land.
4 The Philistines gathered themselves together and set up camp at Shunem. At the same time, Saul gathered all Israel together. They set up camp at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid. Terror and panic overtook him.
6 And when Saul asked the LORD(Jesus) for advice, the LORD(Jesus) didn't answer him through dreams or prophets. He didn't answer him when Saul had the priest use the Urim.
7 Saul said to his attendants. He said, "Find me a woman who gets messages from those who have died. Then I can go and ask her some questions." They replied to him, "There's a woman like that in Endor."
8 And Saul disguised himself so people wouldn't know who he was. At night he and two of his men went to see the woman. "I want you to talk to a spirit for me," he said. "Bring up the spirit of the dead person I choose."
9 But the woman said to him, "By now you know what Saul has done. He has cut off everyone who gets messages from those can talk to the spirits(Ruach-wind), and also the wizards as well. He has thrown all of them out of the land. Why are you trying to trap me? Why do you want to have me put to death?"
10 Saul took an oath in the name of the LORD(Jesus). He promised the woman, "You can be sure that the LORD(Jesus) lives. And you can be just as sure that you won't be punished for helping me."
11 Then the woman asked, "Whose spirit should I bring up for you?" Saul replied to her, I want to talk with Samuel.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she let out a loud scream. She said to Saul, "Why have you tricked me? You are King Saul!"
13 He said to her, "Don't be afraid. Tell me what you see." The woman said, "I see a god(elohim/theos). He's coming up out of the ground."
This isn't Samuel she is seeing, but a “god” or a spiritual being- a demon that is coming forth to fool Saul and condemn him to his death. He is not really foretelling the future here, since Saul has opened himself up to the Devil, God has now completely left him, Spirit and all, and this demon knows that Satan has now the right to kill Saul!
JAMIESON WRITES THIS: The story has led to much discussion whether there was a real appearance of Samuel or not. On the one hand, the woman's profession, which was forbidden by the divine law, the refusal of God to answer Saul by any divinely constituted means, the well-known age, figure, and dress of Samuel, which she could easily represent herself, or by an accomplice--his apparition being evidently at some distance, being muffled, and not actually seen by Saul, whose attitude of prostrate homage, moreover, must have prevented him distinguishing the person though he had been near, and the voice seemingly issuing out of the ground, and coming along to Saul--and the vagueness of the information, imparted much which might have been reached by natural conjecture as to the probable result of the approaching conflict--the woman's representation--all of this has led many to think that this was a mere deception. On the other hand, many eminent writers (considering that the apparition came before her arts were put in practice; that she herself was surprised and alarmed; that the prediction of Saul's own death and the defeat of his forces was confidently made), are of opinion that Samuel really appeared.(Jamieson)
14 "What does he look like?" Saul asked.
"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.
Then Saul assumed it was Samuel. He bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me by bringing me up from the dead?"
"I'm having big problems," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me. God(Elohim/Theos) has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me anymore. He doesn't speak to me through prophets or dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what to do."
16 Then Samuel said, "The LORD(Jesus) has turned away from you. He has become your enemy. So why are you asking me what you should do?
17 The LORD(Jesus) has done just as he said he would. He has taken the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.
18 Because you didn't obey the LORD(Jesus). You didn't carry out his burning anger against the Amalekites. So he's punishing you today.
19 He will hand both Israel and you over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be down here with me. The LORD(Jesus) will also hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."
20 Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground. What Samuel had said filled Saul with fear. His strength was gone. He hadn't eaten anything all that day and night.
21 The woman came to Saul because she saw that he was very upset. She said, "Look, I've obeyed you. I put my own life in danger by doing what you told me to do.
22 So please listen to me. Let me give you some food. Eat it. Then you will have the strength to go on your way."
23 But Saul refused. The men who were with him also urged him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
24 The woman had a fat calf at her house. She killed it at once. She got some flour. She mixed it and baked some bread that didn't have any yeast in it.
25 Then she set the food in front of Saul and his men. They ate it. That same night they got up and left.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 29
1 The Philistines gathered their whole army together at Aphek. Israel's army camped by the spring of water at Jezreel.
2 The Philistine rulers marched out in companies of hundreds and thousands. David and his men were marching with Achish behind the others.
4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They said, "Send David back. Let him return to the town you gave him. He must not go with us into battle. If he does, he'll turn against us during the fighting. In fact, he might even cut off the heads of our own men. What better way could he choose to win back his master's favor?
5 Isn't David the one the Israelites sang about when they danced? They sang,
" 'Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands.' "
6 Then Achish called David over to him. He said, "You have been faithful to me. And that's just as sure as the LORD(Jesus) is alive. I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. I haven't found any fault in you. That's been true from the day you came to me until now. But the Philistine rulers aren't pleased to have you come along.
7 So go back home in peace. Don't do anything that wouldn't please the Philistine rulers."
8 And david asked Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found against me from the day I came to you until now? Why can't I go and fight against your enemies? After all, you are my king and master."
9 Achish answered, "You have been as pleasing to me as an angel of God(Elohim/Theos). But the Philistine commanders have said, 'We don't want David to go up with us into battle.'
10 So get up at dawn and take with you the men who used to serve Saul. Leave as soon as the sun begins to come up."
11 So David and his men got up early in the morning. They went back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 30
1 After awhile, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had attacked the people of the Negev Desert. They had also attacked Ziklag and burned it.
2 And they had captured the women and everyone else who was in Ziklag. They had taken as prisoners young people and old people alike. But they didn't kill any of them. Instead, they carried them off as they went on their way.
4 So David and his men began to cry out loud. They sobbed until they couldn't cry anymore.
5 David's two wives had been captured. Their names were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel. Abigail was Nabal's widow.
6 David was greatly distressed; for the people were even talking about killing him by throwing stones at him. All of them were very bitter because their sons and daughters had been taken away. But David was made strong by the LORD(Jesus) his God(Elohim/Theos).
7 Then David spoke to the priest Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. He said, "Bring me the ephod." Abiathar brought it to him.
8 David asked the LORD(Jesus) saying, "Should I chase after the men who attacked Ziklag? If I do, will I catch up with them?"
"Chase after them," the LORD(Jesus) answered. "You will certainly catch up with them. You will succeed in saving those who were captured."
9 David and his 600 men came to the Besor Valley. Some of them stayed behind there.
10 But David pursued, he and 400 men: 200 stayed behind because many of them were too tired to go across the valley.
11 And they found an Egyptian in a field. They brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat.
12 They gave him part of a cake of pressed figs. They also gave him two raisin cakes. After he ate them, he felt as good as new. That's because he hadn't eaten any food for three days and three nights. He hadn't drunk any water during that time either.
13 David asked him, "Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?" The man said, "I'm from Egypt. I'm the slave of an Amalekite. My master deserted me when I became ill three days ago.
14 We attacked the people in the Negev Desert of the Kerethites. We attacked the territory that belongs to Judah. We attacked the people in the Negev Desert of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag."
15 David asked him, "Can you lead me down to the men who attacked Ziklag?" He answered, "Take an oath in the name of God(Elohim/Theos). Promise me that you won't kill me. Promise that you won't hand me over to my master. Then I'll take you down to them."
16 He led David down to where the men were. They were scattered all over the countryside. They were eating and drinking and dancing wildly. That's because they had taken a large amount of goods from those they had attacked. They had taken it from the land of the Philistines and from the people of Judah.
17 David fought against them from sunset until the evening of the next day. None of them escaped except 400 young men. They rode off on camels and got away.
18 David got everything back that the Amalekites had taken and David rescued his two wives.
19 Nothing was missing. Not one young person or old person or boy or girl was missing. None of the goods or anything else the Amalekites had taken was missing. David brought everything back.
20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, his men drove them on ahead of the other livestock. They said, "Here's what David has captured."
21 Then David came to the 200 men who had been too tired to follow him. They had been left behind in the Besor Valley. They came out to welcome David and the people who were with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them.
22 But some of the men who had gone out with David were evil. They wanted to stir up trouble. They said, "The 200 men didn't go out into battle with us. So we won't share with them the goods we brought back. But each man can take his wife and children and go home."
23 David replied, "No, my friends. You must not hold back their share of what the LORD(Jesus) has given us. He has kept us safe. He has handed over to us the men who attacked Ziklag.
24 For no one will pay any attention to what you are saying. Each man who stayed with the supplies will receive the same share as each man who went down to the battle. Everyone's share will be the same."
25 From that day forward, David made that a law and a rule for Israel.
26 David arrived in Ziklag. He sent some of the goods to the elders of Judah. They were his friends. He said, "Here's a present for you. It's part of the things we took from the LORD(Jesus)'s enemies."
27 He sent some goods to the elders who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir.
28 He sent some to those who were in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa
29 and Racal. He sent some to those who were in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites.
30 He sent some to those who were in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach
31 and Hebron. He also sent some to those who were in all of the other places where he and his men had wandered around.
The Book of the Kings : 1 Samuel 31
Saul dies:
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from fell the Philistines. Many were killed on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines kept chasing Saul and his sons. They killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.
3 The fighting was heavy around Saul. Men who were armed with bows and arrows caught up with him. They shot their arrows at him and wounded him severely.
4 Saul yelled to his armor bearer, "Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines run me through and humiliate me." But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
5 The man saw that Saul was dead. So he fell on his own sword and died with him.
6 Saul and his three sons died together that same day. The man who carried his armor also died with them that day. So did all of Saul's men.
7 When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that their army had been routed and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.
8 The next day, after the Philistines had won the battle, they came to take what they wanted from the dead bodies. They found Saul and his three sons dead on Mount Gilboa.
9 And they cut of his (Saul's) head. They took his armor from his body. Then they sent messengers through the whole land of the Philistines. They announced the news in the temple where they had set up statues of their gods(elohim/theos). They also announced it among their people.
10 And they put his armor in the temple of Easter: and they then nailed his body to the wall of Bethshan.
11 The people of Jabesh Gilead heard about what the Philistines had done to Saul.
12 So all of the valiant men arose, and travelled all night, took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. They brought them to Jabesh. There they burned them.
13 Then they got the bones of Saul and his sons and buried them under a tree at Jabesh. They fasted for seven days.
