1 Samuel

Overall

Area	Total	Changed	%
Verses	810	364	44.94%
Words	11211	883	7.88%

Verses

1:3	This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of HostsArmies at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.
1:7	WheneverYear after year, when she went up to the Lord’s house, her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah weptwould weep and would not eat.
1:8	“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband, Elkanah, askedwould ask. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10ten sons?”
1:9	On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. EliThe the priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s tabernacletemple.
1:11	Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of HostsArmies, if Youyou will take notice of Youryour servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Youryour servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”
1:12	While she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her lipsmouth.
1:14	and scoldedsaid to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
1:17	Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petitionrequest you’ve requestedmade fromof Himhim.”
1:19	The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
1:23	Her husband, Elkanah, replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your word.” So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.
1:24	When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a clay jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh.
1:26	“Please, my lord,” she said, “as suresurely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.
1:27	I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Himhim for,
1:28	I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then he bowedworshiped in worship to the Lord there.
2:1	Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in Youryour salvation.
2:2	There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides Youyou! And there is no rock like our God.
2:3	Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by Himhim.
2:6	The Lord brings death and gives life; Hehe sends some down to Sheol, and Hehe raises others up.
2:7	The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; Hehe humbles and Hehe exalts.
2:8	He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbagetrash pileheap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; Hehe has set the world on them.
2:9	He guards the steps of Hishis faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a manperson does not prevail by his own strength.
2:10	Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered; Hehe will thunder in the heavens against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to Hishis king; Hehe will lift up the horn of Hishis anointed.
2:11	Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest Eli.
2:12	Eli’s sons were wicked men; they haddid nonot regardrespect for the Lord
2:13	or for the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyanyone man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling
2:14	and plunge it into the container, or kettle, or cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.
2:15	Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the manone who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you — only raw.”
2:16	If that manperson said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!”
2:17	So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because theythe men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.
2:18	The boy Samuel served in the Lord’s presence—this andmere woreboy awas dressed in the linen ephod.
2:24	No, my sons, the reportnews I hear from the Lord’s people spreading is not good.
2:25	If aone manperson sins against another man, God can intercede for him, but if a manperson sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.
2:26	By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with menpeople.
2:27	A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal Myselfmyself to your ancestralforefather’s housefamily when itthey waswere in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?
2:28	Out of all the tribes of Israel, I selectedchose your house to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on Mymy altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in Mymy presence. I also gave your houseforefather’s family all the Israelite firefood offerings.
2:29	Why, then, do all of you despise Mymy sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than Meme, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of Mymy people Israel.’
2:30	“Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Although I saiddid say that your family and your ancestralforefather’s housefamily would walk before Meme forever,. But now,’ this is the Lord’s now saysdeclaration, “No‘no longer!”! IFor willthose who honor thoseme whoI will honor Me, but those who despise Meme will be disgraced.
2:31	“‘Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your ancestralforefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.
2:33	Any man from your family I do not cut off from Mymy altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.
2:35	“‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for Myselfmyself. He will do whatever is in Mymy heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before Mymy anointed one for all time.
3:2	One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his roomusual place.
3:3	Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the tabernacletemple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.
3:7	Now Samuel haddid not yet experiencedknow the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
3:9	He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If Hehe calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Youryour servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
3:10	The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel responded, “Speak, for Youryour servant is listening.”
3:11	The Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that will cause everyone who hears about it willto shudder.
3:13	I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are defilingcursing the sanctuaryGod, and he has not stopped them.
3:17	“What was the message Hehe gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that Hehe told you.”
3:18	So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, “He is the Lord. HeLet willhim do what Hehe thinks is good.”
3:19	Samuel grew,. andThe the Lord was with him, and Hehe fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.
3:21	The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there Hehe revealed Himselfhimself to Samuel by Hishis word.
4:2	The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about 4,000four thousand men on the battlefield.
4:3	When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord letdefeat us be defeated today bybefore the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4:4	So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of HostsArmies, who dwellsis enthroned between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
4:7	they panicked. “TheA godsgod havehas entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us,! nothingNothing like this has happened before.
4:8	Woe to us,! whoWho will rescue us from the hand of these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
4:10	So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe —30,000 thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell.
4:13	When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road watchingwaiting, because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.
4:15	At that time Eli was 98ninety-eight years old, and his gazeeyes wasdidn’t fixedmove because he couldn’t see.
4:18	When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel 40forty years.
5:4	But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. This time, both Dagon’s head and theboth palms of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained.
5:5	That is why, tostill this daytoday, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.
5:6	The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod,. terrorizingHe andterrified afflicting the people of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors.
5:7	When the menpeople of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of Israel’s God must not stay here with us, because Hishis hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon.”
5:8	So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God?” “The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they moved the menark of AshdodIsrael’s moved the arkGod.
5:9	After they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the menpeople of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.
5:10	The Gittitespeople of Gath then sent the ark of God to Ekron, but when it got there, the Ekronites cried out, “They’ve moved the ark of Israel’s God to us to kill us and our people!”
5:11	The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. ItLet mustit return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!” For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them.
5:12	TheThose men who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
6:1	When the ark of the Lord had been in thePhilistine landterritory of the Philistines for seven months,
6:3	They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, youdo must not send it without an offering. YouSend must send back a restitutionguilt offering to Himhim, and you will be healed. Then the reason Hishis hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.”
6:4	They asked, “What restitutionguilt offering should we send back to Himhim?” And they answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers.
6:5	Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God, and perhaps Hehe will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land.
6:6	Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When Hehe afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?
6:8	Take the ark of the Lord, place it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you’re sending Himhim as a restitutionguilt offering in a box beside the ark. Send it off and let it go its way.
6:9	Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh, it is the Lord who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn’t, we will know that it was not Hishis hand that punished us — it was just something that happened to us by chance.”
6:15	The Levites removed the ark of the Lord, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the menpeople of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord.
6:17	As a restitutionguilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
6:18	The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the Lord was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh totoday. this day.
6:19	God struck down the menpeople of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord. He struck down 70seventy men out of 50,000 menpersons. The people mourned because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.
6:20	The menpeople of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord this holy Lord God? WhoTo whom should the ark go to from here?”
7:1	So the menpeople of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the Lord and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill. They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.
7:2	Time went by until 20twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel beganlonged tofor seek the Lord.
7:3	Samuel told them, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicateset yourselvesyour tohearts on the Lord, and worship only Himhim. Then Hehe will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines.”
7:8	The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that Hehe will save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
7:10	Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines drewapproached near to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they fledwere beforedefeated by Israel.
8:3	However, his sons did not walk in his ways — they turned toward dishonest gainprofit, took bribes, and perverted justice.
8:5	They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not followwalk in your exampleways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”
8:6	When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinfulwrong, so he prayed to the Lord.
8:7	But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Meme as their king.
8:8	They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to Meme, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning Meme and worshiping other gods.
8:9	Listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will rulereign over them.”
8:11	He said, “These are the rights of the king who will rulereign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots.
8:12	He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground orand reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war orand the equipment for his chariots.
8:16	He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best young mencattle, and your donkeys and use them for his work.
9:1	There was ana influentialprominent man of Benjamin named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite.
9:3	One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the attendantsservants with you and go look for the donkeys.”
9:4	Saul and his attendantservant went through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the region of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. They went through the region of Shaalim  — nothing. Then they went through the Benjaminite region but still didn’t find them.
9:5	When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the attendantservant who was with him, “Come on, let’s go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
9:6	“Look,” the attendantservant said, “there’s a man of God in this city who is highly respected; everything he says is sure to come true. Let’s go there now. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.”
9:7	“Suppose we do go,” Saul said to his attendantservant, “what do we take the man? The food from our packs is gone, and there’s no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
9:8	The attendantservant answered Saul:, “Here, I have a piecelittle of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God, and he will tell us ourwhich way we should go.”
9:10	“Good,” Saul replied to his attendantservant. “Come on, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
9:12	The women answered, “Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now cameentered to the city, because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today.
9:13	IfAs soon as you goenter quicklythe city, you canwill catchfind up with him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests can eat. Go up immediately — you can find him now.”
9:14	So they went up toward the city. Saul and his attendantservant were entering the city when they saw Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place.
9:16	“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over Mymy people Israel. He will save them from the hand of the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of Mymy people, for their cry has come to Meme.”
9:17	When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man I told you about; he will rulegovern overmy My people.”
9:18	Saul approached Samuel in the city gate area and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
9:22	Samuel took Saul and his attendantservant, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the 30thirty or so men who had been invited.
9:27	As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the attendantservant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I’ll reveal the word of God to you.” So the attendantservant went on.
10:1	Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t the Lord anointed you ruler over Hishis inheritance?
10:2	Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave at Zelzah in the landterritory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and now your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son?’
10:3	“You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a skinclay jar of wine.
10:5	“After that you will come to theGibeah Hill of God where there are Philistine garrisons. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place prophesying. They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres.
10:6	The Spirit of the Lord will controlcome powerfully on you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed into a different person.
10:9	When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came about that day.
10:10	When Saul and his attendantservant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God tookcame controlpowerfully ofon him, and he prophesied along with them.
10:14	Saul’s uncle asked him and his attendantservant, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.”
10:19	But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to Himhim, ‘You must set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”
10:25	Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each to his home.
11:6	When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly tookcame controlpowerfully ofon him, and his anger burned furiously.
11:7	He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the landterritory of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.” As a result, the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out united.
11:8	Saul counted them at Bezek. There were 300,000three hundred thousand Israelites and 30,000thirty thousand men from Judah.
11:15	So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the Lord’s presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in the Lord’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly rejoiced.
12:2	Now you can see that the king is leading you. As for me, I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until todaynow.
12:3	Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and Hishis anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? WhomWho have I wronged or mistreated? FromWho whosegave handme have I taken a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.”
12:4	“You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone’s hand,” they responded.
12:5	He said to them, “The Lord is a witness against you, and Hishis anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they said.
12:7	Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before the Lord about all the righteous acts Hehe has done for you and your ancestors.
12:8	“When Jacob went to Egypt, your ancestors cried out to the Lord, and Hehe sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
12:9	But they forgot the Lord their God, so Hehe handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them.
12:10	Then they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the Lord and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now deliverrescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve Youyou.’
12:12	But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king rulereign over us’—’ — even though the Lord your God is your king.
12:14	If you fear the Lord, worship and obey Himhim, and if you don’t rebel against the Lord’s command, then both you and the king who rulesreigns over you will follow the Lord your God.
12:15	However, if you disobey the Lord and rebel against Hishis command, the Lord’s hand will be against you andas it was against your ancestors.
12:17	Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord, and Hehe will send thunder and rain, so that you will knowrecognize and see what aan greatimmense evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”
12:19	They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”
12:21	Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or deliverrescue you; they are worthless.
12:22	The Lord will not abandon Hishis people, because of Hishis great name and because Hehe has determined to make you Hishis own people.
12:24	Above all, fear the Lord and worship Himhim faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things Hehe has done for you.
13:1	Saul was 30thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned 42forty-two years over Israel.
13:2	He chose 3,000three thousand men from Israel for himself: 2,000two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel’s hill country, and 1,000one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.
13:3	Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in GebaGibeah, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
13:5	The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000three thousand chariots, 6,000six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
13:6	The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.
13:12	I thought:, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor..’ So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”
13:13	Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you. It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,
13:14	but now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man loyalafter tohis Himown heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over Hishis people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.”
13:15	Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about 600six hundred men.
13:18	The next division headed toward the Beth-horon road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
13:19	No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”
13:21	The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on ana oxgoadcattle prod.
14:2	Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. The troops with him numbered about 600six hundred.
14:7	His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. YouGo choose.ahead! I’m rightcompletely here with you.” whatever you decide.”
14:10	But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us — that will be our sign.”
14:14	In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about 20twenty men in a half-acre field.
14:20	Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there, the Philistines were, fighting against each other in great confusion!
14:28	Then, one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.”
14:29	Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little of this honey.
14:32	they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it.
14:33	Some reported to Saul:, “Look, the troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.” Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.”
14:34	He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘EachLet each man must bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.’” So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.
14:36	Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain!” “Do whatever you want,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “WeLet’s mustapproach consult God here.”
14:37	So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will Youyou hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.
14:38	Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let’s us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
14:41	So Saul said to the Lord, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give usUrim; but if the rightfault decisionis in your people Israel, give Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.
14:45	But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die,? whoHe accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel?! No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.
14:48	He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and deliveredrescued Israel from the hand of those who plundered them.
14:49	Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were: Merab, his firstborn, and Michal, the younger.
14:52	The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or bravevaliant man, he enlisted him.
15:1	Samuel told Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over Hishis people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the Lord.
15:2	This is what the Lord of HostsArmies says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.
15:3	Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, childreninfants and infantsnursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
15:4	Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: 200,000two hundred thousand foot soldiers and 10,000ten thousand men from Judah.
15:8	He captured King Agag king of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.
15:9	Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.
15:11	“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Meme and has not carried out Mymy instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.
15:14	Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep, goats, and cattle I hear?”
15:15	Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep, goats, and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we destroyed.”
15:17	Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant, havehaven’t you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel
15:18	and then sent you on a mission and said:, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’
15:20	“But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered. “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back King Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.
15:21	The troops took sheep, goats, and cattle from the plunder — the best of what was set apart for destruction — to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”
15:23	For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, Hehe has rejected you as king.
15:27	When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hemcorner of his robe, and it tore.
15:29	Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change Hishis mind, for Hehe is not man who changes his mind.”
15:32	Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag king of Amalek.” Agag came to him trembling, for he thought, “Certainly the bitterness of death has come.”
15:35	Even to the day of his death, Samuel never againsaw visitedSaul Saulagain. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted Hehe had made Saul king over Israel.
16:1	The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected for myself a king from his sons.”
16:3	Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for Meme the one I indicate to you.”
16:6	When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Himhim.”
16:7	But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. ManHumans doesdo not see what the Lord sees, for manhumans seessee what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”
16:13	So Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord tookcame controlpowerfully ofon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
16:16	Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God troublescomes on you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”
16:20	So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of winewineskin, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.
16:21	When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admiredloved him greatlyvery much, and David became his armor-bearer.
16:22	Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for Ihe amhas pleasedfound favor with himme.”
16:23	Whenever the spirit from God troubledcame on Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
17:5	and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125one hundred twenty-five pounds.
17:6	There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze swordjavelin was slung between his shoulders.
17:7	His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15fifteen pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him.
17:8	He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations:, “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me.
17:16	Every morning and evening for 40forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand.
17:17	One day Jesse had told his son David:, “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.
17:18	Also take these 10ten portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfarewell-being of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them.
17:20	So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructedcharged him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry.
17:25	Previously, an Israelite man had declared:, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the householdfamily of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”
17:27	The peopletroops told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
17:28	David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart — you came down to see the battle!”
17:34	David answered Saul:, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,
17:45	David said to the Philistine:, “You come against me with a daggersword, spear, and swordjavelin, but I come against you in the name of Yahwehthe Lord of HostsArmies, the God of the ranks of Israel’s armies— you have defied Himhim.
17:46	Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cutremove your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God,
17:49	David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell onfacedown his face to the ground.
17:50	David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David hadoverpowered no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him without having a sword.
17:51	David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ranfled.
17:55	When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?” “MyYour kingMajesty, as surely as you live, I don’t know,” Abner replied.
18:1	When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan committedwas himselfbound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself.
18:5	David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the soldiersfighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.
18:7	As they celebrateddanced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.
18:10	The next day an evil spirit sent from God tookcame controlpowerfully ofon Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear,
18:13	Therefore, Saul reassignedsent David away from him and made him commander over 1,000a thousand men. David led the troops
18:17	Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “MyI hand doesndon’t need to beraise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18:23	Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor mancommoner.” who is common.”
18:25	Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price except 100a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
18:27	David and his men went out and killed 200two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife.
19:2	so he told him:, “My father, Saul, intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there.
19:4	Jonathan spoke well of David to his father, Saul. He said to him:, “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you.
19:8	When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such a great force that they fled from him.
19:16	When the messengersagents arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head.
19:17	Saul asked Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!” She answered him, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”? ’”
19:22	Then Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu, looked around, and asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “At Naioth in Ramah,” someone said.
20:3	But David said, “Your father certainly knows that youI have comefound tofavor lookwith favorably on meyou. He has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or else he will be grieved.’” David also swore, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”
20:5	So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I’m supposed to sit down and eat with the king. Instead, let me go, and I’ll hide in the fieldcountryside untilfor the thirdnext nighttwo nights.
20:6	If your father misses me at all, say, ‘David urgently requested my permission to go quickly go to his townhometown, Bethlehem, for an annual sacrifice there involving the whole clan.’
20:8	Deal faithfullykindly with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I have done anything wrong, then kill me yourself; why take me to your father?”
20:11	He answered David, “Come on, let’s go out to the fieldcountryside.” So both of them went out to the fieldcountryside.
20:13	If my father intends to bring evil on you, may Godthe Lord punish Jonathan and do so severely if I do not tell you and send you away so you may goleave in peacesafely. May the Lord be with you, just as Hehe was with my father.
20:14	If I continue to live, treatshow me withkindness from the Lord’s faithful love, but if I die,
20:15	don’t ever withdraw your faithfulkindness love from my household — not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
20:21	Then I will send thea youngservant man and say, ‘Go and find the arrows!’! ’ Now, if I expressly say to the young manservant, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you — get them,’ then come, because as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no problem.
20:22	But if I say this to the youth:, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you!’! ’ then go, for the Lord is sending you away.
20:24	So David hid in the fieldcountryside. At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal.
20:26	Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, “Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean — yes, that’s it, he is unclean.”
20:29	He said, ‘Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if youI arehave pleasedfound favor with meyou, let me go so I can see my brothers.’ That’s why he didn’t come to the king’s table.”
20:31	Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me — he deservesmust todie!” die.”
20:32	Jonathan answered his father back:, “Why is he to be killed? What has he done?”
20:34	He got up from the table infiercely fierceangry anger and did not eat any food that second day of the New Moon, for he was grieved because of his father’s shameful behavior toward David.
20:35	In the morning Jonathan went out to the fieldcountryside for the appointed meeting with David. A small young manservant was with him.
20:36	He said to the young manservant, “Run and find the arrows I’m shooting.” As the youngservant man ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.
20:38	Then Jonathan called to him, “Hurry up and don’t stop!” Jonathan’s youngservant man picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
20:40	Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the youngservant man who was with him and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”
20:41	When the youngservant man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell withfacedown his face to the ground, and bowedpaid homage three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more.
20:42	Jonathan then said to David, “Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of the Lord when we said:, ‘The Lord will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever.”.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city.
21:1	David went to Ahimelech the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, so he said to him, “Why are you alone and no one is with you?”
21:2	David answered Ahimelech the priest Ahimelech, “The king gave me a mission, but he told me, ‘Don’t let anyone know anything about the mission I’m sending you on or what I have ordered you to do.’ I have stationed my young men at a certain place.
21:6	So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, for there was no bread there except the breadBread of the Presence that had been removed from the presence of the Lord. When the bread was removed, it had been replaced with warm bread.
21:13	so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them, scribbling on the doors of the city gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
22:2	In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400four hundred men were with him.
22:9	Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered:, “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
22:11	The king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king.
22:14	Ahimelech replied to the king:, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house.
22:15	Was today the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s householdfamily, for your servant didn’t have any idea about all this.”
22:16	But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech — you and your father’s whole family!”
22:18	So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed 85eighty-five men who wore linen ephods.
22:19	He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword — both men and women, childreninfants and infantsnursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
23:1	It was reported to David:, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors.”
23:4	Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him:, “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.”
23:9	When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod.”
23:10	Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Youryour servant has heardreliable information that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.
23:11	Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Youryour servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Youryour servant.” The Lord answered, “He will come down.”
23:13	So David and his men, numbering about 600six hundred, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition.
23:19	Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t it true that David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon.?
23:20	NowSo now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. OurAs partfor us, we will be glad to hand him over to the king.”
23:21	“May you be blessed by the Lord,” replied Saul, “for you have takenshown pityconcern onfor me.
23:22	Go and check again. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning.
23:23	LookInvestigate and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans of Judah.”
24:2	So Saul took 3,000three thousand of Israel’s choicefit young men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
24:3	When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the backrecesses of the cave,
24:6	He said to his men, “IAs swear before the Lord: is my witness, I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”
24:8	After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowedknelt low with his face to the ground inand paid homage.
24:11	SeeLook, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. LookRecognize and recognize that thereI’ve iscommitted no evilcrime or rebellion in me. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
24:12	“May the Lord judge between youme and meyou, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.
24:14	Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?
24:15	May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May Hehe take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you.”
25:2	A man in Maon had a business in Carmel; he was a very rich man with 3,000three thousand sheep and 1,000one thousand goats and was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
25:5	so David sent 10ten young men instructing them, “Go up to Carmel, and when you come to Nabal, greet him in my name.
25:6	Then say this: ‘Long life to you, and peace to you, peace to your family, and peace to all that is yours.
25:8	Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast day. Please give whatever you canhave affordon hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
25:12	David’s young men retraced their steps. When they returned to him, they reported all these words.
25:13	He said to his men, “All of you, put on your swords!” So Davideach andman allput on his mensword, and David also put on theirhis swordssword. About 400four hundred men followed David while 200two hundred stayed with the supplies.
25:14	One of Nabal’s young men informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife:, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he yelledscreamed at them.
25:15	The men treated us very well. When we were in the field, we weren’t harassed and nothing of ours was missing the whole time we were living among them.
25:16	They were a wall around us, both day and night, the entire time we were with them herding the sheep.
25:17	Now consider carefully what you mustshould do, because there is certain to be trouble for our master and his entire family. He is such a worthless fool nobody can talk to him!”
25:18	Abigail hurried, taking 200two hundred loaves of bread, two skinsclay jars of wine, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, 100one hundred clusters of raisins, and 200two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.
25:19	Then she said to her male servants, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband, Nabal.
25:22	May God punish me and do so severely if I let any of his menmales survive until morning.”
25:23	When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and fellknelt down with her face to the ground inand frontpaid ofhomage to David.
25:24	She fellknelt at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant.
25:25	My lord should pay no attention to this worthless manfool Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name ismeans Nabal,‘stupid,’ and stupidity is all he knows. I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
25:26	Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live,— it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself by your own hand.—may May your enemies and those who wantintend troubleto forharm my lord be like Nabal.
25:27	AcceptLet this gift your servant has brought to my lord, and let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
25:29	“WhenSomeone someoneis pursuespursuing you and attemptsintends to take your life,. myMy lord’s life willis be tucked safely in the place where the Lord your God protects the living. However, Hebut willhe flingis flinging away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.
25:30	When the Lord does for my lord all the good Hehe promised you and appoints you ruler over Israel,
25:32	Then David said to Abigail, “PraiseBlessed tobe the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today!
25:33	YourMay your discernment isbe blessed, and may you arebe blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.
25:34	Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any menmales left by morning light.”
25:36	Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king. Nabal’s heart was incheerful, aand goodhe moodwas and very drunk, so she didn’t say anything to him until morning light.
25:37	In the morning when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. ThenHis heheart haddied aand seizurehe and became paralyzeda stone.
25:38	About 10ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.
25:39	When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “PraiseBlessed be the Lord who championed my cause against Nabal’s insults and restrained Hishis servant from doing evil. The Lord brought Nabal’s evil deeds back on his own head.” Then David sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him.
25:41	She stood up, thenpaid bowedhomage with her face to the ground, and said, “Here I am, your servant, a slave to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
26:2	So Saul, accompanied by 3,000three thousand of the choicefit young men of Israel, went immediately to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.
26:5	Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the generalcommander of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him.
26:6	Then David asked Ahimelech the HittiteHethite and Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
26:8	Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handeddelivered your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”
26:9	But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be blamelessinnocent?”
26:11	However, becauseas of the Lord is my witness, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
26:14	Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner:, “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.
26:18	Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evilcrime ishave inI my handcommitted?
26:19	Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me, then may Hehe accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have drivenbanished me away from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go and worship other gods.’
26:20	So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
26:23	MayThe the Lord will repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.
27:1	David said to himself, “One of these days I’ll be swept away by Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stopgive up searching for me everywhere in Israel, and I’ll escape from him.”
27:2	So David set out with his 600six hundred men and went over to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.
27:7	The length of time that David stayed in the Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.
27:10	who inquired, “Where did you raid today?” David replied, “The south country of Judah,” “The south country of the Jerahmeelites,” or “AgainstThe the south country of the Kenites.”
27:12	So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself detestablerepulsive to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”
28:1	At that time, the Philistines broughtgathered their military units together into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army with me.”
28:3	By this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city, and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
28:4	The Philistines camegathered together and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.
28:5	When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and trembledhis violentlyheart pounded.
28:9	But the woman said to him, “You surely know what Saul has done, how he has killedcut off the mediums and spiritists infrom the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed?”
28:10	Then Saul swore to her by the Lord: “As surely as the Lord lives, nothingno badpunishment will happencome to you becausefrom of this.”
28:14	Then Saul asked her, “What does he look like?” “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “He’s wearing a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowedknelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.
28:17	The Lord has done exactly what Hehe said through me: The Lord has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.
28:18	You did not obey the Lord and did not carry out Hishis burning anger against Amalek; therefore the Lord has done this to you today.
28:20	Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel’s words and was also weak because he hadn’t had anynot foodeaten anything all day and all night.
29:4	The Philistine commanders, however, were enraged with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the battle. What better way could he regainingratiate himself with his master’s favor than with the heads of our men?
29:6	So Achish summoned David and told him, “As the Lord lives, you are an honorable man. I think it is good to have you workingfighting within methis inunit thewith campme, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until today. But the leaders don’t think you are reliable.
29:8	“But what have I done?” David replied to Achish. “From the first day I wasentered withyour youservice until today, what have you found against your servant to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
29:9	Achish answered David, “I’m convinced that you are as reliable as thean Angelangel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’
30:1	David and his men arrived in Ziklag on the third day. The Amalekites had raided the Negev and attacked and burned down Ziklag.
30:2	They also had kidnapped the women and everyone in it from the youngest to the oldest. They had killed no one but had carried them off as they went on their way.
30:3	When David and his men arrived at the town, they found it burned down. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been kidnapped.
30:6	David was in aan extremely difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him, for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
30:7	David said to Abiathar the priest, Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,
30:8	and David asked the Lord:, “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” The Lord replied to him, “Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue the people.”
30:9	So David and the 600six hundred men with him went. asThey farcame asto the Wadi Besor, where 200some menstayed who were to remain behind would stop.
30:10	TheyDavid and four hundred of the men continued the pursuit, while two hundred stopped because they were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor. David and 400 of the men continued in pursuit.
30:11	TheyDavid’s men found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink.
30:14	We raided the south country of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the south country of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.”
30:17	David slaughtered them from twilight until the evening of the next day. None of them escaped, except 400four hundred young men who got on camels and fled.
30:19	Nothing of theirs was missing from the youngest to the oldest, including the sons and daughters, ofand all the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David got everything back.
30:20	He took all the sheepflocks and cattleherds, which were driven ahead of the other livestock, and the people shouted, “This is David’s plunder!”
30:21	When David came to the 200two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go with him and had been left at the Wadi Besor, they came out to meet him and to meet the troops with him. When David approached the men, he greeted them,
30:25	And it has been so from that day forward. David established this policy as a law and an ordinance for Israel and it still continues totoday. this very day.
31:1	The Philistines fought against Israel, and Israel’s men fled from them. Manyand were killed on Mount Gilboa.
31:2	The Philistines overtookpursued Saul and his sons and killed his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
31:3	When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers caughtfound up with him and severely wounded him.
31:4	Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me.”!” But his armor-bearer would not do it because he was terrified. Then Saul took his sword and fell on it.
31:7	When the men of Israel on the other side of the valley and on the other side of the Jordan saw that Israel’s men had runfled away and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled. So the Philistines came and settled in them.
31:8	The next day when the Philistines came to strip the deadslain, they found Saul and his three sons dead on Mount Gilboa.