I Samuel

Old Testament · 31 chapters · 811 verses.

Chapter 1

1:1Then there was a certain man of Ramathaim-Zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim; and his name was Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
1:2And he had two wives: the name of the first was Hannah, and the name of the second Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
1:3That man went up from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice before the LORD of Hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD there.
1:4Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
1:5But to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, though the LORD had shut her womb.
1:6And her rival provoked her bitterly, to make her tremble, because the LORD had shut her womb.
1:7So it was year by year: whenever she went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her. Therefore she wept and would not eat.
1:8Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart afflicted? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
1:9Then Hannah rose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.
1:10And she was deeply distressed, and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.
1:11She vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of Hosts, if You will indeed look upon the affliction of Your servant and remember me, and not forget Your servant, but give Your servant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall go up upon his head.”
1:12And as she continued praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.
1:13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
1:14Then Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine from you.”
1:15But Hannah answered, “No, my lord. I am a woman deeply troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.
1:16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
1:17Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.”
1:18She said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer downcast.
1:19And they rose early in the morning, and bowed themselves before the LORD; and they returned, and came to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
1:20And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son; and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I asked him from the LORD.”
1:21Then the man Elkanah and all his house went up to sacrifice to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
1:22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “When the child is weaned, I will bring him, and he shall appear before the LORD and dwell there forever.”
1:23Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what is right in your eyes; remain until you have weaned him. Only, may the LORD establish His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
1:24When she had weaned him, she brought him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a jug of wine; and she brought him into the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was still young.
1:25Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the child to Eli.
1:26Then she said, “O my lord, as you live! My lord, I am the woman who stood with you in this place, to pray to the LORD.
1:27For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I asked of Him.
1:28Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; all the days that he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.

Chapter 2

2:1And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is lifted high in the LORD. My mouth opens wide against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.
2:2There is none holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You; and there is no rock like our God.
2:3Do not multiply proud words; let no arrogance come from your mouth. For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him deeds are weighed.
2:4The bows of the mighty are broken, but those who stumbled are girded with strength.
2:5Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry hunger no more. Even the barren woman has borne seven, while she who had many sons languishes.
2:6The LORD puts to death and gives life; He brings down to the realm of the dead and brings up.
2:7The LORD makes poor, and He makes rich; He brings low, and He lifts up.
2:8He raises the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap, to seat them with nobles and give them a throne of glory as an inheritance. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and He has set the world upon them.
2:9He guards the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked are silenced in darkness; for no man prevails by strength.
2:10The adversaries of the LORD are shattered; He thunders against them in the heavens. The LORD judges the ends of the earth; He gives strength to His king and exalts the horn of His Anointed One.”
2:11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, and the youth served the LORD before Eli the priest.
2:12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD.
2:13This was the custom of the priests with the people: whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.
2:14And he would thrust it into the pan, kettle, cauldron, or pot; whatever the fork brought up, the priest took for himself. Thus they did to all Israel who came there to Shiloh.
2:15Moreover, before they burned the fat as smoke, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest meat to roast, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.”
2:16Then the man would say to him, “Let them first burn the fat as smoke; then take as much as you desire.” But he would say, “No, give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.”
2:17Thus the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.
2:18And Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a youth wearing a linen priestly vest.
2:19His mother made him a small robe and brought it up to him year by year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
2:20And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May the LORD give you offspring by this woman in place of the child she asked for and gave to the LORD.” Then they went home.
2:21And the LORD visited Hannah; and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the youth Samuel grew up with the LORD.
2:22Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
2:23Then he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil deeds from all these people.
2:24No, my sons; for the report I hear is not good. You make the people of the LORD transgress.
2:25If a man sins against a man, then God will judge him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” But they did not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD had resolved to put them to death.
2:26And the youth Samuel continued to grow, and was in favor both with the LORD and with men.
2:27Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt, subject to the house of Pharaoh?
2:28And did I not choose him from all the tribes of Israel to be priest for Me, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, and to wear a priestly vest before Me? And I gave to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the sons of Israel.
2:29Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering, which I commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, fattening yourselves on the best of every offering of Israel, My people?
2:30Therefore the LORD, God of Israel, declares: ‘I indeed said, Your house and the house of your father shall walk before Me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
2:31Behold, days are coming when I will cut off your arm and the arm of the house of your father, so that there shall not be an old man in your house.
2:32And you shall see distress in My dwelling, amid all the good done for Israel; and there shall never be an old man in your house.
2:33Yet the one of yours whom I do not cut off from My altar shall remain to consume your eyes and grieve your soul; and all the offspring of your house shall die in the prime of life.
2:34And this shall be the sign to you, which shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: both of them shall die on the same day.
2:35And I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest; he shall do according to what is in My heart and in My soul. And I will build for him a faithful house, and he shall walk before My Anointed One all his days.
2:36And everyone left in your house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Please appoint me to one of the priestly offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.’”

Chapter 3

3:1And the youth Samuel was serving the LORD before Eli. Now the word of the LORD was rare in those days; vision was not widespread.
3:2And it happened at that time that Eli was lying down in his place. His eyes had begun to grow dim, and he could not see.
3:3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the Ark of God was.
3:4Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am.”
3:5And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; return and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
3:6And the LORD called Samuel again. And Samuel rose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; return and lie down.”
3:7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
3:8And the LORD called Samuel a third time. And he rose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
3:9So Eli said to Samuel, “Go and lie down; and if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” And Samuel went and lay down in his place.
3:10Then the LORD came and stood, and called as at the other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
3:11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle.
3:12On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
3:13For I have told him that I am judging his house forever for the iniquity he knew: his sons made themselves contemptible, and he did not restrain them.
3:14Therefore I have sworn concerning the house of Eli: the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or grain offering forever.”
3:15Then Samuel lay until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.
3:16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.”
3:17Then he said, “What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. So may God do to you, and so may He add, if you hide from me one word of all the words that He spoke to you.”
3:18And Samuel told him all the words and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
3:19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did not let any of his words fall to the ground.
3:20Then all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD.
3:21And the LORD continued to appear in Shiloh, for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Chapter 4

4:1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Then Israel went out against the Philistines to battle; and they encamped by Eben-Ezer, while the Philistines encamped in Aphek.
4:2And the Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and the battle spread; and Israel was struck down before the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men in the ranks in the field.
4:3Then the people came into the camp, and the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD struck us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4:4So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned above the winged guardians. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God.
4:5And when the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, and the earth resounded.
4:6And when the Philistines heard the sound of the shouting, they said, “What is the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” Then they learned that the Ark of the LORD had come into the camp.
4:7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before.
4:8Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every kind of plague in the wilderness.
4:9Strengthen yourselves and be men, O Philistines, lest you become servants to the Hebrews as they have been to you. Be men and fight.”
4:10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was struck down, and each man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
4:11And the Ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
4:12Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that day, with his clothes torn and earth on his head.
4:13And when he came, behold, Eli was sitting on a seat beside the road, watching; for his heart trembled for the Ark of God. And the man came into the city and told the news, and all the city cried out.
4:14When Eli heard the sound of the cry, he said, “What is the sound of this uproar?” And the man hurried and came and told Eli.
4:15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes were fixed, and he could not see.
4:16Then the man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line, and I fled from the battle line today.” And he said, “What happened, my son?”
4:17Then the bearer of the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great slaughter among the people; your two sons also are dead, Hophni and Phinehas; and the Ark of God has been taken.”
4:18And when he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from the seat beside the gate; and his neck was broken, and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
4:19Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near to giving birth. And when she heard the report that the Ark of God had been taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she bent down and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her.
4:20And at the time of her death, the women standing by her said, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or take it to heart.
4:21Then she called the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the Ark of God had been taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
4:22And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been taken.”

Chapter 5

5:1And the Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it from Eben-Ezer to Ashdod.
5:2Then the Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it beside Dagon.
5:3And when the Ashdodites rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face down to the ground before the Ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put it back in its place.
5:4And when they rose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face down to the ground before the Ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left.
5:5Therefore the priests of Dagon, and all who enter the house of Dagon, do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
5:6Then the hand of the LORD was heavy upon the Ashdodites, and He devastated them and struck them with tumors, Ashdod and its territory.
5:7And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The Ark of the God of Israel shall not remain with us, for His hand is harsh upon us and upon Dagon our god.”
5:8So they sent and gathered all the rulers of the Philistines to them, and said, “What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Let the Ark of the God of Israel be moved to Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel there.
5:9And after they had moved it, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great panic; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and tumors broke out upon them.
5:10So they sent the Ark of God to Ekron. And when the Ark of God came into Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the Ark of the God of Israel around to us, to kill us and our people.”
5:11Then they sent and gathered all the rulers of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the Ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was deadly panic throughout the whole city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
5:12And the men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Chapter 6

6:1Now the Ark of the LORD was in the land of the Philistines seven months.
6:2And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the Ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
6:3Then they said, “If you send away the Ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty; but surely send back to Him a guilt offering. Then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why His hand has not turned away from you.”
6:4Then they said, “What guilt offering shall we send back to Him?” And they said, “According to the number of the rulers of the Philistines: five golden tumors and five golden mice; for one plague is upon you all and upon your rulers.
6:5Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your mice that are ravaging the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps He will lighten His hand upon you, upon your gods, and upon your land.
6:6And why should you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He dealt severely with them, did they not send them away, and they departed?
6:7Now then, take and make a new cart, and take two milk cows upon which no yoke has ever come; hitch the cows to the cart, and take their calves home, away from them.
6:8Then take the Ark of the LORD and place it on the cart; and put the articles of gold that you are sending back to Him as a guilt offering in a chest beside it. Then send it away, and let it go.
6:9And watch: if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-Shemesh, then He has done this great evil to us; but if not, then we shall know that His hand did not strike us—it happened to us by chance.”
6:10And the men did so, and took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart; and they shut up their calves in the house.
6:11Then they placed the Ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest, the golden mice, and the images of their tumors.
6:12And the cows went straight toward Beth-Shemesh. They went along one highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left; and the rulers of the Philistines followed them to the border of Beth-Shemesh.
6:13Now the people of Beth-Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they raised their eyes and saw the Ark, and rejoiced to see it.
6:14And the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-Shemesh and stood there; and there was a great stone. Then they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
6:15And the Levites took down the Ark of the LORD and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and placed them on the great stone. And the men of Beth-Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the LORD.
6:16And when the five rulers of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day.
6:17Now these were the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron.
6:18And the golden mice corresponded to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five rulers, from the fortified city to the unwalled village. And the great stone upon which they placed the Ark of the LORD remains in the field of Joshua of Beth-Shemesh to this day.
6:19And He struck the men of Beth-Shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the LORD; He struck fifty thousand and seventy men among the people. And the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
6:20Then the men of Beth-Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?”
6:21Then they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have sent back the Ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you.”

Chapter 7

7:1Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came and brought up the Ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill; and they consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the Ark of the LORD.
7:2And from the day the Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed—twenty years—and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
7:3Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you; direct your heart to the LORD, and serve Him alone, and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
7:4So the sons of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD alone.
7:5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”
7:6And they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD; and they fasted that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
7:7When the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines went up against Israel; and when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
7:8Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease crying out for us to the LORD our God, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
7:9Then Samuel took one suckling lamb and offered it whole as a burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
7:10And as Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered mightily that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were struck down before Israel.
7:11Then the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them as far as below Beth-Car.
7:12Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Eben-Ezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
7:13So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not again enter the territory of Israel; and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
7:14And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
7:15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
7:16And he went year by year in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all these places.
7:17Then he returned to Ramah, for his house was there; and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Chapter 8

8:1And when Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
8:2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
8:3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
8:4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
8:5And they said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
8:6But the matter was evil in the eyes of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
8:7Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.
8:8According to all the deeds they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day—forsaking Me and serving other gods—so they are also doing to you.
8:9Now therefore, listen to their voice; only solemnly warn them, and declare to them the practice of the king who shall reign over them.”
8:10Then Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
8:11And he said, “This shall be the practice of the king who shall reign over you: he shall take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots.
8:12And he shall appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties; and some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.
8:13And he shall take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
8:14And he shall take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves—the best of them—and give them to his servants.
8:15And he shall take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards, and give it to his officials and his servants.
8:16And he shall take your male servants and your female servants, and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
8:17He shall take a tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his servants.
8:18And you shall cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
8:19But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,
8:20that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
8:21And Samuel heard all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
8:22Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each man to his city.”

Chapter 9

9:1Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a man of wealth and standing.
9:2And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome young man; and there was not a man among the sons of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward, he was taller than any of the people.
9:3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost; and Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and rise and go look for the donkeys.”
9:4So they passed through the hill-country of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, but they did not find them.
9:5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the young man who was with him, “Come, let us return, lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys and become anxious about us.”
9:6But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is honored; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there; perhaps he will tell us about the journey we have undertaken.”
9:7Then Saul said to his young man, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our vessels, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
9:8And the young man answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have here a fourth of a shekel of silver; and I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”
9:9In former times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.
9:10Then Saul said to his young man, “What you say is good; come, let us go.” And they went to the city where the man of God was.
9:11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
9:12And they answered them and said, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry now, for he came to the city today, because the people are offering a sacrifice today at the high place.
9:13As soon as you enter the city, you shall find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterward the invited guests eat. Now go up, for you shall find him at once.”
9:14So they went up to the city. As they entered the midst of the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.
9:15Now the LORD had revealed this to Samuel one day before Saul came, saying,
9:16“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as leader over My people Israel; and he shall save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
9:17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you; this one shall govern My people.”
9:18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
9:19And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, and you shall eat with me today; and I will send you away in the morning, and I will tell you all that is in your heart.
9:20As for the donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all Israel’s desire? Is it not on you and all your father’s house?”
9:21Then Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”
9:22Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the guest chamber, and gave them a place at the head of the invited guests; and they were about thirty men.
9:23Then Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”
9:24And the cook lifted up the thigh and what was on it, and set it before Saul. And he said, “Behold, the reserved portion is set before you. Eat, for it has been kept for you until this appointed time, since I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” And Saul ate with Samuel that day.
9:25Then they came down from the high place to the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.
9:26And they rose early. At dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Rise, that I may send you away.” And Saul rose, and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside.
9:27As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the young man to pass on before us”—and he passed on—“but you, stand here now, that I may make you hear the word of God.”

Chapter 10

10:1Then Samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you as leader over His inheritance?
10:2When you go from me today, you shall find two men by Rachel’s tomb, in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they shall say to you, ‘The donkeys you went to seek have been found. And behold, your father has stopped thinking about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, What shall I do for my son?’
10:3Then you shall pass on from there and come to the oak of Tabor. And three men going up to God at Bethel shall meet you there: one carrying three young goats, one carrying three loaves of bread, and one carrying a jug of wine.
10:4And they shall greet you and give you two loaves of bread, and you shall receive them from their hand.
10:5Afterward you shall come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is. And when you come there to the city, you shall meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place; and before them shall be a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre; and they shall be prophesying.
10:6And the Spirit of the LORD shall rush upon you, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man.
10:7And when these signs come to you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
10:8Then you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and make known to you what you shall do.”
10:9And when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all these signs came to pass that day.
10:10When they came there to the hill, behold, a company of prophets came to meet him; and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.
10:11And when all who had known him before saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
10:12Then a man from there answered and said, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
10:13And when he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.
10:14Then Saul’s uncle said to him and to his young man, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To look for the donkeys; and when we saw that they were not there, we went to Samuel.”
10:15Then Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”
10:16Then Saul said to his uncle, “He clearly told us that the donkeys had been found.” But concerning the matter of kingship, he did not tell him what Samuel had said.
10:17And Samuel called the people together before the LORD at Mizpah.
10:18Then he said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.
10:19But you have rejected your God today, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said, ‘No, but set a king over us.’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands.”
10:20And Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
10:21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was taken; and Saul son of Kish was taken. And they sought him, but he was not found.
10:22Therefore they inquired again of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”
10:23So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.
10:24Then Samuel said to all the people, “Have you seen him whom the LORD has chosen? For there is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
10:25Then Samuel told the people the ordinance of kingship, and wrote it in a scroll and placed it before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each man to his house.
10:26And Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and the men of valor went with him, whose hearts God had touched.
10:27But worthless men said, “How can this one save us?” And they despised him and brought him no gift. But he remained silent.

Chapter 11

11:1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”
11:2Then Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you: I will gouge out every right eye among you and bring reproach upon all Israel.”
11:3Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers throughout all the territory of Israel; and if there is no one to save us, then we will come out to you.”
11:4Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people; and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.
11:5And behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the herd. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” And they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
11:6Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger burned greatly.
11:7Then he took a pair of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, thus shall it be done to his oxen.” And the fear of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.
11:8Then he mustered them at Bezek; and the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
11:9Then they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun grows hot, you shall have deliverance.’” And the messengers came and declared it to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
11:10Then the men of Jabesh said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do to us whatever seems good in your sight.”
11:11And on the next day, Saul divided the people into three companies. They came into the midst of the camp during the morning watch and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
11:12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Give up the men, that we may put them to death.”
11:13But Saul said, “No man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”
11:14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”
11:15Then all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king there before the LORD in Gilgal; and they sacrificed peace offerings there before the LORD. And Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there greatly.

Chapter 12

12:1Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and I have set a king over you.
12:2And now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and gray-headed, and behold, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth to this day.
12:3Behold, here I am. Testify against me before the LORD and before His anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I oppressed? Whom have I crushed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? And I will restore it to you.”
12:4Then they said, “You have not oppressed us or crushed us, nor have you taken anything from the hand of anyone.”
12:5Then he said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have found nothing in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”
12:6Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is He who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
12:7And now, stand still, that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD, which He did for you and for your fathers.
12:8When Jacob came to Egypt, your fathers cried to the LORD. Then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, and they brought your fathers out of Egypt and caused them to dwell in this place.
12:9But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.
12:10Then they cried to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’
12:11Then the LORD sent Jerubba‘al, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies all around, and you dwelt in safety.
12:12But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ though the LORD your God was your king.
12:13And now, behold the king whom you have chosen, whom you asked for; and behold, the LORD has set a king over you.
12:14If you fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice, and do not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you shall follow the LORD your God.
12:15But if you do not listen to the voice of the LORD, and rebel against the command of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD shall be against you, as it was against your fathers.
12:16Now therefore, stand still and see this great thing which the LORD is about to do before your eyes.
12:17Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your evil is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king.”
12:18Then Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
12:19Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil of asking for ourselves a king.”
12:20Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
12:21Do not turn aside after empty things, which cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.
12:22For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great Name’s sake; for the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.
12:23As for me, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; and I will teach you the good and upright way.
12:24Only fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
12:25But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king shall be swept away.”

Chapter 13

13:1Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.
13:2Then Saul chose for himself three thousand men out of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill-country of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And he sent the rest of the people away, each man to his tent.
13:3And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the horn throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
13:4And all Israel heard it said, “Saul has struck the garrison of the Philistines,” and also, “Israel has become odious to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal.
13:5And the Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-Aven.
13:6When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress, for the people were hard pressed, the people hid themselves in caves, thickets, rocks, tombs, and pits.
13:7And some Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
13:8And he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.
13:9Then Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering and the peace offerings to me.” And he offered the burnt offering.
13:10And as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him.
13:11Then Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you had not come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines were gathering at Michmash.
13:12Then I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
13:13Then Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you; for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
13:14But now your kingdom shall not stand. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as leader over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
13:15Then Samuel rose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul mustered the people who remained with him, about six hundred men.
13:16And Saul and Jonathan his son, and the people who remained with them, were staying in Geba of Benjamin; and the Philistines were encamped at Michmash.
13:17Then raiders came out from the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward the road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
13:18another company turned toward the road to Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness.
13:19Now no blacksmith was found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.”
13:20So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each man to sharpen his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle.
13:21The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening the plowshares and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for sharpening the forks and axes and for setting the goads.
13:22So on the day of battle, no sword or spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
13:23Then the outpost of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Chapter 14

14:1One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man carrying his weapons, “Come, and let us cross over to the outpost of the Philistines that is over there.” But he did not tell his father.
14:2And Saul was staying at the outskirts of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree in Migron; and the people who were with him were about six hundred men.
14:3And Ahijah son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, priest of the LORD at Shiloh, was wearing the priestly vest. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
14:4Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the outpost of the Philistines, there was a sharp crag on one side and a sharp crag on the other; the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
14:5One crag rose on the north, in front of Michmash, and the other on the south, in front of Geba.
14:6Then Jonathan said to the young man carrying his weapons, “Come, and let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised. Perhaps the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.”
14:7Then the bearer of his weapons said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Turn as you will; behold, I am with you in whatever you decide.”
14:8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men and show ourselves to them.
14:9If they say to us, ‘Stand still until we come to you,’ then we will stand in our place and not go up to them.
14:10But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand; and this shall be the sign to us.”
14:11So both of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they hid themselves.”
14:12Then the men of the outpost answered Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” And Jonathan said to the bearer of his weapons, “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”
14:13Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and the bearer of his weapons after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and the bearer of his weapons put them to death behind him.
14:14And the first slaughter which Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons made was about twenty men, within about half a furrow’s length in an acre of ground.
14:15Then there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The outpost and the raiders also trembled, and the earth quaked; and it became a terror from God.
14:16Then Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was melting away and scattering.
14:17Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Take a count now and see who has gone from us.” And they counted, and behold, Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons were not there.
14:18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God”; for the Ark of God was with the sons of Israel on that day.
14:19And while Saul was speaking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines grew greater and greater. Then Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
14:20Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle. And behold, every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
14:21Now the Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp also turned to be with Israel, who were with Saul and Jonathan.
14:22And all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, and they also pursued them in the battle.
14:23So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle passed beyond Beth-Aven.
14:24And the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had bound the people with an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats food before evening, until I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
14:25And all the people came into the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
14:26When the people came into the forest, behold, the honey was flowing; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
14:27But Jonathan had not heard when his father bound the people with the oath. So he put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, dipped it in the honeycomb, and brought his hand back to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.
14:28Then one of the people answered and said, “Your father strictly bound the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” And the people were faint.
14:29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
14:30How much better if the people had eaten freely today from the spoil of their enemies which they found! For then the slaughter among the Philistines would have been much greater.”
14:31And they struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon; and the people were very faint.
14:32Then the people pounced upon the spoil and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
14:33And they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously. Roll a great stone here to me this day.”
14:34Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each man bring me his ox, and each man his sheep; and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’” So all the people brought their oxen with them that night and slaughtered them there.
14:35Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar he built to the LORD.
14:36Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good in your sight.” Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”
14:37So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him that day.
14:38Then Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see how this sin arose today.
14:39For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, even if it lies in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But no one among all the people answered him.
14:40Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son shall be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good in your sight.”
14:41Then Saul said to the LORD, God of Israel, “Give a true answer.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, but the people escaped.
14:42Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
14:43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him and said, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And behold, I must die.”
14:44Then Saul said, “Thus may God do, and thus may He add; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
14:45But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
14:46Then Saul ceased pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
14:47And Saul established his kingship over Israel and fought all around against all his enemies: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he overpowered them.
14:48And he acted valiantly and struck Amalek, and delivered Israel out of the hand of those who plundered it.
14:49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchi-Shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
14:50And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
14:51And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.
14:52And the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and whenever Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he gathered him to himself.

Chapter 15

15:1Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, listen to the voice of the words of the LORD.
15:2Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘I have taken account of what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up out of Egypt.
15:3Now go and strike Amalek, and devote to destruction all that he has. Do not spare him, but put to death man and woman, child and nursing infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
15:4Then Saul summoned the people and mustered them at Telaim: two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah.
15:5And Saul came to a city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.
15:6Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; come down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
15:7And Saul struck Amalek from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.
15:8Then he captured Agag king of Amalek alive, and devoted all the people to destruction by the edge of the sword.
15:9But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and oxen, the fattened calves and lambs, and all that was good; and they were not willing to devote them to destruction. But everything despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
15:10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,
15:11“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My words.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.
15:12And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself; then he turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.”
15:13Then Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you by the LORD. I have carried out the word of the LORD.”
15:14Then Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of oxen that I hear?”
15:15Then Saul said, “They brought them from the Amalekites, because the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we devoted to destruction.”
15:16Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop, and I will tell you what the LORD spoke to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”
15:17Then Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own eyes, were you not made head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you as king over Israel.
15:18And the LORD sent you on the way and said, ‘Go, and devote the sinners, the Amalekites, to destruction, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
15:19Why then did you not listen to the voice of the LORD, but pounced upon the spoil and did evil in the sight of the LORD?”
15:20Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I did listen to the voice of the LORD, and I went on the way which the LORD sent me. I brought Agag king of Amalek, and I devoted Amalek to destruction.
15:21But the people took sheep and oxen from the spoil, the best of what was devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”
15:22Then Samuel said, “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to give attention than the fat of rams.
15:23For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and household idols. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
15:24Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.
15:25And now, please forgive my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.”
15:26But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
15:27Then Samuel turned to go, and Saul seized the hem of his robe, and it tore.
15:28Then Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.
15:29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or relent; for He is not a man, that He should relent.”
15:30Then he said, “I have sinned. Yet please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.”
15:31So Samuel returned after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
15:32Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of Amalek near to me.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death has turned aside.”
15:33Then Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
15:34Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul.
15:35And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel mourned for Saul; and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

Chapter 16

16:1Then the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have seen among his sons a king for Myself.”
16:2Then Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer from the herd with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
16:3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I name to you.”
16:4Then Samuel did what the LORD had spoken and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city trembled to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”
16:5And he said, “In peace. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.
16:6And when they came, he saw Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him.”
16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the LORD does not see as man sees: man looks upon the outward appearance, but the LORD looks upon the heart.”
16:8Then Jesse called Abinadab and caused him to pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
16:9Then Jesse caused Shammah to pass by. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
16:10And Jesse caused seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
16:11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the young men?” And he said, “The youngest remains, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
16:12Then he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes, and handsome in appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise, anoint him, for this is he.”
16:13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose and went to Ramah.
16:14Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrified him.
16:15Then Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
16:16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man skillful in playing the harp. And when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well.”
16:17Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a man who plays well, and bring him to me.”
16:18Then one of the servants answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor and a man of war, prudent in speech and handsome; and the LORD is with him.”
16:19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”
16:20Then Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, a jug of wine, and one young goat, and sent them by the hand of David his son to Saul.
16:21Then David came to Saul and stood before him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became the bearer of his weapons.
16:22Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
16:23And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the harp and played with his hand. Then Saul found relief and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Chapter 17

17:1Then the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah; and they encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-Dammim.
17:2And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and encamped by the Valley of Elah; and they drew up in battle array to meet the Philistines.
17:3And the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.
17:4Then a champion came out from the camps of the Philistines; his name was Goliath, from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span—or four cubits and a span.
17:5And a bronze helmet was on his head, and he was clothed in a coat of scale armor; and the weight of the armor was five thousand shekels of bronze.
17:6And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a bronze javelin was slung between his shoulders.
17:7And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and the bearer of his shield went before him.
17:8Then he stood and called to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why have you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
17:9If he is able to fight with me and strike me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and strike him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”
17:10Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.”
17:11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
17:12Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse. He had eight sons, and in the days of Saul the man was old, advanced in years.
17:13And the three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to battle were Eliab the firstborn, Abinadab the second, and Shammah the third.
17:14And David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.
17:15But David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
17:16And the Philistine drew near morning and evening and stationed himself for forty days.
17:17Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.
17:18And take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring back a pledge from them.”
17:19Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
17:20And David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the army was going out to the battle line and raising the war cry.
17:21Then Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, rank against rank.
17:22And David left his goods in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the battle line, and came and greeted his brothers.
17:23And as he was speaking with them, behold, the champion, Goliath the Philistine from Gath, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words; and David heard them.
17:24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from before him and were greatly afraid.
17:25Then the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? He is coming up to defy Israel. And the man who strikes him, the king will enrich with great riches, give him his daughter, and make his father’s house exempt in Israel.”
17:26Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who strikes this Philistine and removes the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the ranks of the living God?”
17:27And the people spoke to him according to this word, saying, “Thus shall it be done for the man who strikes him.”
17:28Then Eliab his eldest brother heard him speaking to the men, and Eliab’s anger burned against David. And he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”
17:29Then David said, “What have I done now? Was it not only a question?”
17:30Then he turned from him toward another and spoke the same word; and the people answered him as before.
17:31And when the words David had spoken were heard, they reported them before Saul; and Saul sent for him.
17:32Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
17:33But Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
17:34Then David said to Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. And when a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock,
17:35I went out after it and struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. And when it rose against me, I seized it by its beard and struck it and put it to death.
17:36Your servant has struck both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the ranks of the living God.”
17:37And David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”
17:38Then Saul clothed David in his armor, put a bronze helmet on his head, and clothed him with a coat of armor.
17:39And David strapped his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And David removed them from himself.
17:40Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag he had, in the pouch; and his sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
17:41And the Philistine came on, drawing nearer and nearer to David; and the man carrying the shield went before him.
17:42And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him, for he was a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
17:43Then the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
17:44Then the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and to the beasts of the field.”
17:45Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the Name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied.
17:46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and cut off your head. And I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines this day to the birds of the heavens and to the beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
17:47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save by sword or spear; for the battle belongs to the LORD, and He will give you into our hand.”
17:48And when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
17:49Then David put his hand into the bag and took a stone from it, and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
17:50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and put him to death; and there was no sword in David’s hand.
17:51Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath, and put him to death and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their mighty man was dead, they fled.
17:52Then the men of Israel and Judah rose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain of the Philistines fell along the way of Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.
17:53Then the sons of Israel returned from hotly pursuing the Philistines and plundered their camps.
17:54And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put his weapons in his own tent.
17:55When Saul saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?” And Abner said, “As you live, O king, I do not know.”
17:56Then the king said, “Ask whose son this young man is.”
17:57And when David returned from striking the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul; and the head of the Philistine was in his hand.
17:58Then Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

Chapter 18

18:1And when David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
18:2And Saul took him that day and did not permit him to return to his father’s house.
18:3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
18:4And Jonathan stripped off the robe that was upon him and gave it to David, along with his garments, even his sword, his bow, and his belt.
18:5And David went out wherever Saul sent him and acted wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
18:6And as they were coming in, when David returned from striking the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet Saul the king, with tambourines, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments.
18:7And the women answered one another as they played and said, “Saul has struck his thousands, and David his myriads.”
18:8And Saul was exceedingly displeased, and this saying was evil in his sight. And he said, “They have given David myriads, but to me they have given thousands. And what more can he have but the kingdom?”
18:9And Saul eyed David from that day forward.
18:10And on the next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within the house. And David was playing with his hand, as day by day; and the spear was in Saul’s hand.
18:11Then Saul hurled the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David turned aside from his presence twice.
18:12And Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.
18:13Therefore Saul removed David from his presence and appointed him commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
18:14And David acted wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him.
18:15And when Saul saw that he acted very wisely, he stood in dread of him.
18:16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
18:17Then Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab—I will give her to you as a wife. Only be a valiant son for me and fight the battles of the LORD.” For Saul said, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18:18But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
18:19But at the time when Merab daughter of Saul should have been given to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel the Meholathite.
18:20Now Michal daughter of Saul loved David. And they told Saul, and the matter was right in his sight.
18:21And Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may become a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “Today you shall become my son-in-law a second time.”
18:22And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David privately, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore become the king’s son-in-law.’”
18:23And Saul’s servants spoke these words in David’s hearing. But David said, “Is it a light thing in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?”
18:24And Saul’s servants told him, saying, “David spoke according to these words.”
18:25Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king has no delight in a bride-price, but in one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged upon the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul intended to cause David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.
18:26And when his servants told David these words, the matter was right in David’s sight, that he should become the king’s son-in-law. And before the days were fulfilled,
18:27David rose and went, he and his men, and struck two hundred men among the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they delivered them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.
18:28And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal daughter of Saul loved him.
18:29And Saul was still more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
18:30Then the rulers of the Philistines came out to battle. And as often as they came out, David acted more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Chapter 19

19:1And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should put David to death.
19:2But Jonathan son of Saul delighted greatly in David. And Jonathan told David, saying, “Saul my father is seeking to put you to death. Now therefore, please be on your guard in the morning; remain in a secret place and hide yourself.
19:3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. And if I see anything, I will tell you.”
19:4And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you and because his deeds have been very good toward you.
19:5For he put his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without cause?”
19:6And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”
19:7Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
19:8And war arose again. And David went out and fought against the Philistines and struck them with a great slaughter, and they fled from before him.
19:9Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.
19:10And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence, and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.
19:11Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and put him to death in the morning. But Michal his wife told David, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death.”
19:12So Michal let David down through the window; and he went and fled and escaped.
19:13Then Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, put a covering of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with a garment.
19:14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
19:15Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may put him to death.”
19:16And when the messengers came in, behold, the household idol was on the bed, with a covering of goats’ hair at its head.
19:17Then Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me in this way and sent my enemy away, so that he escaped?” And Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go. Why should I put you to death?’”
19:18So David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
19:19And it was told Saul, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.”
19:20Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied.
19:21And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. Then Saul sent messengers a third time, and they also prophesied.
19:22Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great cistern that is at Secu. And he asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”
19:23Then he went there, to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also. And he went on, prophesying as he went, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
19:24And he also stripped off his garments, and he also prophesied before Samuel; and he lay naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Chapter 20

20:1Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?”
20:2And he said to him, “Far be it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing great or small without revealing it to me. Why then should my father hide this matter from me? It is not so.”
20:3But David swore again and said, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your sight; and he says, ‘Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
20:4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul desires, I will do for you.”
20:5And David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should surely sit with the king to eat. But send me away, and I will hide myself in the field until the evening of the third day.
20:6If your father misses me at all, then you shall say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem, his city, for the whole family has an annual sacrifice there.’
20:7If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant has peace; but if his anger burns, know that evil is determined by him.
20:8Therefore show steadfast love to your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?”
20:9Then Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I certainly knew that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, would I not tell you?”
20:10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
20:11And Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let us go out into the field.” And both of them went out into the field.
20:12Then Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, God of Israel, be witness: when I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or by the third day, and behold, there is good toward David, if I do not then send to you and reveal it to you,
20:13thus may the LORD do to Jonathan, and thus may He add. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will reveal it to you and send you away, that you may go in peace. And the LORD be with you, as He was with my father.
20:14And while I am still alive, will you not show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die?
20:15And you shall not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the ground.”
20:16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD require it from the hand of David’s enemies.”
20:17And Jonathan made David swear again because of his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
20:18Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will be empty.
20:19And on the third day you shall come down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on the day of the deed, and remain beside the stone Ezel.
20:20And I will shoot three arrows to its side, as though I were shooting at a mark.
20:21And behold, I will send the youth, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I plainly say to the youth, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you; take them,’ then come, for there is peace for you and no danger, as the LORD lives.
20:22But if I say thus to the young man, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the LORD has sent you away.
20:23And as for the word which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between me and you forever.”
20:24So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat the meal.
20:25And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. And Jonathan rose, and Abner sat beside Saul; but David’s place was empty.
20:26Yet Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is not clean—surely he is not clean.”
20:27And on the second day of the new moon, David’s place was empty. Then Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
20:28And Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.
20:29And he said, ‘Please send me away, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother himself has commanded me to be there. Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me slip away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”
20:30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “Son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse, to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
20:31For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the ground, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now therefore send and bring him to me, for he is a son of death.”
20:32But Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
20:33Then Saul hurled the spear at him to strike him; and Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
20:34So Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved for David because his father had put him to shame.
20:35And in the morning Jonathan went out into the field at the appointed time with David, and a little youth was with him.
20:36And he said to his youth, “Run now, find the arrows that I shoot.” As the youth ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
20:37And when the youth came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the youth and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”
20:38And Jonathan called after the youth, “Hurry, be quick, do not stand still!” And Jonathan’s youth gathered the arrows and came to his lord.
20:39But the youth knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
20:40Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the youth who was with him and said to him, “Go, carry them into the city.”
20:41And when the youth had gone, David rose from beside the stone toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, until David wept the more.
20:42Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the Name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed, forever.’”

Chapter 21

21:1Then David rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
21:2And David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech trembled at meeting David and said to him, “Why are you alone, with no man with you?”
21:3Then David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commanded me concerning a matter and said to me, ‘Let no man know anything of the matter about which I send you and which I have commanded you.’ And I have directed the young men to such and such a place.
21:4Now therefore, what is under your hand? Give five loaves into my hand, or whatever may be found.”
21:5And the priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread—if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”
21:6Then David answered the priest and said to him, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as on former occasions when I went out; and the vessels of the young men are holy. Though the journey is common, how much more today will they be holy in their vessels.”
21:7So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD to put fresh bread in its place on the day it was taken away.
21:8Now a certain man among Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul’s shepherds.
21:9Then David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here under your hand a spear or sword? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s matter was urgent.”
21:10Then the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck in the Valley of Elah—behold, it is wrapped in a garment behind the priestly vest. If you will take it for yourself, take it, for there is no other here except it.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
21:11Then David rose and fled that day from before Saul and came to Achish king of Gath.
21:12And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Is it not of this man that they sing to one another in dances, saying, ‘Saul struck his thousands, and David his myriads’?”
21:13And David took these words to heart and was exceedingly afraid of Achish king of Gath.
21:14So he changed his behavior before their eyes and feigned madness in their hands, scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard.
21:15Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see a man acting mad. Why have you brought him to me?
21:16Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one to act mad before me? Shall this man come into my house?”

Chapter 22

22:1Then David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard of it, they went down there to him.
22:2And everyone in distress gathered to him, and everyone who had a creditor, and everyone bitter in soul; and he became commander over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
22:3Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come out and stay with you, until I know what God will do for me.”
22:4And he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the days that David was in the stronghold.
22:5Then Gad the prophet said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold. Depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.
22:6And Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had become known. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height, with his spear in his hand; and all his servants were standing around him.
22:7Then Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, sons of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he appoint every one of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?
22:8For all of you have conspired against me, and no one reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse. And none of you grieves for me or reveals to me that my son has raised up my servant against me to lie in wait, as at this day.”
22:9Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood over Saul’s servants, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.
22:10And he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
22:11Then the king sent to call Ahimelech son of Ahitub, the priest, and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob; and all of them came to the king.
22:12And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he said, “Here I am, my lord.”
22:13Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword and by inquiring of God for him, that he should rise against me to lie in wait, as at this day?”
22:14Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your command and is honored in your house?
22:15Did I begin today to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king lay anything against his servant or against any of my father’s house, for your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.”
22:16But the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.”
22:17Then the king said to the guards who stood around him, “Turn and put the priests of the LORD to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me.” But the king’s servants were not willing to put forth their hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
22:18Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and on that day he put to death eighty-five men who wore a linen priestly vest.
22:19And he struck Nob, the city of the priests, by the edge of the sword—man and woman, child and nursing infant, ox and donkey and sheep, by the edge of the sword.
22:20But one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped, and his name was Abiathar; and he fled after David.
22:21And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the priests of the LORD.
22:22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for every life in your father’s house.
22:23Remain with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you are under protection.”

Chapter 23

23:1And they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.”
23:2Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go, strike the Philistines and save Keilah.”
23:3But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”
23:4Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, “Rise, go down to Keilah, for I am giving the Philistines into your hand.”
23:5So David and his men went to Keilah and fought against the Philistines, drove away their livestock, and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
23:6Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with the priestly vest in his hand.
23:7And it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. Then Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a city with gates and bars.”
23:8And Saul summoned all the people to battle, to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.
23:9But David knew that Saul was devising evil against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the priestly vest near.”
23:10Then David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has surely heard that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.
23:11Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.”
23:12Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver you.”
23:13Then David and his men, about six hundred men, rose and went out from Keilah and moved about wherever they could go. And it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, so he ceased from going out.
23:14And David remained in the wilderness, in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
23:15And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. Now David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in Horesh.
23:16Then Jonathan son of Saul rose and went to David in Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
23:17And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall reign over Israel, and I shall be second to you; and Saul my father also knows this.”
23:18And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then David remained in Horesh, and Jonathan went to his house.
23:19Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding himself among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of the wasteland?
23:20Now therefore, according to all the desire of your soul to come down, O king, come down; and it shall be ours to deliver him into the king’s hand.”
23:21Then Saul said, “Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.
23:22Go now, make further preparation, and know and see the place where his foot may be and who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very cunning.
23:23And see and learn all the hiding places where he hides himself, and return to me with certainty. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”
23:24Then they rose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah, south of the wasteland.
23:25And Saul and his men went to seek him. But they told David, and he went down to the rock and remained in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.
23:26And Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul, while Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them.
23:27But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land.”
23:28So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore they called that place the Rock of Divisions.

Chapter 24

24:1Then David went up from there and remained in the strongholds of En-Gedi.
24:2And when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, it was told him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi.”
24:3Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men toward the rocks of the wild goats.
24:4And he came to the sheepfolds beside the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were dwelling in the recesses of the cave.
24:5And the men of David said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as seems good in your sight.’” Then David rose and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
24:6And afterward David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s hem.
24:7And he said to his men, “Far be it from me, by the LORD, that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him; for he is the LORD’s anointed.”
24:8So David restrained his men with these words and did not permit them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose from the cave and went on his way.
24:9Then David rose afterward and went out from the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
24:10And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David is seeking your harm’?
24:11Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you into my hand today in the cave. And some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
24:12And see, my father—indeed, see the hem of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the hem of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.
24:13May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.
24:14As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness goes out from the wicked’; but my hand shall not be against you.
24:15After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog, after a single flea.
24:16May the LORD therefore be judge and judge between me and you; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me out of your hand.”
24:17And when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
24:18Then he said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
24:19And you have declared today how you have dealt well with me, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me.
24:20For when a man finds his enemy, will he send him away unharmed? May the LORD therefore repay you with good for what you have done to me this day.
24:21And now, behold, I know that you shall surely reign and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
24:22Now therefore swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my seed after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”
24:23And David swore to Saul. Then Saul went to his house, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Chapter 25

25:1Then Samuel died, and all Israel gathered and mourned for him, and they buried him at his house in Ramah. And David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
25:2Now there was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel. And the man was very wealthy; he had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
25:3And the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings; and he was a Calebite.
25:4And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
25:5So David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, come to Nabal, and greet him in my name.
25:6And thus you shall say: ‘Long life to you! Peace be to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have.
25:7And now, I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not shame them, nor was anything missing from them all the days they were in Carmel.
25:8Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let the young men find favor in your sight, for we have come on a good day. Please give whatever your hand finds to your servants and to your son David.’”
25:9And when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in David’s name, and they waited.
25:10But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away today, each one from his master.
25:11Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”
25:12So David’s young men turned on their way and went back; and they came and told him according to all these words.
25:13Then David said to his men, “Each man strap on his sword.” And each man strapped on his sword, and David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
25:14But one young man among the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our lord, but he railed at them.
25:15Yet the men were very good to us. We were not put to shame, nor did we miss anything all the days we went about with them while we were in the field.
25:16They were a wall around us both by night and by day, all the days we were with them pasturing the sheep.
25:17Now therefore, know and consider what you shall do, for evil is determined against our lord and against all his house. And he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.”
25:18Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two skins of wine, five sheep prepared, five measures of roasted grain, one hundred cakes of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them upon donkeys.
25:19And she said to her young men, “Pass on before me; behold, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell Nabal her husband.
25:20And as she rode on the donkey and came down through a hidden ravine of the mountain, behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; and she met them.
25:21Now David had said, “Surely in vain I guarded all that this man had in the wilderness, so that nothing was missing of all that belonged to him; for he has repaid me evil for good.
25:22Thus may God do to the enemies of David, and thus may He add, if by morning light I leave alive any male belonging to him.”
25:23And when Abigail saw David, she hurried and came down from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed herself to the ground.
25:24Then she fell at his feet and said, “Upon me, my lord, let the iniquity be. And please let your maidservant speak in your hearing, and hear the words of your maidservant.
25:25Please let not my lord set his heart upon this worthless man, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
25:26Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has withheld you from coming into bloodguilt and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord be as Nabal.
25:27And now, let this gift which your maidservant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow at the feet of my lord.
25:28Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant. For the LORD will surely make for my lord a steadfast house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD; and evil shall not be found in you all your days.
25:29And though a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, yet the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God; but the lives of your enemies He shall sling away as from the hollow of a sling.
25:30And when the LORD does for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you and appoints you as leader over Israel,
25:31this shall not be a stumbling-block to you or a grief of heart to my lord—either that you shed blood without cause or that my lord avenged himself. And when the LORD has done good to my lord, then remember your maidservant.”
25:32Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed is the LORD, God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me.
25:33And blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because you have restrained me this day from coming into bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand.
25:34For indeed, as the LORD lives, God of Israel, who has kept me back from doing you harm, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light not one male would have been left alive to Nabal.”
25:35Then David received from her hand what she had brought him and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have listened to your voice and granted your request.”
25:36Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, and he was exceedingly drunk. So she told him nothing, little or much, until the morning light.
25:37And in the morning, when Nabal had become sober, his wife told him these things; and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
25:38And about ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.
25:39And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed is the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of the reproach I suffered at Nabal’s hand and has kept back His servant from evil; and the LORD has returned Nabal’s evil upon his own head.” Then David sent and spoke with Abigail, to take her to himself as a wife.
25:40And when David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you, to take you to himself as a wife.”
25:41Then she rose and bowed herself with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your maidservant is a servant, to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
25:42And Abigail hurried and rose and rode upon a donkey, with five of her young women following her. And she went after David’s messengers and became his wife.
25:43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives.
25:44But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

Chapter 26

26:1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite the Jeshimon?”
26:2And Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
26:3And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite the Jeshimon, beside the road. But David remained in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness.
26:4Then David sent spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.
26:5And David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner son of Ner, commander of his army. Saul lay within the camp circle, and the people were encamped around him.
26:6Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
26:7So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the camp circle, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, while Abner and the people lay around him.
26:8Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. And now, please let me pin him to the ground with the spear in one thrust; I will not strike him twice.”
26:9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can raise his hand against the anointed of the LORD and remain guiltless?”
26:10And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and perish.
26:11Far be it from me before the LORD to raise my hand against the anointed of the LORD. And now, please take the spear that is beside his head and the jug of water, and let us go.”
26:12So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away. No one saw, no one knew, and no one awoke; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.
26:13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great distance between them.
26:14And David called to the people and to Abner son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” And Abner answered, “Who are you who call out to the king?”
26:15Then David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why, then, did you not guard your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king, your lord.
26:16What you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you did not guard your lord, the anointed of the LORD. And now, see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was beside his head.”
26:17And Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.”
26:18And he said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done, and what evil is in my hand?
26:19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, let Him accept an offering; but if men have done it, cursed are they before the LORD, for they have driven me out today from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
26:20Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth far from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to seek one flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
26:21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will do you no more harm, because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and have erred greatly.”
26:22And David answered, “Behold, the king’s spear. Let one of the young men cross over and take it.
26:23And the LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD gave you into my hand today, but I would not raise my hand against the anointed of the LORD.
26:24And behold, as your life was precious in my sight this day, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may He deliver me out of all distress.”
26:25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David. You shall surely do great things and shall surely prevail.” And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Chapter 27

27:1Then David said in his heart, “One day I shall perish by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape at once to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”
27:2So David arose and crossed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.
27:3And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household; David also with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
27:4And when Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he sought him no more.
27:5Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your sight, let them give me a place in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell with you in the royal city?”
27:6So Achish gave him Ziklag that day; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.
27:7And the number of days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.
27:8And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for these peoples had inhabited the land from ancient times, as far as Shur and the land of Egypt.
27:9And David struck the land and left neither man nor woman alive. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and garments, and then returned and came to Achish.
27:10And Achish would say, “Where did you raid today?” And David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah,” or, “Against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negev of the Kenites.”
27:11And David left neither man nor woman alive to bring word to Gath, saying, “Lest they tell about us, saying, ‘Thus David has done.’” And this was his practice all the days he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.
27:12And Achish believed David, saying, “He has made himself utterly detested among his people Israel; therefore he shall be my servant forever.”

Chapter 28

28:1And in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “You know for certain that you and your men shall go out with me to the battle.”
28:2And David said to Achish, “Then you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
28:3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists from the land.
28:4And the Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.
28:5When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
28:6And Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, by the sacred decision lots, or by the prophets.
28:7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire through her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at Endor.”
28:8So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and he went, with two men accompanying him. And they came to the woman by night, and he said, “Please divine for me through a spirit and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.”
28:9But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why, then, are you laying a snare for my life, to put me to death?”
28:10And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
28:11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
28:12And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
28:13And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”
28:14And he said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
28:15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul said, “I am in great distress. The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has withdrawn from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have called for you, that you may make known to me what I should do.”
28:16And Samuel said, “Why, then, do you ask me, since the LORD has withdrawn from you and become your adversary?
28:17The LORD has done to you as He spoke by my hand: the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.
28:18Because you did not listen to the voice of the LORD and did not execute His fierce wrath against Amalek, the LORD has done this thing to you this day.
28:19Moreover, the LORD will give Israel, along with you, into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
28:20Then Saul fell at once, full length upon the ground, and was greatly afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all that day and all that night.
28:21And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly terrified. And she said to him, “Behold, your maidservant has listened to your voice. I risked my life and obeyed the words you spoke to me.
28:22Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a morsel of food before you. Eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
28:23But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” Then his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he listened to their voice, arose from the ground, and sat on the couch.
28:24Now the woman had a stall-fed calf in the house. She hurried and slaughtered it, took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread from it.
28:25And she set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they arose and went away that night.

Chapter 29

29:1Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel encamped by the spring in Jezreel.
29:2And the rulers of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands, while David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.
29:3Then the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, indeed these years? I have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me until this day.”
29:4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and they said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you have appointed for him. He shall not go down with us into battle, lest he become our adversary in the battle. For with what could this man reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?
29:5Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying, ‘Saul has struck his thousands, and David his myriads’?”
29:6Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you are upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the camp is good in my sight. For I have found no evil in you from the day you came to me until this day. Yet you are not good in the sight of the rulers.
29:7Now therefore, return and go in peace, that you do nothing evil in the sight of the rulers of the Philistines.”
29:8And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
29:9And Achish answered David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as a messenger of God. Nevertheless, the rulers of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us into battle.’
29:10Now therefore, rise early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord who came with you. Rise early in the morning, and as soon as you have light, depart.”
29:11So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning and return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Chapter 30

30:1And when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire,
30:2and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, from small to great. They put no one to death, but carried them away and went on their way.
30:3And David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
30:4Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.
30:5And David’s two wives had been taken captive: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
30:6And David was in great distress, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was bitter, each man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
30:7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the priestly vest near to me.” And Abiathar brought the priestly vest near to David.
30:8And David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and shall surely recover all.”
30:9So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the Brook of Besor, where those who were left behind remained.
30:10But David pursued with four hundred men, for two hundred remained behind, being too faint to cross the Brook of Besor.
30:11And they found an Egyptian man in the field and brought him to David. They gave him food, and he ate, and they gave him water to drink.
30:12And they gave him a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit returned to him, for he had eaten no food and drunk no water for three days and three nights.
30:13Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” And he said, “I am an Egyptian youth, servant of an Amalekite man. My master abandoned me because I fell sick three days ago.
30:14We raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory belonging to Judah, and the Negev of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”
30:15And David said to him, “Will you bring me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither put me to death nor deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will bring you down to this band.”
30:16And he brought him down, and behold, they were spread over all the land, eating, drinking, and celebrating because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
30:17And David struck them from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped except four hundred young men who mounted camels and fled.
30:18And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; David also recovered his two wives.
30:19Nothing of theirs was missing, from small to great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything they had taken for themselves. David brought back everything.
30:20And David took all the flocks and herds. They drove them before the other livestock and said, “This is David’s spoil.”
30:21Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too faint to follow David, whom they had left at the Brook of Besor. And they went out to meet David and the people who were with him; and when David drew near to the people, he greeted them.
30:22Then every evil and worthless man among those who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will give them none of the spoil we recovered, except that each man may take his wife and his children and depart.”
30:23But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us.
30:24And who will listen to you in this matter? For as is the share of him who goes down into the battle, so shall be the share of him who remains with the baggage; they shall share alike.”
30:25And from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
30:26And when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, his friends, saying, “Behold, a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD”—
30:27to those in Bethel, to those in Ramoth of the Negev, and to those in Jattir;
30:28to those in Aroer, to those in Siphmoth, and to those in Eshtemoa;
30:29to those in Rachal, to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those in the cities of the Kenites;
30:30to those in Hormah, to those in Bor-ashan, and to those in Athach;
30:31to those in Hebron, and to all the places where David and his men had gone about.

Chapter 31

31:1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
31:2And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
31:3And the battle pressed hard against Saul. The archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.
31:4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and pierce me through and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell upon it.
31:5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.
31:6So Saul died, and his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men, together on that day.
31:7And when the men of Israel who were beyond the valley and those who were beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
31:8And on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
31:9Then they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temples of their idols and among the people.
31:10And they placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shean.
31:11And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
31:12all the valiant men arose and went all night. They took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shean, came to Jabesh, and burned them there.
31:13Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.