Abraham’s nephew Lot, were “cousins” of Ruth and Naomi – of Ruth because she

Abraham’s nephew Lot, were “cousins” of Ruth and Naomi – of Ruth because she

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9 May the LORD grant that each of you find rest in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them; and they raised their voice and wept.

Now it came about in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live for a time in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 And the man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah, and they came into the country of Moab and stayed there.

10 And they said to her, “We will certainly return with you to your people.”

11 And Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Are there any more sons still in my womb, that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters. Go on your way. For I am too old to get a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if even tonight I would have a husband and would also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them until they were grown up? Would you refrain from marrying for them? No, my daughters; for I am very much grieved for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

3 And Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she and her two sons were left. 4 And they married two of the women of Moab. The name of one was Orpah and the name of the other was Ruth. And they stayed there about ten years. 5 And both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

14 And they raised their voice and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law but Ruth clung to her.

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return home from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited his people by providing food for them. 7 Therefore she, and her two daughters-in-law with her, left the place where she was and set out on the road to return to the land of Judah.

15 And Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Go back after your sister-in-law.”

16 And Ruth said, “Do not ask me to leave you or to go back from following you, for where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be

8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go. Each of you return to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, just as you have dealt with those now dead, and with me.

1:1 “Ruled” – or “judged” (the Hebrew word means both of these). The judges led Israel for more than 300 years.

expect God to be kind to us if we are not kind to others. From one point of view this book of Ruth is the story of kindness and its rewards (v 8; 2:11,12,15,20; 3:10). On kindness see 1 Cor 13:4; Eph 4:22 1:11 “Husbands” – see Deut 25:5,6. An illustration of this is found in Gen 38:6-11. 1:13 “Against me” – vs 20,21; Jud 2:15; Job 19:21. Naomi assumed that her suffering in the famine in Bethlehem, and the loss of her husband and both sons meant that God’s hand was against her. But this may not have been so. See note at Job 6:4; 7:17-19; 19:21,22. Troubles that come to individuals may, it is true, be judgments of God, but they may be blessings in disguise and intended for some great good. Notes at Gen 50:20. 1:15 “Her gods” – the Moabites were idolaters. Chemosh was their principal god (notes at 1 Kings 11:7). 1:16 “My God” – this speaks well of both Ruth and Naomi – of Ruth because she showed unselfish loyalty and love to her mother-in-law, of Naomi because evidently she had lived in such a way that her daughter-in-law was attracted to both her and the God she worshiped. Ruth left her homeland, her father and mother (2:11) and their gods to go on into the unknown with Naomi. This determination is an illustration of what our attitude should be towards the Lord Jesus – Matt 4:18-22; Luke 14:33; John 6:66-68. 1:17 2 Sam 15:21.

“Famine in the land” – this famine is not mentioned in the book of Judges. It must have been very severe to cause people to leave their homes and inheritances and go to another country. The cause of the famine is not given here, but during the times of the judges the people often forsook God, broke His laws and worshiped idols (Judges 2:16-19). It is no surprising thing that a famine came on them (compare Lev 26:25,26; Deut 28:15,23,24; 1 Kings 8:35; 2 Kings 8:1; Jer 14:10-12; 24:10; Ezek 5:16; 14:21; Amos 8:11). 1:2 “Naomi” – a Hebrew name meaning “Pleasant.”

“Ephrathites” – Bethlehem was located in an area called Ephrathah – Micah 5:2.

“Moab” – note on Moab at Gen 19:3638. The Moabites, being descended from Abraham’s nephew Lot, were “cousins” of the Israelites. 1:6-8 “Providing food” – God gave rain and good crops once more in Israel.

“From. . .Moab” – evidently Naomi and her daughters-in-law at first agreed to go together to Judah, but after setting out on the journey Naomi changed her mind. Possibly this was because the thought struck her that there was probably no future in Israel for these widowed Moabite women. 1:8 “With me” – 2:11,12. Compare Ps 18:25,26; 62:12. We have no right to

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buried. May the LORD deal harshly with me, and worse also, if anything but death parts you and me.” 18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, then she said no more to her.

this?”

6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the Moabite girl who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has stayed from morning until now, except that she sat for a while in the house.”

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethehem, it came about that the whole city was stirred concerning them and they said, “Is this Naomi?”

20 And she said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. So why should you call me Naomi, seeing the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field and do not go away from here, but stay here close to my servant girls. 9 Keep your eyes on the field that they are reaping and go after them. Have I not ordered the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the water pots and drink what the young men draw.”

22 So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, coming back from the country of Moab. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

10 Then she prostrated herself, bowing down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have you looked on me with favour to take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

And Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a wealthy man of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth and have come to a people whom you have not known before this. 12 May the LORD repay you for your work and may a full reward be given to you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to trust.”

2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field and glean heads of grain after someone who looks on me with favour.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

3 And she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was a relative of Elimelech.

13 Then she said, “Let me find favour in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and have spoken kindly to your maid servant, even though I am not like one of your maid servants.”

4 And just then Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you.” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you.”

5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is

14 And Boaz said to her, “At mealtime come here and eat bread and dip your pieces in the vinegar.”

1:19 “Naomi” – at least 10 years had passed since Naomi left Bethlehem (v 4), and she was without husband or sons, and sorrow had doubtless left its mark on her face. 1:20 “Mara” – this Hebrew word means “bitter.” Naomi is saying “Don’t call me ‘the pleasant one’, but ‘the bitter one.’” This means that her experiences had filled her with sorrow, not that she was bitter against God. If she had been bitter against God, it is very unlikely that Ruth would not have wanted Naomi’s God to be her God (v 16). On Mara see Ex 15:23-25.

poor (Ex 22:25; Ps 41:1; 82:3,4; Prov 14:21; Luke 6:20; Jam 2:5). Ruth’s suggestion shows that she and Naomi were without any means of support. It shows also that she was willing to do the lowliest of jobs because of her love for her mother-in-law – a thing all too rare in this world. 2:3 “Happened to come” – God guided her there, as Naomi realized when she heard it (vs 19,20). God was answering the prayer of Naomi in 1:8. 2:4 This was in the days of the judges when Israel was often sunk in sin, defeat and apostasy (Jud 2:16-19). But there were lamps in that darkness and Boaz was one of them – as every believer should be (Matt 5:14,15; Phil 2:15). Evidently Boaz was a man who honored God and was honored by his workers and peers (4:11,12). 2:11,12 1:8. “A full reward” – 1 Sam 24:19; 26:23; Prov 25:21,22; 10:42; Luke 6:38; Heb 6:10.

“Almighty” – in Hebrew “Shaddai” – Gen 17:1. 1:21 “Empty” – when she left she had husband, sons, and hope.

“Afflicted” – v 13; Job 30:11; Ps 88:7; Lam 3:1. 1:22 “Beginning of barley harvest” – in Israel in those days this would have been sometime in March or April. 2:2 “Grain” – see Lev 19:9,10; 23:22; Deut 24:19-21. God put these instructions in His law because He is concerned for the

“Under whose wings” – 1:16; Ps 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4; Matt 23:37. 2:13 “Your maid servant” – Ruth obviously

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And she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and left.

wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-inlaw.

15 And when she got up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean among the sheaves and do not embarrass her. 16 And also let some handfuls intentionally fall for her and leave them, so that she can glean them. And do not rebuke her.”

Then her mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shall I not look for a place for you to rest, so that it will be well with you? 2 And now is not Boaz, with whose maid servants you have been working, our relative? Look, tonight he will be winnowing barley in the threshing floor. 3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself and dress yourself, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not make your presence known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 And let it be like this: when he lies down, notice the place where he is lying, and you go in and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she picked it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. And she took it out and gave to her what she had left after she had been satisfied.

19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” And she told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

5 And she said to her, “I will do everything you tell me.” 6 And she went down to the threshing floor and did everything that her mother-in-law had ordered her.

20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, who has not ceased being kind to the living and to the dead.” And Naomi said to her, “The man is a near relative of ours, one of our closest kinsmen.”

7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. And she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 And it so happened at midnight that the man was startled, and he turned and saw a woman lying at his feet.

21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, “Also he said to me, ‘Stay close to my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’”

9 And he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am your maid servant Ruth. So spread your covering over your maid servant, for you are a near kinsman.”

22 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maid servants, so that some men do not happen to meet you in another field.”

10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter, for this last kindness you have shown is greater than the first. You have not gone after the young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And

23 So she kept close to the maid servants of Boaz to glean to the end of barley harvest and

means herself. 2:15 Boaz was a kind man willing to give more to the poor and needy than the law required (v 2). He is in great contrast to some men who want every grain for themselves. 2:17 “Ephah” – an ephah equals about one half of a large bushel or 22 liters. 2:19 It was obvious to Naomi that the owner of the field had left a large amount of grain for Ruth to glean. 2:20 “Being kind” – 1:8. “Closest kinsmen” – here is another large theme in this small book. Closest kinsman is one word in Hebrew – “goel” – and could be translated “kinsman-redeemer.” This Hebrew word appears in Ruth 2:20; 3:9,12,13; 4:1,3,6,8,14. In other places in the Old Testament the word refers to a near relative who takes vengeance on anyone who had killed a member of the family. The “goel” was not only a redeemer but an avenger. The responsibilities of the “goel” are found in Lev 25:25-28,47-49; Num 35:19-21; Deut 25:5-10. He was to look after the best interests of his family and relatives in every

way consistent with justice and holiness.

The Lord Jesus is the Goel of all those who trust under the shadow of His wings. He redeems them from slavery to sin, restores what they lost by sinning, gives them an inheritance with Himself, and avenges them against their enemies. 3:1,2 1:9; 2:20. “For you to rest” – Naomi means a home and family of her own. 3:3,4 Naomi was not suggesting that Ruth should try to seduce Boaz. Both Boaz and Ruth were godly, moral people (v 11). Naomi’s idea was that Ruth should appeal to Boaz as her kinsman-redeemer (v 9; 2:20). 3:9 “Near kinsman” – in this way Ruth was asking for his protective care as a husband. There was no brother of her husband living to marry her in accordance with Deut 25:510, so this responsibility passed to the nearest relative. 3:10 “The first” – 2:11,12. 3:11-13 Boaz expresses his willingness to marry her and buy the family property, but he would not be able to do so if the man who was a closer relative of Naomi’s family

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now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all that you need, for all the people in the city know that you are a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am your near kinsman, but there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Stay tonight, and in the morning it will be that if he acts as the kinsmanredeemer toward you, all right, let him redeem you. But if he will not act as the kinsman-redeemer toward you, then, as the LORD lives, I will act as the kinsman-redeemer toward you. Lie down until morning.”

the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, then tell me, so that I may know. For there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I am after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.”

5 Then Boaz said, “On the day that you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead man, to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 6 And the kinsman said, “I cannot redeem it for myself. If I did I would put my own inheritance at risk. You redeem my right for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

14 And she lay at his feet until morning, then rose up before one could recognize another. And he said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came into the threshing floor.”

7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging land: to confirm anything a man took off his sandal and gave it to the one next to him. And this was a testimony in Israel.

15 He also said, “Bring the veil that you have on and hold it out.” And when she held it out, he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her; and she went into the city.

16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go with you, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.

8 Therefore the kinsman having said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself”, he took off his sandal.

9 And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, and everything that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the former wife of Mahlon, to be my wife to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased is not cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses this day.”

17 And she said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he told me, ‘Don’t go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 Then said she, “Sit quietly, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has finished the matter this very day.”

Then Boaz went out to the gate and seated himself there, and when the kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came by Boaz said to him, “Come, friend, turn aside, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.

11 And all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who will come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, the two who built the house of Israel. And may you be mighty in Ephratah and famous in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD gives you by this young woman.”

2 And he brought ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” And they sat down. 3 And he said to the kinsman, “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, is selling a plot of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 And I thought to inform you and say, Buy it in

name of Ruth’s first husband and become the heir not only of Elimelech and Naomi but of the kinsmen-redeemer also, and so all the property of the kinsman would come into the hands of the family of Elimelech (compare Deut 25:5,6; Gen 38:9). This kinsman was not willing for this to happen. 4:11 “Rachel and Leah” – Jacob’s two wives who between them had many children (Genesis chapters 29,30; 35:16-18). In other words, the elders are expressing the wish that Boaz and Ruth might have a large family. 4:12 “Judah” – Genesis chapter 38. Perez became a leader of the tribe of Judah and an ancestor of Boaz, David, and the Lord Jesus.

wished to act as “goel.” 3:14 Rom 14:17; 2 Cor 8:21. 4:1 Gen 34:20. 4:2 This was a public transaction of official business. 4:3 “Selling” – it was the duty of the kinsman-redeemer to see that the land was kept in the family and not sold to outsiders. Naomi’s plan, of course, was not simply to sell the land but to obtain a good husband for Ruth.

“Brother” – here means relative, as the Hebrew word sometimes does. 4:5,6 “My own inheritance” – he wanted Naomi’s property but he didn’t want to marry Ruth. If he married her and only one son was born to them, that one would take the

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13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And when he went in to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son. 14 And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD who has not left you this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And may he renew you in your life and sustain you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

bosom and became its nurse. 17 And the neighbour women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begot Hezron, 19 and Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab, 20 and Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon, 21 and Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed, 22 and Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

16 And Naomi took the child and laid it in her

4:13 “Conceive” – it is possible that Ruth, like some other famous women in the Bible had been unable to have children (Gen 11:30; 29:31; 1 Sam 1:2,5; Luke 1:7). She had none by her first husband. 4:15 To say that Ruth was better to Naomi than seven sons was to say the highest thing about her they could think of. 4:17 “Obed” means “servant.” Giving this

name doubtless revealed their desire that their son should become a true servant of God. 4:18-21 Matt 1:3-6. Because of her kindness to her mother-in-law and her faith in the God of Israel, this foreign widow became one of the ancestors, not only of King David, but of the Lord Jesus. Such is God’s great grace.

1 SAMUEL

Title:

Originally 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel were one book. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, the translators divided this one book into two.

Author and date:

The human author is unknown. See the note in the introduction to Judges on the authorship of the books of the Bible. The author must have written after the death of Solomon, because 1 Sam 27:6 speaks of the “kings of Judah”, indicating some time after Judah and Israel had become separate kingdoms. This did not happen until the time of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son (1 Kings chapter 12).

Themes:

The birth, life, and work of Samuel, the last and greatest of the judges (7:15-17); Israel’s rejection of God as King, and the appointment of human kings to rule Israel; the early life of David up to the death of king Saul. As with all parts of the Bible, there are many important spiritual lessons in this book for believers now (2 Tim 3:16,17).

Contents:

Hannah, Samuel’s mother.............................................................................. 1:1-20 Samuel’s birth and childhood .......................................................................... 1:20-28 Hannah’s song ............................................................................................. 2:1-10 Eli’s ungodly sons ......................................................................................... 2:12-17 God against the house of Eli .......................................................................... 2:27-36 God calls Samuel .......................................................................................... 3:1-21 Philistines take away the ark of the LORD ....................................................... 4:1-11 Death of Eli, birth of Ichabod......................................................................... 4:12-22 The ark brings disaster to Philistine cities ......................................................... 5:1-12 Return of the ark to Israel ............................................................................ 6:1 - 7:1 Dedication of the people at Mizpah, and the

defeat of the Philistines ........................................................................... 7:2-13 The people’s desire for a king ........................................................................ 8:1-22 Saul and Samuel meet................................................................................... 9:1-27 Samuel anoints Saul ..................................................................................... 10:1-8 Saul becomes king ........................................................................................ 10:9-27 Saul defeats the Ammonites .......................................................................... 11:1-15 Samuel’s final speech to the people ................................................................ 12:1-25 Saul offers a burnt offering, and is rebuked .................................................... 13:1-15 Soldiers without swords and spears ................................................................ 13:16-22 Jonathan’s great military exploit .................................................................... 14:1-14 Victory over the Philistines ............................................................................ 14:15-23 Saul’s reckless vow and Jonathan’s danger ..................................................... 14:24-45 Saul’s victories over enemies ......................................................................... 14:46-52 War against Amalekites ................................................................................ 15:1-33 Saul’s disobedience ...................................................................................... 15:1-9 God’s message to Saul through Samuel,

God rejects Saul as king .......................................................................... 15:10-29 Samuel anoints David ................................................................................... 16:1-13 David in Saul’s house .................................................................................... 16:14-23 David and Goliath ......................................................................................... 17:1-58 Saul’s fear and jealousy of David ................................................................... 18:1-16 Saul hopes for David’s death ......................................................................... 18:17-25

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David marries Saul’s daughter Michal .............................................................. 18:27 Saul tries to kill David .................................................................................... 19:1-11 Michal helps David escape ............................................................................. 19:12-17 Saul and his men prophesy ............................................................................ 19:19-24 David and Jonathan, a wonderful friendship .................................................. 20:1-42 David escapes to Nob; the priest helps him..................................................... 21:1-9 David acts like a madman in Gath ................................................................... 21:10-15 David flees to Adullam and Mizpah ................................................................. 22:1-5 Saul kills the priests of Nob ............................................................................ 22:6-23 David saves the town of Keilah ...................................................................... 23:1-13 The men of Ziph betray David ........................................................................ 23:14-29 David spares Saul’s life ................................................................................. 24:1-22 David, Nabal, and Abigail .............................................................................. 25:1-44 David spares Saul’s life a second time ............................................................. 26:1-25 David goes back to the Philistines................................................................... 27:1-12 Saul and the witch of Endor........................................................................... 28:1-25 The Philistines send David back to Ziklag ......................................................... 29:1-11 David finds encouragement in the Lord ........................................................... 30:1-8 David recovers all ........................................................................................ 30:9-31 Death of Saul and Jonathan on Mt Gilboa ........................................................ 31:1-13

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Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 And he had two wives. The name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept much. 11 And she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant, and remember me and not forget your maidservant, but give to your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will come on his head.”

3 And yearly this man went up out of his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And when the time came that Elkanah made an offering, he gave portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and her daughters, 5 but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah. But the LORD had shut up her womb. 6 And also her rival provoked her severely to irritate her, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 And it happened year by year when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her. Therefore she wept, and did not eat.

12 And as she continued praying before the LORD, it so happened that Eli noticed her mouth. 13 Now Hannah had spoken in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Put your wine away from you.”

15 And Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not drunk either wine or strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not regard your maidservant as a wicked woman, for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and grief.”

8 Then her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? And why aren’t you eating? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you your petition that you have asked of him.”

18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favour in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and ate, and her appearance was no longer sad.

9 So Hannah got up after they had eaten in Shiloh and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a seat by a post of the temple of the

19 And they rose up early in the morning and

1:1 “Ramathaim” – called Ramah in v 19. Elkanah was descended from Levi. See 1 Chron 6:16,26-28. 1:2 “Two wives” – see note at Gen 30:1. 1:3 Ex 34:23; Deut 12:5-7; Josh 18:1. The tabernacle and the ark of the covenant were at Shiloh (4:3).

1:9 “Temple” – here this word indicates the tabernacle. The temple had not yet been built, but the tabernacle could be called a temple, because it was a holy sanctuary where God was worshipped. 1:10-20 Hannah’s sorrow drove her to prayer (sorrow can result in much good if it causes a person to do that). And here she prayed to the one true God who knows our sorrows, has compassion on us, and can hear our prayers (Ex 2:23-25; Ps 6:6-9; 38:9; 102:19,20). Her example shows how to pray effectively – she was in a right relationship with God; she had a deep burden (vs 10,13,15); her petition was specific (v 11); she wanted to use what God gave her for His glory, not for her own selfish satisfaction (v 11); she had faith (vs 17-19); and she acknowledged God’s answer when it came (v 20). 1:11 “I will give him to the LORD” – our children will be in the best hands when given to God.

“LORD of hosts” – in Hebrew “Jehovah Tsabaoth.” This is the first mention in Scripture of this great title. It is used in the Bible 281 times, very frequently by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. It indicates God in His almighty power, who marshals all the resources of creation to accomplish His own glorious purposes. In the Old Testament “hosts” may refer both to earthly armies (Ex 12:41 – where the people of Israel coming out of Egypt are called “the LORD’s armies” or “hosts”), and to heavenly bodies (2 Kings 17:16; Isa 34:4; 45:12), and to angels (Ps 103:21; 148:2). God, Jehovah of hosts, is the absolute ruler of all. He has created the universe for His glory, and to fulfill His plans He exercises control over every kind of “host”, whether earthly or heavenly (compare Dan 4:34,35).

“No razor” – Num 6:1-5; Jud 13:5. 1:13,14 Acts 2:4,13. How easily the best actions may be misunderstood by others. Note on Josh 22:10-34. 1:15 Ps 42:3-4; 62:8; Lam 2:11,19. 1:17 Jud 18:6; 1 Sam 25:35; 2 Kings 5:19; Mark 5:34. 1:18 Answered prayer will brighten up the face (Ps 34:4,5). 1:19 “Knew” – note at Gen 4:1.

“Priests” – note at Ex 28:1. 1:4 Deut 12:17,18. 1:5 Gen 11:30; 29:31. God is sovereign in these matters and has His own good purposes in what He does. 1:6-7 Verse 2; Gen 2:23,24.

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worshipped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 Therefore it came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”

And Hannah prayed, and said, “My heart rejoices in the LORD. My horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is opened wide against

my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 2 There is no one holy like the LORD, for there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God.

21 And the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned, and then I will take him, so that he may appear before the LORD and stay there permanently.”

3 “Do not any longer speak so exceedingly proudly, or let arrogance come out of your mouth. For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

23 And her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm his word.” So the woman stayed at home, and nursed her son until she weaned him.

4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are clothed

with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and those who were hungry cease

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls and one ephah of flour and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh; and the child was young. 25 And they killed a bull, and brought the child to Eli.

to be so. While the barren has given birth to seven, she who has many children has become

feeble. 6 The LORD kills, and makes alive. He brings down to the grave, and raises up. 7 The LORD makes poor, and makes rich; he brings low, and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor up from the dust, and lifts the beggar up from the ash

26 And she said, “Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me my request which I asked from him. 28 Therefore I have also given him to the LORD. As long as he lives he will be given to the LORD.” And he worshipped the LORD there.

heap to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.

“Remembered” – Gen 30:22. 1:20 Samuel probably means “Heard of God.” 1:21 “Vow” – Lev 7:16; 22:21; Num 15:3,8; 30:2; Deut 12:11; Ps 65:1; 76:11; Eccl 5:4,5. 1:22 Verses 11,29; 2:11. 1:24,25 Num 15:8-10. On the meanings of the various sacrifices see notes on the first chapter of Leviticus.

her son. Ps 9:2; 32:11; 33:1; 105:3.

“Horn” – in the Bible this often symbolizes power, authority, strength, honor. Here it means strength. 2:2 “Holy” – note at Lev 20:7. “Rock” – note at Deut 32:4. 2:3 “Arrogance” – a thing God hates (Prov 3:34; 6:16,17; James 4:6. “God of knowledge” – 16:7; Ps 139:1-4; Prov 16:2; 24:12; Jer 17:10; Heb 4:13. 2:4 Ps 18:39; 46:9; 76:3; Eph 6:10-13; Heb 11:32-34. 2:5 God by his grace can completely reverse conditions among men. God’s power and sovereignty over the earth are declared in the verses which follow. 2:6 Deut 32:39; Isa 26:19; John 5:28,29; Rev 1:18.

“With three bulls” – this could also be translated “A three-year-old bull.”

“Ephah” – probably about one half bushel. 1:27,28 She was obviously a godly woman, and she was faithful to her promises to God, unlike many who make vows and do not perform them. Unlike so many, Hannah was concerned with what her son could do for God, not what he might eventually do for her. This gift of Hannah to God had a profound effect for good on the life of the whole nation. When believers give gifts to God He accepts and uses them. 2:1-10 Compare Hannah’s song of praise with that of Mary in Luke 1:46-55. This song shows a good grasp of important theological truth and no little poetical ability. 2:1 “Rejoices” – in the Lord, not merely in

“Grave” – in Hebrew “Sheol.” See note on Gen 37:35. 2:7,8 Deut 8:17-18; Job 5:11; Ps 113:7,8; James 1:9,10; 2:5; 4:10.

“Pillars of the earth” – this does not mean there is some sort of foundation on which the planet rests. It is poetic language which declares God as the Creator, and suggests a good purpose in creation.

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For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he has set the world on them. 9 He will keep the feet of his saints,

priest; for he will not have boiled meat from you, but raw.”

16 And if anyone said to him, “Let them first burn the fat, and then take as much as your soul desires”, then he would answer him, “No, but you must give it to me now. If not, I will take it by force.”

and the wicked will be silent in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength. 10 The enemies of the LORD will be broken to pieces. He will thunder on them from the heavens. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth, and he will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great in the eyes of the LORD; for men despised the offering of the LORD.

18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, a child wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother would make him a little robe, and bring it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, “The LORD give you offspring by this woman for the gift which is given to the LORD.” And they went to their own home. 21 And the LORD looked after Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child ministered to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.

12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked scoundrels. They did not know the LORD. 13 And the priests’ custom with the people was this: when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would stick it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest took for himself. This is how they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Also before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat to roast for the

22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said to them, “Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil

2:9 “Keep” – Ps 37:23-24; 91:11,12; 94:18; 121:3; John 10:28; 1 Pet 1:5. “Darkness” – Matt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; Jude 13.

their greed than for their piety. 2:17 If they had no respect for the Lord they certainly would have no respect for His offerings or for His people. Lack of the fear of God (Gen 20:11; Ps 34:11-14) accounts for many of the sad and sinful things that go on today in some Christian circles. 2:18 “Ministered” – Samuel was a mere boy, so his work must have been of a simple nature. Nevertheless, it was a ministry before the Lord. The simplest task can be a ministry to the Lord if done in an attitude of devotion to Him (2 Kings 3:11; Ps 84:10; Matt 10:42). Before Samuel did great things in Israel he learned as a child to do small things faithfully. See Luke 16:10.

“Strength” – 17:47; Ps 33:16,17; Zech 4:6. 2:10 “Thunder” – 7:10; 12:17; 2 Sam 22:14; Ps 18:13; Isa 66:6. “Judge” – Ps 96:13; 98:9; Acts 17:31. “King”, “Anointed” – Hannah speaks as a prophetess. When she spoke there was as yet no king in Israel, and up to that time only priests had been anointed. The Hebrew noun “anointed” (“masheeakh”) comes into English as Messiah. This is the first use of this noun in the Bible. 2:11 “Ministered” – 2:18; 3:1. 2:12 “Did not know” – they knew about the LORD, but they had no spiritual experience of Him.

“Ephod”– note at Ex 28:31-35. 2:19 The robe Samuel’s mother lovingly brought him each year was not the ephod (v 18), but a garment for every day use. 2:20,21 1:11,27,28. Acts of faith and devotion such as Hannah’s will always be rewarded – if not in this world, then certainly in the next. God loves to be gracious to His people. Hannah gave one son to God and received five children in return. Compare Luke 6:38.

“LORD” – if they had known Him they would not have turned out to be wicked. This terrible condemnation of Eli’s sons should be a lesson to every believer. They were brought up at the center of the worship of God, but they had no regard for the Lord. Believers must be careful to teach their children respect for God (Eph 6:4). 2:13,14 See Lev 7:31-36; 10:14,15; Deut 18:1-5. 2:15,16 “Fat” – the fat was to be burned as an offering to God before the priests received their portion (Lev 3:16; 4:10,26, 31,35; 7:28,30,31; 17:6). Alas, like these wicked sons of Eli, many who profess to be servants of God are known more for

“Before the LORD” – what better place on earth to grow up in? Or to live in (Ps 31:20; 140:13)? 2:22 Verse 12. Because of the evil lives of Eli’s sons Samuel was in some danger of learning a corrupt life style. But God guarded the lad and kept him pure for His service (v 9). 2:23-25 It seems that Eli was an indulgent

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actions from all this people. 24 No, my sons, for it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD’s people to transgress. 25 If one man sins against another, the judge will judge him, but if a man sins against the LORD, who will plead for him?” However they did not listen to the voice of their father, because the LORD had determined to kill them.

30 “Therefore the LORD God of Israel says, I indeed said that your household and the household of your father, would walk before me forever; but now the LORD says, Be it far from me. For those who honour me I will honour, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed. 31 See, the days are coming when I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father’s household, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 And you will see an enemy in my dwelling, among all the wealth which God will give Israel; and there will never be an old man in your house. 33 And every man of you whom I do not cut off from my altar, will be to cause your eyes to perish, and to grieve your heart. And all the issue of your house will die in the flower of their age.

26 And the child Samuel grew and was in favour with both the LORD and also with men.

27 And a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, Did I not plainly reveal myself to the household of your father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 And did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to make offerings on my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire from the children of Israel? 29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my dwelling, and honour your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of my people Israel?

34 “And this will be a sign to you: it will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas. In one day both of them will die. 35 And I will raise up a faithful priest for myself who will act in accordance with what is in my heart and in my mind, and I will firmly establish a house for him; and he will walk

parent who had not trained his children properly and had let them do as they pleased (v 29). They had been guilty of persistent wickedness (vs 12-17), but as far as we can tell from the record Eli did not so much as rebuke them until he heard of their sexual immorality. When his rebuke came, it was far too mild. The penalty under the law for such sins as theirs, as Eli should have known, was death, not a mild rebuke. See Ex 21:36. Those parents who will not bring up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, who let them have their own way, will spoil them and bring grief to themselves (1 Kings 1:6; Prov 19:18; 22:6,15; 23:13; 29:15). 2:25 “Who will plead” – compare 1 Tim 2:5; 1 John 2:1. “The LORD had determined” – compare Ex 7:1-5; 11:9; Josh 11:20.

scorned God’s offerings by their sinful actions (v 16), Eli did so by letting them behave as they did. Eli did not stand up for God against his sinning sons and thus honored them over God. Also it seems Eli ate of the offerings his sons obtained in their greed. Let us beware of putting blood relationship above righteousness. Let us beware of a weak acceptance of evil in our own families (see 3:13). Such things may lead to disaster for ourselves and for the work of God. Compare Jud 20:14,48. 2:30 Ex 29:9; Leviticus chapters 8 and 9; Numbers chapters 16 and 17; 25:13. God was not breaking his promise to the house of Aaron. He is saying that because of their sinful behavior the family of Eli would no longer have a part in that ministry. See also Lev 10:1-3. God never breaks His promises (Titus 1:2). But some of His promises are based on conditions, that is, based on the behavior of those to whom the promises are given. Compare Lev 26:3; Deut 28:1,2; Isa 1:19,20.

“Kill” – Ezek 18:4,30-32. God delights in mercy, but He will certainly punish persistent sin and rebellion. 2:26 Verse 21; 3:19. Compare Luke 2:20,52. Note the contrast between the family of Eli and the family of Elkanah. God’s blessing was denied the sons of the high priest and granted to the son of the humble Levite. The most important thing for the blessing of one’s children is not wealth or position or power, but humble faithfulness to God. 2:27 “Man of God” – a name often given to prophets in the Bible – 9:6,10; Deut 33:1; Josh 14:6; 1 Kings 13:1,6-8; 17:18,24; 2 Kings 4:7. “Household of your father” – Aaron (Ex 4:27-30). 2:28 Ex 28:1-4; 30:7,8; Lev 8:5-9. 2:29 “You” here in Hebrew is plural and includes both Eli and his sons. The sons

“Honour” – v 29; Ps 91:15; 112:9; Prov 22:4; John 12:26. What are all the honors men may give compared with the honor God gives? 2:31-35 The sins of Eli and his family must have their consequences. It was too late to change anything. The whole future of this family was to be a sad one because of those sins (Ex 34:7). This was worked out in the death of Eli’s sons (4:11), the destruction of the priests at Nob (22:18,19), and Solomon’s removal of Abiathar from office (1 Kings 2:26,27). 2:35 “Faithful priest” – 2 Sam 8:17; 1 Kings 1:8,26; 2:35; Heb 2:17; 5:5,6; 7:23-28). “Anointed one” – the king of Israel (2:10).

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before my anointed one forever. 36 And it will come about that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and will say, ‘Please assign me to one of the priests’ duties so that I can eat a piece of bread.’”

8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be if he calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

And the child Samuel ministered to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not frequent.

10 And the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.”

Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

2 And it came about at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place (and his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), 3 and before the lamp of God had gone out in the sanctuary of the LORD where the ark of God was, and Samuel was lying down to sleep, 4 that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

11 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Look, I will do a thing in Israel which will cause both ears of everyone who hears it to tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli everything that I have spoken concerning his house. When I begin I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the sin which he knows; because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the sin of Eli’s house will never be purged with sacrifice or offering.”

And he said, “I did not call. Lie down again.” And he went and lay down.

6 And the LORD called yet again, “Samuel.” And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

15 And Samuel lay there until the morning, then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he answered, “Here I am.”

And he answered, “I did not call, my son. Lie down again.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

17 And he said, “What is the thing that the

2:36 God is gracious and long-suffering, but He has His own ways of humbling those who are unfaithful to Him. 3:1 “Ministered” – there is emphasis on this. Here is the third time it is said (2:11,18).

are in the same condition, not realizing that to know God is essential to salvation, indeed, is salvation (John 17:3; Eph 4:18; 2 Thess 1:8; 1 John 5:20). “Revealed” – Num 12:6; Amos 3:7. This means that Samuel had not yet been called to begin his ministry as a prophet. 3:8 “Third time” – when God chooses a person He will keep calling until that person understands. 3:9 Ps 85:8; Hab 2:1. The Lord is always ready to speak to those who are ready to hear and obey (though He may sometimes test them by silence). 3:10 “Samuel” – compare Isa 45:3. God knows each of our names and everything else about us (Ps 139:1-4). 3:11-14 God chose to give His message through a mere boy. Those who are old and experienced in God’s service should not think themselves superior and look down on the young (Ps 8:2; Matt 21:15,16; Jer 1:6-8; 1 Tim 4:12). 3:12 2:27-36. 3:13 2:12,17,22,29. By not restraining his sons Eli became a partaker of their sins and as guilty as they. 3:14 Num 15:30; Isa 22:14; Matt 12:32; Gal 6:7,8; Heb 10:26-31. When people go on knowingly, willfully persisting in sin, there comes a time when God determines to judge them and closes the door to forgiveness. 3:17 We should all want to know everything God has said. Contrast 2 Chron 25:16; etc.

“Rare” – the ritual of religion went on but God was not often sending messages to the people. Perhaps this was because there were so few who wanted to hear God or obey Him. Remember that this was at the close of the years described in Judges when everyone did as he pleased (Jud 21:25).

“Visions” – note at Gen 15:1; etc. 3:3 “Lamp–Ex 25:31-37; 27:20,21; Lev 24:2-4. “Sanctuary” – note at 1:9; Ex 25:8. This was the “tent of meeting” (2:22), the tabernacle. Samuel did not sleep in the Most Holy Place. He would not have been permitted even to enter there (Heb 9:7). He was in the tabernacle which contained the ark, but in the outer room which was called the Holy Place. 3:4 God speaks to men and He always takes the initiative – Gen 3:8,9; 12:1; 28:12,13; Ex 3:4; Josh 1:1; Jer 1:4,5; Matt 9:9; Acts 9:1-4; Rom 3:11. 3:5,6 Eli was slow to understand spiritual things. 3:7 Samuel was not willfully ignorant of the Lord as Eli’s sons were (2:12). He knew many things about the Lord, was willing to learn more, but as yet had no direct spiritual experience with God. Many religious people

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LORD said to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God deal harshly with you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he said to you.” 18 And Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”

4 So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth reechoed. 6 And when the Philistines heard the sound of the shout, they said, “What is the meaning of the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For there has never been such a thing before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us out of the hands of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, and act like men, O Philistines, so that you do not become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Act like men, and fight.”

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines and camped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines camped in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, and the Philistines killed about four thousand of the army in the field. 3 And when the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD caused us to be defeated by the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh for us, so that, when it comes among us, it may save us from the hands of our enemies.”

10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and

3:18 “Everything” – servants of God should never cut and trim God’s message for people, but declare the Word of God as it is. Samuel’s fear (v 15) did not prevent him from doing so. Compare Acts 20:20,27.

God could do. The ark had been a symbol of the Lord’s presence, but this truth had been perverted and the people thought that the mere presence of the ark, presided over by Eli’s evil sons Hophni and Phinehas, would bring them victory. It did not, and thinking it would do so was a very vain and foolish thing. If God is not with His people, nothing on earth can bring them victory. That which merely symbolizes God’s presence can never accomplish what God’s presence accomplishes. Compare David’s attitude in 2 Sam 15:25. Note on the ark at Ex 25:10-16. Note on the cherubim at Gen 3:24; Ex 25:18-20. 4:5 “Shouted” – did they vainly imagine that their shout would accomplish what God did at Jericho (Josh 6:16,20)? If God is not with His people nothing that seemed to work before will work again. 4:6,7 This kind of superstition was to be expected among the Philistines who did not know the true God. They did not know that if God was not already with Israel in the battle, the ark could not bring Him there. Let us all know that in these New Testament times no ritual, no ceremony, no relic, no symbol, nor any other such thing that men can perform can bring God to men. 4:8 The Philistines knew something of God’s mighty acts in Egypt (6:6; Ex 9:16; Josh 2:8-10). 4:9 “To you” – Jud 10:7; 13:1. 4:10 Verse 2; Deut 28:15,25. 4:11 “Ark” – Ex 25:10-22; Ps 78:56-64.

“Good to him” – Eli accepted humbly what God had to say, and bowed meekly before His judgment. His character was a mixture of godliness and weakness. 3:19 “With him” – Gen 21:22; 39:2; Jud 1:5. “Fall to the ground” – none of Samuel’s words failed to be fulfilled. This was the mark of every true prophet (Deut 18:21,22). 3:20 Dan was in the far north of Israel, Beersheba in the far south. 3:21 Observe that God reveals Himself to individuals through His Word. And those to whom the Word comes have the responsibility to declare it to others. God’s revelation of Himself to Samuel was not for Samuel alone. 4:1 The first part of this verse relates to 3:21. “Philistines” – note at Gen 10:14. When Israel conquered Canaan they did not drive out the Philistines (Josh 13:1,2). They were a source of trouble to Israel for a great many years. 4:2 Israel’s defeats were always because of Israel’s sins (Josh 7:4,5,11; Jud 2:10-15). 4:3,4 The elders did well to inquire into the reason for the defeat. However, they did not wait for an answer from God, but expected the ark to do for them what only

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Phinehas, were killed.

about the time of her death the women who stood near her said to her, “Don’t be afraid; for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention.

12 And a man of Benjamin ran from the camp and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. 13 And when he arrived, there Eli sat on a seat by the roadside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told what had happened, the whole city cried out.

21 And she named 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. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken.”

14 And when Eli heard the sound of the crying, he said, “What is the meaning of this uproar?” And the man came quickly and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see. 16 And the man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle lines. Just today I ran from the lines.” And he said, “What is happening there, my son?”

And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines brought the ark of God, they took it into the house of Dagon and set it near Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early the next day, there was Dagon fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And they picked Dagon up and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were severed and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s body was left to him. 5 Therefore to this day neither the priests of Dagon, nor anyone who comes into Dagon’s temple, will step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod.

17 And the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and also there has been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.”

18 And it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell from the seat backwards at the side of the gate, and his neck broke and he died, for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19 And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God had been taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed down and gave birth, for her labour pains came on her. 20 And

6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and plagued them with tumours, both Ashdod and its territories. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel shall

10). The Philistines were ready to give Jehovah God a place beside their own god. Their thought probably was that all gods were worthy of respect. Or that all gods, all religions were good. This is an idea very common today. But the one true God will never agree to it. See Ex 20:1-6; 1 Kings 18:21; Ps 115:1-8; Isa 44:6,7; 46:9; Jer 16:20; 1 Cor 8:4-6; 2 Cor 6:14-18. 5:3 “On his face” – compare Ps 97:7; Isa 46:5-9. The Philistines learned nothing from the collapse of Dagon. When gods prove powerless and worthless why not cast them away? When God would tear down the things we trust in, do we try to put them again in their place? 5:4 Since the Philistines would not learn the first time, Jehovah gave them a second and a stronger lesson. He was the mighty God, their Dagon was helpless and false. In different ways the true God has demonstrated this same truth again and again in human history concerning the gods and idols men have chosen. 5:5 “To this day” – even then they did not forsake the worship of this false and powerless god. Such is the hold that idolatry and false religion can have on people. 5:6,7 God continued to judge Dagon and his worshipers. Compare Ex 12:12.

“Were killed” – 2:34. God always fulfills His word. 4:12 “Dust” – Josh 7:6; 2 Sam 1:2; Neh 9:1; Job 1:20; 2:12. 4:13-18 It is not said that Eli feared for his sons but only for the ark of God. He had already accepted God’s word about the death of his sons and knew he could not change that (2:34; 3:18). But the capture of the ark was such a shock that it killed him. It is not likely that he agreed with the foolish act recorded in v 4. In v 18 he is included among the judges of Israel. 4:18 “Judged” – or “led.” The Hebrew word has both meanings. 4:21,22 Ichabod means “no glory” or, possibly, “where is glory?” God’s presence rested above the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place (holy of holies) in the tabernacle – Ex 25:22; Ps 80:1; 99:1. When God permitted the ark to be taken it was a sign that His glory was departing. Compare Ps 78:61. The ark never returned to Shiloh. But God had not left His people and later His glory filled the temple Solomon built (1 Kings 8:10,11). 5:1 Ashdod was one of the major cities of the Philistines. 5:2 “Dagon” – the chief god of the Philistines (Jud 16:23-25; 1 Chron 10:8-

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not stay with us, for his hand is severe on us and on our god Dagon.” 8 So they sent men and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried around to Gath.” And they carried the ark of the God of Israel around there.

of your tumours, and models of your rats that are ruining the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will relax his hand from you and from your gods and from your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and did they not depart?

9 And it happened, after they had carried it around there, that the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing very great destruction. And he plagued the men of the city, both small and great, and they had tumours in their secret parts. 10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came about, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel around to us, to kill us and our people.”

7 “Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milk cows on which a yoke has never come, and tie the cows to the cart, and take their calves home from them. 8 And take the ark of the LORD and lay it on the cart, and put the gold articles, which you are sending back to him as a trespass offering, in a box by its side, and send it away, so that it may go its own way. 9 And see, if it goes up by the road of its own territory to Beth-Shemesh, then he has done us this great harm. But if not, then we will know that it is not his hand that struck us, but that it happened to us by chance.”

11 So they sent men and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was death and destruction throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the men who did not die were plagued with the tumours, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

10 And the men did so. They took two milk cows and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they placed the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the box with the gold rats and the models of their tumours. 12 And the cows took the straight way on the road to Beth-Shemesh and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth-Shemesh.

And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines for seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and those who practiced divination, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”

13 And 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. 14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there where there was a great stone. And they chopped up the wood of the cart, and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the box that was with it, in which were the gold articles, and put them on the great stone. And the same day the men of Beth-Shemesh offered burnt offerings and offered sacrifices to the LORD. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

3 And they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means send back a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.”

4 Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we send back to him?” They answered, “Five gold tumours and five gold rats, in accordance with the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on you all and on your lords. 5 Therefore you must make models

5:8 Instead of admitting that their god was false and that the LORD (Jehovah) was the true and living God, they preferred to get rid of the evidence. How like men in general! 5:9-12 All this happened but it seems there was no repentance, no abandoning of idolatry, no seeking of the true God. Compare Rev 9:20. Such is fallen man. 6:2 “Divination” – Deut 18:9-15; Isa 2:6. 6:3-6 There was a recognition that they had dishonored the God of Israel and were being punished for it. 6:5 The plague which came on the Philistines was probably brought by rats, and it resulted

in tumors (5:6). 6:6 4:8; Josh 2:10. Good advice, but far better advice would have been to cast all their gods away and serve Jehovah alone.

“He” – that is, God. 6:7-9 Even yet they were not sure that the plague which struck them was from Jehovah. This final test should have convinced them beyond doubt. 6:9 Beth-Shemesh was a town in Judah near the border of Philistine-held territory. 6:14 “Burnt offering” – notes at Leviticus chapter 1. 6:15 “Levites” – in the days of Joshua, BethShemesh had been assigned to the Levites

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17 And these are the gold tumours which the Philistines sent back as a trespass offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Askelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron, 18 and the gold rats in accordance with the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages. These things came to the great stone of Abel, on which they set down the ark of the LORD. This stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. 19 And the LORD struck the men of Beth-Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy of the people. And the people lamented, because the LORD had struck down many of the people with a great slaughter. 20 And the men of Beth-Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall he go up from us?” 21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.”

And all the house of Israel mourned and sought the LORD. 3 And Samuel spoke to the whole house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD and serve him only. Then he will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines.” 4 Then the children of Israel put away the Baals and Ashtaroth, and served only the LORD.

5 And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpeh and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 And they gathered together at Mizpeh and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hands of the Philistines.” 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD heard him.

And the men of Kirjath-Jearim came, took up the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and set apart Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

2 And it happened that the ark stayed in KirjathJearim for a long time, for it was twenty years.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against

idolatry, and too weak to stand against either their enemies or their own sins. Seeking the Lord was the very best thing to do and held promise for the future. Compare 2 Chron 7:14; Isa 55:6,7; Jer 29:12-14. 7:3 They who seek the Lord must be willing to put away those things which displease Him. Otherwise they will get nowhere. Observe that though Israel sought the Lord they still had their idols of other gods. Compare Josh 24:14,15; Jud 2:11-13.

as a place to live (Josh 21:13-16). 6:18 Of course, the Joshua here is not the one who had been the leader of Israel. 6:19 There was joy at the return of the ark (v 13), but, on the part of some, a lack of reverence which God punished severely. God wants us to rejoice in all He has given us, but we must never lose our reverence for the holy things of God. Here God was teaching His people a lesson concerning His holy nature. See Num 4:5,15,20; 2 Sam 6:7; 1 Chron 13:9,10. “Fifty thousand and seventy” – some manuscripts have “seventy.” 6:20 “Holy” – Ex 15:11; Lev 11:44,45; 20:7 (note); Ps 29:2; Isa 6:3; 2 Cor 7:1; Heb 12:14; Rev 4:8. The men of BethShemesh had learned, at least to some extent, the lesson God taught. But they were afraid to have the ark near them, just as the Philistines had been. But God does not teach us about holiness so that we might put Him at a distance, but that near Him we might learn to be holy ourselves. 6:21 Kirjath Jearim was a town about 14 kilometers from Beth-Shemesh. It was also called Baalah (Josh 15:9; 2 Sam 6:2). 7:2 The ark was not removed from Kiriath Jearim until after David became king, more than 20 years after this. The 20 years here probably takes the story forward to the time of repentance indicated by v 4.

“Ashtoreth” – a goddess worshiped widely at that time by the nations around Israel. Note at 1 Kings 11:5. 7:5 Because they were willing to put away false gods Samuel was able to intercede for them and lead them further into fuller repentance and spiritual life. Samuel was the great intercessor for God’s people in those days (7:8,9; 8:6; 12:17-19,23; 15:11; Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1). 7:6 “Poured it out” – may speak of pouring out of the heart (1:15; Ps 42:4; 62:8; Lam 2:19).

“Judged” – or “led” (the Hebrew word means both). Samuel was now recognized as judge or leader over Israel. He was the last and the greatest of those so recognized. 7:8 12:19-24. 7:9 “Burnt offering” – notes at Leviticus chapter 1.

“Heard” – Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1. 7:10 2:10; Josh 10:10; 2 Sam 22:14,15; Ps 18:13,14; 29:3,4.

“Sought” – Israel was in a low condition, oppressed by the Philistines, guilty of

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Israel. But on that day the LORD thundered with a great thunder on the Philistines and routed them; and they were struck down before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh and pursued the Philistines and struck them down until they came below Beth-Car.

life. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come any more into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel freed their territories from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

And it came about, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second, Abiah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted judgment.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his

7:12 “Stone” – erecting of stones as memorials (not as objects of worship) was a common practice (Gen 28:18; 35:14; Josh 4:9; 24:26). Ebenezer means “stone of help.” 7:13 “Any more” – they did not at that time try to counterattack. Later they came again (9:16; 10:5; etc). 7:14 Victory and peace were a result of repentance and faith (vs 4,6). 7:17 “Ramah” – 1:1,19. “Altar” – the ark was gone from Shiloh, never to return there. The town of Ramah became the center of Samuel’s ministry and, therefore, of the spiritual life of Israel. The Hebrew word Ramah means “a height.” 8:1 Deut 1:16; 16:18,19. Samuel was now too old for all the travel and work involved in judging Israel. He was a great man and much used by God, but here he made a big mistake. No doubt he sincerely thought that his sons were fit to act as judges, but they were not. Perhaps because of his constant traveling ministry he had failed to bring them up as he should have done. Everyone in God’s ministry should be careful about their children, and they need to pray for discernment, especially in assessing the character of members of their own families. 8:3-5 It was partly due to the unfaithfulness of Samuel’s sons that the people wanted a king. The people’s unfaithfulness to the Lord is not to be excused on this account. At the same time we need to realize the bad effects people such as Samuel’s sons can have upon others. 8:3 “His ways” – the Old Testament gives many examples of the failure of family succession in the leadership of God’s people – Gideon and Abimelech (Jud 8:28 – 9:1); Eli and his sons (2:12); Samuel and his sons; David and his sons (2 Sam 15:12; 1 Kings 1:5); Solomon and Rehoboam (1 Kings 11:43); etc.

Some people when put in a position of authority, like Samuel’s sons, fail miserably. They give in to the temptations of corruption and greed. 8:5 Israel refused to learn from history. Their insecurity and defeats were due to their own sin and rejection of God’s authority, but they blamed Samuel’s age and the character of his sons. They thought that an established human leadership, like other nations had, would be the cure for all their problems (v 20). But to desire what “all the other nations have” was both a great mistake and a great sin (v 7; Hos 13:10,11). God’s people were to be a separate, unique, holy people, unlike any other on earth (Ex 19:5,6; Deut 7:6). The same is true of believers now (1 Pet 2:9). It is not their business to desire to be like the people around them who do not know God. 8:5-22 The request for a king and the establishment of the kingdom teach us many important lessons.

(a) The system of kings was not God’s ideal, and it actually symbolized the people’s rejection of God (v 7).

(b) God gave them what they wanted. He even chose their king for them. God does not force His will on us. He may let us have our way, but it will not bring the blessing He wants us to have. Compare Ps 78:29-31; 106:15. (c) They had to pay a price for their willfulness. God warned them where their desire would lead, but they would not listen (vs 9-19).

(d) God did not withdraw His grace from them because of their failure. God’s blessings are given in grace, often when His people badly fail. He continues to deal with His people even when they foolishly choose their own way.

(e) Although the system of kings was not God’s first choice for the people, in His grace He worked out His purposes through individual kings such as David, Hezekiah, Josiah, and others.

“Perverted judgment” – they were the exact opposite of what judges should be (Ex 23:6-8; Deut 16:19; Ps 15:5; psalm 82).

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because of your king whom you choose for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And 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, so that I should not reign over them. 8 They are doing to you in accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt to this day, in which they have forsaken me and served other gods. 9 Now therefore listen to their voice, but yet protest solemnly to them and show them the kind of king who will reign over them.”

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 so that we also may be like all the nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and make a king for them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go to his city.”

Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a strong and brave man. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice young man and impressive, and there was no more impressive person among the children of Israel than he. From his shoulders up he was taller than any of the people.

10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked a king from him. 11 And he said, “This will be the kind of king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some will run in front of his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself leaders over thousands and leaders over fifties, and will set them to plow his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed grain and of your vineyards, and give them to his officers and to his servants.

3 And the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now one of the servants with you and get up and go look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shalim, but they were not there. And he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

16 And he will take your male and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep. And you will become his servants. 18 And you shall cry out in that day

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come on and let’s go back, or my father will stop being concerned for the donkeys and start worrying

(f) Perhaps the most surprising thing of all is that by God’s grace Israel’s kingdom became in some measure a picture of God’s kingdom, and its king a “type” of the Lord Jesus as King (2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 2:7; 45:1,6; 89:33-37; Isa 9:6,7; Matt 1:1; 2:2; Luke 1:32,33; Rev 3:21; 19:11-16). But perhaps this is not so surprising after all, considering that man’s greatest acts of wickedness brought forth God’s greatest act of love and mercy – the cross of Christ. 8:6 12:17. 8:7 10:19. Up until then God had been King in Israel (12:12). They had the ideal form of government – not democracy, not aristocracy, not plutocracy, not monarchy, not the dictatorship of the proletariat, but theocracy – the rule of God. If the system failed in any way, this was not because God is not the perfect ruler, but because the people continually rejected His authority and broke His laws, and often descended into anarchy (Jud 21:25). Here Israel rejects God’s rule altogether. Let us as individuals be careful that we do not do the same thing. Compare Luke 19:14; Rom 14:9.

8:9 God does not let His people abandon a good way without warning them. 8:11 14:52; 2 Chron 1:14. 8:12 22:7. 8:14 1 Kings 21:7,15; Micah 2:2. 8:15 17:25. 8:18 He would let them suffer the consequences of their foolish and sinful choice. See Gal 6:7. We cannot demand our own way and then rightly expect God to keep us from the sad results of it. 8:20 “Battles” – but see Josh 5:14; 10:14,42; 23:3! In spiritual matters see Rom 8:31; 1 Cor 15:57; Gal 3:3. 8:22 Verse 7; Hos 13:11. 9:1 In this chapter and the next we have the record of how Samuel found Saul and anointed him to be the first king of Israel. 9:2 There is no mention here of Saul’s inner character. God chose for the people as their king a man after their own heart, a man who looked the part (10:23,24). Contrast this with God’s choice of a man after His own heart (16:7,12). 9:3 Saul was sent after donkeys; David looked after sheep (16:11-13; Ps 78:71,72).

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about us.”

14 And they went up into the city. And when they entered the city, there Samuel came out opposite them to go up to the high place.

6 And the servant said to him, “Look now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is held in honour. All that he says takes place without fail. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”

15 Now a day before Saul came the LORD had spoken in Samuel’s ear, saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send a man to you from the region of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be the leader over my people Israel, so that he may save my people out of the hands of the Philistines. For I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to me.”

7 Then said Saul to his servant, “But, look, if we go, what shall we take the man? For the bread is gone from our sacks, and there is no present to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, “Look, I have in hand a fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 Previously in Israel when a man went to inquire from God, he spoke like this: “Come and let us go to the seer”, for one who is now called a prophet was previously called a seer.

17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “See the man whom I spoke to you about. This is the one who will reign over my people.”

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

10 Then said Saul to his servant, “Well said. Come, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your father’s house?”

11 As they went up the hill to the city, they found some young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”

12 And they answered them and said, “He is. Look, he is in front of you. Hurry now, for today he has come to the city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place. 13 As soon as you have come into the city, you will meet 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. And afterwards those who have been invited eat. So now go on up, for about now you will find him.”

21 And 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 do you speak so?”

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and had them sit in the chief place among those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel

9:6 “This city” – probably Ramah, Samuel’s home town. The servant knew what Saul, apparently, did not. See v 18.

people wanted a king He would choose one for them (Deut 17:14,15). This does not mean, however, that Saul was God’s ideal person to be king. God chose him in anger with Israel (Hos 13:11); that is, God gave them Saul with judgment and punishment in His mind. Note at v 2. 9:16 “Cry” – 8:19,20; Ex 2:23-25. 9:17 An example of how God revealed things to a seer. 9:18 Let us learn something of Saul by this. Samuel was the most famous man in Israel, a great spiritual leader who traveled widely in the land, including the territory of Benjamin. Saul lived in Gibeah (10:26), not far from Samuel’s town. Yet it seems Saul had never heard of Samuel (v 6), and he certainly did not recognize him. His interest in spiritual matters must have been very small indeed. 9:19 “In your heart” – this is another thing that God may give a seer to see. But not always – 8:1-3; 16:6,7. 9:20 “Found” – a seer could see such things as this also.

“Man of God” – see 2:27. “Takes place” – 3:19; Deut 18:21,22; Jer 28:9. 9:7 It was right that the people should have a sense of obligation in material things to the prophet who ministered to them. On his part, the true prophet did not look for any material reward. He ministered only because the Lord had called him. In the Bible those who played prophet for what they could get are condemned (Ezek 13:17-19; Micah 3:5,11). 9:8 “Fourth of a shekel” – about 3 grams. 9:9 The word “seer” in Hebrew (as in English) comes from the verb “to see.” What the seer saw was the truth God revealed in whatever way God chose to reveal it. They were enlightened to know God and to receive messages from Him. Nine persons in the Bible are called seers. Samuel was the first and doubtless the greatest. The others were Zadok, Gad, Heman, Iddo, Hanani, Asaph, Jeduthun, and Amos. All the true prophets were also seers. 9:12 Note at Lev 26:30. 9:15-17 God had promised that when the

“Desire” – 8:5,20. 9:21 At first, Saul seemed humble and without personal ambition (10:21-23; 15:17). He started well enough. What is

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said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, put it near you.”

3 “Then you shall go on from there and come to the plain of Tabor, and there three men will meet you going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a wineskin full of wine. 4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you are to take from their hands.

24 And the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “See what has been keep for you. Put it in front of you and eat. Because it has been kept for you for this time, since I said that I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

5 “After that you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a harp and a tambourine and a flute and a lyre before them, and they will prophesy. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come on you, and you will prophesy with them and will be changed into another man. 7 And let it be like this: when these signs come to you, do for yourself as the occasion demands; for God is with you.

25 And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of the house. 26 And they arose early and about the break of day, it happened that Samuel called to Saul on the roof of the house, saying, “Arise, so that I may send you away.” And Saul arose, and both of them, he and Samuel, went outside. 27 As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us,” (and he went on) “but you stand still for a while, so that I may tell you the word of God.”

8 “And you shall go down before me to Gilgal. And, look, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings. You must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be the leader over his inheritance? 2 When you have left me today, then you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, “The donkeys which you went to seek are found, and, look, your father has stopped caring about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, ‘What shall I do about my son?’

9 And it happened when he had turned his back to go away from Samuel, that God gave him another heart. And all those signs took place that day. 10 And when they came to the hill, there a company of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came on him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came about, when all who knew him previously saw that now he prophesied among the

more important, however, is how a person finishes. 9:27 “The word of God” – this was the work of a seer, and the work of Samuel’s whole life from childhood (3:18) to old age (15:16). 10:1 Anointing with oil spoke of God’s anointing. Saul was declared king on three separate occasions. Here at Ramah the anointing was private and no one but Samuel observed it. At Mizpah there was a public proclamation (10:17-24), and later still at Gilgal Saul was confirmed as king (11:12-15). Samuel accepted Saul as king although, in doing so, his own public position and that of his family was eclipsed. How important it is that God’s servants should be ready to step aside and fade into the background when God’s time comes, and allow others to take the prominent position. Compare John 3:30.

10:6 “Spirit” – 11:6; Num 11:25-29; Jud 14:6. This sign in particular would confirm Saul as being anointed by God to be king.

“Changed” – Saul was a shy farmer’s son (11:5), not interested in national events. He became a warrior able to command an army and lead a nation. When God chooses a person for any task He equips him for that task. Saul miserably failed to be the kind of leader he should and could have been, but this was not because God had not given him the ability for leadership. 10:7 “Do” – do whatever would establish him as king.

“With you” – Josh 1:5; Jud 6:12. 10:8 This was a test for Saul which he failed – 13:8-10.

“Peace offerings” – see Lev 3:1. 10:9 “Took place” – this confirmed to Saul that Samuel was a true prophet and had given him God’s message. When God appoints a person to a task He wants that person to know that He has done so. 10:10 Verses 5,6. It is not revealed what sort of prophesying this was. It was done to the accompaniment of music and among a group of prophets (v 5). Perhaps in this case it was simply praising God under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Compare 1 Chron 25:1. 10:11,12 The Spirit of God had begun His

“Inheritance” – God’s inheritance is His people. See Ex 34:9; Deut 4:20; Ps 33:12. 10:2-7 Saul had not known Samuel and could not know whether he delivered God’s message. Samuel gave him three signs which would show that Samuel was a true prophet of God and that Saul should believe his message. 10:5 “Hill of God” – or “Gibeah” – v 26; 11:4. “Prophets” – note at Gen 20:7.

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prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And someone from that place answered and said, “But who is their father?”

be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the LORD answered, “Look, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

23 And they ran and brought him there. And when he stood up among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders on up. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “See the one whom the LORD has chosen; for there is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted and said, “God save the king!”

Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 And when he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 And Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?”

And he said, “To look for the donkeys. And when we did not see them anywhere, we went to Samuel.”

25 Then Samuel told the people the plan of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each man to his house.

15 And Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”

16 And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys were found.” But he did not tell him about the subject of the kingdom, which Samuel spoke about.

26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah, and a band of men, whose hearts God had touched, went with him. 27 But some wicked fellows said, “How will this man save us?” And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he kept silent.

17 And Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpeh, 18 and said to the children of Israel, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians and out of the hands of all the kingdoms and of those who oppressed you. 19 And today you have rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your disasters and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘No, but set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands.”

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and camped against Jabesh-Gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “I will make a covenant with you on this condition: that I may gouge out all of your right eyes, and so bring disgrace on all of Israel.”

3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite, so that we can send messengers to all the territories of Israel. And then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”

20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he could not

4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people, and all the people raised their voices and wept. 5 And just then Saul came from the field behind his oxen,

work of making Saul a different person, and people noticed it with great surprise. 10:16 “Kingdom” – it would probably have sounded absurd to Saul’s uncle. 10:18 Jud 6:8,9. 10:19 8:6-8; 12:12. 10:20 Apart from God speaking through His prophets, Israel had two methods of determining God’s will in public matters – casting lots (14:42; Josh 18:6-10; Neh 10:34), and the Urim and Thummin (Ex 28:30). In this case they probably cast lots. Only Samuel knew at this time that God had chosen Saul as king. This event was for the purpose of revealing it to the nation. 10:22 Saul was initially a shy and retiring person. God’s Spirit made him a different person (v 6), but the old still struggled with the new. 10:24 “No one like him” – in physical appearance and personality. The people were delighted with God’s choice – at first. 10:25 “Plan” – see Deut 17:14-20.

10:26 “Touched” – when God plans a new work He will raise up men to do it. 10:27 “Wicked fellows” – when God does a new thing there will always be those who scornfully oppose it. Compare Acts 2:13.

“Save us” – compare Matt 27:41-43. 11:1 The Ammonites were the descendants of Lot (Gen 19:36-38; Deut 2:19), and therefore related to Israel. But they were enemies of God’s people (Jud 3:13; 11: 4-32). Jabesh-Gilead was a town east of the Jordan river and north of Ammon. 11:2 Any sort of treaty with evil people results in some kind of loss (Ex 34:12; 1 Kings 20:34,42; 2 Chron 18:1; 2 Cor 6:14-18). 11:3 Apparently the Ammonites thought no one would be willing to come to help. Israel was at war with the Philistines. 11:4 Gibeah was in Benjamin and Benjamin had close family ties with the people of Jabesh (Jud 21:12-14). 11:5 Was Saul more interested in farming than in being king?

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and Saul said, “What is wrong with the people that they are weeping?” And they told him the news about the men of Jabesh.

15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal, and there they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

6 And the Spirit of God came on Saul when he heard that news, and his anger burned greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territories of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “So will it be done to the oxen of the one who does not come out after Saul and after Samuel.” And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8 And when he counted them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

And Samuel said to all Israel, “See, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have set a king over you. 2 And now, look, the king walks before you. And I am old and gray, and, see, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. 3 Look, here I am. Testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes with it? Tell me and I will return it to you.”

9 And they said to the messengers who had come, “This is what you are to say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have help.’” And the messengers came and told this to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do with us all that seems good to you.”

4 And they said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us, and you have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”

5 And he said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.”

11 And on the next day this occurred: Saul put the people in three groups, and they came into the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it came about that those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

And they answered, “He is a witness.” 6 And Samuel said to the people, “It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand there, so that I may reason with you in the LORD’s presence about all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he has done for you and for your fathers.

12 And the people said to Samuel, “Who is the one who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men so we can put them to death.”

13 And Saul said, “Not a a man will be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked deliverance in Israel.”

8 “After Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers had cried to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and caused them to live in this place.

14 Then said Samuel to the people, “Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”

9 “And when they forgot the LORD their God, 11:6 The Spirit of God now propelled Saul into the forefront of the national life of Israel. 11:7 “Fear of the LORD” – to fulfill His purposes, God can as easily move a whole people as He can one man. 11:8 Bezek was west of the Jordan, but not far from Jabesh east of the Jordan. 11:11 “Morning watch” – nights were divided into three “watches.” The third was from 2 to 6 A.M. 11:12 10:27. 11:13 Once more Saul shows modesty. 11:14,15 10:8,25. Though here Saul is confirmed as king, in the chapter which follows Samuel teaches the people that God was still the Ruler over Israel, and that both they and king Saul must obey God (vs 13-15). 11:15 “Peace offerings”– see Leviticus chapter 3.

of government to Saul, he retires from his administrative responsibilities, but not his work as spiritual leader.

“You” – 8:5-7; 10:24. 12:2 3:10,19,20; 8:1,5. 12:3 Samuel is saying that he has not used his position of leadership to oppress the people or to make gain for himself. Compare Paul’s speech to the elders of the church of Ephesus in Acts 20:17-35. In every age the chuch desperately needs these kinds of leaders. 12:4,5 A great testimony to Samuel’s good character. 12:5 “Anointed” – Saul. 12:6 Because they testified to his good character he can go on. If religious leaders are known to be bad men, they should keep their mouths shut until they are willing to repent and serve God from the heart. 12:7 Compare Micah 6:1-5. 12:8 Ex 2:23-25; 3:10; 4:14-16. 12:9 The people could find no fault with Samuel’s life, but the reverse was not the

“Rejoiced greatly” – they had gotten their way and everything seemed to be going well. 12:1 “Israel” – in this chapter, which gives Samuel’s speech on handing over the reins

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he sold them into the hands of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the king of Moab and they fought against them. 10 And they cried to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hands of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety.

16 “Now therefore stand there and see the great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, and he will send thunder and rain, so that you may perceive and see that great is your wickedness which you have done in the sight of the LORD in asking a king for yourselves.”

18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we do not die, for to all our sins we have added this evil of asking for a king for ourselves.”

12 “And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the LORD your God was your king. 13 Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And, see, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandments of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandments of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have done all this wickedness, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart, 21 and do not turn aside. For then you would go after vain things, which cannot profit or deliver, for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD and serve him in truth with all your heart. For

case. The history of Israel was full of rebellion against God.

cannot be changed, believers should not despair but go forward with God and let Him work things out for the best. 12:21 Ps 115:3-8; Isa 41:29; 44:17-20; Jer 16:19; Hab 2:18,19. 12:22 “His great name’s sake” – God’s reputation was (and is) bound up with His people (Num 14:13-16; Ps 23:3; 25:11; Isa 48:9; Jer 14:21; Ezek 20:9). What they do affects what others think of Him.

“Forgot” – Deut 32:18; Jud 3:7; Ps 106:21. 12:10 Jud 2:4,12,13; 3:7,15; 10:10,15,16. 12:11 7:13; Jud 4:6; 6:31,32; 7:1; 11:1. “Jerubbaal” – Gideon. “Bedan” – possibly another name for Barak. 12:12 “God was your King” – 8:6,7; Jud 8:23. 12:14,15 “LORD” – Samuel is saying that Jehovah God is still the Ruler and will exercise His authority over them. Notes on fear of God at Gen 20:11; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7. “Fathers” – Samuel clearly warns the people that simply having a king will not be the answer to their problems. Political changes will never be effective if people rebel against God. There is never any solution to the problems of God’s people apart from obedience to Him and submission to His will. 12:16,17 God was willing to give striking evidence at the word of Samuel to demonstrate how evil the motive of the people had been. 12:18 “Called” – Ps 99:5. “Samuel” – compare Ex 14:31. 12:19 The people now recognized their sin, but it was too late. When men have made a choice they have to face the consequences of it. 12:20 “Do not be afraid” – if people have faith and an obedient heart, God can turn even evil into blessing. Compare Gen 50:20. If a bad choice has been made and

“His people”–Deut 7:6-11; 31:6; 1 Kings 6:13; Isa 43:21. 12:23 “Ceasing” – not doing something God requires (sins of omission) is just as much sin as doing what God forbids (sins of commission). See Num 32:23; Deut 23:3,4; Matt 25:24-27,41-46; 1 Tim 5:8. Both kinds of sin are “against the LORD.” See Ps 51:4.

“Teach” – Samuel was old and no longer the administrative leader of the people. But God still had a spiritual ministry for him. He could still pray and teach. And if the time ever came when he could no longer teach, he could still pray. There is ministry for every believer in Christ, though the ministry of many may be hidden from the eyes of others. 12:24 “Fear” – v 14; Deut 10:12. “Great things” – Ex 14:31; Deut 4:32; 10:21; 11:7; Josh 24:17,18. By considering the great things God has done for His people their hearts may be moved to gratitude, praise, and obedience. Consider what great things God has done through Christ for believers now, as recorded in the New Testament!

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consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you continue to do wickedly, you will be swept away, both you and your king.”

of the Hebrews went over the Jordan to the region of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he waited seven days in accordance with the time that Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 And Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering here to me, and peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And it came about that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, suddenly Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him to greet him.

Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Of these two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in Bethel mountain, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And he sent the rest of the people away, each one to his tent.

3 And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout the whole land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had struck a garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines had gathered together at Michmash, 12 therefore I said, Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favour. So I forced myself and offered a burnt offering.”

5 And the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and people as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they came up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tight place (for the people were hard pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in high places and in pits. 7 And some

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. If you had, now the LORD would have established your kingdom in Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom will not continue. The LORD has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the

12:25 31:1-7; Josh 24:20. 13:1 Some manuscripts of the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament (Septuagint) have Saul’s age here as thirty when he became king. The Hebrew here does not have the word generally used for “one”, and has the plural for year. So some scholars think the first line of the text should read – “Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign.” Acts 13:21 says that Saul reigned for forty years. 13:2 “Jonathan” – Saul’s oldest son (14:49). 13:3 “Trumpet” – Num 10:9; Jer 4:19. “Hebrews” – another name for Israelites (Gen 10:21; 14:13). 13:4 “Odious” – Gen 34:30; Ex 5:21; 2 Sam 10:6; 16:21. 13:5 “Thirty” – some ancient manuscripts have “three.” Since there were only 6000 charioteers 3000 chariots seems more likely. In any case, theirs was a mighty army, superior to Israel’s.

13:13 Saul had some good qualities, but here are two great weaknesses. He was foolish (26:21), and he lacked an obedient heart (15:10,11,24). Many people there are who cannot be trusted with leadership because of these two failings. In our study of Saul we can see many ways in which a leader may fail and make himself unfit for leadership.

“Commanded you” – through Samuel (9:27; 10:8).

“Forever” – Saul was tested as to his worthiness for the office of king, and he failed, as God knew he would fail. 13:14 15:28; 16:1; Ps 89:20; Acts 13:22. From the context we can understand that a man after (or according to) God’s heart is a person who will be spiritually wise and obedient, and not like Saul who was foolish and disobedient. But no doubt it will be profitable for us to consider in more detail why God regarded David as a man after His own heart. We can see why David was such a man by studying his history and the psalms he wrote. In general it means that David knew something of the heart of God and tried to keep his heart in harmony with what he knew. But more specific qualities and attitudes of heart can be mentioned.

“Beth-Aven” – that is, Bethel. 13:6,7 Their joy and confidence in their king (8:20; 11:15) seems to have evaporated. 13:8 “Samuel” – 10:8. 13:9 Samuel’s instructions had been very clear and they had been given at a time when he had given three signs that God was speaking through him (10:1-7). 13:12 “Favour” – we cannot gain the Lord’s favor by disobedience (15:22,23).

Let us strive to obtain the following qualities and heart attitudes seen in David, and earnestly pray that God will produce them in us. And let us remember that David did not have such qualities and attitudes by nature. He was a fallen human being with a sinful nature just like the rest of the human

“Forced myself” – he was compelled only by his fear, rash spirit, and lack of confidence in God.

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LORD has commanded him to be the leader over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Philistines said, “So that the Hebrews cannot make swords or spears for themselves.” 20 But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines, so that each one could sharpen his plowshare and his sickle and his axe and his mattock. 21 And there was a sharpening charge for the mattocks and for the sickles and for the forks and for the axes and to set the points of the goads.

15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

16 And Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them, stayed in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines were camping at Michmash. 17 And the raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three groups; one group turned toward the road that goes to Ophrah, to the region of Shual, 18 and another group turned toward Beth-Horon, and another group turned toward the border that overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

22 So it came about on the day of battle that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and with his son Jonathan. 23 And an outpost of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Now one day it came about that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who was his armour bearer, “Come and let us go over to the Philistines’ outpost that is on the other side.”

19 Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout the whole land of Israel, for the

race, and this he himself understood quite well (Ps 51:5). His sins were his own, his good qualities were produced in him by the Spirit of God, with, of course, David’s cooperation.

work, God’s people, God’s house – Ps 8:1; 16:3; 18:1; 26:8; 27:4; 34:3; 51:13; 119:97,127; 2 Sam 24:17; etc. We may say that this love was at the center of his being, governing his whole course of life.

(a) David had great confidence and trust in God, not in himself – 1 Sam 17:37,47; Ps 18:2; 23:1-6; 28:7; 44:6-8; 56:4; etc.

(j) David had the fear of the Lord which made him spiritually wise and obedient – Ps 5:7; 19:9; 34:11-14; 119:63,120; etc.

(b) David always praised God for what was accomplished, not himself – Ps 9:1; 28:7; 33:1-3; 34:1; 56:4; etc. (c) David wanted glory and honor to be given to God, not to himself – 1 Sam 17:26, 36,46; Ps 25:11; 29:1,2; 31:3; 34:3; 115:1; etc. (d) David wanted to obey God’s will, not his own – Ps 143:10; 1 Sam 23:2; 2 Sam 5:19,22,23; etc. (e) David delighted in the Word of God and made it his business to know it and obey it – Ps 12:6; 17:4; 19:9-11; 56:10; 119:11,16,17, 67,74,89,101,105,133,148, 160,162,172 (assuming here that David wrote psalm 119); 130:5.

(k) David showed his love and gratitude toward God by both words and deeds – Ps 30:12; 35:18; 119:62; 2 Sam 24:24; 1 Chron 29:2-5; etc. (l) David was teachable. He longed to understand God’s truth and God’s ways and walk in them, and was willing to examine himself and correct anything he saw to be wrong – Ps 25:4; 27:11; 43:3; 86:11; 119:59; 139:23,24. (m) David was a man of prayer who acknowledged his need and helplessness and opened his heart and life to God to meet his need, a man who nourished his spiritual life in the presence of God – Ps 5:3,7; 40:17; 42:1,2; 51:11; etc (his psalms are full of this and innumerable references might be given).

(f) David was a man of integrity, faithful in the tasks given him to do, whether it was tending sheep or ruling a kingdom – 1 Sam 17:34,35; 1 Kings 9:4; Ps 78:70-72. Dishonesty, unfaithfulness, lying, crookedness of any kind were all hateful to him – Ps 15:1-5; 26:4,5; 101:1-8; etc. He knew that God was a God of truth and faithfulness and determined that he would be a man of truth and faithfulness – Ps 25:5; 26:3; 31:5; 51:6; 86:11; etc. (g) David did not strive to gain position or power (as is the usual way of men), even though God had chosen him to be king. He patiently waited for God’s time and God’s way – 1 Sam 24:4-7; 26:7-11; 31:15; etc.

(n) He loved God’s holiness and wanted his whole life to be conformed to it – Ps 19:13,14; 24:3,4; 29:2; 30:4; 51:710; 103:1,3; 119:11,133; 145:21. Such are some of the qualities which made David a man after God’s own heart. Others could be added to this list but these are enough to show why God was pleased with him. 13:15 13:2,4,6,7. Fear had made many hundreds run away. 13:19-21 The Philistines believed in total disarmament – for Israel, not for themselves. Of course this gave them a tremendous advantage in any battle between the two nations. 13:22 Two swords for a whole nation! But they had bows and arrows and spears, etc. 14:1 The first 23 verses of this chapter record one of the great individual military exploits in

(h) David was a humble man who was aware of his weakness and helplessness and tried to keep himself free of that pride and arrogance which God hates – 2 Sam 12:713; Ps 25:7,11; 40:17; 51:1-17; 131:1,2; etc. (i) David loved God, God’s name, God’s

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But he did not tell his father.

And Jonathan said to his armour bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hands of Israel.”

2 And Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron, and the people who were with him were about six hundred men. 3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armour bearer after him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour bearer killed some after him. 14 And about twenty men fell in that first attack which Jonathan and his armour bearer made, within about half an acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

4 And on the pass by which Jonathan sought to reach the Philistines’ outpost, there was a rocky crag on one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag was situated toward the north opposite Michmash, and the other toward the south, opposite Gibeah.

15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled, and the earth quaked, so it became a very great trembling.

16 And Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and saw the mob melting away, moving here and there. 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Make a count now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had made a count, it was seen that Jonathan and his armour bearer were not there.

6 And Jonathan said to the young man who was his armour bearer, “Come, and let us go over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can prevent the LORD from saving whether by many or by few.”

18 And Saul said to Ahiah, “Bring here the ark of God.” For at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel. 19 And it came about, while Saul was talking to the priest, that the noise in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased. And Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

7 And his armour bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Turn yourself forward. See, I am with you according to your desire.”

8 Then Jonathan said, “Look, we will cross over to these men, and we will let ourselves be seen by them. 9 If they speak to us like this: ‘Wait until we come to you’, then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10 But if they speak like this: ‘Come up to us’, then we will go up, for the LORD has delivered them into our hands. And that will be a sign to us.”

20 And Saul and all the people who were with him assembled and went to the battle, and they saw that every man’s sword was against his fellow soldier, and that there was very great confusion. 21 Moreover the Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines, who had gone up with them to the camp from the surrounding countryside, they also turned and came to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines had fled, they also followed close behind them in the battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel

11 And both of them let themselves be seen by the outpost of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews have come out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 And the men of the outpost responded to Jonathan and his armour bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will tell you something.”

the Bible. 14:3 “Ephod”–Ex 28:6-8. 14:6 “Uncircumcised” – the Philistines were not in covenant relationship with God (Gen 17:9-14), and they had no right to remain in the land. All of Canaan as far as the Mediterranean Sea had been given to Israel (Josh 1:2-5; 13:2).

but faith looks to God, not at difficulties. 14:14 “Half an acre” – in Hebrew “half a yoke.” A “yoke” was the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. 14:15 “Great trembling” – all this because of the faith of one man. See also 7:10; Josh 10:9,11; Ps 18:6-15. 14:18 Saul’s intention was to find God’s will for the present occasion. Compare 23:9-11; 30:7,8. Like Saul some people want to find God’s will when there is the prospect of some success or other, but think little of seeking Him simply to know their duty. 14:19 It seems Saul decided to pursue the Philistines without waiting to see what God would say. Such action was typical of Saul. 14:20 Jud 7:22; 2 Chron 20:23. 14:23 “The LORD” – 11:13; Ex 14:30; Josh 23:4,5; 2 Chron 32:22; Ps 3:16-19; 44:6,7; Hos 1:7.

“Few” – if it is God who works He can accomplish His purpose with very small, very frail instruments (17:46,47; Lev 26:8; Jud 7:4,7; 2 Chron 14:11). What God wants to see is not large numbers but faith and obedience. Jonathan’s faith made him bold. 14:10 6:9; Gen 24:14; Jud 6:36-40. 14:11 “Hebrews” – 13:3. 14:12 “LORD has delivered” – Jonathan’s dependence was not on his skill and ability but on God. 14:13 “Feet” – the terrain was very difficult,

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that day, and the battle passed over to Beth-Aven.

bring here to me his ox and each man his sheep, and slaughter them here and eat, and not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood.’” And each man from all the people brought his ox with him that night and slaughtered it there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

24 And the men of Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had put the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats any food until evening, so that I may take vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted any food.

25 And all the people of the land came into the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people came into the woods, they saw the honey dripping, but no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people were afraid of the oath. 27 But Jonathan did not hear when his father charged the people with the oath, so he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in a honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes shone. 28 Then one of the people responded and said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats any food today.’” And the people were faint.

36 And 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 to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us here draw near to God.”

37 And Saul asked counsel from God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hands of Israel?” But the LORD did not answer him that day.

38 And Saul said, “Draw near here, all you leaders of the people, and find out and see how this sin has happened today. 39 For, as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.

29 Then said Jonathan, “My father has troubled the land. Please see how my eyes have shone, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more they could have done, if the people today had eaten freely of the plunder of their enemies which they found! For would there not have been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”

40 Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.”

And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

41 Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people were cleared.

31 And they struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people became very faint. 32 And the people fell on the plunder and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the LORD, by eating meat with the blood.”

42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”

And Jonathan told him, saying, “I just tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand, and, look, I must die!”

And he said, “You have transgressed. Roll a great stone to me today.” 34 And Saul said, “Scatter among the people and say to them, ‘Each man must

44 And Saul answered, “God do so and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”

“Beth-Aven” – Bethel. 14:24 “Oath” – Saul again shows a rash and foolish spirit. His oath may have had an appearance of spiritual devotion, but it meant that the strength of the army was sapped before the day was over (vs 28,31). 14:27 “His eyes shone” – even a little nourishment brought strength to a tired man – vs 29,30. 14:29 “Troubled” – one rash oath brought trouble to the whole country, and showed once again that Saul was not fit to be king. 14:32 “Blood” – forbidden by God (Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17; Deut 12:23,24; Acts 15:19,20). 14:35 “The first” – Saul was not suddenly becoming spiritual and devoted to God. Evidently he was much worried that God would forsake his army because of its sin in

eating blood. 14:36 Having gone through the forms of devotion, Saul’s self-confidence returns, his fear abates. He is ready to rush after the Philistines without seeking God’s will. He needed the priests’ reminder to “enquire of God.” 14:37 “The LORD did not answer” – even though Saul’s oath was a foolish one, an oath was an oath, and God heard it, and the people were bound by it (v 24). See Eccl 5:2-7. Far better to make no oaths (Matt 5:33-37). For another very foolish oath see Jud 11:30,31. 14:39 Saul adds another vow to his original one. This one too went unfulfilled. 14:41,42 Casting lots to find God’s will was a common practice then – Josh 7:14; 18:6; 1 Chron 24:5. 14:44 It would have been better for Saul if

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45 And the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? God forbid! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, so that he did not die.

came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and sucking child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

4 And Saul gathered the people together and counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. 6 And Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, get away from among the Amalekites, or I will destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites went away from among the Amalekites.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab and against the children of Ammon and against Edom and against the kings of Zobah and against the Philistines, and wherever he turned, he troubled them. 48 And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

7 And Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah until you come to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fat animals and the lambs and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them, but they utterly destroyed everything that was despised and worthless.

49 Now Saul’s sons were Jonathan and Ishui and Melchishua. And these were the names of his two daughters: the name of the firstborn was Merab and the name of the younger was Michal. 50 And Saul’s wife’s name was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 “I regret that I have appointed Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me and has not carried out my commandments.” And Samuel was troubled and cried out to the LORD all night.

52 And the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for his service.

And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the message from the voice of the LORD. 2 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he opposed him along the way when Israel

12 And Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, and it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and, look, he set up a monument for himself, and has turned and proceeded to go down to Gilgal.”

13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to

15:8 This refers to the chief town of the Amalekites (v 5). There were Amalekites living in other places whom Saul did not destroy (27:8; 31:1,18; 2 Sam 1:1; 8:11,12). 15:9 Once again we see that Saul was the kind of person who did what he pleased regardless of God’s commands (10:8; 13:8,9). Disobedience to God cost him a great deal, as it will anyone, any time. 15:11 “I regret” – Gen 6:6; 2 Sam 24:16; Ps 78:40; Hos 11:8; Matt 23:37; Luke 19:41,42; Eph 4:30. “Troubled” – the prophets in tune with God’s mind experienced something of what God felt. See Jer 4:19-26; 6:11. 15:12 “Carmel” – not Mt Carmel in the north of Israel, but a town south of Hebron.

he had been as determined to put Agag to death as he was to kill Jonathan (15:8). 14:45 The men decided that if it came to a matter of oaths they too could make them. 14:46 The confusion of the previous incident meant that a great opportunity to crush the Philistines was lost. 14:47,48 Israel was surrounded by enemies. Moab and Ammon were to the east beyond the Jordan river. Edom was south, Zobah north, the Philistines west. 14:49 “Ishvi” – he was also known as “Ish-bosheth” and “Esh-Baal.” 14:52 “Service” – 8:11,12. 15:1 9:16. 15:2 See Ex 17:8-16; Num 24:20; Deut 25:17-19. The time had come for God to punish this wicked people. Notes on such punishment at Gen 6:7; 15:16; Lev 18:24; Deut 13:12-18. 15:3 Similar to instructions God gave about Jericho – Josh 6:17-21. 15:6 The Kenites were a Midianite tribe living to the south of Israel in the desert. Moses’ father-in-law was a Kenite.

“Monument for himself” – by this Saul showed again that he was on the slippery slope to ruin (Matt 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14). God does not give success that we might glorify ourselves. 15:13 A show of outward spirituality that covered deception.

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him, “May you be blessed by the LORD. I have carried out the commandment of the LORD.”

22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Look, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you as king.”

14 And Samuel said, “Then what is the meaning of this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

24 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD.”

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Now I will tell you what the LORD said to me tonight.”

And he said to him, “Speak on.” 17 And Samuel said, “When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? 18 And the LORD sent you on a journey and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy those sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are no more.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but fell on the plunder and did evil in the sight of the LORD?”

26 And 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 as king over Israel.”

27 And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul clutched the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, “Today the LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you and has given it to a neighbour of yours who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie or repent, for he is not a man that he should repent.”

20 And Saul said to Samuel, “Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took some of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

30 Then he said, “I have sinned. Yet please honour me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” 31 So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshipped the LORD.

15:14 Fire can be hidden for a time, but what about the smoke? What good is a mask of piety when evidence of disobedience cries out all around? 15:15 Saul, the leader who was responsible for everything, tries to put the blame on his men (vs 21,24). Compare Gen 3:12,13. 15:17 “Little” – a comparison of 9:21 and 10:22 with 15:12 gives us an example of how power and position can corrupt a leader. 15:18 Verse 3. 15:19 “Not obey” – 13:13. 15:20,21 Saul seemed to think that partial obedience would be acceptable to God. Actually partial obedience is disobedience. God did not send him to bring back Agag and those animals. His command was to destroy all and everything.

God’s command. To ignore God’s commands and do one’s own will is really a kind of idolatry – worship of oneself.

“Rejected” – anyone unwilling for God’s rule over himself is not fit to rule others. 15:24 Confession with repentance is a fine thing. Confession without repentance is worse than useless. See Ex 10:16,17. And true repentance does not include an excuse for sin as Saul makes here. Compare with this David’s simple, heartfelt statements in 2 Sam 12:13 and Ps 51:3,4. 15:25 “Pardon” – in this too Saul seems lacking in true repentance – he asks for Samuel’s forgiveness, not God’s.

“Worship” – judging from all that is said about him Saul was never much interested in worshiping God, and here, too, he had other motives (v 30). 15:28 “Better” – 13:14; 16:1,13; 28:17,18. 15:29 Num 23:19; Isa 40:8; Titus 1:2; Jam 1:17. 15:30 “Honour” – Matt 23:5-7; John 5:44; 12:43; Rom 2:29. Saul had his eyes on people, not on God. He was afraid that Samuel and all Israel would reject him, and thought that a little honor from men might help him to retain his position. He is an example of the kind of person we often see in Christian circles today. Contrast all this with David’s concern with his inner being (Ps 51:10). 15:31 Samuel loved Saul (v 11; 16:1), and

“To sacrifice” – to escape from the charge of disobedience Saul again makes a show of piety. 15:22 These are words we should all write on our hearts and read daily. Outward ritual can never take the place of heart obedience – Ps 50:7-23; 51:16,17; Prov 21:3; Isa 1:11-17; Jer 7:22,23; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Mark 12:33; Heb 10:6-9. 15:23 “Witchcraft” – see Lev 19:26; Deut 18:9-12. “Stubbornness” – 12:14,15. The one thing above all Saul should not have done he did. He stubbornly rebelled against

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32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him weakly.

with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.

And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

6 And it came about, when they arrived, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.”

33 And Samuel said, “Just as your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance, or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not come again to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel grieved for Saul, and the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse had Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse had seven of his sons pass in front of Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

And the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for myself among his sons.”

11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?”

And he said, “There still remains the youngest, and, see, he is tending the sheep.”

2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he has come here.”

And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will tell you what you must do, and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.”

12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and with a fine appearance and handsome features. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one.”

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD came on David from that day onwards. So Samuel got up and went to Ramah.

4 And Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come in peace?”

5 And he said, “In peace. I have come to sacri fice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come

14 But the Spirit of the LORD left Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

gave in to his desperate request. 15:32 Perhaps Samuel’s reason for going with Saul was not to honor him but to finish the work God gave Saul to do. 15:33 Gen 9:6; Ex 21:23-25; Deut 19:21; Jud 1:7. This was absolute justice at work. 15:35 Though Samuel loved Saul he refused to have fellowship with him because Saul was disobedient and rejected by God. Compare 1 Cor 5:1,2,9-11. 16:1 “How long” – it was right for Samuel to mourn. God Himself was grieved (15:35). But he had mourned enough and there was work to do. No servant of God should let his grief keep him from fulfilling his responsibilities in God’s service.

always welcome. Did the elders at Bethlehem have a guilty conscience about something? 16:5 “Consecrate” – Ex 19:10,14; Leviticus chapter 15; Num 19:11-22. 16:6 Even Samuel the seer could be deceived by outward appearances. See 9:19. 16:7 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chron 28:9; Ps 139:1-4; Luke 16:15; Heb 4:13. 16:11 “Tending the sheep” – the one the Lord chose to shepherd Israel was a shepherd – Ps 78:71,72. He is a small picture of another who has a shepherd’s heart (John 10:11-16; Heb 13:20). 16:12 But God did not choose him for his handsome looks (13:14). 16:13 “Brothers” – Samuel knew why he anointed David (v 1), but as far as we know he did not give the reason at that time. David knew, of course, that he was being set apart for some special purpose. Observe that the Spirit of God Himself anointed David to be king as He had Saul (10:10). 16:14 “LORD” – God’s Spirit had anointed Saul to be king. He was now rejected as king and so the Spirit departed from him. This has nothing to do with the question of whether Saul was saved or lost as an individual. It has to do only with his position

“Jesse” – Ruth 4:18-22. 16:2 Saul’s instability was apparently quite obvious. He had become treacherous and vindictive (19:1,9-11; 22:18,19). It is unlikely that Samuel was afraid to die. He wondered, though, how he would be able to obey God’s command. 16:3 “I will tell you what you must do” – when we set out to obey God we can expect His constant guidance (Ps 25:9; Prov 3:6; Isa 30:21; 58:10,11). 16:4 Evidently the visit of a prophet was not

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15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Look now, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants, who are before you, to seek for a man who plays the harp skillfully. And it will be like this : when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play the harp with his hand, and you will get well.”

took a stand on a hill on one side, and Israel took a stand on a hill on the other side, with a valley between them.

4 And a champion came out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was wearing a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze shin guards on his legs, and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And one carrying a shield went before him.

17 And Saul said to his servants, “Find me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing. And he is a strong man and a brave warrior, and prudent in speech and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David who is with the sheep.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey, loaded it with bread, and a wineskin of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David.

8 And he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel and said to them, “Why have you come out to set your battle in array? Am I not a Philistine, and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants, but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “Today I defy the armies of Israel. Give me a man, so that we can fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer. 22 And Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stay here with me, for he has found favour in my sight.”

23 And it would come about, whenever the evil spirit from God was on Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. So Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would leave him.

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-Judah, whose name was Jesse. And Jesse had eight sons. And in the days of Saul he passed for an old man among men. 13 And the three oldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle; and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest, and the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David went back and

Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and assembled at Shochoh, which belongs to Judah, and camped between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-Dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel gathered together and camped at the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines

as king.

it in the world) has evil influences on those who listen to it. 17:1 “Shocoh” – west of Bethlehem near the border between Israel and the Philistines. 17:4 Num 13:32,33. “Six cubits and a span” – slightly less than three meters. 17:5 “Five thousand shekels” – nearly 57 kilograms. 17:7 “Six hundred shekels” – about 7 kilograms. 17:8,9 In ancient days it sometimes happened that chosen representatives of opposing armies met in combat to decide the issue between the armies. 17:10 Goliath was defying not only Israel but the God of Israel. But it seems only David understood this fully and took it to heart – vs 26,36,45. 17:11 If the leader is afraid, what can be expected of his men? 17:12 “Ephrathite” – the area around Bethlehem was called Ephratha (Mic 5:2). 17:15 16:11.

“Evil spirit” – or “injurious spirit” – 18:10; Jud 9:23; 1 Kings 22:19-23; Job 1:12; 2:6; Mark 5:11-13; 2 Cor 12:7. Evil spirits cannot do as they please. They need God’s permission for their activities (even men know how to keep dangerous dogs on leashes or chains). It seems God sometimes sends evil spirits in judgment on men to punish them for their sin.

“Troubled” – a thing evil spirits delight to do (Job 2:7; Mark 5:1-5; 9:20-22; Luke 13:11,16). With Saul it seems the torment took the form of mental anguish. 16:18 This was God’s way of bringing David to the king’s court and eventually into great popularity in Israel. 16:20 Prov 18:16. 16:21 Prov 22:29. “Armour bearer” – probably it was after David defeated Goliath that this took place. 16:23 Good music can have good influences on the mind. Evil music (and there is much of

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forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

saying, “So it will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 And his oldest brother Eliab was listening when he spoke to the men, and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the wickedness of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself for forty days.

17 And Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers. 18 And take along these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see about the welfare of your brothers, and bring some token from them.” 19 Now Saul and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

29 And David said, “What have I done now? Can’t I speak a word?” 30 And he turned away from him toward another man and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him with the same words as before. 31 And when the words David spoke were overheard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him.

20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went, just as Jesse had ordered him. And he came to the lines just as the army was going out to the fight and were shouting the war cry. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up the battle lines, army against army. 22 And David left his baggage in the hands of the baggage keeper, and ran in among the troops and came and greeted his brothers. 23 And as he talked with them, suddenly there came the champion, the Philistine of Gath, named Goliath, from the armies of the Philistines, and spoke those same words, and David heard them. 24 And when all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were very afraid.

32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are only a youth, and he is a warrior from his youth.”

34 And David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went after it and attacked it, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. And when it rose against me, I caught it by its beard and struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear. And this uncircumcised Philistine will become like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 David also said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”

25 And the men of Israel said, “Did you see that man who came up? He comes up to defy Israel. And it so happens that the man who kills him will be given great riches by the king. And he will give him his daughter, and make his father’s household free in Israel.”

26 And David spoke to the men who were standing near him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away this reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

38 And Saul put his tunic on David, and put a bronze helmet on his head and dressed him in a coat of mail. 39 And David fastened his sword over his tunic and tried to walk around, for he had not tested it. And David said to Saul, “I cannot go with 17:17 “Ephah” – probably about one half bushel. 17:20 Even in the exciting prospect of visiting the battlefield David did not forget his sheep. He was faithful in small matters before he was faithful in large matters (Luke 16:10). 17:25 Saul was afraid to fight, but by making promises of great reward tried to find someone else willing to fight. 17:26 “God” – David saw the main point right away. To him it was disgraceful that the people of the true and living God should cringe in fear from someone who did not know God. He here revealed one of the reasons why he was a man after God’s own heart – 13:14. 17:28 “Anger” – his language was very scornful, very unfair. Was jealousy at work

27 And the people answered him like this,

in Eliab? Compare Gen 37:3-11. He had been passed by and David, his younger brother, had been anointed (16:6,7,13). 17:29-32 David did not allow ill-will and discouraging words from his brother to hinder his faith. 17:32 16:18; Deut 20:1-4. 17:33 In any venture of faith there may be those who speak words of discouragement. What Saul did not realize was that David was trusting God for victory, not himself. 17:34-37 Past experiences of God’s help gave confidence that God would help him now. 17:38,39 David’s trust was in God. He did not need someone else’s armor and weapon. He was willing, as we all should be, to go forward in the abilities God had given him rather than to try to imitate others with

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these, for I have not tested them.” And David took them off. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, in a pouch. And his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in David’s hand. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, and seized his sword and drew it out of its scabbard, and killed him and cut off his head with it.

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near to David, and the man who was carrying the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, and ruddy and with a handsome appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with staves?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the Philistines’ wounded men fell down along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and to Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from pursuing, the Philistines and plundered their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you down and take off your head, and today give the carcasses of the armies of the Philistines to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, so that the whole world may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly will know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD’s and he will give you into our hands.”

55 Now when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the host, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”

56 And the king said, “Find out whose son the young man is.”

57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”

48 And it came about, when the Philistine came on up and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took from there a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead. And he fell on his face to the ground.

And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

And it came about, when he had finished speaking with Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and different abilities. 17:40 David was not a small boy with a boy’s sling. He had already killed fierce wild animals with his bare hands (vs 34,35), and the sling could be a deadly weapon of war (Jud 20:16; 2 Kings 3:25; 2 Chron 26:14). With such slings stones weighing up to 500 grams could be hurled at speeds up to 150 kilometers an hour. 17:42 “Youth” – this is a translation of a Hebrew word that could mean a boy, or a grown-up young man. In v 55 David is called a “young man.” 17:43 “Cursed” – David well knew that Goliath’s gods were powerless and he did not fear any curses uttered in their name. 17:45 “Spear” – Goliath’s trust was in his own strength and weapons. David’s trust was in God, and that made all the difference. Against such a superior force Goliath had not the slightest chance of victory.

17:46 “World may know” – this was David’s great desire, the desire of all God’s true servants. This fight between two men was to have far-reaching results. 17:47 14:6; 2 Chron 20:15; Ps 33:16,17; 34:2; 44:4-8; Zech 4:6; 1 Tim 6:12. 17:48 “David ran quickly” – confident and eager for victory and the glory of God’s name. 17:51 Heb 11:34. The power of faith can equally well overcome other kinds of enemies – Rom 8:37; 1 Cor 15:57; 2 Cor 2:14; Jam 4:7. 17:55-58 Saul knew David (16:18-23). But he had forgotten David’s family background. Remember, he was much troubled in mind (16:14), and occupied with his own fears. 18:1 “Jonathan” – 20:17; 2 Sam 1:26. Saul’s oldest son was a great warrior himself and a man of faith (14:1-15). He recognized in David a kindred spirit and a man superior to himself (he had not dared to go against Goliath). He was filled with admiration for David.

“Name of the LORD of hosts” – 2 Chron 14:11; 32:8; Ps 9:10; 20:7,8; 124:8; Prov 18:10.

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Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, and would no longer let him go home to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe he had on and gave it to David, and his tunic, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David conducted himself wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he conducted himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

5 And David went out wherever Saul sent him, and conducted himself wisely. And Saul appointed him over the warriors, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 And it so happened when David was returning from killing the Philistine, as they were coming, the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women responded to each other as they played, and said,

17 And Saul said to David, “See my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife. Only serve me bravely, and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul said to himself, “Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”

18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I? And what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be a son-in-law of the king?” 19 But it came about at the time when Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, that she was given as a wife to Adriel the Meholathite.

“Saul has slain his thousands,

and David his tens of thousands.”

8 And Saul became very angry, for the saying displeased him, and he said, “They have given credit to David for tens of thousands, and to me they have given credit for only thousands. And what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul kept an eye on David from that day on.

20 And Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, “I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “Today you will become my son-in-law.”

10 And it so happened on the next day that the evil spirit from God came on Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. And David was playing the harp with his hand, as at other times, and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul threw the javelin, for he said to himself, “I will strike David to the wall with it.” And David escaped from his

22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, “Speak with David secretly and say, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.’” 18:3,4 Jonathan’s love caused him to make a covenant (19:1; 20:8,13-16,41,42; 23:18); to give David prized possessions (v 4); to do anything possible to help him (20:4); to risk his own life for David (20:3035; 23:16); and to willingly take second place to David (23:17,18). Jonathan was more than a great warrior – he was a true friend, absolutely loyal to the end. The friendship of these two men of God is an example of what true, sanctified friendship can be in God’s service. And Jonathan’s attitude to David is a picture of what ours should be for the Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our love for Him should cause us to give everything we have to Him and to gladly do anything possible in His service. 18:5 God was training David for his future position as king. A person who is going to be in authority should first learn to be under authority.

13:13,14. 18:10 “Evil” – or “injurious.” “From God” – note at 16:14. “Prophesied” – note at Gen 20:7. Evidently Saul was uttering words under the control of the evil spirit. This is a debased kind of prophesying which is common enough in the world. 18:11 19:10; 20:33. Since Saul was acting under the control of the evil spirit this was doubtless an attempt by Satan to thwart God’s plan for David and the future of Israel. But God enabled David to escape. 18:12 16:13,14,18; 18:15,29. 18:13 The ungodly always want to get rid of the godly by some means or other. Saul hoped David would be killed in battle (vs 17,21,25). 18:14-16 Saul’s plan resulted in the complete opposite of what he had hoped, for it resulted in even further success and popularity for David. Compare Ps 33:10,11; 37:12,13. Note at Gen 50:20. 18:17 See Saul’s promise at 17:23. He had not fulfilled it. But breaking his word was nothing to a man like Saul. 18:18 Verse 23; 9:21. Unlike Saul David remained modest to the end (2 Sam

“Wisely” – or “successfully” (as it could be translated) – vs 14,30; Gen 39:3,23; 2 Kings 18:7; 2 Chron 20:20; Ps 1:3. 18:8,9 Saul adds to his other sins the destructive sin of envy. On envy see Prov 14:30; 27:4; Dan 6:3,4; Matt 27:18; Acts 7:9; 13:45; 17:5; Jam 3:16; Rom

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23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem a light thing to you to be a king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?”

against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his actions toward you have been very good. 5 For he put his life in jeopardy and killed the Philistine, and the LORD accomplished a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”

24 And Saul’s servants told him, saying, “This is the way David spoke.”

25 And Saul said, “You shall tell David this: ‘The king does not want any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul gave his oath, “As the LORD lives, he will not be killed.”

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days had expired, 27 David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, so that he could become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal as his wife.

7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

8 And there was war again, and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and killed them in a great slaughter; and they fled from him.

9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was on Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand. 10 And Saul tried to strike David to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence, and Saul struck the javelin into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him. 29 And Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul became David’s permanent enemy.

30 Then the leaders of the Philistines came out to battle, and after they came out, it happened that David conducted himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly honoured.

11 And Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And David’s wife Michal told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped. 13 And Michal took an idol and laid it in the bed, and put a rug of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with a cloth.

And Saul told his son Jonathan, and all his servants, that they should kill David. 2 But Saul’s son Jonathan greatly delighted in David, and Jonathan told David, saying, “My father Saul is seeking to kill you. Now therefore, please watch out for yourself until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you. And I will tell you what I find out.”

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

15 And Saul again sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on the bed, so that I can kill him.” 16 And when the messengers went in, they saw that there was an idol in the bed, with a rug of goats’ hair at its head.

4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, and said to him, “May the king not sin

17 And Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me so, and sent my enemy away, so that

19:6 Saul was quick to make oaths, but not to keep them (14:24,44). He was, like Reuben (Gen 49:4), unstable as water. 19:9 “Evil” – or “injurious” – 16:14; 18:10. 19:10 18:11. 19:11 “Morning” – David wrote a whole psalm about this event – psalm 59. In it he claims God as his refuge and is able to praise God in faith. 19:12 Saul hoped that by giving Michal to David he would be killed (18:25). Instead, she becomes a means of his escape. Note at 18:14-16. 19:13 “Idol” – in Hebrew “teraphim.” It is not recorded where Michal obtained this idol. 19:14 Josh 2:4,5. 19:17 Michal was as quick to lie as Saul to

7:18). 18:23 “Poor man” – it was the custom in Israel for the bridegroom to pay a dowry to the parents of the bride (Gen 34:12; Ex 22:16). Saul names the price in v 25, hoping for David’s death. 18:27 The Philistines were enemies of God’s people and had no right to be in the land with Israel (Josh 1:4; 13:1,2; 23:4,5). Israel was not to treat the idolatrous nations of Canaan with any respect or pity, but rather to destroy them (Deut 7:16). See note at 15:2. 18:30 “David conducted himself more wisely” – or “David met with more success.” 19:1,2 “Kill” – 18:10,11,25. “Greatly delighted” – 18:1.

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he has escaped?”

LORD lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”

And Michal answered Saul, “He told me, ‘Let me go; why should I kill you?’”

4 Then said Jonathan to David, “I will do for you whatever your soul desires.”

18 So David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, saying, “Look, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the group of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then he also went to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu, and asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Look, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”

5 And David said to Jonathan, “Look, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, so I can hide myself in the field until evening of the third day. 6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave from me so he could run to his city Bethlehem, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’ 7 If he speaks like this, ‘It is well’, your servant will be safe. But if he becomes very angry, then be sure that he is set on evil. 8 Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant. For you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. However, if there is any iniquity in me, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?”

9 And Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I knew for a fact that my father was set on bringing evil on you, then would I not tell you about it?”

23 And he went there, to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came on him also, and he went on, prophesying, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel, like the others, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

10 Then said David to Jonathan, “Who well tell me? Or what if your father answers you roughly?”

11 And Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let us go out into the field.” And both of them went out into the field.

12 And Jonathan said to David, “The LORD God of Israel be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, and see that the situation is good for David, then if I do not send word to you, and tell it to you, 13 the LORD do harm and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you harm, then I will tell you about it and send you away, so that you may go in peace. And may the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. 14 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I am still alive, so that I do not die, 15 but also you shall never cut off your kindness from my make oaths. 19:18 7:17. 19:20 10:5,6,10. 19:23 Note at 10:10. He went to kill David and yet here he is prophesying. By this we can see that a certain kind of prophesying, even by the Spirit of God (as here), had nothing to do with the character or life style of the person who did it, and was no mark of spirituality. See also Num 24:2; John 11:49-51. 19:24 “Samuel” – this is the last time we read of Samuel until his death in 25:1. After Saul became king he retired from administrative responsibilities to Ramah, but he went out on occasion to deliver God’s message. It seems he lived his last years with a “company of prophets” (v 20), no doubt passing on to younger men the truth he himself had learned. Compare 2 Tim 2:2.

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my wickedness, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”

2 And he said to him, “God forbid! You will not die. Look, my father will do nothing either great or small without telling me, and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.”

3 And David again solemnly swore, saying, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favour in your eyes, and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But as surely as the

“Night” – to enable His servants to escape, God can overpower any enemy and make him unable to do any harm. Notes at Gen 31:7; 50:20. 20:1 The event recorded in 19:24 gave David the opportunity to escape to his friend. 20:2 Jonathan’s loyalty to his father made him try to think the best of him. In spite of what Saul had said to him (19:1), he could not believe that his father could have such evil intentions against David. 20:5 “New moon” – Num 10:10 (note); 28:11-15. The new moon, the beginning of the month of the lunar calendar used by Israel, was a special festival time. 20:6 Apparently once a year families came together to observe a new moon festival. 20:8 “Covenant” – 18:3. 20:13-15 Jonathan recognized that one day David would be king. See 23:16,17. It was

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household; no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”

30 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of the 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? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now send and bring him to me; for he shall surely die.”

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD demand an account at the hand of David’s enemies.” 17 And Jonathan had David take an oath again, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 And when you have stayed here three days, then you must go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on the day of the incident, and remain by the stone Ezel. 20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And, look, I will send a lad, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I plainly say to the lad, ‘See, the arrows are on this side of you; pick them up’, then you come; for there is peace for you, and no harm, as sure as the LORD lives. 22 But if I say this to the young man: ‘See, the arrows are beyond you’, go your way, for the LORD is sending you away. 23 And as for the matter which you and I have spoken about, look, the LORD is witness between you and me forever.”

32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?” 33 And Saul hurled a javelin at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.

34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had dishonoured him.

35 And it came about in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a small lad was with him. 36 And he said to his lad, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.” And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the lad went to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried out after the lad and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” 38 And Jonathan cried out after the lad, “Hurry! Be quick! Don’t stop!” And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39 But the lad did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”

24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25 And the king sat on his chair, as at other times, the chair by the wall. And Jonathan got up, and Abner sat down at Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean, surely he is not clean.” 27 And it happened on the next day, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty. And Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday or today?”

41 As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from the south side of the place, and prostrated himself to the ground and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another and wept together, but David’s grief was greater.

28 And Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave from me to go to Bethlehem. 29 And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has ordered me to be there. And now, if I have found favour in

42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for both of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is a witness between me and you, and between my offspring and your not uncommon in ancient times for kings come newly to the throne to kill all who could be rivals (1 Kings 15:29; 16:11; 2 Kings 10:7; 11:1). 20:16 If the first covenant was one of friendship (v 42), this was one of allegiance to the future king. 20:17 18:1. 20:23 “Spoken about” – vs 14-17. 20:26 “Not clean” – Lev 7:20,21; 11:24,25, 39,40; Deut 23:10,11. Ceremonial uncleanness made a person ineligible to take part in a sacrificial feast. However, the uncleanness lasted for only a day, so when David

did not appear on the second day, Saul knew there was another reason for his absence. 20:30-33 “Anger” – v 7. In his anger, Saul uses the most bitter language against his son, and is ready to kill him to satisfy his own jealousy. Uncontrolled jealousy is murderous – Prov 27:4. 20:32 Envy and hatred do not need good reasons to kill. Compare Matt 27:22,23. 20:36,37 Verses 20-22. 20:41 “Bowed” – David showed honor to a true and loyal friend. 20:42 “Departed” – this marks the start of a long period during which David was a

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offspring forever.’” And he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.

chief of Saul’s shepherds.

8 And David said to Ahimelech, “And is there not here a spear or a sword on hand? For I have not brought my sword or my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”

Then David went to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting with David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”

9 And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, look, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you wish to take that, take it, for there is none here except that.”

2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king gave me orders about a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I am sending you, and what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my servants to such and such a place. 3 So now what do you have on hand? Give five loaves of bread into my hand, or whatever is there.”

And David said, “There is none like that. Give it to me.”

10 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another about him in dances, saying, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?’”

4 And the priest answered David and said, “There is no ordinary bread at hand, but there is consecrated bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.”

5 And David answered the priest and said to him, “Certainly women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came away, and the vessels of the young men are holy. And the bread is, in a manner of speaking, ordinary, yes, even though it has been consecrated today in the vessel.” 6 So the priest gave him consecrated bread. For there was no bread there except the Showbread, that had been taken from the presence of the LORD, in order to put hot bread on the day when it was taken away.

12 And David took these words to his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 And he changed his behaviour before them and pretended to be insane in their hands, and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spit run down on his beard.

14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I have a lack of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Should this fellow come into my house?”

7 Now a man who was one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD, and his name was Doeg. He was an Edomite, the

So David left there and escaped to the cave Adullam. And when his brothers and

fugitive from Saul. 21:1 Nob was a town of priests (22:19) very near Jerusalem. 21:2 Why did David invent this story? There seems to be two possibilities. Perhaps his faith and courage failed him. He may have feared that if he told the truth Ahimelech would not help him but report him to Saul. Or it could be that David was trying to protect Ahimelech. He may have thought that Saul would spare him if he was not knowingly involved in David’s escape. In either case, this deception was both wrong and unnecessary. God does not need man’s tricks to fulfill His purposes, but people often seems to think otherwise. See notes at Gen 12:13; 27:18-26. 21:4 Verse 6; Ex 25:30; Lev 24:5-9. This bread had been offered to God and so was only for the priests.

reveals that his faith had not failed (Ps 52:8,9). 21:9 17:54. 21:10 “Gath” – one of the five major cities of the Philistines. Psalm 34 was written by David after his experience with Achish. Achish is called Abimelech in the title of psalm 34. Abimelech was probably a title of successive kings as Pharaoh was of Egypt’s kings. David, anointed to be king, is here in exile. Often it may appear that God leads His people in ways opposed to the fulfilling of His purposes, but all is part of His preparation. Consider the experiences of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-50. 21:12 “Afraid” – very brave men can be afraid in certain situations. 21:13 This trick also was not necessary, but a man alone and afraid may act strangely on the spur of the moment. Later he acknowledged that his escape was God’s gracious answer to his prayer (Ps 34:4,6,17,19). 22:1 “Adullam” – Gen 38:1; 2 Sam 23:13. This was situated in the hills southwest of Bethlehem. David spent considerable time in the area and may have written psalms 57 and 142 while there. See 24:3,4, and the titles of those psalms.

“Kept themselves from women” – that is, ceremonially clean (Ex 19:15; Lev 15:18). 21:6 See Matt 12:3-7. There the Lord Jesus showed that compassion is more important than the letter of the ceremonial law. 21:7 Doeg went and reported the matter to Saul (22:9,10). This became the occasion of David’s writing psalm 52. In that psalm he

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all his father’s household heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered around him and he became their leader. And about four hundred men were with him.

the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent men to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s household, the priests who were in Nob. And all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Listen now, you son of Ahitub.”

3 And David went from there to Mizpeh in Moab, and said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come over and be with you, until I know what God is going to do for me.” 4 And he brought them before the king of Moab, and they lived with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.

And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you gave him bread and a sword, and consulted God for him, so that he would rise up against me to lie in ambush, as it is today?”

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And among all your servants who is as faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and goes on your orders, and is honoured in your house? 15 Did I just begin consulting God for him today? Be it far from me. Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to the whole household of my father, for your servant knew nothing whatever of all this.”

5 And the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold. Leave and go into the land of Judah.” Then David departed and came into the forest of Hareth.

6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered (now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him). 7 Then Saul said to his servants who were standing around him, “Listen now, you Benjamites! Is the son of Jesse giving each one of you fields and vineyards, and making you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, 8 so that all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me that my son has made a treaty with the son of Jesse, and none of you is sorry for me, or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in ambush, as it is today?”

16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s household.”

17 And the king said to the guardsmen who stood around him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to attack the priests of the LORD.

18 And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests, and on that day killed eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod. 19 And he struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants, and oxen and donkeys and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who had been appointed over the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he consulted the LORD for him, and gave him food and gave him

aspect of Saul’s character – self-pity.

“Brothers” – compare 17:28. By now everyone recognized David’s ability. 22:2 “Discontented” – those unhappy with Saul’s reign. 22:3 ”Moab” – David’s ancestress, Ruth, was a Moabite (Ruth 1:4; 4:13,21,22). 22:5 “Gad” – the first mention of an important prophet in David’s time. See 2 Sam 24:11; 1 Chron 29:29; 2 Chron 29:25. “Go” – God knew just where David should be to escape Saul, and informed him through Gad. This was in answer to David’s prayer (Ps 142:6). See also Ps 56:4; 118:6; Rom 8:31. 22:7 Saul appeals for loyalty on two grounds – tribal connection (Saul was from Benjamin, David from Judah), and worldly matters (property and power). Alas, caste and money are often still the chief considerations today, even in Christian circles. True servants of God should avoid these considerations like they would the plague. 22:8 “Conspired” – Saul’s disordered mind sees enemies behind every bush.

“As it is today” – totally false. 22:9 “Doeg” – 21:1,7. In psalm 52 (written about Doeg) David says Doeg plotted destruction, loved harmful words, and practiced deceit. What Doeg said to Saul was true but not the whole truth, and it created a false impression. To practice deceit it is not always necessary to tell lies – hiding part of the truth can be just as effective. Both ways of deceiving are hateful to God. 22:14,15 This was true. Often those in authority prefer to believe deceptive words rather than the plain truth. 22:16-19 Reveals Saul totally corrupted by power and envy. 22:17 Saul’s guards were right in their refusal to obey. When the choice is between obeying God or man, God must be obeyed. Compare Acts 4:19; 5:29. 22:18 See 2:31. 22:19 Saul was not willing to kill God’s enemies (15:9), but God’s priests were a different matter.

“Sorry for me” – another disagreeable

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20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the LORD’s priests. 22 And David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought about the death of all the persons of your father’s household. 23 You stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who is seeking my life is seeking your life, but you will be safe with me.”

“Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on account of me. 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hands? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant.”

And the LORD said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hands of Saul?”

And the LORD said, “They will deliver you up.” 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. And it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he decided not to go there.

Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and they are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David consulted the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

14 And David stayed in the desert in strongholds, and remained in a mountain in the desert of Ziph. And Saul looked for him every day, but God did not delivered him into his hands.

3 And David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”

15 And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life; and David was in the desert of Ziph in a wooded area. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan arose and went to David in the woods, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not be afraid, for the hand of my father Saul will not find you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you. And my father Saul also knows this.” 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD, and David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his house.

4 Then David consulted the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hands.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and struck them down with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 And it so happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7 And it was told Saul that David had gone to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for by entering a town that has gates and bars, he is closed in.” 8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself among us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon? 20 Now therefore, O king, come down whenever it pleases you to come down, and our part will be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”

9 And David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest,

21 And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the

22:20 23:6,9; 1 Kings 2:26,27. 22:22 David’s meaning may be that he made a mistake in not dealing with Doeg at the time. Or it may be he meant that his very appeal to Ahimelech for help resulted in this tragedy. 23:1 “Keilah” – a town belonging to Israel near the Philistine border. 23:2 “Consulted” – 2 Sam 5:19,23. David made a practice of finding God’s will before acting. Observe that David, though persecuted by Saul, is concerned for others, and desires to help them, leaving his own situation in the hands of the Lord. 23:4 When others were in doubt David sought confirmation of God’s will. 23:6 In Israel in those days it was possible to find God’s will by means of the Urim and Thummin in the ephod. Note at Ex 28:30. In these days the Holy Spirit is willing to infallibly guide the earnest believer.

23:7 “God” – God had departed from Saul (16:14), and the kingdom had been stripped from him (15:28). But he still vainly imagined God is working with him in his murderous designs! Another illustration of Jer 17:9. 23:9-12 Verse 6. An example of using the Urim and Thummin. 23:13 “Six hundred” – 22:2. David’s men were growing in number. 23:14 26:2; Ps 32:7. 23:16,17 “Jonathan arose and went to David” – note at 18:3,4. 23:18 18:3; 20:12-17; 2 Sam 9:1; 21:7. 23:19,20 At this time David wrote psalm 54 by inspiration of God’s Spirit, in which he revealed the character of his enemies (v 3), and declared his own trust in God (vs 4,7). 23:21 “The LORD” – v 7. The men of Ziph would not be blessed by trying to destroy God’s anointed! Saul had no right even to take God’s name on his lips. Compare

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LORD, for you have compassion on me. 22 Please go, make further preparations, and find out and take a look at his place, where his feet take him and who has seen him there, for I have been told that he is very cunning. 23 Therefore look and learn about all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come back to me with definite information, and I will go with you. And it will be, if he is in the land, that I will search him out through all the thousands of Judah.”

good to you.’” Then David got up, and stealthily cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.

5 And it so happened afterwards that David was conscience-stricken, because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6 And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the anointed of the LORD.” 7 So David held back his men with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. Then Saul arose, left the cave and went on his way.

24 And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul, but David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plain south of Jeshimon. 25 And Saul and his men went to look for him. And they told David, so he came down to the rock and stayed in the desert of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the desert of Maon.

8 Afterwards David also stood up and went out of the cave, and cried out after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bent over with his face toward the ground and bowed down. 9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Look, David is seeking to harm you’? 10 Look, today your eyes have seen how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you, and said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’

26 And 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 for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to take them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land.” 28 Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. So they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth. 29 And David went up from there and stayed in strongholds at Engedi.

11 “Moreover, my father, look, yes, see the edge of your robe in my hand. Because in my cutting off the edge of your robe and not killing you, you can know and understand that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand, and that I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 12 The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will take vengeance for me on you. But my hand will not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness comes from the wicked’, but my hand will not be against you.

And it happened, when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Look, David is in the desert of Engedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to look for David and his men at the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

14 “After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog, after a flea. 15 Therefore may the LORD be the judge, and judge between me and you, and see and plead my cause, and rescue me out of your hands.”

3 And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were sitting far back in the cave. 4 And David’s men said to him, “See, this is the day about which the LORD said to you: ‘Look, I will deliver your enemy into your hands, so that you can do to him as seems

16 And it came about, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul raised his Ps 50:16,17; Isa 29:13. 23:26-29 God has many ways to protect His people. See Gen 37:22,26,27; 1 Kings 18:13; Esther 6:1,2; Jer 38:7-10; Dan 3:25,26; 6:21-23; Acts 12:5-11. 23:28 “Sela Hammahlekoth” – means “rock of parting.” 24:3,4 “The LORD said to you” – there is no record of God saying this to David. God’s way for David to attain the throne was not by murder and violence, and David knew it. His tender conscience was bothered even by the simple act of cutting of the hem of Saul’s garment. God’s purposes must be fulfilled in God’s way, and men should learn to wait on God in faith. See Ps 57:2 (possibly written at this time). 24:5 “David was conscience-stricken” –

literally, ”David’s heart struck him.” 24:6 26:11. 24:8 David showed that he was willing to submit to Saul’s authority and respect him as king. 24:9 22:13. 24:11 “Father” – 18:27. 24:12 “Judge” – v 15; Gen 31:53; Jud 11:27; Job 5:8. David was confident that God would work everything out according to perfect justice. Compare the behavior of the Lord Jesus (1 Pet 2:21-23).

“Vengeance” – Ex 21:23-25; Num 31:2; Ps 94:1. 24:13 Compare Matt 7:16-20. 24:16 Saul was mentally and emotionally unstable, an example of the man in Jam 1:8. This was a result of his sin and disobedience – as it so often is among

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voice and wept. 17 And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 And you have showed today how you have treated me well, for when the LORD delivered me into your hands, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore the LORD reward you well for what you have done for me this day. 20 And now, look, I well know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Therefore now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”

the time they were at Carmel we did them no harm, and nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let our young men find favour in your eyes, for we come on a good day. Please give to your servants, and to your son David, whatever you find at hand.’”

9 And when David’s young men arrived, they spoke to Nabal all those words in the name of David, and waited.

10 And Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today, each man breaking away from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men who are from I know not where?”

22 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

12 So David’s young men turned around and went on their way again, and came and told him all these words. 13 And David said to his men, “Each one of you fasten on his sword.” And each one of them fastened on his sword, and David also fastened on his sword. And about four hundred men followed David, and two hundred stayed with the baggage.

And Samuel died, and all the Israelites assembled and mourned for him and buried him at his house in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2 And there was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats, and he sheared his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife was Abigail; and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful appearance. But the man was mean and evil in his dealings; and he was a descendant of the house of Caleb.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he screamed at them. 15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not harmed, and while we were in the fields we did not miss anything, as long as we went about with them. 16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them, keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do. For something bad is being devised against our master and against his whole household, for he is such a wicked man that no one can speak to him.”

4 And David in the wilderness heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel and approach Nabal and greet him in my name. 6 And you are to say this: ‘Long life to you! Peace be to you, and peace be to your household and peace be to all that you have!

18 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves and two wineskins of wine and five sheep already dressed and five measures of roasted grain human beings. His remorse here is an example of false repentance. Afterwards he again pursued David to kill him (26:1,2). 24:17 26:21. 24:20 23:17. 24:21 20:14-17; 2 Sam 21:5-9. 24:22 David had no confidence in Saul’s seeming repentance. 25:1 “Mourned” – they recognized Samuel as a great man and a great leader. Compare Gen 50:10; Num 20:29; Deut 34:8. 25:2 23:24. 25:3 Nabal means “fool.” See v 25, and note at Ps 14:1 where the same word is used in Hebrew. Very intelligent men can be fools in the Bible sense of the word. Abigail means “father of joy.”

7 “‘And now I have heard that you have shearers. Now your shepherds were with us. All

sinful nature is inherited by his descendants (Gen 5:3; Ps 51:5), but not any spiritual qualities he may have attained by God’s grace. 25:7,8 David had not only refused to steal from Nabal’s shepherds, he kept others from stealing from them. He thought Nabal would recognize this and reward it. 25:10,11 Nabal showed he was indeed a fool. 25:13 See vs 21,22. David had not taken vengeance on Saul, but now determined to personally avenge himself on Nabal – a thing he knew was contrary to God’s Word. When even a godly man gives in to bad passions which arise from his sinful nature he is capable of all manner of sin and foolishness. Not one man on earth, except the Lord Jesus, was ever fully consistent all his days. 25:18 Abigail realized that David’s anger

“Caleb” – it is sad that a descendant of the faithful Caleb (Num 13:30; 14:24; Josh 14:6-14) should be a fool. Alas, a man’s

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and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and placed them on donkeys. 19 And she said to her servants, “Go on ahead of me. See, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

man has risen to pursue you and to seek your life. But the soul of my lord will be bound up in the bundle of life with the LORD your God, but he will hurl away the souls of your enemies, as from the pocket of a sling. 30 And it will be, when the LORD does for my lord all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel, 31 that this will not become a grief to you or reason for a troubled heart to my lord, that you have shed blood needlessly or that my lord has taken vengeance for himself. And when the LORD deals well with my lord, then remember your maid servant.”

20 And it so happened, as she rode on the donkey, that she came down by a hidden place in the hill, and there appeared David and his men coming down opposite her, and she met them. 21 Now David had said, “It certainly has been useless for me to guard all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him. For he has repaid me evil for good. 22 May God do harm and more also to the enemies of David, if, of all who belong to him, I leave any male alive until morning light.”

32 And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel who sent you today to meet me, 33 and may your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed, who have kept me today from bloodshed and from taking vengeance for myself with my own hand. 34 For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, by morning light there certainly would not have been left to Nabal any male.”

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey, and prostrated herself before David and bowed down to the ground, 24 and fell at his feet and said, “On me, my lord, let this blame be on me; and please let your maid servant speak in your hearing, and listen to the words of your maidservant. 25 Please, may my lord pay no attention to this wicked man Nabal, for he is just like his name. His name is Nabal, and folly is with him. But I, your maid servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.

35 So David took 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 have accepted you.”

26 “Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has kept you from bloodshed, and from taking vengeance for yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord, be like Nabal. 27 And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your maid servant, for the LORD will certainly make a sure house for my lord, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and no evil has been found in you all your days. 29 Yet a

36 And Abigail came to Nabal and saw that he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, and he was very drunk. Therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until the morning light. 37 But it came about in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him and he became like a stone. 38 And it happened about ten days later that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead,

25:30 13:14; 15:28. 25:31 “Grief”, “troubled heart” – to a good man with a tender conscience like David, this would have been the result. 25:32 David recognized her as a messenger of God and praises the One who sent her. All men should be this quick to praise God when kept from doing wrong. 25:33,34 David fully confesses his evil intention and immediately forsakes it – the mark of a spiritual man who wants God’s best. 25:38 “Struck” – 2:6; Gen 38:7,10; Lev 10:1,2; Num 16:31,35; Acts 5:4,5,10. God can take vengeance on wicked men directly. To slay Nabal He did not need David’s sword – He has His own (Deut 32:41; Ps 7:12; Jer 12:12). God’s judgment on Nabal may well have confirmed David in his view that God would deal with Saul also when the time came. See 26:10. 25:39 Ps 7:15,16.

could have terrible results and set out to avert them. 25:19 “Husband” – in his folly he would have forbidden her to go. 25:21 Ps 109:5. 25:22 Even David who loved justice could be moved to act unjustly, and resolved to kill many because of the insult of one. Oh, what is man, even the best of men. 25:24 Prov 15:1. 25:26 “Vengeance” – Lev 19:18; Num 31:2; Deut 32:35; Ps 94:1; Matt 5:39; Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30. 25:28 “A sure house” – a royal dynasty. Abigail had great perception.

“Battles of the LORD” – against the enemies of Israel.

“No evil” – to keep David from doing wrong was a chief aim of her coming. 25:29 Ps 91:9,10; 121:7; Isa 25:4; Phil 1:6; 2 Tim 1:12.

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he said, “Blessed be the LORD who has pleaded my cause concerning the reproach at the hands of Nabal, and has kept his servant from evil. For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal onto his own head.” And David sent a message to Abigail about taking her as his wife.

Abner and the people lay all around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear into the ground at once, and I will not strike him the second time.”

9 And David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be innocent?” 10 David also said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day to die will come, or he will go down to the battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please now take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go.”

40 And when the servants of David had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David sent us to you to take you as his wife.”

41 And she arose, and bowed down with her face to the ground, and said, “See your maid servant. She will be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” 42 And Abigail hurriedly got up and rode on a donkey, with her five maids who attended her, and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them were his wives. 44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from near Saul’s head and they went away. And no man saw it or knew it, and no one woke up, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

13 Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of a hill at a distance, with a wide space between them. 14 And David cried out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Abner! Will you not answer?”

And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?”

2 Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul camped by the road at the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David therefore sent out spies, and found out that Saul had indeed arrived.

Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a brave man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. 16 This thing you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now look! Where is the king’s spear, and the jug of water that was at his head?”

5 And David arose and came to the place where Saul was camping; and David saw the place where Saul and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army, were lying. And Saul was lying inside the lines, and the people were camped all around him. 6 Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, the brother to Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul at the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

17 And Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?”

And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant like this? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hands? 19 Now therefore please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out today from living in the 25:42-44 Abigail became David’s third wife, after Michal (18:27), and Ahinoam (27:3; 30:5). Later he married five other women. In this he was not a good example but a bad one (note at Gen 30:1). Eventually it brought great trouble on himself and his family. See 2 Samuel chapters 13 and 15 and 1 Kings 5-7. 26:1 23:19. See psalm 54, written when David heard that the Ziphites had betrayed him to Saul. 26:2 Note at 24:16. 26:6 “Hittite” – note at Gen 26:34,35. Uriah

7 So David and Abishai came to the people at night and saw that Saul lay sleeping inside the lines, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and

also was a Hittite (2 Sam 11:3).

“Zeruiah” – an older sister of David. 26:8,9 24:4-7. David’s first concern was not for his own safety, but to be blameless before God. 26:10 25:38. 26:12 “All asleep” – God gave David further opportunity to prove his innocence to Saul. 26:17 24:16. 26:19 “Driven me out” – men were trying to drive David from Israel, the land of the one true God, to another land where false gods were worshiped. Compare the alarm of the

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inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when someone hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

and he did not search any more for him.

5 And David said to Achish, “If I have now found favour in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, so that I can live there; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no longer harm you, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Look, I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly.”

6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the time that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

22 And David answered and said, “See the king’s spear! Let one of the young men come over and get it. 23 The LORD repays every man according to his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24 And, look, as your life was very valuable today in my eyes, so let my life be very valuable in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all trouble.”

8 And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Gezrites and the Amalekites, for in former times those nations were the inhabitants of the land as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. 9 And David attacked the land and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep and the oxen and the donkeys and the camels and the clothing, and turned back and came to Achish.

25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You will both do great things and also prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

10 And Achish said, “Where have you made a raid today?”

And David said, “Against the south of Judah and against the south of the Jerahmeelites and against the south of the Kenites.” 11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, saying, “Or they will tell about us, saying, ‘This is the way David acted, and this will be his way all the time he lives in the country of the Philistines.’”

And David said in his heart, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape quickly to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any more in any territory of Israel. So I will escape out of his hands.”

12 And Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel to utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever.”

2 And David arose and crossed over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David stayed with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, David with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel, Nabal’s wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath

And it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “Know for certain that you will go out with tribes of Reuben and Gad in Josh 22:24-27. 26:21 There are many ways to confess one’s sins, but only one way is acceptable to God – 15:24,30; Ex 9:27; Num 22:34; Josh 7:20; 2 Sam 12:13; 24:10; Matt 27:4; Luke 15:21. See 2 Chron 7:14; Prov 28:13; Isa 55:7.

to use him for his own purposes (v 12; 28:1). 27:3 This flight of David to the land of the Philistines and his attaching himself to Achish were completely unnecessary, and involved David in further difficulties. 27:5 David did not want to be under Achish’s control. He well knew Achish would direct him to do things he would not wish to do. 27:8 David and his men had raided common enemies of the Philistines and Israel.

“Return” – David did not trust him (24:22). He well knew Saul’s instability. 26:23 Ps 7:8; 18:25,26; 62:12; Rev 22:12. 26:25 Even Saul had to acknowledge David’s greatness. As far as we know, Saul and David never met again after this parting. 27:1 David had no reason to trust Saul, but he had much reason to trust God more than he did. This was a failure of faith, and was contrary to what David had written and believed (Ps 54:4,7; 56:3,4; 57:2,3,7). Even men of great faith may sometimes waver under continual pressure and depressing circumstances. And do not all of us have reason to use words such as are found in Mark 9:24? 27:2 Achish had once driven David away (21:10-15). Now he receives him, thinking

“Amalekites” – Ex 17:16. 27:9 Deut 7:16; Josh 6:21; 8:1,2,24. Note at Gen 6:7. In David’s case he had a further reason for destroying those people (v 11). 27:10 One failure (v 1) leads to another. Even though Achish was an idolatrous king of an enemy people, David was wrong to practice this deception. 28:1 27:2. David was in a very awkward situation, faced with fighting against God’s people with their enemies. God in mercy delivered him from this (chapter 29).

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me to the battle, you and your men.”

up for you?”

2 And David said to Achish, “You will really find out what your servant can do.”

And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.”

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put away mediums and spiritists from the land.

13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. For what did you see?”

And the woman said to Saul, “I saw gods ascending out of the earth.”

4 And the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem, and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, not by dreams or by Urim or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and consult her.”

14 And he said to her, “What is his appearance like ?”

And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a cloak.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bent over with his face toward the ground and bowed down.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?”

And Saul answered, “I am very distressed, for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me any more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have called you, so that you may tell me what I should do.”

And his servants said to him, “Look, there is a woman at Endor who is a medium.”

8 And Saul disguised himself and put on different clothes, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman at night, and he said, “Please use divination for me by a spirit, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.”

16 Then Samuel said, “Then why do you consult me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? 17 And the LORD has done for him just as he spoke through me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom from your hand and given it to your neighbour, to David, 18 because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, or execute his fierce wrath on Amalek. Therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today. 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel, along

9 And the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off mediums and spiritists from the land. So why are you laying a snare for my life, to cause my death?”

10 And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment will come to you for this thing.”

11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring

This time it cost him his life. See 1 Chron 10:13,14. 28:12 It is not said that the woman brought up Samuel, only that she saw him. Samuel’s appearance was a great shock to her and made her realize that this was God’s doing. It seems clear that the person who came up was indeed Samuel. It is said that she saw him, and the message he brought was later completely fulfilled. Spirit mediums can contact demons who impersonate human beings, but there is no good reason to think they can contact any spirit of a human being who has died. 28:13 “gods” – this was the impression the event created in the mind of this superstitious woman. She thought some sort of divine beings were appearing. 28:14 15:27. 28:15 For the righteous, the realm of the dead was a place of quietness and rest. Compare Job 3:17; etc. 28:16 “Enemy” – Saul’s behavior had made God his enemy. See also Isa 63:10; Jer 21:5; Lam 2:5. 28:18 15:20. 28:19 “Will be with me” – in death’s realm.

28:3 Strict instructions are given in the Old Testament against trying to have dealings with the realm of spirits, and sorcerers and sorceresses were to be put to death. Notes at Ex 22:18; Deut 18:10-14. 28:4 Shunem was in the plain of Megiddo, or Mageddon, also called Jezreel. Mt Gilboa is a range of hills to the east of the plain. 28:5 If Saul had kept close to the Lord he would not have been afraid of the Philistines (Heb 13:6). 28:6 “Did not answer” – Saul had demonstrated many times that he was disobedient to God and wanted his own way. There comes a time when God will no longer answer such people. If we ignore God we have no right to expect Him to save us out of our troubles. See Ps 66:18; Prov 1:24-31; 15:29; Isa 1:15; 59:2; John 9:31; 1 John 3:21,22. This verse speaks of three ways God revealed His will in Old Testament days.

“Dreams” – Gen 15:12; 28:12; Num 12:6. “Urim” – Ex 28:30. “Prophets” – 15:16; Deut 18:18-22. 28:7 Saul’s disobedience was the reason God would not answer him. He shows his character by going further into disobedience.

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with you, into the hands of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

they sang to one another in dances, saying, ‘Saul killed his thousands, and David his ten of thousands’?”

6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have certainly been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army has been good in my sight, for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. However, you are not acceptable to the lords. 7 Therefore return now, and go in peace, so that you do not displease the Philistine lords.”

20 Then immediately Saul fell prostrate on the ground, and was very afraid, because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had not eaten any bread all day and all night.

21 And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was very troubled and said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me. 22 So now please listen also to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you, and eat, so that you can have strength when you go on your way.”

8 And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you to this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9 And Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are good in my sight, like an angel of God. However, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 So now rise up early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light.”

23 But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, pressed him, and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the ground and sat on the bed.

24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house, and she hurriedly killed it, and took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread with it. 25 And she brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went away that night.

11 So David and his men rose up early in the morning to leave and to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

29 30

Now the Philistines gathered all their armies together at Aphek, and the Israelites camped by a spring which is in Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines marched on, by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men marched on in the rear with Achish.

And it came about when David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, they saw that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and had attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women who had been in it. They did not kill any, either great or small, but carried them off and went on their way.

3 Then said the commanders of the Philistines, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”

And Achish said to the Philistine commanders, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or i ndeed these years? And I have found no fault in him since he deserted to me to this day.”

3 So David and his men came to the city and saw that it had been burned with fire, and that their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail the wife of Nabal from Carmel, had been taken captive. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every one of the people was grieved, each man for his sons and for his daughters. But David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him, and the Philistine commanders said to him, “Make this fellow go back, so that he will return to his place which you have assigned him, and do not let him go down with us to fight. Otherwise in the battle he may become our enemy. For with what would he regain his master’s favour, if not with the heads of these men? 5 Is this not David, of whom

29:1-7 Note at 28:1. This was God’s way of saving David from the sin of fighting against God’s people. 29:5 18:7; 21:11. 29:8 David kept up his pretense of loyalty to Achish. No doubt inwardly he was rejoicing in this escape from going into battle against Israel.

30:1 “Amalekites” – 15:2,7; 27:8. 30:6 “Spoke of stoning him” – this is an indication of the fickleness and unspirituality of some of the people who gathered around David. Compare Ex 17:4; Num 14:5,10; John 8:59.

“Encouraged himself” or “found strength” – Ps 18:1,2; 27:1; 29:11; 37:39; 46:1.

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7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod there to David. 8 And David consulted the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Will I overtake them?”

taken for themselves. David recovered all. 20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drove ahead of the other livestock, and said, “This is David’s plunder.”

21 And David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they had stay at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked men and evil scoundrels among those who had gone with David, answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the plunder that we have recovered, except to each man his wife and his children, so that they can lead them away and leave.”

And he answered him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed, 10 but David continued to pursue, he and four hundred men. But two hundred, who were so weary that they could not cross the brook Besor, stayed behind.

11 And they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate, and they gave him water to drink, 12 and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived in him, for he had not eaten bread or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

23 Then said David, “My brethren, you must not do so with what has been given us by the LORD, who has preserved us and delivered the troop that came against us into our hands. 24 And who will listen to you in this matter? But the portion of the one who stayed with the baggage will be the same as the portion of the one who went down to the battle. They shall share alike.” 25 And so it was from that day on. He made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

13 And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?”

And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite. And my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick. 14 We made a raid on the south of the Kerethites and on the territory which belongs to Judah and on the south of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Look, a present for you from the plunder from the enemies of the LORD.”

15 And David said to him, “Can you take me down to that troop?”

27 He sent to those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in south Ramoth, and to those who were in Jattir, 28 and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa, 29 and to those who were in Rachal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30 and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Korashan, and to those who were in Athach, 31 and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men had gone about.

And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me, or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to that troop.”

16 And when he had brought him down, there they were spread out all over the ground, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great plunder that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines and out of the land of Judah. 17 And David struck them down from twilight to the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 And there was nothing of theirs missing, either small or great, either sons or daughters, or plunder, or anything that they had

Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines closely pursued Saul and his 31

30:7,8 23:2,4,9. 30:18-20 This was in accordance with God’s good promise in v 8. When believers lose ground in the spiritual life, by God’s grace it is possible for them to regain it (Ps 51:12; Isa 57:17-19; Jer 30:17; Joel 2:25; Gal 6:1; Rev 2:4,5). Actually David gained more than he had before; he took all that had belonged to the Amalekites. 30:22 “Evil scoundrels” – v 6; 22:2. Every

leader has to beware of such people trying to join his ranks. 30:24 Num 31:25-27; Josh 22:8. Not every person could be on the front line, but every one had a task that deserved reward when faithfully done. This is true now with believers. 30:26 An unselfish, gracious, and wise thing to do. 31:1-13 2 Sam 1:6-10; 1 Chron 10:1-12. 31:2 “Saul’s sons” – one son, Ish Bosheth,

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sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Melchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 And the battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.

they abandoned the cities and fled. And the Philistines came and stayed in them.

8 And it came about the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armour, and sent word into the land of the Philistines all around, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. 10 And they put his armour in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-Shan.

4 Then Saul said to his armour bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and pierce me through and abuse me.” But his armour bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5 And when his armour bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armour bearer and all his men died together that same day.

11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and travelled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-Shan, and came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead,

survived and became king for a little while (2 Sam 2:8,9). 31:4 “Uncircumcised” – 14:6. 31:6 “All his men” – Saul’s close associates in the kingdom. 31:9 “Idols” – they did not realize that their victory was a result of God’s judgment on

Israel, and so they ignorantly attributed it to their gods. Compare Jud 16:23,24. 31:10 “Ashtaroth” – note at 1 Kings 11:5. 31:11-13 They remembered how Saul had delivered them (11:1-13), and showed their gratitude in this way.

2 SAMUEL

Author and date:

See the introduction to 1 Samuel.

Themes:

David’s reign over Judah and Israel, its success and glory; God’s covenant with David; David’s sin and punishment.

Contents:

David learns of the death of Saul and Jonathan ............................................... 1:1-16 David’s lament ............................................................................................. 1:17-27 David begins his reign over Judah .................................................................. 2:1-7 War with Abner ........................................................................................... 2:8-32 David’s sons born in Hebron .......................................................................... 3:2-5 Abner comes over to David’s side ................................................................... 3:6-21 Joab kills Abner ............................................................................................ 3:21-29 Murder of Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth ................................................................... 4:1-12 David becomes king over all Israel ................................................................. 5:1-5 David conquers Jerusalem and makes home there ............................................ 5:6-16 David defeats the Philistines .......................................................................... 5:17-25 David brings the ark to Jerusalem .................................................................. 6:1-23 David’s desire to build a temple ...................................................................... 7:1-7 God’s covenant with David ............................................................................ 7:8-16 David’s prayer ............................................................................................. 7:17-29 David’s wars, his officials .............................................................................. 8:1-18 David and Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth......................................................... 9:1-13 David defeats the Ammonites and Syrians....................................................... 10:1-19 David’s sin with Bathsheba ............................................................................ 11:1 - 12:23

The sin ................................................................................................... 11:2-5 Nathan rebukes David, David’s punishment ................................................ 12:1-14 The punishment begins ............................................................................. 12:15-23 The birth of Solomon .................................................................................... 12:24,25 David’s family problems ................................................................................. 13:1 - 18:33

His punishment continues, Amnon dishonors Tamar ...................................... 13:1-22 Absalom kills Amnon and runs away ........................................................... 13:23-39 Absalom returns ...................................................................................... 14:1-33 Absalom’s plot against David ..................................................................... 15:1-37 Ziba’s story ............................................................................................. 16:1-4 Shimei curses David ................................................................................. 16:5-13 Two advisors – Hushai and Ahithophel ........................................................ 16:15 - 17:14 The priests send word to David about Absalom’s plans ................................. 17:15-22 Ahithophel’s suicide .................................................................................. 17:23 Absalom’s death, David’s grief ................................................................... 18:1-33 Joab’s advice ............................................................................................... 19:1-8 David returns to Jerusalem ........................................................................... 19:9-43 Sheba’s rebellion crushed .............................................................................. 20:1-26 A famine and the Gibeonites’ revenge on Saul’s descendants ............................ 21:1-14 Wars with the Philistines ............................................................................... 21:15-22 David’s song of praise................................................................................... 22:1-51 David’s final words ....................................................................................... 23:1-7 David’s mighty warriors ................................................................................. 23:8-39 David’s sin in numbering the people ................................................................ 24:1-10 The result of David’s sin, the plague ............................................................... 24:11-17 David builds an altar and offers sacrifice ......................................................... 24:18-25

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Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day it happened that a man appeared who had come from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it was like this: when he came to David, he dropped to the ground and prostrated himself.

the LORD’s people and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?”

And he answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

14 And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

3 And David said to him, “Where are you coming from?”

15 And David called one of the young men and said, “Go near and attack him.” And he struck him so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 And David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.”

And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people fell and are dead, and also Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

17 And David mourned with this lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan 18 (also he instructed them to teach the children of Judah this song of the bow. Look, it is written in the book of Jasher):

5 And David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and saw Saul leaning on his spear. And, lo and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed him closely. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places. How the mighty have fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath! Proclaim it not in the streets of

Ashkelon! Lest the daughters of the Philistines

8 “And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ “And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 “And he said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, because my life is still wholly in me.’

rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised

triumph.

21 “You mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you,

10 “So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

or fields yielding offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was

defiled, the shield of Saul,

not anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,

11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening, for Saul and for his son Jonathan and for

the office of king in Israel was a sacred appointment from God, and only God should remove the king He had appointed. 1:16 “On your own head” – Lev 20:9; Deut 22:30; Josh 2:19; 1 Kings 2:37; Ezek 18:13; 33:4,5; Matt 27:24,25; Acts 18:6; 20:26. 1:17 “Lamentation” – Jer 7:29; Ezek 19:1,14; 26:17; 27:2,32; 28:12; 32:2. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, or in disasters which He must justly send, and He sometimes inspired His servants to lament. See notes at Gen 6:6,7; Jer 4:19-26; 48:36-39; Luke 19:41-44. 1:18 “Jasher” – Josh 10:13. 1:19 “Beauty” – this refers to God’s appointed leaders of Israel. 1:20 1 Sam 31:8-10. David is here concerned with the glory of the true God. 1:22 1 Sam 18:7.

1:1 “Death of Saul” – 1 Sam 31:6. “Ziklag” – 1 Sam 30:1,26. 1:2 13:19; 15:32; 1 Sam 4:12. 1:6-10 This man fabricated this story, hoping, it seems, to gain David’s favor. He thought David would reward him if he presented himself as Saul’s executioner. Compare 1 Sam 31:1-7; 1 Chron 10:1-12. 1:10 “Crown” – he thought, no doubt, David would be exceptionally pleased with this. 1:11 3:31; 13:30,31; Gen 37:34; Job 2:12. 1:12 David did not gloat at his enemy’s death. Compare Prov 24:17,18. The sincerity of his grief can be seen in the poetical lament which follows (vs 19-27). Saul’s death freed David from his troubles, but David well knew that there are far more important matters than being freed from personal difficulties and dangers. 1:14 1 Sam 24:6; 26:9,11,16. To David

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and the sword of Saul did not return

they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying that the men of Jabesh-Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.

empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were loved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not

divided. They were swifter than eagles;

5 And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have showed this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now the LORD show kindness and faithfulness to you. And I too will repay you for this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strong and be valiant, for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

they were stronger than lions.

24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet,

with fine things, who put ornaments of gold on your

apparel.

25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, you were slain on your

8 But Abner the son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 and made him king over Gilead and over the Ashurites and over Jezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over all Israel.

high places.

26 “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan! Very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was wonderful,

10 Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

surpassing the love of women.

27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out, and they all met by the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one group on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

And it came about after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”

And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” And David said, “Where shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s wife, from Carmel. 3 And David took along his men who were with him, each man with his household; and

14 And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now get up and have a contest in front of us.”

And Joab said, “Let them get up.” 15 Then they got up and went over by count,

1:23 “Pleasant” – true in full measure of Jonathan, in some measure of Saul. Saul’s behavior toward his own people would not have been the same as it was toward David whom he considered his chief rival. 1:26 1 Sam 18:1-4. Jonathan’s pure and holy friendship for David caused him to exalt David and deny himself the opportunity to be king (23:15-18). This is what struck David as being so exceptional, so wonderful. 2:1 “Inquired” – this was always David’s practice – 1 Sam 23:2,4,9-12; Ps 5:8; 25:4,5; 27:11; 31:3; etc. This is one principal reason he met with such success.

2:8,9 Abner was Saul’s close relative – 1 Sam 14:50,51. We are not told here that Abner sought God’s will in this. David was God’s man to be king of all Israel and Abner knew it – 3:9,10. It seems Abner was playing power-politics, and putting family connections ahead of God’s will. This caused trouble then, and it will cause trouble now.

“Ashurites” (v 9) – or “Asher.” 2:11 5:5. 2:12 Mahanaim was east of the Jordan river, Gibeon was west of the river in the territory of Benjamin. 2:13 Joab was David’s nephew (1 Chron 2:13-16). He was a very capable general of David’s army, but a hard and bloodthirsty man (3:27; 18:14; 20:9,10). 2:14 This suggestion perhaps meant they should try to settle their differences by letting representatives of each side fight. Compare 1 Sam 17:8-10. 2:15,16 The fight between these representatives resulted in the death of all of them,

“Hebron” – an important city about 30 kilometers south of Jerusalem. 2:3 1 Sam 27:2,3. 2:4 “King” – 1 Sam 16:13. “Jabesh-Gilead” – 31:11-13. 2:5-7 David was trying to unite the whole country behind him, beginning with the people of Jabesh who had been strong supporters of Saul.

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twelve from Benjamin, which belonged to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And each of them took hold of his opponent’s head, and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side. So they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim. It is in Gibeon.

be then, before you order the people to return from following their brethren?”

27 And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning each one of the people would have gone up from following his brother.”

28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel any more or fight any more.

17 And there was a very severe battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and crossed the Jordan and went through the whole of Bithron and came to Mahanaim.

18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as light on his feet as a wild gazelle. 19 And Asahel pursued Abner, and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, “Are you Asahel?”

30 And Joab returned from following Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s servants and Asahel were missing. 31 But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and seventy men died. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and came to Hebron at break of day.

And he answered, “I am.” 21 And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his armour.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

22 And once more Abner said to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? Then how could I hold up my face to your brother Joab?”

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David became stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

23 However he refused to turn aside, so Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell down there and died in the same place. And it came about that everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stood still.

2 And sons were born to David in Hebron, and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam from Jezreel; 3 and his second, Kileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal, from Carmel; and the third, Absalom, the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

24 Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner, and the sun went down when they came to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band and stood on the top of a hill.

6 And it came about, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name

26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Will the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will result in bitterness in the end? How long will it

and so nothing was settled between the two factions.

valley, the Arabah.

“Bithron” – the meaning of this Hebrew word is uncertain. It may possibly mean “morning” or “ravine.” 3:1 This was a sad and unnecessary war brought about by personal rivalries and a desire to cling to power on the part of the family of Saul. 3:2-5 Polygamy is not God’s instructions for men. See note at Gen 30:1. Of David’s six sons born in Hebron, none was outstanding, and three at least, Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah, were self-seeking, scheming men who died in sad circumstances (chapters 13-18; 1 Kings chapters 1 and 2). 3:7 Abner denied this accusation in the next verse, but it could have been true. Taking a king’s concubine was, in the eyes of the people, practically the equivalent of taking

“Helkath Hazzurim” – this means “Field of daggers” or “Field of hostilities.” 2:17 “Battle” – between the two armies. 2:18 “Zeruiah” – she was an older sister of David. 2:21-23 Abner knew that further trouble would result if he killed Asahel. In fact it resulted in Abner’s own death (3:27). 2:26 Abner was trying to avert civil war between the tribes. He was a more peaceable man than Joab. It was he who suggested the representative combat to settle their differences (v 14), and he who later made overtures of peace to David (3:12). But his action in vs 8,9 was the real source of this trouble. 2:29 “The plain” – here means the Jordan

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was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

to speak in the ears of David all that seemed good to Israel and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men came with him. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a treaty with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

8 Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head, who against Judah am showing kindness today to the house of your father Saul, to his brethren and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? 9 So may God do harm to Abner, and more also, unless I do for David just as the LORD has sworn to him, 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him.

22 And just then the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in great plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

12 And Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose land is this? I say make your treaty with me, and see that my hand will be with you, to bring all Israel over to you.”

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? See, Abner came to you! Why have you sent him away? And he is already gone! 25 You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you and to find out your going out and your coming in, and to learn all that you are doing.”

13 And David said, “Good! I will make a treaty with you. But one thing I require of you, that is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Saul’s daughter Michal, when you come to see my face.” 14 And David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, saying, “Deliver my wife Michal to me, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

26 And when Joab came away from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know this. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly and stabbed him there in the stomach, so that he died, because of the blood of his brother Asahel.

15 And Ish-bosheth sent men and took her from her husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went along with her, weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

28 And afterwards, when David heard this, he said, “Before the LORD I and my kingdom are forever innocent of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never fail to have someone who has a discharge or who is a leper or who leans on a cane or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread.”

17 And Abner spoke with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then do it. For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

19 And Abner also spoke in the ears of the people of Benjamin, and Abner also went to Hebron

31 And David said to Joab and to all the people

people of Gilead. 3:19 Abner knew that the tribe of Benjamin could be the greatest stumbling-block to an agreement with David. 3:22 All went smoothly and peaceably until Joab arrived. 3:25 This was a completely false charge. 3:27 2:23; 20:9,10; 1 Kings 2:5. Joab had no right whatever to take personal vengeance (Lev 19:18; Num 31:2). Compare Prov 20:22; 24:29; Rom 12:17,19. 3:28 David did not know what Joab intended to do (v 26). 3:29 1 Kings 2:31-33. “A leper” – see note at Lev 13:2. 3:31 1:11.

his throne (16:20-22; 1 Kings 2:22). And Abner had been strengthening his own position (v 6). 3:9,10 1 Sam 15:28; 23:16,17. Since Abner knew this he had no business making Ish-Bosheth king (2:8,9). Ish-Bosheth was a weak man, Abner the real power behind him. 3:10 “Dan to Beersheba” – the most northern town in the land to the most southern town. 3:12 Did Abner think the land belonged to the two of them? Where did this leave God in Abner’s thinking? But see Lev 25:23; Ex 19:5; Ps 24:1. 3:13,14 1 Sam 18:20,25,27; 25:44. 3:17 Ish-Bosheth had little support in Israel except for the tribe of Benjamin and the

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who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and tie on sackcloth and mourn in front of Abner.” And king David himself followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

news came from Jezreel about Saul and Jonathan, and his nurse picked him up and fled; and it so happened that as she hurried to get away, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and in the heat of the day arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 6 And they came there into the middle of the house, as if to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedroom, and they struck him and killed him and beheaded him, and took his head and travelled through the plain all night. 8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “See the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul your enemy who sought your life. And the LORD has taken vengeance on Saul and on his offspring, for my lord the king.”

33 And the king lamented over Abner and said,

“Should Abner have died as a fool dies? 34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. You fell as a man falls before wicked men.” And again all the people wept over him. 35 And when all the people came to have David eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “May God do harm to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else until the sun sets.”

36 And all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the idea of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

9 And David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead’, thinking he had brought good news, I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag. He thought that I would give him a reward for his news. 11 When wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not much more certainly now require his blood from your hand and take you away from the earth?”

38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? 39 And today I am weak, even though the anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. The LORD will repay the evildoer in accordance with his wickedness.”

And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became weak, and all the Israelites were troubled. 2 And Saul’s son had two men who were captains of bands. The name of one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab. They were the sons of Rimmon, a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also was reckoned part of Benjamin. 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been staying there until this day).

12 And David gave an order to his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and their feet, and hung them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Look, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also in time past, when Saul 3:32 In spite of living in violent times and frequently engaging in warfare, David had a tender heart, like God’s (1 Sam 13:14; Ps 35:11-14). 3:33 1:17. 3:37 One reason for David’s public display of sorrow was to convince them of this. 3:39 “Too hard” – David admits his weakness to deal with Joab and Abishai as he should have done. David should have judged Joab’s crime and removed him from any position of leadership, difficult as that might have been to accomplish. Because he did not do so, others later lost their lives at Joab’s murderous hand.

4 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the

one strong leader. 4:4 Mephibosheth was next in line in the house of Saul for the throne of Israel. David later dealt very kindly with him (9:1-13). 4:8 They actually thought David would be pleased with their murder of Ish-Bosheth, and reward them. They claimed God’s approval upon their deed, though they were not concerned for God’s interests. Some people who pursue their own ends still like to make a show of piety by bringing God’s name into their talk. 4:9,10 1:2-16. 4:11,12 Treachery and murder received their just reward. 5:1 “The tribes” – that is, leaders who represented all the tribes (v 3). 5:2 1 Sam 13:13,14; 16:1,13; 18:5,13,

“Repay” – v 29. David, feeling his weakness, left it to God to deal with Joab. 4:1 “Troubled” – they had lost Abner, their

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was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in. And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel and you will be a ruler over Israel.’”

David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

13 And David took for himself more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon 15 and Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia 16 and Elishama and Eliada and Eliphalet.

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to search for David. And David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. 18 And the Philistines came and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. They spoke to David, saying, “You will not come in here, for the blind and the lame will turn you away,” thinking, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

8 And David said on that day, “Anyone who would strike down the Jebusites, and those ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’, whom David’s soul loathes, should go up by the water channel.” Therefore they said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

20 And David came to Baal-Perazim and David defeated them there, and said, “The LORD has broken out against my enemies before me, like waters break out.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-Perazim. 21 And they left their idols there, and David and his men burned them.

9 So David lived in the fortress, and called it the city of David. And David built all around from Millo and inward. 10 And David went on to become great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

22 And the Philistines came up again and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up, but circle around behind them, and come on them opposite the mulberry trees. 24 And it is to be like this: when you hear the sound of marching in the

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees and carpenters and masons; and they built David a house. 12 And

16,30; 23:17; 25:26-31. In Old Testament times the term “shepherd” was applied not only to religious leaders, but frequently to civil rulers, the kings (Ps 78:7072; Isa 44:28; Jer 2:8; Ezek 34:1-4). 5:3 2:4; 1 Sam 16:13. 5:4 “Thirty” – Gen 41:46; Luke 3:23. All of David’s previous life with its trials, troubles, and tribulations, its victories and successes, was God’s preparation for the throne. 5:6-10 1 Chron 11:4-9. 5:6 Jerusalem was more centrally located in the land than Hebron, and on the border between Judah and Benjamin, and so was the ideal place for David’s capital city (v 9). It was an ancient city (Gen 14:16) that had been briefly taken at the time of Joshua, but Israel had not been able to keep it in their possession (Jud 1:8,21; Josh 15:63). Jerusalem was easy to defend because it was on high ground surrounded on three sides by deep valleys. So the Jebusites thought they could taunt David. 5:8 1 Chron 11:6. 5:10 “LORD God of hosts” – note at 1 Sam 1:3. “With him” – 3:1; 7:9; Gen 37:2,21,23; Josh 1:5; Ps 18:39; 46:7,11; Matt 1:23. 5:11-25 1 Chron 14:1-16.

5:11 “Hiram” – 1 Kings 5:1-18; 2 Chron 2:1-12. Tyre was a city on the Mediterranean coast north of Israel. 5:12 David recognized that God had established him as king, not for his personal benefit, but for the benefit of the people whom he was to shepherd. Happy any people who have such a leader, civil or religious. Compare Mark 9:35; 10:44,45; 1 Cor 10:33; 2 Cor 4:5. Alas, that so many in Christian circles seek position and power for their own sake, and have no regard for the people whom they should serve. 5:13 No doubt this was the custom of kings in those days, but it was forbidden in God’s law – Deut 17:14-17. Note at 3:2-5. 5:17 The “stronghold” possibly refers to some place in the desert area of southern Judah where he had found refuge from Saul (1 Sam 22:4; 23:14). 5:19 2:1; 1 Sam 23:2,6. 5:20 Baal-Perazim means “The Lord who breaks out.” 5:21 They burned these idols which the Philistines had carried into battle – 1 Chron 14:12. 5:23 “Inquired” – a believer should make no plans without this. 5:24 “Marching” – angelic forces going with

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tops of the mulberry trees, then you must move quickly, for then the LORD will go out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did just as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gazer.

9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, “How will the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD to him in the city of David, but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD stayed in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand, 2 and David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, the name of which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwells between the cherubim. 3 And they set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah with the ark of God, and Ahio was walking in front of the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all kinds of instruments made of fir wood and on harps and on lyres and on tambourines and on castanets and on cymbals.

12 And it was told king David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and joyfully brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David. 13 And it was like this: when those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and another fat animal, 14 and David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David, and all the house of Israel, brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked through a window and saw king David leaping and dancing in the presence of the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen were shaking it. 7 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place, in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And as soon as David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the

8 And David was displeased, because the LORD broke out against Uzzah, and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah, its name to this day.

obedience to His instructions. Compare Lev 10:1-3; Num 15:30-36; Josh 7:25,26; Acts 5:1-11. Notes on God’s anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; etc. 6:8 David was angry and perplexed at God’s dealings (this temptation comes to all of us at times). Joy (v 5) was turned to gloom. He had wanted to honor God but he had not done it in God’s way. He later admitted that he had not inquired of the Lord about it (1 Chron 15:13). The way of obedience may be harder, but it is the only way God will accept. Perez Uzzah means “breaking out against Uzzah.” 6:9-12 David was afraid that wherever the ark went there would be danger and trouble. God’s blessing the household of Obed-Edom showed him this was not so. So David went and got the ark. He had now realized his error in method and used God’s way. See 1 Chron 15:1,2,11-15. 6:12 “City of David” – 5:7. 6:14,15 Obedience to God’s instruction brought restored joy. 6:16 “Michal” – the carnal and worldly cannot stand to see others zealous for God. Note at Ps 69:9. 6:17 “Offerings” – notes at Leviticus chapters 1 and 3. 6:18 1 Kings 8:14,15.

David. Compare Ex 23:23; 33:2; Ps 34:7; 35:5; 68:17; 91:11; Isa 37:36; 63:9; Matt 26:53; Heb 1:14. 5:25 A distance of nearly 30 kilometers. 6:1-11 1 Chron 13:1-14. 6:2 “Ark of God” – note at Ex 25:10-16. “Baalah of Judah” – another name for Kiriath-Jearim (Josh 15:9). The ark had been left there during Saul’s reign (1 Sam 7:1). 6:3 God had given instructions as to how the ark was to be carried (Num 4:4-6,15; 7:9). David used the same method used by the Philistines (1 Sam 6:7,8). The result was disastrous. God’s work must be done in God’s way to obtain God’s blessing. 6:5 Compare psalm 150. “Playing before the LORD on all kinds of instruments made of fir wood” – or it could be translated “celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs” (see note on Hebrew at Ps 14:7). 6:6 “Took hold of” – this was plainly forbidden by God in Num 4:15,19,20. 6:7 “God struck him” – 1 Sam 6:19. It may seem to some people that Uzzah’s punishment was too severe, but God is the one who must determine such matters. He sometimes has to use stern measures to emphasize the importance of holiness and

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people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 And he gave out to each one among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, to the women as well as to the men, a cake of bread and a good piece of meat and a raisin cake. So all the people departed, each one to his house.

4 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Will you build me a house for me to live in? 6 For I have not lived in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt to this day, but have moved about with a tent and with a tabernacle. 7 In any place I have travelled with all the children of Israel did I speak a word with any of the leaders of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, Why do you not build me a house of cedar?’

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the worthless fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 And David said to Michal, “It was in the presence of the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and instead of all his household, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 And I will be still more insignificant than this and will be lowered in my own eyes, but I will be held in honour by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

8 “Now therefore you shall say this to my servant David: ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel, 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from your sight, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are in the earth. 10 Moreover I will provide a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they can live in a place of their own and move no more. Nor will the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as before, 11 even from the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, for I have caused you to rest from all your enemies.

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

And it came about, when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest all around from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.”

“‘Also the LORD tells you that he will make a house for you. 12 And when your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your ancestors, after you I will appoint your offspring, who comes forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will

3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

6:20 “Uncovered” – David had not worn his royal robes (v 14), only ordinary clothing, and Michal thought he had been very undignified in the expression of his joy and zeal for God. She little realized there are things more important than human dignity. 6:21,22 “The LORD” – David was thinking only of God, not what people might think of him. The dignity of his office did not appeal to him as did lowly, humble rejoicing in God. 7:1-29 1 Chron 17:1-27. 7:2 “Nathan – 12:1; 1 Kings 1:8,22; 1 Chron 29:29; 2 Chron 9:29. “Tent” – note at Ex 25:8. David recognized God as the heavenly king of Israel (Ps 10:16; 24:7,8). The ark which symbolized God’s presence was in a tent (6:17), while David the earthly king lived in a fine palace. A person as concerned with God’s glory as David could not but think this was unfitting. He wanted to build a magnificent temple for God (1 Chron 22:1-5; 28:2). This desire was good, but David was not permitted to build the temple (1 Kings 8:17-19; 2 Chron 22:7,8). Each of God’s servants has his own work which God has given and will not be able to do the work committed to someone else. 7:3 Nathan said this without getting God’s thoughts about it. Even great prophets may

speak rashly. 7:4-7 God was satisfied with His tent. He (with His people) was a pilgrim on earth (v 6. Think of it!). The tent was an adequate symbol of His presence with Israel. He had not desired a temple, had not asked for one. 7:4-11 God preferred to do something for David, rather than have David build a temple for Him (vs 9,11). He had already done great things for David (vs 8,9). Now He would do still greater things for him and for Israel (vs 9-11). 7:10 “Afflict” – refers to the oppression Israel experienced in Egypt and later in their own land during the times of the Judges. 7:11 “Judges” – or “leaders” – the Hebrew word means both.

“You” – David wanted to build a material house for God. God would build a “house” for David – a royal dynasty. This promise to David was not based on conditions and it finds its final fulfilment in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the inheritor of David’s throne (Ps 89:27-29; Matt 1:1; Luke 1:32,33,69; Acts 2:30; 13:23; Rom 1:2,3; Rev 3:7; 22:16). 7:12 “Offspring” – Solomon (1 Kings 1:29-40). 7:13 See 1 Kings chapter 6. God here gives His approval for the building of a temple.

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build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the children of men, 15 but my mercy will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom will be established forever before you; your throne will be established forever.’”

with our ears. 23 And what one nation in the earth is like your people, like Israel, whom God went to redeem as a people for himself and to make a name for himself, and to do great and awe-inspiring things for yourself, for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24 For you have established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.

17 Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and in accordance with this whole vision.

25 “And now, O LORD God, establish forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have said. 26 And let your name be magnified for ever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel’; and let the house of your servant David be established before you.

18 Then king David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far? 19 And even this was a small thing in your sight, O Lord God, but you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great time to come. And is this the custom of man, O Lord God?

27 “For you, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have made a revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant. 29 Therefore now let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for you, O Lord God, have said it. And let the house of your servant be blessed with your blessing forever.”

20 “And what more can David say to you? For you, Lord God, know your servant. 21 For your word’s sake, and in accordance with your own heart, you have done all these great things, to make your servant know them.

22 “Therefore you are great, O LORD God, for there is no one like you, nor is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard

He had not asked men to build one for Him, but He would permit it and use the temple as a picture to set forth certain aspects of the spiritual work of Christ (Eph 2:19-22; etc). See note on something similar at 1 Sam 8:5-22. “Throne of his kingdom” – Solomon’s kingdom was the nation of Israel. He had no other.

“The rod of men” – God uses other men to chastise His people. See Ps 66:10-12. Later He chastised Solomon in this way – 1 Kings 11:9,14,23,26. 7:15 “Saul” – 1 Sam 15:23,28; 16:14. 7:18 “Who am I” – Ex 3:11; Jud 6:15; Jer 1:6; John 1:27; Eph 3:8; Luke 17:10; Matt 23:12. 7:20 1 Sam 16:7; Ps 139:1-4; John 2:24,25. 7:21 “Your word’s sake” – probably means here all the promises God had made concerning Israel. 7:22 “LORD God” – in Hebrew, Jehovah Elohim.

“Forever” – v 16; 2 Sam 22:51; 1 Kings 2:4,45; Isa 9:7; Jer 17:25; 33:14-18; Luke 1:33. Is it necessary that Christ reign on earth over the nation Israel to fulfil this promise? Bible commentators are divided about this. Some think that this promise and others such as Isa 9:7; 11:1-9; 32:15 have only a spiritual fulfilment in the Church. Others think there will be some kind of literal fulfilment, that the nation of Israel, brought back to God, will occupy the central position during a thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Certainly it seems both David and Solomon thought that God was referring to a literal kingdom on earth (vs 24-26; 2 Chron 6:16,17). And it seems that Christ’s disciples, after receiving instruction by Christ Himself for forty days about the kingdom of God, also thought so (Acts 1:3,6). Certainly the writer of these notes thinks so. See also notes at Isa 2:1-4; Rev 20:4-6; etc. 7:14 “Discipline” – Deut 8:5; Prov 3:11,12; Heb 12:5-11; Rev 3:19.

“No one like you” – a truth emphasized everywhere in the Bible – Ex 15:11; Deut 3:24; 1 Sam 2:2; Ps 86:10; Isa 44:6,8; 45:18,22; 1 Cor 8:4-6; 1 Tim 6:15,16. 7:23 Deut 4:7,32-38; 10:21; 15:15; Josh 21:43-45 7:24 Gen 17:7; Ex 6:7; 19:6; Deut 10:15; 26:18; 32:6; Isa 43:21. Observe that the nation Israel is God’s people forever. Compare Jer 31:35-40; 33:17-26. 7:27 Effective prayer will be based on God’s revelation of His will. Compare 1 John 5:14,15. 7:28 “True” – or “trustworthy” – Ex 34:6; Deut 7:9; Ps 36:5; Titus 1:2; Rev 1:5; 19:11. 7:29 “Blessing” – notes at Gen 12:2,3; 24:35; Num 6:22-27; Deut 28:1,2; Ps 1:1,2.

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8 11 And these king David dedicated to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he subdued, 12 from Syria and from Moab and from the children of Ammon and from the Philistines and from Amalek and from the plunder from Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

And after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Methegammah out of the hands of the Philistines.

2 And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He measured those to be put to death with two cord lengths, and those to be kept alive with one full cord length. And so the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute.

13 And David got a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt.

3 David also defeated Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except what he kept of them for a hundred chariots.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom. He put these garrisons throughout the whole of Edom and all the Edomites became subject to David. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

15 And David reigned over all Israel, and David executed judgment and justice to all his people. 16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests, and Seraiah was the scribe, 18 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twentytwo thousand of the Syrian men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became subject to David and brought tribute. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And king David brought a great amount of bronze from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer.

And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 And in the household of Saul there was a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent his son Joram to king David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had waged wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him silver articles and gold articles and bronze articles.

And he said, “Your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is no one of the house of Saul still left, that I may show the kindness of God to him?”

And Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has

8:1-14 1 Chron 18:1-13. 8:2 “Moab” – Gen 19:37. David’s greatgrandmother was a Moabite (Ruth 1:4; 4:13,21,22), and previously David had a friendly relationship with Moab (1 Sam 22:3,4). 8:3 1 Sam 14:47. “Zobah” – a kingdom on Israel’s northern border.

to enrich themselves. 8:13 “A name” – 7:9. “Valley of Salt” – Probably just south of the Dead Sea. 8:14 The Edomites were descended from Esau, son of Isaac (Gen 25:21-26). 8:15 In psalm 101 David records his principles of just administration in the kingdom of Israel. Psalm 15 gives some of his inspired views on personal conduct. David did more than make resolutions or write about justice; he practiced what he preached. 8:16 “Joab” – 2:13. Note at 3:39. 8:18 “Kerethites” – 1 Sam 30:14. They lived in the south of the land of Canaan near the Philistines. Nothing is known for certain about the origins of this people.

“Euphrates river” – God’s promise to Abraham was of a land that extended as far as the Euphrates (Gen 15:18-21; Deut 1:7; 11:24; Josh 1:4). 8:4 “Hamstrung” – Josh 11:9. 8:5 “Damascus” – capital of Syria and later a continual enemy of Israel. 8:6 3:18; 5:10. 8:9 “Hamath” – a kingdom north of Zobah. 8:11 These were later used in the construction of the temple (1 Kings 7:51). Observe that David did not enrich himself by his position and his victories. He gave to God what he could have kept for himself. How different from many today who keep for themselves what they should give to God, or even steal from funds given to God’s work

“Pelethites” – possibly (but not certainly) comes from the word “Philistine.” Men from these alien nations composed a private army or bodyguard for king David. 9:1 “Jonathan’s sake” – 1 Sam 20:14-17,42. 9:2 “Ziba” – 16:1-4; 19:17,29. 9:3 “Lame” – 4:4. Mephibosheth was five years old when Saul and Jonathan were killed, and now he was a young man with a

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a son, who is lame in his feet.”

And it came about after this that the king of the children of Ammon died and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” And David sent to comfort him through his servants about his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

4 And the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “See, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.”

5 Then king David sent men and had him brought from the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he went down on his face and prostrated himself.

3 And the leaders of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David is honouring your father, because he has sent comforters to you? Has not David sent his servants to you to explore the city, and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off one half of their beards and cut off their cloaks in the middle at their hips, and sent them away.

And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “See your servant!” 7 And David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness for your father Jonathan’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will eat bread at my table permanently.”

8 And he bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I?”

5 When they told it to David, he sent someone to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return.”

9 Then the king called for Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given all that belonged to Saul and to his whole household to your master’s grandson. 10 You, therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall till the land for him and bring in the harvests, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. However Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always eat food at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent agents and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and a thousand men from king Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Ishtob.

7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 8 And the children of Ammon came out and drew up battle lines at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob and Ishtob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will act in accordance with all that my lord the king has commanded his servant to do.”

The king said, “As for Mephibosheth, he will eat at my table, like one of the king’s sons.”

12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

9 When Joab saw that there were two battle fronts against him, in the front and in the rear, he selected some of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians, 10 and the rest of the people he put into the hands of his brother Abishai, so that he could put them in array

13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he regularly ate at the king’s table. And he was lame in both of his feet.

son of his own (v 12). Many years elapsed before David fulfilled his obligation to Jonathan. Mephibosheth was in a distant place (v 4), and David had been busy establishing his kingdom and warring with his enemies. 9:4 “Machir” – he seems to have been a kindhearted and God-fearing man. He befriended the dead Jonathan’s crippled son who had fallen on hard times. Later he helped David when he fled from Absalom (17:27-29).

shows grace to fallen and sinful men. Compare Eph 4:32; 1 John 2:12. 9:8 The name Mephibosheth means “destroyer of shame.” He was not ashamed to accept the grace and kindness of a king. Nor should sinful men be ashamed to accept the grace of the heavenly king (Rom 1:16; 2 Tim 1:8). But because of pride many cannot endure the thought of being completely cast on the mercy and grace of God for salvation. 9:11 “Like one of the king’s sons” – 1 John 3:1; Rev 3:20. 10:1-19 1 Chron 19:1-19. 10:2 We have no record of the kindness Nahash showed David. But this reveals a very good quality in David – gratitude. 10:6 “Odious” – Gen 34:30; 1 Sam 13:4; 27:12.

“Lo-Debar” – a town east of the Jordan river and deep into Gilead. 9:7 “Afraid” – he had probably heard that kings often exterminated any in the family of the previous monarch who could be a rival for the throne.

“Kindness for. . .Jonathan’s sake” – here is a beautiful picture which suggests how God

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against the children of Ammon. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what seems good to him.”

thousand horsemen, and struck down Shobach, the captain of their host, who died there. 19 And when all the kings who were subject to Hadarezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.

13 And Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

And this happened at the turn of the year, at the time when kings go forth to battle: David sent out Joab and his servants with him and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David still stayed at Jerusalem.

15 And when the Syrians saw that they were defeated before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadarezer sent men and brought the Syrians who were beyond the river. And they came to Helam, and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer was leading them.

2 And it so happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing. And the woman was very beautiful in appearance. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David and said, “I am

17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed over the Jordan and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers of the Syrians and forty

10:12 “May the LORD” – though Joab was a hard, bloodthirsty man, he was brave and made some acknowledgment of God. 10:13 1 Kings 20:13-21. 10:16 “The river” – Euphrates (8:3). 10:18 In the parallel account in 1 Chron 19:18 the number of charioteers is recorded as seven thousand. This is one example of several differences in numbers between the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. There were no printing presses in those days or any sort of duplicating machines. Manuscripts had to be laboriously copied by hand. Although great care, really amazing care, was taken to copy accurately, minor copying errors were sometimes made. It was particularly easy to make mistakes in copying numbers. There is no doctrine of the Bible the least affected by any such mistakes in copying, and we can only marvel at the accuracy of the manuscripts as a whole which were transmitted over many centuries and copied again and again. 11:1 “Stayed at Jerusalem” – because David did not go with the army he fell into temptation and great sin. We see in this chapter once again that the Bible does not try to hide the sins and failures of God’s people, but tells things just as they were. Compare Gen 9:21; 12:13; 27:18-26; Ex 32:2-4; Num 20:12; Judges chapter 16; etc. From this account of David’s sin we can learn that even the greatest men of faith may fall to a very low level. From the next chapter we can learn that God forgives the worst of sins if there is genuine repentance. We should remember that bad example is put in the

Bible, not that we should follow it, but that we might avoid it. See 1 Cor 10:1-13. 11:2 “He saw” – see Job 31:1. Compare David’s behavior with Joseph’s (Gen 39:7-12). Later David rightly accepted the blame for the sin recorded in this chapter (see psalm 51), but this does not excuse Bathsheba. She must have realized that the courtyard of her house was in full view of the roof of David’s palace. Bathsheba is not explicitly accused of trying to tempt David, but she did not resist the sin of adultery with him (v 4), and was willing to marry him as soon as possible (v 27). Surely she was not entirely without guilt in all this. 11:3 “Wife”– when David found out that Bathsheba was another man’s wife, his one business should have been to forget her. Even the lust he felt for her was sin (Ex 20:17).

“Uriah” – this man was not an unknown soldier, but one of the 37 greatest heroes in David’s army (23:39). At that very moment he was in the battle against the Ammonites (vs 6,7). 11:4 Ancient heathen kings had their harems and brought anyone they wanted into them. But God’s standards for His people are different (Lev 18:1-4), and David knew this. Under God’s law David’s (and Bathsheba’s) sin was worthy of death (Lev 20:10). In the New Testament such sins are seen to be worthy of eternal damnation – 1 Cor 6:9,10; Rev 21:8.

“Uncleanness” – Lev 15:19-30. 11:5 Her sin would soon be evident to Uriah. Bathsheba leaves the solution of this problem to David.

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pregnant.”

of the people of the servants of David fell. And Uriah the Hittite also died.

6 And David sent word to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab did and how the people did and how the war prospered. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah left the king’s house, and a gift from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.

18 Then Joab sent a man to tell David everything concerning the war, 19 and ordered the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, 20 then if it so happens that the king’s anger is aroused and he says to you, ‘Why did you approach so near to the city while you were fighting? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman hurl a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’ Then you say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite also is dead.’”

10 And when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house”, David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from your journey? Why then did you not go down to your house?”

11 And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

22 So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him. 23 And the messenger said to David, “The men certainly prevailed against us, and came out to us in the field, but we pressed them even to the entrance of the gate. 24 And the archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite also is dead.”

12 And David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day, and the next day. 13 And when David called him, he ate and drank before him, and David made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

25 Then David said to the messenger, “This is what you are to say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing distress you, for the sword consumes one as well as another. Strengthen your battle against the city, and overthrow it,’ and encourage him.”

14 And it came about in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die.”

26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and had her brought to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

16 And it came about, when Joab looked the city over, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some

And the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him, “There were two men in one city, the one rich and the 11:11 Observe Uriah’s devotion to duty. It is in glaring contrast to David’s behavior. He did not want to enjoy himself while his fellow soldiers were experiencing rough conditions and in danger. 11:13 David thought drunkenness would overcome Uriah’s sense of responsibility and loyalty to his fellow soldiers. But it did not. 11:14,15 David sent by Uriah the orders for Uriah’s own murder. For murder it certainly was (12:9). This incident throws further light on the character of Joab. Apparently David was confident that Joab would have no scruples about being involved in another murder. We can learn from all this how one sin leads to another and may involve more and more people. Trying to cover one sin usually results in lies and deception, and sometimes more violent sin. Altogether David broke three of God’s most important commandments (Ex 20:13,14,17). 11:17 David’s way of getting rid of Uriah

meant that he was responsible for the killing of others in his own army. Oh where does sin end once it has begun? 11:21 “Jerubbesheth” – Gideon. He was also called Jerubbaal.

“Thebez” – Jud 9:50-54. “Uriah” – Joab was sure that any anger David might feel over the loss of men would evaporate at the news of Uriah’s death. Verse 25 shows that Joab’s confidence in this matter was well founded. 11:27 The haste with which the marriage was arranged would indicate that the mourning was little more than a show.

“Displeased the LORD” – 12:9. When a man does as he pleases we may be sure that it displeases God and that there will eventually be sad consequences. God had appointed David to shepherd the people (5:2; 7:8), not to steal their wives, or murder them. 12:1 “The LORD sent” – it is a great mercy

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other poor. 2 The rich man had a great many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished. And it grew up with him and with his children. It ate from his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.

and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And as if that was too little, in addition I would have given to you other such things. 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, having killed him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

4 “And a traveller came to the rich man, and he spared his own flock and his own herd, refusing to take from them to prepare for the traveller who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

11 “Thus says the LORD: ‘See, I will raise up evil against you from your own house, and before your eyes I will take your wives and give them to your neighbour, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’”

5 And David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this thing shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 And Nathan said to David, “You are the man. Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hands of Saul, 8 and I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom,

13 And David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

And Nathan said to David, “The LORD has also put away your sin. You will not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great

that God does not quickly abandon men in their sin but seeks to bring them to repentance. This visit of Nathan took place a considerable time after David’s sin with Bathsheba. A child had already been born to them. David still had not repented.

who had shown him continual grace (vs 7,8).

“Despised the commandment” – Isa 5:24; Ezek 20:13; Amos 2:4; Mal 1:6. By his actions David showed this attitude toward God’s Word (compare Num 15:31). If David had been asked he would have said, no doubt, that he loved God’s Word, and usually he did love it, but he had slipped away from this love.

“Nathan” – once Nathan had come from the Lord with a message of great blessing (7:4-17). Now his message is of judgment and disaster. God’s messengers must be ready to speak forth whatever God gives them to speak. Nathan was a truly spiritual man who was willing to declare to the king his sin. We all need someone like Nathan who will fearlessly point out what may be wrong in our lives. 12:2-4 Parables and stories can sometimes point to truths in a gripping way that catches those who listen before they realize they are the persons in the parable. The Lord Jesus often used this method. 12:5 How easy it is to see faults in others and to ignore the same faults in ourselves. And how quick men are to condemn others and excuse themselves (Rom 2:1,21-24). David had a keen sense of justice (8:15; 1 Sam 24:11-15), but it had been asleep until Nathan aroused it with this story. 12:6 Ex 22:1. David insisted on the penalty of the law for others. 12:7 “You are the man” – since David did not see himself in the parable, Nathan fearlessly and faithfully made the application. 12:8 “Master’s wives” – suggests Saul’s concubines may have been brought into David’s household. David had seven wives before he took Bathsheba (3:2-5; 1 Sam 19:11). This did not keep him from wanting others. Polygamy is no barrier to lust and, in fact, may be just the opposite.

“You have killed” – Uriah fell in battle, but David ordered his death, and this was the same as killing him with his own hand (11:14-17). 12:10 “The sword” – later on three of David’s sons were killed (13:28; 8:14,15; 1 Kings 2:25). All this is another example of men (even God’s people) reaping what they sow (Gal 6:7). 12:11 “Evil”– or “disaster”. Sin has consequences which cannot be averted in this life. If God does not chastise us for our sins it only shows we do not belong to Him (Heb 12:6-8).

“House” – David’s sin was against a household, trouble would come to him from his own household. 12:12 Fulfilled by Absalom. See 16:20-22. 12:13 “I have sinned” – note on confession at 1 Sam 26:21. David accepted the truth about himself and repented. The genuineness of his repentance is clear from psalm 51 which he wrote at this time. David did not count Nathan an enemy because he told him the truth. See also Ps 141:5. He knew that it is very beneficial to have someone who will speak the truth without fear or favor. Contrast all this with the attitude of Ahab toward Elijah and Micaiah (1 Kings 21:20; 22:8). See also Gal 4:16. “You will not die” – because of God’s mercy David was forgiven and would not suffer the just penalty of the law for his sin. 12:14 “To blaspheme” – this is one of the

“Judah” – 2:4; 5:2,3. 12:9 David’s sin had been against the God

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occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child who has been born to you will also surely die.”

24 And David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him. 25 And he sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

15 And Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick. 16 So David begged God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him up from the ground, but he was not willing, and did not eat food with them.

26 And Joab fought against Rabbah, belonging to the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the City of Waters. 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together and camp against the city and take it. Otherwise, if I take the city, it will be called after my name.”

18 And it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, “Look, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to our voice. How will we tell him the child is dead? Then he may harm himself.”

29 And David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it. 30 And he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold with the precious stones; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought plunder out of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and with iron instruments and with iron axes, and made them go into the brick kiln. And this he did to all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering, David understood that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?”

And they said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the ground, and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes, and came into the house of the LORD and worshipped. Then he came to his own house, and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.

And this is what happened after that: David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and David’s son Amnon loved her.

21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive, but when the child was dead, you got up and ate food.”

2 And Amnon was so distressed that he felt sick for his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.

22 And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, so that the child may live? 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. And Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 And he said to him, “Why are you, a son of the king, so haggard

sad results of the sins of God’s people (Ezek 36:22; Rom 2:24). See also 1 Tim 5:14; 6:1; Titus 2:5,8; 1 Pet 2:12. “Die” – though David was forgiven and the full penalty of the law was not carried out, there were still consequences of his sin which he had to endure. See also vs 10,11. We cannot do as we please and then expect God to shield us from any trouble that may result. 12:15 1 Sam 25:38. 12:16,17 David hoped God would change His mind (v 22). 12:20 David humbly accepted God’s punishment. 12:22 Isa 38:1-3; Joel 2:14; Jonah 3:9. 12:23 “He will not return to me” – David meant he too would some day go into the realm of the dead, but that the child would not come back from there. Gen 37:35; 1 Sam 28:19; Job 7:8-10.

12:24 “Solomon” – 1 Chron 22:9,10. No reason is given here why God had a special affection for this one of David’s many sons. Compare Deut 7:7,8; Rom 9:10-13. 12:25 Jedidiah means “one the LORD loves.” The name Solomon probably comes from the Hebrew word for peace. 12:26-31 These verses describe the end of the campaign mentioned in chapter 11. It probably took place between the time of David’s adultery and his exposure by Nathan. 12:30 “Talent” – about 34 kilograms. “Head” – placing the crown on David’s head was a symbolic way of saying that henceforth he would be ruler of that land. 13:1 “David” – in this chapter the prophecy of 12:10 begins to be fulfilled. Amnon was the son of David’s second wife Ahinoam. Absalom and Tamar were born to his wife Maacah and so Amnon was their half brother. See 3:2-5.

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from day to day? Will you not tell me?”

Amnon said to her, “Get up! Be gone!”

And Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

16 And she said to him, “No! because this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his servant who attended on him and said, “Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”

5 And Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick, and when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”

18 And she had on a multi-coloured robe; for the king’s daughters who were virgins wore such robes. Then his servant took her out and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her multi-coloured robe that she was wearing, and put her hand on her head, and walked away, crying as she went.

6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick, and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare him food.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. And she took flour and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 And she took a pan and served them to him, but he refused to eat.

20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? But now keep quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 And Absalom did not speak to his brother Amnon anything, good or bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

And Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.” And every one of them went out from him. 10 And Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, so that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother. 11 And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come lie with me, my sister.”

23 And it came about two full years later that Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal-Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Look, now your servant has sheep shearers. Please, will the king and his servants go with your servant?”

12 And she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing. 13 And I, where would I get rid of my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14 However he would not listen to her voice, and, being stronger than she, forced her and lay with her.

25 And the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, or we will be a burden to you.” And he pressed him. However he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him, so that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And

28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “You observe now when Amnon’s heart is 13:5 “Jonadab said” – Ps 1:1. Jonadab’s evil counsel resulted in rape, murder, and rebellion, and great trouble and sorrow for David. 13:7 David, completely unsuspecting, becomes an instrument in his son’s hand to accomplish his evil purpose. 13:12,13 “She answered him” – Tamar’s words were based on God’s laws for Israel which were public knowledge (Lev 18:9-11; Deut 27:22). 13:14 His “love” was only lust which turned to disgust when satisfied. 13:16 Amnon is a type of the utterly selfish person who does not care what wrong he does to someone he says he loves. 13:19 “Tore” – a sign of great sorrow – Gen 37:29; 1 Sam 4:12; Esther 4:1 – here a

symbol of the loss of her virginity. 13:21 David was angry but evidently did nothing to punish Amnon. According to the law of God, Amnon’s sin was worthy of death (Lev 20:17). It is possible that David’s remembrance of his own sexual sin made him too lenient to Amnon. He well knew the bad example he had set. Or it may be that David had always been reluctant to discipline his children – see 1 Kings 1:6. If so, this could account for the sad way some of them turned out. See Prov 13:24; 22:15; 23:13,14. David’s inaction at this time may well have been the cause of the death of both Amnon and Absalom later on. 13:22 “Hated” – Lev 19:17,18; Matt 18:15,16; Luke 17:3; 1 John 3:15. 13:28 Though Amnon’s sin was worthy of

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merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each man got himself onto his mule and fled.

Now Joab, the son of Zeruiah, perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning clothes now, and do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time, 3 and go to the king and speak like this to him” (then Joab put the words in her mouth).

30 And it came about, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his clothes and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

4 And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she bowed down and prostrated herself on the ground and did obeisance, and said, “Help, O king.”

32 And Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons; for only Amnon is dead. For this has been determined in Absalom’s mind from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore my lord the king should not take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead.”

5 And the king said to her, “What is troubling you?”

And she answered, “I am indeed a widow woman, for my husband is dead. 6 And your maid servant had two sons, and the two of them fought together in the field, and there was no one to part them, and the one struck the other and killed him. 7 And, see, the whole family has risen up against your maid servant, and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, so that we can kill him, for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ And so they would put out the burning coal that I have left, and not leave to my husband either name or survivor on the earth.”

34 And Absalom fled. And the young man who was on watch raised his eyes and looked, and saw many people coming by the way of the hillside behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming. It’s just like your servant said.”

8 And the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you.”

36 And it came about, as soon as he finished speaking, that there were the king’s sons coming and raising their voices and weeping. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, “My lord, O king, may the guilt be on me, and on my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be innocent.”

37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

10 And the king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you any more.”

38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And king David longed to go to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

11 Then she said, “Please, let the king remember the LORD your God, so that you do not allow the avengers of blood to destroy any more,

death, Absalom had no right to take personal vengeance. Note at Ex 21:23-25; Lev 19:18; Num 31:2. If others sin against us, that does not give us the right to sin against them. 13:34 The last sentence of this verse is found in the Septuagint, but not in the Hebrew manuscripts now available. 13:35 “Like your servant said” – it seems the evil Jonadab (v 5) was trying to pass himself off as a wise counselor and comforter. 13:37 “Talmai” – Absalom’s maternal grandfather (3:3). He fled there because as a murderer there was no refuge for him in Israel. Cities of refuge were only for those who had killed someone unintentionally – Num 35:9-26,31.

his own sins of adultery and murder. 13:39 Once again David does nothing to make the wrong situation right. He longed to go to Absalom, but he did not. Nor did he ask Absalom to return. Memory of one’s own sins sometimes tends to paralyze proper action. 14:1,2 “Joab” – 2:13. His motives here are unclear. It may be only that he saw David grieving for Absalom and wanted him to be happy. 14:7 “Hand over” – see Num 35:16-25; Deut 19:11-13. 14:8 Once more David speaks without realizing he is involving himself. See 12:5,6. 14:9 Gen 43:9; 1 Sam 25:24; 1 Kings 1:52. 14:11 “Avengers of blood” – Num 35:12; Deut 19:4-10. Absalom had fled probably because he feared an avenger would seek him.

“Mourned” – David was paying dearly for

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so they will not destroy my son.”

know all things that are in the earth.”

And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground.”

21 And the king said to Joab, “Look now, I will do this thing. So go bring the young man Absalom back.”

12 Then the woman said, “Please let your maid servant speak one word to my lord the king.”

22 And Joab bowed down and prostrated himself on the ground, and thanked the king, and Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favour in your sight, my lord, O king, because the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.”

And he said, “Speak.” 13 And the woman said, “Why then have you thought such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this like someone who is at fault, because the king does not bring his banished one back home. 14 For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. And God does not show favoritism, but he devises ways so that his banished ones are not exiled from him. 15 Now the reason that I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king is because the people have made me afraid, and your maid servant said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant. 16 For the king will listen and deliver his maidservant out of the hands of the man who would destroy me and my son together from God’s inheritance. 17 Then your maid servant said, The word of my lord the king will now be comforting, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and bad. Therefore the LORD your God will be with you.”

23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.

25 But in all Israel no one was so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for he cut it at the end of each year; he cut it because the hair was heavy on him), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king’s weights.

27 And three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.

28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king’s face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 Therefore he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.

18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me what I am going to ask you.”

And the woman said, “May my lord the king now speak.”

19 And the king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?”

31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

And the woman answered and said, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for it was your servant Joab who gave me orders and put all these words in the mouth of your maid servant. 20 Your servant Joab has done this to change the appearance of things. And my lord is wise, with wisdom like an angel of God, to

32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent word to you, saying, Come here so I can send you to the king to say, ‘Why have I come from Geshur? It would be good for me to be there still.’ Now therefore let me see the king’s face. And if I am guilty of anything, let him kill me.”

33 So Joab came to the king and told him. And

trouble. 14:25 1 Sam 16:7. 14:26 “Two hundred shekels” – about 2.3 kilograms. 14:32 “If I am guilty” – probably Absalom persuaded himself that he was completely justified in killing Amnon. He wanted David to restore him to full favor. It is not uncommon for men to justify themselves after committing the worst sorts of crimes against God’s law. 14:33 “Kissed” – reconciliation seems complete, but there has been no repentance on Absalom’s part and his sin has not been dealt with. The next chapter reveals the further progress of sin in his heart.

14:13 12:7. “His banished one” – she argues that if David is willing to pardon and protect the son of a strange woman, how much more his own son. 14:14 The woman emphasizes the mercy and grace of God rather than God’s justice, in order to move the king to behave in the same way. But she was wrong when she said God does not take away life (Gen 6:7; 9:5,6; etc.). 14:17 Unfortunately this was not true. But she thought a little flattery might help. 14:22 Joab’s part in all this is mysterious – vs 2,29. 14:23 “Geshur” – 13:37. 14:24 This was neither proper punishment nor proper pardon. And it resulted in further

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when he called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing of the plot. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, when he was offering sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the number of people with Absalom increased continually.

And it came about after this that Absalom prepared chariots and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom would rise early and stand beside the gate road, and it happened that when any man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 And Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no representative of the king to listen to you.” 4 And Absalom would say, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, so that whoever has any suit or case might come to me, and I could administer justice for him!”

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”

14 And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee; for otherwise we will not escape from Absalom. Leave quickly, or he will come on us suddenly and bring disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “See, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

16 And the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him, and stopped in a place that was at a distance. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Kerethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.

5 And it happened that when any man came near him to bow down to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 And this is the way Absalom acted to every Israelite who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And this took place after forty years: Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow in Hebron, which I have made to the LORD. 8 For your servant made a vow while I was staying at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.”

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return to your place, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner and also an exile. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you go up and down with us while I go where I am going? Return, and take back your brethren. May mercy and truth be with you.”

9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is reigning in Hebron!’” 11 And two hundred men from Jerusalem, who were invited, went with

21 And Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or life, surely there your servant will also be.”

15:1 As far as the record goes, no leader in Israel had ever used a chariot before. Absalom was now trying to make something big of himself. 15:3 He was suggesting to the people that king David cared nothing for their troubles and complaints, but that he himself did. 15:4 If Absalom aspired to be a judge he should first have judged himself for the murder of his brother Amnon (13:28). Often those who seek a high position are least fit to hold it. Actually, Absalom wanted a higher office than judge (v 10). 15:6 Compare Rom 16:18. 15:7 “Forty” – this could possibly mean after Absalom’s fortieth year. Some versions have “four” here. That would mean four years after Absalom’s return to Jerusalem. 15:8 Often when men are bent on evil they make a show of piety and religion. Compare Isa 1:10-17. They want to think God is on their side. “In Hebron” is in the Septuagint, but not in the available Hebrew manuscripts.

15:9 Apparently David was ignorant of what had been going on. 15:10 1 Kings 1:34; 2 Kings 9:13. 15:12 Verse 31; 1 Chron 27:33; Ps 3:1. “Ahitophel” – he was the grandfather of Bathsheba (11:3; 23:34). We are not told why he joined Absalom’s rebellion. For all we know he may have harbored resentment against David for David’s sin against Bathsheba (chapter 11). Ahitophel’s treachery was probably the cause of David’s complaint in Ps 41:9; 55:12-14. 15:13 Verse 6. 15:14 12:11; 13:28. David knew Absalom would not hesitate to kill. 15:16 “Concubines” – 5:13. 15:18 “Pelethites” – note at 8:18. 15:19 “Ittai” – 18:2. He was a Philistine, but showed more loyalty to David than many from Israel showed (v 21). When we are in trouble we find out who our real friends are. Prov 18:24. 15:21 Ruth 1:17; Prov 17:17.

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22 And David said to Ittai, “Go and pass by.” And Ittai the Gittite and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him, passed by.

you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. Just as I have been your father’s servant before this, so now I will be your servant also,’ then you can defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 And have you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? Therefore let it be that whatever word you hear from the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 See, they have there with them their two sons, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. And everything you hear you must send to me by them.”

23 And the whole country wept with a loud voice. And all the people passed by, and the king himself crossed over the brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over, on toward the wilderness.

24 And Zadok also appeared, and all the Levites were with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had passed out of the city.

25 And the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show both it and his dwelling place to me. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no delight in you’, see, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”

37 So David’s friend Hushai came into the city as Absalom was arriving at Jerusalem.

And when David had passed a little beyond the top of the mount, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, appeared, meeting him with a couple of donkeys. On them were two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred clusters of raisins and a hundred summer fruits and a wineskin of wine.

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. 28 See, I will wait in the plain of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem and waited there.

2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?”

And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who become faint in the wilderness to drink.”

30 And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot. And each man among all the people who were with him covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.”

3 And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?”

And Ziba said to the king, “See, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me’.”

4 Then the king said to Ziba, “See, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours.”

And David said, “O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

And Ziba said, “I humbly bow. May I find grace in your sight, my lord, O king.”

32 And it came about that when David arrived at the top of the mountain, where God was worshipped, Hushai the Archite appeared, coming to meet him with his coat torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, suddenly a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, uttering curses as he came.

12:13; 27:18-26; Josh 2:5; 1 Sam 27:10. God is always perfectly able to work His will among men altogether without man’s tricks. 16:1 “Ziba” – 9:2-13. 16:3 “Master’s son” – Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth. In Hebrew son indicated a wider range of relationships than in English. When David returned, Mephibosheth gave him an altogether different explanation than Ziba’s (19:25-28). Which man told David the truth? The Bible does not say and David himself did not know (19:29). 16:4 David was too quick to believe Ziba, and later changed this decision (19:16-23; 1 Kings 2:8,9,44-46; Ex 22:28). 16:5-8 Evidently Shimei thought David was finished forever and wanted to give him a kick while he was down.

15:23 “Kidron” – a valley just outside the southeast wall of Jerusalem. 15:24 “Zadok” – 8:17. “Ark” – note at Ex 25:10-16. 15:25 David knew that the ark was only a symbol of God’s presence and that God’s presence could go with him regardless of where the ark was. Compare this with Israel’s superstition in 1 Sam 4:3. 15:26 David also knew that the only important factor was God’s favor, and that he was unworthy of that favor. 15:27 “Seer” – note at 1 Sam 9:9. 15:31 This prayer God answered – 17:14,23. 15:32 “Hushai” – v 37; 1 Chron 27:33. 15:34 God would have answered David’s prayer without David urging Hushai to be deceitful to Absalom. See notes at Gen

399 2 SAMUEL 17:6

6 And he hurled stones at David, and at all the servants of king David. And all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No; but I will belong to the one whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, and I will stay with him. 19 And besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

7 And as Shimei cursed he said, “Get out! Get out! You man of blood, you wicked scoundrel! 8 The LORD has brought back onto you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned, and the LORD has handed over the kingdom to the hands of your son Absalom. And, see, you are caught in your wickedness, because you are a man of blood.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?”

9 Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you are abhorrent to your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they spread a tent for Absalom on the roof of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

10 And the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then will say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Look, my son, who came out of my body, is seeking my life. How much more now may this Benjamite do it ? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on my suffering, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man had inquired of the word of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom was like that.

Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 And I will come on him while he is weary and his hands weak, and I will put fear into him. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike down only the king. 3 And I will bring all the people back to you. When all return, except the man you are seeking, all the people will be in peace.” 4 And the suggestion pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

13 And as David and his men proceeded on the road, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and uttered curses as he went, and hurled stones at him and threw dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived at their stopping place exhausted, and they refreshed themselves there.

15 And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 And this happened when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom: Hushai said to Absalom, “God save the king! God save the king!”

5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite too, and let us hear what he says also.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken like this. Shall

16:8 “Saul” – Shimei perhaps was referring to the events of 21:1-9, which probably took place before the events in this chapter. 16:9 19:21; 1 Sam 26:8. 16:10 3:39; 19:22. 16:11 David knew that though he was innocent in the matter of Saul’s household, he had shed the innocent blood of others (11:14-17; 12:9,10). 16:12 Deut 23:5; Neh 13:2; Prov 20:22; Heb 12:10,11. 16:14 Sometime during his flight from Absalom, perhaps here, David wrote psalm 3 and (probably) psalm 63. Both psalms show David’s great confidence in God in a time of danger. 16:15 15:12. 16:16 15:32,33,37. 16:17-19 Did Absalom suspect that Hushai’s heart was with David? Hushai’s answer

evidently deceived him and put his mind at rest (15:34). 16:21,22 “Concubines” – 12:11,12. This was a symbolic act showing that Absalom was claiming the throne. Note on 3:7. 17:1 Both David and Absalom recognized the wisdom of Ahitophel (16:23). 17:4 From a military point of view his advice was shrewd and, if followed, might well have succeeded. 17:5 “Absalom said” – 15:32-34. God was beginning to answer David’s prayer of 15:31. 17:5-13 Hushai shows his knowledge of Absalom’s character and state of mind, and how to use them to help David. Absalom was in doubt what to do, was afraid of his father’s skill in battle, wanted to be thought a great man, and liked a big show (15:1; 18:18).

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we follow his suggestion? If not, you speak out.”

well’s mouth, and scattered crushed grain on it; and the matter was not known.

7 And Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and their minds are embittered. They are like a bear robbed of its cubs in the field. And your father is a warrior, and will not spend the night with the people. 9 Look, he is hidden now in some cave or in some other place. And when some of your men fall at the first attack, it will happen that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt away. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and that those who are with him are valiant men.

20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

And the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” And when they had looked and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 And it came about, after they had left, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David and said to David, “Arise and quickly cross over the water, for this is what Ahithophel counselled against you.” 22 Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan. At the morning light there was not a one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.

11 “Therefore, I counsel that all Israel should be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, in number like the sand that is by the sea, and that you personally go to the battle. 12 So we can come on him in some place, wherever he is to be found, and we will fall on him like dew falls on the ground; and neither he nor all the men who are with him, not one, will be left. 13 Moreover, if he has gone into a city, then all Israel can bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river until not even a small stone will be found there.”

23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and got up and went to his house in his city, put his household in order, and hanged himself and died. And he was buried in the tomb of his father.

24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa commander of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra, an Israelite who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Joab’s mother Zeruiah. 26 So Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had ordained that the good counsel of Ahithophel be defeated, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.

27 And this is what happened when David came to Mahanaim: Shobi, the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir, the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai, the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins and clay pots and wheat and barley and flour and roasted grain and beans and lentils and parched pulse, 29 and honey and butter and sheep and cheese from cows’ milk, for David and for the people who were with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “This is the counsel Ahithophel gave to Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I counselled. 16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend tonight in the plains of the wilderness, but quickly cross over the Jordan, so that the king and all the people who are with him will not be destroyed.’”

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at Enrogel, for they could not be seen entering the city. And a servant girl went and reported to them, and they went and told king David. 18 However a lad saw them and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly, and at Bahurim came to a man’s house who had a well in his compound, and they went down into it. 19 And the woman took a covering and spread it over the

And David counted the people who were with him, and appointed captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And David sent out a third of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will certainly

17:14-17 15:27-36. 17:19,20 Josh 2:4-6. Note at 15:34. 17:23 “Hanged himself” – he realized that if Hushai’s advice was followed rather than his own, probably David would be victorious. Ahitophel is an example of the uselessness of human wisdom without the fear of the

Lord (Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7; 1 Cor 1:19,20). He was not the last “wise” man to end up in suicide. 17:24 2:8,9; 19:32; Gen 32:2. 17:25 Amasa was David’s nephew. 17:27,28 God can provide for His own, no matter where they may have to flee.

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go out with you also.”

16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, because Joab was restraining the people. 17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest and laid a very great heap of stones on him. And all Israel fled, each one to his tent.

3 But the people answered, “You should not go out. For if we flee, they will not be concerned about us. Even if half of us die, they will not be concerned about us. But now you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better now that you help us from the city.”

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken a pillar and set it up for himself in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” And he called the pillar after his own name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

4 And the king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” And the king stood at the side of the gate, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king gave a command to Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “For my sake deal gently with the young man, with Absalom.” And all the people heard the king giving all the officers this order concerning Absalom.

19 Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said “Let me run now, and take to the king the news of how the LORD has avenged him, delivering him from his enemies.”

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There the people of Israel were defeated before the servants of David, and that day there was a great slaughter of twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle there scattered over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news today, but you can take news another day. But today you shall not take any news, because the king’s son is dead.”

21 Then said Joab to Cushi, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” And Cushi bowed to Joab and ran off.

22 Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab once again, “However that may be, please let me also run after Cushi.”

9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom was riding on a mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head was caught in the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth, and the mule that had been under him went away.

And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”

23 “However that may be”, he said, “let me run.”

10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab and said, “Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”

And he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the road through the plain, and outran Cushi.

11 And Joab said to the man who told him, “And, lo and behold, you saw him! And why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”

24 And David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and saw a man running alone. 25 And the watchman shouted and told the king.

12 And the man said to Joab, “Even if I got a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I still would not put out my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king ordered you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touches the young man Absalom.’ 13 Or if I had acted deceitfully, endangering my own life (for nothing is hidden from the king), you would have kept yourself away from me.”

And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he kept on coming and drew near.

26 And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called out to the gatekeeper, and said, “Look! Another man running alone.”

And the king said, “He also brings news.” 27 And the watchman said, “I think the running of the one in front is like the way Zadok’s son Ahimaaz runs.”

14 Then said Joab, “I can’t wait around like this with you.” And he took three sharp stakes in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the middle of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armour surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.

And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

28 And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king,

kilograms. Some people are not for sale at any price, but others, alas, will do almost anything for money, even small amounts of money. 18:15 12:10. 18:18 Absalom’s three sons (14:27) must have died before he erected this pillar.

18:5 Absalom’s rebellion did not destroy David’s love for him (13:37,38; 19:29,33). 18:11 “Strike him” – Joab’s murderous character is revealed once more – v 14. Note at 2:13. “Ten shekels” – about 115 grams. 18:12 “A thousand shekels” – about 11

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“All is well.” And he prostrated himself on his face on the ground before the king and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has handed over the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.”

concubines, 6 by loving your enemies and hating your friends. For today you have shown that you have no concern for leaders or servants. For today I understand that if Absalom had lived, and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now therefore get up! Go out and speak to the hearts of your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you tonight. And that will be worse for you than all the bad things that have happened to you from your youth until now.”

29 And the king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.”

30 And the king said to him, “Turn aside, and stand here.” And he turned aside and stood still.

8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “Look, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king, for Israel had fled, each man to his tent.

31 And just then Cushi arrived, and Cushi said, “News, my lord the king! For today the LORD has avenged you on all those who rose up against you.”

32 And the king said to Cushi, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

9 And all the people, throughout all the tribes of Israel, were quarreling, saying, “The king saved us from the hands of our enemies, and delivered us from the hands of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land, because of Absalom. 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you not speak a word about bringing the king back?”

And Cushi answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to harm you, be as that young man is.”

33 And the king was very moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he was saying this: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Would to God I had died for you! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

11 And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah and say, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his house? 12 You are my brethren, you are my bones and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And you are to say to Amasa, ‘Are you not of my bone and of my flesh? God do harm to me, and more also, if you do not become commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’”

And it was told Joab, “See, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning, for all the people. For the people heard it told that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3 And that day the people came by stealth into the city, like people steal away ashamed when they flee in battle.

4 And the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

14 And he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man so that they sent this word to the king: “Return and all your servants.” 15 So the king came back and arrived at the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, going to meet the king to conduct the king over the Jordan.

5 And Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have brought shame to the faces of all your servants, who saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters and the lives of your wives and the lives of your

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite,

18:33 In David’s pathetic sorrow over his son there was the guilty knowledge that his own sin had a part in all that had happened (12:9-12). 19:5-7 “Joab. . .said” – Joab’s blunt rebuke of David was justified and saved the situation. David was so taken up with his own grief that he expressed no appreciation to those who had fought for him. One of David’s fine qualities was that he could receive criticism in the right spirit, and face up to his own failings. 19:9-15 David did not immediately march back to Jerusalem at the head of his victorious army. Absalom’s revolt had produced disunity among the people of Israel, and David wanted to win their loyalty and approval before he returned. In particular he appealed to Judah where the

rebellion had started. 19:9 The people remembered, too late to avert a tragedy, what David had done for them. 19:10 They confess that the rebellion was far more than the one man Absalom and a few of his friends usurping power. 19:12 David is signifying that he will not seek vengeance on those who followed Absalom. 19:13 “Amasa” – 17:25. Joab, as commander of the army, had fought faithfully in David’s best interests. But David could no longer endure his murderous ways, since they had now touched his own family. 19:14 “Turned the hearts” – David’s attitude to those who had rebelled against him was gentle. He did not try to use force to regain his place of authority. He waited to be asked.

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who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him. And they went over the Jordan before the king. 18 And they went over to ferry the king’s household across, and to do whatever he thought good.

God. So do whatever is good in your eyes. 28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you placed your servant among those who eat at your own table. What right, therefore, do I have to cry any more to the king?”

29 And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’”

And Shimei, the son of Gera, fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan, 19 and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty, and do not remember what your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, so that the king should take it to his heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, see, today I have come the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take all of it, since my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

31 And Barzillai, the Gileadite, came down from Rogelim and crossed the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age; and he had provided for the king while he was staying at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “You come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.”

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”

34 And Barzillai said to the king, “How long do I have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 Today I am eighty years old, and can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I any longer hear the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king, but why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, so that I may die in my own city and be buried by the grave of my father and my mother. But see your servant Kimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.”

22 And David said, “What is there between me and you, you sons of Zeruiah, that today you should be my adversaries? Should any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know today that I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” And the king swore to him.

24 And Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, came down to meet the king, and he had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes from the day the king departed until the day he came back in peace. 25 And it came about, when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not come with me, Mephibosheth?”

38 And the king answered, “Kimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you. And I will do for you whatever you ask me.”

26 And he answered, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself so that I may ride on it, and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of

39 And all the people crossed the Jordan. And when the king had crossed, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.

40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Kimham

19:17 “Ziba” – 3:19-21; 9:2-10; 16:1-4. 19:18-20 Shimei admits his sin (16:5-8). Such people will do anything to save their unworthy necks.

1 Kings 2:8,9. 19:24 9:6-10. 19:26-30 “He answered” – there is a ring of truth in Mephibosheth’s words and behavior, but we cannot be certain whether it was he or Ziba who was telling the truth (16:3,4). 19:29 David himself did not know whom to believe. Often leaders of God’s people, hearing conflicting stories, find themselves in a similar position. 19:31 17:27-29; 1 Kings 2:7. 19:37 Kimham may have been Barzillai’s son. 19:38 David showed the fine quality of gratitude for help received. 19:40 Verses 9-14.

“House of Joseph” – the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh here signify all the northern tribes of Israel. 19:21 The law did not demand death for the sin of cursing a ruler (Ex 22:28). Abishai was the same sort of man as his brother Joab. David lumps them together more than once (3:39; 16:10). 19:22 It was time to show mercy to enemies and David knew it. 19:23 David did not trust Shimei, but he kept this oath as long as he lived. See

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went on with him, and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel conducted the king.

set time which David had fixed for him.

6 And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba, the son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not get away into fortified cities and escape us.” 7 And Joab’s men and the Kerethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men went out after him, and they left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

41 And then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him, over the Jordan?”

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense ? Or has he given us any gift?”

8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was dressed in his military tunic, and over it was a belt with a sword fastened to his waist in its scabbard. And as he went on it fell out.

43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten parts in the king, so we also have more right to David than you. Why then did you despise us? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?”

9 And Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in good health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa paid no attention to the sword that was in Joab’s hand, so he struck him with it in the stomach, and spilled out his bowels onto the ground and did not strike him again. And he died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, the son of Bichri.

And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

And there happened to be a wicked man there, whose name was Sheba. He was the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet and said, “We have no part in David, nor do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel!”

11 And one of Joab’s men stood near him and said, “Whoever favours Joab and whoever is for David, let him go after Joab.” 12 And Amasa was wallowing in blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa out of the highway into the field and threw a cloth over him, seeing that everyone who came near him stood still. 13 When he had been moved out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

2 So every man of Israel went away David and followed Sheba, the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them under guard and provided for them, but he did not go in to them. So they were confined to the day of their death, living as widows.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth-Maachah and all the Berites, and they were gathered together and also went after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-Maachah, and they threw up a mound against the city, and it stood by the wall; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to

4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and you be present here.” 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he stayed away longer than the

19:41-43 The men of the northern tribes of Israel had spoken before the men of Judah of bringing David back (v 11), but Judah performed the ceremony of bringing him over Jordan. In the argument which resulted, Israel claimed their right on the ground of numbers (v 43), Judah claimed theirs on the ground of relationship (v 42). What should have been a time of united rejoicing became an occasion for jealousy and dissension. 20:1 “Wicked man” – Prov 15:18; 16:28; 17:14,19; 20:3; 28:25. There will always be someone ready to promote dissension among God’s people, for his own ends. 20:2 A brief time before (19:43) the men of these northern tribes insisted they had ten shares in David. Now they say they have none. The affection of the masses is a fickle thing

(Num 14:10; 1 Sam 30:6; Matt 27:20-26). 20:3 15:16; 16:21,22. 20:4 “Amasa” – David did what he said he would do in 19:13. He ignored Joab. 20:5 “The set time” – no reason is given for this. Perhaps the men of Judah were hesitant about following a new commander. They showed their loyalty to Joab in vs 11,13,15. 20:6 David turned for help again to one of the sons of Zeruiah who were “too much” for him, whom he had called “adversaries” (19:21,22). Indeed they were adversaries of everything gentle, humble, and spiritual. 20:7 “Pelethites” – 8:18. 20:9 “Kiss him” – the hypocrite’s way (Matt 26:49). 20:10 2:23; 3:27; 18:14; 1 Kings 2:5. 20:14 “Maacah” – in the far north of the land.

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bring it down. 16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, so that I may speak with you.’” 17 And when he had come near her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?”

Then there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year, and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is on account of Saul and on account of his house of bloodshed, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

And he answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maid servant.”

2 And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not a part of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites. And the children of Israel had sworn to spare them, but Saul sought to strike them down in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah. 3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

And he answered, “I am listening.” 18 Then she spoke, saying, “In olden times they used to speak, saying, ‘They will surely ask counsel at Abel’ and so they ended any dispute. 19 I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”

20 And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The case is not like that; but a man from mount Ephraim, Sheba by name, the son of Bichri, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city.”

4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “For us it is not a matter of silver or gold with Saul or with his house; nor should any man in Israel be put to death for us.”

And he said, “I will do for you whatever you say.”

And the woman said to Joab, “Look, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba, the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, each man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

5 And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us, and who planned that we should be ruined with no place remaining for us in any of the territories of Israel, 6 let seven men among his offspring be handed over to us, and we will hang them up before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.”

23 Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and over the Pelethites, 24 and Adoram was over the tribute, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 25 and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests, 26 and Ira the Jairite also was a minister under David.

And the king said, “I will hand them over.” 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan, the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and

20:19 “Mother” – in the Bible towns and cities are sometimes spoken of using the female gender (Ps 137:8; Isa 1:8; 23:10, 12; Jer 50:12; Gal 4:26; Rev 17:5,18; etc). 20:22 “Jerusalem” – and the king accepted Joab again as commander of the army (v 23). Joab was not the kind of person one could shunt aside. David had tried and failed. 20:23-25 8:15-18; 1 Chron 18:14-17. “Adoram” (v 24) – a variant of Adoniram. 21:1 “Famine” – observe that God sent a famine because of the nation’s sin. Putting the Gibeonites to death violated the promise Joshua made to them (Josh 9:3-21). The sin was Saul’s, but the trouble came to all. Compare Josh 7:1,11. God dealt with the nation as a unit. And the nation had not confessed and dealt with this sin. 21:2 “Gibeonites” – Josh 9:15,18-26. 21:3 “Atonement” – when wrong has been done it has to be put right. Otherwise God’s blessing should not be expected (Ex 22:115; Lev 6:4,5; 24:18,21; 1 Sam 12:3; 2 Sam 12:6; Luke 19:8).

“Inheritance” – the land of Israel. 21:5,6 Gen 9:5,6; Num 25:4; 35:31. Saul himself was dead, so retribution was made on his descendants. Many more than seven Gibeonites had been killed, but they were willing to accept the death of seven of Saul’s descendants as a just retribution. Was it right for Saul’s descendants to pay the penalty of sin committed by Saul? In this case it was right, for God accepted it and stopped the famine (v 14), and certainly we may say that God would not have done so if the action by David had not been right. At first sight this all seems contrary to God’s word in Ezekiel chapter 18. But there sin is regarded as a personal matter; in Saul’s case God regarded it as a national matter, as in the case of Achan. Also, for all we know, it may be that Saul’s descendants had guilty knowledge of Saul’s wicked deed, were one with him in it, were wicked people themselves. 21:7 1 Sam 18:3; 20:12-17; 23:18; 2 Sam 4:4; 9:10.

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the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel, the son of Barzillai, the Meholathite, 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites. And they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. And all seven of them fell together, and were put to death during the first days of harvest, in the beginning of the barley harvest.

Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

20 And there was another battle in Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he too had been born to a giant. 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan, the son of Shimeah the brother of David, killed him.

10 And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock there, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell on them from the sky, and did not let either the birds of the air come on them by day or the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them after the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa. 13 And David brought the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son up from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.

22 These four were born to a giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hands of all his enemies and out of the hands of Saul,

2 And he said,

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress,

and my deliverer, 3 My God, my rock. In him I will trust. He is my shield, and the horn of

my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour. You save me from violence. 4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I will be saved from my enemies.

14 And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of his father Kish, and they did all that the king commanded. And after that God heard prayer for the land.

15 Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines, and David became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-benob, who was one of the descendants of a giant, and the weight of whose spear was three hundred bronze shekels in weight, and who was girded with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the light of Israel.”

5 “When the waves of death came around me, the floods of ungodly men made me

afraid. 6 The sorrows of hell came all around me; the snares of death were before me. 7 In my distress I called to the LORD, and cried out to my God; and he hear my voice from his temple, and my cry came into his ears.

8 “Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and

18 And it happened after this, that again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai, the Hushathite, killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of a giant.

shook, because he was angry. 9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and devouring fire out of his mouth.

19 And again there was a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan, the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, killed the brother of

Coals were kindled by it. 10 And he bowed the heavens and came down, and darkness was under his feet.

21:10 “Rain” – God sent rain in answer to prayer (v14), because just retribution had been made. 21:12 1 Sam 31:8-13. 21:14 “After that God heard prayer” – 24:25; Josh 7:26; 2 Chron 7:13,14. 21:16 “Three hundred shekels” – about 3:5 kilograms. 21:17 “Light” – 18:3; 1 Kings 11:36. David was like a light to Israel only because God was a light to him (22:29).

22:1 Ex 15:1; Jud 5:1; Rev 15:2-4. 22:2-51 Apart from a few slight changes this song is the same as Ps 18:2-50. See notes there. It was written just after the victories recorded in 2 Sam 8:1-14, before David’s sin with Bathsheba. Chapters 21-23 of this book (for the most part) refer to events before those recorded in chapter 20. 22:6 “Hell” – in Hebrew “Sheol” – note at Gen 37:35.

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11 And he rode on a cherub and flew, and he was seen on the wings of the wind. 12 And he made darkness canopies around him, dark waters,

and the LORD will light up my darkness. 30 For by you I have run through a troop. By my God I have leaped over a wall.

31 “As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the LORD is tested. He is a shield to all those who trust in him. 32 For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

and thick clouds of the skies. 13 Through the brightness before him coals of fire were kindled. 14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice. 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and routed them. 16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the earth were

33 “God is my strength and power, and he makes my way perfect. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and sets me on my high places. 35 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of bronze is broken

uncovered, at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

by my arms. 36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation; and your gentleness has made me great. 37 You have enlarged the place of my steps under me; and my feet did not slip.

17 “He sent from above; he took me; he drew me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me,

for they were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. 20 And he brought me out into a spacious place. He delivered me because he delighted

38 “I pursued my enemies, and destroyed them, and did not turn back until

I had made an end of them. 39 And I made an end of them, and crushed them, so that they could not rise; yes, they fell under my feet. 40 For you have clothed me with strength for battle. You have subdued under me those who

in me.

21 “The LORD has rewarded me in accordance with my righteousness; in accordance with the cleanness of my

hands he has repaid me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from

rose up against me. 41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I could destroy those who

my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me; and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 And I was blameless before him, and have kept myself from my iniquity. 25 Therefore the LORD has repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, in accordance with my cleanness in

hate me. 42 They looked, but there was no one to save; even to the LORD, but he did not

answer them. 43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I stamped them like the mire of the

his eyes.

street, and scattered them around.

26 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful, and with the blameless man you

44 “You have also delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me as head of the nations. A people that I did not know serve me. 45 Foreigners submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear, they become

show yourself to be blameless. 27 With the pure you show yourself pure, and with the twisters you show yourself

able to twist.

obedient to me. 46 Foreigners lose heart and are afraid from their strongholds.

28 “And you will save the afflicted people; but your eyes are on the haughty,

whom you will bring down. 29 For you are my lamp, O LORD,

47 “The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of the rock

2 SAMUEL 22:48 408

of my salvation. 48 It is God who avenges me and who brings down the people under me, 49 And who brings me out from my enemies. And you have lifted me up on high

desire, will he not make it grow? 6 But wicked men, all of them, will be

like thorns thrown aside because

they cannot be taken by hand, 7 and the man who touches them must be

above those who rose up against me. You have delivered me from the violent

armed with iron and the shaft of a spear; and they will be utterly burned with

man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations, and I will sing praises to your name. 51 He is the tower of salvation for his king, and shows mercy to his anointed,

fire in the same place.”

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite who sat in the seat, chief among the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite. He lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he killed at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered together there to battle, and the men of Israel had drawn back. 10 He arose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. And the LORD accomplished a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

to David and to his seed forever.”

Now these are the last words of David.

David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules over men must be just,

11 And after him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together in a band where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. And the people fled from the Philistines, 12 but he stood in the middle of the ground and defended it and killed the Philistines; and the LORD accomplished a great victory.

ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he will be like the light of the morning, when the sun rises,

13 And at harvest time three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at the cave of Adullam; and the Philistine troops were camping in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in a stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David felt a longing and said, “Oh that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well at Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 And the three mighty men broke

a morning without clouds; like the tender grass springing out

of the earth by clear shining

after rain.’ 5 Although my house is not so with God; still he has made an everlasting covenant

with me, ordered in all things,

and sure. As for all my salvation and all my

“Desire” – Ps 37:4. 23:6 Isa 9:18; 10:17; Mic 7:4; Nah 1:10; Mal 4:1; Matt 13:41,42; Heb 6:8; Rev 21:8. 23:8-39 “Mighty men” – 1 Chron 11:10-41. David’s day was a time of much warfare. Here his most notable warriors are singled out for honor. It is not unlikely there will be something similar at Christ’s return, for those who have fought in His spiritual battles. See 2 Tim 4:7,8. 23:9 “Three” – two groups of three and one group of thirty are referred to (vs 8-12, 13-23, 23-39). 23:12 If those engaged in spiritual warfare would show this courage and determination there would be more victories. 23:13 “Three” – a different three from those in vs 8-12. Of these three, only Abishai and Benaiah are named. 23:14 1 Sam 22:4,5. 23:16,17 In David’s eyes their action was

23:1 “Last words” – the first seven verses of this chapter were words David spoke by inspiration (the Hebrew means this) toward the end of his life. From v 8 the narrative returns to events much earlier in his life.

“Anointed” – 1 Sam 16:12,13. “Sweet psalmist” – seventy-three of the psalms are attributed to David, and he probably wrote several more of them. 23:2 Matt 22:43; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21. When David declared the Word of God he was conscious of the inspiration of God’s Spirit. 23:3 “Rock” – note at Deut 32:4. “Just” – this was always David’s aim. See Ps 101.

“Fear of God” – notes at Gen 20:11; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7. 23:4 “Light” – 21:17; Prov 4:18. An unjust ruler is all black clouds and darkness, without rain. 23:5 “Covenant” – 7:12; Ps 89:29; Isa 55:3.

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through the army of the Philistines, and drew water from the well at Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. However he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.

24 Asahel, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty; as were Elhanan, the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai, the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai, from the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam, the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal, the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armour bearer to Joab, the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is not this the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things these three mighty men did.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. 19 Was he not the most honoured of the three? Therefore he was their captain. However he did not attain to the level of the first three.

20 And there was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who did many deeds. He killed two lion-like men of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, an impressive man; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and pulled the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honoured than the thirty, but he did not attain to the level of the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

And again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, “Go, count Israel and Judah.”

2 For the king said to Joab the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, so that I may know the number of the people.”

like a sacrifice of their lives. And the blood of sacrifices was to be poured out or sprinkled around the altar – Ex 29:12; Lev 1:5; 4:7; 17:10. 23:18 2:18; 10:10; 8:2; 19:21; 1 Sam 26:6. 23:20 8:18; 20:23. 23:23 “First three” – the three mentioned in vs 8-12. 23:24 “Asahel” – 2:18. 23:34 “Eliam” – the father of Bathsheba. 23:39 “Uriah” – the husband of Bathsheba whom David later had killed (11:14,15; 12:9). “Thirty-seven” – the names of replacements for those who died are probably included in this list. Notice that Uriah appears in this list but Joab does not. 24:1-25 1 Chron 21:1-27. 24:1 “Anger” – notes at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11. The specific reason for God’s anger here is not given, but we may be sure there was a good reason for it. God is never angry without good reason.

work His will in anything, He may use any instrument He chooses. See 1 Kings 22:1923; Job 1:6-12; 2:6; Isa 10:5,6; Jer 51:20-23; Hab 1:6; Acts 2:23; 4:28; Rev 17:17. God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and rules justly and righteously over the nations (Ps 22:28; 47:2; 93:1; 97:1). God does not tempt any man to do wrong (Jam 1:13,14), and taking a census itself was not wrong (in Num 1:1-3 God Himself ordered a census to be taken). But God, in accordance with His wise will, permits Satan to tempt men, and taking a census from wrong motives was wrong. And the verses which follow make it clear that David demanded a census from wrong motives. 24:2 “From Dan to Beersheba” – an expression meaning from one end of the country to the other. Like saying from “Kashmir to Cape Comorin.”

“That I may know” – this suggests David wanted to take pride in the number of his fighting men, or that for success he had begun to depend on them instead of on God. It seems that he forgot, for the time, that the power and security of Israel were not in arms and soldiers, but in God. He was acting contrary to the mind he himself had shown more than once – 22:2-4, 4751; 1 Sam 17:26,37,45-47; Ps 33:16-20.

“Moved” – 1 Chron 21:1 says that Satan moved David to take a census of Israel. God’s will was the root cause, Satan’s work in David’s mind was the immediate cause. Behind the act of Satan stood the purpose of God in judgment. When God determines to test someone, or send punishment, or

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3 And Joab said to the king, “Now may the LORD your God add a hundredfold to the people, however many they may be, so that the eyes of my lord the king may see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”

LORD: I offer you three things. Choose one of them, so that I may do it to you.’”

13 So Gad came to David and told him and said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ of plague in your land? Now find out and see what answer I should take back to the one who sent me.”

4 However the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the officers of the army. And Joab and the officers of the army went out from the presence of the king, to count the people of Israel.

14 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall now into the hands of the LORD, for his mercies are great. But do not let me fall into the hands of man.”

5 And they crossed the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lies in the middle of the river valley of Gad, and toward Jazer. 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-Hodshi, and they came to Dan-Jaan, and around to Sidon, 7 and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, to Beersheba.

15 So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from morning to the time appointed, and seventy thousand men of the people, from Dan even to Beersheba, died. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented concerning the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough. Now hold back your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.

8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9 And Joab handed over to the king the sum of the number of the people. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

17 And David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel that struck down the people, and said, “Look, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? I pray you, let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

10 And David was struck to the heart after he had counted the people. And David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. And now, I beg you, O LORD, take away the wickedness of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

18 And Gad came to David that day and said to him, “Go up, erect an altar to the LORD in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 And David, in accordance with the word of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. 20 And Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him, and Araunah went out and

11 And when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 “Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the

God deal directly with him and the people rather than indirectly through famine or enemies. 24:14 “Mercies” – Ex 34:6; Ps 103:8-13. 24:15 “Seventy thousand” – remember that God’s anger burned against the whole nation (v 1). 24:16 “Angel” – Ex 12:23; 33:2; 2 Kings 19:35; Ps 35:5,6; 78:49. “Relented” – David’s choice to put himself and the people in God’s hand was a good one. It once again brought out God’s compassion. 24:17 “Sheep” – David may not have been aware that God was angry with the whole nation. In any case, he is willing to take the whole blame for the disaster if only the people could be spared. Though he had sinned he was still a true shepherd (Ps 78:71,72). 24:18 “Gad” – the angel of the Lord sent him. See 1 Chron 21:18.

24:3 Even Joab, unspiritual man that he was, recognized the folly of David’s action. 24:4 David does not give a reason for wanting a census. Did he realize himself that his motives were wrong? In any case, he stubbornly rejected Joab’s criticism, and insisted on having his own way. God’s servants should learn to weigh humbly and carefully any criticism of their actions. It could save them much trouble. 24:10 “Sinned” – now David fully realized that his motives in making a census were sinful. He repented, and no doubt was forgiven. But there were serious consequences of his sinning. 24:11 “Gad” – 1 Sam 9:9; 22:5. “Seer” – note at 1 Sam 9:9. 24:12,13 Compare 12:9-14. Confession and forgiveness do not mean that God’s chastisement will not come. Famine, defeat by enemies, and plague were three of the means God threatened to use to punish a disobedient people (Deut 28:15-25; Jer 14:12; Ezek 14:21). David chose to have

“Altar” – for the purpose of offering sacrifices which God had appointed (v 25).

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