4. Saul's final day (31:1–13)

4. Saul's final day (31:1–13)

3. David's destruction of the Amalekites (30:1–31) 4. Saul's final day (31:1–13)

1 Samuel

The Birth of Samuel

1 SAMUEL 1 ‡†There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2†He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3†Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD. 4†On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5†But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. [1] 6†And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7†So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8†And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

9†After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11†And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."

12As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13†Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you." 15But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. 16†Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation." 17Then Eli answered, "Go in

peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." 18And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20†And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD." [2]

Samuel Given to the LORD

21†The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22†But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever." 23†Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24†And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, [3] an ephah [4] of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26†And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. 27‡For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."

And he worshiped the LORD there.

Hannah's Prayer

1 SAMUEL 2 ‡†And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength [1] is exalted in the LORD.

My mouth derides my enemies,

because I rejoice in your salvation. 2†"There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. 3†Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4‡The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. 5†Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven,

but she who has many children is forlorn. 6The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. 8†He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world. 9"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. 10†The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king

and exalt the power [2] of his anointed."

11†Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.

Eli's Worthless Sons

12†Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. 13†The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant [3] would come, while the meat was boiling, with a threepronged fork in his hand, 14and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or

cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15†Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw." 16And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force." 17Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.

18†Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 19†And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20†Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD." So then they would return to their home.

21Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the young man Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.

Eli Rebukes His Sons

22†Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. 24No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. 25†If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.

26†Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.

The LORD Rejects Eli's Household

27†And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, "Thus the LORD has said, 'Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? 28†Did I choose him out of all the tribes

of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. 29†Why then do you scorn [4] my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?' 30†Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31†Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his [5] eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants [6] of your house shall die by the sword of men. [7] 34†And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. 35†And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. 36†And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, "Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'"

The LORD Calls Samuel

1 SAMUEL 3 †Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3†The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

4Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, "Here I am!" 5and ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down.

6And the LORD called again, "Samuel!" and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7†Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

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." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10†And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears." 11†Then the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12†On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13†And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, [1] and he did not restrain them. 14†Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."

15†Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am." 17†And Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you

hide anything from me of all that he told you." 18†So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."

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 as a prophet of the LORD. 21And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

The Philistines Capture the Ark

1 SAMUEL 4 †And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3†And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies." 4†So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5As soon as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6†And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, "What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, 7†the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "A god has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8†Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9†Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight."

10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11†And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

The Death of Eli

12†A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13†When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.

14When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "What is this uproar?" Then the man hurried and came and told Eli. 15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. 16And the man said to Eli, "I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today." And he said, "How did it go, my son?" 17He who brought the news answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." 18†As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

19Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. 20And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or pay attention. 21†And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed [1] from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

The Philistines and the Ark

1 SAMUEL 5 †When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2†Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3†And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4†But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5†This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

6†The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. 7And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god." 8†So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. 9But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. 10†So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people." 11They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people." For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 12The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

The Ark Returned to Israel

1 SAMUEL 6 The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2†And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place." 3†They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you." 4†And they said, "What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?" They answered, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5†So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 6†Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed? 7†Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. 8And take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off and let it go its way 9†and watch. If it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by coincidence."

10The men did so, and took two milk cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. 11And they put the ark of the LORD on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. 12†And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. 13†Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. 14†The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split 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 beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed

sacrifices on that day to the LORD. 16†And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron.

17These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron, 18and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

19†And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the LORD. He struck seventy men of them, [1] and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great blow. 20†Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?" 21†So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you."

1 SAMUEL 7 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the LORD. 2†From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Samuel Judges Israel

3†And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4†So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only.

5†Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you." 6†So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. 7†Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines." 9So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10†As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel. 11†And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.

12†Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen [1] and called its name Ebenezer; [2] for he said, "Till now the LORD has helped us." 13†So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14†The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.

15Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16†And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. 17†Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD.

Israel Demands a King

1 SAMUEL 8 ‡†When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2†The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3†Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5†and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6But 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, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9†Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

Samuel's Warning Against Kings

10†So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men [1] and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18†And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."

The LORD Grants Israel's Request

19†But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, 20†that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 21And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. 22And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."

Saul Chosen to Be King

1 SAMUEL 9 †There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2†And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

3†Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." 4†And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant [1] who was with him, "Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us." 6†But he said to him, "Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go." 7†Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" 8†The servant answered Saul again, "Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel [2] of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way." 9†(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, let us go to the seer," for today's "prophet" was formerly called a seer.) 10And Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, "Is the seer here?" 12†They answered, "He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13†As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately." 14So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel: 16†"Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen [3] my people, because their cry has come to me." 17†When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people." 18†Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?" 19Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20†As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?" 21†Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?"

22†Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Put it aside.'" 24†So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, "See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests." [4]

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25†And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul [5] on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26Then at the break of dawn [6] Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Up, that I may send you on your way." So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27†As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God."

Saul Anointed King

1 SAMUEL 10 †Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, "Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you to be prince [1] over his heritage. 2†When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, 'The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"' 3†Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. 5†After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, [2] where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 6†Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7†Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8†Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do."

9†When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. 10When they came to Gibeah, [3] behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, "What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" 12†And a man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 13When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

14Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel." 15And 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 had been found." But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.

Saul Proclaimed King

17†Now Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah. 18‡And he said to the people of Israel, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.' 19But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, 'Set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands."

20‡Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; [4] and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22†So they inquired again of the LORD, "Is there a man still to come?" and the LORD said, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage." 23†Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? There is none like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!"

25†Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26†Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27†But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1 SAMUEL 11 †Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you." 2†But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel." 3†The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you." 4†When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.

5†Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, "What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?" So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6†And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7†He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!" Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. 8†When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9And they said to the messengers who had come, "Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.'" When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you." 11†And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

The Kingdom Is Renewed

12Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." 13†But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel." 14†Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom." 15†So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king

before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Samuel's Farewell Address

1 SAMUEL 12 †And Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 3†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 taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me [1] and I will restore it to you." 4They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand." 5And he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

6And Samuel said to the people, "The LORD is witness, [2] who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7†Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous deeds of the LORD that he performed for you and for your fathers. 8When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, [3] then your fathers cried out to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 9But they forgot the LORD their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, [4] and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. 10And they cried out to the LORD and said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.' 11†And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Barak [5] and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. 12†And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king. 13†And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, 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 commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15†But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king. [6] 16†Now

therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king." 18So Samuel called upon 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, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20†And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21†And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. 23Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."

Saul Fights the Philistines

1 SAMUEL 13 †Saul was . . . [1] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned . . . and two [2] years over Israel.

2†Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3†Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear." 4†And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

5†And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7†and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice

8†He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9†So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering. 10As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11†Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.' So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering." 13†And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14†But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded

him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." 15†And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal [3] to Gibeah of Benjamin.

And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17†And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual; 18another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19†Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears." 20†But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, [4] 21†and the charge was twothirds of a shekel [5] for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel [6] for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. [7] 22†So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23†And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

1 SAMUEL 14 †One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side." But he did not tell his father. 2†Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave [1] at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3†including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4†Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6†Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." 7And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. [2] Behold, I am with you heart and soul." 8Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10†But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us." 11†So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves." 12And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel." 13Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armorbearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 14And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre [3] of land. 15†And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.

16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there. [4] 17Then Saul said to the people who

were with him, "Count and see who has gone from us." And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18†So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God went at that time with the people [5] of Israel. 19†Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21†Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22†Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23†So the LORD saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.

Saul's Rash Vow

24†And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food. 25†Now when all the people [6] came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27†But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint. 29†Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great."

31†They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. 32†The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here." [7] 34And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the

people and say to them, 'Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35†And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

36†Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here." 37†And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day. 38And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39†For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." 41†Therefore Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel, why [8] have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken.

43Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die." 44†And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45†Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46†Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul Fights Israel's Enemies

47‡When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. 48And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

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

52†There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

The LORD Rejects Saul

1 SAMUEL 15 And Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD. 2†Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3†Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction [1] all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

4†So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5†And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6†Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7†And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8†And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction 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 fattened calves [2] and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

10The word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11†"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night. 12†And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal." 13†And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD." 14And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?" 15†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 devoted to destruction." 16Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak."

17†And Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18And the

LORD sent you on a mission and said, 'Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' 19†Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" 20‡And Saul said to Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." 22†And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23†For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you

from being king."

24†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 that I may worship the LORD." 26And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." 27As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28†And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29†And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret." 30†Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the LORD your God." 31†So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the LORD.

32Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. [3] Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." 33†And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

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

Israel.

David Anointed King

1 SAMUEL 16 ‡†The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2†And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3†And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you." 4†Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5†And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6†When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him." 7†But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 8†Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9†Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10†And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11†Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, [1] but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here." 12†And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." 13†Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

David in Saul's Service

14†Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16†Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and

when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well." 17So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me." 18†One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him." 19†Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep." 20And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21†And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight." 23And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

David and Goliath

1 SAMUEL 17 †Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2†And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 3And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4‡†And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six [1] cubits and a span. 5†He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels [2] of bronze. 6And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7†The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. 8He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9If 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 shall be our servants and serve us." 10And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together." 11†When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

12†Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. [3] 13The three oldest sons of Jesse had 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. 14David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, 15†but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

17†And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah [4] of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. 18Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them."

19Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting

with the Philistines. 20And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. 23†As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.

24All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. 25†And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." 26†And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to the man who kills him."

28†Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." 29And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?" 30And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.

31When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 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 but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth." 34But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36†Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." 37†And David 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!"

38Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." So David put them off. 40†Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

41And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shieldbearer in front of him. 42And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43†And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44The 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." 45†Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, 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†This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47†and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."

48†When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

50†So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51†Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath [5] and the gates of

Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. 53And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 54†And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

55†As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know." 56And the king said, "Inquire whose son the boy is." 57And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

David and Jonathan's Friendship

1 SAMUEL 18 †As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2†And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3†Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4†And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

Saul's Jealousy of David

6As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. [1] 7†And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

8†And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?" 9And Saul eyed David from that day on.

10†The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11†And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.

12†Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. 13†So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. 15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16†But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

David Marries Michal

17†Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD's battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him." 18†And David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?" 19†But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

20†Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21Saul thought, "Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David a second time, [2] "You shall now be my son-in-law." 22And Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, 'Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.'" 23And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?" 24And the servants of Saul told him, "Thus and so did David speak." 25‡†Then Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, 'The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, 27†David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29†Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.

30Then the princes of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Saul Tries to Kill David

1 SAMUEL 19 †And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 2And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you." 4‡†And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?" 6†And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death." 7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

8And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. 9†Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. 10†And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

11†Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed." 12So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped. 13†Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. 14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." 15Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him." 16And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head. 17†Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go. Why should I kill you?'"

18†Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth. 19And it was told Saul, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." 20†Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21When 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 himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah." 23†And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24†And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Jonathan Warns David

1 SAMUEL 20 †Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?" 2†And he said to him, "Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so." 3But David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." 4Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you." 5†David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. 6†If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.' 7If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him. 8†Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?" 9And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?" 10Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?" 11And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field.

12And Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! [1] When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. 14†If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die; 15and do not cut off [2] your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." 16†And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May [3] the LORD take vengeance on David's enemies." 17†And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19†On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap. [4] 20And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21And behold, I will send the young man, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 22But if I say to the youth, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go, for the LORD has sent you away. 23And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever."

24So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25†The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, [5] and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.

26†Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean." 27But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?" 28Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29He said, 'Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table."

30†Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? 31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die." 32Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" 33But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 34And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

35In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. 36And he said to his boy, "Run and find the arrows that

I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?" 38And Jonathan called after the boy, "Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!" So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city." 41†And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap [6] and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. 42†Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. [7]

David and the Holy Bread

1 SAMUEL 21 † [1] Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one with you?" 2†And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here." 4†And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women." 5†And David answered the priest, "Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?" 6†So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

7†Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.

8Then David said to Ahimelech, "Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." 9†And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me."

David Flees to Gath

10†And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"

12And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13†So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run

down his beard. 14Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"

David at the Cave of Adullam

1 SAMUEL 22 †David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house 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 bitter in soul, [1] gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

3†And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother stay [2] with you, till I know what God will do for me." 4And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5†Then the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah." So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

Saul Kills the Priests at Nob

6†Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. 7†And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, "Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8‡†that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day." 9‡Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

11Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahitub." 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 have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?" 14†Then Ahimelech answered the king, "And who among all your servants is so

faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over [3] your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little." 16‡And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house." 17†And the king said to the guard who stood about him, "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me." But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD. 18†Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and strike the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19†And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

20†But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 22†And David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping."

David Saves the City of Keilah

1 SAMUEL 23 †Now they told David, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors." 2†Therefore David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the LORD said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah." 3But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?" 4Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, "Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand." 5And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. 7†Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, "God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars." 8And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." 10Then said David, "O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11†Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down." 12Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will surrender you." 13†Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14†And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

Saul Pursues David

15David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16‡And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel,

and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this." 18†And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

19†Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon? 20Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand." 21And Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me. 22Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. 23See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah." 24†And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul.

Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. 25†And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26†Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27†a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land." 28†So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. [1] 29† [2] And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.

David Spares Saul's Life

1 SAMUEL 24 [1] When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." 2†Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. 3†And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. [2] Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4†And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5†And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 6†He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed." 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 9And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. [3] I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.' 11†See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 12†May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13†As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand shall not be against you. 14†After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! 15May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."

16As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17†He said to

David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20†And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21Swear to me therefore 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." 22†And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

The Death of Samuel

1 SAMUEL 25 †Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah.

David and Abigail

Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2†And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3†Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. 4‡David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. 6And thus you shall greet him: 'Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. 8†Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.'"

9When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. 10‡And Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. 11Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?" 12So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this. 13And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.

14†But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15‡Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. 16They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them

keeping the sheep. 17†Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him."

18†Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs [1] of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 19†And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them. 21Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. 22†God do so to the enemies of David [2] and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him."

23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. 24She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25†Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal [3] is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28†Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 29†If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30†And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord taking vengeance himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant."

32And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent

you this day to meet me! 33Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! 34For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male." 35Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition."

36And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. 37‡In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.

39When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 40When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife." 41And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." 42And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife.

43†David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. 44†Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

David Spares Saul Again

1 SAMUEL 26 †Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?" 2†So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4David sent out spies and learned that Saul had come. 5†Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.

6†Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice." 9†But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" 10†And David said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 12†So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

13Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?" 15And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. And now

see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head."

17Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." 18And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19†Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20†Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21†Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." 22And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. 24Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation." 25†Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

David Flees to the Philistines

1 SAMUEL 27 †Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand." 2So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3†And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. 4†And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.

5†Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?" 6†So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7†And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

8†Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9†And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10†When Achish asked, "Where have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Against the Negeb of Judah," or, "Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites," or, "Against the Negeb of the Kenites." 11And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."

Saul and the Medium of En-dor

1 SAMUEL 28 †In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army." 2†David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."

3‡†Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4†The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5†When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6†And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either 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, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at En-dor."

8So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you." 9The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?" 10†But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing." 11Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." 12†When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." 13†The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." 14†He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15†Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do."

16‡And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? 17The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. 19†Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."

20†Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." 23He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

The Philistines Reject David

1 SAMUEL 29 †Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3†the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day." 4†But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5†Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,

'Saul has struck down his thousands,

and David his ten thousands'?"

6†Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines." 8†And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" 9†And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.' 10Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light." 11†So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

David's Wives Are Captured

1 SAMUEL 30 †Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2and taken captive the women and all [1] who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6†And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, [2] each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

7†And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8And David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue." 9‡So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

11They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14†We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." 15And David said to him, "Will you take me down to this band?" 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 this band."

David Defeats the Amalekites

16†And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17†And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19†Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, [3] and said, "This is David's spoil."

21Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left 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 to the people he greeted them. 22†Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart." 23But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike." 25†And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

26‡When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD." 27It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

The Death of Saul

1 SAMUEL 31 ‡†Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2†And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4†Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6†Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9†So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10†They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11†But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12†all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13†And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

Footnotes

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 1

[1] 1:5 Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Septuagint And, although

he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the LORD had closed her womb

[2] 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard of God

[3] 1:24 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew three bulls

[4] 1:24 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 2

[1] 2:1 Hebrew horn

[2] 2:10 Hebrew horn

[3] 2:13 Hebrew young man; also verse 15

[4] 2:29 Septuagint; Hebrew kick at

[5] 2:33 Septuagint; Hebrew your; twice in this verse [6] 2:33 Hebrew increase

[7] 2:33 Septuagint; Hebrew die as men

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 3

[1] 3:13 Or blaspheming for themselves

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 4

[1] 4:21 Or gone into exile; also verse 22

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 6

[1] 6:19 Hebrew of the people seventy men, fifty thousand men

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 7

[1] 7:12 Hebrew; Septuagint, Syriac Jeshanah

[2] 7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 8

[1] 8:16 Septuagint cattle

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 9

[1] 9:5 Hebrew young man; also verses 7, 8, 10, 27

[2] 9:8 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [3] 9:16 Septuagint adds the

affliction of

[4] 9:24 Hebrew appointed, saying, 'I have invited the people'

[5] 9:25 Septuagint; Hebrew and he spoke with Saul

[6] 9:26 Septuagint; Hebrew And they arose early and at the break of dawn

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 10

[1] 10:1 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks over his people Israel? And you shall. . . . to

be prince

[2] 10:5 Gibeath-elohim means the hill of God

[3] 10:10 Gibeah means the hill

[4] 10:21 Septuagint adds finally he brought the family of the Matrites near, man

by man

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 12

[1] 12:3 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks Testify against me

[2] 12:6 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks is witness

[3] 12:8 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and the Egyptians oppressed them

[4] 12:9 Septuagint the army of Jabin king of Hazor

[5] 12:11 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew Bedan

[6] 12:15 Septuagint; Hebrew fathers

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 13

[1] 13:1 The number is lacking in Hebrew and Septuagint [2] 13:1 Two may not

be the entire number; something may have dropped out [3] 13:15 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks The rest of the people . . . from Gilgal

[4] 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plowshare

[5] 13:21 Hebrew was a pim

[6] 13:21 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [7] 13:21 The meaning of

the Hebrew verse is uncertain

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 14

[1] 14:2 Or under the pomegranate [tree]

[2] 14:7 Septuagint Do all that your mind inclines to

[3] 14:14 Hebrew a yoke

[4] 14:16 Septuagint; Hebrew they went here and there

[5] 14:18 Hebrew; Septuagint "Bring the ephod." For at that time he wore the

ephod before the people

[6] 14:25 Hebrew land

[7] 14:33 Septuagint; Hebrew this day

[8] 14:41 Vulgate (compare Septuagint); Hebrew Saul said to the LORD, the God

of Israel, "Why . . .

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 15

[1] 15:3 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction);

also verses 8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21

[2] 15:9 The meaning of the Hebrew term is uncertain [3] 15:32 Or haltingly

(compare Septuagint); the Hebrew is uncertain

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 16

[1] 16:11 Or smallest

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 17

[1] 17:4 Hebrew; Septuagint, Dead Sea Scroll and Josephus four

[2] 17:5 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [3] 17:12 Septuagint, Syriac;

Hebrew years among men

[4] 17:17 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters [5] 17:52 Septuagint;

Hebrew Gai

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 18

[1] 18:6 Or triangles, or three-stringed instruments

[2] 18:21 Hebrew by two

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 20

[1] 20:12 Hebrew lacks be witness

[2] 20:15 Or but if I die, do not cut off

[3] 20:16 Septuagint earth, 16let not the name of Jonathan be cut off from the

house of David. And may

[4] 20:19 Septuagint; Hebrew the stone Ezel

[5] 20:25 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew stood up

[6] 20:41 Septuagint; Hebrew from beside the south

[7] 20:42 This sentence is 21:1 in Hebrew

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 21

[1] 21:1 Ch 21:2 in Hebrew

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 22

[1] 22:2 Or discontented

[2] 22:3 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew go out

[3] 22:14 Septuagint, Targum; Hebrew and has turned aside to

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 23

[1] 23:28 Or Rock of Divisions

[2] 23:29 Ch 24:1 in Hebrew

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 24

[1] 24:1 Ch 24:2 in Hebrew

[2] 24:3 Hebrew cover his feet

[3] 24:10 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew it [my eye] spared you

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 25

[1] 25:18 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters [2] 25:22 Septuagint to David

[3] 25:25 Nabal means fool

Footnotes for 1 Samuel, Chapter 30

[1] 30:2 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and all

[2] 30:6 Compare 22:2

[3] 30:20 The meaning of the Hebrew clause is uncertain

Study Notes

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:1–7:17 This first major division of the book begins and ends in Samuel's hometown of Ramah (1:1; 7:17). The focus of these chapters is on the life and ministry of Samuel. First Samuel 1:1–4:1a concentrates on Samuel as a prophet of the Lord (see the concluding statement of 4:1a, "the word of Samuel came to all Israel"). The text in 4:1b–7:17 emphasizes Samuel as judge (see 7:17, "there also he judged Israel").

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:1 a certain man. This verse resembles the introduction to the birth of Samson in Judg. 13:2. The strong comparison highlights similarities between Samson and Samuel: Both men were judges over Israel, fighters of the Philistines, and lifelong Nazirites. Ramathaim-zophim. Possibly meaning "two heights," the name occurs only here in the OT. Elsewhere, the town is simply called Ramah. It was located about 5 miles north of Jerusalem. Elkanah. Meaning "God has created," he was the father of Samuel. Zuph. "Zuph" is both a place (9:5) and a personal name (1 Chron. 6:35), as here. Ephrathite. First Chronicles 6:27 identifies Elkanah as a member of the Kohathite branch of the tribe of Levi. The Levites lived among the other tribes (Josh. 21:20–22). Ephraim was the tribal area where this Levite lived. While the Hebrew text without variation reads "Ephrathite," it is quite possible that Elkanah's lineage might have originally been Ephrathite, i.e., Bethlehemite (cf. 1 Sam. 17:12) genealogically and later been Ephraimite geographically.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:2 two wives. Although polygamy was not God's intention for mankind (Gen. 2:24), it was tolerated, but never endorsed in Israel (see Deut. 21:15–17). Elkanah probably married Peninnah because Hannah was barren. Hannah. Meaning "grace," she was probably Elkanah's first wife. Peninnah. Meaning "ruby," she was Elkanah's second wife and the first bearer of his children.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:3 this man used to go up year by year. All Israelite men were required to attend three annual feasts at the central sanctuary (Deut. 16:1– 17). Elkanah regularly attended these festivals with his wives. The festival referred to here was probably the Feast of Tabernacles (September/October) because of the feasting mentioned in 1 Sam. 1:9. the Lord of hosts. This is the first OT occurrence of "hosts" being added to the divine name. "Hosts" can refer

to human armies (Ex. 7:4), celestial bodies (Deut. 4:19), or heavenly creatures (Josh. 5:14). This title emphasizes the Lord as sovereign over all of the powers in heaven and on earth, especially over the armies of Israel. Shiloh. Located about 20 miles north of Jerusalem in Ephraim, the tabernacle and ark of the covenant resided here (Josh. 18:1; Judg. 18:31). Eli. Meaning "exalted is the Lord." He was the high priest at Shiloh. Hophni and Phinehas. Each of Eli's two priestly sons had an Egyptian name: Hophni ("tadpole") and Phinehas ("nubian").

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:4 sacrificed. A peace offering since the worshipers ate a portion of the offering (see Lev. 7:11–18).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:5 the Lord had closed her womb. Hannah's barrenness was the result of divine providence like Sarah's (Gen. 16:2) and Rachel's (Gen. 30:2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:6 her rival. The other wife was an adversary. used to provoke her. Lit., "to thunder against" her; see 2:10 for the same word.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:7 would not eat. Hannah fasted because of the provocation of Peninnah. She did not eat of the peace offerings.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:8 your heart sad. The idiom used reflects anger, not sadness (see Deut. 15:10 for the same idiom).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:9 temple. Actually, the tabernacle. The mention of sleeping quarters (3:2–3) and doors (3:15) implies that at this time the tabernacle was part of a larger, more permanent building complex.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:11 vow. Hannah pledged to give the Lord her son in return for God's favor in giving her that son. A married woman's vow could be confirmed or nullified by her husband according to Num. 30:6–15. your servant. A humble, submissive way of referring to herself in the presence of her superior, sovereign God. remember me. Hannah requested special attention and care from the Lord. all the days of his life. A contrast to the normal Nazirite vow, which was only for a specified period of time (see Num. 6:4–8). razor. Though not specified as such in this chapter, the Nazirite vow is certainly presupposed. The nonshaving of the hair on one's head is one of the three requirements of the vow (Num. 6:5). This expression was used elsewhere only of the Nazirite Samson (Judg. 13:5; 16:17).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:13 drunken. Public prayer in Israel was usually audible. However, Hannah was praying silently, leaving Eli to surmise that she was drunk.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:16 worthless woman. Lit. "daughter of Belial." Cf. 2:12.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:20 Samuel. The name lit. meant "name of God," but sounded like "heard by God." For Hannah the assonance was most important, because God had heard her prayer.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:21 his vow. Elkanah supported and joined with his wife in her vow to the Lord. With the birth of Samuel he brought his votive offering to the Lord (Lev. 7:16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:22 weaned. As was customary in the ancient world, Samuel was probably breast fed for two to three years. Then he was left to serve the Lord at the tabernacle for the rest of his life.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:23 his word. Probably an earlier word of the Lord not recorded in the text.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:24 bull . . . flour . . . wine. According to Num. 15:8–10, a bull, flour, and wine were to be sacrificed in fulfillment of a vow. Hannah brought all three in larger measure than required. An ephah was about .75 bu.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:26 As you live. Lit., "by the light of your soul," a common oath formula.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1:27–28 my petition . . . lent. These terms are from the same Hebrew root used four times in these two verses. Twice in v. 27 it has the usual meaning of "asked." Twice in v. 28 it bears the derived meaning "lent on request." The son Hannah requested God had given, and she gives her gift back to the Giver.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:1–10 In contrast to the prayer that came from her bitterness (1:10), Hannah prayed from joy in these verses. The prominent idea in Hannah's prayer is that the Lord is a righteous judge. He had brought down the proud (Peninnah) and exalted the humble (Hannah). The prayer has four sections: 1) Hannah prays to the Lord for his salvation (2:1–2); 2) Hannah warned the proud of the Lord's humbling (vv. 3–8d); 3) Hannah affirmed the

Lord's faithful care for his saints (vv. 8e–9b); 4) Hannah petitioned the Lord to judge the world and to prosper his anointed king (vv. 9c–10e). This prayer has a number of striking verbal similarities with David's song of 2 Sam. 22:2–51: "strength/stronghold" (1 Sam. 2:1; 22:3), "rock" (2:2; 22:2–3), salvation/deliverer (2:1–2; 22:2–3), Sheol (2:6; 22:6), "thunder" (2:10; 22:14), "king" (2:10; 22:51), and "anointed" (2:10; 22:51).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:1 strength. See esv footnote, "horn." A symbol of strength, power (see Deut. 33:17).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:2 rock. A metaphor for God that emphasized his strength and the security of those who trust in him (see Deut. 32:4; Ps. 18:1–2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:3 proudly . . . arrogance. The majestic and powerful God humbles all those who vaunt themselves against him. The idea of God's humbling of the very proud is shown throughout 1 and 2 Samuel, toward Peninnah, Eli's sons, the Philistines, Goliath, Saul, Nabal, Absalom, Shimei, Sheba, and even David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:4–7 Seven contrasts are found in these four verses: 1) mighty and weak; 2) full and hungry; 3) barren and fertile; 4) dead and alive; 5) sick and well; 6) poor and rich; and 7) humbled and exalted.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:5 has borne seven. This is not a personal testimony since Hannah bore only six children (2:21). "Seven" here is a general reference to women whom God blesses.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:8 pillars of the earth. A figure of speech that pictures the earth's stability (cf. Ps. 75:3; 82:5; 104:5).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:10 The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. The Lord will impose his righteous rule upon all the nations and peoples (see Isa. 2:2–4). his king. Moses had already predicted the coming of a king who would exercise God's rule over all the nations of the earth (Gen. 49:8–12; Num. 24:7–9, 17–19). It was this future, victorious king whom Hannah anticipated and Saul and David prefigured. his anointed. Previously in the OT, both the tabernacle and its utensils along with the priests (Aaron and his sons) had been anointed with oil. This pictured their consecrated and holy status before the Lord (Ex. 30:26–30). In Samuel, first Saul (1 Sam. 10:1), and then David (16:13; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3) were anointed as they were inaugurated for the kingship. From this point in the

OT, it is usually the king who is referred as "the anointed (of the Lord)" (1 Sam. 12:3; 24:6; 26:9, 11, 16; 2 Sam. 1:14, 16; 19:21). The kings of Israel, particularly David, foreshadowed the Lord's ultimate anointed king. The English word "Messiah" represents the Hebrew word used here meaning "anointed." Thus, this ultimate King who would rule over the nations of the earth, came to be referred to as "the Messiah," as here and 1 Sam. 2:35; cf. 2 Sam. 22:51.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:11 ministered to the Lord. As a Levite, the boy Samuel performed services that assisted Eli, the high priest.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:12 worthless. "Sons of Belial" was a Hebrew way of saying base or wicked men. See 2 Cor. 6:15, where it is used as a name for Satan. Eli had falsely considered Hannah a wicked woman (1 Sam. 1:16). Eli's sons were, in fact, wicked men. They did not know the Lord. Eli's sons had no personal experience of, nor fellowship with, the Lord. The boy Samuel came to "know the Lord" when the Lord revealed himself to him (see 3:7).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:13 The custom of the priests. Not content with the specified portions of the sacrifices given to the priests (Deut. 18:3), Eli's sons would take for themselves whatever meat a three-pronged fork would collect from a boiling pot.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:15 before the fat was burned. The law mandated that the fat of the sacrificial animal was to be burned on the altar to the Lord (Lev. 7:31). In contrast, Eli's sons demanded raw meat, including the fat, from the worshipers.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:18 Samuel. The faithful ministry of Samuel before the Lord was in sharp contrast to the disobedience of Eli's sons. linen ephod. A close fitting, sleeveless outer vest extending to the hips and worn by priests, especially when officiating before the altar (Ex. 28:6–14).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:19 little robe. A sleeveless garment reaching to the knees, worn under the ephod (Ex. 28:31).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:20 May the Lord give you children. Eli's blessing was a reminder of Hannah's faithfulness to her vow to the Lord. By providing Hannah with additional children, the Lord continued to be gracious to her.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:22 lay with the women. Eli's sons included in their vile

behavior having sexual relationships with the women who served at the tabernacle (see Ex. 38:8). Such religious prostitution was common among Israel's Canaanite neighbors.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:25 who can intercede. Eli's point to his sons was that if God would surely judge when one sinned against another man, how much more would he bring judgment against those who sinned against him. it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. Because Eli's sons had persisted in their evil ways, God had already determined to judge them. This divine, judicial hardening, the result of defiant refusal to repent in the past, was the reason Hophni and Phinehas refused to heed Eli's warnings.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:26 continued to grow both in stature and in favor. In contrast to the apostate sons of Eli, Samuel was maturing both spiritually and socially (cf. Luke 2:52).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:27 man of God. Usually used as a synonym for "prophet" (see 9:9–10). house of your father . . . in Egypt. Although Eli's genealogy was not recorded in the OT, he was a descendant of Aaron. The Lord had revealed himself to Aaron in Egypt before the exodus (see Ex. 4:4–16). Aaron had been divinely chosen to serve the Lord as the first in a long line of priests (Ex. 28:1– 4).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:28 to be my priest. The chief duties of the priests were: 1) to place the offerings upon the altar; 2) to burn the incense in the Holy Place; and 3) to wear the linen ephod (see v. 18).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:29 my offerings. In recognition of their service to God and his people, the priests were allocated specific parts of the offering, which were brought to the sanctuary (see Lev. 2:3, 10; 7:31–36). honor. By condoning the sin of Hophni and Phinehas, Eli had shown preference for his sons above the Lord. Therefore, Eli was unworthy of the Lord's blessing.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:30 I promised. The Lord had promised that Aaron's descendants would always be priests (Ex. 29:9), and he had confirmed that promise by oath (Num. 25:13). Because of flagrant disobedience, the house of Eli would forfeit their priesthood. Although the Aaronic priesthood was perpetual, priests could forfeit their position by their sin.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:31 there will not be an old man in your house. The

judgment of untimely death followed the descendants of Eli. Eli's sons died in the flower of their manhood (4:11). Later, Saul massacred the priests at Nob (22:16–19). Ultimately, Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood (1 Kings 2:26–27) and the priestly line of Eleazar prevailed, as God promised (cf. Num. 25:10–13).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:34 the sign to you. The death of Eli's two sons on the same day validated the prophecy (cf. 4:11, 17).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest. Although some have identified this priest as Samuel and others Christ, it is better to view the prophecy as fulfilled in the accession of Zadok and his family to the priestly office in the time of Solomon (see 1 Kings 1:7–8; 2:26–35). This reestablished the office of high priest in the line of Eleazar and Phinehas (cf. Num. 25:10–13). I will build him a sure house. The sons of Zadok will also serve in the millennial temple (see Ezek. 44:15; 48:11). my anointed. This refers to the Messiah who will defeat God's enemies and establish his rule in the millennium (see 1 Sam. 2:10).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2:36 a loaf of bread. The judgment corresponded to the sin. Those who had gorged themselves on the sacrifices (vv. 12–17) were reduced to begging for a morsel of food.

The Setting of 1 Samuel

c. 1050 B.C.

The book of 1 Samuel is set in Israel during the time of transition between the period of the judges and the period of the monarchy. It opens with Samuel's birth and then describes his role as judge over Israel. When the people ask for a king, the Lord instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's first king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:1 the young man Samuel. Samuel was no longer a child (2:21–26). While Jewish historian Josephus suggested he was 12 years of age, he was probably a teenager at this time. The same Hebrew term translated here "young man" was used of David when he slew Goliath (17:33). word of the Lord was rare. The time of the judges was a period of extremely limited prophetic activity. The few visions that God did give were not widely known. vision. A divine revelation mediated through an auditory or visual encounter.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out. The golden lampstand, located in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, was filled with olive oil and lit at twilight (Ex. 30:8). The lamp was kept burning from evening until morning (Ex. 27:20–21). Just before dawn, while the golden lampstand was still burning, Samuel was called to his prophetic ministry. ark of God. See Ex. 25:10–22.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord. Samuel had not yet encountered the Lord in a personal way, nor had he received God's word by divine revelation (see 2:12).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:8 Then Eli perceived. Eli was slow to recognize that God was calling Samuel. This indicates that Eli's spiritual perception was not what it should have been as the priest and judge of Israel (see also 1:12–16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:10 hears. "To hear with interest," or "to hear so as to obey."

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:11 ears . . . will tingle. A message of impending destruction, here of Eli's house (see 2 Kings 21:12; Jer. 19:3).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:12 all that I have spoken. See 2:27–36. The repetition of the oracle against Eli to Samuel confirmed the word spoken by the man of God.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:13 his sons were blaspheming God. Cursing God was an offense worthy of death (see Lev. 24:11–16, 23). did not restrain them. Eli was implicated in the sins of his sons because he did not intervene with judgment. If his sons were blaspheming God, they should have been stoned (see Lev. 24:15– 16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:14 not be atoned for . . . forever. Eli's family was apparently guilty of presumptuous sin. For such defiant sin, there was no atonement and the death penalty could be immediately applied (see Num. 15:30– 31).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:15 the doors of the house of the Lord. The doors of the tabernacle compound (see 1:9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:17 God do so to you and more also. This is an oath of imprecation. Eli called down God's judgment on Samuel if he refused to tell

everything he knew.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:18 Let him do what seems good to him. Eli resigned himself to divine sovereignty, without reluctance.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:19 the Lord was with him. The Lord's presence was with Samuel, as it would be later with David (16:18; 18:12). The Lord's presence validated his choice of a man for his service. let none of his words fall to the ground. Everything Samuel said with divine authorization came true. This fulfillment of Samuel's word proved that he was a true prophet of God (see Deut. 18:21–22).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 3:20 Dan to Beersheba. The traditional limits of the land of Israel from the north to the south. prophet of the Lord. Samuel's status as a spokesman of God's message was acknowledged by all throughout Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:1 the word of Samuel came to all Israel. The text of 1:1–3:21 climaxes with the establishment of Samuel as God's spokesman/representative. Observe that "the word of the Lord" (3:21) has become equivalent to "the word of Samuel." Philistines. From the period of the judges through the end of David's reign, the Philistines ("Sea Peoples") were an ever-present enemy of Israel. They were non-Semitic immigrants (see Gen. 10:14; 1 Chron. 1:12; Jer. 47:4–5; Amos 9:7) who settled along the coastal regions of southern Canaan, organizing their power in five chief cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza (1 Sam. 6:17; Judg. 3:13). The introduction of the Philistines into the narrative provides a link between the judgeship of Samuel and the judgeship that Samson was not able to complete (Judg. 13–16). Ebenezer. The location of this site has not been specifically identified. Opposite Aphek in Israelite territory, it is possibly modern Izbet Sarteh on the road to Shiloh. When translated it means "stone of help," and its mention here (and 1 Sam. 5:1) and again in 7:12 of another location mark this section as a literary unit. Aphek. This site is located near the source of the Yarkon River, at the southern end of the coastal plain of Sharon, approximately 5 miles east of the Mediterranean. This city marked the northeastern edge of Philistine territory.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:3 Why has the Lord defeated us . . . ? The question of the elders reflected their knowledge that the Lord both fought their battles (2:10; 17:47) and allowed their defeat. To be defeated clearly meant that God was not "among" them (Num. 14:42; Deut. 1:42). Instead of inquiring of the Lord for

direction, they proceeded to take the matter into their own hands. Let us bring the ark. The ark symbolized the presence and power of the Lord. Yet, Israel treated it like a good-luck charm, which would ensure them victory over the Philistines. Knowing that victory or defeat depended upon the Lord's presence, they confused the symbol of his presence with his actual presence. In this way, their understanding of God resembled that of the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:8).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:4 enthroned on the cherubim. A repeated phrase used to describe the Lord (see 2 Sam. 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chron. 13:6; Ps. 80:1; 99:1; Isa. 37:16). It spoke of his sovereign majesty. Hophni and Phinehas. These were the two wicked sons of Eli (1 Sam. 2:12–17, 27–36), of whom it was said that they "did not know the Lord" (2:12). The fact that they were mentioned together recalls the prophecy that they would die together (2:34).

The Ark's Travels in 1 Samuel 3–7

After suffering losses in battle against the Philistines at Ebenezer, the Israelite forces called for the ark of the covenant to be brought to the battle from Shiloh. But the Israelites were defeated again, and the Philistines captured the ark. The ark's presence in each Philistine city caused the people to suffer terrible tumors, so it was sent away to another city. Eventually the ark was returned to Israel at Beth-shemesh, and then it was brought to Kiriath-jearim, where it remained for some 20 years.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:6 Hebrews. In Gen. 14:13, the name "Hebrew" was applied to Abram. Consequently, the name came to refer to the physical descendants of Abraham. It was used to distinguish them as a class of people distinct from the foreigners around them. It means that Abram was a descendant of Eber in the line of Shem (cf. 10:25; 11:14–16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:7 A god has come into the camp. The idol, to the Philistine, was thought to be the actual dwelling place of his deity. Hence, when Israel brought the ark into the camp, the Philistines concluded that God was present, an exclamation that reflected a knowledge of God's power.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:8 the gods who struck the Egyptians. Evidently, the news of God's victory over the Egyptians was common knowledge to the Philistines.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:9 slaves . . . as they have been to you. Israel's failure to

uproot all the inhabitants of Canaan (see Judg. 1:28) caused them to fall under the judgment of God. As a consequence of this judgment, Israel was enslaved to Philistine oppression (see Judg. 10; 13–16). The Philistines feared that they would become servants of the Hebrews.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:11 the ark of God was captured. In spite of their hopes to manipulate God into giving them the victory, Israel was defeated and the ark fell into the hands of the Philistines. The view of having the ark of God being equivalent to having control of God, possessed both by Israel and then the Philistines, is to be contrasted with the power and providence of God in the remaining narrative. Hophni and Phinehas, died. In fulfillment of 2:34 and 3:12, Eli's sons died together.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:12 his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. The actions of the man of Benjamin were considered to be universal signs of both mourning for the dead and of national calamity (cf. 2 Sam. 15:32).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:13 his heart trembled for the ark of God. Eli's concern for the ark stands in stark contrast to his earlier actions of honoring his two sons over honoring the Lord (2:29–30; cf. 4:17–18).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:18 Eli . . . died. As was the case with Hophni and Phinehas, Eli died. Thus, in fulfillment of the word of the Lord, all of the priestly line through Eli had been wiped out (2:29–34). See note on 2:31. He had judged Israel forty years. Over that time Eli fulfilled the office of both priest and judge in Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 4:21 Ichabod . . . The glory has departed. Due primarily to the loss of the ark, the symbol of God's presence, Phinehas' wife names her child Ichabod, meaning either "Where is the glory?" or "no glory." To the Hebrew, "glory" was often used to refer to God's presence; hence, the text means "Where is God?" The word "departed" carries the idea of having gone into exile. Thus, to the people of Israel, the capturing of the ark was a symbol that God had gone into exile. Although this was the mindset of Israel, the text narrative will reveal that God was present, even when he disciplined his people. See note on Ezek. 10:18–19.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:1 Ashdod. One of the five chief Philistine cities, inland from the coast (3 miles) and approximately 33 miles west of Jerusalem.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:2 Dagon. Ancient literature identifies this deity as a fish god, whose image had the lower body of a fish and the upper body of a man. Dagon seems to have been the leader of the Philistine pantheon (Judg. 16:23) and is noted to be the father of Baal. The placing of the ark of God in the temple of Dagon was supposed to be a sign of Dagon's power and Yahweh's inferiority, a visual representation that the god of the Philistines was victorious over the God of the Hebrews. In addition, the textual connection of Dagon reinforces the affinity between the events written here and those in the life of Samson (cf. Judg. 13–16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:3 fallen face downward. Ironically, God himself overturned the supposed supremacy of Dagon by having Dagon fallen over, as if paying homage to the Lord.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:4 head . . . hands were lying cut off. The first display of God's authority over Dagon was not perceived. God's second display of authority, the cutting off of Dagon's head and hands, was a common sign that the enemy was dead (Judg. 7:25; 8:6; 1 Sam. 17:54; 31:9; 2 Sam. 4:12), and was to be understood as God's divine judgment on the false idol.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:5 tread on the threshold. Because the head and hands of Dagon fell on the threshold, superstition developed that it was cursed; therefore, the Philistines would not tread on it. to this day. This phrase supports the claim that the writer was living at a time removed from the actual event itself (see Introduction: Author and Date). This phrase and phrases equivalent to it are found throughout 1 and 2 Samuel (6:18; 26:6; 30:25; 2 Sam. 4:3; 6:8; 18:18).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:6 The hand of the Lord was heavy. In contrast to the hands of Dagon being cut off, symbolizing his helplessness against the power of Yahweh, the Lord was pictured to be actively involved in judging the Philistines. The imagery of God's hand is found throughout the ark narrative (4:8; 5:6–11; 6:3–9). tumors. It has been suggested that this word refers to the sores or boils caused by an epidemic of the bubonic plague carried by rats (6:4–5). The spread of the disease and its deadly effect (5:6–12; 6:11, 17) make this a likely view.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:8 lords of the Philistines. Refers to those men who ruled the chief Philistine cities as kings (see note on 4:1). Gath. Another main Philistine city, located about 12 miles east of Ashdod (cf. 5:1).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 5:10 Ekron. With judgment on Gath, the Philistines sent the ark away to the next main city to see if God was behind their calamity. Located about 6 miles north of Gath, it was the closest major Philistine city to Israel's border. the ark . . . to kill us. The cry of the Ekronites was an admission that the Philistines had gotten the message that God was the source of their troubles. It is curious that the Philistines knew of God's power to smite the Egyptians (4:8), yet they proudly believed themselves stronger than Egypt. The severity of the plagues grew increasingly worse in 5:6–12, corresponding with the failure of the Philistines to humble themselves before God. Their actions were very similar to those of the Egyptians (Ex. 5–14).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:2 the priests and the diviners. These men of the Philistines, specifically identified in Scripture as having notable fame (Isa. 2:6), were summoned to figure out how to appease God so that he would stop the plague. send it to its place. The Philistines understood that they had offended God. Their diviners decided to rightfully appease his wrath by sending the ark back to Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:3 guilt offering. The purpose behind this offering was to both acknowledge and compensate for their trespass of dishonoring the God of Israel. These pagans recognized their sin and the need for manifest repentance, which they did according to their religious tradition by means of votive trespass or guilt offerings.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:4 Five golden tumors and five golden mice. It was their custom to make models of their sores (and the mice that brought the plague), in hopes that the deity would recognize that they knew why he was angry and remove the evil that had fallen upon them. The context of v. 17 suggests that the items were in the writer's presence at the time the account was recorded. The number five represents each of the Philistine cities and lords affected by God's judgment.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:5 give glory to the God of Israel . . . he will lighten his hand. While sympathetic magic was the Philistine custom, this statement expressly affirms the intention behind the offerings: They were to halt the dishonor, confess their sin, and give glory to the God of Israel by acknowledging who it was that they had offended and who was the supreme Deity.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:6 Why should you harden your hearts . . . ? The

diviners correlate the Philistines' actions of not recognizing God with those of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. This is the same word "harden" that was used in Ex. 7:14; 8:15, 32. It is an interesting correlation, because the dominant purpose in Ex. 5–14 is that the Egyptians might "know that I am the Lord" (Ex. 7:5).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:7 on which . . . never come a yoke. To know without a doubt that the God of Israel was behind all of their troubles, the diviners devised a plan that would reveal whether God was the One responsible. Using cows that had "never been yoked" meant using animals that were untrained to pull a cart and probably would not go anywhere. take their calves . . . away from them. The second element in their plan was to use nursing cows taken away from their calves. For the cows unnaturally to head off in the opposite direction from their calves would be a clear sign that the cause of their judgment was supernatural.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:9 Beth-shemesh. Named "house of the sun" and located in the Sorek Valley, this was a Levitical city about 15 miles west of Jerusalem. Originally designated for the descendants of Aaron (Josh. 21:16), it was chosen to be the destination of the cows pulling the cart.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:12 lowing as they went. With the moaning from instinctive unwillingness to leave their calves behind, the cows went straight to Beth-shemesh, not turning to the right or left, leaving the inescapable conclusion that God had judged them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:13 reaping their wheat harvest. Sometime in June. These harvests were accomplished with the whole city participating.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:14 Joshua of Beth-shemesh. The cows stopped in the field of Joshua, where there was a large stone, which was verifiable to the writer at the time the account was written. burnt offering. Because the cows and cart were used for sacred purposes, they could not be used for normal everyday purposes. Therefore, the men of Beth-shemesh sacrificed the cows, using the cart for the fire.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:15 Levites. The men of Beth-shemesh, being Levites, were qualified to move the ark. set them upon the great stone. The stone mentioned was used as a pedestal for both the items of gold and the ark. At the time the account was written, it stood as a witness that God had returned to the land.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:16 five lords of the Philistines. The lords of the Philistines, upon seeing that the ark arrived safely, returned to Ekron.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:19 looked upon the ark. This action on the part of the men of Beth-shemesh constituted the sin of presumption. This is first addressed in Num. 4:20 and is mentioned again in 2 Sam. 6:6–7. seventy men. The Hebrew says "of the people seventy men, fifty thousand men" (see esv footnote). Some debate whether this figure is too large. However, retaining the larger number is more consistent with the context of "a great blow," and the reference to 30,000 in 4:10 (cf. 11:8). However, a scribal error could have occurred, in which case the number would omit the 50,000 and likely be "seventy," as in Josephus (and the esv).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:20 Who is able to stand before . . . God? This question climaxes the narrative of the ark. No one is able to stand against God's judgment. This applied to the people outside the covenant as well as those under the covenant. Presumption before God is unacceptable. to whom shall he go. The expression was used to denote the desire to take the ark away from them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 6:21 Kiriath-jearim. A city located approximately 10 miles northeast of Beth-shemesh. It would remain the resting place of the ark until David brought it to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:1–19). This location had long been associated with Baal worship (cf. Josh. 15:9, 60; 18:14).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:2 twenty years. Coupled with v. 3, the 20 years designated the period Israel neglected God and chased after foreign gods. After those 20 years, Israel returned to the Lord.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:3 direct your heart to the Lord . . . and he will deliver you. This statement recalls the cycle in the book of Judges: apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. It previews the contents of this chapter.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:4 the Baals and the Ashtaroth. Most dominant of the Canaanite pantheon, these deities were the fertility gods that plagued Israel. "Baal" and "Ashtaroth" are plurals of majesty, which signify their supreme authority over other Canaanite deities. Ashtaroth represented the female goddess, while Baal represented the male sky god who fertilized the land.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:5 Mizpah. This city was located 8 miles northeast of Kiriath-jearim in Benjamin. It became one of the cities of Samuel's circuit (v.

16). I will pray. Samuel was a man of prayer (vv. 8–9; 8:6; 12:19, 23; 15:11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:6 drew water and poured it out before the Lord. The pouring out of water before the Lord was a sign of repentance. This act is repeated in 2 Sam. 23:16. We have sinned against the Lord. The symbol of Samuel pouring out the water and the acknowledgment of the people reveal a situation where true repentance had taken place. The condition of the heart superseded the importance or righteousness of the ritual. Samuel judged. At this point Samuel is introduced as the judge of Israel. His judgeship encompassed both domestic leadership and the conduct of war. The word links the text back to the last comment about Eli who judged 40 years (1 Sam. 4:18). Samuel is shown to be the one taking over Eli's judgeship. He served as the last judge before the first king (cf. 8:5).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:7 Israel . . . afraid of the Philistines. When Israel heard that the Philistines had come up against them for war, they were afraid.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:10 the Lord thundered . . . against the Philistines. In a literal manner, the Lord did to his enemies what was said by Hannah in her prayer (2:10).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:11 Beth-car. The location is unknown.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:12 Ebenezer. A different location from the one mentioned in 4:1 and 5:1. The name functions as the literary knot for the two ends of this unit (see note on 4:1). Till now the Lord has helped us. This expression means that the Lord was the One responsible for getting Israel to this point. He was Israel's Sovereign One in times of both faithfulness and rebellion. He fought the battles and provided the blessings.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:13 did not again enter the territory of Israel. The Lord gave Israel the victory over the Philistines, discontinuing their threat for the immediate future during Samuel's judgeship. all the days of Samuel. As the section opened in 4:1 with Samuel pictured as God's agent, so here the section closed with the Lord working powerfully through all the days of Samuel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:14 Ekron to Gath. These two cities, mentioned earlier as chief Philistine cities (5:8–10), became the eastern border of the Philistines. The territory to the east of these cities was freed from Philistine control and returned to Israel. Amorites. Whereas the Philistines resided in the coastal plains, the

Amorites resided in the hills west of Israel between the Jordan Valley and the coastal plain. As with the Philistines, Israel was at peace with the Amorites.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:16 on a circuit. The circuit was an annual trip made by Samuel; he would travel to Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, and return once again to Ramah, which allowed him to manage the affairs of the people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 7:17 Ramah. The first major division of the book (1:1– 7:17) ends with Samuel returning to Ramah to judge the people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:1–15:35 This division of the book concentrates on the interaction between Israel, Samuel, and Saul. These chapters begin with the elders of Israel coming to Samuel at Ramah (8:4) and conclude with Samuel's leaving Saul and returning to Ramah (15:34). Chapters 8:1–12:25 describe the establishment of the kingship over the nation of Israel and the advent of Saul as the first king. These chapters are linked by reference to Samuel's being old (8:1; 12:2) and listening to "the voice of the people" (8:7, 9, 19, 22; 12:1, 14–15). Chapters 13:1–15:35 recount the failures of Saul as king over Israel. The events of these chapters are bracketed by two interactions between Saul and Samuel that both take place in Gilgal (13:4, 7–8, 12, 15; 15:12, 21, 33).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:1 Samuel became old. Samuel was about 60 years of age (1043 B.C.). He appointed his two sons to serve as judges in Beersheba, a city about 57 miles south of Ramah.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:2 Joel. The name means "the Lord is God." Abijah. The name means "my Father is the Lord."

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:3 his sons did not walk in his ways. The perverted desire for riches led Samuel's sons to take bribes and thereby pervert justice. These actions were strictly forbidden for judges in Deut. 16:19. The sins of Samuel's sons became the pretext for Israel's demand for a king (1 Sam. 8:4–5).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:5 Now appoint for us a king. . . like all the nations. When Israel entered the land, they encountered Canaanite city-states that were led by kings (see Josh. 12:7–24). Additionally, during the period of the judges, Israel was enslaved by nations that were led by kings (Judg. 3:8, 12; 4:2; 8:5; 11:12). However, at the time of the judges there was no king in Israel (Judg. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). As Israel lived in the land surrounded by nations that had kings, the desire arose for a king in Israel also. According to Deut. 17:14,

God knew this would be their desire and he would allow it to occur. However, 1 Sam. 8:20 revealed a motive that was definitely counter to the Lord's will. See note on 8:20.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:7 Obey the voice of the people. The Lord had predicted that there would be kings over Israel (Gen. 35:11; 36:31; 49:10; Num. 24:7–9, 17; Deut. 17:14; 28:36). Here, the Lord told Samuel to obey the request of the people and give them a king. they have not rejected you, but . . . me. The nature of this rejection of the Lord by Israel is explained in 1 Sam. 8:19–20.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:9 you shall solemnly warn them. Samuel obeyed the Lord by describing the behavior of a human king in vv. 10–18. A king would: 1) draft young men and women for his service (vv. 11–13); 2) tax the people's crops and flocks (vv. 14–15, 17a); 3) appropriate the best of their animals and servants (v. 16); and 4) place limitations on their personal freedom (v. 17b).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:10 who were asking for a king. Just as Hannah asked for a son (1:20), Israel asked for a king. See note on 9:2.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:18 you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen. Samuel warned the people that they would live to regret their decision for a king and would later cry out for freedom from his rule (1 Kings 12:4). the Lord will not answer you. In contrast to the Lord's response to Israel during the period of the judges (Judg. 2:18), the Lord would not be moved to pity and therefore would refuse to deliver the people out of the hand of their king who oppressed them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:19 there shall be a king over us. In spite of Samuel's warnings, the people demanded a king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 8:20 fight our battles. Up until this point, the Lord himself had fought the battles for Israel and given continual victory (Josh. 10:14; 1 Sam. 7:10). Israel no longer wanted the Lord to be their warrior; replacing him with a human king was their desire. It was in this way that Israel rejected the Lord (see 8:7). The problem was not in having a king; but, rather the reason the people wanted a king, i.e., to be like other nations. They also foolishly assumed there would be some greater power in a king leading them in battle.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:1 a man of wealth. The description is confirmed by the reference to donkeys and servants in v. 3 (cf. Boaz in Ruth 2:1).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:2 Saul. Son of Kish, a Benjamite, he was Israel's first king. The Hebrew root for "Saul" means "asked (of God)." In 8:10, the people were "asking for a king." Although God appointed Saul, he was really the people's choice, given by the Lord in answer to their request. The Lord's choice would be from the tribe of Judah (cf. Gen. 49:10). a handsome young man. Emphasis was placed on the external appearance of leaders (cf. David in 1 Sam. 16:18).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:3 the donkeys . . . were lost. "Lost donkeys" meant "lost wealth." Kish had servants who could have gone looking, but Saul was chosen to oversee this important task.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:4 Shalishah . . . Shaalim. The locations are geographically unknown.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:6 a man of God. A description of the prophet and judge, Samuel. "Man of God" referred to a prophet (see 2:27). See note on Deut. 33:1.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:7 no present to bring. A gift expressed gratitude and thankfulness for the service of the "man of God." Gifts were offered to prophets in 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Kings 4:42; 5:15–16; 8:8–9.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:8 a quarter of a shekel. About one-tenth of an ounce.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:9 today's "prophet" was formerly called a seer. Due to the God-given ability to know or "see" the future, the "seer" was so named in close relationship with what he did. The person called a prophet, by the time this book was written, had been termed a seer in the earlier time of Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:12 high place. This is essentially Canaanite in background (cf. Deut. 12:2–5). Before the temple was built, the high place was used for worship and sacrifice because it provided the best vantage point for the participation of the people in worship and allowed them to visually see the sacrifice being made for them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:13 he must bless the sacrifice. The sacrifice was offered to the Lord as an act of worship by the "man of God."

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:16 anoint him. This represents a setting apart for service to the Lord, which occurs in 10:1. See note on 2:10. prince. Lit., "one given

prominence, one placed in front." The title referred to "one designated to rule" (cf. 1 Kings 1:35; 2 Chron. 11:22). their cry has come to me. The people had been crying out for deliverance from the Philistines, their longstanding rivals, just as they did for liberation from Egypt (cf. Ex. 2:25; 3:9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:17 He it is who shall restrain my people. God identified Saul to Samuel, assuring there was no mistaking whom God was choosing to be king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:18 Tell me where is the house of the seer? A reference to Samuel's house.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:20 all that is desirable in Israel. Saul was to become the focus of Israel's hope for military victories over her enemies (cf. 8:19–20).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:21 a Benjamite . . . the least of the tribes. Saul's humility and timidity was expressed by his proper assessment of his tribe and a humble estimation of his family.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:22 the hall. The place where those who were invited ate with Samuel after the offering of the sacrifice on the high place (cf. vv. 12–13).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:24 the leg . . . kept is set before you. Samuel was following Lev. 7:28–36. Samuel received the leg, the portion of the sacrifice reserved for the priest. Samuel's giving of this choice piece of meat to Saul was a distinct honor and reflected Saul's new status as the designated king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:25 on the roof. The roof of Samuel's house provided a place for Saul and his servant to sleep for the night.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 9:27 the word of God. Special revelation from God, given to Samuel and intended for Saul. See note on 3:1.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:1 the Lord anointed you to be prince. The Lord chose Saul to be the leader of Israel and communicated his choice through the private anointing by Samuel, signifying a setting aside for God's service (see 2:10). his heritage. The inheritance was God's nation, Israel, in the sense that she uniquely belonged to him (Deut. 4:20; 9:26).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:2 Zelzah. Only mentioned here. Probably near Ramah, located between Bethel and Bethlehem, where Rachel died (Gen. 35:19; 48:7).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:3 Tabor. This is not the far-distant Mount Tabor, but a location unknown, probably near Bethel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:5 garrison of the Philistines. Most likely the garrison in Geba in Benjamin, about 5 miles north of Jerusalem. prophesying. The prophet, as God's messenger, declared the word of the Lord (2 Sam. 7:5; 12:1), sometimes accompanied by music (1 Chron. 25:1). Here, "prophesying" connotes praising God and instructing the people with musical accompaniment.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:6 the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you. The Holy Spirit would enable Saul to declare the word of the Lord with the prophets. turned into another man. With this empowerment by the Holy Spirit, Saul would emerge another man (cf. v. 9), equipped in the manner of Gideon and Jepthah for deeds of valor (cf. v. 9; Judg. 6:34; 11:29).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:7 signs. The three signs of vv. 2–6: 1) the report of the found donkeys; 2) the encounter of the three men going to Bethel; and 3) the encounter with the prophets.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:8 Gilgal. The town where Saul eventually would be declared king by Samuel (11:14–15), offer sacrifice before the Lord without the prophet Samuel (13:12), and where Samuel slew king Agag (15:33). Gilgal was to the east of Jericho, but west of the Jordan River. burnt offerings and . . . peace offerings. See notes on Lev. 1:3–17 and 3:1–17. Seven days. The appointed time Saul was to wait for Samuel to come and tell him what to do (see 1 Sam. 13:8).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:9 God gave him another heart. Lit., "God changed him for another heart," i.e., God prepared Saul for the kingship by having the Holy Spirit come upon him (cf. v. 6).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:12 who is their father? A question asked to find out the identity of the leader of the prophetic band that now included Saul. a proverb. A saying of common occurrence.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:16 the matter of the kingdom. The information Samuel gave Saul about becoming king he did not tell his uncle. This might reflect Saul's humility (cf. v. 22).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:17 Samuel called the people. The Lord's choice of Saul was made public at Mizpah, the place of the spiritual revival before Israel's victory over the Philistines (7:5–8).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:18–19 the Lord, the God of Israel . . . delivered you. Despite the past faithfulness of God to his people, they still desired a human king to deliver them from the hands of their enemies.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:20–21 taken. Probably Saul was selected by the casting of lots (cf. Lev. 16:8–10; Josh. 7:15–18). See note on Prov. 16:33.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:22 hidden himself among the baggage. Overwhelmed, Saul had hidden himself in the military supplies.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:23 taller . . . from his shoulders upward. Saul's physical stature was impressive; being head and shoulders above the rest gave Saul a kingly presence.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:25 rights and duties of the kingship. Samuel reminded the people of the regulations governing the conduct of kings according to Deut. 17:14–20.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:26 whose hearts God had touched. Valiant men who were eager to affirm God's choice of Saul and, in response to a divine impulse, joined him.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 10:27 worthless fellows. Lit., "sons of Belial" (see note on 2:12). Those who did not recognize Saul with the respect befitting a king.

Saul Rescues Jabesh-gilead

c. 1050 B.C.

Soon after Saul was anointed king of Israel, the people of Jabesh-gilead were attacked by the Ammonites. When Saul heard the news at Gibeah, he quickly mustered the Israelite forces at Bezek and defeated the Ammonites in battle. Samuel then called upon the people to confirm Saul's kingship at Gilgal.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:1 Nahash the Ammonite. Nahash, meaning "snake," was king of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot (cf. Gen. 19:36–38) who lived east of the Jordan. Jabesh-gilead. A town east of the Jordan River, about

22 miles south of the Sea of Galilee, in the tribal territory of Manasseh (cf. Judg. 21:8–14).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:2 gouge out all your right eyes. This barbarous mutilation was a common punishment of usurpers in the ancient Near East that would disable the warriors' depth-perception and peripheral vision, rendering them useless in battle.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:3 seven days. The elders at Jabesh were hoping for deliverance from the Israelites west of the Jordan.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:4 Gibeah of Saul. Saul's home and the first capital city of the monarchy, about 3 miles north of Jerusalem (cf. 10:26).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:5 from the field. Saul continued to work as a farmer while waiting for the time to answer Israel's expectations of him as the king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:6 the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul. To fill him with divine indignation and to empower him to deliver the citizens of Jabesh-gilead (cf. 10:6).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:7 cut them in pieces. Saul divided the oxen in sections to be taken throughout Israel to rouse the people for battle (see a similar action in Judg. 19:29; 20:6).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:8 Bezek. A city 13 miles north of Shechem and 17 miles west of Jabesh-gilead. people of Israel . . . men of Judah. This distinction made between Israel and Judah before the kingdom was divided indicates the book was written after 931 B.C. when the kingdom had been divided. See Introduction: Author and Date.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:11 three companies. A military strategy of dividing up forces, it lessened the possibility of losing everyone to a sneak attack while giving greater military options. in the morning watch. The last of the three watches (2:00–6:00 A.M.), this surprise attack was before dawn, before the Ammonites were prepared for battle.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:13 the Lord has worked salvation in Israel. Saul recognized the deliverance of the Lord and refused to kill those who had rebelled against his kingship (10:27).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:14 Gilgal. See note on 10:8. renew the kingdom. The reaffirmation of Saul's kingship by public acclamation.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 11:15 they made Saul king before the Lord. All the people came to crown Saul king that day. The process of entering the kingship was the same for both Saul and David: 1) commissioned by the Lord (9:1–10:16; 16:1–13); 2) confirmed by military victory (10:17–11:11; 16:14–2 Sam. 1:27); and 3) crowned (1 Sam. 11:12–15; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3). peace offerings. Sacrifices of thanksgiving (cf. Lev. 7:13). rejoiced greatly. Along with the victory over the Ammonites, there was a great celebration over the nation being united.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:1 I have obeyed your voice. Samuel had obeyed the will of the Lord and the people and set the king of God's choice over them, though he had personal reservations concerning the monarchy.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:3 Here I am. These familiar words for Samuel throughout his entire life (cf. 3:4, 5, 6, 8, 16) emphasized his availability to God and the people. testify. Samuel requested the people to "testify" any covenant stipulations that he had violated.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:7 I may plead with you before the Lord. Despite the nation being unified under the new king, Samuel still wanted to rebuke the nation for ignoring and rejecting what God had done without a king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:11 the Lord sent . . . and delivered you. It was the Lord who delivered them through the hands of the judges, not themselves.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:12 when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you. According to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Josephus, Nahash was campaigning over a large area. It was that Ammonite threat that seemingly provoked Israel to demand a human king (8:1–20). the Lord your God was your king. The clearest indictment of Israel for choosing a mere man to fight for her instead of the Lord God (cf. 8:20).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:13 the king whom you have chosen . . . asked. The Lord gave them their request (cf. Ps. 106:15).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:14 fear the Lord. A reminder of Josh. 24:14. Israel was to stand in awe of the Lord and submit to him (cf. Deut. 10:12). you and the king . . . follow the Lord. Both the people and the king were given the same

command. The standard was the same, obedience to God's commands.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:15 rebel. "Disobey, not heed, forsake." Echoing the promises of Deut. 28, there would be blessings for obeying and curses for disobeying the commands of the Lord.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:16 this great thing. Though rain during the wheat harvest (late May to early June) was unusual, the Lord sent the rain and thunder to authenticate Samuel's words to the people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:19 Pray for your servants. The people's response to the power of God was their recognition of their sinful motives in asking for a king. They needed Samuel's prayers to intercede for them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:20 serve the Lord with all your heart. An oftenexpressed covenant requirement (Deut. 10:12–13; 11:13–14).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 12:21 empty things. "Vain things," i.e., idols.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:1 . . . years . . . and two years. The original numbers have not been preserved in this text. It lit. reads, "Saul was one year old when he became king and ruled two years over Israel." Acts 13:21 states that Saul ruled Israel 40 years. His age at his accession is recorded nowhere in Scripture. Probably the best reconstruction of 1 Sam. 13:1–2 is "Saul was one and (perhaps) thirty years old when he began to reign, and when he had reigned two years over Israel, then Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel . . . "

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:2 Michmash. This area was located about 7 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Jonathan. "The Lord has given." Saul's firstborn son and heir apparent to the throne was evidently old enough to serve as a commander in Israel's army at this time, much like David when he slew Goliath (17:32–37). Gibeah of Benjamin. This city was located 3 miles north of Jerusalem. It was called Gibeah of Saul in 11:4.

The Battle at Michmash

As the Philistines strengthened their grip on the central hill country of Israel, they placed troops at Michmash and sent raiding parties into the countryside. After Saul's son Jonathan captured the town of Geba, Saul mustered more Israelite forces at Gilgal and joined Jonathan. A daring raid by Jonathan across the ravine separating Michmash and Geba led to an Israelite victory over the Philistines, and the Israelites

drove them from the hill country.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:3 Geba. This outpost was located about 5 miles north by northeast of Jerusalem, 1.5 miles southwest of Michmash. blew the trumpet. Saul used the trumpet to summon additional troops for battle.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:4 stench. Israel could expect retaliation from the

Philistines for Jonathan's raid. Gilgal. This is the town of Saul's confirmation as king by Samuel and the people (11:14–15). Saul chose Gilgal because of Samuel's word in 10:8.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:5 thirty thousand chariots. This is probably a scribal error, since the number is too large for the corresponding horsemen. Three thousand is more reasonable and is found in some OT manuscripts. Michmash. See note on 13:2. Beth-aven. Lit., "house of nothingness." It was less than 1 mile southwest of Michmash.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:7 Gad and Gilead. Areas east of the Jordan River. all the people followed him trembling. The people were in fear over probable Philistine retaliation.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:8 seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. This is a direct reference to Samuel's word in 10:8. Saul was commanded to wait seven days to meet Samuel in Gilgal. the people were scattering. Saul's men were deserting him because of anxiety and fear over the coming battle.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:9 he offered the burnt offering. Saul's sin was not specifically that he made a sacrifice (cf. 2 Sam. 24:25; 1 Kings 8:62–64), but that he did not wait for priestly assistance from Samuel. See 1 Sam. 10:8. He wished to rule as an autocrat, who possessed absolute power in civil and sacred matters. Samuel had wanted the seven days as a test of Saul's character and obedience to God, but Saul failed it by invading the priestly office himself.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:11 When I saw. Saul reacted disobediently based upon what he saw and not by faith. He feared losing his men and did not properly consider what God would have him do.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:13 You have not kept the command. Saul's disobedience was a direct violation of the command from Samuel in 10:8. your kingdom . . . forever. How could this be in light of God's promise to Judah (Gen. 49:10)? This would correct the potential contradiction of Saul being from Benjamin, not Judah.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:14 a man after his own heart. Instead of Saul, God was going to choose one whose heart was like his own, i.e., one who had a will to obey God. Paul quotes this passage in Acts 13:22 of David (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7). prince. Someone else, namely David, had already been chosen to be God's

leader over his people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:15 from Gilgal to Gibeah. This was about a 10-mile trip westward. Samuel left Saul, realizing that Saul's kingship was doomed. six hundred men. This indicates the mass departure of the Israelites (v. 6) and gives a perspective on what Saul saw (v. 5).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:17 raiders . . . in three companies. Lit., these were "destroyers" in the Philistine army, divided into three groups.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:19 no blacksmith. The Philistines had superior iron and metal-working craftsmen until David's time (cf. 1 Chron. 22:3), accounting for their formidable military force.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:20 mattock. A pickax to work the ground by hand.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:21 The Philistines charged a high price to sharpen instruments that could potentially be used against them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:22 neither sword nor spear. The Philistines had a distinct military advantage over Israel since they had a monopoly on iron weapons.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 13:23 the pass of Michmash. Some of the Philistines had moved out to a pass leading to Michmash.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:1 the other side. Jonathan and his armor bearer left the Israelite camp to approach the Philistine outpost.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:2 pomegranate cave. Most likely "under the pomegranate tree" (see esv footnote). These trees are common to Israel's landscape, normally growing as low shrubs with spreading branches. This may have been a particularly large one.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:3 Ahijah. "Brother of the Lord." He was the greatgrandson of Eli the high priest, another house that had been rejected of the Lord (2:22–36). wearing an ephod. The ephod was a white garment worn by the priests that was attached to the body by a belt. A breastpiece worn over the ephod had pouches that were used by the priests to carry certain devices used in determining the will of God, i.e., the Urim and Thummim, or sacred lots. See

note on Ex. 28:5–13. Apparently, Saul chose not to use it for seeking the Lord's will.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:4 Bozez . . . Seneh. Hebrew terms. Bozez may mean "slippery." Seneh means "thorny."

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:6 uncircumcised. This was a derogatory term used by the Israelites to describe the Philistines. by many or by few. Jonathan demonstrated the great faith that should have been demonstrated by the king (cf. 13:11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:10 the sign to us. This was an unusual manner for determining the will of the Lord, but not without similar precedent, e.g., Gideon's fleece (Judg. 6:36–40). Jonathan was allowed to determine the will of God by the reaction of his enemies.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:11 Hebrews. The oldest term used by Gentile nations to refer to the people of Israel. the holes where they have hidden. Many of the Israelites were hiding in fear over the battle. Apparently they thought Jonathan and his armor bearer were Israelite deserters coming to the Philistine side.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:15 the earth quaked. The earthquake affirms the fact that divine intervention aided Jonathan and his armor bearer in their raid. The earthquake caused a panic among the Philistines. God would have intervened on Saul's behalf in such a manner had he chosen to be faithfully patient (cf. 13:9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:18 ark of God. The LXX reads "ephod" instead of "ark," and this seems more likely since the ark was at Kiriath-jearim and the language of v. 19 better fits the ephod (v. 3) than the ark.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:19 Withdraw your hand. Saul, in a hurry, ordered the priest to stop the inquiry into the will of the Lord.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:21 Hebrews. This is a reference to Israelite deserters or mercenaries.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:22 the hill country of Ephraim. A large and partially wooded area north and west of Michmash.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:23 So the Lord saved Israel. The writer uses similar

language to that of the exodus. In spite of their disobedient king, God was faithful to deliver Israel from her enemies. Beth-aven. See note on 13:2.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:24 had been hard pressed. Saul's inept leadership failed to provide for the physical needs of his men, leaving them weak and fatigued. Cursed. Saul's first foolish oath pronounced a curse upon anyone tasting food until the battle was over. The scene fits chronologically after Jonathan's departure.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:25 honey on the ground. This was a reference to honeycombs found in the forest (v. 27).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:27 Jonathan had not heard. Jonathan apparently had departed before Saul made his oath.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:29 My father has troubled the land. Jonathan saw the foolishness of Saul's oath and how it actually hurt Israel's cause instead of helping it.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:31 Aijalon. This area is located 15 miles west of Michmash. This would have been a normal path back to the land of the Philistines.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:32 ate them with the blood. The people were so severely hungry because of the oath (v. 24) that they disobeyed the law by eating the meat raw and not draining the blood (cf. Lev. 17:10–14).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:35 the first altar. The first and only altar built by Saul mentioned in Scripture.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:36 Let us draw near to God. Ahijah the priest requested that they first seek the Lord regarding their course of action.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:37 Saul inquired of God. At the request of Ahijah, Saul inquired of the Lord regarding his battle plan. he did not answer him. Because of the sin that Saul had caused in his army, God did not answer his inquiry. This would not be the last time that the Lord would refuse to respond to sinful Saul (cf. 28:6).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:39 as the Lord lives. As an encore to his previous oath,

Saul followed with another foolish oath, unknowingly jeopardizing his own son's life.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:41 taken. The practice of casting lots was used to distinguish one person or group from another. Jonathan was indicated as the guilty party, though he acted innocently (v. 27).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:44 God do so . . . and more also. Saul, proud and concerned with his own authority and honor, was intent on fulfilling his vow.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:45 worked with God this day. Jonathan, in stark contrast to his father the king, understood the sufficiency of God for the task and obediently relied on him for the victory.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:46 the Philistines went to their own place. The Philistines were left to continue their retreat unhindered.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:47–48 Saul's military accomplishments were significant and expanded Israel's borders in all directions: to the south (Edom), east (Ammon and Moab), north (Zobah), and west (Philistia). The defeat of the Amalekites is recorded in ch. 15.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:49–51 Saul's children, Jonathan and Michal, would both play significant roles in the life of the next king, David. Nothing further is known of Saul's wife or other children mentioned here.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:50 Abner. A cousin of Saul who commanded his army (cf. 17:55, 57; 20:25; 26:14–15).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 14:52 hard fighting. The Philistines' opposition to Israel was persistent and continual to the very last day of Saul's life (31:1–3). strong man . . . valiant man. Saul looked for the good warriors and attached them to his personal force. David was one such man, who would also continue this practice under his rule (2 Sam. 23:8–39).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:2 Amalek. The Amalekites, a nomadic people of the desert and descendants of Esau (Gen. 36:12), became a marked people when they attacked Israel in the wilderness after leaving Egypt (see notes on Ex. 17:8– 16; cf. Num. 24:20; Deut. 25:17–19; Judg. 6:3–5).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:3 devote to destruction. God gave Saul an opportunity to redeem himself with obedience. The judgment was to be a complete and total annihilation of anything that breathed. God's judgment was severe on those who would destroy his people. It was equally severe to those who disobeyed (cf. Achan in Josh. 7:10–26).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:4 Telaim. The precise location of this area is unknown, but it may be a reference to Telem found in Josh. 15:24.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:5 the city of Amalek. This was possibly modern-day Tel Masos located about 7 miles east southeast of Beersheba.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:6 the Kenites. Moses' father-in-law was a Kenite (cf. Judg. 1:16), a people friendly to the Israelites.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:7 from Havilah as far as Shur. Saul's victory was extensive, covering much of the Amalekite territory. However, the Amalekites were not completely destroyed (cf. 27:8; 30:1).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:8 Agag. Another example of Saul's incomplete obedience, in the case of Agag, is recorded because it had such far-reaching implications. Over five centuries later an Agagite named Haman attempted to exterminate the Jewish race from his power base in Persia (cf. Est. 3:1ff.). all the people. The Israelites killed everyone they came across, except for the king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:9 Saul and the people spared. Motivated by covetousness, both Saul and the people greedily spared the choice spoil of the land, disobeying God's word and demonstrating their faithlessness.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:11 Samuel was angry. Samuel's role as priest over the people gave him great concern over the poor performance of the king, who was like the kings of other nations (6:19–20) i.e., self-centered, self-willed, and utterly disobedient to the things of God.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:12 Carmel. This is not Mount Carmel of Elijah fame (1 Kings 18:20ff.), but a Carmel located 7 miles south of Hebron. monument for himself. Saul, apparently taking credit for the victory, established a monument to himself (cf. Absalom in 2 Sam. 18:18). This foolish act of contemptible pride was Saul's expression of self-worship rather than true worship of God and another evidence of his spiritual weakness. Gilgal. The site of Samuel's first

confrontation with Saul (1 Sam. 13:7b–15) became the site of this pronouncement of judgment.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:13 I have performed the commandment of the Lord. Saul, either ignorantly or deceitfully, maintained that he did what was commanded (v. 20).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:15 the people spared the best . . . to sacrifice. Saul began to place blame on others, making room for his own excuses just as he had done earlier (cf. 13:11–12). Then he tried to justify his sin by saying that the animals would be used to sacrifice to the God of Samuel. Saul's blatant disobedience at least pained his conscience so that he could not claim God as his God.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:17 little in your own eyes. Saul's status before he became king was as a humble and lowly Benjamite (cf. 9:21).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:19 pounce on the spoil. Saul and the people greedily took the spoil like a bird of prey diving on its victim.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:20–21 I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. Instead of confessing his sin and repenting, Saul continued to justify himself.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:22 to obey is better than sacrifice. This is an essential OT truth. Samuel stated that God desires heart obedience over the ritual sacrifice of animals (cf. Ps. 51:16–17; Isa. 1:10–17). The sacrificial system was never intended to function in place of living an obedient life, but was rather to be an expression of it (cf. Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21–27; Micah 6:6–8).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:23 rebellion . . . presumption. Saul needed to see that his real worship was indicated by his behavior and not by his sacrifices. He demonstrated himself to be an idolater whose idol was himself. He had failed the conditions (12:13–15) that would have brought blessing on the nation. His disobedience here was on the same level as witchcraft and idolatry, sins worthy of death. Because you have rejected . . . he has also rejected. A universal principle is given here that those who continually reject God will one day be rejected by him. The sins of Saul caused God to immediately depose Saul and his descendants forever from the throne of Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:24 I have sinned. This overdue confession appears to be

generated more by a concern over consequences (regret) than by sorrow over having offended holy God (repentance). He bypasses his personal responsibility by shifting blame to the people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:25 return with me. Saul was concerned about having Samuel's visible presence as a show of support in front of the people (cf. v. 30).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:28 torn the kingdom. Saul's judgment was a settled matter on the day of his disobedience with the Amalekites. Samuel used the illustration as it vividly portrayed how God would take the kingdom from Saul as he had just torn Samuel's robe. a neighbor of yours. This was a reference to David (cf. 28:17).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:29 the Glory of Israel. This was a unique title of God (cf. Mic. 1:15). will not lie or have regret. Samuel emphasized God's attribute of immutability in regard to the judgment upon Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:30 honor me. Saul was still thinking of himself and how he could best salvage the situation for self-gain.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:31 Samuel turned back. Samuel agreed to follow Saul, perhaps seeing this as the wisest course of action for the nation at that time.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:33 hacked Agag to pieces. This was an act of divine judgment to show the holy wrath of God against wanton sin. Sadly, the Israelites did not exterminate the wicked Amalekites, so they came back later to raid the southern territory and take women and children captive, including David's family (see ch. 30).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 15:35 Samuel did not see Saul again . . . grieved. Samuel never went to visit the rejected King Saul again in his life (cf. 28:11–19). On at least one further occasion, Saul sought Samuel (cf. 19:24).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:1–31:13 The third major division of Samuel recounts the steady demise of Saul and the selection and preparation of David for the kingship. Chapter 16 begins with Samuel mourning for Saul as one would mourn for the dead. The death of Saul (31:1–13) concludes this last division of the book.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:1 Jesse the Bethlehemite. God's new king of Israel (and

ultimately the Messiah; Gen. 3:15; Num. 24:17; 1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 2) would come from the tribe of Judah (Jesse; cf. Ruth 4:12, 22; Gen. 49:10) and from Bethlehem of Judah (cf. Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:2–6). I have provided . . . myself. The king was chosen and provided by God (Deut. 17:15), who orders all things according to the counsel of his own will (Isa. 40:14), not according to human desires (1 Sam. 8:5–6; 2 Sam. 2:8–9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:2 Saul . . . will kill me. Saul's unbalanced emotional state was already known in Israel. It is ironic that Samuel's initial reaction to the word of the Lord was fear of Saul instead of rejoicing at God's provision to Israel (and ultimately to all the nations; e.g., 1 Kings 8:41–43). The route from Ramah to Bethlehem would take Samuel through Gibeah of Saul (cf. 1 Sam. 10:26; 11:14). I have come to sacrifice. The place of sacrifice could be in any town until the establishment of the house of God in Jerusalem (Deut. 12:11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:3 anoint. David's first anointing was performed by Samuel, symbolizing God's recognition/ordination (cf. 2:10). The following two anointings (2 Sam. 2:7; 5:3) were to establish David as king publicly for the benefit of Judah and Israel respectively.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:4 The elders of the city came . . . trembling. The elders, and no doubt all Israel, had heard of Samuel's execution of Agag (15:33). Israel still closely associated the "seer," or prophet, with the not-so-distant past office of "judge."

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:5 Consecrate yourselves. Worship of Yahweh was always preceded by cleansing or washing, both of the outward garments and the inner man (Ex. 19:10, 14; 1 John 1:9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:6 Eliab. Lit., "My God is Father." Since Eliab was the first of Jesse's sons to catch Samuel's eye, he must have been an impressive young man by outward appearance.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:7 his appearance . . . height of his stature. Samuel needed to be reminded that God's anointed was not chosen because of physical attributes. This was initially a difficult concept for Samuel as he was accustomed to a king whose only positive attributes were physical. the Lord looks on the heart. The Hebrew concept of "heart" embodies emotions, will, intellect, and desires. The life of the man will reflect his heart (cf. Matt. 12:34–35).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:8 Abinadab. Lit., "My Father is noble." Samuel, now more sensitive to the leading of God's Spirit, quickly discerned that Abinadab was not God's anointed.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:9 Shammah. Lit., "Yahweh hears (or heard)." See v. 8.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:10 seven . . . sons. With David, Jesse had eight sons. The fact that 1 Chron. 2:13 indicates seven sons must mean that one of the eight died afterward and this is not considered in the Chronicles account.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:11 the youngest . . . keeping the sheep. God's favor/choice often fell on the younger and the least (cf. Jacob, Joseph, Gideon). David, although the youngest, was the firstborn over Israel (Ps. 89:27), whose humble beginnings as a shepherd, and later rule as king, typify Jesus: the ultimate Shepherd and King of Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:12 ruddy . . . beautiful eyes . . . handsome. God's chosen king was handsome to look at, although that was not the reason for his selection by God. His appearance was perhaps enhanced by a genuine faith and joy in Yahweh. See also 17:42.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:13 anointed him in the midst of his brothers. David's first anointing is before his family/house. His second anointing would be before the assembly of his tribe, Judah; and his third anointing would be before the nation Israel. (See note on 16:3.) the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David. This familiar OT expression relates to empowerment for some God-given task (cf. 10:6, 11; 11:6; 19:20, 23; 2 Sam. 23:2; 2 Chron. 20:14; Isa. 11:2; 61:1; Ezek. 11:5; 37:1). David's anointing was an external symbol of an inward work of God. The operation of the Holy Spirit in this case was not for regeneration, but for empowerment to perform his (David's) role in God's program for Israel (cf. Saul, 1 Sam. 10:6). After David sinned with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11–12), he prayed, "take not your Holy Spirit from me" (Ps. 51:11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:14 the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. When David's ascent to the throne began, Saul's slow and painful descent began also (cf. 18:12). Without God's empowering Holy Spirit, Saul was effectively no longer king over Israel (15:28), although his physical removal from the throne, and his death, happened many years later. a harmful spirit. God, in his sovereignty, allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul (cf. Judg. 9:23; 1 Kings

22:19–23; Job 1:6–12) for his purpose of establishing the throne of David. This spirit, a messenger from Satan, is to be distinguished from a troubled emotional state brought on by indwelling sin, or the harmful consequences of the sinful acts of others (e.g., spirit of jealousy, Num. 5:14). This demon spirit attacked Saul from without, for there is no evidence that the demon indwelt Saul. tormented him. Saul, whose inward constitution was already prone to questionable judgment and the fear of men, began to experience God's judgment in the form of severe bouts of depression, anger, and delusion, initiated and aggravated by the evil spirit assigned to him. There are several NT occasions where God turned people over to demons or Satan for judgment (see Acts 5:1–3; 1 Cor. 5:1–7; 1 Tim. 1:18–20). He also used Satan or demons for the strengthening of the saints. See Job 1:1–2:6; Matt. 4:1ff.; Luke 22:31–32; 2 Cor. 12:7–10.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:16 he will play . . . you will be well. God used the evil that had befallen Saul to introduce David into the court of the king and to the watching eyes of Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:18 skillful in playing . . . a man of good presence. The writer of Samuel introduces David the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Sam. 23:1) before introducing David the warrior. Later proven so skillful in the art of war and killing, David was also a tender musician of exceptional skill and reputation. the Lord is with him. The saints of God, OT and NT, are recognized by their fruit (1 Sam. 2:26; Luke 2:40). God's approval of David was already recognized by certain people in Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:19 Send me David your son. Verbal link with v. 1, "I have provided for myself a king among his (Jesse's) sons." David's lineage was of importance to Saul in the near future when he arranged a marriage between Michal, his daughter, and David. with the sheep. David's lowly, humble occupation is emphasized. He gave evidence of that humility and patience as he returned faithfully to his duty following Samuel's anointing.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 16:21 Saul loved him greatly. Saul loved David for his abilities, but later grew to jealously hate him because he knew he was blessed by the Lord (cf. 18:29). his armor-bearer. David was most likely one of many such young men assigned to Saul's barracks.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:1 Socoh . . . Azekah . . . Ephes-dammim. Following the anointing of David and his installation into the court of the king, there is this

update on the situation of Israel in regard to Israel's enemies. Socoh and Azekah were towns of Judah (Josh. 15:20, 35; Jer. 34:7) approximately 15 miles west and 17 miles northwest (respectively) of Bethlehem. Ephes-dammim (1 Chron. 11:12–13; cf. 2 Sam. 23:9), the camp of the Philistines, probably lay 1 mile to the south of Azekah.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:2 Valley of Elah. Where the camp of Israel was, approximately 3 miles east of Ephes-dammim.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:4–7 On human terms alone, Goliath was invincible. However, David counted on the Lord being with him and making the difference (vv. 34–37).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:4 champion. Lit., "the man between two." An appropriate appellation as Goliath stood between the two armies of the Philistines and Israel, and offered his challenge to a "duel" of hand-to-hand combat, the outcome of which would settle the battle for both sides. Gath. One of the five chief, Philistine cities, located 5 miles west of Azekah. six cubits and a span. One cubit measures approximately 18 inches and one span about 9 inches, making Goliath about 9 feet 9 inches in height (cf. "Egyptian," 1 Chron. 11:23, and "Og of Bashan," Deut. 3:11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:5 five thousand shekels. 125 pounds.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:7 six hundred shekels. 15 pounds.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:11 Saul . . . dismayed and greatly afraid. Saul and Israel had proven themselves to be greatly concerned with outward appearances (10:23–24; 15:30) and able to be influenced by the fear of men (12:12; 15:24). It is only natural that Goliath would be their worst nightmare come true.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:12 Ephrathite. Ephrath(ah), another name for the Bethlehem in Judah (cf. Ruth 4:11; Mic. 5:2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:15 David went back and forth from Saul. David's duties were divided between his billet with Saul as one of many armor bearers (16:21), and tending his father's sheep in Bethlehem. Doubtless, David learned important lessons regarding the weight of responsibility during this time, lessons that were later put to use in ruling over Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:17 ephah. About .75 of a bushel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:23 the same words. Goliath continued to offer the challenge of v. 10, as he had been doing for 40 mornings and evenings (v. 16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:25 great riches . . . his daughter. The reward of a daughter in marriage for a great victory over an enemy of Israel was not unusual (cf. Josh. 15:13–17).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:26 the reproach from Israel. David knew that although Goliath's challenge had been issued to (any) individual of the camp of Israel, Goliath's defiant attitude was a reproach to all Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:28 Eliab's anger. Eliab, perhaps still feeling the sting/rejection of having his "little" brother chosen over him by God/Samuel (16:6–7), expressed his jealousy in anger (cf. Gen. 37:4–5, 8, 11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:32 Let no man's heart fail. Joshua and Caleb exhorted Israel in the same fashion regarding the giant Anakim 400 years prior (cf. Num. 13:30; 14:8–9). The heathens' hearts fail at the name of the Lord God of Israel (cf. Rahab, Josh. 2:11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:33 You are not able. David's faith, like that of Joshua and Caleb, was met with disbelief on the part of Saul. By all outward appearances, Saul was absolutely correct in his assessment, but he failed to consider the Lord's presence in David's life.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:36 lions and bears. Just as David tended his flock of sheep and protected them from the lion and bear, his new responsibility as shepherd over Israel required him to eliminate the threat of Goliath.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:37 The Lord . . . will deliver me. Just as Jonathan believed earlier (14:6). David had a wholehearted faith in the God of Israel. the Lord be with you. One of the first explicit indications in the text that Saul knew that the Lord was with David (cf. 15:28).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:40 staff . . . stones . . . sling. The tools of the shepherd proved to be appropriate weapons also for Israel's shepherd. One of David's honorable and chief men of battle, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, slew a formidable Egyptian warrior (2 Sam. 23:20–21) with a staff like the one David

carried toward Goliath.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:43 dog. Goliath uttered a statement of ironic truth about himself of which even he was unaware. As a wild dog can be a threat to the flock and must be chased away or killed, so must Goliath.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:45 in the name of the Lord of hosts. Goliath came out to battle in his own name; David came to battle in the name of the Lord of all the hosts (armies). Cf. Deut. 20:1–5.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:46 all the earth may know. David fought in the name of the Lord and for the glory of the Lord, whose name and glory will extend to the uttermost parts of the earth, to all nations (cf. Josh. 4:24; 2 Sam. 22:50; Ps. 2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:47 the battle is the Lord's. Cf. Deut. 31:6 and Judg. 7:18. David fully understood the chief issue, i.e., the Philistines were in effect challenging the Lord by confronting the Lord's people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:48 David ran. David, unencumbered by armor or fear and emboldened by faith in God, ran to meet Goliath.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:50 no sword. Iron weapons were scarce in Israel (13:9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:51 cut off his head. David completed his promise given to Goliath in v. 46a. The Philistines would later do the same with Saul's head (31:9). fled. David's exclamation that there is a God in Israel (17:46) was proven before the Philistines, who were no strangers to the wrath of Yahweh (chs. 5–7). They wisely fled in terror, but did not honor the terms of Goliath if he lost (17:6– 9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:54 to Jerusalem. The Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, were a stubborn, resistant people (cf. Josh. 15:63; Judg. 1:21; 19:10–11), particularly to the tribe of Judah. They doubtless began to feel some anxiety concerning the victory of this Bethlehemite. The head of Goliath was a constant warning to them over the ensuing days as to their future (cf. 2 Sam. 5:6–10).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 17:55 Abner. See note on 14:50. whose son. David's lineage was of the utmost importance to Saul at this point, since the victor over Goliath would marry into his family (cf. 17:25; 18:18).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:1 Jonathan loved him. Jonathan loved David with a loyalty and devotion indicative of covenantal love (18:3). Hiram of Tyre had much the same covenantal love for David (cf. 2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1; 9:11). David's later reign from Jerusalem is marked by loyalty to his covenant with Jonathan (2 Sam. 9:1).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:2 would not let him return. Saul's interest in keeping David in his household was more self-serving than a token of generous hospitality. Saul was aware of his promise of wife and wealth (17:25), and, no doubt, the stirrings of anxiety/fear were in his heart toward David, who appeared as a threat. Saul preferred to have him in the court to keep a watchful eye on the young upstart.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:3 covenant. See v. 1. Further mention of this honorable relationship is made in: 19:1; 20:8, 13–17, 42; 22:8; 23:18.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:4 robe . . . belt. Jonathan willingly and subserviently relinquished the outer garments and instruments that signified his position as prince of Israel and heir to the throne. Jonathan, a godly worshiper of Yahweh, quickly discerned that David was God's anointed and, without reservation, offered the robe of succession to the true king of Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:7 David his ten thousands. This is a song that Saul grew to hate (cf. 21:11; 28:5) because it exalted David over him.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:8 the kingdom. Saul's jealousy and malice toward David were now explicit. By his own statement, Saul acknowledged that David was the rightful heir to the throne and the one of whom Samuel spoke in Gilgal (15:28).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:10 a harmful spirit. The painful descent and eventual demise of Saul was marked by the persistent vexing of this spirit. See 16:14. raved. This means to speak before people, not predict the future. Saul's speeches in the midst of the house were the ravings of one troubled by an evil spirit like other false prophets (cf. 1 Kings 22:19–23).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:11 David evaded . . . twice. As Saul's behavior was becoming increasingly violent, he made more than one attempt on David's life with the javelin. It was evident that God was with David, as it would be no small feat to dodge a javelin cast by such an experienced warrior as Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:12 Saul was afraid of David. Saul, faced with the same conclusion reached by Jonathan in vv. 1–4, reacted with fear. Saul, a man who viewed life from a human perspective rather than a divine one, could view David only as a personal threat, rather than a blessing to Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:13 commander of a thousand. Saul gave David a military commission, intended as kind of an honorable exile. But this duty only served to give David opportunity to display his remarkable quality of character and strengthen his hold on the people's affections.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:16 loved David. The writer of Samuel, inspired by the Holy Spirit, offers an editorial comment full of truth.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:17 Merab. Lit., "compensation" or "substitute" (cf. 14:49). Saul's later retraction of the betrothal to Merab (18:19) was similar to Laban's trickery with Jacob and Rachel (Gen. 29:25). fight the Lord's battles. A phrase Saul knew would appeal to David. Saul made the offer out of a treacherous heart, desiring evil and calamity for David. Notice the similarity between Saul's treachery and that of David with Uriah (2 Sam. 11:15).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:18 son-in-law. The familial lineage was crucial when marrying into the king's family. David asked, "Who am I . . . my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?" Saul had asked of David's lineage three times previously (17:55–58).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:19 Adriel the Meholathite. Merab married this man and bore children, five of whom were sons later executed by David as punishment for Saul's disregard of Joshua's covenant with the Gibeonites (2 Sam. 21:8; cf. Josh. 9:20).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:20 Michal. Lit., "Who is like God?" Michal sincerely loved David and perhaps was aware, as Jonathan, of his certain ascent (and right) to the throne. Ironically, Saul offered her to David, not from a benevolent heart, but as a "snare" (v. 21).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:25 bride-price. Saul resorted to the same treachery in his offer of betrothal to Merab, plotting to eliminate David by placing him in jeopardy with the Philistines. David, already having proved himself wise in many things (16:18), was aware, to some extent, of Saul's intent and acted obediently, valiantly, and wisely.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:25, 27 foreskins. Such mutilations of the bodies of slain enemies were commonly practiced in ancient warfare. The number indicated the extent of the victory. Saul's intent was to expose David to deadly danger by engaging in such an extensive and hazardous task.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:27 his men. Cf. 22:2; 25:12–13; 2 Sam. 23:8–39.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 18:29 Saul was David's enemy. All of Saul's plans came to naught. Saul asked for 100 Philistine foreskins; David brought 200. Saul offered Michal as a "snare"; Michal loved David as did Saul's own son, Jonathan. There remained nothing else for Saul to contrive except open hatred toward David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:1 kill David. Saul no longer tried to disguise or cover his evil intent toward David, but ironically made known his intent to those who held David in the highest esteem (cf. 16:18; 18:1–4). God, in his mercy, made sure that David had sympathetic ears within Saul's court to inform him of Saul's evil plans (e.g., 19:7; 20:2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:4 Jonathan spoke well of David. Jonathan attempted to persuade his father with calm reason. Jonathan's reason was tempered by a godly attitude centered on a remembrance of the Torah (14:6; cf. Num. 11:23; 14:9) and a covenantal loyalty toward and faithfulness for David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:4–5 he has not sinned. Jonathan reminded Saul that David had done nothing to deserve death; in fact, he was worthy of honor for his good works toward the king and Israel. Jonathan knew that the spilling of innocent blood would affect all Israel, not just the house of Saul (Deut. 21:8–9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:6 he shall not be put to death. Saul temporarily responded to reason and conviction in his heart. His mental capacity was so unbalanced, however, that this response would not last for long.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:9 a harmful spirit. Jealousy, rage, and anger once again dominated Saul, who was enraged by David's success against the Philistines. See 6:14 and 18:10.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:10 pin David . . . with the spear. Saul's already diminished capacity for reason was once again completely clouded by anger, and he responded toward David with murderous intent (cf. 18:10–11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:11 Michal . . . told him. Michal, far from being a "snare" (18:21) to David, was instrumental in saving his life. Michal, at this time in her relationship with David, displayed a covenantal love and faithfulness similar to that of Jonathan. See the title of Ps. 59.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:13 image. Hebrew teraphim. The writer of Samuel draws a parallel between David/Michal/Saul and Jacob/Rachel/Laban (see note on 18:17), in that both Rachel and Michal employed the use of household gods ("teraphim") in trickery and out of loyalty for their husbands rather than their fathers (cf. Gen. 31:30–35).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:17 He said to me. Michal lied in telling Saul the exact opposite of what she said to David (v. 11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:18 Ramah. With the mention of Samuel's birthplace, the author establishes a verbal link with 1:1, and also reminds the reader of Saul's first encounter with Samuel the seer in Zuph (Ramathaim-zophim). Naioth. Perhaps dwellings or quarters within the town limits of Ramah, where Samuel and his company of prophet-disciples met for training, prayer, and fellowship (cf. Elisha at Gilgal, 2 Kings 6:1–2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:20 company of the prophets prophesying. These prophets were declaring the word of God, probably with musical accompaniment. Saul's messengers could not fulfill their task of taking David captive because they were irresistibly led to join the prophets and speak for and praise God.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:22 great well . . . in Secu. The exact location is unknown; the probable location was approximately two miles north of Ramah.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:23 the Spirit of God came upon him. This was the last time the Spirit of the Lord would rest on Saul. God turned Saul's heart to prophesy and not to harm David. See note on 16:13.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 19:24 stripped off his clothes. Saul removed his armor and royal garments (cf. Jonathan, 18:4), prompted by the Spirit of God, thus signifying God's rejection of Saul as king over Israel. lay naked. Without the royal garments, Saul was figuratively "naked," perhaps so overwhelmed by the Spirit of God as to be in a deep sleep. Other than Saul's utter despair and pitiful state at the home of the witch at En-dor (28:20) and his end at Mount Gilboa

(31:4–6), this episode represents one of the severest humblings in Saul's life. Is Saul also among the prophets? This is a final editorial comment tying together the Spirit of God's presence at Saul's inauguration (10:10–11), and the final departure of the same at his rejection (19:24).

David Flees from Saul

David's growing reputation among the people as a warrior and leader incited Saul's jealousy, and Saul began trying to kill David. David fled from Saul in Gibeah (1) and went to Samuel at Naioth in Ramah (2), but soon Saul sought him there, and David fled back to Jonathan in Gibeah (3). After Jonathan warned David of Saul's determination to kill him, David fled to Ahimelech the priest at Nob (4), where he collected food and Goliath's sword. David briefly sought refuge in the Philistine city of Gath (5) and then set up his headquarters at the cave of Adullam (6), where the ranks of his army swelled to 400 men. In order to protect his parents from harm, David left them in the care of the king of Moab at Mizpeh (7) and went to live in "the stronghold" (8). After some time, David went to the forest of Hereth (9) and then left to rescue nearby Keilah (10) from some Philistine raiding parties. When David heard that Saul was coming to Keilah, he and his growing army of 600 men relocated to the wilderness of Ziph (11). After the men of Ziph betrayed David to Saul, David and his men went to live in the wilderness of Maon (12) and narrowly escaped capture there by Saul. Fleeing the strongholds of Engedi (13), David again evaded capture by Saul and refused an opportunity to take Saul's life. David returned to "the stronghold" (14) and then to the wilderness of Paran (15). While he was there, David was again betrayed to Saul by the men of Ziph and refused another opportunity to take Saul's life. Finally, David and his men sought refuge with Achish, the king of Gath (16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:1 Naioth in Ramah. See note on 19:18.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:2 why should my father hide this from me? Although Jonathan expressed his certainty that Saul was not seeking David's life, he may have been unaware of the most recent attempts on David's life (19:9–24) and was trusting in his father's oath not to harm David (19:6). Jonathan expected to be informed by Saul of any change in his plans.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:5 the new moon. The first day of the month, referred to as "the new moon," was celebrated with a sacrificial meal (cf. 2 Kings 4:23; Isa. 1:13; Amos 8:5) and served both as a religious and civil festival (Num. 10:10; 28:11–15). hide . . . in the field. As in 1 Sam. 19:2–3, David hid from Saul in a secret place.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:6 a yearly sacrifice. Apparently, David's family held an annual family reunion that coincided with one of the monthly new moon celebrations (cf. vv. 28–29).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:8 covenant. Cf. 18:1–3. Jonathan and David had solemnly pledged their friendship and loyalty to each other before the Lord. Their covenant is further amplified in 20:13–17, 42; 23:17–18. kill me yourself. As his covenant friend, David asked Jonathan to kill him, if he was deserving of death because of his possible sin.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:14 the steadfast love of the Lord. Jonathan acknowledged that David would one day be Israel's king. With that in mind, Jonathan requested protection for him and his family when David took the throne.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:16 the house of David. This covenant was not only binding on Jonathan and David, but also upon the descendants of each. See 2 Sam. 9:1–8 for the account of David's kindness to a descendant of Jonathan in fulfillment of this covenant. David's enemies. Jonathan perceived that among David's adversaries who would be cut off when he became king was his own father, Saul (cf. 1 Sam. 18:29; 19:17).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:17 swear. In response to Jonathan's words, David solemnly pledged to fulfill the covenant between himself and Jonathan. loved him as . . . his own soul. A deep concern and affection was the basis of the covenantal relationship between Jonathan and David. This is the affection commanded by God when he said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:19 stone heap. The esv follows the LXX; the Hebrew (see esv footnote) reads "the stone Ezel," which may mean "departure stone." The location of this stone is unknown, but it was a well-known landmark in the field where David was hiding.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:25 Abner. Saul's cousin and commander of his army (see note on 14:50).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:26 not clean. At first, Saul did not question David's absence at the feast, assuming that he was ritually unclean and thus could not participate in the meal (cf. Lev. 7:20–21; 15:16).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:30 son of a perverse, rebellious woman. With a vile epithet, Saul was cursing Jonathan, not Jonathan's mother, for having sided with David to his own shame and the shame of the mother who birthed him.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:41 bowed three times. David's bowing down more than once acknowledged Jonathan as the prince, and expressed humble affection for him.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 20:42 sworn. See note on 20:17. the city. I.e., Gibeah, the home of Saul. From this point until Saul's death, David was an outcast from the royal court.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:1 Nob. "The city of the priests" (22:19). The priests dwelt on Mount Scopus, about 1 mile northeast of Jerusalem. David went there for necessary supplies and for comfort and counsel. Ahimelech. A great grandson of Eli (1:9), who is possibly the brother of Ahijah (14:3; 22:11), or Ahimelech may be another name for Ahijah. Not only is there a rejected king on the throne (15:26–29) but also a disqualified priest (2:30–36). See note on Mark 2:26.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:2 The king has charged me. David, fearing someone might tell Saul where he was, deceived Ahimelech the priest into thinking that he was on official business for the king. He supposed, as many do, that it is excusable to lie for the purpose of saving one's life. But what is essentially sinful can never, because of circumstances, change its immoral character (cf. Ps. 119:29). David's lying led tragically to the deaths of the priests (1 Sam. 22:9– 18).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:4 holy bread. Consecrated bread was set apart for use in the tabernacle to be eaten only by the priests (Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–9). Ahimelech sought the Lord and received approval (1 Sam. 22:10) when he recognized that his spiritual obligation to preserve David's life superseded the ceremonial regulation concerning who could eat the consecrated bread (see Matt.

12:3, 4; Mark 2:25–26). kept themselves from women. Though this was not a spiritual mission or religious journey, David and his men were ceremonially clean (see Ex. 19:15).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:5 their vessels. A euphemism for the bodies of the young men, as in 1 Thess. 4:4.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:6 holy bread. Since that bread was no longer on the Lord's table, having been replaced by hot bread, it was to be eaten by the priests and in these exigencies, by David under the law of necessity and mercy. See note on 21:4. The removal of the old bread and the replacing with new was done on the Sabbath (Lev. 24:8).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:7 Doeg the Edomite. The head shepherd of Saul's herd, who witnessed the encounter between David and Ahimelech and told Saul (cf. 22:9–10), had embraced the Hebrew religion and was at the tabernacle, perhaps detained because it was the Sabbath and he could not travel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:9 The sword of Goliath. The sword which David had used to behead Goliath in the valley of Elah (17:51) was kept in the place for storing the sacred vestments ("the ephod") deposited there as a memorial to divine goodness in the deliverance of Israel. the ephod. See notes on 2:18, 28; 14:3.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:10 Achish the king of Gath. One of the kings or lords of the Philistines. See notes on 4:1; 5:8 for Gath. This seemed to be a dangerous place to go, since David was their greatest enemy and carried Goliath's sword into the giant's hometown.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 21:13 pretended to be insane. David feared for his life, lacked trust in God to deliver him, and feigned insanity to persuade Achish to send him away. See the titles of Ps. 34 and 56. Drooling in one's beard was considered in the East an intolerable indignity, as was spitting in another's beard.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:1 cave of Adullam. A cave near Adullam was David's refuge. Adullam, which may mean "refuge," was located in the western foothills of Judah (Josh. 15:33), about 17 miles southwest of Jerusalem and 10 miles southeast of Gath. See titles of Ps. 57 and 142, which could possibly refer to 1 Sam. 24:3. brothers and all his father's house. David's family members went down from Bethlehem to join David in Adullam, a journey of about 12 miles.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:2 captain over . . . four hundred men. David became the leader of a formidable force of men united by adverse circumstances. This personal army would soon grow to 600 (23:13).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:3 Mizpeh of Moab. Mizpeh means "watch tower," or "place that overlooks." Located on one of the heights of the tableland east of the Dead Sea, this site cannot be exactly identified. king of Moab. This ruler was probably a mutual enemy of King Saul. David had Moabite blood from his greatgrandmother Ruth, and thus sought refuge for his father and mother in Moab (see Ruth 1:4–18; 4:13–22).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:5 prophet Gad. As the prophet Samuel had helped and advised Saul, so now Gad performed the same functions for David (cf. 2 Sam 24:11, where Gad is called "David's seer"). forest of Hereth. Location in Judah unknown.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:6 tamarisk tree. Possibly located on a hill outside Gibeah which had been given over to pagan worship (cf. Ezek. 16:24–25, 31, 39). spear. A reminder of the threat that Saul was to friend and foe alike (cf. 18:10–11; 19:9–10; 20:3).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:7 people of Benjamin. Saul asked those of his own tribe whether associating themselves with David would provide for them more possessions and privileges than they already had from Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:8 my son makes a covenant. See note on 20:8.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:8–13 to lie in wait. Saul insinuated that David was plotting his death. This was not true, as David would later spare Saul's life (vv. 24:1–22).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:9–10 Doeg the Edomite. See note on 21:7 and the title of Ps. 52.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:13 conspired against me. Saul insisted falsely that Ahimelech was in league with his enemy David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:14 captain over your bodyguard. Ahimelech responded to Saul by defending David's character as loyal to Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:16–19 This fulfills the curse on Eli's house (see note on 1 Sam. 2:31), with the exception of Abiathar, who was later dismissed from the priesthood by Solomon (1 Kings 2:26–29).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:17 would not . . . strike the priests. Although Saul condemned Ahimelech and the priests to death, his servants knew better than to raise their weapons against the priests of the Lord.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:18 linen ephod. See notes on 2:18 and 14:3.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:19 Nob, the city of the priests. See note on 21:1. What Saul failed to do righteously to the Amalekites (15:3, 8–9), he unrighteously did to the citizens of Nob.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:20 Abiathar. Lit., "The father is excellent." A son of Ahimelech (cf. 21:1) who escaped the slaughter and joined David's company, he performed priestly functions for David for the rest of David's life (cf. 23:6, 9; 30:7; 2 Sam. 8:17). See note on 1 Sam. 22:16–19.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 22:22 I have occasioned. David recognized his responsibility for causing the deaths of the priests' families and animals, acknowledging the devastating consequences of his lie to Ahimelech (cf. 21:1– 2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:1 Keilah. A city located in the western foothills of Judah (see Josh. 15:44), about 18 miles southwest of Jerusalem and 3 miles southeast of Adullam.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:2 inquired of the Lord. Such inquiries were made using the sacred lots, the Urim and Thummim, stored in the priestly ephod that Abiathar had brought to David (v. 6). See note on Ex. 28:30.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:7 gates and bars. Lit., "two doors and a bar." Keilah perhaps had only one gateway in its wall. Its two reinforced wooden doors had hinged posts at the sides of the entrance, meeting in the center and secured with a heavy bar spanning the entrance horizontally. Since there was only this one way in and out of the city, Saul believed he had David trapped.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:11 surrender me. David inquired of the Lord again, using the ephod with the Urim and Thummim by which God revealed his will.

David wanted to know whether the men of Keilah would be disloyal and surrender him into the hands of Saul. The Lord answered in the affirmative in v. 12.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:13 men, who were about six hundred. See note on 22:2 when David had only 400 men.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:14 strongholds . . . wilderness. The wilderness of Judah is the barren desert area between the hill country and the Dead Sea. Many ravines and caves are found in this rugged region, which David used as a place of refuge from Saul. The title of Ps. 63 may refer to this incident or to 2 Sam. 15:23–28. wilderness of Ziph. The wilderness surrounding Ziph, 4 miles south of Hebron. God did not give him. God sovereignly protected David from Saul for the fulfilling of his own divine purposes (cf. Isa. 46:9–11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:16–17 strengthened his hand in God. Jonathan encouraged David by reminding him of the Lord's promise to him and concern for him, by emphatically assuring him that the Lord would make him the next king over Israel, as Saul well knew (see 20:30–31).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:18 covenant. See notes on 18:3 and 20:8.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:19 hill of Hachilah. Location unknown, somewhere between Ziph and the Dead Sea. See the title of Ps. 54. Jeshimon. Another name for the wilderness of Judea.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:24 wilderness of Maon. The barren territory in the vicinity of Maon (see Josh. 15:48, 55), about 5 miles south of Ziph.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:25 the rock. A landmark in the wilderness of Maon, soon to be given a name (v. 28).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:26 closing in on David. Saul probably divided his forces into two groups and so surrounded David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:27 Philistines have made a raid against the land. Providentially, a messenger came to Saul telling him that the Philistines were invading the land so that he had no choice but to withdraw and postpone his pursuit of David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:28 the Rock of Escape. The timely retreat of Saul's men from David's men led to this name.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 23:29 Engedi. An oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea 14 miles east of Ziph, where there is a fresh water spring and lush vineyards (Song 1:14), standing in stark contrast to the surrounding wilderness. The limestone that dominates this region is permeated with caves, which provided good hiding places for David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:2 three thousand chosen men. See 26:2. These were the most skilled soldiers. Wildgoats' Rocks. The location of this cave is unknown, although "wildgoats" stresses the inaccessibility of the cave (cf. Job 39:1). See the titles of Ps. 57 and 142, which could also possibly refer to 1 Sam. 22:1.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:3 to relieve himself. Lit., "to cover his feet." This is a euphemism for having a bowel movement, as the person would crouch with his inner garment dropped to his feet.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:4 the day of which the Lord said to you. David's men perhaps believed that God had providentially placed Saul in the same cave where they were hiding so David could kill the king. However, nothing revelatory had previously been said by the Lord that indicated he wanted David to lift a hand against Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:5 David's heart struck him. David was able to cut off a piece of Saul's robe undetected. However, touching Saul's clothing was tantamount to touching his person, and David's conscience troubled him on this account.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:6 Lord's anointed. David recognized that the Lord himself had placed Saul into the kingship. Thus the judgment and removal of Saul had to be left to the Lord.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:11 no wrong or treason. If David were a wicked rebel against the rule of Saul, as Saul had said (22:8, 13), he would have killed Saul when given this opportunity. The corner of the robe was proof to Saul that David was not his enemy.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:12 May the Lord judge. David called for the Lord himself, the only fair and impartial Judge (cf. Judg. 11:27), to decide the fate of

David and Saul (also 1 Sam. 24:15).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:13 proverb. A traditional pithy statement that evil deeds are perpetrated only by evil men. A similar point is made by Jesus in Matt. 7:16, 20.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:14 a dead dog! After a flea! David hereby expresses his lowliness and entire committal of his cause to God, who alone is the Judge and to whom alone belongs vengeance.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:17 You are more righteous than I. Upon hearing David's testimony, Saul was moved with emotion and acknowledged that David was more righteous than he was. His testimony to David's righteousness recognized David's right to the kingship.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:20 you shall surely be king. Saul emphatically acknowledged that David would be the ruler over the kingdom of Israel. Saul had already been told by Samuel that God would take the kingdom away from him and give it to a man after his own heart (13:14; 15:28). Jonathan had testified that Saul already knew that David would be king (23:17). However, this recognition did not mean that Saul was ready to give up the kingdom.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 24:22 David swore this to Saul. By solemn oath, David agreed to preserve Saul's family and family name. While most of Saul's family was later slain (2 Sam. 21:8–9), this pledge was fulfilled in the life of Mephibosheth (see note on 2 Sam. 21:7).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:1 all Israel . . . mourned for him. The death of Samuel, the last of the judges, brought Israel to the end of an era. So widespread was Samuel's influence among the people that all Israel gathered to lament his death. wilderness of Paran. A desert area in the northeast region of the Sinai Peninsula.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:2 Carmel. "Vineyard land," "garden spot." About 7 miles south of Hebron and 1 mile north of Maon. This was the same spot where Saul erected a monument in his own honor (15:12).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:3 Nabal. "Fool." An appropriate name in view of his foolish behavior (v. 25). Abigail. "My father is joy." The wife of Nabal was intelligent and beautiful in contrast to her evil husband. a Calebite. Nabal was a

descendant of Caleb and lived in Caleb's tribal holdings (Josh. 14:13; 15:13), but did not possess the spiritual qualities of his illustrious forefather.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:4–5 shearing his sheep. While hiding out in the wilderness, David and his men took the job of protecting the flocks of Nabal (vv. 7, 15–16). Upon hearing that Nabal was shearing his sheep, David sent 10 of his men to collect their rightful compensation for the good they had done (v. 8).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:8 a feast day. A special day of rejoicing over the abundance of sheared wool from the sheep (cf. v. 11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:10–11 This pretended ignorance of David was surely a sham. The knowledge of the young king-elect was widespread. Nabal pretended not to know to excuse his unwillingness to do what was right.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:14 railed. David sent his messengers to "greet" (lit., "bless") Nabal, but David's men were viciously rebuffed by Nabal. This term emphasized the wickedness of Nabal's action.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:15–16 The testimony of one of Nabal's men affirmed the value of David's protection. It was like a fortress "wall" enclosing a city, providing total security.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:17 one cannot speak to him. Nabal was a "son of Belial," a worthless fellow (see note on 2:12). Nabal's situation was the product of his own wickedness. His unwillingness to seek the counsel of others ultimately led to his demise.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:18 five seahs. Slightly more than one bushel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:19 did not tell her husband. Abigail knew that Nabal would disagree with her actions, but knowing the Lord's choice of David (v. 28), she recognized the consequences involved in Nabal's cursing of David. By her actions, she chose to obey God rather than man (see Acts 5:29), as a wife may sometimes need to do.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:22 God do so. A strong oath of self-imprecation. David swore that he would kill every male in Nabal's household by daybreak.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:25 this worthless fellow. I.e., "troublemaker." as his

name is, so is he. A name was not simply a label of distinguishing one thing from another, but a profound insight into the character of the one named. "Fool" has the connotation of one who is "morally deficient."

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:28 a sure house. Abigail's perceptive insight fit an essential feature of the Davidic Covenant (see 2 Sam. 7:11–16). fighting the battles of the Lord. Unlike the king previously desired by the people (1 Sam. 8:20), David was a man who fought the Lord's battles. He was truly God's king.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:29 bound in the bundle of the living. A metaphor that reflects the custom of binding valuables in a bundle to protect them from injury. The point here was that God cared for his own as a man would his valuable treasure. David, she said, enjoyed the protection of divine providence, which destined him for great things. On the other hand, God would fling his enemies away like a stone in a slingshot.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:30 prince over Israel. Abigail was certain that David would exercise effective rule over Israel after Saul's death. In the meantime, however, she did not want him to do anything to jeopardize his future, endanger his throne, or violate God's will by seeking personal vengeance in anger (vv. 33– 34).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:37–38 heart died . . . became as a stone. Intoxicated, Nabal apparently suffered a stroke and became paralyzed until he died.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:43 Ahinoam of Jezreel. David's third wife, joining Michal and Abigail. For Jezreel, see note on 29:1.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 25:44 Palti . . . of Gallim. Palti means "my deliverance." The location of Gallim is unknown, but was probably a few miles north of Jerusalem. See 2 Sam. 3:13–16 for Michal's return to David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:1 hill of Hachilah . . . Jeshimon. See notes on 23:19.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:2 three thousand chosen men. See 24:2.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:5 Saul was lying. Saul was sleeping in an apparently invulnerable place. He had his commander beside him, inside the camp, surrounded by his entire army. Abner. See note on 14:50.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:6 Ahimelech the Hittite. Mentioned only here, he was one of the many mercenaries who formed a part of David's army. Joab's brother, Abishai the son of Zeruiah. See note on 2 Sam. 2:18. He joined with Ahimelech in going down with David into the camp of Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:9 the Lord's anointed. See note on 24:6.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:10 As the Lord lives. An oath usually associated with life-or-death matters. The sovereign God would decide when, where, and how Saul would perish, not David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:12 spear and the jar. Like the corner of Saul's robe (24:4), these were taken as proof that David had Saul's life in his hand (cf. 26:16). a deep sleep from the Lord. As with Adam in Gen. 2:21 and Abraham in Gen. 15:12, the Lord caused Saul to be unaware of what was taking place around him.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:19 If it is the Lord . . . if it is men. David set forth two possibilities for why Saul was pursuing him. First, David had sinned against the Lord. If that was the case, he was willing to offer a sacrifice for atonement. Second, evil men had caused Saul's hostility toward David. If that were the case, these men should be judged. the heritage of the Lord. I.e., the land of Israel (cf. 2 Sam. 20:19; 21:3). Go, serve other gods. David's exile from the land was virtually equivalent to forcing him to abandon the worship of the Lord, for there were no sanctuaries to the Lord outside of Israelite territory.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:20 flea . . . partridge. The flea represents something that was worthless and the partridge something that was impossible to catch. Saul was wasting his time with his pursuit of David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:21 I have sinned. As in 24:17, Saul confessed his sin and wrongdoing. Although Saul may have been sincere, he could not be trusted and David wisely did not accept his invitation to return with him. I have acted foolishly. Saul had been foolish in his actions toward David, as had Nabal.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 26:25 will succeed. Saul recognized the certain success of David's future as Israel's king (cf. 24:20).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:1 by the hand of Saul. In direct contrast to Saul's word that David would prevail (26:25), David thought that Saul would ultimately kill

him. This anxious thinking and the fear that fell upon him explain David's actions in this chapter. God had told him to stay in Judah (22:5), but he was afraid and sought protection again among the Philistine enemies of Israel (cf. 21:10–15).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:3 two wives. His third wife, Michal, had been temporarily given to another man by Saul (cf. 25:44).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:4 no longer sought him. Saul was no longer able to pursue David since he was out of the land of Israel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:5 the royal city. I.e., Gath. David requested a city of his own in the country so that he could be free from the constant surveillance to which he was exposed in Gath, and so that he could avoid the pagan influence of that Philistine city.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:6 Ziklag. This was a city located about 13 miles northwest of Beersheba that had been an Israelite possession (Josh. 15:31; 19:5), but was then under Philistine control. to this day. Ziklag became a part of Judah and was still so at the time of the writing of Samuel, which is clearly in the postSolomonic, divided kingdom era. See Introduction: Author and Date.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:7 a year and four months. For 16 months David was able to deceive Achish concerning his actions. He remained there until after Saul's death, when he moved to Hebron (2 Sam. 1:1; 2:1–2).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:8 Geshurites . . . Girzites . . . Amalekites. These peoples lived in southern Canaan and northern Sinai. Shur . . . Egypt. See note on 15:7.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:9 would leave neither man nor woman alive. David left no survivors from his raids in order that Achish might not learn the true nature of his desert exploits (see v. 11).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 27:10 Judah . . . Jerahmeelites . . . Kenites. The regions south of the hill country centering around Beersheba. This region was far enough away from Gath so that Achish would be ignorant of David's movements. David implied to Achish that the hostility of Judah toward David was increasing, while in fact he was gaining the appreciation and loyalty of Judah toward himself by raiding their wilderness neighbors. Achish thought David was more securely his

servant as his own people turned against him (vv. 2–4), but just the opposite was true.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:1 Understand that. The kindness showed to David and his men by Achish in Gath was not without expectation of reciprocation. This phrase seems to presuppose an understanding of this expectation.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:2 what your servant can do. Being a man of honor, David would not fail to help those who had shown him kindness. David was drawing attention to the fact that he had proven himself as a valiant and successful warrior and was assuring Achish of his fidelity and ability. bodyguard. In light of David's victory over Goliath (17:49–54) and imagined bad reputation among the Israelites, Achish was expressing considerable trust in David's loyalty and ability, for "bodyguard" lit. means "keeper of my head."

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:3–13 Having deprived himself of every legitimate means of spiritual input as a result of his own disobedience and rebellion, Saul walked in foolishness again by seeking out the very resource (a medium) he had previously removed from the land. Saul swore to the medium an oath of safety by the very God that he was disobeying even then. Yet the inexorable curiosity of Saul to consult Samuel, in spite of Samuel's death, was satisfied by the medium's willingness to "bring up" Samuel.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:3 mediums and the necromancers. By divine law, they were banned from Israel (Deut. 18:11), and Israel was not to be defiled by them (Lev. 19:31). Turning to them was tantamount to playing the harlot and would result in God setting his face against the person and cutting him off from among his people (Lev. 20:6). Mediums and spiritists were to be put to death by stoning (Lev. 20:27). Even Saul understood this and had previously dealt with the issue (see 1 Sam. 28:9).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:4 Shunem. Situated southwest of the hill of Moreh and 16 miles southwest of the Sea of Galilee; the Philistines designated it as their camp site. Gilboa. The mountain range beginning 5 miles south of Shunem and extending southward along the eastern edge of the plain of Jezreel. See note on 31:1.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:5 his heart trembled greatly. Saul had hidden himself when he was chosen by lot to be king (10:22). When the Spirit of the Lord came

upon him, he was changed (10:6), but after the Spirit had departed (16:14), he was afraid and dismayed by Goliath (17:11, 24). He feared at Gilgal when faced by the overwhelming size of the Philistine army (13:11–12). Saul was also afraid of David because he knew that the Lord was with David (18:12, 29). But Saul was to fear God (12:24), not people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:6 dreams . . . Urim . . . prophets. These were the three basic ways through which God revealed his word and his will. Dreams and visions were the common manner through which the Lord revealed himself and his will during the time of Moses (Num. 12:6). The Urim was used by the priest as a means of inquiring of the Lord (Num. 27:21). It was originally put in the breastpiece of judgment with the Thummim and worn over Aaron's heart when he went in before the Lord (see note on Ex. 28:30). Somehow, unknown to us, God revealed his will by it. Prophets were formerly called seers (1 Sam. 9:9) and were used as a reference for inquiring of the Lord. God also used prophets to declare his word when people were not interested in it (Amos 7:12–13). Since Saul had rejected the Lord, God had rejected him (1 Sam. 15:23). Saul appears to have had no court prophet in the manner that Gad and Nathan were to David (22:5; 2 Sam. 12); and, by this time, the ephod with the Urim was in David's possession by virtue of Abiathar the priest (1 Sam. 23:6).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:7 Seek out for me . . . a medium. In Saul's desperation, he sought the very source that he had formerly removed from the land (v. 3). In spite of the ban, Saul's servant knew exactly where to find a medium. En-dor. Located about 3.5 miles northwest of Shunem between Mount Tabor and the Hill of Moreh. Saul risked his life by venturing into the Philistine-held territory to seek out the counsel of the medium; thus he went in disguise by night (v. 8).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:10 swore to her by the Lord. Though blatantly walking in disobedience to God, it is ironic that Saul would swear by the very existence of the Lord as a means of assuring his credibility to the medium. Even more, Saul swore that no punishment would come upon her when the Levitical law required her to be stoned to death (Lev. 20:27).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:12 the woman saw Samuel. Though questions have arisen as to the nature of Samuel's appearance, the text clearly indicates that Samuel, not an apparition, was evident to the eyes of the medium. God miraculously permitted the actual spirit of Samuel to speak (vv. 16–19). Because she understood her inability to raise the dead in this manner, she immediately

knew 1) that it must have been by the power of God and 2) that her disguised inquirer must be Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:13 a god coming up out of the earth. The word translated "god" is actually the Hebrew word meaning "God, gods, angel, ruler, or judge." It can also be used to designate a likeness to one of these. From the medium's perspective, Samuel appeared to be "a god" ascending out of the earth. There is no other such miracle as this in all of Scripture.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:14 old man . . . in a robe. Obviously age and clothing do not exist in the realm of the spirits of those who have died, but God miraculously gave such appearances so that Saul was able to perceive that the spirit was Samuel. The question arises whether all believers will remain in the form they were in when they died. Samuel may have been as such simply for the benefit of Saul, or he might be in this state until he receives his resurrection body. Since Scripture teaches that the resurrection of OT saints is yet future (see Dan. 12:1–2), Samuel must have temporarily been in this condition solely for the benefit of Saul.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:15 disturbed me. Samuel's comment expresses agitation caused by Saul's efforts to contact him since living humanity was not allowed to seek out discussions with the dead (Deut. 18:11; Lev. 20:6). Witchcraft puts the seeker in contact with demons impersonating those who are being sought, since the dead person cannot ordinarily be contacted, except in this unique case.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:16, 18 your enemy. See 15:26–35.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:19 shall be with me. This could mean with him in "the abode of the righteous." There is no doubt that Samuel meant this to serve as a premonition of Saul's soon death.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 28:20 no strength in him. Already afraid with a heart that "trembled greatly" because of the Philistines (v. 5), Saul's fear was so heightened by the words of Samuel that he was completely deprived of strength and vigor, which was reinforced by a lack of nourishment. The woman met his physical needs, and he returned to his camp to await his doom (vv. 21–25).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:1 gathered . . . encamped. The Philistines were assembling for battle while the Israelites were still camping by the spring. This picks up the story line originally started in 28:1, but which was sidelined to

communicate Saul's encounter with the medium. Aphek. Located about 24 miles north of Gath (cf. 4:1). Jezreel. Only a few miles south of Shunem, and 40 miles northeast of Aphek, Jezreel was north of Mount Gilboa.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:3 no fault. David had proven himself as an honorable and righteous man before Achish, who knew that he could trust David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:4 he become an adversary. The Philistine lords were not as willing as Achish to give favor and trust to David. Being very shrewd in their estimation of potential hazards, they realized that he might be feigning loyalty to the Philistines in order to seize a strategic moment in the battle when he could betray and fight against them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:5 David, of whom they sing. The fame of David had spread throughout the land. The Philistine lords were no stranger to the skill and the victories that God had given to mighty David.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:6 As the Lord lives. When seeking the highest standard by which to assure David of his credibility, Achish swore by the existence of David's God. It is evident that the pagan world knows of God, but the irony is that their knowledge does not necessarily lead to repentance.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:8 the enemies of my lord the king. David's fidelity to Achish seemed to be at its climax in this expression of loyalty. David appears to have been fully prepared to do battle on behalf of Achish against his enemies, namely Israel. In light of David's former refusal to stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed (24:6, 10; 26:9, 11, 21), David might have been capitulating and compromising. He did not inquire of the Lord before going to live with Achish, nor did he inquire of the Lord as to whether he should go out to battle with Achish. On the other hand, it could be that while David gave the appearance of loyalty, he actually believed the Philistines would not let him go out to battle, just as it actually happened (cf. 27:8–12). The providence of God kept David from fighting against the Lord's anointed and his own countrymen.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:9 an angel of God. The degree to which Achish praised David has led some to believe that his eulogy was merely a formal attempt at flattery.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 29:11 Jezreel. This was used to designate both a city about 56 miles north of Jerusalem as well as the plain of Jezreel, which served as a

major battlefield for many nations. The city was situated in the territory of Issachar (Josh. 19:18). It was bounded on the north and south by Megiddo and Beth-shean (1 Kings 4:12) and on the west and east by Mount Carmel and Mount Gilboa.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:1 Ziklag. Serving as a temporary place of residence for David and his 600 men, Ziklag was located in the Negeb and given to David by Achish the king of Gath (27:6). David used it as the base from which he would make raids on the neighboring tribes (27:8–11). Amalekites. Reaping the consequences of Saul's failure to utterly destroy the Amalekites (ch. 15) and David's raids against them (27:8), David and his men were the victims of a successful raid in which the Amalekites took all of their wives and livestock captive before burning Ziklag, their city.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:6 distressed . . . bitter. Arriving home to the reality of their great tragedy caused David immense distress and provoked the wickedness of his men to entertain the treasonous idea of stoning him. Having not inquired of the Lord before his departure to support Achish in battle, David was in need of God's getting his attention. strengthened himself in the Lord his God. This was the key to David being a man after God's heart (cf. 13:14; Acts 13:22).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:7 Abiathar brought the ephod. Serving as a source through which one could make direct and specific inquiry into the will of God, the high priest's ephod, which contained the Urim and Thummim, was sought by David. The distress of the moment drew his focus away from the treasonous thoughts of his men and back to God in his desperation to know what God would have him do.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:9–10 brook Besor. David most likely encountered the brook about 13 miles south of Ziklag. It consisted of seasonal rivers from the area of Beersheba that ran northwest and emptied into the Mediterranean. Likely, this was during the latter rains (January-April) and the brook was filled with a rampaging runoff that would account for the soldiers who were unable to cross over.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:14 Negeb of the Cherethites. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites (2 Sam. 8:18), who are almost always mentioned together. They fled Jerusalem as allies with David (2 Sam. 15:18), and pursued Sheba the son of Bichri with Joab (2 Sam. 20:7). They were hand-picked by David to be present at Solomon's anointing as king. The Cherethites appear to have come from Crete, and to have been a part of the king's bodyguard (2 Sam. 23:20, 23). Negeb of Caleb. Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, was one of 12 spies chosen to check out the land, and one of only two spies who gave a favorable report (Num. 13:6–30). This was the land

assigned to his family (Josh. 14:13–14).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:16 all the great spoil. The Amalekites had not only what they took from Ziklag, but much more plunder from all their raids. After David conquered the Amalekites (vv. 17–18) he returned what belonged to Ziklag (vv. 19, 26) and spread the rest all over Judah (vv. 26–31).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:17 four hundred young men. It is obvious from Moses' encounter (Ex. 17:8–16), Saul's failure (1 Sam. 15), and Mordecai's opposition (Est. 3:1, 10–13) that the Amalekites were wicked people who hated God's people and died hard.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:19 Nothing was missing. In spite of David's previous failures, God showed himself to be more than gracious and abundant in his stewardship of the wives, children, livestock, and possessions of David and his men.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:22 worthless fellows. From the beginning of David's flight from Saul, he became captain of those who were in distress, discontent, and in debt (22:2), the least likely to exercise kindness and grace to others. This same expression was used of the sons of Eli (2:12), of those who doubted Saul's ability as king (10:27), of Nabal the fool by his servant (25:17), of Nabal the fool by his wife (25:25), of David when he was cursed by Shimei (2 Sam. 16:7), of Sheba the son of Bichri who led a revolt against David (2 Sam. 20:1), and of those who would be thrust away like thorns by David (2 Sam. 23:6).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:25 a statute and a rule. In spite of the opposition David received from the worthless men among him, he legislated his practice of kindness and equity into law for the people.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 30:26–31 Being no stranger to adversity and a life lived on the run, David realized the important role that so many others had played in his safety and welfare. Being the recipient of such kindness, David missed no opportunity to reciprocate kindness and generosity. It would be presumptuous to think that David was merely paying off debts or buying support; rather he was giving back as he had received, expressing his debt of gratitude for the kindness and support shown him. See note on 30:16.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:1–13 See 2 Sam. 1:4–12 and 1 Chron. 10:1–12.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:1 Mount Gilboa. Formerly the site of the Israeli camp, it was turned into the sight of the Israeli massacre. Saul and his sons lost their lives on Mount Gilboa. See note on 28:4.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:2 Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua. Three of the four sons of Saul were killed the same day in battle. The fourth son, Eshbaal, would later be referred to as Ish-bosheth, meaning "man of shame," an appropriate designation in light of his apparent absence from the battlefield (cf. 2 Sam. 2:8ff.). Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua were named as Saul's sons in 1 Sam. 14:49, but Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua are named here; Ishvi and Abinadab are thus one and the same. First Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39 are the only verses naming all four sons.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:4 these uncircumcised. A common term of derision used among Israelites to designate non-Israelites. Circumcision was given as the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant in Gen. 17:10–14. See note on 1 Sam. 14:6. mistreat me. Having engaged in several battles against the Philistines, Saul had succeeded in provoking their hatred and resentment. As the king, Saul had certainly received especially cruel treatment from the hands of his enemies, who would have likely made sport of him and tortured him before his death. Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. Though Saul's suicide is considered by some to be an act of heroism, Saul should have found his strength and courage in God as David did in 23:16 and 30:6 to fight to the end or to surrender. Saul's suicide is the ultimate expression of his faithlessness toward God at this moment in his life.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:6 all his men. The question is whether "all" was used in a qualified sense or in an absolute sense. In consideration of the context, the meaning was most likely intended to be qualified, not absolute. It is not necessary to conclude that every single one of Saul's 3,000 men died that day and that none escaped. Where such a meaning is intended, the text usually provides more reinforcement, as in Josh. 8:22 where the author specifically states, "and Israel struck them down, until there was left none that survived or escaped." In fact, Abner the general of Saul's army survived (2 Sam. 2:8). "All" here means those who were personally assigned to Saul's special guard (cf. 1 Sam. 31:7).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:9 cut off his head. There is a parallelism between the death of Saul and the death of Goliath. The giant champion of the Philistines had

his head cut off by David, and the Philistines fled (17:51). The Philistines had taken revenge and done likewise to the giant champion of Israel, King Saul, who was "taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward" (10:23).

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:10 Ashtaroth. These were the fertility goddesses of the Canaanites, to whom the Philistines gave homage by placing the weapons of their defeated foe in the temple of Ashtaroth. As the sword of Goliath was put in the house of the Lord behind the ephod (21:9), so the weapons of Saul were taken by the Philistines and put in the temple of Ashtaroth. Military victory was attributed to the gods, since the belief was that military encounters were battles between the deities of rival nations. Beth-shan. Located in the Jordan Valley about 16 miles south of the Sea of Galilee.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:11 Jabesh-gilead. Located east of the Jordan, its people stayed out of the war against Benjamin and suffered severe consequences as a result (Judg. 21). The men of Jabesh-gilead showed kindness and respect to Saul, a Benjamite, by rescuing his body from the wall of Beth-shan because Saul and his sons had saved Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites (1 Sam. 11:9–12) just after he had been chosen as king of Israel. By this act, they honored Saul for his faithfulness to them.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:12 bodies . . . burned. In light of Saul's head having been cut off and the mutilation that had taken place, it is thought that the citizens of Jabesh-gilead burned his body to hide the damage.

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 31:13 bones . . . buried. It was considered disrespectful not to bury the dead. Abraham went to great lengths to bury Sarah (Gen. 23:4–15), and Jacob made Joseph swear that he would not bury him in Egypt (Gen. 47:29– 30). fasted seven days. In relation to death, fasting was often associated with mourning in the Hebrew culture. It was a sign of respect, seriousness, and grief. First Samuel began with the ark of the covenant being captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:11), and in the end Israel's king had been killed by them. Second Samuel will recount how God vindicated his honor by David's defeating the Philistines (2 Sam. 5:17–25), establishing an uncontested kingdom (1 Kings 2:12), and safely bringing the ark to Jerusalem, the city of God (2 Sam. 6:16– 19).

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 1 • 2 Samuel 2 • 2 Samuel 3 • 2 Samuel 4 • 2 Samuel 5 • 2 Samuel 6 • 2 Samuel 7 • 2 Samuel 8 • 2 Samuel 9 • 2 Samuel 10 • 2 Samuel 11 • 2 Samuel 12 • 2 Samuel 13 • 2 Samuel 14 • 2 Samuel 15 • 2 Samuel 16 • 2 Samuel 17 • 2 Samuel 18 • 2 Samuel 19 • 2 Samuel 20 • 2 Samuel 21 • 2 Samuel 22 • 2 Samuel 23 • 2 Samuel 24 Introduction to 2 Samuel

Introduction Outline Footnotes Study Notes

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