Hagar and Ishmael

16 Now Sarai,^(A) Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.^(B) But she had an Egyptian slave^(C) named Hagar;^{(D) 2} so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children.^(E) Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”^(F)

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. ³ So after Abram had been living in Canaan^(G) ten years,^(H) Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. ⁴ He slept with Hagar,^(I) and she conceived.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.^{(J) 5} Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”^(K)

⁶ “Your slave is in your hands,^(L)” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated^(M) Hagar; so she fled from her.

⁷ The angel of the Lord^(N) found Hagar near a spring^(O) in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur.^{(P) 8} And he said, “Hagar,^(Q) slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”^(R)

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

⁹ Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” ¹⁰ The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”^(S)

¹¹ The angel of the Lord^(T) also said to her:

¹³ She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,^(AA)” for she said, “I have now seen^[c] the One who sees me.”^{(AB) 14} That is why the well^(AC) was called Beer Lahai Roi^[d];^(AD) it is still there, between Kadesh^(AE) and Bered.

¹⁵ So Hagar^(AF) bore Abram a son,^(AG) and Abram gave the name Ishmael^(AH) to the son she had borne. ¹⁶ Abram was eighty-six years old^(AI) when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,^(AJ) the Lord appeared to him^(AK) and said, “I am God Almighty^[e];^(AL) walk before me faithfully and be blameless.^{(AM) 2} Then I will make my covenant between me and you^(AN) and will greatly increase your numbers.”^(AO)

³ Abram fell facedown,^(AP) and God said to him, ⁴ “As for me, this is my covenant with you:^(AQ) You will be the father of many nations.^{(AR) 5} No longer will you be called Abram^[f]; your name will be Abraham,^[g](AS) for I have made you a father of many nations.^{(AT) 6} I will make you very fruitful;^(AU) I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.^{(AV) 7} I will establish my covenant^(AW) as an everlasting covenant^(AX) between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God^(AY) and the God of your descendants after you.^{(AZ) 8} The whole land of Canaan,^(BA) where you now reside as a foreigner,^(BB) I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you;^(BC) and I will be their God.^(BD)”

⁹ Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant,^(BE) you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.^{(BF) 10} This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.^{(BG) 11} You are to undergo circumcision,^(BH) and it will be the sign of the covenant^(BI) between me and you. ¹² For the generations to come^(BJ) every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised,^(BK) including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. ¹³ Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised.^(BL) My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.^{(BM) 14} Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised^(BN) in the flesh, will be cut off from his people;^(BO) he has broken my covenant.^(BP)”

¹⁵ God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai^(BQ) your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.^{(BR) 16} I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.^(BS) I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations;^(BT) kings of peoples will come from her.”

¹⁷ Abraham fell facedown;^(BU) he laughed^(BV) and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?^(BW) Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”^{(BX) 18} And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael^(BY) might live under your blessing!”^(BZ)

¹⁹ Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son,^(CA) and you will call him Isaac.^[h](CB) I will establish my covenant with him^(CC) as an everlasting covenant^(CD) for his descendants after him. ²⁰ And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers.^(CE) He will be the father of twelve rulers,^(CF) and I will make him into a great nation.^{(CG) 21} But my covenant^(CH) I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you^(CI) by this time next year.”^{(CJ) 22} When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.^(CK)

²³ On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household^(CL) or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him.^{(CM) 24} Abraham was ninety-nine years old^(CN) when he was circumcised,^{(CO) 25} and his son Ishmael^(CP) was thirteen; ²⁶ Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. ²⁷ And every male in Abraham’s household^(CQ), including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.

The Three Visitors

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham^(CR) near the great trees of Mamre^(CS) while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent^(CT) in the heat of the day. ² Abraham looked up^(CU) and saw three men^(CV) standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.^(CW)

³ He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(CX) my lord,^[i] do not pass your servant^(CY) by. ⁴ Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet^(CZ) and rest under this tree. ⁵ Let me get you something to eat,^(DA) so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

⁶ So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs^[j] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”^(DB)

⁷ Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf^(DC) and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. ⁸ He then brought some curds^(DD) and milk^(DE) and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them.^(DF) While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

⁹ “Where is your wife Sarah?”^(DG) they asked him.

“There, in the tent,^(DH)” he said.

¹⁰ Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,^(DI) and Sarah your wife will have a son.”^(DJ)

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. ¹¹ Abraham and Sarah were already very old,^(DK) and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.^{(DL) 12} So Sarah laughed^(DM) to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord^(DN) is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

¹³ Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’^{(DO) 14} Is anything too hard for the Lord?^(DP) I will return to you at the appointed time next year,^(DQ) and Sarah will have a son.”^(DR)

¹⁵ Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

¹⁶ When the men^(DS) got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. ¹⁷ Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham^(DT) what I am about to do?^{(DU) 18} Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation,^(DV) and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.^{[k] 19} For I have chosen him^(DW), so that he will direct his children^(DX) and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord^(DY) by doing what is right and just,^(DZ) so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”^(EA)

²⁰ Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom^(EB) and Gomorrah is so great^(EC) and their sin so grievous^{(ED) 21} that I will go down^(EE) and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

²² The men^(EF) turned away and went toward Sodom,^(EG) but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.^{[l](EH) 23} Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?^{(EI) 24} What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare^[m] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?^{(EJ) 25} Far be it from you to do such a thing^(EK)—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous^(EL) and the wicked alike.^(EM) Far be it from you! Will not the Judge^(EN) of all the earth do right?”^(EO)

²⁶ The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.^(EP)”

²⁷ Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,^{(EQ) 28} what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”

“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”

³⁰ Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry,^(ER) but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”

He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”

³² Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more.^(ES) What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten,^(ET) I will not destroy it.”

³³ When the Lord had finished speaking^(EU) with Abraham, he left,^(EV) and Abraham returned home.^(EW)

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

19 The two angels^(EX) arrived at Sodom^(EY) in the evening, and Lot^(EZ) was sitting in the gateway of the city.^(FA) When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.^{(FB) 2} “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet^(FC) and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”

“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”^(FD)

³ But he insisted^(FE) so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house.^(FF) He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast,^(FG) and they ate.^{(FH) 4} Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom^(FI)—both young and old—surrounded the house. ⁵ They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”^(FJ)

⁶ Lot went outside to meet them^(FK) and shut the door behind him ⁷ and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. ⁸ Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”^(FL)

⁹ “Get out of our way,” they replied. “This fellow came here as a foreigner,^(FM) and now he wants to play the judge!^(FN) We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.

¹⁰ But the men^(FO) inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. ¹¹ Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness^(FP) so that they could not find the door.

¹² The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you?^(FQ) Get them out of here, ¹³ because we^(FR) are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great^(FS) that he has sent us to destroy it.”^(FT)

¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry^[n] his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!^(FU)” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.^(FV)

¹⁵ With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away^(FW) when the city is punished.^(FX)”

¹⁶ When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters^(FY) and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.^{(FZ) 17} As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives!^(GA) Don’t look back,^(GB) and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!^(GC) Flee to the mountains^(GD) or you will be swept away!”

¹⁸ But Lot said to them, “No, my lords,^[o] please! ¹⁹ Your^[p] servant has found favor in your^[q] eyes,^(GE) and you^[r] have shown great kindness^(GF) to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains;^(GG) this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. ²⁰ Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”

²¹ He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request^(GH) too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. ²² But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.^[s](GI))

²³ By the time Lot reached Zoar,^(GJ) the sun had risen over the land. ²⁴ Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur^(GK) on Sodom and Gomorrah^(GL)—from the Lord out of the heavens.^{(GM) 25} Thus he overthrew those cities^(GN) and the entire plain,^(GO) destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land.^{(GP) 26} But Lot’s wife looked back,^(GQ) and she became a pillar of salt.^(GR)

²⁷ Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord.^{(GS) 28} He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.^(GT)

²⁹ So when God destroyed the cities of the plain,^(GU) he remembered^(GV) Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe^(GW) that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.^(GX)

Lot and His Daughters

³⁰ Lot and his two daughters left Zoar^(GY) and settled in the mountains,^(GZ) for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. ³¹ One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. ³² Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line^(HA) through our father.”^(HB)

³³ That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.^(HC)

³⁴ The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.”^{(HD) 35} So they got their father to drink wine^(HE) that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.^(HF)

³⁶ So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father.^{(HG) 37} The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab^[t];^(HH) he is the father of the Moabites^(HI) of today. ³⁸ The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi^[u]; he is the father of the Ammonites^[v](HJ) of today.

Abraham and Abimelek^(HK)

20 Now Abraham moved on from there^(HL) into the region of the Negev^(HM) and lived between Kadesh^(HN) and Shur.^(HO) For a while^(HP) he stayed in Gerar,^{(HQ) 2} and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.^(HR)” Then Abimelek^(HS) king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.^(HT)

³ But God came to Abimelek^(HU) in a dream^(HV) one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead^(HW) because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”^(HX)

⁴ Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?^{(HY) 5} Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,^(HZ)’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience^(IA) and clean hands.^(IB)”

⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept^(IC) you from sinning against me.^(ID) That is why I did not let you touch her. ⁷ Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet,^(IE) and he will pray for you^(IF) and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”^(IG)

⁸ Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. ⁹ Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.^(IH)” ¹⁰ And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”

¹¹ Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God^(II) in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’^{(IJ) 12} Besides, she really is my sister,^(IK) the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. ¹³ And when God had me wander^(IL) from my father’s household,^(IM) I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

¹⁴ Then Abimelek^(IN) brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham,^(IO) and he returned Sarah his wife to him. ¹⁵ And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.”^(IP)

¹⁶ To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels^[w] of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”

¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God,^(IQ) and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, ¹⁸ for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.^(IR)

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(A) for Saul, since I have rejected^(B) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(C) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(D) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(E) one of his sons to be king.”

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

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show^(F) you what to do. You are to anoint^(G) for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,^(H) the elders of the town trembled^(I) when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?^(J)”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^(K) yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^(L) and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,^(M) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(N)

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab^(O) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah^(P) pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all^(Q) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^(R)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he^(S) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome^(T) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(U) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(V) came powerfully upon David.^(W) Samuel then went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed^(X) from Saul, and an evil^[a] spirit^(Y) from the Lord tormented him.^(Z)

¹⁵ Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre.^(AA) He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

¹⁷ So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse^(AB) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.^(AC) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with^(AD) him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.^(AE)” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,^(AF) a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

²¹ David came to Saul and entered his service.^(AG) Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. ²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

²³ Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit^(AH) would leave him.

David and Goliath

17 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled^(AI) at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh^(AJ) and Azekah.^{(AK) 2} Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah^(AL) and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

⁴ A champion named Goliath,^(AM) who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.^{[b] 5} He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels^[c]; ⁶ on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin^(AN) was slung on his back. ⁷ His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod,^(AO) and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.^[d] His shield bearer^(AP) went ahead of him.

⁸ Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose^(AQ) a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” ¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy^(AR) the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.^(AS)” ¹¹ On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

¹² Now David was the son of an Ephrathite^(AT) named Jesse,^(AU) who was from Bethlehem^(AV) in Judah. Jesse had eight^(AW) sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. ¹³ Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab;^(AX) the second, Abinadab;^(AY) and the third, Shammah.^{(AZ) 14} David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul to tend^(BA) his father’s sheep^(BB) at Bethlehem.

¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

¹⁷ Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah^[e](BC) of roasted grain^(BD) and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ¹⁸ Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers^(BE) are and bring back some assurance^[f] from them. ¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

²⁰ Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. ²² David left his things with the keeper of supplies,^(BF) ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. ²³ As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual^(BG) defiance, and David heard it. ²⁴ Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

²⁵ Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter^(BH) in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes^(BI) in Israel.”

²⁶ David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace^(BJ) from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised^(BK) Philistine that he should defy^(BL) the armies of the living^(BM) God?”

²⁷ They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

²⁸ When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger^(BN) at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

²⁹ “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” ³⁰ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. ³¹ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart^(BO) on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

³³ Saul replied,^(BP) “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion^(BQ) or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized^(BR) it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion^(BS) and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The Lord who rescued^(BT) me from the paw of the lion^(BU) and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with^(BV) you.”

³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own^(BW) tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer^(BX) in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome,^(BY) and he despised^(BZ) him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog,^(CA) that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds^(CB) and the wild animals!^(CC)”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,^(CD) but I come against you in the name^(CE) of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.^{(CF) 46} This day the Lord will deliver^(CG) you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses^(CH) of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world^(CI) will know that there is a God in Israel.^{(CJ) 47} All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword^(CK) or spear that the Lord saves;^(CL) for the battle^(CM) is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling^(CN) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut^(CO) off his head with the sword.^(CP)

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. ⁵² Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath^[g] and to the gates of Ekron.^(CQ) Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim^(CR) road to Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

⁵⁴ David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

⁵⁵ As Saul watched David^(CS) going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner,^(CT) whose son is that young man?”

Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

⁵⁶ The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”

⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

⁵⁸ “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse^(CU) of Bethlehem.”

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan^(CV) became one in spirit with David, and he loved^(CW) him as himself.^{(CX) 2} From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(CY) with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe^(CZ) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.^(DA)

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful^(DB) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.^(DC) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing,^(DD) with joyful songs and with timbrels^(DE) and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:^(DF)

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?^(DH)” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close^(DI) eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil^[h] spirit^(DJ) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,^(DK) as he usually^(DL) did. Saul had a spear^(DM) in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself,^(DN) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded^(DO) him twice.^(DP)

¹² Saul was afraid^(DQ) of David, because the Lord^(DR) was with^(DS) David but had departed from^(DT) Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led^(DU) the troops in their campaigns.^{(DV) 14} In everything he did he had great success,^(DW) because the Lord was with^(DX) him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.^(DY)

¹⁷ Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter^(DZ) Merab. I will give her to you in marriage;^(EA) only serve me bravely and fight the battles^(EB) of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself,^(EC) “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”

¹⁸ But David said to Saul, “Who am I,^(ED) and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?^(EE)” ¹⁹ So^[i] when the time came for Merab,^(EF) Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.^(EG)

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal^(EH) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.^{(EI) 21} “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare^(EJ) to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

²² Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”

²³ They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law?^(EK) I’m only a poor man and little known.”

²⁴ When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, ²⁵ Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price^(EL) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge^(EM) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan^(EN) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶ When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, ²⁷ David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal^(EO) in marriage.

²⁸ When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal^(EP) loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid^(EQ) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

³⁰ The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success^(ER) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

Saul Tries to Kill David

19 Saul told his son Jonathan^(ES) and all the attendants to kill^(ET) David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David ² and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding^(EU) and stay there. ³ I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak^(EV) to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”

⁴ Jonathan spoke^(EW) well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong^(EX) to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. ⁵ He took his life^(EY) in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory^(EZ) for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent^(FA) man like David by killing him for no reason?”

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

⁷ So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.^(FB)