Hannah’s Vow

1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim^(A) in^[a] the hill country of Ephraim.^(B) His name was Elkanah^(C) son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ² He had two wives,^(D) the first named Hannah^(E) and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. ³ This man would go up from his town every year^(F) to worship and to sacrifice^(G) to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh,^(H) where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.

⁴ Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat^(I) to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. ⁵ But he gave a double^[b] portion^(J) to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. ⁶ Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. ⁷ Whenever she went up to the Lord’s house,^(K) her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat. ⁸ “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10 sons?”^(L)

⁹ Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh.^[c] Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s tabernacle.^{(M) 10} Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.^{(N) 11} Making a vow,^(O) she pleaded, “Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction,^(P) remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son,^[d] I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”^[e](Q)

¹² While she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her lips. ¹³ Hannah was praying silently,^[f](R) and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and scolded her, “How long are you going to be drunk?^(S) Get rid of your wine!”

¹⁵ “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord.^{(T) 16} Don’t think of me as a wicked woman;^(U) I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.”^(V)

¹⁷ Eli responded, “Go in peace,^(W) and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.”^(X)

¹⁸ “May your servant find favor with you,”^(Y) she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent.^[g](Z)

Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

¹⁹ The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah.^(AA) Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.^{(AB) 20} After some time,^[h] Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,^[i] because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”

²¹ When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice^(AC) and his vow offering to the Lord, ²² Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence^(AD) and to stay there permanently.”^(AE)

²³ Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best,^[j](AF) and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your^[k] word.”^(AG) So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him. ²⁴ When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull,^[l] half a bushel^[m] of flour, and a jar of wine.^(AH) Though the boy was still young,^[n] she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh.^{(AI) 25} Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

²⁶ “Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live,^(AJ) my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. ²⁷ I prayed for this boy,^(AK) and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,^{(AL) 28} I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.”^(AM) Then he^[o] bowed in worship to the Lord there.^[p]

Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer

2 Hannah prayed:^(AN)

¹¹ Elkanah went home to Ramah,^(BO) but the boy served the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.^(BP)

Eli’s Family Judged

¹² Eli’s sons were wicked men;^(BQ) they had no regard for the Lord^{(BR) 13} or for the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling ¹⁴ and plunge it into the container or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot.^(BS) The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. ¹⁵ Even before the fat was burned,^(BT) the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” ¹⁶ If that man said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,”^(BU) the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” ¹⁷ So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because they treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.^(BV)

¹⁸ The boy Samuel served in the Lord’s presence^(BW) and wore a linen ephod.^{(BX) 19} Each year his mother made him a little robe^(BY) and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.^{(BZ) 20} Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife:^(CA) “May the Lord give you children by this woman in place of the one she^[t] has given to the Lord.”^(CB) Then they would go home.

²¹ The Lord paid attention to Hannah’s need,^(CC) and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.^(CD)

²² Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel^(CE) and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(CF) 23} He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people. ²⁴ No, my sons, the report I hear from the Lord’s people is not good. ²⁵ If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him, but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?”^(CG) But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.^{(CH) 26} By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.^(CI)

²⁷ A man of God came to Eli and said to him,^(CJ) “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal Myself to your ancestral house when it was in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?^{(CK) 28} Out of all the tribes of Israel, I selected your house^[u] to be priests, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence.^(CL) I also gave your house all the Israelite fire offerings. ²⁹ Why, then, do all of you despise My sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship?^(CM) You have honored your sons more than Me,^(CN) by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of My people Israel.’

³⁰ “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel:

³¹ “‘Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your ancestral family, so that none in your family will reach old age.^{(CR) 32} You will see distress in the place of worship,^(CS) in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.^{(CT) 33} Any man from your family I do not cut off from My altar will bring grief^[v] and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.^{[w][x] 34} This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas:^(CU) both of them will die on the same day.^(CV)

³⁵ “‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest^(CW) for Myself. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him,^(CX) and he will walk before My anointed one for all time.^{(CY) 36} Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”

Samuel’s Call

3 The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence.^(CZ) In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.^(DA)

² One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing,^(DB) was lying in his room. ³ Before the lamp of God had gone out,^(DC) Samuel was lying down in the tabernacle of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.

⁴ Then the Lord called Samuel,^[y] and he answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

⁶ Once again the Lord called, “Samuel!”

Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.”

⁷ Now Samuel had not yet experienced the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸ Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel responded, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

¹¹ The Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that everyone who hears about it will shudder.^{(DD) 12} On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end.^{(DE) 13} I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are defiling the sanctuary,^[z] and he has not stopped them.^{(DF) 14} Therefore, I have sworn to Eli’s family: The iniquity of Eli’s family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering.”^(DG)

¹⁵ Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, ¹⁶ but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

“Here I am,” answered Samuel.

¹⁷ “What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that He told you.”^{(DH) 18} So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, “He is the Lord. He will do what He thinks is good.”^[aa](DI)

¹⁹ Samuel grew,^(DJ) and the Lord was with him,^(DK) and He fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.^{[ab](DL) 20} All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord.^{(DM) 21} The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.^(DN) 4 ¹ And Samuel’s words came to all Israel.

The Ark Captured by the Philistines

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and^[ac] camped at Ebenezer^(DO) while the Philistines camped at Aphek.^{(DP) 2} The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about 4,000 men on the battlefield.

³ When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord let us be defeated today by the Philistines?^(DQ) Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it^[ad] will go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”^{(DR) 4} So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim.^(DS) Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. ⁵ When the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.^(DT)

⁶ The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp, ⁷ they panicked. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, nothing like this has happened before.^{[ae] 8} Woe to us, who will rescue us from the hand of these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. ⁹ Show some courage and be men, Philistines!^(DU) Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you.^(DV) Now be men and fight!”

¹⁰ So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated,^(DW) and each man fled to his tent.^(DX) The slaughter was severe—30,000 of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. ¹¹ The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.^(DY)

Eli’s Death and Ichabod’s Birth

¹² That same day, a Benjaminite man ran^(DZ) from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn,^(EA) and there was dirt on his head. ¹³ When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road watching,^(EB) because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.

¹⁴ Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli. ¹⁵ At that time Eli was 98 years old, and his gaze was fixed^[af] because he couldn’t see.^(EC)

¹⁶ The man said to Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle.^[ag] I fled from there today.”

“What happened, my son?”^(ED) Eli asked.

¹⁷ The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” ¹⁸ When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate,^(EE) and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel 40 years.

¹⁹ Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her. ²⁰ As she was dying,^[ah] the women taking care of her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!”^(EF) But she did not respond or pay attention. ²¹ She named the boy Ichabod,^[ai] saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,”^(EG) referring to the capture of the ark of God^(EH) and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. ²² “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “because the ark of God has been captured.”

Israel’s Demand for a King

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.^{(A) 2} His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.^{(B) 3} However, his sons did not walk in his ways—they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.^(C)

⁴ So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.^{(D) 5} They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your example. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”^(E)

⁶ When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king.^{(F) 8} They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to Me,^[a] since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning Me and worshiping other gods. ⁹ Listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them^(G) and tell them about the rights of the king who will rule over them.”

¹⁰ Samuel told all the Lord’s words to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “These are the rights of the king who will rule over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots. ¹² He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties,^(H) to plow his ground or reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war or the equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ¹⁴ He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.^{(I) 15} He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants. ¹⁶ He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men,^[b] and your donkeys and use them for his work. ¹⁷ He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves,^(J) but the Lord won’t answer you on that day.”^(K)

¹⁹ The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. ²⁰ Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us,^(L) and fight our battles.”

²¹ Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to the Lord.^{[c] 22} “Listen to them,” the Lord told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.”^(M)

Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”

Saul Anointed King

9 There was an influential man of Benjamin named Kish^(N) son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite. ² He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man.^(O) There was no one more impressive among the Israelites than he. He stood a head taller than anyone else.^[d](P)

³ One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the attendants with you and go look for the donkeys.” ⁴ Saul and his attendant went through the hill country of Ephraim^(Q) and then through the region of Shalishah,^(R) but they didn’t find them. They went through the region of Shaalim^(S)—nothing. Then they went through the Benjaminite region but still didn’t find them.

⁵ When they came to the land of Zuph,^(T) Saul said to the attendant who was with him, “Come on, let’s go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”^(U)

⁶ “Look,” the attendant said, “there’s a man of God^(V) in this city who is highly respected; everything he says is sure to come true.^(W) Let’s go there now. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.”^(X)

⁷ “Suppose we do go,” Saul said to his attendant, “what do we take the man? The food from our packs is gone, and there’s no gift to take to the man of God.^(Y) What do we have?”

⁸ The attendant answered Saul: “Here, I have a piece^[e] of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

⁹ Formerly in Israel, a man who was going to inquire of God would say, “Come, let’s go to the seer,” for the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.^(Z)

¹⁰ “Good,” Saul replied to his attendant. “Come on, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was. ¹¹ As they were climbing the hill to the city, they found some young women coming out to draw water^(AA) and asked, “Is the seer here?”

¹² The women answered, “Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now came to the city, because there’s a sacrifice^(AB) for the people at the high place^(AC) today. ¹³ If you go quickly, you can catch up with him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests can eat. Go up immediately—you can find him now.” ¹⁴ So they went up toward the city.

Saul and his attendant were entering the city when they saw Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place. ¹⁵ Now the day before Saul’s arrival, the Lord had informed Samuel,^{[f](AD) 16} “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over My people Israel.^(AE) He will save them from the hand of the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of My people,^(AF) for their cry has come to Me.” ¹⁷ When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man I told you about;^(AG) he will rule over My people.”

¹⁸ Saul approached Samuel in the gate area and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

¹⁹ “I am the seer,” Samuel answered.^[g] “Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I’ll tell you everything that’s in your heart. ²⁰ As for the donkeys that wandered away from you three days ago,^(AH) don’t worry about them because they’ve been found. And who does all Israel desire^(AI) but you and all your father’s family?”

²¹ Saul responded, “Am I not a Benjaminite^(AJ) from the smallest of Israel’s tribes and isn’t my clan the least important of all the clans of the Benjaminite tribe?^(AK) So why have you said something like this to me?”

²² Samuel took Saul and his attendant, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the 30^[h] or so men who had been invited. ²³ Then Samuel said to the cook, “Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.”

²⁴ The cook picked up the thigh^(AL) and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Notice that the reserved piece is set before you. Eat it because it was saved for you for this solemn event at the time I said, ‘I’ve invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. ²⁵ Afterward, they went down from the high place to the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.^[i](AM)

²⁶ They got up early, and just before dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, and I’ll send you on your way!” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside. ²⁷ As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the attendant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I’ll reveal the word of God to you.” So the attendant went on.

10 Samuel took the flask of oil,^(AN) poured it out on Saul’s head,^(AO) kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t the Lord anointed you^(AP) ruler over His inheritance?^{[j](AQ) 2} Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave^(AR) at Zelzah in the land of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found,^(AS) and now your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son?’

³ “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor.^(AT) Three men going up to God at Bethel^(AU) will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a skin of wine. ⁴ They will ask how you are and give you two loaves^[k] of bread, which you will accept from them.

⁵ “After that you will come to the Hill of God^[l](AV) where there are Philistine garrisons.^[m] When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets^(AW) coming down from the high place prophesying.^(AX) They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. ⁶ The Spirit of the Lord will control you,^(AY) you will prophesy with them,^(AZ) and you will be transformed into a different person.^{(BA) 7} When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require^[n](BB) because God is with you. ⁸ Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

⁹ When Saul turned around^[o] to leave Samuel, God changed his heart,^[p] and all the signs came about that day. ¹⁰ When Saul and his attendant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God took control of him, and he prophesied along with them.

¹¹ Everyone who knew him previously and saw him prophesy with the prophets asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”^(BC)

¹² Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?”^(BD)

As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying. ¹³ Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place.

¹⁴ Saul’s uncle^(BE) asked him and his attendant, “Where did you go?”

“To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.”^(BF)

¹⁵ “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”

¹⁶ Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.

Saul Received as King

¹⁷ Samuel summoned the people to the Lord at Mizpah^{(BG) 18} and said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:^(BH) ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ ¹⁹ But today you have rejected your God,^(BI) who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to Him, ‘You^[q] must set a king over us.’^(BJ) Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”^(BK)

²⁰ Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. ²¹ Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matrite clan was selected.^[r] Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected.^(BL) But when they searched for him, they could not find him. ²² They again inquired of the Lord,^(BM) “Has the man come here yet?”

The Lord replied, “There he is, hidden among the supplies.”

²³ They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else.^{[s](BN) 24} Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the Lord has chosen?^(BO) There is no one like him among the entire population.”

And all the people shouted,^[t] “Long live the king!”^(BP)

²⁵ Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship.^(BQ) He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of the Lord.^(BR) Then Samuel sent all the people away, each to his home.

²⁶ Saul also went to his home in Gibeah,^(BS) and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him. ²⁷ But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift,^(BT) but Saul said nothing.^[u][v]

Saul’s Deliverance of Jabesh-gilead

11 Nahash^[w](BU) the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead.^(BV) All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty^(BW) with us, and we will serve you.”

² Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye^(BX) and humiliate all Israel.”^(BY)

³ “Don’t do anything to us for seven days,” the elders of Jabesh said to him, “and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you.”

⁴ When the messengers came to Gibeah,^(BZ) Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to^[x] the people, all wept aloud.^{(CA) 5} Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

⁶ When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly took control of him,^(CB) and his anger burned furiously. ⁷ He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces,^(CC) and sent them throughout the land of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.”^(CD) As a result, the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out united.^(CE)

⁸ Saul counted them at Bezek.^(CF) There were 300,000^[y](CG) Israelites and 30,000^[z] men from Judah. ⁹ He told the messengers who had come, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.

¹⁰ Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want^[aa] to us.”

¹¹ The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions.^(CH) During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

Saul’s Confirmation as King

¹² Afterward, the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not^[ab] reign over us?^(CI) Give us those men so we can kill them!”^(CJ)

¹³ But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today the Lord has provided deliverance in Israel.”^(CK)

¹⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.” ¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the Lord’s presence^(CL) they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings^(CM) in the Lord’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel greatly rejoiced.

Samuel’s Final Public Speech

12 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you.^{(CN) 2} Now you can see that the king is leading you. As for me, I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until today. ³ Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken?^(CO) Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to overlook something?^[ac][ad](CP) I will return it to you.”

⁴ “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone’s hand,” they responded.

⁵ He said to them, “The Lord is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything^(CQ) in my hand.”^(CR)

“He is a witness,” they said.

⁶ Then Samuel said to the people, “The Lord, who appointed Moses and Aaron^(CS) and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.^{[ae] 7} Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before the Lord about all the righteous acts He has done for you and your ancestors.

⁸ “When Jacob went to Egypt,^[af] your ancestors cried out to the Lord,^(CT) and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.^{(CU) 9} But they forgot the Lord their God, so He handed them over to Sisera^(CV) commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab.^(CW) These enemies fought against them. ¹⁰ Then they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the Lord and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the power of our enemies,^(CX) and we will serve You.’ ¹¹ So the Lord sent Jerubbaal,^(CY) Barak,^[ag](CZ) Jephthah,^(DA) and Samuel.^(DB) He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely. ¹² But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king rule over us’—even though the Lord your God is your king.

¹³ “Now here is the king you’ve chosen,^(DC) the one you requested.^(DD) Look, this is the king the Lord has placed over you. ¹⁴ If you fear the Lord,^(DE) worship and obey Him, and if you don’t rebel against the Lord’s command, then both you and the king who rules over you will follow the Lord your God. ¹⁵ However, if you disobey the Lord^(DF) and rebel against His command, the Lord’s hand will be against you^(DG) and against your ancestors.^[ah](DH)

¹⁶ “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.^{(DI) 17} Isn’t the wheat harvest today?^(DJ) I will call on the Lord and He will send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”^{(DK) 18} Samuel called on the Lord, and on that day the Lord sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.^(DL)

¹⁹ They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants,^(DM) so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”^(DN)

²⁰ Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord.^(DO) Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Don’t turn away to follow worthless^[ai] things that can’t profit or deliver you; they are worthless.^{(DP) 22} The Lord will not abandon His people,^(DQ) because of His great name and because He has determined to make you His own people.^(DR)

²³ “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.^(DS) I will teach you the good and right way. ²⁴ Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things He has done for you.^{(DT) 25} However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”^(DU)

Saul’s Failure

13 Saul was 30 years^[aj] old when he became king, and he reigned 42 years^[ak] over Israel.^{[al] 2} He chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself: 2,000 were with Saul at Michmash^(DV) and in Bethel’s hill country, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah^(DW) of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.

³ Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison^[am](DX) that was in Geba,^(DY) and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land^(DZ) saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”^{[an](EA) 4} And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison,^[ao] and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

⁵ The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000^[ap] chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore.^(EB) They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.^[aq](EC)

⁶ The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.^{(ED) 7} Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear. ⁸ He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set,^(EE) but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. ⁹ So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering.

¹⁰ Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him, ¹¹ and Samuel asked, “What have you done?”

Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, ¹² I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”

¹³ Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish.^(EF) You have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you.^(EG) It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,^{(EH) 14} but now your reign will not endure.^(EI) The Lord has found a man loyal to Him,^[ar](EJ) and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.” ¹⁵ Then Samuel went^[as] from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about 600 men.

¹⁶ Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba^(EK) of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash. ¹⁷ Raiding parties^(EL) went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah^(EM) road leading to the land of Shual. ¹⁸ The next division headed toward the Beth-horon^(EN) road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Valley of Zeboim^(EO) toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel,^(EP) because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.” ²⁰ So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.^{[at] 21} The price was two-thirds of a shekel^[au] for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on an oxgoad. ²² So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul^(EQ) and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

²³ Now a Philistine garrison^(ER) took control of the pass at Michmash.

Saul Rejected as King

15 Samuel told Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel.^(A) Now, listen to the words of the Lord. ² This is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed^[a] what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.^{(B) 3} Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have.^(C) Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”^(D)

⁴ Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. ⁵ Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi. ⁶ He warned the Kenites,^(E) “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt,^(F) go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

⁷ Then Saul struck down the Amalekites^(G) from Havilah^(H) all the way to Shur,^(I) which is next to Egypt. ⁸ He captured Agag^(J) king of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.^{(K) 9} Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals,^[b] as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

¹⁰ Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, ¹¹ “I regret that I made Saul king,^(L) for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.”^(M) So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.^(N)

¹² Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel^(O) where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.”^{(P) 13} When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the Lord bless you.^(Q) I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

¹⁴ Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep^[c] and cattle I hear?”

¹⁵ Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God,^(R) but the rest we destroyed.”^(S)

¹⁶ “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” he replied.

¹⁷ Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant,^(T) have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel ¹⁸ and then sent you on a mission and said: ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’ ¹⁹ So why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you rush on the plunder^(U) and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

²⁰ “But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered.^[d] “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. ²¹ The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”^(V)

²² Then Samuel said:

²⁴ Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned.^(AB) I have transgressed the Lord’s command^(AC) and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. ²⁵ Now therefore, please forgive my sin^(AD) and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”

²⁶ Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord,^(AE) the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” ²⁷ When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. ²⁸ Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today^(AF) and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.^{(AG) 29} Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel^(AH) does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind.”^(AI)

³⁰ Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me^(AJ) now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the Lord your God.”^{(AK) 31} Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.

³² Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of Amalek.”

Agag came to him trembling,^[e] for he thought, “Certainly the bitterness of death has come.”^[f][g]

³³ Samuel declared:

Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

³⁴ Samuel went to Ramah,^(AM) and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah^(AN) of Saul. ³⁵ Even to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul.^(AO) Samuel mourned for Saul,^(AP) and the Lord regretted He had made Saul king over Israel.