⁵ The Philistines assembled^(A) to fight Israel, with three thousand^[a] chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand^(B) on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash,^(C) east of Beth Aven.^{(D) 6} When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid^(E) in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.^{(F) 7} Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad^(G) and Gilead.

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking^(H) with fear. ⁸ He waited seven^(I) days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. ⁹ So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered^(J) up the burnt offering. ¹⁰ Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel^(K) arrived, and Saul went out to greet^(L) him.

¹¹ “What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash,^{(M) 12} I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal,^(N) and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.^(O)’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

¹³ “You have done a foolish thing,^(P)” Samuel said. “You have not kept^(Q) the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.^{(R) 14} But now your kingdom^(S) will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart^(T) and appointed^(U) him ruler^(V) of his people, because you have not kept^(W) the Lord’s command.”

David in Saul’s Service

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

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.^(D) 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^(E) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.^(F) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with^(G) him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.^(H)” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,^(I) 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.^(J) 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^(K) would leave him.

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful^(A) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.^(B) 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,^(C) with joyful songs and with timbrels^(D) and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:^(E)

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?^(G)” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close^(H) eye on David.