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20 he sent officers to arrest David. But when they saw the band of prophets presided over by Samuel in a prophetic state, the spirit of God came upon them and they too fell into the prophetic ecstasy.(A) 21 Informed of this, Saul sent other messengers, who also fell into the prophetic ecstasy. For the third time Saul sent messengers, but they too fell into a prophetic ecstasy.

Saul Among the Prophets. 22 Finally Saul went to Ramah himself. Arriving at the large cistern in Secu, he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” Someone answered, “At Naioth in Ramah.” 23 As he walked from there to Naioth in Ramah, the spirit of God came upon him also, and he continued on, acting like a prophet until he reached Naioth in Ramah. 24 Then he, too, stripped himself of his garments and remained in a prophetic state in the presence of Samuel;[a] all that day and night he lay naked. That is why they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:24 In the presence of Samuel: this verse, which disagrees with 15:35, is further evidence of the diverse origins of these accounts. “Is Saul also among the prophets?”: although similar to the story of Saul’s prophetic ecstasy in 10:10–13, this account offers a more disparaging portrait of Saul.

20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets(A) prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on(B) Saul’s men, and they also prophesied.(C) 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”

“Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said.

23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying(D) until he came to Naioth. 24 He stripped(E) off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s(F) presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”(G)

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20 Then (A)Saul sent messengers to take David. (B)And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also (C)prophesied. 21 And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, “Where are Samuel and David?”

And someone said, “Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then (D)the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 (E)And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down (F)naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, (G)Is Saul also among the prophets?”

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