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28  Na i aua ra kua huihuia e nga Pirihitini a ratou taua mo te pakanga, hei whawhai ki a Iharaira. Na ka mea a Akihi ki a Rawiri, Kia tino mohio koe me haere tahi taua ki te whawhai, koutou ko au tangata.

Ano ra ko Rawiri ki a Akihi, Ma reira koe ka mohio ai ki nga mahi a tau pononga. A ka mea a Akihi ki a Rawiri, Koia ahau ka mea nei i a koe hei tiaki mo toku upoko i nga ra katoa.

Na, kua mate a Hamuera, kua uhungatia hoki e Iharaira katoa, kua tanumia ki Rama, ki tona pa ake. Kua whakakorea atu hoki e Haora i te whenua te hunga i nga waka atua, i nga rapa maori hoki.

Na ka huihui nga Pirihitini, a haere mai ana, puni ana ki Huneme; i huihuia ano e Haora a Iharaira katoa, a puni ana ki Kiripoa.

A, no te kitenga o Haora i te taua a nga Pirihitini, ka wehi, tuiri rawa tona ngakau.

Na, i te uinga a Haora ki a Ihowa, hore rawa he kupu a Ihowa i whakahokia mai ki a ia, e nga moe, e nga Urimi, e nga poropiti ranei.

Katahi a Haora ka mea ki ana tangata, Rapua maku tetahi wahine he atua maori tona kia haere ahau ki a ia ki te rapu tikanga i a ia. Ano ra ko ana tangata ki a ia, Tera tetahi wahine he atua maori tona, kei Eneroro.

Na ka whakaahua ke a Haora i a ia, a kakahu ana i etahi kakahu ke, haere ana ia me ana tangata tokorua; ka tae ki taua wahine i te po, ka mea atu ia, Tena koa, hirihiria te atua maori, a whakaputaina ake ki ahau taku e ki atu ai.

Na ka mea taua wahine ki a ia, Ha, kua mohio ano koe ki ta Haora i mea ai, ki tana hautopenga atu i te hunga atua maori, i nga rapa maori, o te whenua nei; he aha ra koe i mea mahanga mai ai mo toku wairua, kia mate ai ahau?

10 Na ka oatitia a Ihowa e Haora ki a ia, i mea ia, E ora ana a Ihowa, e kore tetahi he e pa ki a koe mo tenei mea.

11 Katahi te wahine ka mea, Ko wai kia whakaputaina ake e ahau ki a koe? Ano ra ko ia, Ko Hamuera tau e whakaputa ake ai ki ahau.

12 A, no te kitenga o te wahine i a Hamuera, nui atu tona reo ki te hamama; a ka korero te wahine ki a Haora, ka mea, He aha koe i tinihanga ai ki ahau? ko Haora hoki koe.

13 Na ka mea te kingi ki a ia, Kaua e wehi: i kite hoki koe i te aha? Na ka mea te wahine ki a Haora, Kei te kite ahau i tetahi atua e haere ake ana i te whenua.

14 Ano ra ko tera ki a ia, He ahua aha tona? Ka mea ia, He koroheke te haere ake nei; he koroka hoki te kakahu. Na ka mohio a Haora ko Hamuera. Tuohu ana tona mata ki te whenua, piko ana ia.

15 Na ka mea a Hamuera ki a Haora, He aha koe i whakaohooho ai i ahau, i mea ai kia haere ake ahau? Ano ra ko Haora, Nui atu toku mate; e whawhai ana hoki nga Pirihitini ki ahau, a kua mahue ahau i te Atua, kahore ake hoki he kupu ana e whakahokia mai ki ahau e nga poropiti, e nga moe ranei; koia ahau i karanga ai ki a koe, hei ako i ahau ki taku e mea ai.

16 Katahi a Hamuera ka mea, He aha ra koe i u ai ki ahau, kua mahue nei hoki koe i a Ihowa, hei hoariri ano ia ki a koe?

17 Na kua meatia e Ihowa mona ake tana i whakapuakina e ahau: kua haea atu hoki te kingitanga i tou ringa, kua hoatu ki tou hoa, ara ki a Rawiri.

18 Mou kihai i rongo ki te reo o Ihowa, kihai i whakaputa i tona riri aritarita ki a Amareke; na reira a Ihowa i mea ai i tenei mea ki a koe i tenei ra.

19 Ko tenei, ka hoatu ano a Iharaira e Ihowa me koe hoki ki te ringa o nga Pirihitini, a apopo koutou ko au tama tae ake ai ki ahau: a ka hoatu e Ihowa te taua a Iharaira ki te ringa o nga Pirihitini.

20 Katahi ka hinga tonu iho a Haora, tona roa katoa ki te whenua, nui rawa hoki tona wehi mo nga kupu a Hamuera: kahore ano he kaha i roto i a ia; kihai hoki ia i kai taro noa pau noa taua ra, pau noa taua po.

21 Na ka haere taua wahine ki a Haora; a ka kite e pororaru rawa ana ona whakaaro, ka mea ki a ia, Nana, kua whakarongo nei tau pononga ki tou reo, a whakamomori ana ahau ki te mate, whakarongo ana ahau ki au kupu i korerotia e koe ki ahau.

22 Na, tena, whakarongo mai hoki aianei ki te reo o tau pononga, Kia whakatakotoria e ahau tetahi wahi taro ki tou aroaro; me kai ano koe, kia whai kaha ai koe ina haere i tou huarahi.

23 Otiia i whakakahore ia, i mea, E kore ahau e kai. Heoi tohea ana ia e ana tangata ratou ko te wahine; na ka rongo ia ki to ratou reo, a whakatika ake ana i te whenua, noho ana ki runga ki te moenga.

24 Na he kuao kau ta taua wahine i te whare, he mea whangai; na hohoro tonu tana patu, tikina ana e ia he paraoa, pokepokea ana, tunua iho e ia etahi keke rewenakore;

25 Kawea mai ana e ia ki te aroaro o Haora, ki te aroaro ano o ana tangata. Na kai ana ratou, a whakatika ana, haere atu ana i taua po.

29  Na ka huihuia e nga Pirihitini a ratou taua katoa ki Apeke, i te noho hoki a Iharaira ki te puna i Ietereere.

A ka haere nga rangatira o nga Pirihitini me o ratou rau, me o ratou mano, ka haere atu ano a Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata, me Akihi, i te hiku.

Katahi nga rangatira o nga Pirihitini ka mea, He aha ta enei Hiperu i konei? Ano ra ko Akihi ki nga rangatira o nga Pirihitini, Ehara ianei tenei i a Rawiri, i te tangata a Haora kingi o Iharaira i noho nei ki ahau i enei ra, i enei tau ranei, a kahore ahau i kite i tetahi he ona, o te ra ano i riro mai ai ia ki ahau a mohoa noa nei?

Otiia ka riri nga rangatira o nga Pirihitini ki a ia, a ka mea nga rangatira o nga Pirihitini ki a ia, Whakahokia tenei tangata kia hoki ki te wahi i whakaritea e koe mona; a kaua ia e haere tahi tatou ki te whawhai; kei whawhai ia ki a tatou i t e tatauranga; he aha hoki tana mea hei whakamarie mo tona rangatira? he teka ianei ko nga upoko o enei tangata?

Ehara ianei tenei i a Rawiri i waiata ra ratou tetahi ki tetahi, i nga kanikani, i mea ra, Na Haora ana mano i patu, na Rawiri ko ana tekau mano?

Katahi a Akihi ka karanga ki a Rawiri, ka mea ki a ia, E ora ana a Ihowa, tika tonu tau, pai tonu hoki ki taku titiro tou haerenga atu me tou haerenga mai i a taua nei i te ope; kahore nei hoki i mau i ahau tetahi he ou, o te ra ano i haere mai a i koe ki ahau a taea noatia tenei ra: otiia ki te titiro a nga rangatira kahore ou pai.

Na hoki atu aianei, haere hoki i runga i te rangimarie; kei kino tau mahi ki te titiro a nga rangatira o nga Pirihitini.

Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Akihi, I aha hoki ahau? ko te aha hoki a tau pononga i kitea e koe, o te ra i noho ai ahau ki tou aroaro a taea noatia tenei ra, ka kore ai ahau e haere ki te whawhai ki nga hoariri o toku ariki, o te kingi?

Na ka whakahoki a Akihi, ka mea ki a Rawiri, E mohio ana ano ahau he pai koe ki taku titiro, rite tonu ano ki te anahera a te Atua: otiia ko nga rangatira o nga Pirihitini hei ki mai, Kaua tenei e haere tahi tatou ki te whawhai.

10 Heoi maranga wawe i te ata, me nga tangata ano a tou ariki i haere tahi mai nei koutou, a ka maranga wawe koutou i te ata, ka marama, haere.

11 Heoi ka maranga wawe a Rawiri, ratou ko ana tangata, a haere ana i te ata, hoki ana ki te whenua o nga Pirihitini. Ko nga Pirihitini ia i haere ki runga, ki Ietereere.

30  A, no ka tae a Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata ki Tikiraka i te toru o nga ra, na kua huaki nga Amareki ki te tonga, ki Tikiraka ano, patua ana a Tikiraka e ratou, tahuna ake ki te ahi;

Whakaraua ana hoki e ratou nga wahine me nga mea o reira, te iti, te rahi; kihai i whakamatea tetahi, engari i kahakina atu, a haere ana i to ratou ara.

Heoi, i te taenga o Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata ki te pa, kua oti te tahu ki te ahi, a kau whakaraua atu a ratou wahine, a ratou tama, a ratou tamahine.

Katahi ka puaki te reo o Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata, tangi ana ratou, a kahore noa o ratou kaha ki te tangi.

I riro whakarau ano nga wahine tokorua a Rawiri, a Ahinoama o Ietereere, raua ko Apikaira wahine a Napara o Karamere.

Na mamae rawa a Rawiri, no te mea i kupukupu te nuinga kia akina ia ki te kohatu; i mamae hoki te ngakau o te iwi katoa, o tera, o tera, ki a ratou tama, ki a ratou tamahine: ko Rawiri ia i whakapakari i a ia i roto i a Ihowa, i tona Atua.

Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Apiatara tohunga, tama a Ahimereke, Tena, maua mai te epora ki ahau. Na maua ana te epora e Apiatara ki a Rawiri.

Na ka ui a Rawiri ki a Ihowa, ka mea, Ki te whai ahau i tenei taua e mau ranei ratou i ahau? Na ka mea ia, Whaia; ka mau pu hoki ratou i a koe, a ka riro katoa mai au i a koe.

Heoi haere ana a Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata e ono rau, kua tae ki te awa, ki Pehoro, ki te wahi i noho ai te hunga i mahue iho.

10 Otiia whai tonu ana a Rawiri ratou ko nga tangata e wha rau: e rua hoki nga rau i noho; i ruha rawa hoki, te whiti ai i te awa, i Pehoro.

11 Na ka tupono atu ratou ki tetahi tangata o Ihipa i te parae, a kawea ana ia ki a Rawiri. Na ka hoatu he taro mana, a kai ana ia; i whakainu ano ratou i a ia ki te wai.

12 I hoatu ano e ratou tetahi wahi o te keke piki me etahi tautau karepe e rua, na ka kai ia, a ka hoki tona wairua ki a ia; e toru hoki nga ra, e toru nga po ona kihai nei ia i kai i te kai, kihai i inu i te wai.

13 Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a ia, Na wai koe? no hea hoki koe? Ano ra ko ia, He tamaiti ahau no Ihipa, he pononga na tetahi Amareki; i whakarerea hoki ahau e toku ariki, he panga noku e te mate ka toru enei ra.

14 I huakina e matou te tonga o nga Kereti, me te wahi i a Hura, me te tonga o Karepe; i tahuna ano e matou a Tikiraka ki te ahi.

15 Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a ia, E taea ranei ahau te kawe e koe ki raro, ki te ope ra? Ano ra ko ia, Oati mai ki ahau ki te Atua hoki, e kore ahau e whakamatea e koe, e kore e tukua ki nga ringa o toku rangatira, a ka kawea koe e ahau ki raro ki tau a ope.

16 A, no tana kawenga i a ia ki raro, kua wawa noa atu ratou ki te mata o te whenua katoa, e kai ana, e inu ana, e kanikani ana, mo nga taonga nui katoa, taonga parakete, i riro i a ratou i te whenua o nga Pirihitini, i te whenua hoki o Hura.

17 Na patua iho ratou e Rawiri i te puaotanga a taea noatia te ahiahi o te aonga ake: kihai hoki tetahi o ratou i mawhiti, heoi ano ko etahi taitamariki e wha rau i eke ki nga kamera, a rere ana.

18 I riro ano hoki i a Rawiri nga mea katoa i tangohia e nga Amareki: i riro ano i a Rawiri ana wahine tokorua.

19 Kihai hoki i ngaro tetahi o a ratou mea; te iti, te rahi, nga tama, nga tamahine, nga taonga parakete, nga mea katoa i tangohia e ratou; i hoki katoa mai a Rawiri.

20 I mau ano i a Rawiri nga hipi katoa me nga kahui; a ka arahina e ratou i mua i era atu karerehe, i mea, Ko te taonga parakete tenei a Rawiri.

21 A ka tae a Rawiri ki nga tangata e rua rau i ruha nei, kihai nei i aru i a Rawiri, i meinga ra kia noho ki te awa, ki Pehoro: ka puta ratou ki te whakatau i a Rawiri, ki te whakatau hoki i te iwi i a ia: a ka tata a Rawiri ki aua tangata, ka oha ia ki a ratou.

22 Katahi ka oho ake te hunga kino katoa, nga tangata o Periara i roto i te hunga i haere tahi ratou ko Rawiri, ka mea, Kihai ratou i haere tahi tatou, na, e kore e hoatu ki a ratou etahi o nga taonga i rio mai i a tatou, heoi ano ko te wahine me n ga tamariki a tenei, a tenei, na ma ratou e arahi atu, e haere.

23 Katahi a Rawiri ka mea, Kaua e pena, e oku teina, ki ta Ihowa i homai ai ki a tatou; nana nei hoki tatou i tiaki, a homai ana e ia ki a tatou ringa taua ope i haere ake ra ki a tatou.

24 Ko wai hoki hei whakarongo ki tenei mea a koutou? Ko te wahi hoki a te tangata i haere ki te whawhai kia rite ki te wahi a te tangata i noho ki nga mea: kia rite tonu te wahi ma ratou.

25 Na waiho tonu iho e ia tena hei tikanga, hei ritenga mo Iharaira no taua rangi a tuku iho ki tenei ra.

26 A, i te taenga o Rawiri ki Tikiraka, ka tonoa e ia etahi o nga taonga ki nga kaumatua o Hura, ki ona hoa, a ka mea, Tena tetahi manaaki mo koutou no nga taonga a nga hoariri o Ihowa;

27 Ki nga tangata hoki o Peteere, ki o Ramoto ki te tonga, ki era hoki i Iatiri;

28 Ki a Aroere, ki o Hipimoto, ki o Ehetemoa.

29 Ki o Rakara, ki o nga pa o nga Ierameeri, ki o nga pa o nga Keni;

30 Ki o Horema, ki o Korahana, ki o Ataka;

31 Ki o Heperona, ki o nga wahi katoa i haereere ai a Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata.

31  Na kua whawhai nga Pirihitini ki a Iharaira, a ka whati nga tangata o Iharaira i te aroaro o nga Pirihitini, a hinga ana, mate rawa, i Maunga Kiripoa.

Na ka whaia e nga Pirihitini a Haora ratou ko ana tama, a patua iho e nga Pirihitini a Honatana ratou ko Apinarapa, ko Marikihua, nga tama a Haora.

Na ka nui haere te whawhai ki a Haora, a ka mau ia i nga kaikopere; nui rawa tona tunga i nga kaikopere.

Katahi a Haora ka mea ki tana kaimau patu, Unuhia tau hoari, werohia hoki ahau; kei haere mai tenei hunga kokotikore, a ka wero i ahau, ka whakatupu kino i ahau. Otiia kihai i pai tana kaimau patu; he nui hoki no tona hopohopo. Na reira ka mau a Haora ki tana hoari, hinga iho ki runga.

A, no te kitenga o tana kaimau patu, kua mate a Haora, ka hinga hoki ia ki tana hoari, a mate tahi ana raua.

Heoi kotahi tonu te matenga o Haora ratou ko ana tama tokotoru, ko tana kaimau patu, me ana tangata katoa i taua ra ano.

A, no te kitenga o nga tangata o Iharaira i tera taha o te raorao, i tawhi ano o Horano, kua whati nga tangata o Iharaira, a kua mate a Haora ratou ko ana tama, whakarerea ake e ratou nga pa, a rere ana; na ka haere nga Pirihitini nohoia iho.

A, i te aonga ake, i te haerenga o nga Pirihitini ki te muru i te hunga i patua, na, ka kitea e ratou a Haora ratou ko ana tama tokotoru e takoto ana i Maunga Kiripoa.

Na tapahia ana e ratou tona upoko, murua ana ana patu, unga ana e ratou kia kawea puta noa i te whenua o nga Pirihitini a tawhio noa, kia kauwhautia i roto i te whare o a ratou whakapakoko, i roto hoki i te iwi.

10 A i whakatakotoria e ratou ana patu ki te whare o Ahataroto, ko tona tinana ia i titia e ratou ki te taiepa o Petehana.

11 A, no ka rongo nga tangata o Iapehe Kireara ki ta nga Pirihitini i mea ai ki a Haora,

12 Ka whakatika nga marohirohi katoa, a haere ana pau noa taua po katoa; na tangohia iho e ratou te tinana o Haora, me nga tinana o ana tama i te taiepa o Petehana, a haere ana ki Iapehe, tahuna ana ki reira.

13 I maua hoki o ratou whenua e ratou, a tanumia ana ki raro i tetahi rakau i Iapehe, a e whitu nga ra i nohopuku ai.

28 In those days the Philistines gathered(A) their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard(B) for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

Now Samuel was dead,(C) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah.(D) Saul had expelled(E) the mediums and spiritists(F) from the land.

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem,(G) while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.(H) When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror(I) filled his heart. He inquired(J) of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams(K) or Urim(L) or prophets.(M) Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,(N) so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,(O)” they said.

So Saul disguised(P) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult(Q) a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off(R) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap(S) for my life to bring about my death?”

10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me?(T) You are Saul!”

13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.”(U)

14 “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe(V) is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed(W) from me. He no longer answers(X) me, either by prophets or by dreams.(Y) So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn(Z) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey(AA) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath(AB) against the Amalekites,(AC) the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons(AD) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life(AE) in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

23 He refused(AF) and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24 The woman had a fattened calf(AG) at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

29 The Philistines gathered(AH) all their forces at Aphek,(AI) and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.(AJ) As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear(AK) with Achish. The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”

Achish replied, “Is this not David,(AL) who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year,(AM) and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send(AN) the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn(AO) against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances:

“‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands’?”(AP)

So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day(AQ) you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers(AR) don’t approve of you. Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

“But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel(AS) of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders(AT) have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave(AU) in the morning as soon as it is light.”

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

David Destroys the Amalekites

30 David and his men reached Ziklag(AV) on the third day. Now the Amalekites(AW) had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned(AX) it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.(AY) So David and his men wept(AZ) aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives(BA) had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning(BB) him; each one was bitter(BC) in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength(BD) in the Lord his God.

Then David said to Abiathar(BE) the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.(BF)” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired(BG) of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed(BH) in the rescue.(BI)

David and the six hundred men(BJ) with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. 10 Two hundred of them were too exhausted(BK) to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

11 They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— 12 part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived,(BL) for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

13 David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?”

He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite.(BM) My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. 14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites,(BN) some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb.(BO) And we burned(BP) Ziklag.”

15 David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?”

He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master,(BQ) and I will take you down to them.”

16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling(BR) because of the great amount of plunder(BS) they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17 David fought(BT) them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.(BU) 18 David recovered(BV) everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted(BW) to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”

23 David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.(BX) 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.

26 When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a gift(BY) for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.”

27 David sent it to those who were in Bethel,(BZ) Ramoth(CA) Negev and Jattir;(CB) 28 to those in Aroer,(CC) Siphmoth,(CD) Eshtemoa(CE) 29 and Rakal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites(CF) and the Kenites;(CG) 30 to those in Hormah,(CH) Bor Ashan,(CI) Athak 31 and Hebron;(CJ) and to those in all the other places where he and his men had roamed.

Saul Takes His Life(CK)

31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.(CL) The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons,(CM) and they killed his sons Jonathan,(CN) Abinadab and Malki-Shua.(CO) The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded(CP) him critically.

Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through,(CQ) or these uncircumcised(CR) fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died(CS) together that same day.

When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

The next day, when the Philistines(CT) came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news(CU) in the temple of their idols and among their people.(CV) 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths(CW) and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.(CX)

11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead(CY) heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men(CZ) marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned(DA) them. 13 Then they took their bones(DB) and buried them under a tamarisk(DC) tree at Jabesh, and they fasted(DD) seven days.(DE)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 28:13 Or see spirits; or see gods