⁶ then his master must take him before the judges.^[a](A) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce^(B) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.^(C)

¹⁷ then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.

⁴⁰ They are to be treated as hired workers^(A) or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

² David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

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

¹⁷ the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges^(A) who are in office at the time. ¹⁸ The judges must make a thorough investigation,^(B) and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite,

⁷ They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer,^(A) they will always be your servants.”

¹² Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious^(A) to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.^(B)”

Israel Asks for a King

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed^(A) his sons as Israel’s leaders.^{[a] 2} The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,^(B) and they served at Beersheba.^(C)