Bible in 90 Days
Samuel Anoints David
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul,(A) since I have rejected him as king over Israel?(B) Fill your horn with oil(C) and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem(D) because I have selected a king from his sons.”
2 Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”
The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’(E) 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do.(F) You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you.”(G)
4 Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem.(H) When the elders of the town met him, they trembled[a] and asked, “Do[b] you come in peace?”(I)
5 “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves(J) and come with me to the sacrifice.”[c] Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab(K) and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees,[d] for man sees what is visible,[e] but the Lord sees the heart.”(L)
8 Jesse called Abinadab(M) and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. 9 Then Jesse presented Shammah,(N) but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” 10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,”(O) he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy,[f] handsome appearance.(P)
Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”(Q) 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him(R) in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward.(S) Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
David in Saul’s Court
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul,(T) and an evil spirit sent from the Lord began to torment him, 15 so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubles you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”(U)
17 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18 One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man,(V) a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him.”(W)
19 Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.(X) 21 When David came to Saul(Y) and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God troubled Saul,(Z) David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
David versus Goliath
17 The Philistines(AA) gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh(AB) and Azekah(AC) in Ephes-dammim.(AD) 2 Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah;(AE) then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines.
3 The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. 4 Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath,(AF) came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall[g][h] 5 and wore a bronze helmet[i] and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 pounds.[j] 6 There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze sword(AG) was slung between his shoulders. 7 His spear shaft(AH) was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15 pounds.[k] In addition, a shield-bearer(AI) was walking in front of him.
8 He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul?(AJ) Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. 9 If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”(AK) 10 Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today.(AL) Send me a man so we can fight each other!” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.
12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite(AM) from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons(AN) and during Saul’s reign was already an old man. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names(AO) were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third, 14 and David was the youngest.(AP) The three oldest had followed Saul, 15 but David kept going back and forth from Saul(AQ) to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem.
16 Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand. 17 One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel[l] of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread(AR) for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander.[m] Check on the welfare of your brothers(AS) and bring a confirmation from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.”
20 So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him.
He arrived at the perimeter of the camp(AT) as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. 22 David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster(AU) and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. 23 While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words,(AV) which David heard. 24 When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.
25 Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter.(AW) The king will also make the household of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”(AX)
26 David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?(AY) Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine(AZ) that he should defy the armies(BA) of the living God?”(BB)
27 The people told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”(BC)
28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him.(BD) “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”
29 “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” 30 Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.(BE)
31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him. 32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by[n] him;(BF) your servant will go(BG) and fight this Philistine!”
33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”
34 David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth.(BH) If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur,[o] strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”(BI)
Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”(BJ)
38 Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. 39 David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Instead, he took his staff in his hand(BK) and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.
41 The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him(BL) because he was just a youth, healthy[p](BM) and handsome. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog(BN) that you come against me with sticks?”[q] Then he cursed David by his gods.(BO) 44 “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”(BP)
45 David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies—you have defied Him.(BQ) 46 Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses[r] of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God,(BR) 47 and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves,(BS) for the battle is the Lord’s.(BT) He will hand you over to us.”
48 When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine.(BU) 49 David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword,(BV) pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ran.(BW) 52 The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron.[s](BX) Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road(BY) to Gath and Ekron.
53 When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. 54 David took Goliath’s[t] head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.
55 [u] When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?”(BZ)
“My king, as surely as you live, I don’t know,” Abner replied.
56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is!”
57 When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.(CA) 58 Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”
“The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,”(CB) David answered.
David’s Success
18 When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan committed himself to David, and loved him as much as he loved himself.(CC) 2 Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house.
3 Jonathan made a covenant with David(CD) because he loved him as much as himself. 4 Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David,(CE) along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5 David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the soldiers, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.
6 As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,(CF) singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. 7 As they celebrated, the women sang:
Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands.(CG)
8 Saul was furious and resented this song.[v] “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?”(CH) 9 So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.
Saul Attempts to Kill David
10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God took control of Saul,(CI) and he began to rave[w] inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual,(CJ) but Saul was holding a spear,(CK) 11 and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.”(CL) But David got away from him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David,(CM) because the Lord was with David(CN) but had left Saul.(CO) 13 Therefore, Saul reassigned David and made him commander over 1,000 men. David led the troops(CP) 14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him.(CQ) 15 When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David(CR) because he was leading their troops. 17 Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife,(CS) if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.”(CT) But Saul was thinking, “My hand doesn’t need to be against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”(CU)
18 Then David responded, “Who am I,(CV) and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.(CW)
David’s Marriage to Michal
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal(CX) loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him.[x] 21 “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.”(CY) So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.”(CZ)
22 Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’”
23 Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David,[y] but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor man who is common.”(DA)
24 The servants reported back to Saul, “These are the words David spoke.”
25 Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price(DB) except 100 Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’”(DC) Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.(DD)
26 When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased[z] to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,[aa] 27 David and his men went out and killed 200[ab] Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife.(DE) 28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.
30 Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight,(DF) David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers.(DG) So his name became well known.
David Delivered from Saul
19 Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.(DH) But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much,(DI) 2 so he told him: “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. 3 I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I’ll tell you.”(DJ)
4 Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: “The king should not sin against his servant David.(DK) He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. 5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine,(DL) and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel.(DM) You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”(DN)
6 Saul listened to Jonathan’s advice and swore an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed.” 7 So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before.(DO)
8 When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such a great force that they fled from him.
9 Now an evil spirit sent from the Lord(DP) came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear.(DQ) David was playing the lyre,(DR) 10 and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear.(DS) As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul, ran away, and escaped that night. 11 Saul sent agents to David’s house to watch for him and kill him in the morning.(DT) But his wife Michal(DU) warned David, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!” 12 So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped.(DV) 13 Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. 14 When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, “He’s sick.”(DW)
15 Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, “Bring him on his bed so I can kill him.” 16 When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head.
17 Saul asked Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!”
She answered him, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”
18 So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah(DX) and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel left and stayed at Naioth.(DY)
19 When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, 20 he sent agents to seize David.(DZ) However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying(EA) with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they also started prophesying. 21 When they reported to Saul, he sent other agents, and they also began prophesying.(EB) So Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents, and even they began prophesying. 22 Then Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu, looked around, and asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”
“At Naioth in Ramah,” someone said.
23 So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him,(EC) and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah. 24 Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel; he collapsed and lay naked(ED) all that day and all that night. That is why they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”(EE)
Jonathan Protects David
20 David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done?(EF) What did I do wrong? How have I sinned against your father so that he wants to take my life?”
2 Jonathan said to him, “No, you won’t die. Listen, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without telling me.[ac] So why would he hide this matter from me? This can’t be true.”
3 But David said, “Your father certainly knows that you have come to look favorably on me. He has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or else he will be grieved.’” David also swore, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”(EG)
4 Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
5 So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon,(EH) and I’m supposed to sit down and eat with the king.(EI) Instead, let me go, and I’ll hide in the field until the third night.(EJ) 6 If your father misses me at all, say, ‘David urgently requested my permission to quickly go to his town Bethlehem(EK) for an annual sacrifice(EL) there involving the whole clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions. 8 Deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the Lord.(EM) If I have done anything wrong,(EN) then kill me yourself; why take me to your father?”
9 “No!” Jonathan responded. “If I ever find out my father has evil intentions against you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?”
10 So David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
11 He answered David, “Come on, let’s go out to the field.” So both of them went out to the field. 12 “By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If I find out that he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?[ad] 13 If my father intends to bring evil on you, may God punish Jonathan and do so severely(EO) if I do not tell you[ae] and send you away so you may go in peace. May the Lord be with you,(EP) just as He was with my father. 14 If I continue to live, treat me with the Lord’s faithful love, but if I die, 15 don’t ever withdraw your faithful love from my household—not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”(EQ) 16 Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,(ER) saying, “May the Lord hold David’s enemies accountable.”[af](ES) 17 Jonathan once again swore to David[ag] in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.(ET)
18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the New Moon;(EU) you’ll be missed because your seat will be empty. 19 The following day hurry down and go to the place where you hid on the day this incident began and stay beside the rock Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows beside it as if I’m aiming at a target. 21 Then I will send the young man and say, ‘Go and find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you—get them,’ then come, because as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no problem. 22 But if I say this to the youth: ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you!’(EV) then go, for the Lord is sending you away. 23 As for the matter you and I have spoken about,(EW) the Lord will be a witness[ah] between you and me forever.”(EX) 24 So David hid in the field.
At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal. 25 He sat at his usual place on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat facing him[ai] and Abner took his place beside Saul, but David’s place was empty.(EY) 26 Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, “Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean—yes, that’s it, he is unclean.”(EZ)
27 However, the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why didn’t Jesse’s son come to the meal either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered, “David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.(FA) 29 He said, ‘Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if you are pleased with me, let me go so I can see my brothers.’ That’s why he didn’t come to the king’s table.”
30 Then Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you are siding with Jesse’s son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother?[aj] 31 Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me—he deserves to die.”(FB)
32 Jonathan answered his father back: “Why is he to be killed? What has he done?”(FC)
33 Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him,(FD) so he knew that his father was determined to kill David.(FE) 34 He got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the New Moon, for he was grieved because of his father’s shameful behavior toward David.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointed meeting with David. A small young man was with him. 36 He said to the young man, “Run and find the arrows I’m shooting.”(FF) As the young man ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him. 37 He came to the location of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, but Jonathan called to him and said, “The arrow is beyond you, isn’t it?”(FG) 38 Then Jonathan called to him, “Hurry up and don’t stop!” Jonathan’s young man picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 He did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 40 Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the young man who was with him and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”
41 When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell with his face to the ground, and bowed three times.(FH) Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more.(FI)
42 Jonathan then said to David, “Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of the Lord when we said: The Lord will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever.”[ak](FJ) Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city.
David Flees to Nob
21 David went to Ahimelech(FK) the priest at Nob.(FL) Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, so he said to him, “Why are you alone and no one is with you?”
2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, “The king gave me a mission, but he told me, ‘Don’t let anyone know anything about the mission I’m sending you on or what I have ordered you to do.’ I have stationed my young men at a certain place. 3 Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever can be found.”
4 The priest told him, “There is no ordinary bread on hand. However, there is consecrated bread,(FM) but the young men may eat it[al] only if they have kept themselves from women.”(FN)
5 David answered him, “I swear that women are being kept from us, as always when I go out to battle.(FO) The young men’s bodies[am] are consecrated(FP) even on an ordinary mission, so of course their bodies are consecrated today.” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread,(FQ) for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence(FR) that had been removed from the presence of the Lord. When the bread was removed, it had been replaced with warm bread.
7 One of Saul’s servants, detained before the Lord, was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite,(FS) chief of Saul’s shepherds.
8 David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.”
9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine,(FT) whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want to take it for yourself, then take it, for there isn’t another one here.”
“There’s none like it!” David said. “Give it to me.”
David Flees to Gath
10 David fled that day from Saul’s presence and went to King Achish of Gath.(FU) 11 But Achish’s servants said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Don’t they sing about him during their dances:
Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands?”(FV)
12 David took this to heart[an] and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath, 13 so he pretended to be insane in their presence.(FW) He acted like a madman around them,[ao] scribbling[ap] on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
14 “Look! You can see the man is crazy,” Achish said to his servants. “Why did you bring him to me? 15 Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?”(FX)
Saul’s Increasing Paranoia
22 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam.(FY) When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. 2 In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him.(FZ)
3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
5 Then the prophet Gad(GA) said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree(GB) at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. 7 Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?(GC) 8 That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me[aq] when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son.(GD) None of you cares about me(GE) or tells me[ar] that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”
9 Then Doeg the Edomite,(GF) who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.(GG) 10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him(GH) and gave him provisions.(GI) He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”(GJ)
Slaughter of the Priests
11 The king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”
“I’m at your service,(GK) my lord,” he said.
13 Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.”(GL)
14 Ahimelech replied to the king: “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David?(GM) He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was today the first time I inquired of God for him?(GN) Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant didn’t have any idea[as] about all this.”
16 But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech—you and your father’s whole family!”
17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord(GO) because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.”[at] But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.
18 So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed 85 men(GP) who wore linen ephods.(GQ) 19 He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword—both men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.(GR)
20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar,(GS) and he fled to David.(GT) 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite(GU) was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for[au] the lives of everyone in your father’s family. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life.(GV) You will be safe with me.”
Deliverance at Keilah
23 It was reported to David: “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah(GW) and raiding the threshing floors.”
2 So David inquired of the Lord:(GX) “Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?”
The Lord answered David, “Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
4 Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.”(GY) 5 Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
7 When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.” 8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest,(GZ) “Bring the ephod.”(HA)
10 Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”
The Lord answered, “He will come down.”
12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?”
“They will,”(HB) the Lord responded.
13 So David and his men, numbering about 600,(HC) left Keilah at once and moved from place to place.(HD) When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. 14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph.(HE) Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.(HF)
A Renewed Covenant
15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God,(HG) 17 saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel,(HH) and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”(HI) 18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence.(HJ) Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
David’s Narrow Escape
19 Some Ziphites(HK) came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is[av] hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon. 20 Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king.”(HL)
21 “May you be blessed by the Lord,” replied Saul, “for you have taken pity on me.(HM) 22 Go and check again. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes[aw] and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning. 23 Look and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans[ax] of Judah.” 24 So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.
Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon(HN) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, 25 and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.
26 Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.(HO) 27 Then a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!” 28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation. 29 [ay]From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.(HP)
David Spares Saul
24 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines,(HQ) he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”(HR) 2 So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s choice men(HS) and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself.[az](HT) David and his men were staying in the back of the cave,(HU) 4 so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David’s conscience bothered[ba](HV) him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.[bb] 6 He said to his men, “I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed.(HW) I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”(HX) 7 With these words David persuaded[bc] his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.
Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed to the ground in homage.(HY) 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10 You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave.(HZ) Someone advised me to kill you,(IA) but I[bd][be] took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11 See, my father!(IB) Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.(IC)
12 “May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.(ID) 13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’(IE) My hand will never be against you. 14 Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A flea?(IF) 15 May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver[bf] me from you.”(IG)
16 When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?”(IH) Then Saul wept aloud 17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.(II) 18 You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me.(IJ) 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed?[bg](IK) May the Lord repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.
20 “Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established[bh] in your hand.(IL) 21 Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”(IM) 22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.(IN)
David, Nabal, and Abigail
25 Samuel died,(IO) and all Israel assembled to mourn for him,(IP) and they buried him by his home in Ramah.(IQ) David then went down to the Wilderness of Paran.[bi](IR)
2 A man in Maon(IS) had a business in Carmel;(IT) he was a very rich man with 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats and was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name, Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man, a Calebite,(IU) was harsh and evil in his dealings.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep, 5 so David sent 10 young men instructing them, “Go up to Carmel, and when you come to Nabal, greet him in my name.[bj] 6 Then say this: ‘Long life to you,[bk] and peace to you, to your family, and to all that is yours.(IV) 7 I hear that you are shearing.[bl] When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.(IW) 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast[bm] day.(IX) Please give whatever you can afford to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 David’s young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David’s behalf,[bn] and they waited.[bo] 10 Nabal asked them, “Who is David?(IY) Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters. 11 Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t know where they are from.”
12 David’s men retraced their steps. When they returned to him, they reported all these words. 13 He said to his men, “All of you, put on your swords!” So David and all his men put on their swords. About 400 men followed David while 200 stayed with the supplies.(IZ)
14 One of Nabal’s young men informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife: “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master,(JA) but he yelled at them. 15 The men treated us well. When we were in the field, we weren’t harassed(JB) and nothing of ours was missing the whole time we were living among them. 16 They were a wall around us, both day and night,(JC) the entire time we were herding the sheep. 17 Now consider carefully what you must do, because there is certain to be trouble for our master and his entire family. He is such a worthless fool nobody can talk to him!”
18 Abigail hurried, taking 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, a bushel[bp] of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.(JD) 19 Then she said to her male servants, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.”(JE) But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 As she rode the donkey down a mountain pass hidden from view, she saw David and his men coming toward her and met them. 21 David had just said, “I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness for nothing. He was not missing anything, yet he paid me back evil for good. 22 May God punish me[bq] and do so severely(JF) if I let any of his men[br] survive until morning.”(JG)
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and fell with her face to the ground in front of David.(JH) 24 She fell at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant. 25 My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name:[bs] His name is Nabal,[bt] and stupidity is all he knows.[bu] I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent. 26 Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself(JI) by your own hand. May your enemies and those who want trouble for my lord be like Nabal.(JJ) 27 Accept this gift(JK) your servant has brought to my lord, and let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive your servant’s offense,(JL) for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord(JM) because he fights the Lord’s battles.(JN) Throughout your life, may evil[bv] not be found in you.(JO)
29 “When someone pursues you and attempts to take your life, my lord’s life will be tucked safely in the place[bw] where the Lord your God protects the living. However, He will fling away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.(JP) 30 When the Lord does for my lord all the good He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel,(JQ) 31 there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”(JR)
32 Then David said to Abigail, “Praise to the Lord God of Israel,(JS) who sent you to meet me today! 33 Your discernment is blessed, and you are blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.(JT) 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any men[bx] left by morning light.” 35 Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace.(JU) See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request.”(JV)
36 Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king.(JW) Nabal was in a good mood[by] and very drunk, so she didn’t say anything[bz] to him(JX) until morning light.
37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up,[ca] his wife told him about these events. Then he had a seizure[cb] and became paralyzed.[cc] 38 About 10 days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.(JY)
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord who championed my cause against Nabal’s insults(JZ) and restrained His servant from doing evil.(KA) The Lord brought Nabal’s evil deeds back on his own head.”(KB)
Then David sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him. 40 When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David sent us to bring you to him as a wife.”
41 She stood up, then bowed her face to the ground(KC) and said, “Here I am, your servant, to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”(KD) 42 Then Abigail got up quickly, and with her five female servants accompanying her, rode on the donkey following David’s messengers.(KE) And so she became his wife.
43 David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel,(KF) and the two of them became his wives. 44 But Saul gave his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti(KG) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.(KH)
David Again Spares Saul
26 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.”(KI) 2 So Saul, accompanied by 3,000 of the choice men of Israel,(KJ) went to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. 3 Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah(KK) opposite Jeshimon. David was living in the wilderness and discovered Saul had come there after him.(KL) 4 So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come. 5 Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner,(KM) the general of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him. 6 Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite(KN) and Joab’s brother Abishai(KO) son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp(KP) to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
7 That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be blameless?”(KQ) 10 David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down:(KR) either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 However, because of the Lord, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.(KS) Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord(KT) came over them. 13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. 14 Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner: “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?”
“Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.
15 David called to Abner, “You’re a man, aren’t you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn’t you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 16 What you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, the Lord’s anointed.(KU) Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?”(KV)
“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. 18 Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?(KW) 19 Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me,(KX) then may He accept an offering.(KY) But if it is people,(KZ) may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord saying,(LA) ‘Go and worship other gods.’ 20 So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a flea,(LB) like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Saul responded, “I have sinned.(LC) Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”
22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. 23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness(LD) and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.(LE) 24 Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable(LF) and rescue me from all trouble.”(LG)
25 Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.”(LH) Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.(LI)
David Flees to Ziklag
27 David said to himself, “One of these days I’ll be swept away by Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines.(LJ) Then Saul will stop searching for me everywhere in Israel, and I’ll escape from him.” 2 So David set out with his 600 men(LK) and went to Achish son of Maoch,(LL) the king of Gath. 3 David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him,(LM) and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel,(LN) Nabal’s widow. 4 When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5 Now David said to Achish, “If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” 6 That day Achish gave Ziklag(LO) to him, and it still belongs to the kings of Judah today. 7 The time that David stayed in the Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.(LP)
8 David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites,(LQ) the Girzites,[cd] and the Amalekites.(LR) From ancient times they had been the inhabitants of the region through Shur(LS) as far as the land of Egypt. 9 Whenever David attacked the land, he did not leave a single person alive, either man or woman, but he took flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, and clothing.(LT) Then he came back to Achish, 10 who inquired, “Where did you raid today?”[ce](LU)
David replied, “The south country of Judah,” “The south country of the Jerahmeelites,”(LV) or “Against the south country of the Kenites.”(LW)
11 David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Or they will inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was David’s custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory. 12 So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself detestable to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”
Saul and the Medium
28 At that time, the Philistines(LX) brought their military units together into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army[cf] with me.”
2 David replied to Achish, “Good, you will find out what your servant can do.”
So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.”(LY)
3 By this time Samuel had died,(LZ) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city,(MA) and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.(MB) 4 The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and trembled violently. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets.(MC) 7 Saul then said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.”
His servants replied, “There is a woman at En-dor(MD) who is a medium.”(ME)
8 Saul disguised himself(MF) by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me.(MG) Bring up for me the one I tell you.”(MH)
9 But the woman said to him, “You surely know what Saul has done,(MI) how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed?”
10 Then Saul swore to her by the Lord: “As surely as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you because of this.”
11 “Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?” the woman asked.
“Bring up Samuel for me,” he answered.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, “Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!”
13 But the king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”
“I see a spirit form[cg] coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.
14 Then Saul asked her, “What does he look like?”
“An old man is coming up,” she replied. “He’s wearing a robe.”(MJ) Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and paid homage.(MK)
15 “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Samuel asked Saul.
“I’m in serious trouble,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me.(ML) He doesn’t answer me anymore,(MM) either through the prophets or in dreams. So I’ve called on you to tell me what I should do.”
16 Samuel answered, “Since the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? 17 The Lord has done[ch] exactly what He said through me: The Lord has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.(MN) 18 You did not obey the Lord and did not carry out His burning anger against Amalek;(MO) therefore the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me,[ci](MP) and the Lord will hand Israel’s army over to the Philistines.”
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.