Old/New Testament
Saul Dies on Mount Gilboa
10 Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines pursued Saul and his sons. The Philistines killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua. 3 The battle raged around Saul and the archers spotted him and he was wounded by the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, so that these uncircumcised will not come and torture me.”
But his armor-bearer refused to do it, because he was terrified. Therefore Saul took the sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 6 So Saul and his three sons died; his whole household died together. 7 Now when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. The Philistines then came and lived in them.
8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines proclaiming the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the house of their gods, and hung his head in the house of Dagon.
11 Now when all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and retrieved the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13 So Saul died because of his unfaithful acts that he committed against the word of Adonai, which he did not keep, and he even consulted a medium for guidance 14 rather than inquire of Adonai. So He put him to death and transferred the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
David’s Rise and Capture of Zion
11 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying: “Behold, we are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one that led out and brought in Israel. Adonai your God also said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel and you shall be ruler over My people Israel.’”
3 When all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Adonai. They anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the word of Adonai by the hand of Samuel.
4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem—that is Jebus, where the Jebusite inhabitants of the land lived. 5 Now the residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot get in here!” Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David.
6 David had said, “Whoever strikes down the Jebusites first will be commander-in-chief.” So Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became commander. 7 David lived in the stronghold; for this reason it is called the city of David. 8 He fortified the city all around, from the Millo to the surrounding walls, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 David grew more and more powerful because Adonai-Tzva’ot was with him.
David’s Mighty Men
10 Now these were chiefs of David’s mighty men, who strongly supported him in his kingdom, together with all Israel to make him king, according to the word of Adonai, over Israel. 11 This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam the son of Hachmoni, was the chief of the 30; he wielded his spear against 300 and slew them all at one time. 12 After him was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pas Dammim, when the Philistines assembled there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley where the army retreated from before the Philistines, 14 but they took a stand in the middle of the plot; they defended it and struck down the Philistines. Adonai delivered a great victory.
15 Three of the 30 leaders went down to David at the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16 At that time, David was in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem. 17 David had a craving and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the cistern by the gate in Bethlehem!” 18 So the three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern by the gate in Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But David refused to drink it. He poured it out to Adonai 19 and said: “Far be it for me that I should do this before my God! Can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?”—for they brought it at the risk of their lives and he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the Three mighty men.
20 Abishai, Joab’s brother, was chief of the Three. He once wielded his spear against 300 and slew them. Thus he won a name among the Three. 21 Of the Three, he was more highly esteemed than the other two and became their commander, even though he was not one of the three.
22 Beniah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man from Kabzeel who had done mighty deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab, and went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day. 23 He also killed the giant Egyptian man who was five cubits tall. In his hand the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam, yet Beniah attacked him with a club. He snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These were the exploits of Beniah son of Jehoiada, who gained renown among the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was more honorable than the 30, yet he was not one of the Three. Nevertheless, David set him over his bodyguard.
26 The mighty men were:
Asael Joab’s brother,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth the Harorite,
Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite,
29 Sibbecai the Hushathite,
Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Mahrai the Netophathite,
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai of Nahale-gaash,
Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,
Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite,
35 Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite,
Eliphal son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Meherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro the Carmelite,
Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38 Joel the brother of Nathan,
Mibhar son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite,
Nahrai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad son of Ahlai,
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and 30 with him,
43 Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzijah the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotam the Aroerite,
45 Jedaiael son of Shimri and Joha his brother the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite,
Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam,
and Ithmah the Moabite;
47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
All Israel Rallies to David
12 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag when he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left to sling stones and shoot arrows from the bow. They were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin. 3 Their chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, Jehu the Anathothite, 4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the 30 and leading the 30, 5 Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, 6 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Hariphite, 7 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam, the Korahites, 8 Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
9 Some of the Gadites there withdrew to follow David to the stronghold in the wilderness. They were valiant men trained for battle, armed with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains. 10 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 11 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 12 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 13 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 14 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh. 15 These were the Gadites, leaders of the army. The least was equal to 100 and the greatest to 1,000. 16 These were the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing its banks, routing all those in the valleys to the east and to the west.
17 Some of the children of Benjamin and also from Judah came to David at the stronghold. 18 David went out to meet them and answered them saying, “If you come to me in peace to support me, then my heart will be united with you. But if it is to betray me to my adversaries, when my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our fathers take notice and judge.”
19 Then a spirit came upon Amasai, leader of the 30,
“We are yours, David,
on your side, son of Jesse.
Shalom, shalom to you,
and shalom to him who helps you,
for your God supports you!”
So David welcomed them and made them leaders of the troops.
20 Some from Manasseh went over to David when he went with the Philistines to battle against Saul. But they did not help them because the Philistine rulers after consultation sent him away, saying: “It would cost us our heads if he defected to his master Saul.”
21 When he went to Ziklag, these from Manasseh joined him—Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai, the leaders of thousands that were from Manasseh. 22 They helped David against the raiding bands, for all of them were valiant warriors and they were officers in the army. 23 Day by day men came to David to help him until there was a great army like the army of God.
24 These are the numbers of the heads of those armed for war who came to David in Hebron to transfer Saul’s kingdom to him, according to the word of Adonai:
25 The sons of Judah that bore shield and spear were 6,800, armed for war;
26 from the sons of Simeon, 7,100 brave warriors ready for war;
27 from the sons of Levi 4,600; 28 Jehoiada the leader of the Aaronides and with him 3,700; 29 Zadok, a young mighty man of valor, with 22 commanders from his clan;
30 from the sons of Benjamin, Saul’s kinsmen, 3,000 for up to that time the majority of them had kept their allegiance to Saul’s house;
31 from the sons of Ephraim 20,800 valliant warriors, famous men in their clan; 32 from the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000 who were designated by name to come and make David king;
33 from the sons of Issachar—men who know how to interpret the signs of the times to determine what Israel should do—200 chiefs with all their kinsmen under their command;
34 from Zebulun 50,000 warriors prepared for battle, arrayed with all types of weapons of war and ready to give their undivided loyalty;
35 from Naphtali 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 with shield and spear;
36 from the Danites, 28,600 equipped for battle;
37 from Asher 40,000 experienced warriors arrayed for battle;
38 and from beyond the Jordan, from the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 120,000 armed with every type of weapons of war.
39 All these fighting men, prepared for the battle line, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel were also of one heart to make David king. 40 So they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had given them provision. 41 Moreover those who were near to them, from as far as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There was flour, pressed figs, raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance—for indeed, there was joy in Israel.
45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’[a] Everyone who has listened and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God—He has seen the Father.
47 “Amen, amen I tell you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began arguing with one another, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 So Yeshua said to them, “Amen, amen I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
55 “For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who eats of Me will also live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven—not like the bread your fathers ate and then died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
59 He said these things while teaching at the synagogue in Capernaum.
Fallout from a Hard Teaching
60 So when many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can listen to it?”
61 But Yeshua knew His disciples were murmuring, so He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man going back up to the place where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no benefit. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and are life! 64 Yet some of you do not trust.” Yeshua knew from the beginning who were the ones who did not trust, as well as which one would betray Him.
65 Then He told them, “For this reason I’ve told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by the Father.”
66 From this time, many of His disciples left and quit walking with Him. 67 So Yeshua said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to leave also, do you?”
68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! 69 We have trusted and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Yeshua answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is the adversary!” 71 Now He was speaking of Judah, the son of Simon of Kriot—for he, one of the Twelve, was about to betray Him.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.