New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Israel Demands a King

1 And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah;theywere judging in Beersheba.

3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;

5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”

6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 The Lordsaid to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day-in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods-so they are doing to you also.

9 Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of theprocedure of the king who will reign over them.”

Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lordto the people who had asked of him a king.

11 He said, “This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and placethemfor himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.

12 He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, andsometo do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers.

14 He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and givethemto his servants.

15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants.

16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and usethemfor his work.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.

18 Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lordwill not answer you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,

20 that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the Lord’shearing.

22 The Lordsaid to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/8-5f5562b2d1b0452d89093db9dad33c57.mp3?version_id=100—

Saul’s Search

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.

2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsomeman,and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.”

4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not findthem.Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, butthey werenotthere.Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not findthem.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, or else my father will ceaseto be concernedabout the donkeys and will become anxious for us.”

6 He said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.”

7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

8 The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will giveitto the man of God and he will tell us our way.”

9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; forhe who is calleda prophet now was formerly called a seer.)

10 Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”

12 They answered them and said, “He is; see,he isahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.

13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once.”

14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

God’s Choice for King

15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, the Lordhad revealedthisto Samuel saying,

16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lordsaid to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.”

18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

19 Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind.

20 As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?”

21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.

23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.'”

24 Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and setitbefore Saul. AndSamuelsaid, “Here is what has been reserved! Setitbefore youandeat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place into the city,Samuelspoke with Saul on theroof.

26 And they arose early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the servant that he might go ahead of us and pass on, but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/9-afeba1bc847e4cbb487322a571dcf7df.mp3?version_id=100—

Saul among Prophets

1 Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, “Has not the Lordanointed you a ruler over His inheritance?

2 When you go from me today, then you will find two men close to Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has ceased to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”‘

3 Then you will go on further from there, and you will come as far as the oak of Tabor, and there three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine;

4 and they will greet you and give you twoloavesof bread, which you will accept from their hand.

5 Afterward you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying.

6 Then the Spirit of the Lordwill come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man.

7 It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you.

8 And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do.”

9 Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.

10 When they came to the hill there, behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily, so that he prophesied among them.

11 It came about, when all who knew him previously saw that he prophesied now with the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

12 A man there said, “Now, who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 Now Saul’s uncle said to him and his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they could not be found, we went to Samuel.”

15 Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”

16 So Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned.

Saul Publicly Chosen King

17 Thereafter Samuel called the people together to the Lordat Mizpah;

18 and he said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’

19 But you have today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, ‘No, but set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lordby your tribes and by your clans.”

20 Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.

21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.

22 Therefore they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” So the Lordsaid, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.”

23 So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lordhas chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “Longlive the king!”

25 Then Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrotethemin the book and placeditbefore the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house.

26 Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and the valiantmenwhose hearts God had touched went with him.

27 But certain worthless men said, “How can this one deliver us?” And they despised him and did not bring him any present. But he kept silent.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/10-1a622859c1136d0f5bcf65574cb43569.mp3?version_id=100—

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1 Now Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us and we will serve you.”

2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will makeitwith you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel.”

3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you.”

4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What isthe matterwith the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry.

7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sentthemthroughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the Lordfell on the people, and they came out as one man.

8 He numbered them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000.

9 They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.'” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.”

11 The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lordhas accomplished deliverance in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”

15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lordin Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/11-da3822ff38eadd7bb56655e9599652fb.mp3?version_id=100—

Samuel Addresses Israel

1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me and I have appointed a king over you.

2 Now, here is the king walking before you, but I am old and gray, and behold my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth even to this day.

3 Here I am; bear witness against me before the Lordand His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restoreitto you.”

4 They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”

5 He said to them, “The Lordis witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand.” And they said, “He iswitness.”

6 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lordwho appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.

7 So now, take your stand, that I may plead with you before the Lordconcerning all the righteous acts of the Lordwhich He did for you and your fathers.

8 When Jacob went into Egypt and your fathers cried out to the Lord, then the Lordsent Moses and Aaron who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

9 But they forgot the Lordtheir God, so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10 They cried out to the Lordand said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken the Lordand have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

11 Then the Lordsent Jerubbaal andBedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security.

The King Confirmed

12 When you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ although the Lordyour Godwasyour king.

13 Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, the Lordhas set a king over you.

14 If you will fear the Lordand serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lordyour God.

15 If you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lordwill be against you,as it wasagainst your fathers.

16 Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lordwill do before your eyes.

17 Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord, that He may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the Lordby asking for yourselves a king.”

18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lordsent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lordand Samuel.

19 Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lordyour God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sinsthisevil by asking for ourselves a king.”

20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lordwith all your heart.

21 You must not turn aside, forthen you would goafter futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.

22 For the Lordwill not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lordhas been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lordby ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

24 Onlyfear the Lordand serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

25 But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/12-e1ff6cb85b8ab7d6327cfd5b6bf65e9e.mp3?version_id=100—

War with the Philistines

1 Saul wasthirtyyears old when he began to reign, and he reignedfortytwo years over Israel.

2 Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.

3 Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard ofit.Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”

4 All Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.

5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.

7 Alsosome ofthe Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, hewasstill in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.

9 So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.

10 As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet himandto greet him.

11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,

12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”

13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lordyour God, which He commanded you, for now the Lordwould have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lordhas sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lordhas appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lordcommanded you.”

15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

16 Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash.

17 And the raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual,

18 and another company turned toward Beth-horon, and another company turned toward the border which overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”

20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe.

21 The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the hoes.

22 So it came about on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people whowerewith Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan.

23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/13-662ae9faf9808ce0997031c89a97c685.mp3?version_id=100—

Jonathan’s Victory

1 Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron. And the people whowerewith himwereabout six hundred men,

3 and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lordat Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

4 Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.

6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lordwill work for us, for the Lordis not restrained to save by many or by few.”

7 His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself,andhere I am with you according to your desire.”

8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them.

9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you’; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them.

10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lordhas given them into our hands; and this shall be the sign to us.”

11 When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.”

12 So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and we will tell you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lordhas given them into the hands of Israel.”

13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him.

14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land.

15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and the raiders trembled, and the earth quaked so that it became agreat trembling.

16 Now Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here andthere.

17 Saul said to the people whowerewith him, “Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were notthere.

18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel.

19 While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

20 Then Saul and all the people whowerewith him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow,and there wasvery great confusion.

21 Now the Hebrewswhowere with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they alsoturnedto be with the Israelites whowerewith Saul and Jonathan.

22 When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle.

23 So the Lorddelivered Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.

Saul’s Foolish Order

24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.

25 Allthe people ofthe land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.

26 When the people entered the forest, behold,there wasa flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath; therefore, he put out the end of the staff thatwasin his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.'” And the people were weary.

29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

31 They struck among the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very weary.

32 The people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slewthemon the ground; and the people atethemwith the blood.

33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lordby eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.”

34 Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughterithere and eat; and do not sin against the Lordby eating with the blood.'” So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtereditthere.

35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” So the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”

37 Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him on that day.

38 Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today.

39 For as the Lordlives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him.

40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

41 Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give a perfectlot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

42 Saul said, “Castlotsbetween me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!”

44 Saul said, “May God do thisto meand more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”

45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! As the Lordlives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die.

46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Constant Warfare

47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.

48 He acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughterswere these:the name of the firstborn Merab and the name of the younger Michal.

50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

51 Kishwasthe father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abnerwasthe son of Abiel.

52 Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he attached him to his staff.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/14-e2bf9439dfa1b4847fd0655efa7f0cc9.mp3?version_id=100—

Saul’s Disobedience

1 Then Samuel said to Saul, “The Lordsent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; now therefore, listen to the words of the Lord.

2 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘I will punish Amalekforwhat he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt.

3 Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'”

4 Then Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.

6 Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 So Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

8 He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

Samuel Rebukes Saul

10 Then the word of the Lordcame to Samuel, saying,

11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lordall night.

12 Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.”

13 Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.”

14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the Lordyour God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what the Lordsaid to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”

17 Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you weremadethe head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lordanointed you king over Israel,

18 and the Lordsent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’

19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”

20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the Lord, and went on the mission on which the Lordsent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people tooksomeof the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lordyour God at Gilgal.”

22 Samuel said,

“Has the Lordas much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

Andto heed than the fat of rams.

23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination,

And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He has also rejected you frombeingking.”

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lordand your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”

26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lordhas rejected you from being king over Israel.”

27 As Samuel turned to go,Saulseized the edge of his robe, and it tore.

28 So Samuel said to him, “The Lordhas torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.

29 Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

30 Then he said, “I have sinned;butplease honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lordyour God.”

31 So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lordat Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul.

35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lordregretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/15-1e558a71af47e534a9d3bdba579cb7df.mp3?version_id=100—

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

1 Now the Lordsaid to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”

2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hearsof it,he will kill me.” And the Lordsaid, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’

3 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.”

4 So Samuel did what the Lordsaid, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”

5 He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’sanointed is before Him.”

7 But the Lordsaid to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for Godseesnot as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The Lordhas not chosen this one either.”

9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lordhas not chosen this one either.”

10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lordhas not chosen these.”

11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

David Anointed

12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lordsaid, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lordcame mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

14 Now the Spirit of the Lorddeparted from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lordterrorized him.

15 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.

16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall playthe harpwith his hand, and you will be well.”

17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bringhimto me.”

18 Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lordis with him.”

19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.”

20 Jesse took a donkeyloaded withbread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sentthemto Saul by David his son.

21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer.

22 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

23 So it came about whenever theevilspirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and playitwith his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/16-5a20f0d76e99c7789a5b5a3c708deb1c.mp3?version_id=100—

Goliath’s Challenge

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

2 Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines.

3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.

4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was sixcubits and a span.

5 He hada bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.

6 Healsohadbronzegreaves on his legs and a bronze javelinslungbetween his shoulders.

7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spearweighedsix hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.

8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”

10 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.”

11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advancedin yearsamong men.

13 The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem.

16 The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.

17 Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

18 Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander oftheirthousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them.

19 For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.”

David Accepts the Challenge

20 So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and tookthe suppliesand went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry.

21 Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army.

22 Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers.

23 As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heardthem.

24 When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.

25 The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s housefree in Israel.”

26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”

27 The people answered him in accord with this word, saying, “Thus it will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.”

29 But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?”

30 Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before.

David Kills Goliath

31 When the words which David spoke were heard, they toldthemto Saul, and he sent for him.

32 David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

33 Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you arebuta youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,

35 I went out after him and attacked him, and rescueditfrom his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seizedhimby his beard and struck him and killed him.

36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.”

37 And David said, “The Lordwho delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lordbe with you.”

38 Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.

39 David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not testedthem.So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not testedthem.” And David took them off.

40 He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even inhispouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

41 Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him.

42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he wasbuta youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.

43 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lordof hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.

46 This day the Lordwill deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lorddoes not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’sand He will give you into our hands.”

48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slungit,and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.

51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

52 The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron.

53 The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps.

54 Then David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.

55 Now when Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” And Abner said, “By your life, O king, I do not know.”

56 The king said, “You inquire whose son the youth is.”

57 So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.

58 Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I amthe son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1SA/17-d239a8b2e1b8cce2cd9a1201951518ac.mp3?version_id=100—