God in 1 Samuel

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1. 1:3

   Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD.

2. 1:5

   But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

3. 1:6

   Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.

4. 1:7

   And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.

5. 1:9

   So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.

6. 1:10

   In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.

7. 1:11

   And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

8. 1:12

   As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

9. 1:15

   “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.

10. 1:17

    “Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

11. 1:19

    The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.

12. 1:20

    So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

13. 1:21

    Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,

14. 1:22

    but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.”

15. 1:23

    “Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.” So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

16. 1:24

    Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.

17. 1:26

    “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.

18. 1:27

    I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him,

19. 1:28

    I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

20. 2:1

    At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.

21. 2:2

    There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.

22. 2:3

    Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.

23. 2:6

    The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

24. 2:7

    The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.

25. 2:8

    He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

26. 2:10

    Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king. He will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

27. 2:11

    Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy began ministering to the LORD before Eli the priest.

28. 2:12

    Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD

29. 2:17

    Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.

30. 2:18

    Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.

31. 2:20

    And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would go home.

32. 2:21

    So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

33. 2:24

    No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people.

34. 2:25

    If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.

35. 2:26

    And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with man.

36. 2:27

    Then a man of God came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh’s house?

37. 2:30

    Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.

38. 2:32

    You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age.

39. 3:1

    And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were scarce.

40. 3:3

    Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.

41. 3:4

    Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

42. 3:6

    Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

43. 3:7

    Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

44. 3:8

    Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.

45. 3:9

    “Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

46. 3:10

    Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

47. 3:11

    Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle.

48. 3:15

    Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,

49. 3:17

    “What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.”

50. 3:18

    So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”

51. 3:19

    And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

52. 3:20

    So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.

53. 3:21

    And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.

54. 4:3

    When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

55. 4:4

    So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

56. 4:5

    When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

57. 4:6

    On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,

58. 4:7

    the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before.

59. 4:11

    The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

60. 4:13

    When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

61. 4:17

    The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

62. 4:18

    As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years.

63. 4:19

    Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her.

64. 4:21

    And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.

65. 4:22

    “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “for the ark of God has been captured.”

66. 5:1

    After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,

67. 5:2

    carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.

68. 5:3

    When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.

69. 5:4

    But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained.

70. 5:6

    Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.

71. 5:7

    And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.”

72. 5:8

    So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel.

73. 5:9

    But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.

74. 5:10

    So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”

75. 5:11

    Then the Ekronites called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was very heavy upon it.

76. 6:1

    When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months,

77. 6:2

    the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”

78. 6:3

    They replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.”

79. 6:5

    Make images of your tumors and of the rats that are ravaging the land. Give glory to the God of Israel, and perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land.

80. 6:8

    Take the ark of the LORD, set it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to Him as a guilt offering. Then send the ark on its way,

81. 6:11

    Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold rats and the images of the tumors.

82. 6:14

    The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.

83. 6:15

    And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest containing the gold objects, and they placed them on the large rock. That day the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.

84. 6:17

    As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

85. 6:18

    The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers—the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

86. 6:19

    But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.

87. 6:20

    The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”

88. 6:21

    So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”

89. 7:1

    Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

90. 7:2

    And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.

91. 7:3

    Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

92. 7:4

    So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

93. 7:5

    Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

94. 7:6

    When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

95. 7:8

    and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

96. 7:9

    Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

97. 7:10

    As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

98. 7:12

    Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

99. 7:13

    So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

100. 7:17

     Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

101. 8:6

     But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

102. 8:7

     And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

103. 8:10

     So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

104. 8:18

     When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

105. 8:21

     Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

106. 8:22

     “Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”

107. 9:6

     “Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”

108. 9:7

     “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

109. 9:8

     The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

110. 9:9

     (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

111. 9:10

     “Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.

112. 9:15

     Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel,

113. 9:17

     When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”

114. 9:27

     As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.

115. 10:1

     Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?

116. 10:3

     Then you will go on from there until you come to the Oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.

117. 10:5

     After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

118. 10:6

     Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.

119. 10:7

     When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you.

120. 10:9

     As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all the signs came to pass that day.

121. 10:10

     When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied along with them.

122. 10:17

     After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah

123. 10:18

     and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’

124. 10:19

     But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

125. 10:22

     So again they inquired of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD replied, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

126. 10:24

     Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

127. 10:25

     Then Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home.

128. 10:26

     Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and the men of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him.

129. 11:6

     When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.

130. 11:7

     He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man.

131. 11:13

     But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

132. 11:15

     So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

133. 12:3

     Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.”

134. 12:5

     Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

135. 12:6

     Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is the One who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

136. 12:7

     Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.

137. 12:8

     When Jacob went to Egypt, your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

138. 12:9

     But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

139. 12:10

     Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

140. 12:11

     So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.

141. 12:12

     But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.

142. 12:13

     Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.

143. 12:14

     If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.

144. 12:15

     But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

145. 12:16

     Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes.

146. 12:17

     Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”

147. 12:18

     So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

148. 12:19

     They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

149. 12:20

     “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

150. 12:22

     Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

151. 12:23

     As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.

152. 12:24

     Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

153. 13:12

     I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

154. 13:13

     “You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.

155. 13:14

     But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

156. 14:3

     including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

157. 14:6

     Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

158. 14:10

     But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.”

159. 14:12

     So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

160. 14:18

     Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)

161. 14:23

     So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.

162. 14:33

     Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”

163. 14:34

     Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.

164. 14:35

     Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.

165. 14:36

     And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”

166. 14:37

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

167. 14:39

     As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!” But not one of the troops said a word.

168. 14:41

     So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.

169. 14:44

     And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!”

170. 14:45

     But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

171. 15:1

     Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.

172. 15:2

     This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt.

173. 15:10

     Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,

174. 15:11

     “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.

175. 15:13

     When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

176. 15:15

     Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”

177. 15:16

     “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.

178. 15:17

     And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel

179. 15:18

     and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’

180. 15:19

     So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

181. 15:20

     “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.

182. 15:21

     The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

183. 15:22

     But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.

184. 15:23

     For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

185. 15:24

     Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

186. 15:25

     Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”

187. 15:26

     “I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”

188. 15:28

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

189. 15:30

     “I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

190. 15:31

     So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

191. 15:33

     But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

192. 15:35

     And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

193. 16:1

     Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

194. 16:2

     “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

195. 16:4

     So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

196. 16:5

     “In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

197. 16:6

     When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”

198. 16:7

     But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

199. 16:8

     Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

200. 16:9

     Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

201. 16:10

     Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

202. 16:12

     So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

203. 16:13

     So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

204. 16:14

     Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

205. 16:15

     Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.

206. 16:16

     Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”

207. 16:18

     One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

208. 16:23

     And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. Then Saul would find relief and feel better, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.

209. 17:26

     David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

210. 17:36

     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.”

211. 17:37

     David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”

212. 17:45

     But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

213. 17:46

     This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

214. 17:47

     And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

215. 18:10

     The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

216. 18:12

     So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

217. 18:14

     and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

218. 18:17

     Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

219. 18:28

     When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

220. 19:5

     He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

221. 19:6

     Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”

222. 19:9

     But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,

223. 19:20

     he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.

224. 19:23

     So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

225. 20:2

     “Far from it!” Jonathan replied. “You will not die. Indeed, my father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This cannot be true!”

226. 20:3

     But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”

227. 20:8

     Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”

228. 20:12

     and Jonathan said, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?

229. 20:13

     But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father.

230. 20:14

     And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,

231. 20:15

     and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

232. 20:16

     So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”

233. 20:21

     Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you, and there is no danger.

234. 20:22

     But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away.

235. 20:23

     And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever.”

236. 20:42

     And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

237. 21:6

     So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.

238. 21:7

     Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.

239. 22:3

     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 learn what God will do for me.”

240. 22:10

     Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

241. 22:13

     And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

242. 22:15

     Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”

243. 22:17

     Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

244. 22:21

     And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

245. 23:2

     So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

246. 23:4

     Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

247. 23:7

     When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”

248. 23:10

     And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.

249. 23:11

     Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.

250. 23:12

     So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

251. 23:14

     And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.

252. 23:16

     And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,

253. 23:18

     So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

254. 23:21

     “May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.

255. 24:4

     So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

256. 24:6

     So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

257. 24:10

     Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’

258. 24:12

     May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

259. 24:15

     May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”

260. 24:18

     And you have declared this day how you have treated me well, for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.

261. 24:19

     When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.

262. 24:21

     So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”

263. 25:22

     May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one male belonging to Nabal survive until morning.”

264. 25:26

     Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.

265. 25:28

     Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.

266. 25:29

     And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.

267. 25:30

     When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel,

268. 25:31

     then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your servant.”

269. 25:32

     Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!

270. 25:34

     Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”

271. 25:38

     About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.

272. 25:39

     On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.

273. 26:8

     Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”

274. 26:9

     But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”

275. 26:10

     David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.

276. 26:11

     But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

277. 26:12

     So David took the spear and water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

278. 26:16

     This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

279. 26:19

     Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, 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, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

280. 26:20

     So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

281. 26:23

     May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed.

282. 26:24

     As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

283. 28:6

     He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

284. 28:10

     Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

285. 28:15

     Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

286. 28:16

     “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?

287. 28:17

     He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.

288. 28:18

     Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

289. 28:19

     Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

290. 29:6

     So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders.

291. 29:9

     Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’

292. 30:6

     And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

293. 30:8

     and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”

294. 30:15

     “Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked. And the man replied, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will lead you to them.”

295. 30:23

     But David said, “My brothers, you must not do this with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiders who came against us.

296. 30:26

     When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”