Amplified Bible (AMP)

Saul’s Search

1 There was a man of [the tribe of] Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of influenceandwealth.

2 Kish had a son named Saul, a choice and handsome man; among the sons of Israel there was not a man more handsome than he. From his shoulders and up he was [a head] taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered offandwere lost. Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you and arise, go look for the donkeys.”

4 And they passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but did not findthem. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were notthereand the land of the Benjamites, but they [still] did not findthem.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us return, otherwise my father will stopworryingabout the donkeys and become anxious about us.”

6 The servant said to him, “Look here, in this city there is a man of God, and the man is held in honor; everything that he says comes true. Now let us go there; perhaps he can advise us about our journey [and tell us where we should go].”

7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go [to see him], what shall we bring to the man? For the bread from our sacks is gone and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have [to offer]?”

8 The servant replied again to Saul, “Here in my hand I have a quarter of a shekel of silver; I will give that to the man of God, and he will advise us as to [where we should go on] our journey [to find the donkeys].”

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

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

11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer (prophet) here?”

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

13 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 ask the blessing on the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. So go up now, for about now you will find him.”

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

God’s Choice for King

15 Now a day before Saul came, the Lordhadinformed Samuel [of this], saying,

16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as leader over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon [the distress of] My people, because their cry [for help] has come to Me.”

17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lordsaid to him, “There is the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall rule over My people [as their king].”

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

19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go on ahead of 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 be concerned about them, for they have been found. And for whom are all things that are desirable in Israel? Are they not for you and for all your father’s household (family)?”

21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, ofthe smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the smallest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken this way to me [as if I were very important]?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall [at the high place] and gave them a place [to sit] at the head of the persons–about thirty men–who were invited [while the rest ate outside].

23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the [priests’] portion that I gave you, regarding which I told you, ‘Set it aside.’”

24 Then the cook lifted up the leg (thigh) withthe meatthat was on it [indicating that it was the priest’s honored portion] and placed it before Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved [for you]. Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, ever since I invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on theroof [of his house].

26 They got up early [the next day]; and at dawn Samuel called Saul [who was sleeping] on the roof, saying, “Get up, so that I may send you on your way.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside.

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us so that he may pass by but you stand still now so that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”

Saul among Prophets

1 Then Samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has the Lordnot anointed you as ruler over His inheritance (Israel)?

2 When you leave me today, you will meet two men beside Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; they will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went to look for have been found. And your father has stopped caring about them and is worried about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’

3 Then you will go on further from there, and you will come to the terebinth tree of Tabor, and three men going up to [sacrifice to] God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine.

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

5 After that you will come tothe hill of God where the garrison of the Philistines is; and when you come there to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place [of worship] with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, and they will be prophesying.

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

7 When these signs come to you, do for yourself whateverthe situation requires, for God is with you.

8 You shall go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will be coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you must do.”

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

10 When they came to the hill [Gibeah], behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came on him mightily, and he prophesied [under divine guidance] among them.

11 Now when all who knew Saul previously saw that he actually prophesied now [by inspiration] with the prophets, the people said one to another, “What has happened to [Saul, who is nobody but] the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

12 And a man from there answered, “But who is the father of the others?” So it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place [of worship].

14 Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And Saul said, “To look for the donkeys. And when we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel [for help].”

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

16 And 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 Then Samuel called the people together to the Lordat Mizpah,

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

19 But today you have rejected your God, who Himself saves you from all your disasters and distresses; yet you have said, ‘No! Set a king over us.’ Now then, present yourselves before the Lordby your tribes and by your families (clans).”

20 And when Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.

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

22 So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lordanswered, “He is there, hiding himself by theprovisionsandsupplies.”

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? For 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 therequirements of the kingdom, and wrote them in a book and placed it before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home.

26 Saul also went home to Gibeah; and thebrave men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

27 But someworthless men said, “How can this man saveandrescue us?” And they regarded Saul with contempt and did not bring him a gift. But he ignored the insultandkept silent.

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1 Now Nahash theAmmonite [king] went up andbesieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty [of peace] with us and we will serve you.”

2 But Nahash the Ammonite told them, “I will makea treatywith you on this condition, that I willgouge out the right eye of every one of you, and make it a disgrace upon all Israel.”

3 The elders of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Give us seven days so that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out [and surrender] to you.”

4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news to the people; and all the people raised their voices and wept aloud.

5 Now Saul was coming out of the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What isthe matterwith the people that they are weeping?” So they told him about the report of the men of Jabesh.

6 The Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became extremely angry.

7 He took a team of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out to follow Saul and Samuel, the same shall be done to his oxen.” Then fear of the Lordfell on the people, and they came out [united] as one man [with one purpose].

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

9 They said to the messengers who had come, “You shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will havehelp [against the Ammonites].’” So the messengers came and reported this to the men of Jabesh; and they were overjoyed.

10 So the men of Jabesh said [to Nahash the Ammonite], “Tomorrow we will come out to you [to surrender], and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.”

11 The next morning Saul put the men into three companies; and they entered the [Ammonites’] camp during the [darkness of the early] morning watch and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and the survivors were scattered, and no two of them were left together.

12 The people said to Samuel, “Who is the one who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, and we will put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, “No man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lordhas broughtvictory to Israel.”

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

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

Samuel Addresses Israel

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

2 And now, here is the king walking before you. As for me, I am old and gray, and here are my sons with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lordand [Saul] His anointed [if I have done someone wrong]. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I exploited? Whom have I oppressed or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes [to the truth]? [Tell me and] I will restore it to you.”

4 They said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us or taken anything at all from a man’s hand.”

5 Samuel said to them, “The Lordis a witness against you, and [Saul] His anointed is a witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they answered, “He isa witness.”

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

7 Now then, take your stand, so that I may pleadandcontend with you before the Lordconcerning all the righteous acts of the Lordwhich He did for you and for your fathers.

8 When Jacob [and his sons] had come into Egypt [and later when the Egyptians oppressed them] and yourfathers 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 when they forgot the Lordtheir God, He sold them into the hand ofSisera, commander of Hazor’s army, and into the hand of the Philistines and of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10 They cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘We have sinned because we have abandoned (rejected) the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now rescue us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

11 Then the Lordsent Jerubbaal (Gideon) andBedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and He rescued you from the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in security.

The King Confirmed

12 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites had come against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us’–although the Lordyour God was your King.

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

14 If you will fear the Lord[with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, then both you and your king will follow the Lordyour God [and it will be well].

15 But if you do not listen to the Lord’svoice, but rebel against Hiscommand, then the hand of the Lordwill be against you [to punish you], as it was against your fathers.

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

17 Is it not [the beginning of the] wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lordand He will send thunder and rain; then you will know [without any doubt], and see that your evil which you have done is great in the sight of the Lordby asking for yourselves a king.”

18 So Samuel called to the Lord[in prayer], and He sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lordand Samuel.

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

20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have [indeed] done all this evil; yet do not turn away from following the Lord, but serve the Lordwith all your heart.

21 You must not turn away, forthen you would goafter futile things which cannot profit or rescue, because they are futile.

22 The Lordwill not abandon His people for His great name’s sake, 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 Only fear the Lord[with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

25 But if you still do evil, both you and your king will be swept away [to destruction].”

War with the Philistines

1 Saul wasthirtyyears old when he began to reign, andhe reignedforty-two years over Israel.

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

3 Jonathan attackedanddefeated the Philistine garrison which was at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”

4 All Israel heard that Saul had defeated the Philistine garrison, and also that Israel had become despicable to the Philistines. And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

5 Now the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and troops in multitude, like sand on the seashore. They came up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tight situation (for their troops were hard-pressed), they hid in caves, in thickets, in cellars, and in [dry] cisterns (pits).

7 Alsosome ofthe Hebrews had crossed the [river] Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him, trembling [in fear and anticipation].

8 Now Saul waited seven days, according to the appointed time which Samuel had set, but Samuel had not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering away from Saul.

9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” Andhe offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do].

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

11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Since I saw that the people were scattering away from me, and that you did not come within the appointed time, 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 for the Lord’sfavor [by making supplication to Him].’ So I forced myself to offer 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 [if you had obeyed] 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 (David) after His own heart, and the Lordhas appointed him as leaderandruler over His people, because you have not kept (obeyed) what the Lordcommanded you.”

15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul assembledandcounted the people who were still with him, [only] about six hundred [fighting] men.

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

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

18 another company turned toward Beth-horon, and another toward the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now noblacksmith (metal-worker) could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”

20 So all [the men of] Israel went down to the Philistines, each to get his plowshare, pick, axe, or sickle sharpened.

21 The fee [for sharpening] was a pim (two-thirds of a shekel) for the plowshares, the picks, the pitchforks, and the axes, and to straighten the goads (cattle prods).

22 So it came about on the day of battle thatneither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.

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

Jonathan’s Victory

1 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to his young armor bearer, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron; and with him were about six hundred men,

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

4 Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to get to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; one [crag] was named Bozez, and the other, Seneh.

5 The one crag was on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, “Come, let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men; it may be that the Lordwill work for us. For there is nothing to prevent the Lordfrom saving, whether by many or by few.”

7 And his armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is in your heart (mind); here I am with youin whatever you think [best].”

8 Jonathan said, “See now, we are going to cross over to the [Philistine] 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,’ we will go up, for the Lordhas handed them over to us; and this shall be the sign to us.”

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

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

13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, his armor bearer following after him. The enemy fell before Jonathan [in combat], and his armor bearer killedsome of themafter him.

14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a [plow] furrow in a plot of land [the area of which a yoke of oxen could plow in a day].

15 And there was trembling in the [Philistine] camp, in the field, and among all the people; even the garrison and the raiding party trembled [in fear], and the earth quaked and it became a tremblingandterror from God.

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

17 Then Saul said to the people with him, “Take a count and see who has left us.” When they had taken a count, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing.

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

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

20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle; and behold, every [Philistine] man’s sword was against his companion, in wild confusion.

21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, they alsoturnedto be with the Israelites who were with 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, they too pursued them closely in the battle.

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

Saul’s Foolish Order

24 But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people ate any food.

25 Allthe people ofthe land came to a forest, and there was honey on the ground.

26 When the people entered the forest, the honey was dripping, but no man put his hand to his mouth [to taste it], because the people feared the oath [of Saul].

27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under the oath. So he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into a honeycomb, and then he put his hand to his mouth, and hisenergy was restored.

28 But one of the people told him, “Your father strictly put the people under an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were exhausted [and hungry].

29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land [with his foolish curse]. See how myenergy is restored because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much better [it would have been] if only the people had eaten freely today from the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

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

32 [When night came and the oath ended] the people rushed greedily upon the spoil. They took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and they ate them [raw] with the blood [still in them].

33 Then Saul was told, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lordby eating [the meat] with the blood.” And he said, “You have violated [the Law]andacted treacherously; roll a large stone to me today.”

34 Saul said, “Spread out among the people and tell them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and butcher it [properly] here and eat; and do not sin against the Lordby eating [the meat with] the blood.’” So that night each one brought his ox with him and butchered it there.

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 plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them [alive].” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us approach God here.”

37 Saul asked [counsel] of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But He did not answer him that day.

38 Then Saul said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the people, and let us find out how this sin [causing God’s silence] happened today.

39 For as the Lordlives, who saves Israel, forevenifthe guiltis in my son Jonathan, he shall most certainly die.” But not one of all the people answered him.

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

41 Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot [identifying the transgressor].” Then Saul and Jonathan were selected [by lot], but the other men went free.

42 Saul said, “Cast [lots] between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.

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

44 Saul answered, “May God do so [to me], and more also [if I do not keep my word], for you shall most certainly die, Jonathan.”

45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan, who has brought about this great victory in Israel, be put to death? 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 was not put to death.

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

Constant Warfare

47 When Saul assumed control of the kingdom of Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: Moab, the sons (descendants) of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.

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

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

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

51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 Now the war against the Philistines was severe (brutal, relentless) all the days of Saul; and whenever Saul saw any mighty or courageous man, he recruited him for his staff.

Saul’s Disobedience

1 Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now listenandpay close attention to the words of the Lord.

2 Thus says the Lordof hosts (armies), ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when Israel came up from Egypt.

3 ~‘Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them at 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 theKenites, “Go, leave, go down from the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they went up from Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

8 He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, though he totally destroyed all [the rest of] the people with the sword.

9 Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and everything that was good, and they were not willing to destroy them entirely; but everything that was undesirable or worthless they destroyed completely.

Samuel Rebukes Saul

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

11 “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” Samuel was angry [over Saul’s failure] and he cried out to the Lordall night.

12 When Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, he was told, “Saul came toCarmel, and behold, he set up for himself a monument [commemorating his victory], then he turned and went on and went down to Gilgal.”

13 So 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 oxento sacrifice to the Lordyour God; but the rest we have destroyed completely.”

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

17 Samuel said, “Is it not true that even though you were small (insignificant) 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, totally destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.’

19 Why did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but [instead] swooped down on the plunder [with shouts of victory] and did evil in the sight of the Lord?”

20 Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone on the mission on which the Lordsent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things [that were] to be totally destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lordyour God at Gilgal.”

22 Samuel said,

“Has the Lordas great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obedience to the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.

23 “For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling),

And disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He also has rejectedyou as king.”

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

25 Now, please, pardon my sin and return with me, so 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 [away],Saulgrabbed the hem of his robe [to stop him], 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 SplendorandGloryandEminence of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

30 Saul said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, so 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 himcheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death has come to an end.”

33 Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel cut Agag in pieces before the Lordin Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house in 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.

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

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

2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hearsabout it, he will kill me.” And the Lordsaid, “Take a heifer from the herd 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 [after that]; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate.”

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 And 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 So it happened, when they had come, he looked at Eliab [the eldest son] 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 the Lordsees not as man sees; for man looksat the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the heart.”

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

9 Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And Samuel said, “The Lordhas not chosen him either.”

10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lordhas not chosen [any of] these.”

11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” Jesse replied, “There is still one left, the youngest; he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Sendwordand bring him; because we will not sit down [to eat the sacrificial meal] until he comes here.”

David Anointed

12 So Jesse sentwordand brought him in. Now he had a ruddy complexion, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. The Lordsaid [to Samuel], “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence 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 Lord tormentedandterrified him.

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

16 Let our lord now command your servants who are here before you to find a man who plays skillfully on the harp; and when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall playthe harpwith his hand, and you will be well.”

17 So Saul told his servants, “Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”

18 One of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a braveandcompetent man, a warrior, discerning (prudent, eloquent) in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lordis with him.”

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

20 Jesse took a donkey [loaded with] bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with David his son.

21 Then David came to Saul and attended him. Saul loved him greatly and [later] David became his armor bearer.

22 Saul sentwordto Jesse, saying, “Please let Davidbe my attendant, for he has found favor in my sight.”

23 So it came about that whenever the [evil] spirit from God was on Saul, David took a harp and played it with his hand; so Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Goliath’s Challenge

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and were assembled 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 together and they camped in the Valley of Elah, and assembled in battle formation to meet the Philistines.

3 The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side and Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.

4 Then achampion came out from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height wassix cubits and a span.

5 He hada bronze helmet on his head, and wore a coat of scale-armor (overlapping metal plates) which weighed5,000 shekels of bronze.

6 He hadbronze shin protectors on his legs and a bronzejavelin hung between his shoulders.

7 The [wooden] shaft of his spear was like aweaver’s beam; the blade-head of his spearweighedsix hundred shekels of iron. And ashield-bearer walked in front of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the battle lines of Israel, saying to them, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not the Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and have 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 battle lines of Israel this day; give me a man so 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 theEphrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advancedin yearsamong men.

13 His three older sons had followed Saul into battle. The names of his three sons who went to battle were Eliab, the firstborn; next, Abinadab; and 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 [Goliath] came out morning and evening, and took his stand for forty days.

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

18 Also take these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of theunit. See how your brothers are doing and bring back news of them.

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

David Accepts the Challenge

20 So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, picked upthe provisionsand went just as Jesse had directed him. And he came to the encampment as the army was going out in battle formation shouting the battle cry.

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

22 Then David left his provisions in the care of the supply keeper, and ran to the ranks and came and greeted his brothers.

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

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

25 The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. The king will reward the man who kills him with great riches, and will give him his daughter [in marriage] and make his father’s house (family) free [from taxes and service] in Israel.”

26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes the disgrace [of his taunting] from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he has tauntedanddefied the armies of the living God?”

27 The mentold him, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard what he said to the men; and Eliab’sanger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption (overconfidence) and the evil 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 [harmless] question?”

30 Then David turned away from Eliab to someone else and asked the same question; and the people gave him the same answer as the first time.

David Kills Goliath

31 When the words that David spoke were heard, the men reported them to Saul, and he sent for him.

32 David said to Saul, “Let no man’scourage fail because of him (Goliath). Your servant will go out and fight with this Philistine.”

33 Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him. For you are [only] a young man and he has been a warrior since 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 out of the flock,

35 I went out after it and attacked it and rescued the lamb from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I seized it by its whiskers and struck and killed it.

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

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

38 Then Saul dressed David in his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and put a coat of mail (armor) on him.

39 Then David fastened his sword over his armor and tried to walk, [but he could not,] because he was not used to them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, because I am not used to them.” So David took them off.

40 Then he took his [shepherd’s] staff in his hand and chose for himself fivesmooth stones out of the stream bed, and put them in his shepherd’s bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd’s pouch. With his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

41 The Philistine came and approached David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.

42 When the Philistine looked around and saw David, he deridedanddisparaged him because he was [just] a young man, with a ruddycomplexion,and a handsome appearance.

43 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with [shepherd’s] staffs?” 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 ajavelin, 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 hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

47 and that this entire assembly may know that the Lorddoes not save with the sword or with the spear; for the battle is the Lord’sand He will hand you over to us.”

48 When the Philistine rose and came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

49 David put his hand into his bag and took out a stone and slung it, and it struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

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

51 So he ran and stood over the Philistine, grasped 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 [mighty] champion was dead, they fled.

52 The men of Israel and Judah stood with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance to the valley and the gates of Ekron. And the [fatally] wounded Philistines fell along the way to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

53 The sons of Israel returned from their pursuit of the Philistines and plundered their camp.

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

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

56 The king said, “Ask whose son the young man is.”

57 When David returned from killing [Goliath] the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 Saul asked him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I amthe son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”

Jonathan and David

1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bonded to the soul of David, andJonathan loved him as himself.

2 Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

4 Jonathan stripped himself of the outer robe that he was wearing and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword, his bow, and his belt.

5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he acted wiselyandprospered; and Saul appointed him over the men of war. And it pleased all the people and also Saul’s servants.

6 As they were coming [home], when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, [songs of] joy, andmusical instruments.

7 The women sang as they playedanddanced, saying,

“Saul has slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands.”

8 Then Saul became very angry, for this sayingdispleased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed [only] thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”

9 Saul looked at David with suspicion [and jealously] from that day forward.

Saul Turns against David

10 Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul, and he raved [madly] inside his house, while David was playingthe harpwith his hand, as usual; and there was a spear in Saul’s hand.

11 Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lordwas with him, but had departed from Saul.

13 So Saul had David removed from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and hepublicly associated with the people.

14 David acted wiselyandprospered in all his ways, and the Lordwas with him.

15 When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he publicly associated with them.

17 Then Saul said to David, “Behold I will give you my older daughter Merab as a wife; only be brave for me and fight the Lord’sbattles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”

19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was [instead] given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and when they told Saul, it pleased him.

21 Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare (bad influence, source of trouble) to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David for a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”

22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Listen, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it a trivial thing in your sight to become a king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and insignificant?”

24 The servants of Saul told him what David said.

25 Then Saul said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king wants no dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul’s intention was to causeDavid’s death at the hand of the Philistines.

26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased him to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time [for the marriage] arrived,

27 David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred Philistine men, and David brought their foreskins [as proof of death] and presentedevery one of them to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal, his [younger] daughter, as a wife.

28 When Saul saw and knew that the Lordwas with David, and that Michal, his daughter, loved him,

29 Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s constant enemy.

30 Then the Philistine commanders (princes) came outto battle,and it happened as often as they did, that David acted more wiselyandhad more success than all Saul’s servants. So his name was highly esteemed.