Author: admin

Saul’s Disobedience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Samuel Rebukes Saul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 Samuel said,

“Has the Lordas much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

Andto heed than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,

And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He has also rejected you frombeingking.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/15-1e558a71af47e534a9d3bdba579cb7df.mp3?version_id=100—

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

David Anointed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/16-5a20f0d76e99c7789a5b5a3c708deb1c.mp3?version_id=100—

Goliath’s Challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

David Accepts the Challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

David Kills Goliath

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/17-d239a8b2e1b8cce2cd9a1201951518ac.mp3?version_id=100—

Jonathan and David

1 Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

2 Saul took him 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 robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.

5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him,andprospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and withmusical instruments.

7 The women sang as they played, and said,

“Saul has slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands.”

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

9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

Saul Turns against David

10 Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playingthe harpwith his hand, as usual; and a spearwasin Saul’s hand.

11 Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice.

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

13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 David was prospering in all his ways for the Lordwaswith him.

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

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man 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 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my lifeormy father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”

19 So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.

21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.”

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

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

24 The servants of Saul reported to him according to these wordswhichDavid spoke.

25 Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days had expired

27 David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.

28 When Saul saw and knew that the Lordwas with David, andthatMichal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,

29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines went outto battle,and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/18-42846e62c5887d31eb4ecb364f4a290c.mp3?version_id=100—

David Protected from Saul

1 Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.

2 So Jonathan told David saying, “Saul my father is seeking to put you to death. Now therefore, please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself.

3 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you; if I find out anything, then I will tell you.”

4 Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deedshave beenvery beneficial to you.

5 For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the Lordbrought about a great deliverance for all Israel; you sawitand rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause?”

6 Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed, “As the Lordlives, he shall not be put to death.”

7 Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly.

8 When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter, so that they fled before him.

9 Now there was an evil spirit from the Lordon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playingthe harpwithhishand.

10 Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, so that he stuck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

11 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death.”

12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped.

13 Michal took the household idol and laiditon the bed, and put a quilt of goats’hairat its head, and covereditwith clothes.

14 When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

15 Then Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed, that I may put him to death.”

16 When the messengers entered, behold, the household idolwason the bed with the quilt of goats’hairat its head.

17 So Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I put you to death?’ ”

18 Now David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.

19 It was told Saul, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.”

20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standingandpresiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.

21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.

22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came as far as the large well that is in Secu; and he asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” Andsomeonesaid, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”

23 He proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 He also stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/19-1ed150c8279035ab1f523ccc92fff66b.mp3?version_id=100—

David and Jonathan Covenant

1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?”

2 He said to him, “Far from it, you shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!”

3 Yet David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly as the Lordlives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death.”

4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

5 So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.

6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly askedleaveof me to run to Bethlehem his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’

7 If he says, ‘It is good,’ your servantwill besafe; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil.

8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lordwith you. But if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?”

9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?”

10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

11 Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out to the field.

12 Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel,be witness!When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow,orthe third day, behold, if there is goodfeelingtoward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you?

13 If it please my fatherto doyou harm, may the Lorddo so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And may the Lordbe with you as He has been with my father.

14 If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the Lord, that I may not die?

15 You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever, not even when the Lordcuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”

16 So Jonathan made acovenantwith the house of David,saying,“May the Lordrequireitat the hands of David’s enemies.”

17 Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life.

18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed because your seat will be empty.

19 When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel.

20 I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target.

21 And behold, I will send the lad,saying,‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the lad, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come; for there is safety for you and no harm, as the Lordlives.

22 But if I say to the youth, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, for the Lordhas sent you away.

23 As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lordis between you and me forever.”

24 So David hid in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.

25 The king sat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall; then Jonathan rose up and Abner sat down by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.

26 Nevertheless Saul did not speak anything that day, for he thought, “It is an accident, he is not clean, surelyhe isnot clean.”

27 It came about the next day, the seconddayof the new moon, that David’s place was empty; so Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”

28 Jonathan then answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of meto goto Bethlehem,

29 for he said, ‘Please let me go, since our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to attend. And now, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”

Saul Is Angry with Jonathan

30 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now, send and bring him to me, for he must surely die.”

32 But Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”

33 Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down; so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death.

34 Then Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David because his father had dishonored him.

35 Now it came about in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field for the appointment with David, and a little ladwaswith him.

36 He said to his lad, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.” As the lad was running, he shot an arrow past him.

37 When the lad reached the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the lad and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”

38 And Jonathan called after the lad, “Hurry, be quick, do not stay!” And Jonathan’s lad picked up the arrow and came to his master.

39 But the lad was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter.

40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad and said to him, “Go, bringthemto the city.”

41 When the lad was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times. And they kissed each other and wept together, but Davidweptthe more.

42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lordwill be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’ ” Then he rose and departed, while Jonathan went into the city.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/20-172509fd4bf49de2b22f6e4bb44b332f.mp3?version_id=100—

David Takes Consecrated Bread

1 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech came trembling to meet David and said to him, “Why are you alone and no one with you?”

2 David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commissioned me with a matter and has said to me, ‘Let no one know anything about the matter on which I am sending you and with which I have commissioned you; and I have directed the young men to a certain place.’

3 Now therefore, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

4 The priest answered David and said, “There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”

5 David answered the priest and said to him, “Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vesselsbe holy?”

6 So the priest gave him consecratedbread;for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the Lord, in order to put hot breadin its placewhen it was taken away.

7 Now one of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds.

8 David said to Ahimelech, “Now is there not a spear or a sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s matter was urgent.”

9 Then the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you would take it for yourself, takeit.For there is no other except it here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

10 Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath.

11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying,

‘Saul has slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands’?”

12 David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

13 So he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard.

14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man behaving as a madman. Why do you bring him to me?

15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one to act the madman in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/21-b932cdae4fe85e0db39fd79377da322c.mp3?version_id=100—

The Priests Slain at Nob

1 So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heardof it,they went down there to him.

2 Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.

3 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother comeand staywith you until I know what God will do for me.”

4 Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.

5 The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

6 Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.

7 Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, O Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?

8 For all of you have conspired against me so that there is no one who discloses to me when my son makesa covenantwith the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush, asit isthis day.”

9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing by the servants of Saul, said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

10 He inquired of the Lordfor him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent someone to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s household, the priests who were in Nob; and all of them came to the king.

12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.”

13 Saul then said to him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he would rise up against me by lying in ambush asit isthis day?”

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king’s son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your house?

15 Did Ijustbegin to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything to his servantorto any of the household of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all of this whole affair.”

16 But the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s household!”

17 And the king said to the guards who were attending him, “Turn around and put the priests of the Lordto death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the Lord.

18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn around and attack the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

19 And he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; also oxen, donkeys, and sheephe struckwith the edge of the sword.

20 But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.

21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.

22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought aboutthe deathof every person in your father’s household.

23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, for you are safe with me.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/22-297d64c5c1c5bbf515293165f0e2db11.mp3?version_id=100—

David Delivers Keilah

1 Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.”

2 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lordsaid to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”

3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”

4 Then David inquired of the Lordonce more. And the Lordanswered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”

5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah,thathe came downwithan ephod in his hand.

7 When it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.”

8 So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

9 Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”

10 Then David said, “O LordGod of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.

11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O LordGod of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lordsaid, “He will come down.”

12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lordsaid, “They will surrender you.”

13 Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit.

14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

Saul Pursues David

15 Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, andencouraged him in God.

17 Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.”

18 So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south ofJeshimon?

20 Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to do so; and our partshall beto surrender him into the king’s hand.”

21 Saul said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, for you have had compassion on me.

22 Go now, make more sure, and investigate and see his place where his haunt is,andwho has seen him there; for I am told that he is very cunning.

23 So look, and learn about all the hiding places where he hides himself and return to me with certainty, and I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

24 Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.

25 When Saul and his men went to seekhim,they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heardit,he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.

26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them.

27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.”

28 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.

29 David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/23-d10efd2ad1d670f05d0c4e4b85ad2a7e.mp3?version_id=100—

David Spares Saul’s Life

1 Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where therewasa cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

4 The men of David said to him, “Behold,this isthe day of which the Lordsaid to you, ‘Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.

5 It came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’srobe.

6 So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the Lordthat I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’sanointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’sanointed.”

7 David persuaded his men withthesewords and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went onhisway.

8 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.

9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?

10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lordhad given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, butmy eyehad pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’sanointed.’

11 Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.

12 May the Lordjudge between you and me, and may the Lordavenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?

15 The Lordtherefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”

16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.

18 You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lorddelivered me into your hand andyetyou did not kill me.

19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely? May the Lordtherefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.

20 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

21 So now swear to me by the Lordthat you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”

22 David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/24-95314715f72730915f53f9b5f7524022.mp3?version_id=100—