Category: 1 Samuel

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/11-da3822ff38eadd7bb56655e9599652fb.mp3?version_id=100—

Samuel Addresses Israel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The King Confirmed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/12-e1ff6cb85b8ab7d6327cfd5b6bf65e9e.mp3?version_id=100—

War with the Philistines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/13-662ae9faf9808ce0997031c89a97c685.mp3?version_id=100—

Jonathan’s Victory

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saul’s Foolish Order

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Constant Warfare

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/1SA/14-e2bf9439dfa1b4847fd0655efa7f0cc9.mp3?version_id=100—

Saul’s Disobedience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Samuel Rebukes Saul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 Samuel said,

“Has the Lordas much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

Andto heed than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,

And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He has also rejected you frombeingking.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—https://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—