Study Desk

Samuel did what the Lord told him to do and went to Bethlehem. The elders of Bethlehem shook with fear. They met Samuel and asked, "Do you come in peace?"

One of the servants said, "There is a man named Jesse living in Bethlehem. I saw Jesse's son. He knows how to play the harp. He is also a brave man and fights well. He is smart and handsome, and the Lord is with him."

David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the Ephrathah family in Bethlehem, Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Saul's time Jesse was an old man.

but David left Saul from time to time to take care of his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

Saul asked him, "Young man, who is your father?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse, from Bethlehem."

If your father notices I am gone, tell him, ‘David wanted to go home to Bethlehem. His family is having its own feast for this monthly sacrifice. David asked me to let him run down to Bethlehem and join his family.'

Jonathan answered, "David asked me to let him go to Bethlehem.

He said, ‘Let me go. Our family is having a sacrifice in Bethlehem. My brother ordered me to be there. Now if I am your friend, please let me go and see my brothers.' That is why David has not come to the king's table."

David's officers took Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father at Bethlehem. Joab and his men marched all night. The sun came up just as they reached Hebron.

Later, there was another battle at Gob against the Philistines. Elhanan the son of Jaare Oregim from Bethlehem killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath. His spear was as big as a post.

Another time David was in the fortress, and a group of Philistines soldiers was stationed in Bethlehem.

David was thirsty for some water from his hometown, so he said, "Oh, if only I could have some water from that well by the gate in Bethlehem."

So the Three Heroes fought their way through the Philistine army and got some water from the well near the city gate in Bethlehem. They took it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it on the ground as an offering to the Lord .

The following men were among the Thirty Heroes: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

Salma, the founder of Bethlehem, and Hareph, the founder of Beth Gader.

This is a list of Salma's descendants: the people from Bethlehem, Netophah, Atroth Beth Joab, half the people from Manahti, the Zorites,

Penuel was Gedor's father, and Ezer was Hushah's father. These were Hur's sons. Hur was Ephrathah's first son, and Ephrathah was the founder of Bethlehem.

Shelah was Judah's son. Shelah's sons were Er, Laadah, Jokim, the men from Cozeba, Joash, and Saraph. Er was the father of Lecah. Laadah was the father of Mareshah and the tribes of linen workers at Beth Ashbea. Joash and Saraph married Moabite women. Then they went back to Bethlehem. The writings about this family are very old.

Another time David was in the fortress, and a group of Philistine soldiers was stationed in Bethlehem.

David was thirsty for some water from his hometown, so he said, "Oh, if only I could have some water from that well by the gate in Bethlehem."