Study Desk

Please! My lord shouldn't pay any attention to this worthless fellow Naval, because he's just like his name — ‘Naval' means ‘boor,' and his boorishness stays with him. But I, your servant, did not see my lord's men, whom you sent.

And please forgive the offense your servant has caused; because Adonai will certainly establish my lord's dynasty, for my lord fights Adonai 's battles, and nothing bad has been found in you all your life long.

Avigayil came to Naval; there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king. He was in high spirits, because he was very drunk. So she told him nothing whatever until the next morning.

So David took the spear and the water jug from Sha'ul's head and got away. Nobody saw or knew about it, and no one awoke, because they were all asleep — a deep sleep from Adonai had fallen over them.

It's not good, what you've done! As Adonai lives, you deserve to die; because you didn't keep watch over your lord, Adonai 's anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is, and the jug of water that was next to his head!"

Please, now, may my lord the king hear what his servant is saying. If it is Adonai who has stirred you up against me, let him receive an offering. But if it's human beings, then a curse on them before Adonai ! — because, as things stand today, they have driven me out, so that I can no longer share in Adonai 's inheritance — they've said, ‘Go, serve other gods!'

Then Sha'ul said, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won't harm you any longer, because you regarded my life as precious today. Yes, I have behaved like a fool. I was altogether in the wrong."

Sh'mu'el asked Sha'ul, "Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?" Sha'ul answered, "I'm very upset; because the P'lishtim are making war against me; and God has left me and doesn't answer me any more, neither by prophets nor by dreams. This is why I've called you, so that you can let me know what to do."

because you didn't obey what Adonai said and execute his furious anger toward ‘Amalek. That's why Adonai is doing this to you today.

Sha'ul immediately fell full length on the ground and became terribly frightened because of what Sh'mu'el had said. He had no strength left in him, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.

But the chiefs of the P'lishtim became angry and said to him, "Have the man return and go back to the place you set aside for him. Don't let him go into battle with us, because on the battlefield he might become our enemy. What better way could there be for him to get reconciled with his lord than by [cutting off] the heads of our men?

So Akhish summoned David and said to him, "As Adonai lives, you have been upright; and I myself would be more than pleased to have you go on campaign with me; because I haven't found anything wrong with you between the day you arrived and now. However, the chiefs don't trust you.

David was in serious trouble: the people were talking about stoning him to death, because all the people were in such deep grief, each man over his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in Adonai his God.

Then David consulted Adonai . He asked, "Should I go in pursuit of these raiders? Will I catch up with them?" And [ Adonai ] answered him, "Go in pursuit, because you will overtake them and recover everyone and everything."

they also gave him a lump of dried figs and two bunches of raisins. After eating, he revived; because he hadn't eaten anything or drunk any water for three days and nights.

David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where are you from?" He answered, "I'm an Egyptian boy, the slave of an ‘Amaleki. My master abandoned me three days ago, because I got sick.

So I stood next to him and killed him, because I was sure he was so badly wounded that he couldn't live. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet on his arm and have brought them here to my lord."

They wailed and cried, and they fasted until evening for Sha'ul, for Y'honatan his son, for Adonai 's people and for the house of Isra'el; because they had fallen by the sword.

"Mountains of Gilboa — may there be on you no dew, no rain, no fields with good crops; because there the shields of the heroes were dishonored, the shield of Sha'ul was no longer rubbed with oil.

So David sent messengers to the men of Yavesh-Gil‘ad with this message: "May you be blessed by Adonai , because you showed this kindness to your lord, Sha'ul, and buried him.