Study Desk

So they sent the special box of God to Ekron. When the box of God came to Ekron, the people there cried out, "They have brought the special box of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people."

So they called together all the leaders of the Philistines and said, "Send away the special box of the God of Israel. Let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people." For the people of the city were afraid. The hand of God was very heavy there.

So make objects to look like your sores and your mice that destroyed the land, and you will give honor to the God of Israel. It may be that He will be easier on you, your gods, and your land.

So now take and make ready a new wagon and two milk cows that have never pulled a load. Tie the cows to the wagon and take their calves away from them.

The men did so. They took two milk cows and tied them to the wagon, and shut up their calves at home.

The Lord killed some of the men of Bethshemesh because they had looked into the special box of the Lord. He killed 70 (50,070) men. And the people were filled with sorrow because the Lord had killed so many of them.

So they sent men to the people living in Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the special box of the Lord. Come down and get it."

So the people of Israel put away from among them the false gods of Baal and Ashtaroth and worshiped the Lord alone.

So they gathered at Mizpah. They got water and poured it out before the Lord as a gift, and did not eat that day. They said there, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

The Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, so the leaders of the Philistines went to battle against them. When the people of Israel heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

As Samuel was burning the gift to the Lord, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel. But the Lord made a loud thunder that day against the Philistines, making them afraid. So they lost the battle with Israel.

So the Philistines were beaten. They did not come into the land of Israel again. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel's life.

The cities the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned, from Ekron to Gath. Israel saved their land from the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

So listen to their voice. But tell them of the danger and show them the ways of the king who will rule over them."

So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked him for a king.

so we may be like other nations. Our king may rule over us and go out before us and fight our battles."

The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and choose a king for them." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every one of you go home to his city."

Now the donkeys of Saul's father Kish were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys."

Saul said to his servant, "What you said is good. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them to go up to the high place.