Study Desk

Now see the king you have chosen, the king you have asked for. See, the Lord has given you a king.

Is it not the time to gather grain today? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that you have done a bad sin in the eyes of the Lord by asking for a king."

Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so we will not die. For we have added to all our sins this bad thing, to ask for a king."

Do not turn aside after things that have no worth and cannot save you, for they are nothing.

And as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by not praying for you. But I will teach you the good and the right way.

Only fear the Lord and be faithful to worship Him with all your heart. Think of the great things He has done for you.

Some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him in fear.

So I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the Lord's favor.' So I made myself give the burnt gift."

Samuel said to Saul, "You have done a foolish act. You have not kept the Law that the Lord your God gave you. For now the Lord would have made your rule over Israel last forever.

Now there was no one to be found in all the land of Israel who made things of iron. For the Philistines said, "The Hebrews might make swords or spears."

Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come, let us go over to the place where the soldiers are who have not gone through the religious act of the Jews. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is nothing to keep the Lord from saving by many or by few."

But if they say, ‘Come up to us,' then we will go up. For the Lord has given them into our hands. This will be the special thing for us to see."

The soldiers of that place said to Jonathan and the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come up to us and we will tell you something." Jonathan said to the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come up after me. For the Lord has given them into the hands of Israel."

Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the special box of God here." For the special box of God was with the people of Israel at that time.

Now the men of Israel were troubled that day. For Saul made a promise and said to the people, "Cursed will be the man who eats food before evening and before I have punished those who fight against me." So none of the people tasted any food.

The people went among the trees and saw honey flowing, but no man tasted it. For the people were afraid of Saul's promise.

How much better it would be if the men had been free to eat today of the food that had belonged to those who fought against them! For not many Philistines have been killed."

For as the Lord lives Who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will die for sure." But not one of all the people answered him.

Saul said, "May God do this to me and more also, for you will die for sure, Jonathan."

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has saved all these people of Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground. For he has worked with God this day." So the people saved Jonathan and he did not die.