Study Desk

Then Saul said to the one who carried his battle-clothes, "Take your sword and kill me with it. Or these men who have not gone through our religious act will come and make fun of me." But the one who carried his battle-clothes would not do it. For he was very afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

So all the powerful soldiers went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons. They brought them to Jabesh and buried their bones under the oak tree there. Then they went without food for seven days.

So Saul died for his sin against the Lord, because he did not keep the Word of the Lord. He had asked a woman who spoke with spirits what he should do.

David became greater and greater, for the Lord of All was with him.

But he and his men stood on the piece of ground and fought for it, and killed the Philistines. The Lord saved them by His great power.

and said, "Far be it from me that I should do this before my God. Should I drink the blood of these men? For they put their lives in danger to bring it." So he would not drink it. These things are what the three powerful soldiers did.

As for Abishai the brother of Joab, he was the head of the thirty. He fought and killed 300 men with his spear. And his name became well-known like the three.

David went out to meet them. He said to them, "If you come in peace to help me, my heart will be joined to you. But if you have come to hand me over to those who hate me, may the God of our fathers see it and speak strong words to you. For I have done nothing wrong."

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai the captain of the thirty. Amasai said, "We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to those who help you! For your God helps you!" Then David received them and made them captains of his soldiers.

Some men from Manasseh came over to David's side when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help him. For after talking it over, the Philistine leaders sent him away, saying, "He might go over to Saul's side with our heads."

They helped David against the army of soldiers who came to fight him. For they were all powerful soldiers, and captains in the army.

There were 6,800 sons of Judah who carried a battle-covering and spear, ready for war.

There were 3,000 sons of Benjamin, Saul's brothers. For until now most of them had stayed faithful to the house of Saul.

There were 28,600 Danites ready for battle.

There were 40,000 soldiers from Asher, ready for battle.

All these were men of war, ready for battle. They came to Hebron with one desire, to make David the king of all Israel. And all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king.

They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking. For their brothers had made food ready for them.

And their neighbors brought food, from as far as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali. They brought food on donkeys, camels, horses and cattle. They brought many loaves of bread and figs, many dried grapes, wine, oil, cattle and sheep. For there was joy in Israel.

Let us bring the special box with the Law of our God to us. For we did not think of it in the days of Saul."

Then all the people said that they would do so. For it was right in the eyes of all the people.