Study Desk

David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Sha'ul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Pelishtim; and Sha'ul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Yisra'el: so shall I escape out of his hand.

David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gat, saying, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David, and so has been his manner all the while he has lived in the country of the Pelishtim.

But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the eretz, and sat on the bed.

David said to Akhish, But what have I done? and what have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Pelishtim. The Pelishtim went up to Yizre`el.

So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.

But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they couldn't go over the brook Besor.

David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people who were with him: and when David came near to the people, he greeted them.

Then said David, You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which the LORD has given to us, who has preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.

Who will listen to you in this matter? for as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who tarries by the baggage: they shall share alike.

It was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Yisra'el to this day.

So Sha'ul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.

it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Sha'ul, with his clothes torn, and dirt on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the eretz, and did obeisance.

So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.

David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. He struck him, so that he died.

So David went up there, and his two wives also, Achino'am the Yizre`elite, and Avigayil the wife of Naval the Karmelite.

They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Helkat-Hatztzurim, which is in Giv`on.

However he refused to turn aside: therefore Aviner with the hinder end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it happened, that as many as came to the place where `Asa'el fell down and died stood still.

So Yo'av blew the shofar; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Yisra'el no more, neither fought they any more.

But the servants of David had struck of Binyamin, and of Aviner's men, [so that] three hundred sixty men died.