Study Desk

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.

But when they said, "Give us a king to judge us," their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them."

When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day."

So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.

As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God." So the servant went on.

And Saul replied, "He assured us that the donkeys had been found." But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

But today you have rejected your God, who delivers you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, 'No, set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans."

Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him.

But some worthless men said, "How can this man deliver us?" So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul held his peace.

But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone's right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel."

But Saul ordered, "No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel."

But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, 'No, we must have a king to rule over us'-even though the LORD your God was your king.

But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

"Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."

And Saul waited seven days for the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to desert Saul.

But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD."