Study Desk

Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

But if they say, ‘Come up to us,' then we will go up, for Yahweh has given them into our hands; and this shall be the sign to us."

So the people entered the forest, and behold, there was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the sworn oath.

But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under a sworn oath; therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

And Saul asked of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?" But He did not answer him on that day.

For as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But not one of all the people answered him.

Therefore, Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.

Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and they were not willing to devote them to destruction; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

But Samuel said, "What then is this sound of the sheep in my ears and the sound of the oxen which I am hearing?"

And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God; but the rest we have devoted to destruction."

Why then did you not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh?"

But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal."

But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel."

Then Samuel turned to go, but Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.

Then he said, "I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God."

But Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before Yahweh at Gilgal.

Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul.

But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear of it and will kill me." Then Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.'