Study Desk

As they were going down, at the edge of the city, Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead"; so the servant went on. "But you, stand still now, because I want you to hear what God has said."

Go on from there, and you will come to the Oak of Tavor. Three men will meet you there on their way up to God at Beit-El. One of them will be carrying three kids, another three loaves of bread and the third a skin of wine.

After that, you will come to Giv‘ah of God, where the P'lishtim are garrisoned. On arrival at the city there, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by lutes, tambourines, flutes and lyres; and they will be prophesying.

When these signs come over you, just do whatever you feel like doing, because God is with you.

As it happened, as soon as he had turned his back to leave Sh'mu'el, God gave him another heart; and all those signs took place that day.

When they arrived at the hill, and there in front of him was a group of prophets, the Spirit of God fell on him and he prophesied along with them.

He said to the people of Isra'el, "Here is what Adonai the God of Isra'el says: ‘I brought Isra'el up from Egypt. I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'

But today you have rejected your God, who himself saves you from all your disasters and distress. You have said to him, ‘No! Put a king over us!' So now, present yourselves before Adonai by your tribes and families."

Sha'ul too went home to Giv‘ah, accompanied by warriors whose hearts God had touched.

The Spirit of God fell on Sha'ul when he heard this; blazing furiously with anger,

But they forgot Adonai their God; so he handed them over to Sisra, commander of the army of Hatzor, and to the P'lishtim, and to the king of Mo'av; and they fought against them.

When you saw that Nachash the king of the people of ‘Amon was attacking you, you said to me, "No, we want a king to rule over us" — when Adonai your God was your king.

If you will fear Adonai , serve him, obey what he says and not rebel against Adonai 's orders — if both you and the king ruling you remain followers of Adonai your God — [then things will go well for you.]

All the people said to Sh'mu'el, "Pray to Adonai your God for your servants, so that we won't die; because to all our other sins now we've added this evil as well, asking for a king over us."

There was panic in the field camp among all the P'lishtim; likewise, the garrison and the raiding party panicked. Besides all this, there was an earthquake; thus it grew into panic caused by God.

Sha'ul told Achiyah, "Bring the ark of God here"; for at that time the ark of God was with the people of Isra'el.

Sha'ul said, "Let's go after the P'lishtim by night. We'll plunder them until dawn; we won't leave one of them alive." They answered, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the cohen said, "Let's approach God here."

Sha'ul consulted God: "Should I go down in pursuit of the P'lishtim? Will you hand them over to Isra'el?" But he didn't answer him that day.

Sha'ul said to Adonai the God of Isra'el, "Who is right?" Y'honatan and Sha'ul were chosen by lot, and the people went free.

Sha'ul said, "May God do the same to me and more also if you are not put to death, Y'honatan!"