Study Desk

He told the messengers who had come, "Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.'" So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.

The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

Afterward, the people said to Samuel, "Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!"

Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let's go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there."

So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the Lord 's presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in the Lord 's presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel greatly rejoiced.

Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before the Lord about all the righteous acts He has done for you and your ancestors.

But they forgot the Lord their God, so He handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them.

So the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely.

Isn't the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord and He will send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you committed in the Lord 's sight by requesting a king for yourselves."

They pleaded with Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so we won't die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves."

Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram's horn throughout the land saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." Then he offered the burnt offering.

Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him,

I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven't sought the Lord 's favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."

So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.

So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

So Saul said to the troops with him, "Call the roll and determine who has left us." They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, "Stop what you're doing."

So the Lord saved Israel that day. The battle extended beyond Beth-aven,

and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath: "The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed." So none of the troops tasted any food.