Study Desk

When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord . So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" The inhabitants of Gath replied, "Let the ark of God be moved on to us." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath.

But after they had brought it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic; he struck the inhabitants of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them.

So they sent the ark of the God of Israel to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "Why have they brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people?"

So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps he will lighten his hand on you and your gods and your land.

The men did so; they took two milch cows and yoked them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh, and stopped there. A large stone was there; so they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord .

Then the people of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord , this holy God? To whom shall he go so that we may be rid of him?"

So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord . Come down and take it up to you."

So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the Lord only.

So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord . They fasted that day, and said, "We have sinned against the Lord ." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord ; Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.

So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you.

So Samuel reported all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.

so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."

Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, had strayed. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the boys with you; go and look for the donkeys."

Saul said to the boy, "Good; come, let us go." So they went to the town where the man of God was.

So they went up to the town. As they were entering the town, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the shrine.

The cook took up the thigh and what went with it and set them before Saul. Samuel said, "See, what was kept is set before you. Eat; for it is set before you at the appointed time, so that you might eat with the guests." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.