Study Desk

So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade the territory of Israel again. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

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.

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

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.

"Good," said Saul to his servant. "Come, let us go." So they set out for the city where the man of God was.

So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

Saul replied, "Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?"

So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, "Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, 'I have invited the people.' So Saul dined with Samuel that day.

They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get ready, and I will send you on your way!" So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside together.

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.

Then a man who lived there replied, "And who is their father?" So the saying became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

So again they inquired of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD replied, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage."

So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others.

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.

So they said to the messengers who had come, "Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: 'Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.'" And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.

The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

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

So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.