Study Desk

So each one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get his plow, his pick, his ax, or his grain cutter sharpened.

So on the day of battle there was no sword or spear in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine soldiers. The Philistines said, "See, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves."

There was fear among the Philistines, in the field, and among all the people. Even the soldiers shook with fear. And the earth shook, so there was much fear.

While Saul talked to the religious leader, the noise of the Philistines became louder. So Saul said to the religious leader, "Take your hand away."

So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle spread farther than Beth-aven.

Now the men of Israel were troubled that day. For Saul made a promise and said to the people, "Cursed will be the man who eats food before evening and before I have punished those who fight against me." So none of the people tasted any food.

But Jonathan had not heard his father make the promise to the people. So he put the stick that was in his hand into the honeycomb. Then he put it to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.

And he said, "Divide yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his bull or his sheep, and kill it here and eat. Do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his bull with him that night, and killed it there.

Then Saul said, "Let us go down to the Philistines during the night and take until morning what belongs to them. Let us not leave a man of them alive." They said, "Do whatever you think is best." So the religious leader said, "Let us ask of God here."

So Saul asked God, "Should I go down to the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.

So Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, "May the right name be drawn." And the names of Saul and Jonathan were drawn, and the people went free.

Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the end of the stick that was in my hand. Here I am. I must die."

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has saved all these people of Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground. For he has worked with God this day." So the people saved Jonathan and he did not die.

So Saul called the people together and numbered them in Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, leave the Amalekites, or I might destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites left the Amalekites.

To go against what you are told is like the sin of witchcraft. Not to obey is like the sin of worshiping false gods. You have turned away from the Word of the Lord. So He has turned away from you being king."

So Samuel said to him, "Today the Lord has torn the rule of Israel away from you. He has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

So Samuel returned with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

But Samuel said, "As your sword has killed the children of women, so will your mother have no children." And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.