Study Desk

You're a complete failure! I swear by the living Lord that you and your men deserve to die for not protecting the Lord 's chosen king. Look and see if you can find the king's spear and the water jar that were near his head."

"David, you had the chance to kill me today. But you didn't. I was very wrong about you. It was a terrible mistake for me to try to kill you. I've acted like a fool, but I'll never try to harm you again. You're like a son to me, so please come back."

David was in Philistia for a year and four months.

Samuel had died some time earlier, and people from all over Israel had attended his funeral in his hometown of Ramah. Meanwhile, Saul had been trying to get rid of everyone who spoke with the spirits of the dead. But one day the Philistines brought their soldiers together to attack Israel. Achish told David, "Of course, you know that you and your men must fight as part of our Philistine army." David answered, "That will give you a chance to see for yourself just how well we can fight!" "In that case," Achish said, "you and your men will always be my bodyguards."

That night, Saul put on different clothing so nobody would recognize him. Then he and two of his men went to the woman, and asked, "Will you bring up the ghost of someone for us?"

Now please listen to me. Let me get you a little something to eat. It will give you strength for your walk back to camp."

David and his men got up early in the morning and headed back toward Philistia, while the Philistines left for Jezreel.

Some of David's men were good-for-nothings, and they said, "Those men didn't go with us to the battle, so they don't get any of the things we took back from the Amalekites. Let them take their wives and children and go!"

David made this a law for Israel, and it has been the same ever since.

They buried the bones under a small tree in Jabesh, and for seven days, they went without eating to show their sorrow.

Don't tell it in Gath or spread the news on the streets of Ashkelon. The godless Philistine women will be happy and jump for joy.

Don't let dew or rain fall on the hills of Gilboa. Don't let its fields grow offerings for God. There the warriors' shields were smeared with mud, and Saul's own shield was left unpolished.

Women of Israel, cry for Saul. He brought you fine red cloth and jewelry made of gold.

Ishbosheth was forty years old at the time, and he ruled for two years. But the tribe of Judah made David their king,

and he ruled from Hebron for seven and a half years.

Abner said, "There are soldiers all around. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself." But Asahel refused to stop.

Joab took his trumpet and blew the signal for his soldiers to stop chasing the soldiers of Israel. Right away, the fighting stopped.

David sent this message back: "Good! I'll make an agreement with you. But before I will even talk with you about it, you must get Saul's daughter Michal back for me."

Abner talked with the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, "You've wanted to make David your king for a long time now.

Finally, Abner talked with the tribe of Benjamin. Then he left for Hebron to tell David everything that the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of the people of Israel wanted to do.