Study Desk

But the people broke in and said to Saul, "Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.

Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel's throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.

The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul's lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.

One day Samuel said to Saul, "It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord !

So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah.

Then Saul and his army went to a town of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley.

Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the Lord : your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe.

And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!"

Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah of Saul.

Now the Lord said to Samuel, "You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king."

Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me."

"Yes," Samuel replied. "I have come to sacrifice to the Lord . Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "This is not the one the Lord has chosen."

So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.

Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah.

He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds.