Study Desk

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you continue to feel sorry for Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. Fill your container with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse who lives in Bethlehem, because I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

Then he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse answered, "I still have the youngest son. He is out taking care of the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives."

Give us the command to look for someone who can play the harp. When the evil spirit from God troubles you, he will play, and you will feel better."

The Philistines gathered their armies for war. They met at Socoh in Judah and camped at Ephes Dammim between Socoh and Azekah.

Goliath stood and shouted to the Israelite soldiers, "Why have you taken positions for battle? I am a Philistine, and you are Saul's servants! Choose a man and send him to fight me.

For forty days the Philistine came out every morning and evening and stood before the Israelite army.

The Israelites told David what would be done for the man who would kill Goliath.

Yet what David said was told to Saul, and he sent for David.

The women's song upset Saul, and he became very angry. He thought, "The women say David has killed tens of thousands, but they say I have killed only thousands. The only thing left for him to have is the kingdom!"

But David answered Saul, saying, "Who am I? My family is not important enough for me to become the king's son-in-law."

So, when the time came for Saul's daughter Merab to marry David, Saul gave her instead to Adriel of Meholah.

He thought, "I will let her marry David. Then she will be a trap for him, and the Philistines will defeat him." So Saul said to David a second time, "You may become my son-in-law."

Saul said, "Tell David, ‘The king doesn't want money for the bride. All he wants is a hundred Philistine foreskins to get even with his enemies.'" Saul planned to let the Philistines kill David.

So he and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought all their foreskins to Saul so he could be the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal for his wife.

So he warned David, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Watch out in the morning. Hide in a secret place.

David risked his life when he killed Goliath the Philistine, and the Lord won a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and were happy. Why would you do wrong against David? He's innocent. There's no reason to kill him!"

Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, saying, "Tonight you must run for your life. If you don't, you will be dead in the morning."

And Jonathan asked David to repeat his promise of love for him, because he loved David as much as he loved himself.

As long as Jesse's son lives, you will never be king or have a kingdom. Now send for David and bring him to me. He must die!"

David answered, "No women have been near us for days. My men always keep themselves holy, even when we do ordinary work. And this is especially true when the work is holy."