Study Desk

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" "I am deeply distressed," replied Saul. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by the prophets or dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."

So Achish summoned David and told him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.

So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought it to him,

So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor, where some stayed behind

a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. So he ate and was revived, for he had not had any food or water for three days and three nights.

So he led David down, and there were the Amalekites spread out over all the land, eating, drinking, and celebrating the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah.

So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.

And so it has been from that day forward. David established this statute as an ordinance for Israel to this very day.

Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!" But the armor-bearer refused, because he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.

When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.

'Who are you?' he asked. So I told him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

So David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"

Then David summoned one of the young men and said, "Go, execute him!" So he struck him down, and he died.

So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, "The LORD bless you, because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.

So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.