Study Desk

Then Saul said to David, "May good come to you, my son David. You will do many things and do them well." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

So David got up and crossed over with his 600 men to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag that day. Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

And Achish believed David, saying, "He has made the people of Israel hate him. So he will become my servant forever."

So Saul dressed up to look like somebody else and went with two other men to the woman during the night. He said, "Use your secret ways for me, I beg you, and bring up for me whom I will name to you."

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled my rest by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am very troubled. The Philistines are making war against me. And God has left me and answers me no more, by those who speak for Him or by dreams. So I have called you to tell me what I should do."

You did not obey the Lord and bring His burning anger upon Amalek. So the Lord has done this to you now.

What is more, the Lord will give Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines. So tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel to the Philistines."

So now I beg you, let me give you a piece of bread. Eat, so you may have strength when you go on your way."

So now return. Go in peace, that you may not make the Philistine leaders angry."

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

David said to Abiathar the religious leader, son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the linen vest." So Abiathar brought the linen vest to David.

So David and the 600 men who were with him went out and came to the river of Besor. There those stayed who were left behind.

Then all the sinful men of no worth who had gone with David said, "They did not go with us. So we will not give them anything of what we have taken, except for each man's wife and children. Each man may take them and go."

David said, "You must not do so with what the Lord has given us, my brothers. He has kept us safe and has given us the army that came against us.

Then Saul said to the one who carried his battle-clothes, "Take your sword and cut through me with it. Or these men who have not gone through our religious act will come and kill me with the sword and make fun of me." But the one who carried his battle-clothes would not do it, for he was filled with fear. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

So Saul, his three sons, the one who carried his battle-clothes, and all his men, died that day together.

The men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had run away and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left the cities and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived in them.

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the beautiful gold band which he wore on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.