Study Desk

So Samuel called to the LORD [in prayer], and He sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so that we will not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil—to ask for a king for ourselves."

So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do].

therefore, I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the LORD'S favor [by making supplication to Him].' So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."

So all [the men of] Israel went down to the Philistines, each to get his plowshare, pick, axe, or sickle sharpened.

So it came about on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.

So the men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer, "Come up to us and we will tell you something." Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Climb up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel."

While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued and increased, so Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.

But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies." So none of the people ate any food.

But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under the oath. So he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into a honeycomb, and then he put his hand to his mouth, and his energy was restored.

Saul said, "Spread out among the people and tell them, 'Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and butcher it [properly] here and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating [the meat with] the blood.'" So that night each one brought his ox with him and butchered it there.

Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!"

Saul answered, "May God do so [to me], and more also [if I do not keep my word], for you shall most certainly die, Jonathan."

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan, who has brought about this great victory in Israel, be put to death? Far from it! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan and he was not put to death.

So Saul summoned the people and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, leave, go down from the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they went up from Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD. I have carried out the command of the LORD."

"Now, please, pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD."

So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.