Study Desk

So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."

So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.

But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.

And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights.

And David said to him, "Can you take me down to this troop?" So he said, "Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop."

So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.

Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.

But David said, "My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.

For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike."

So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.

So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

And David said to him, "Where have you come from?" So he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."

So David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"

And he said to me, "Who are you?' So I answered him, "I am an Amalekite.'

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

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

So David said to him, "How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"

Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near, and execute him!" And he struck him so that he died.