Study Desk

They came to the land of Zuph. And Saul said to his young man who was with him, "Come, and let us return, lest my father cease to be concerned about the donkeys and become anxious for us."

Then Saul said to his young man, "But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"

Then Saul said to his young man, "Your word is good; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the chamber and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.

Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him, and said, "Has not Yahweh anointed you a ruler over His inheritance?

Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.

Now Saul's uncle said to him and his young man, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To look for the donkeys. And we saw that they were not anywhere, so we went to Samuel."

So Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had said.

So they ran and took him from there, and he stood among the people. And he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

Then Samuel spoke with the people about the legal judgments of the kingdom and wrote them in the book and placed it before Yahweh. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house.

Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

Then he took a pair of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen." Then the dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

Here I am; bear witness against me before Yahweh and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you."

So he said to them, "Yahweh is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

If you will fear Yahweh and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow Yahweh your God.

For Yahweh will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because Yahweh has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

And Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.

But now your kingdom shall not endure. Yahweh has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you."

Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines camped at Michmash.

So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his goad.