Study Desk

So each one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get his plow, his pick, his ax, or his grain cutter sharpened.

So on the day of battle there was no sword or spear in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come, let us go over to the place where the Philistine soldiers are on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come, let us go over to the place where the soldiers are who have not gone through the religious act of the Jews. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is nothing to keep the Lord from saving by many or by few."

The young man who was carrying his battle-clothes said to him, "Do all that is in your mind. I am with you in whatever you think to do."

The soldiers of that place said to Jonathan and the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come up to us and we will tell you something." Jonathan said to the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come up after me. For the Lord has given them into the hands of Israel."

Then Jonathan went up the hill on his hands and feet, with the one who was carrying his battle-clothes behind him. The soldiers fell in front of Jonathan. The young man, who was carrying his battle-clothes after him, killed them.

In that first killing done by Jonathan and the man who carried his battle-clothes, about twenty men fell dead within a small piece of land.

Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number them, and see who has left us." When they numbered, they found that Jonathan and the young man who carried his battle-clothes were not there.

But Jonathan had not heard his father make the promise to the people. So he put the stick that was in his hand into the honeycomb. Then he put it to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.

And he said, "Divide yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his bull or his sheep, and kill it here and eat. Do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his bull with him that night, and killed it there.

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has saved all these people of Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground. For he has worked with God this day." So the people saved Jonathan and he did not die.

The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, the brother of Saul's father.

Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to choose you to be king over His people Israel. Now listen to the Words of the Lord.

"I am sorry that I have made Saul king. For he has turned away from following Me. He has not done what I told him to do." Samuel was much troubled in his heart. He cried out to the Lord all night.

When Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, he was told, "Saul came to Carmel and set up a stone in his honor. Then he turned and went down to Gilgal."

As Samuel turned to go, Saul took hold of part of his clothing, and it tore.

And the shining greatness of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind."

Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul.

Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. But Samuel was filled with sorrow because of Saul. And the Lord was sorry that He had made Saul king over Israel.