Study Desk

David said, "As the Lord lives, He will destroy him. Or his day will come to die. Or he will be killed in battle.

May the Lord keep me from putting out my hand against the Lord's chosen one. But take the spear that is at his head and the bottle of water, and let us go."

This thing you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you must die for sure. Because you did not watch over your lord, the Lord's chosen one. Now see where the king's spear is, and the bottle of water that was beside his head."

Why is my lord coming after his servant? What have I done? What am I guilty of?

Now I beg you, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has made you come against me, let Him receive a gift. But if men have done this, may bad come to them before the Lord. For they have driven me out this day, that I should have no share of what the Lord has given. They say, ‘Go, worship other gods.'

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.

David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men. Each man had those of his family with him. David had with him his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, who had been Nabal's wife.

Now David and his men went up to fight the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. For they had been living in the land a long time, as you come to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt.

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had been filled with sorrow for him. They buried him in his own city of Ramah. And Saul had put out of the land those who spoke with spirits by using their secret ways.

When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid. His heart shook with much fear.

Then Saul said to his servants, "Find a woman for me who can speak with spirits, that I may go to her and ask her what I should do." His servants said to him, "See, there is a woman at Endor who can speak with spirits."

He said to her, "What does he look like?" And she said, "An old man is coming up. He is dressed in a long piece of clothing." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he put his face to the ground to show honor.

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

At once Saul fell to the ground with his whole body. He was very afraid because of Samuel's words. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day and all night.

But he said, "I will not eat." But his servants together with the woman begged him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

She brought it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went away that night.

The leaders of the Philistines were moving toward them with their hundreds and their thousands. And David and his men were moving behind them with Achish.

But the Philistine captains were angry with him. They said to him, "Make the man return. Have him go again to his place which you have given him. Do not let him go down to battle with us. He might fight against us in the battle. For how could this man make his lord receive him again? Would it not be with the heads of these men?

Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"