Study Desk

Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go: so they went to the city where the man of God [was].

Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

And Samuel took Saul, and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chief place among them that were invited, who [were] about thirty persons.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance?

And it was [so], that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that [they were] no where, we came to Samuel.

And Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he told him not.

And they ran and brought him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote [it] in a book, and laid [it] up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent [them] throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed; whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or from whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind my eyes with it? and I will restore it you.

And he said to them, The LORD [is] witness against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness.

If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye, and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God.

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [of which] two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee.

And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people [that were] present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his colter, and his ax, and his mattock.