Study Desk

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. Nothing is better for me than that escaping I escape to the land of the Philistines. And Saul will despair of me, to still seek me in all the border of Israel. And I shall escape out of his hand.

And David lived with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one and his household: David and his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the former wife of Nabal of Carmel.

And David and his men went up and attacked the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites. For they were the ones living in the land from the past days , as you come into Shur and into the land of Egypt.

David did not keep alive man or woman to bring news to Gath, saying, Lest they speak against us, saying, So David has done; And so has been his custom all the days that he has lived in the fields of the Philistines.

And Achish trusted David, saying, Surely he has made himself to be hated among his people in Israel, and has become my servant forever.

And Samuel was dead. And all Israel had mourned for him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his city. And Saul had taken away the mediums and spirit-knowers out of the land.

And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and his heart trembled and he greatly feared.

And Saul said to his servants, Seek out for me a woman, a medium, and I will go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, a woman, a medium, is in Endor.

And he said to her, What is his appearance? And she said, An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a robe. And Saul knew that he was Samuel. And he bowed his face to the earth, and prostrated himself.

Because you did not listen to the voice of Jehovah, or execute the anger of His wrath on Amalek, on this account Jehovah is doing this thing to you today.

And Saul hurried and fell the full length of his stature to the earth, and greatly feared from the words of Samuel. And there was no power in him, for he had not eaten food all that day, and all the night.

And he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants forced him, and the woman also. And he listened to their voices and rose from the earth and sat on the bed.

And she brought it near before Saul, and before his servants. And they ate, and rose up, and went on during that night.

And the Philistine rulers were passing on by hundreds and by thousands. And David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish.

And the Philistine rulers were angry against him. And the Philistine rulers said to him, Send the man back, and he shall return to his place where you have appointed him. And he shall not go down withus into battle, and shall not become a foeto us in battle. And with what should this one give pleasure to his master, if not with the heads of these men?

Is this not David, of whom they answer in dances, saying, Saul has killed his thousands, and David his myriads?

And David rose up early, he and his men, to go in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

And it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided to the Negeb, even to Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire.

And David and his men came into the city. And, behold! It was burned with fire! And their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

And David was greatly distressed, for the people said to stone him. For the soul of the people was bitter, each for his sons and for his daughters. And David made himself strong in Jehovah his God.