Study Desk

And who will listen to you in this matter? For as is the portion of the one who goes down to the battle, so shall the portion be of the one who remains by the baggage; they shall be apportioned together."

So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and a judgment for Israel to this day.

Then David came to Ziklag and sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "Behold, a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of Yahweh:

Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and pierce me through and abuse me." But his armor bearer was not willing, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

Then he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and put me to death, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.'

And they lamented and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of Yahweh and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

And David said to him, "Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has answered against you, saying, ‘I have put the anointed of Yahweh to death.'"

O mountains of Gilboa,Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings;For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;You have been very pleasant to me.Your love to me was more wonderfulThan the love of women.

So now, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

So Abner said to him, "Turn to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil." But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as Yahweh has sworn to David, I do not do this for him,

So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines."

Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

So now, do it! For Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'"

Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

And the king chanted a lament for Abner and said,"Should Abner die as a wicked fool dies?