Bible in 90 Days
16 1 Samuel is reproved of God, and is sent to anoint David. 7 God regardeth the heart. 13 The Spirit of the Lord cometh upon David. 14 The wicked Spirit is sent upon Saul. 19 Saul sendeth for David.
1 The Lord then said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, [a]seeing I have cast him away from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil and come, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a King among his sons.
2 And Samuel said, How can I go? for if Saul shall hear it, he will kill me. Then the Lord answered, Take an heifer [b]with thee, and say, I am come [c]to do sacrifice to the Lord.
3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do, and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 So Samuel did that the Lord bade him, and came to Bethlehem, and the elders of the town were [d]astonished at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5 And he answered, Yea: I am come to do sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And when they were come, he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s [e]Anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature, because I have refused him: for God seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord beholdeth the (A)heart.
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him come before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
9 Then Jesse made Shammah come. And he said, Neither yet hath the Lord chosen him.
10 Again Jesse made his seven sons to come before Samuel, and Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath chosen none of these.
11 Finally, Samuel said unto Jesse, [f]Are there no more children but these? And he said, There remaineth yet a little one behind, that keepeth the sheep. Then Samuel said unto Jesse, (B)Send and fet him: for we will not sit down, till he be come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in: and he was ruddy, and of a good countenance, and comely visage. And the Lord said, Arise, and anoint him: for this is he.
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the (C)Spirit of the Lord [g]came upon David, from that day forward: then Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14 ¶ But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an [h]evil spirit sent of the Lord, vexed him.
15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, the evil spirit of God vexeth thee.
16 Let our Lord therefore command thy servants that are before thee, to seek a man that is a cunning player upon the harp: that when the evil spirit of God cometh upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayest be eased.
17 Saul then said unto his servants, Provide me a man, I pray you, that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of his servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a [i]son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite, that can play, and is strong, valiant, and a man of war, and wise in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
19 ¶ Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread and a flagon of wine and a kid, and sent them by the hand of David his son unto Saul.
21 And David came to Saul, and [j]stood before him: and he loved him very well, and he was his armor bearer.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David now remain with me: for he hath found favor in my sight.
23 And so when the evil spirit of God came upon Saul, David took an harp and played with his hand, and Saul was [k]refreshed and was eased: for the evil spirit departed from him.
17 1 The Philistines make war against Israel. 10 Goliath defieth Israel. 17 David is sent to his brethren. 34 The strength and boldness of David. 47 The Lord saveth not by sword nor spear. 50 David killeth Goliath, and the Philistines flee.
1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies to battle, and came together to Sochoh which is in Judah, and pitched between Sochoh and Azekah, [l]in the coast of Dammim.
2 And Saul, and the men of Israel assembled and pitched in the valley [m]of Elah, and put themselves in battle array to meet the Philistines.
3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: so a valley was between them.
4 ¶ Then came a man between them [n]both out of the tents of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath: his height was six cubits and an hand breadth,
5 And had an helmet of brass upon his head, and a [o]brigandine upon him: and the weight of his brigandine was five thousand [p]shekels of brass.
6 And he had [q]boots of brass upon his legs, and a shield of brass upon his shoulders.
7 And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam: and his spear head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8 And he stood, and cried against the host of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9 If he be able to fight with me, and [r]kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I overcome him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 Also the Philistine said, I defy the host of Israel this day: give me a man, that we may fight [s]together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were discouraged, and greatly afraid.
12 ¶ Now this David was the (D)son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, named Jesse, which had eight sons: and [t]this man was taken for an old man in the days of Saul.
13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to battle were Eliab the eldest, and the next Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 So David was the least: and the three eldest went after Saul.
15 David also [u]went, but he returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.
16 And the Philistine drew near in the morning, and evening, and continued forty days.
17 And Jesse said unto David his son, [v]Take now for thy brethren an Ephah of this parched corn, and these ten cakes, and run to the host to thy brethren.
18 Also carry these ten fresh cheeses unto the captain, and look how thy brethren fare, and receive their [w]pledge.
19 (Then Saul and they, and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.)
20 ¶ So David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took and went as Jesse had commanded him, and came within the compass of the host: and the host went out in array, and shouted in the battle.
21 For Israel and the Philistines had put themselves in array, army against army.
22 And David left the things which he bare, under the hands of the keeper of the [x]carriage, and ran into the host, and came, and asked his brethren [y]how they did.
23 And as he talked with them, behold, the man that was between the two armies, came up, (whose name was Goliath the Philistine of Gath) out of the [z]army of the Philistines, and spake [aa]such words, and David heard them.
24 And all the men of Israel when they saw the man, ran away from him, and were sore afraid.
25 For every man of Israel said, Saw ye not this man that cometh up? even to revile Israel is he come up: and to him that killeth him, will the King give great riches, and will give him his (E)daughter, yea, and make his father’s house [ab]free in Israel.
26 ¶ Then David spake to the men that stood with him, and said, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the [ac]shame from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should revile the host of the living God?
27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, Thus shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men, and Eliab was very angry with David, and said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the malice of thine heart, that thou art come down to see the battle.
29 Then David said, What have I now done? Is there not a [ad]cause?
30 And he departed from him into the presence of another, and spake of the same manner, and the people answered him according to the former words.
31 ¶ And they that heard the words which David spake, rehearsed them before Saul, which caused him to be brought.
32 So David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail him, because of him: thy servant will go, and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not [ae]able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art a boy, and he is a man of war from his youth.
34 And David answered unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a [af]lion, and likewise a bear, and took a sheep out of the flock,
35 And I went out after him and smote him, and took it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by the beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 So thy servant slew both the lion, and the bear: therefore this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath railed on the host of the living God.
37 ¶ Moreover David said, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. Then Saul said unto David, [ag]Go, and the Lord be with thee.
38 And Saul put his raiment upon David, and put an helmet of brass upon his head, and put a brigandine upon him.
39 Then girded David his sword upon his raiment, and [ah]began to go: for he never proved it: and David said unto Saul, I can not go with these: for I am not accustomed. Wherefore David put them off him.
40 Then took he his [ai]staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of a brook, and put them in his shepherd’s bag or scrip, and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.
41 ¶ And the Philistine came and drew near unto David, and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 Now when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but young, ruddy, and of a comely face.
43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine [aj]cursed David by his gods.
44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the field.
45 ¶ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to thee in the Name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the host of Israel, whom thou hast railed upon.
46 This [ak]day shall the Lord close thee in mine hand, and I shall smite thee, and take thine head from thee, and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth, that all the world may know that Israel hath a God,
47 And that all this assembly may know, that the Lord saveth not with sword nor with spear, (for the battle is the Lord’s) and he will give you into our hands.
48 And when the Philistine arose to come and draw near unto David, David [al]hasted and ran to fight against the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took out a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sticked in his forehead, and he fell groveling to the earth.
50 So David overcame the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him, when David had no sword in his hand.
51 Then David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of his sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. So when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Israel and Judah arose, and shouted, and followed after the Philistines, until they came to the [am]valley, and unto the gates of Ekron: and the Philistines fell down wounded by the way of Shaaraim, even to Gath and to Ekron.
53 And the children of Israel returned from pursuing the Philistines, and spoiled their tents.
54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem, and put his armor in his [an]tent.
55 ¶ When Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner the captain of his host, Abner, [ao]whose son is this young man? and Abner answered, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56 Then the King said, Inquire thou whose son this young man is.
57 And when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, then Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
18 1 The amity of Jonathan and David. 8 Saul envieth David for the praise that the women gave him. 11 Saul would have slain David. 17 He promiseth him Merab to wife, but giveth him Michal. 27 David delivereth to Saul two hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 29 Saul feareth David, seeing that the Lord is with him.
1 And when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, the [ap]soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him, as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant: for he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan put off the robe that was upon him, and gave it David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself [aq]wisely: so that Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 ¶ When they came again, and David returned from the slaughter of the [ar]Philistine, the women came out of all cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with instruments of joy, and with rebecks.
7 And the women [as]sang by course in their play, and said, (F)Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand.
8 Therefore Saul was exceedingly wroth, and the saying displeased him, and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousand, and to me they have ascribed but a thousand, and what can he have more save the kingdom?
9 Wherefore Saul [at]had an eye on David from that day forward.
10 ¶ And on the morrow, the evil spirit of God came upon Saul, and he [au]prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand like as at other times, and there was a spear in Saul’s hand.
11 And Saul took the spear, and said, I will smite David through to the wall. But David avoided twice out of his presence.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul put him from him, and made him a captain over a thousand, and he went [av]out and in before the people.
14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways: for the Lord was with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he was very wise, he was afraid of him.
16 For all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and in before them.
17 ¶ Then Saul said to David, Behold mine eldest daughter Merab, her I will give thee to wife: only be a valiant son unto me, and [aw]fight the Lord’s battles: for Saul thought, Mine hand shall not be upon him, but the hand of the Philistines shall be upon him.
18 And David answered Saul, What am I? and what is my life, or the family of my father in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the King?
19 Howbeit when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, [ax]she was given unto Adriel a Meholathite to wife.
20 ¶ Then Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they showed Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 Therefore Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a [ay]snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in the one of the twain.
22 And Saul commanded his servants, Speak with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath a favor to thee, and all his servants love thee: be now therefore the King’s son-in-law.
23 And Saul’s servants spake these words in the ears of David. And David said, [az]Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of small reputation?
24 And then Saul’s servants brought him word again, saying, Such words spake David.
25 And Saul said, This wise shall ye say to David, The king desireth no dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the King’s enemies: for Saul thought to make David fall into the hands of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well, to be the [ba]King’s son-in-law: and the days were not expired.
27 Afterward David arose with his men, and went and slew of the Philistines two hundred men: and David brought their foreskins, and [bb]they gave them wholly to the King that he might be the King’s son-in-law: therefore Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28 Then Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David, and that Michal the daughter of Saul loved him.
29 Then Saul was more and more afraid [bc]of David, and Saul became always David’s enemy.
30 And when the Princes of the Philistines went forth, at their going forth [bd]David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was much set by.
19 2 Jonathan declareth to David the wicked purpose of Saul. 11 Michal his wife saveth him. 18 David cometh to Samuel. 23 The Spirit of prophecy cometh on Saul.
1 Then Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should [be]kill David: but Jonathan Saul’s son had a great favor to David.
2 And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father goeth about to slay thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed unto thyself unto the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself.
3 And I will go out and stand by my father in the field where thou [bf]art, and will commune with my father of thee, and I will see what he saith, and will tell thee.
4 ¶ And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David: for he hath not sinned against thee, but his works have been to thee very good.
5 For he [bg]did (G)put his life in danger, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and thou rejoicedst: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, and slay David without a cause?
6 Then Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan, and Saul [bh]swore, As the Lord liveth, he shall not die.
7 So Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those words, and Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past.
8 ¶ Again the war began, and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter, and they fled from him.
9 ¶ And the evil spirit of the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house having his spear in his hand, and David [bi]played with his hand.
10 And Saul intended to smite David to the wall with the spear: but he turned aside out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the spear against the wall: but David fled, and escaped the same night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told it him, saying, If thou save not thyself this night, tomorrow thou shalt be slain.
12 So Michal [bj]let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 Then Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow stuffed with goat’s hair under the head of it, and covered it with a cloth.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him to me in the [bk]bed, that I may slay him.
16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, an image was in the bed with a pillow of goat’s hair under the head of it.
17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou mocked me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go, or else I will kill thee.
18 ¶ So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him: and he and Samuel went and dwelt in [bl]Naioth.
19 But one told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw a company of Prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing [bm]as appointed over them, the Spirit of God fell upon the messengers of Saul, and they also [bn]prophesied.
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise: again Saul sent the third messengers, and they prophesied also.
22 Then went he himself to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu, and he asked, and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23 And he [bo]went thither, even to Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and he went prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24 And he stripped off his [bp]clothes, and he prophesied also before Samuel, and fell [bq]down naked all that day and all that night: therefore they say, (H)Is Saul also among the Prophets?
20 2 Jonathan comforteth David. 3 They renew their league. 33 Saul would have killed Jonathan. 38 Jonathan advertiseth David by three arrows, of his father’s fury.
1 And David [br]fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what sin have I committed before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2 And he said unto him, God forbid, thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing great nor small, but he will [bs]show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? he will not do it.
3 And David swore again and said, Thy father knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes: therefore he thinketh, Jonathan shall not know it, lest he be sorry: but indeed, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a [bt]step between me and death.
4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul [bu]requireth, that I will do unto thee.
5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the [bv]first day of the month, and I should sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the fields unto the third day at even.
6 If thy father make mention of me, then say, David asked leave of me, that he might go to Bethlehem to his own city: for there is a [bw]yearly sacrifice for all that family.
7 And if he say thus, It is well, thy servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, be sure that wickedness is concluded of him.
8 So shalt thou show mercy unto thy servant: (I)for thou hast joined thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee, and if there be in me iniquity, slay thou me? for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
9 ¶ And Jonathan answered, God keep that from thee: for if I knew that wickedness were [bx]concluded of my father to come upon thee, would not I tell it thee?
10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who [by]shall tell me? how shall I know, if thy father answer thee cruelly?
11 And Jonathan said to David, Come and let us go out into the field: and they twain went out into the field.
12 Then Jonathan said to David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have groped my father’s mind tomorrow at this time, or within this three days, and if it be well with David, and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee,
13 The Lord [bz]do so and much more unto Jonathan: but if my father have mind to do thee evil, I will show thee also, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee as he hath been with my father.
14 Likewise I require not whiles I live: for I doubt not but thou wilt show me the mercy of the Lord, [ca]that I die not.
15 But I require that thou cut not off thy mercy from mine house forever: no, not when the Lord hath destroyed the enemies of David, every one from the earth.
16 So Jonathan made a bond with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies.
17 And again Jonathan swore unto David, because he loved him (for he loved him as his own soul,)
18 Then said Jonathan to him, Tomorrow is the first day of the month: and thou shalt be [cb]looked for, for thy place shall be empty.
19 Therefore thou shalt hide thyself three days, then thou shalt go down quickly and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself, when this matter was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone [cc]Ezel.
20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
21 And after I will send a boy, saying, Go, seek the arrows. If I say unto the boy, See, the arrows are on this side thee, bring them, and come thou: for it is [cd]well with thee, and no hurt, as the Lord liveth.
22 But if I say thus unto the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee, go thy way: for the [ce]Lord hath sent thee away.
23 As touching the thing which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me forever.
24 ¶ So David hid himself in the field: and when the first day of the month came, the king sat to eat meat.
25 And the king sat, as at other times upon his seat, even upon his seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
26 And Saul said nothing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, though he were [cf]clean, or else because he was not purified.
27 But on the morrow which was the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not [cg]the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor today?
28 And Jonathan answered unto Saul, David required of me, that he might go to Bethlehem.
29 For he said, Let me go, I pray thee: for our family offereth [ch]a sacrifice in the city, and my brother hath sent for me: therefore now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me go, I pray thee, and see my [ci]brethren: this is the cause that he cometh not unto the king’s table.
30 Then was Saul angry with Jonathan, and said unto him, Thou [cj]son of the wicked rebellious woman, do not I know, that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thy confusion, and to the confusion and shame of thy mother?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom: wherefore now send and fet him unto me, for he [ck]shall surely die.
32 And Jonathan answered unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he [cl]die? what hath he done?
33 And Saul cast a spear at him to hit him, whereby Jonathan knew, that it was determined of his father to slay David.
34 ¶ So Jonathan arose from the table in a great anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was sorry for David, and because his father had reviled him.
35 On the next morning therefore Jonathan went out into the field, [cm]at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.
36 And he said unto his boy, Run now, seek the arrows which I shoot, and as the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 And when the boy was come to the place where the arrow was that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
38 And Jonathan cried after the boy, [cn]Make speed, haste and stand not still: and Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master,
39 But the boy knew nothing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40 Then Jonathan gave his [co]bow and arrows unto the boy that was with him, and said unto him, Go, carry them into the city.
41 ¶ As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of a place that was toward the [cp]South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept both twain, till David exceeded.
42 Therefore Jonathan said to David, Go in peace: that which we have [cq]sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and between thy seed, let it stand forever.
43 And he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
21 1 David fleeth to Nob to Ahimelech the Priest. 6 He getteth of him the showbread to satisfy his hunger. 7 Doeg Saul’s servant was present. 10 David fleeth to King Achish, 13 and there feigneth himself mad.
1 Then came David to [cr]Nob, to Ahimelech the Priest, and Ahimelech was astonied at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
2 And David said to Ahimelech the Priest, The [cs]King hath commanded me a certain thing, and hath said unto me, Let no man know whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such places.
3 Now therefore if thou hast ought under thine hand, give me five cakes of bread, or what cometh to hand.
4 And the Priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but here is (J)hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves, at least from [ct]women.
5 David then answered the Priest, and said unto him, Certainly women have been separate from us these two or three days since I came out: and the [cu]vessels of the young men were holy, though the way were profane, and how much more then shall every one [cv]be sanctified this day in the vessel?
6 So the Priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there, save the showbread that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread there, the day that it was taken away.
7 (And there was the same day one of the servants of Saul [cw]abiding before the Lord, named Doeg the Edomite, the [cx]chiefest of Saul’s herdmen.)
8 And David said unto Ahimelech, Is there not here under thine hand a spear or a sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor mine harness with me, because the king’s business required haste.
9 And the Priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the (K)valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the [cy]Ephod: if thou wilt take that to thee, take it: for there is none other save that here: And David said, There is none to that, give it me.
10 And David arose and fled the same day from the [cz]presence of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the (L)King of the land? did they not sing unto him in dances, saying, (M)Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand?
12 And David [da]considered these words, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13 And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and [db]scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is beside himself, wherefore have ye brought him to me?
15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? [dc]shall he come into mine house?
22 1 David hideth himself in a cave. 2 Many that were in trouble came unto him. 9 Doeg accuseth Ahimelech. 18 Saul causeth the Priests to be slain. 20 Abiathar escapeth.
1 David therefore departed thence, and saved himself in the cave [dd]of Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And there gathered unto him all men that were in trouble, and all men that were in debt, and all those that were vexed in mind, and he was their [de]prince, and there were with him about four hundred men.
3 ¶ And David went thence to Mizpah in [df]Moab, and said unto the King of Moab, I pray thee, let my father and my mother come and abide with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4 And he [dg]brought them before the King of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in [dh]the hold.
5 And the Prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold, but depart and go into the land of Judah. Then David departed and came into the forest of Hereth.
6 ¶ And Saul heard that David was [di]discovered, and the men that were with him, and Saul remained in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants stood about him.
7 And Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, the sons [dj]of Benjamin, will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards: will he make you all captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds:
8 That all ye have conspired against me, and there is none that telleth me that my son hath made a covenant with the son of Jesse? and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or showeth me, that my [dk]son hath stirred up my servant to lie in wait against me, as appeareth this day?
9 ¶ Then answered Doeg the Edomite, (who was appointed over the servants of Saul) and said, I saw the son of Jesse, when he came to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub,
10 Who asked counsel of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and he gave him also the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11 Then the King sent to call Ahimelech the Priest the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, to wit, [dl]the Priests that were in Nob: and they came all to the King.
12 And Saul said, Hear now thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13 Then Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him victual, and a sword, and hast asked counsel of God for him, that he should rise against me, and lie in wait as appeareth this day?
14 And Ahimelech answered the King, and said, Who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, being also the king’s son-in-law, and goeth at thy commandment, and is honorable in thine house?
15 [dm]Have I this day first begun to ask counsel of God for him? be it far from me, let not the king impute anything unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less nor more.
16 Then the King said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.
17 And the King said unto the [dn]sergeants that stood about him, Turn, and slay the Priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and showed it not unto me. But the servants of the King [do]would not move their hands to fall upon the Priests of the Lord.
18 Then the King said to Doeg, Turn thou and fall upon the Priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and ran upon the Priests, and slew that same day fourscore and five persons, that did wear a linen Ephod.
19 Also Nob the city of the Priests smote he with the edge of the sword, both man and woman, both child and suckling, both ox and ass, and sheep with the edge of the sword.
20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub (whose name was Abiathar) [dp]escaped and fled after David.
21 And Abiathar showed David, that Saul had slain the Lord’s Priests.
22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it the same day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would tell Saul. I am the cause of the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.
23 Abide thou with me, and fear not: for [dq]he that seeketh my life, shall seek thy life also: for with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
23 5 David chaseth the Philistines from Keilah. 13 David departeth from Keilah, and remaineth in the wilderness of Ziph. 16 Jonathan comforteth David. 28 Saul’s enterprise is broken in pursuing David.
1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against [dr]Keilah, and spoil the barns.
2 Therefore David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord answered David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3 And David’s men said unto him, See, we be afraid here in [ds]Judah, how much more if we come to Keilah against the host of the Philistines?
4 Then David asked counsel of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5 ¶ So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter: thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 (And when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech (N)fled to David to Keilah, he brought an [dt]Ephod [du]with him.)
7 ¶ And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah, and Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand: for he is shut in, seeing he is come into a city that hath gates and bars.
8 Then Saul called all the people together to war for to go down to Keilah, and to besiege David and his men.
9 ¶ And David having knowledge that Saul imagined mischief against him, said to Abiathar the Priest, [dv]Bring the Ephod.
10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath heard, that Saul is about to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will the lords of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? and will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.
12 Then said David, Will the [dw]lords of Keilah deliver me up, and the men that are with me, into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.
13 ¶ Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went [dx]whither they could. And it was told Saul, that David was fled from Keilah, and he left off his journey.
14 And David abode in the wilderness in the [dy]holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God [dz]delivered him not into his hand.
15 And David saw that Saul was come out for to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.
16 ¶ And Jonathan Saul’s son arose and went to David into the wood, and comforted [ea]him in God,
17 And said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee, and thou shalt be [eb]king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee: and also Saul my father knoweth it.
18 So they twain made a covenant before the Lord: and David did remain in the wood: but Jonathan went to his house.
19 ¶ Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself by us in holds, in the wood in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the right side [ec]of Jeshimon?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all that thine heart can desire, and our part shall be to deliver him into the King’s hands.
21 Then Saul said, [ed]Be ye blessed of the Lord: for ye have had compassion on me.
22 Go, I pray you, and prepare ye yet better: know and see his place where he [ee]haunteth, and who hath seen him there: for it is said to me, He is subtle, and crafty.
23 See therefore and know all the secret places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and if he be in the [ef]land, I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24 Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul, but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the right hand of Jeshimon.
25 Saul also and his men went to seek him, and they told David: wherefore he came down unto a rock, and abode in the wilderness of [eg]Maon. And when Saul heard that, he followed after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul and his men went on the one side of the mountain: and David and his men on the other side of the mountain: and David made haste to get from the presence of Saul: for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about, to take them.
27 But there came a [eh]messenger to Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come: for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place, [ei]Sela Hammahlekoth.
24 1 David hid in a cave spareth Saul. 10 He showeth to Saul his innocency. 18 Saul acknowledgeth his fault. 22 He causeth David to swear unto him to be favorable to his.
1 And David went thence, and dwelt in [ej]holds at En Gedi.
2 When Saul was turned from the Philistines, they told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of [ek]En Gedi.
3 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks among the wild goats.
4 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way where there was a cave, and Saul went in [el]to do his easement: and David and his men sat in the [em]inward parts of the cave.
5 And the men of David said unto him, See, the day is [en]come, whereof the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good to thee. Then David arose and cut off the lap of Saul’s garment privily.
6 And afterward David [eo]was touched in his heart, because he had cut off the lap which was on Saul’s garment.
7 And he said unto his men, The Lord keep me from doing that thing unto my master the Lord’s anointed, to lay mine hand upon him: for he is the Anointed of the Lord.
8 So David overcame his servants with these words, and suffered them not to arise against Saul: for Saul rose up out of the cave and went away.
9 ¶ David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, O my lord the King. And when Saul looked behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
10 And David said to Saul, [ep]Wherefore givest thou an ear to men’s words, that say, Behold, David seeketh evil against thee?
11 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen, that the Lord had delivered thee this day into mine hand in the cave, and some bade me kill thee, but I had compassion on thee, and said, I will not lay mine hand on my master: for he is the Lord’s Anointed.
12 Moreover my father, behold: behold, I say, the lap of thy garment in mine hand: for when I cut off the lap of thy garment, I killed thee not. Understand and see, that there is neither evil nor wickedness in me, neither have I sinned against thee, yet thou huntest after my soul, to take it.
13 The Lord be judge between thee and me, and the Lord avenge me of thee, and let not mine hand be upon thee.
14 According as the [eq]old proverb saith, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, but mine hand be not upon thee.
15 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, and after a flea?
16 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between thee and me, and see, and plead my cause, and [er]deliver me out of thine hand.
17 When David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, [es]Is this thy voice, my son David? and Saul lift up his voice, and wept,
18 And said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rendered me good, and I have rendered thee evil.
19 And thou hast showed this day, that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had closed me in thine hands, thou killedst me not.
20 For who shall find his enemy, and let him depart [et]free? wherefore the Lord render thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
21 For now behold, I [eu]know that thou shalt be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be stablished in thine hand.
22 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, and that thou wilt not abolish my name out of my father’s house.
23 So David swore unto Saul, and Saul went home: but David and his men went up unto the hold.
25 1 Samuel dieth. 3 Nabal and Abigail. 38 The Lord killeth Nabal. 43 Abigail and Ahinoam David’s wives. 44 Michal is given to Palti.
1 Then (O)Samuel died, and all Israel assembled, and mourned for him, and buried him in his [ev]own house at Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2 Now in [ew]Maon was a man, who had his possession in Carmel, and the man was exceeding mighty, and had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3 The name also of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail, and she was a woman of singular wisdom, and beautiful, but the man was churlish, and evil conditioned, and was of the family of Caleb.
4 And David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal did shear his sheep.
5 Therefore David sent ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and ask him in my name [ex]how he doeth.
6 And thus shall ye say [ey][ez]for salutation, Both thou, and thine house, and all that thou hast, be in peace, wealth and prosperity.
7 Behold, I have heard, that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds were with us, and we did them no hurt, neither did they miss anything all the while they were in Carmel.
8 Ask thy servants, and they will show thee. Wherefore let these young men find favor in thine eyes: (for we come in a good season) give, I pray thee, whatsoever [fa]cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
9 ¶ And when David’s young men came, they told Nabal all those words in the name of David, and held their peace.
10 Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the [fb]son of Jesse? there be many servants nowadays, that break away every man from his master.
11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
12 ¶ So David’s servants turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those things.
13 And David said unto his men, Gird every man his sword about him. And they girded every man his sword: David also girded his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, and two hundred abode by the [fc]carriage.
14 Now one of the servants told Abigail Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master, and he [fd]railed on them.
15 Notwithstanding, the men were very good [fe]unto us, and we had no displeasure, neither missed we anything as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields.
16 They were as a wall unto us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping sheep.
17 Now therefore take heed, and see what thou shalt do: for evil [ff]will surely come upon our master, and upon all his family: for he is so wicked, that a man cannot speak to him.
18 ¶ Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred [fg]cakes, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred [fh]frails of raisins, and two hundred of figs, and laid them on asses.
19 Then she said unto her servants, Go ye before me: behold, I will come after you: yet she told not her [fi]husband Nabal.
20 And as she rode on her ass, she came down by a secret place of the mountain, and behold, David and his men came down against her, and she met them.
21 And David said, Indeed I have kept all in vain that this fellow had in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: for he hath requited me evil for good.
22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David: for surely I will not leave of all that he hath by the dawning of the day, any that [fj]pisseth against the wall.
23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted and lighted off her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
24 And fell at his feet, and said, Oh, my lord, I have committed the iniquity, and I pray thee, let thine handmaid speak [fk]to thee, and hear thou the words of thine handmaid.
25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this wicked man, Nabal: for as his name is, so is he: [fl]Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord whom thou sentest.
26 Now therefore my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth (the Lord, I say, that hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and that thine [fm]hand should not save thee) so now thine enemies shall be as Nabal, and they that intend to do my lord evil.
27 And now this [fn]blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it be given unto the young men, that [fo]follow my lord.
28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will make my lord a [fp]sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and none evil hath been found in thee [fq]in all thy life.
29 Yet [fr]a man hath risen up to persecute thee, and to seek thy soul, but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the [fs]bundle of life with the Lord thy God: and the soul of thine enemies shall God cast out, as out of the middle of a sling.
30 And when the Lord shall have done to my lord all the good that he hath promised thee, and shall have made thee ruler over Israel,
31 Then shall it be no grief unto thee, nor offence of mind unto my lord, that he hath not shed blood causeless, nor that my lord hath [ft]not preserved himself: and when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, remember thine handmaid.
32 Then David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me.
33 And blessed be thy counsel, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, [fu]and that mine hand hath not saved me.
34 For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, [fv]who hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and met me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the dawning of the day, any that pisseth against the wall.
35 Then David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said to her, Go up in peace to thine house: behold, I have heard thy voice, and have [fw]granted thy petition.
36 ¶ So Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he made a feast in his house, like the feast of a king, and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him [fx]nothing, neither less nor more, until the morning arose.
37 Then in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, his wife told him those words, and his heart died within him, and he was like [fy]a stone.
38 And about ten days after, the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
39 ¶ Now when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath [fz]judged the cause of my rebuke of the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath recompensed the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. Also David sent to commune with Abigail, to [ga]take her to his wife.
40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us to thee, to take thee to his wife.
41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, and her five maids [gb]followed her, and she went after the messengers of David, and was his wife.
43 David also took Ahinoam of (P)Jezreel, and they were both his wives.
44 Now Saul had given (Q)Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, which was of [gc]Gallim.
26 1 David was discovered unto Saul by the Ziphites. 12 David taketh away Saul’s spear, and a pot of water that stood at his head. 21 Saul confesseth his sin.
1 Again the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, (R)Doth not David hide himself [gd]in the hill of Hachilah before [ge]Jeshimon?
2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand [gf]chosen men of Israel with him, for to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon by the wayside. Now David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4 (For David had sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come [gg]in very deed.)
5 Then David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched, and when David beheld the place where Saul lay, and (S)Abner the son of Ner which was his chief captain, (for Saul lay in the fort, and the people pitched round about him.)
6 Then spake David, and said to Ahimelech the [gh]Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to [gi]Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the host? Then Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7 So David and Abishai came down to the people by night: and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the fort, and his spear did stick in the ground at his [gj]head: and Abner and the people lay round about him.
8 ¶ Then said Abishai to David, God hath closed thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore, I pray thee, let me smite him once with a spear to the earth, and I will not smite him [gk]again.
9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can lay his hand [gl]on the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?
10 Moreover David said, As the Lord liveth, either the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The Lord keep me from laying mine hand upon the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his head, and the pot of water, and let us go hence.
12 So David took the spear and the pot of water from Saul’s head, and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor marked it, neither did any awake, but they were all asleep: for [gm]the Lord had sent a dead sleep upon them.
13 Then David went unto the other side, and stood on the top of an hill a far off, a great space being between them.
14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, [gn]Hearest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered, and said, Who art thou that cryest to the King?
15 ¶ And David said to Abner, Art not thou a [go]man? and who is like thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy Lord the King? for there came one of the folk in to destroy the king thy lord.
16 This is not well done of thee: as the Lord liveth, ye are [gp]worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master the Lord’s anointed: and now see where the King’s spear is, and the pot of water that was at his head.
17 And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, [gq]my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O King.
18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus persecute his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19 Now therefore, I beseech thee, let my Lord the King hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, [gr]let him smell the savor of a sacrifice: but if the children of men have done it, cursed be they before the Lord: for they have cast me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve [gs]other gods.
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the King of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as one would hunt a partridge in the mountains.
21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: Come again, my son David: for I will do thee no more harm, because my soul was [gt]precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have done foolishly, and have erred exceedingly.
22 Then David answered, and said, Behold the King’s spear, let one of the young men come over and fet it.
23 And let the Lord reward every man according to his [gu]righteousness and faithfulness: for the Lord had delivered thee into mine hands this day, but I would not lay mine hand upon the Lord’s anointed.
24 And behold, like as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes: so let my life be set by in the eyes of the Lord, that he may deliver me out of all tribulation.
25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed art thou, my son David: for thou shalt do great things, and also prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his [gv]place.
27 2 David fleeth to Achish King of Gath, who giveth him Ziklag. 8 David destroyeth certain of the Philistines. 10 Achish is deceived by David.
1 And David said in his heart, I shall now [gw]perish one day by the hand of Saul: is it not better for me that I save myself in the land of the Philistines, and that Saul may have no hope of me to seek me anymore in all the coasts of Israel, and so escape out of his hand?
2 David therefore arose, and he, and the six hundred men that were with him, went unto Achish the son of Maoch king of Gath.
3 And David [gx]dwelt with Achish at Gath, he, and his men, every man with his household, David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: so he sought no more for him.
5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, [gy]let them give me a place in some other city of the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the head city of the kingdom with thee?
6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that same day: therefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
7 ¶ And [gz]the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was four months and certain days.
8 Then David and his men went up, and invaded the [ha]Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites: for they inhabited the land from the beginning, from the way, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took sheep, and oxen, and asses, and camels, and apparel, and returned and came to Achish.
10 And Achish said, [hb]Where have ye been a roving this day? And David answered, Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the [hc]Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.
11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, and say, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while that he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
12 And Achish believed David, saying, [hd]He hath made his people of Israel utterly to abhor him: therefore he shall be my servant forever.
28 1 David hath the chief charge promised about Achish. 8 Saul consulteth with a witch, and she causeth him to speak with Samuel, 18 Who declareth his ruin.
1 Now at that time the Philistines assembled their bands and army to fight with Israel: therefore Achish said to David, [he]Be sure, thou shalt go out with me to the battle, thou, and thy men.
2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Surely I will make thee keeper of mine head forever.
3 ((T)Samuel was then dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah his own city: and Saul had [hf]put away the sorcerers, and the Soothsayers out of the land.)
4 Then the Philistines assembled themselves, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul assembled all Israel, and they pitched in Gilboa.
5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart was sore astonied.
6 Therefore Saul asked counsel of the Lord, and the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by [hg]Urim, nor yet by Prophets.
7 ¶ Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and ask of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman at En Dor that hath a familiar spirit.
8 Then Saul [hh]changed himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, conjecture unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee.
9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath destroyed the sorcerers, and the soothsayers out of the land: wherefore then seekest thou to take me in a snare to cause me to die?
10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, no [hi]harm shall come to thee for this thing.
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he answered, Bring me up [hj]Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice, and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw [hk]gods ascending up out of the earth.
14 Then he said unto her, What fashion is he of? And she answered, An old man cometh up lapped in a mantel: and Saul knew that it was [hl]Samuel, and he inclined his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15 ¶ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? Then Saul answered, I am in great distress: for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither [hm]by Prophets, neither by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest tell me, what I shall do.
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing, the Lord is gone from thee, and is thine enemy?
17 Even the Lord hath done to [hn]him, as he spake (U)by mine [ho]hand: for the Lord will rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and give it thy neighbor David.
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon the Amalekites, therefore hath the Lord done this unto thee this day.
19 Moreover the Lord will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines: [hp]and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me, and the Lord shall give the host of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.