Bible in 90 Days

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(A) for Saul, since I have rejected^(B) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(C) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(D) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(E) one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show^(F) you what to do. You are to anoint^(G) for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,^(H) the elders of the town trembled^(I) when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?^(J)”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^(K) yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^(L) and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,^(M) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(N)

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab^(O) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah^(P) pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all^(Q) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^(R)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he^(S) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome^(T) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(U) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(V) came powerfully upon David.^(W) Samuel then went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed^(X) from Saul, and an evil^[a] spirit^(Y) from the Lord tormented him.^(Z)

¹⁵ Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre.^(AA) He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

¹⁷ So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse^(AB) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.^(AC) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with^(AD) him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.^(AE)” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,^(AF) a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

²¹ David came to Saul and entered his service.^(AG) Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. ²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

²³ Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit^(AH) would leave him.

David and Goliath

17 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled^(AI) at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh^(AJ) and Azekah.^{(AK) 2} Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah^(AL) and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

⁴ A champion named Goliath,^(AM) who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.^{[b] 5} He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels^[c]; ⁶ on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin^(AN) was slung on his back. ⁷ His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod,^(AO) and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.^[d] His shield bearer^(AP) went ahead of him.

⁸ Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose^(AQ) a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” ¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy^(AR) the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.^(AS)” ¹¹ On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

¹² Now David was the son of an Ephrathite^(AT) named Jesse,^(AU) who was from Bethlehem^(AV) in Judah. Jesse had eight^(AW) sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. ¹³ Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab;^(AX) the second, Abinadab;^(AY) and the third, Shammah.^{(AZ) 14} David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul to tend^(BA) his father’s sheep^(BB) at Bethlehem.

¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

¹⁷ Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah^[e](BC) of roasted grain^(BD) and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ¹⁸ Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers^(BE) are and bring back some assurance^[f] from them. ¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

²⁰ Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. ²² David left his things with the keeper of supplies,^(BF) ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. ²³ As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual^(BG) defiance, and David heard it. ²⁴ Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

²⁵ Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter^(BH) in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes^(BI) in Israel.”

²⁶ David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace^(BJ) from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised^(BK) Philistine that he should defy^(BL) the armies of the living^(BM) God?”

²⁷ They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

²⁸ When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger^(BN) at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

²⁹ “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” ³⁰ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. ³¹ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart^(BO) on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

³³ Saul replied,^(BP) “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion^(BQ) or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized^(BR) it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion^(BS) and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The Lord who rescued^(BT) me from the paw of the lion^(BU) and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with^(BV) you.”

³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own^(BW) tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer^(BX) in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome,^(BY) and he despised^(BZ) him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog,^(CA) that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds^(CB) and the wild animals!^(CC)”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,^(CD) but I come against you in the name^(CE) of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.^{(CF) 46} This day the Lord will deliver^(CG) you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses^(CH) of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world^(CI) will know that there is a God in Israel.^{(CJ) 47} All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword^(CK) or spear that the Lord saves;^(CL) for the battle^(CM) is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling^(CN) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut^(CO) off his head with the sword.^(CP)

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. ⁵² Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath^[g] and to the gates of Ekron.^(CQ) Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim^(CR) road to Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

⁵⁴ David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

⁵⁵ As Saul watched David^(CS) going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner,^(CT) whose son is that young man?”

Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

⁵⁶ The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”

⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

⁵⁸ “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse^(CU) of Bethlehem.”

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan^(CV) became one in spirit with David, and he loved^(CW) him as himself.^{(CX) 2} From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(CY) with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe^(CZ) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.^(DA)

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful^(DB) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.^(DC) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing,^(DD) with joyful songs and with timbrels^(DE) and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:^(DF)

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?^(DH)” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close^(DI) eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil^[h] spirit^(DJ) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,^(DK) as he usually^(DL) did. Saul had a spear^(DM) in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself,^(DN) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded^(DO) him twice.^(DP)

¹² Saul was afraid^(DQ) of David, because the Lord^(DR) was with^(DS) David but had departed from^(DT) Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led^(DU) the troops in their campaigns.^{(DV) 14} In everything he did he had great success,^(DW) because the Lord was with^(DX) him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.^(DY)

¹⁷ Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter^(DZ) Merab. I will give her to you in marriage;^(EA) only serve me bravely and fight the battles^(EB) of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself,^(EC) “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”

¹⁸ But David said to Saul, “Who am I,^(ED) and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?^(EE)” ¹⁹ So^[i] when the time came for Merab,^(EF) Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.^(EG)

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal^(EH) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.^{(EI) 21} “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare^(EJ) to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

²² Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”

²³ They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law?^(EK) I’m only a poor man and little known.”

²⁴ When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, ²⁵ Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price^(EL) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge^(EM) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan^(EN) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶ When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, ²⁷ David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal^(EO) in marriage.

²⁸ When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal^(EP) loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid^(EQ) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

³⁰ The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success^(ER) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

Saul Tries to Kill David

19 Saul told his son Jonathan^(ES) and all the attendants to kill^(ET) David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David ² and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding^(EU) and stay there. ³ I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak^(EV) to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”

⁴ Jonathan spoke^(EW) well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong^(EX) to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. ⁵ He took his life^(EY) in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory^(EZ) for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent^(FA) man like David by killing him for no reason?”

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

⁷ So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.^(FB)

⁸ Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

⁹ But an evil^[j] spirit^(FC) from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre,^{(FD) 10} Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded^(FE) him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

¹¹ Saul sent men to David’s house to watch^(FF) it and to kill him in the morning.^(FG) But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.” ¹² So Michal let David down through a window,^(FH) and he fled and escaped. ¹³ Then Michal took an idol^(FI) and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats’ hair at the head.

¹⁴ When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said,^(FJ) “He is ill.”

¹⁵ Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him.” ¹⁶ But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats’ hair.

¹⁷ Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?”

Michal told him, “He said to me, ‘Let me get away. Why should I kill you?’”

¹⁸ When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah^(FK) and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. ¹⁹ Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; ²⁰ so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets^(FL) prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on^(FM) Saul’s men, and they also prophesied.^{(FN) 21} Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. ²² Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”

“Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said.

²³ So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying^(FO) until he came to Naioth. ²⁴ He stripped^(FP) off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s^(FQ) presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”^(FR)

David and Jonathan

20 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged^(FS) your father, that he is trying to kill me?”^(FT)

² “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!”

³ But David took an oath^(FU) and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”

⁴ Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

⁵ So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast,^(FV) and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide^(FW) in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. ⁶ If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission^(FX) to hurry to Bethlehem,^(FY) his hometown, because an annual^(FZ) sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ ⁷ If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper,^(GA) you can be sure that he is determined^(GB) to harm me. ⁸ As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant^(GC) with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill^(GD) me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

⁹ “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”

¹⁰ David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

¹¹ “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.

¹² Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound^(GE) out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? ¹³ But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely,^(GF) if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with^(GG) you as he has been with my father. ¹⁴ But show me unfailing kindness^(GH) like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, ¹⁵ and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family^(GI)—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

¹⁶ So Jonathan^(GJ) made a covenant^(GK) with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.^(GL)” ¹⁷ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath^(GM) out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

¹⁸ Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.^{(GN) 19} The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid^(GO) when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. ²⁰ I will shoot three arrows^(GP) to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. ²¹ Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. ²² But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond^(GQ) you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. ²³ And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness^(GR) between you and me forever.”

²⁴ So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast^(GS) came, the king sat down to eat. ²⁵ He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan,^[k] and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.^{(GT) 26} Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.^(GU)” ²⁷ But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”

²⁸ Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission^(GV) to go to Bethlehem. ²⁹ He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice^(GW) in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”

³⁰ Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? ³¹ As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom^(GX) will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”

³² “Why^(GY) should he be put to death? What^(GZ) has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. ³³ But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended^(HA) to kill David.

³⁴ Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.

³⁵ In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, ³⁶ and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. ³⁷ When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond^(HB) you?” ³⁸ Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. ³⁹ (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) ⁴⁰ Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”

⁴¹ After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground.^(HC) Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.

⁴² Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace,^(HD) for we have sworn friendship^(HE) with each other in the name of the Lord,^(HF) saying, ‘The Lord is witness^(HG) between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.^(HH)’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.^[l]

David at Nob

21 ^[m]David went to Nob,^(HI) to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled^(HJ) when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”

² David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. ³ Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”

⁴ But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread^(HK) on hand; however, there is some consecrated^(HL) bread here—provided the men have kept^(HM) themselves from women.”

⁵ David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual^(HN) whenever^[n] I set out. The men’s bodies are holy^(HO) even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” ⁶ So the priest gave him the consecrated bread,^(HP) since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.

⁷ Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg^(HQ) the Edomite,^(HR) Saul’s chief shepherd.

⁸ David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.”

⁹ The priest replied, “The sword^(HS) of Goliath^(HT) the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah,^(HU) is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.”

David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

David at Gath

¹⁰ That day David fled from Saul and went^(HV) to Achish king of Gath. ¹¹ But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances:

¹² David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. ¹³ So he pretended to be insane^(HX) in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

¹⁴ Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? ¹⁵ Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave^(HY) of Adullam.^(HZ) When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. ² All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered^(IA) around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

³ From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” ⁴ So he left them with the king of Moab,^(IB) and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

⁵ But the prophet Gad^(IC) said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.^(ID)

Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

⁶ Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated,^(IE) spear in hand, under the tamarisk^(IF) tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. ⁷ He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders^(IG) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? ⁸ Is that why you have all conspired^(IH) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant^(II) with the son of Jesse.^(IJ) None of you is concerned^(IK) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

⁹ But Doeg^(IL) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub^(IM) at Nob.^{(IN) 10} Ahimelek inquired^(IO) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions^(IP) and the sword^(IQ) of Goliath the Philistine.”

¹¹ Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. ¹² Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

¹³ Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired^(IR) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

¹⁴ Ahimelek answered the king, “Who^(IS) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? ¹⁵ Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

¹⁶ But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.^(IT)”

¹⁷ Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling^(IU) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

¹⁸ The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”^(IV) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.^{(IW) 19} He also put to the sword^(IX) Nob,^(IY) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,^(IZ) named Abiathar,^(JA) escaped and fled to join David.^{(JB) 21} He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg^(JC) the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. ²³ Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you^(JD) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

David Saves Keilah

23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah^(JE) and are looting the threshing floors,”^{(JF) 2} he inquired^(JG) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

³ But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

⁴ Once again David inquired^(JH) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines^(JI) into your hand.^(JJ)” ⁵ So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. ⁶ (Now Abiathar^(JK) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod^(JL) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David

⁷ Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands,^(JM) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”^{(JN) 8} And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(JO) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(JP)” ¹⁰ David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. ¹¹ Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will.”

¹² Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender^(JQ) me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

¹³ So David and his men,^(JR) about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

¹⁴ David stayed in the wilderness^(JS) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.^(JT) Day after day Saul searched^(JU) for him, but God did not^(JV) give David into his hands.

¹⁵ While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[o] Saul had come out to take his life.^{(JW) 16} And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength^(JX) in God. ¹⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king^(JY) over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” ¹⁸ The two of them made a covenant^(JZ) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

¹⁹ The Ziphites^(KA) went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us^(KB) in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah,^(KC) south of Jeshimon? ²⁰ Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving^(KD) him into your hands.”

²¹ Saul replied, “The Lord bless^(KE) you for your concern^(KF) for me. ²² Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. ²³ Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track^(KG) him down among all the clans of Judah.”

²⁴ So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon,^(KH) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.^{(KI) 25} Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.

²⁶ Saul^(KJ) was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, ²⁷ a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” ²⁸ Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.^{[p] 29} And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds^(KK) of En Gedi.^[q](KL)

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 ^[r]After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.^(KM)” ² So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look^(KN) for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

³ He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave^(KO) was there, and Saul went in to relieve^(KP) himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. ⁴ The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke^(KQ) of when he said^[s] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’”^(KR) Then David crept up unnoticed and cut^(KS) off a corner of Saul’s robe.

⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken^(KT) for having cut off a corner of his robe. ⁶ He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed,^(KU) or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” ⁷ With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

⁸ Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.^{(KV) 9} He said to Saul, “Why do you listen^(KW) when men say, ‘David is bent on harming^(KX) you’? ¹⁰ This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared^(KY) you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ¹¹ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut^(KZ) off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty^(LA) of wrongdoing^(LB) or rebellion. I have not wronged^(LC) you, but you are hunting^(LD) me down to take my life.^{(LE) 12} May the Lord judge^(LF) between you and me. And may the Lord avenge^(LG) the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. ¹³ As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,^(LH)’ so my hand will not touch you.

¹⁴ “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog?^(LI) A flea?^{(LJ) 15} May the Lord be our judge^(LK) and decide^(LL) between us. May he consider my cause and uphold^(LM) it; may he vindicate^(LN) me by delivering^(LO) me from your hand.”

¹⁶ When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice,^(LP) David my son?” And he wept aloud. ¹⁷ “You are more righteous than I,”^(LQ) he said. “You have treated me well,^(LR) but I have treated you badly.^{(LS) 18} You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered^(LT) me into your hands, but you did not kill me. ¹⁹ When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward^(LU) you well for the way you treated me today. ²⁰ I know that you will surely be king^(LV) and that the kingdom^(LW) of Israel will be established in your hands. ²¹ Now swear^(LX) to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.^(LY)”

²² So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.^(LZ)

David, Nabal and Abigail

25 Now Samuel died,^(MA) and all Israel assembled and mourned^(MB) for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.^(MC) Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.^[t]

² A certain man in Maon,^(MD) who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy.^(ME) He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing^(MF) in Carmel. ³ His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail.^(MG) She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.^(MH)

⁴ While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. ⁵ So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. ⁶ Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health^(MI) to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!^(MJ)

⁷ “‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat^(MK) them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. ⁸ Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever^(ML) you can find for them.’”

⁹ When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.

¹⁰ Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who^(MM) is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. ¹¹ Why should I take my bread^(MN) and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

¹² David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. ¹³ David said to his men^(MO), “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went^(MP) up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.^(MQ)

¹⁴ One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings,^(MR) but he hurled insults at them. ¹⁵ Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat^(MS) us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing.^{(MT) 16} Night and day they were a wall^(MU) around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. ¹⁷ Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked^(MV) man that no one can talk to him.”

¹⁸ Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs^[u] of roasted grain,^(MW) a hundred cakes of raisins^(MX) and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.^{(MY) 19} Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead;^(MZ) I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell^(NA) her husband Nabal.

²⁰ As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. ²¹ David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing.^(NB) He has paid^(NC) me back evil^(ND) for good. ²² May God deal with David,^[v] be it ever so severely,^(NE) if by morning I leave alive one male^(NF) of all who belong to him!”

²³ When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground.^{(NG) 24} She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord,^(NH) and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. ²⁵ Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool^(NI),^(NJ) and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. ²⁶ And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed^(NK) and from avenging^(NL) yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.^{(NM) 27} And let this gift,^(NN) which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.

²⁸ “Please forgive^(NO) your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting^(NP) dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles,^(NQ) and no wrongdoing^(NR) will be found in you as long as you live. ²⁹ Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life,^(NS) the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl^(NT) away as from the pocket of a sling.^{(NU) 30} When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler^(NV) over Israel, ³¹ my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember^(NW) your servant.”^(NX)

³² David said to Abigail, “Praise^(NY) be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. ³³ May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed^(NZ) this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. ³⁴ Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal^(OA) would have been left alive by daybreak.”

³⁵ Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted^(OB) your request.”

³⁶ When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high^(OC) spirits and very drunk.^(OD) So she told^(OE) him nothing at all until daybreak. ³⁷ Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone.^{(OF) 38} About ten days later, the Lord struck^(OG) Nabal and he died.

³⁹ When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”

Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. ⁴⁰ His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.”

⁴¹ She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” ⁴² Abigail^(OH) quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife. ⁴³ David had also married Ahinoam^(OI) of Jezreel, and they both were his wives.^{(OJ) 44} But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel^[w](OK) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.^(OL)

David Again Spares Saul’s Life

26 The Ziphites^(OM) went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding^(ON) on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?^(OO)”

² So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search^(OP) there for David. ³ Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah^(OQ) facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, ⁴ he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

⁵ Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner^(OR) son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

⁶ David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite^(OS) and Abishai^(OT) son of Zeruiah,^(OU) Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed^(OV) and be guiltless?^{(OW) 10} As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike^(OX) him, or his time^(OY) will come and he will die,^(OZ) or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.^(PA)

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵ David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice,^(PB) David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong^(PC) am I guilty of? ¹⁹ Now let my lord the king listen^(PD) to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering.^(PE) If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance^(PF) and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’^{(PG) 20} Now do not let my blood^(PH) fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea^(PI)—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.^(PJ)”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned.^(PK) Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious^(PL) today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The Lord rewards^(PM) everyone for their righteousness^(PN) and faithfulness. The Lord delivered^(PO) you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver^(PP) me from all trouble.”

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed,^(PQ) David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

David Among the Philistines

27 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

² So David and the six hundred men^(PR) with him left and went^(PS) over to Achish^(PT) son of Maok king of Gath. ³ David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives:^(PU) Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. ⁴ When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

⁵ Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

⁶ So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag,^(PV) and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. ⁷ David lived^(PW) in Philistine territory a year and four months.

⁸ Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites,^(PX) the Girzites and the Amalekites.^(PY) (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur^(PZ) and Egypt.) ⁹ Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive,^(QA) but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.

¹⁰ When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel^(QB)” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.^(QC)” ¹¹ He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. ¹² Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious^(QD) to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.^(QE)”

28 In those days the Philistines gathered^(QF) their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

² David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard^(QG) for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

³ Now Samuel was dead,^(QH) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah.^(QI) Saul had expelled^(QJ) the mediums and spiritists^(QK) from the land.

⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem,^(QL) while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.^{(QM) 5} When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror^(QN) filled his heart. ⁶ He inquired^(QO) of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams^(QP) or Urim^(QQ) or prophets.^{(QR) 7} Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,^(QS) so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,^(QT)” they said.

⁸ So Saul disguised^(QU) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult^(QV) a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

⁹ But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off^(QW) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap^(QX) for my life to bring about my death?”

¹⁰ Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

¹¹ Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me?^(QY) You are Saul!”

¹³ The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure^[x] coming up out of the earth.”^(QZ)

¹⁴ “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe^(RA) is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

¹⁵ Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed^(RB) from me. He no longer answers^(RC) me, either by prophets or by dreams.^(RD) So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

¹⁶ Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn^(RE) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey^(RF) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath^(RG) against the Amalekites,^(RH) the Lord has done this to you today. ¹⁹ The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons^(RI) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”