|
|
Previous Story - INDEX - Next Story David 1. David Offers To Fight Goliath 2. Jonathan And David Become Good Friends 3. Saul Become Jealous Of David's Success 4. Saul Wants David To Marry His Daughter 5. Jonathan Sticks Up For David 6. Saul Tried To Kill David 7. David And Jonathan Met Secretly 8. David And His Men Eat The Sacred Bread 9. David Goes To Live With The Philistines 10. Saul Hunts For David 11. Saul Kills Ahimelech The Priest 12. Saul Continues To Hunt For David 13. Saul Goes After David With 3,000 Men 14. Nabal's Folly 15. David Takes Saul's Spear And Water Jug 16. David Once Again Escaped To The Philistines 17. Saul Inquires Of A Witch 18. The Philistines Will Not Let David Go To War With Them 19. David Recovers What The Amalekites Took While He Was Away 20. Saul And His Sons Die In Battle 21. David Gets News That Saul Is Dead 22. David Chants A Lament Over Saul 23. David Anointed King In Judah 24. David Honors The Men Of Jabeshgilead 25. Ishbosheth Reigns Over The Rest Of Israel For Two Years 26. Abner And His Men Meet With Joab And His Men 27. Abner Takes The Life Of Asahel 28. The House Of David Grew Stronger And The House Of Saul Grew Weaker 29. Abner Came To Make Peace With David 30. Joab Kills Abner 31. David Mourns Abner's Death 32. David Is Recognized As King By All The Tribes If Israel 33. David Captures Jerusalem 34. Disaster When David Tries To Bring The Ark Of God To The City 35. David Finishes Bring The Ark Of God To The City 36. David Proposes To Build A House For The Ark Of God 37. David Shows Kindness To Mephibosheth 38. David's Great Sin 39. You Are The Man 40. Ammon's Sin And Absalom's Revenge 41. Joab Tries To Reconcile David With Absalom 42. Absalom Makes Trouble For Joab 43. Absalom Rebels 44. Ziba Stands By David In His Distress 45. Ahithophel And Absalom Plan To Defeat David 46. Hushai Sends Word To David About Absalom's Plans 47. Davids Men Fight Absalom's Men 48. David Learns Of Absalom's Death 49. Joab Rebukes David For Mourning Over Absalom 50. David Pulls His Kingdom Together 51. Mephibosheth Is Punished 52. Everyone Want To See David Reestablished 53. Sheba's Treachery 54. A Famine In The Land 55. David Goes To War With The Philistines 56. David's Last Words 57. David's Mighty Men 1. David Offers To Fight Goliath - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 17:31-58 Saul eventually heard of what David had said and he sent for him. David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of this Philistine. Your servant will fight him." Saul said to David, "You cannot go against this Philistine. You are only a youth and he has been a warrior from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. When it turned against me, I seize it by its beard and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go and may the LORD be with you." Then Saul placed his own armor on David, including his bronze helmet. David strapped on Saul's sword and tried to walk to see how the armor felt. He said to Saul, "I cannot wear these, for I am not used to them." So he took the armor off. And taking his staff, he choose five smooth stones from the brook and placed them in his shepherd's bag. With his sling in his hand he approached the Philistine. The Philistine moved toward David with his shield bearer in front of him. Seeing David he had contempt for him since he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome. The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you approach me with sticks?" And he cursed David by his own gods. "Come to me, " he said to David, "And I will feed your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." Today the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, "And that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear. For the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands." Then as the Philistine rose up and drew near to meet David, David ran to meet the giant. Putting his hand into his shepherd's bag, he took from it a stone and slung it with his sling striking the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank in and he fell face down to the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine giant with a sling and a stone. Then David ran forward and standing over the Philistine, he took the giant's sword from its sheath and cut off his head. When the rest of the Philistines saw their champion dead, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, pursuing the Philistines as far as the gates of Ekron. The slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, Gath and Ekron. The children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps. David brought the Philistine's head to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent. As David was going out to meet the Philistine, Saul said to Abner, the commander of his army, "Who is that young man?" And Abner said he did not know the boy. The king told him to find out whose son he was. So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him before Saul with the Philistine's head in his hand. Saul asked him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." 2. Jonathan And David Become Good Friends - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 18:1-5 It came about that when David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul was knit to the soul of David, for Jonathan loved him. Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father's house. Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. He gave David his robe, and his armor, including his sword, bow and belt. So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he prospered. Saul set him over men of war. This pleased the people as well as Saul's servants. 3. Saul Become Jealous Of David's Success - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 18:6-19 When David returned from killing Philistines the women would come out to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, tambourines and other musical instruments. They played and sang, saying, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." This made Saul very angry. He said, "They have ascribed David ten thousands and me only thousands. Next he will take the kingdom." From that day Saul looked at David with suspicion. It was the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul. He raved in the midst of the house. David was playing the harp as usual and Saul was holding a spear. He hurled the spear intending to pin David to the wall, but David escaped from his presence. This happened twice. Saul was afraid of David for he could see that the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. Saul removed David from his court and made him commander of a thousand, and the people appreciated whatever he did. David prospered in everything for the LORD was with him. His success made Saul dread him more and more, but all Israel and Judah loved him. Then it was that Saul offered David Mereb, his oldest daughter, to be his wife, saying, "Be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD's battles." Saul wanted David to die in battle. But David said to Saul, "Who am I, or my father's family, that I should be the king's son-in-law?" So when the time came for Mereb to be given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as his wife.
4. Saul Wants David To Marry His Daughter - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 18:20-30 Michal, Saul's younger daughter, loved David. When Saul learned of it he approved. He thought that she could become a snare to David and he would be killed in battle with the Philistines. So he said to David, "I am giving you another chance to be my son-in-law." Saul had his servants speak to David secretly, saying, "The king likes you and so do all his servants. You should become his son-in-law." When David heard this, he said, "Do you think it is a small thing to become the king's son-in-law? I am a poor man and little known." Saul's servants reported David's words to him. Saul said, "Tell David that the only dowry I want is a hundred foreskins from the Philistines." Saul thought that surely David would fall by their hands. It pleased David when he heard Saul's terms to become the king's son-in-law. That same day, he went with his men and struck down two hundred men from among the Philistines and brought the foreskins to the king. So Saul gave Michal his daughter to be David's wife. Seeing that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David and became David's constant enemy. As time went on and the Philistines would engaged Israel in battle, David behaved more wisely than all Saul's other servants and his name became highly esteemed. 5. Jonathan Sticks Up For David - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 19:1-7 Saul told Jonathan and all of his servants to put David to death. So Jonathan told David about his father's wish to have him dead and warned him to be on his guard and hide for a while. He said, "I will go out into the field with my father and speak to him about you." Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father and told him not to plan evil against David, because he had not sinned and in fact he had helped Saul, Risking his life fighting the Philistines and the LORD had brought about a great deliverance to all Israel. He said, "You saw this and rejoiced. Why kill him without cause?" Saul listened to Jonathan and agreed with him. So Jonathan called David and told him of his conversation with his father. Then David returned to serve Saul.
6. Saul Tried To Kill David - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 19:8-24 Once again there was war and David went out and fought the Philistines. He defeated them with a great slaughter and they fled from him. As Saul sat on his throne in His house, an evil spirit from the LORD came upon him. His spear was in his hand as David sat playing the harp. Once again Saul tried to pin David to the wall, but David slipped away leaving the spear sticking in the wall as He escaped into the night. Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch for him, so they might put him to death. David's wife warned him that he must save his life for she knew of Saul's plan to kill him in the morning. So Michal let David down through a window and he got away. She took the household idol and laid in the bed with goat's hair over its head. Then she covered it with a cloth. When Saul's messengers arrived to take David, she told them that he was sick. So Saul said to bring David, sick or not, so he could be put to death. The messengers entered the house and found the idol with the goat's hair at its head. Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me? You let my enemy get away." Michal said, "He threatened me if I would not let him go." David fled to Ramah where Samuel was and told him about all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth. Saul was told that David was in Naioth of Ramah, So he sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of prophets prophesying with Samuel presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon these messengers, and they prophesied as well. When Saul heard of this he sent other messengers and they also prophesied. So he sent a third set of messengers and they prophesied, too. Saul then went to Ramah himself, coming as far as the large well in Sechu. He asked for Samuel and David. They told him they were at Naioth in Ramah. Saul went there and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied all the way to Naioth in Ramah. He stripped off his clothing and prophesied before Samuel while laying naked on the ground for a day and a night. This is where the saying came from that said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 7. David And Jonathan Met Secretly - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 20:1-42 David fled from Naioth in Ramah and met Jonathan, and said to him, "What wrong have I done, that your father seeks my life?" Jonathan said, "You shall not die. My father never hides from me anything he is about to do." But David said, "Your father knows that I have found favor in your sight and sometimes keeps things from you. I am only a step away from death." So Jonathan said, "What do you want me to do?" David replied, "Tomorrow is the new moon and I am supposed to eat with the king. I will hide in the field until the third evening. If your father misses me, tell him that I earnestly asked leave to go to Bethlehem to attend the yearly sacrifice with my family. If he says that this is good, then I will be safe. But if he is angry, then I will know that he has decided evil toward me. If there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself without bringing me to your father. Otherwise, please deal kindly with me." Jonathan said, "If I learn that my father has decided evil against you, then I will tell you." David said, "Who will tell me if your father answers harshly?" Jonathan said, "Let's go out into the field." Arriving there Jonathan said, "The LORD God of Israel is our witness. When I have learned what my father has to say about you, sometime tomorrow, or the third day, if all is well, I will make it known to you. But if my father wants to do you harm, as the LORD lives, I will make it known to you and you can go away in safety. And may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father. If I am still alive, please show the kindness of the LORD to me that I may not die. Show this loving kindness to my house forever, even after the LORD has removed all your enemies from the earth." So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "If this covenant is broken, the LORD will require it of David." Jonathan made David vow again because of he loved him as his own life. Then Jonathan said, "Tomorrow is the new moon. You will be missed because your seat will be empty. After three days come back to the place where you hid yourself by the stone of Ezel. I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I was shooting at a target. I will send the lad with me to find the arrows. If I tell him the arrows are on this side of you, then you may come out, for my father intends you no harm. But if I say, "Behold, the arrows are beyond you, then go, for the LORD has sent you away. "As for our agreement, the LORD is witness between you and me forever." So David hid in the field when the new moon came and the king sat down to eat. He sat on his seat by the wall as usual. Jonathan got up and Abner sat down by Saul, and David's place was empty. Saul said nothing about David not being there. He thought that it must be an oversight. The next day of the new moon David had not come and Saul said to Jonathan, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come yesterday or today?" Jonathan replied, "David earnestly asked leave that he might go to Bethlehem," for he said, "Please let me go to sacrifice with my family. My brother has commanded me to attend. This is why he is not here." Then Saul was angry with Jonathan, and said, "You, the son of a perversed and rebellious woman! I can see that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame and the shame of your mother's nakedness. As long as David lives, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Send for him and bring him to me for he must surely die." But Jonathan answered his father, saying, "Why put him to death? What has he done?" Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan, and he knew that his father had decided to put David to death. Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David because his father had shamed him. The next morning Jonathan went out into the field to meet David. He had a little lad with him. He told the lad to run and find the arrows he was about to shoot. As the lad ran, he shot an arrow past him. When the lad reached the place where the arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to him saying, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?" He told the lad to hurry. The lad picked up the arrow and came back to his master, without knowing anything about David. Then Jonathan sent the lad back to the city with his weapons. After the lad had gone, David rose from the south side of the field and came and fell to the ground, bowing three times. They kissed each other and wept, but David wept the most. Jonathan said to him, "Go in safety for we have sworn to the LORD that He will be between us and our descendants forever." Then David departed and Jonathan returned to the city. 8. David And His Men Eat The Sacred Bread - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 21:1-9 Then David came to Abimelech the priest at Nob. Abimelech trembled as he came to meet David."Why are you alone?" He asked. David told Abimelech that the king had sent him on a mission and no one was to know his whereabouts. Then he said, "Do you have five loaves of bread, or anything else we can eat?" The priest said, "The only bread we have is the consecrated bread, and the men may eat it if they have kept themselves from women." David answered, "Surely the young men have not been with women and their vessels are holy." So the priest gave him the consecrated bread which had been replaced by fresh hot bread. The chief of Saul's shepherds was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite. David asked Abimelech, "Is there was a sword or spear on hand? I was in such a hurry that I brought neither with me." The priest said, "Goliath's sword is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod." David took it and thanked him.
9. David Goes To Live With The Philistines - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 21:10-15 David fled from Saul on that day and went to Achish king of Gath. Achish's servants did not trust David. They said to their king, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did his people not come out and sing of how Saul killed thousands and David ten of thousand?" So David was afraid of Achish king of Gath. He feigned insanity, scribbling on doors and letting his saliva dribble down his beard. Achish saw this and asked them why they had brought a madman to him? He said, "Do I lack madmen? Do I need another one?" 10. Saul Hunts For David - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 22:1-10 David escaped from there to the cave of Adullam. When his family heard of this they went down there with him. Anyone in distress, in debt, or discontented, gathered to him. There were about four hundred men with him and he was their captain. From there he went to Mizpah in Moab and asked the king of Moab to let his father and mother stay there until he knew what God would do with him. And his parents remained in Moab all the time David was in the stronghold of the wilderness. The prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah. So David departed for Hereth in the forest." When Saul heard of this and of the men who were with him, he was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree. His spear was in his hand all his servants were standing around him. Saul said to them, "Hear me, O Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you commanders of thousands and hundred? All of you have conspired against me. No one tells me when my son conspires with the son of Jesse against me. No one is sorry for me when he inspires others to lie in ambush for me." Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood near by said, "I saw the son of Jesse at Nob speaking with Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. He inquired of the LORD and Abimelech gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath." 11. Saul Kills Ahimelech The Priest - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 22:11-23 So Saul sent for Abimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, all of his father's household and the rest of the priests at Nob, and all of them came to the king. Addressing Abimelech, Saul said, "Why have you conspired with the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he may wait in ambush for me?" Then Abimelech said, "David is your most faithful servant and your son-in-law. He is captain over your guard and honored in your house. This is not the first time I have inquired of God for him. As your servant I know nothing of any conspiracy against you." But the king said, "You shall surely die, Abimelech, you and your father's household!" The king told his guards to put the priests of the LORD to death because they helped David when they knew he was fleeing from the king, and did not tell him. But the king's servants would not kill the priests. So the king told Doeg to attack the priests. He killed eighty five men who wore the linen ephod. Then Saul struck the city of Nob with the sword, men, women and children as well as all the livestock. One of Abimelech's sons, Abiathar, escaped and fled to David. He told David all that Saul had done to the priests of the LORD. David said to Abiathar, "I knew when I saw Doeg the Edomite standing near by that he would tell Saul. I have brought about the death of everyone in your father's household. Stay with me. I will keep you safe from the one who seeks your life and my life as well." 12. Saul Continues To Hunt For David - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 23:1-29 Then David was told that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah and plundering their threshing floors. So he inquired of the LORD to see if he should attack the Philistines. The LORD said, "Go, attack them and deliver Keilah." But David's men were afraid to go because they would be in Judah and open to Saul's attack. David inquired of the LORD once more and the LORD answered, "Arise and go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand." So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He struck them with a great slaughter and led away their livestock. Thus the inhabitants if Keilah were delivered by David. When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod. When Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, he said, "Surely God has delivered him into my hand, for he is in a city with double gates and bars." So Saul summoned all the people to war to besiege David at Keilah. David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him. So he asked Abiathar to bring the ephod. Then David asked, "O LORD God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul is coming to destroy Keilah because of me. Will the men of Keilah give me into his hand? Please tell Your servant." Then David asked, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will surrender you." Then David and his men, who numbered about six hundred, departed from Keilah, going wherever they could. When Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up pursuit. David stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness in the hill country of Ziph. Saul looked for him but God did not deliver him into his hand. David was aware that Saul was seeking his life. Jonathan, Saul's son, went to meet David at Horesh and to encourage him in God. He said, "Do not be afraid of my father Saul. He will not find you and one day you will be king over Israel. I will be next to you. My father knows this." So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in Horesh while Jonathan returned to his home. Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon. O king, satisfy your soul and come down and we will surrender him into your hand." Saul said, "May the LORD blessed you for having compassion towards me. Go and make sure of where he is hiding and who has seen him, for he is very cunning. When you know for certain where he is, I will go with you and if he is in the land, I will find him." So they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in Arabah south of Jeshimon. When Saul and his men arrived to look for David, he had gone down to the rock in the wilderness of Maon. Learning of this Saul pursued David there. Saul was on one side of the mountain and David and his men on the other. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for he was in danger of being surrounded and seized. Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry. The Philistines are raiding the land." So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. This is why the place was called the Rock of Escape. So David left and went to the strongholds of Engedi. 13. Saul Goes After David With 3,000 Men - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 24:1-22 When Saul was finished pursuing the Philistines, he was told that David had gone to Engedi. So he took three thousand chosen men and went looking for David among the Rocks of the Wild Goats. On the way he came to the sheepfolds where there was a cave and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were in the inner recesses of the cave. David's men said, "This is the day the LORD will deliver your enemy into your hand. Now you can do as you wish to him. David arose and secretly cut off the edge of Saul's robe." After he had done this his conscience bothered him. He said to his men, "I should not have done this thing to my lord the king who is the LORD's anointed." Having said this David would not allow his men to rise up against Saul. Saul arose and left the cave. David followed him out of the cave and called to him, saying, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground. Then he said to Saul, "Why do you believe what people say when they tell you that I want to harm you? Today you have seen that the LORD gave you into my hand in the cave. Some of my men wanted to kill you but my eye had pity on you. I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed..' Now my father, see the edge of your robe in my hand? I cut it off rather that kill you. Know that there is no rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you have been lying in wait to take my life. May the LORD judge between us, and may the LORD avenge me on you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, out of the wicked come forth wickedness, but my hand shall not be against you. Who is the king pursing? A dead dog, or a flea? The LORD be the judge to decide between you and me. And may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand." When David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul said, "Is this the voice of my son David?" And Saul wept. He said to David, "You are more righteous than I am. For you have dealt well with me while I have dealt wickedly with you. You have shown that though the LORD delivered me into your hand, you have treated me well and not killed me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go? May the LORD reward you with good in return for how you have treated me today. I know that one day you will surely be king over Israel and the kingdom will be established in your hand. So swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or destroy my name from my father's household." David swore to Saul and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. 14. Nabal's Folly - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 25:1-44 Samuel died and all Israel gathered to lament him. They buried him at his house in Ramah. David moved to the wilderness of Paran. There was a man of Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At this time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. His name was Nabal. He was from the house of Caleb. His wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was harsh and evil in his dealings. David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. He sent ten young men to visit Nabal and greet him in David's name. They were to say, "Live in prosperity. Peace be to you, your house and everything you have. Your shearers have been with us and have come to no loss while they were in Carmel. Ask your young men and they will tell you. Let my young men find favor in your eyes on this festive day. Please give to your servants and to David whatever is at hand." David's young men came to Nabal and relayed David's message to him, and waited for his reply. Nabal answered them, saying, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their master these days. Shall I take the bread, water and meat I have prepared for my shearers, and give it to men whose origin I do not know?" So David's young men came back and told him what Nabal had said. David told his men to gird on their swords and he did the same. There were about four hundred men with him. Two hundred stayed with the baggage. But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, that David had sent messengers to greet our master and he scorned them. "David's men were very good to us and we missed nothing as long as they were with us while we were in the fields. They were a wall to us by night and day while we tended the sheep. Therefore, consider what you should do, for evil is plotted against our master and all his household. No one can talk any sense with him." Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two jugs of wine, five sheep already prepared, five measures of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, two hundred cakes of figs, and had them loaded on donkeys. She sent her young men on before her saying she would come after. And she did not tell Nabal what she was doing. As she was riding her donkey through a hidden part of the mountain, David and his men met her. David had said, "Surely in vain I have guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing of his went missing. He has returned to me evil for good. By morning I do not plan to leave even one of his men alive." When Abigail saw David, she quickly dismounted and fell on her face to the ground at his feet. She said, "On me alone, my lord, be the blame. Please hear the words of your maidservant. Let not my lord pay attention to Nabal who is a worthless man. His name means folly and so he is. Now my lord, as sure as life itself, the LORD has restrained you from shedding blood by avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies who seek evil against you be as Nabal. Please let this gift which I have brought to my lord be given to the young men. Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant, for the LORD will certainly make your house endure, because He is fighting your battles, so that evil is not found in you all of your days. Should anyone pursue you to seek your life, may the life of my lord be bound up in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies He will sling out of His sling. When the LORD does for my lord according to all the good He has spoken of you and appoints you as ruler over Israel, This incident will not trouble the heart of my lord by having shed blood without cause in avenging himself. When the LORD deals well with my lord, remember your maidservant." Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today. May He bless you for your discernment, by keeping me from bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand. If the LORD God of Israel had not restrained me from harming you by sending you quickly to meet me, surely, come morning, there would not have been one male left in Nabal's house." So David received from her hand what she had brought to him and he said, "Go back to your house in peace. I have listened to you and granted your request." When Abigail returned to her house, Nabal was holding a feast fit for a king. His heart was merry for he was drunk. So she did not tell him anything until the next morning. The next day when the wine had lost its affect on Nabal, she told him all that had happened to her on the previous day. His heart died within him so that he became as stone. Ten days later the LORD struck Nabal and he died. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD who pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and kept me from doing evil. The LORD has returned evil on Nabal's own head." Then David sent a proposal of marriage to Abigail. When David's servants came to Abigail they said, "David has sent us to bring you to him that he may take you as his wife." She arose and bowed her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your maidservant is ready to wash the feet of my lord's servants." Then Abigail got up quickly, rode her donkey accompanied by her five maiden attendants, and followed David's messengers. David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives. Saul had given Michal, who he had originally given to David, to Palti the son of Laish who was from Gallim. 15. David Takes Saul's Spear And Water Jug - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 26:1-25 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah before Jeshimon." So Saul went down to the wilderness of Ziph to search for David. He took three thousand chosen men of Israel. He camped in the hill of Hachilah before Jeshimon next to the road. David was staying in the wilderness. When he learned that Saul had come after him, he sent spies to make sure Saul was coming. Then David came to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army with him. Saul lay in the center with his men camped all around him. David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" Abishai said, "I will go down with you." So David and Abishai came to the camp by night. Saul lay sleeping in the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the others were lying around him. Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Let me strike him through with the spear into the ground. It will take only one thrust." But David said, "He is the LORD's anointed. We cannot hurt him without being guilty. The LORD must strike him, or he will finally die a natural death or else in battle. The LORD forbid that I stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. Take his spear and water jug and let us go." So they took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul's head and went away. No one knew they had entered the camp for all were asleep because the LORD had made them fall into a sound sleep. David crossed over to the other side of the valley and stood on top of the mountain a great distance from them. He called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Abner, will you not answer?" Abner replied, "Who are you?" David called back to Abner, "You are a man with none like you in Israel. Why have you not guarded your lord the king? Someone came to destroy the king your lord. This is not good. Surely you all should die for not protecting the your lord, the LORD's anointed. Where is the king's spear and the jug of water that was at his head?" Then Saul recognized David's voice, and said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king. Why has my lord pursued his servant? What have I done or what evil is in my hand? Please hear the words of your servant O king. If the LORD has stirred you up against me. Please accept an offering. But if men have done this, cursed are they before the LORD, for they have driven me out of the inheritance of the LORD. Do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out in search of a flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains." Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight today. Behold, I have been a fool and committed a serious error." David replied, "Here is your spear. Let one of your young men come over and take it. The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch it out against the LORD's anointed. Since Your life was highly valued in my sight today, so may my life be valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He deliver me from all distress." Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you my son David. You will do great things and shall surely prevail." So David went on his way and Saul returned to his place. 16. David Once Again Escaped To The Philistines - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 27:1-12 David decided that one day he would perish at Saul's hand. The best thing he could do would be to escape to the land of the Philistines. This way Saul would give up chasing him if he wasn't in Israel. He arose and passed over with his six hundred men to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. David and each man with his household lived in Gath with Achish. He had his two wives with him, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's widow. When Saul heard that David had fled to Gath he no longer went searching for him. David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your sight, give me one of the cities in the country where I may live. Why should your servant live in the royal city?" So Achish gave him Ziklag, which has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. And he lived in the country of the Philistines for a year and four months. David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. They had lived in the land from ancient times, from Shur to Egypt. Whenever he attack the land he would leave neither man or woman alive. He took away the sheep, cattle, donkeys and camels, as well as the clothing. Then he would returned to Achish. Achish would ask him, "Where have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Over in the Negev of Judah and the Jerahmeelites and south to the Kenites." He never left anyone alive to bring any news otherwise to Gath. So Achish believed David, thinking, "He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel. He will always be my servant." 17. Saul Inquires Of A Witch - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 28:1-25 In those days the Philistines gathered for war against Israel. Achish said to David, "You and your men will go to fight against Israel with me." David agreed, saying, "Now you will see what your servant can do." So Achish said, "Good. I will make you my body guard for life." Samuel was dead and buried in Ramah, his own city. All Israel lamented him. And Saul had removed all the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines gathered in Shunem and Saul had gathered the army of Israel in Gilboa. When Saul saw the size of the camp of the Philistines, he was greatly troubled. Whenever he inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him in a dream, or by Urim or by any of the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Find a woman who is a medium that I may inquire of her." His servants said, "There is such a woman at Endor." Saul disguised himself by dressing as any man would and he took two men with him. They came to the woman by night. Saul said to her, "Conjure up for me whomever I name for you." But the woman said, "You know that Saul has cut off all the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you laying a snare for my life?" Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come to you for doing this thing for me." The woman said, "Whom shall I bring up?" And he said, "Bring up Samuel." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, saying to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul himself!" The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." Saul said to her, "What does he look like?" And she said, "An old man wrapped in a robe." And Saul who was sure it was Samuel, bowed with his face to the ground and did homage. Then the apparition said to Saul, "Why have you bothered me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress. The Philistines are waging war against me and God no longer answers me through the prophets or by dreams. So I have called you that you may tell me what I should do." The one he thought was Samuel said, "Why do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and is now your adversary? He has done to you what He spoke of through me, when He said that He would tear the kingdom from you and give it to David. Because you did not obey the LORD and execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, you are now seeing the result of your disobedience. Moreover, the LORD will give Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will die and Israel will be over run by the Philistines." Saul fell full length upon the ground and was very afraid of what he had just heard. He had not eaten all day or that night and he had no strength. Seeing that Saul was so terrified, the woman said to him, "Behold, I have obeyed you, and taken my life in my hand. Let me give you some bread that you may eat and have strength to go on your way." But he refused, saying that he would not eat. His servants, along with the woman, urged him, so he got up from the ground and sat on the bed. The woman had a fattened calf. She quickly slaughtered it and made some unleavened bread. She set these before Saul and his servants. They ate and then went on their way. 18. The Philistines Will Not Let David Go To War With Them - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 29:1-11 The Philistines gathered their armies at Aphek. Israel had camped by a fountain in Jezreel. The lords of the Philistines were proceeded by hundreds and thousands. David and his men came at the rear of Achish. The commanders of the Philistines asked Achish, "What are David and his men doing here?" Achish said to them, "He is the servant of Saul, the king of Israel, and has been with me for more than a year. He has deserted to me and has caused me no trouble in him all the time he has been with me." But the commanders of the Philistines angrily replied, "He cannot go with us. He must go back, lest he become our adversary in battle. Isn't this the David of who the women sang and danced saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands?'" So Achish called David and said, "I know you have been upright, pleasing me in every way. But the lords of the Philistines do not trust you. So for this reason you will not be allowed to go with us." David said to Achish, "What have I done to keep me from going to fight against your enemies?" But Achish replied, "I know that you have pleased me conducting yourself like an angel of God. Nevertheless, they have said you may not go with us. Tomorrow you and your men must go back." So the next morning they got up early and returned to the land of the Philistines while the Philistines proceeded to Jezreel. 19. David Recovers What The Amalekites Took While He Was Away - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 30:1-31 On the third day David and his men came to Ziklag. They discovered that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and Ziklag, overthrowning and burning it. The women along with everyone else in the city had been carried away. Finding the city burned and their wives, sons and daughters taken captive, David and his men wept loudly until they could weep no more. Both of David's wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken. David was worried when he learn that his men were talking of stoning him, but he strengthen himself in the LORD his God. David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?" God said, "Pursue them for you will surely overtake them and recover all." So David went with his six hundred men and came to the brook Besor. Here two hundred stayed behind. David pursued with four hundred of his men because two hundred were too exhausted to go any farther. As they proceeded, they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave him bread to eat and water to drink, a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. He ate and was revived. He had had no food for three days and nights. David asked him, "To whom do you belong? Where are you from?" The man said, "I am a young man of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite. He left me behind when I fell sick three days ago. We made a raid on the Negev of the Cherethites of that which belongs to Judah and on the Negev of Caleb. We burned Ziklag with fire." Then David said, "Will you bring us down to this company?" And the man said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, and I will bring you down to them." When the Egyptian had brought David and his men down to them, they were spread out over all the land, eating, drinking and dancing, for they had taken great spoil from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. David slaughted them from twilight until evening of the next day. Only four hundred young men escaped riding away on camels. So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken and rescued his two wives. He brought back everything that was taken as well as the spoil. They captured all the sheep and cattle which they drove ahead of the other live stock. They said, "This is David's spoil." When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted and had stayed by the brook Besor, these came out to greet him. Then the wicked and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, "They did not go with us and we will not give them any of the spoil, except to give each man his wife and children. Then let them be gone from us." But David said, "My brothers, you must not do this with what the LORD has given us. He delivered to you the band that came against us. Everyone will receive his fair share, whether he goes to battle or stays by the baggage. All shall share and share alike." So it has been from that day forward. It became a statute and ordinance for Israel until this day. When David arrived at Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a gift from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD. It is for those in Bethel, Ramoth of the Negev, to Jattir, to those in Aroer, and Siphmoth, to Eshtemoa, and to those in Racal and the cities of the Jerahmeelites, to the Kenites, to those in Hormah and Chorashan, Athach, Hebron, and all the places where David and his men were used to going." 20. Saul And His Sons Die In Battle - Back to Page Index 1 Samuel 31:1-13 The Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines followed hard upon Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua, all three of his sons. The battle went heavily against Saul and he was badly wounded by archers. He asked his armor bearer to thrust him through lest the uncircumcised come and do it and make sport of him. But his armor bearer would not do this. So Saul fell on his own sword. Seeing that Saul was dead, his armor bearer fell on his own sword and died, too. Thus Saul died with his three sons and his armor bearer. When the men of Israel on the other side of the Jordan valley saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they fled from their cities and the Philistines came and lived in them. On the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped him of his weapons. Then they sent these throughout the land of the Philistines, carrying the good news to the house of their idols and their people. They placed his weapons in the temple of Asharoth, and fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. When the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men rose and walked all night. They took the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Bethshan and brought them to Jabesh where they burned them. Then they buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted for seven days. 21. David Gets News That Saul Is Dead - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 1:1-16 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, he stayed in Ziklag for two days. On the third day a man came from Saul's camp. His cloths were torn and he had dust on his head. He came to David, prostrating himself on the ground before him. David said, "Where have you come from?" He replied, "I have come from the camp of Israel. And how did things go?" David asked. The man said, "The people have fled from the battle. Many are fallen and dead. Saul and Jonathan are also dead." David said to the young man, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" The young man said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and I saw Saul leaning on his spear. Horsemen and chariots were closing in on him. He looked around and seeing me, he called to me and I went to him. He asked me who I was. I told him I was an Amalekite. Then he asked me to kill him, for agony had seized him, for he knew he was dying. So I stood by him and killed him because I could see that he was about to die. Then I took his crown from his head and his bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them to you." David tore his clothing as did all the men with him. They fasted for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the house of Israel until evening, because they had fallen by the sword. David said to the young man who had brought the news, "Where are you from?" He replied, "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite." David then asked, "How is it that you were not afraid to stretch out your hand against the LORD's anointed?" Having said this he told one of his young men to cut the Amalekite down, and so he died. David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for you have testified against yourself, saying that you have killed the LORD's anointed."
22. David Chants A Lament Over Saul - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 1:17-27 Then David chanted a lament over Saul and Jonathan, and declared that the Song of the Bow should be taught to the children of Israel. Behold, it is written in the book of Jashar. "Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! 23. David Anointed King In Judah - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 2:1-4 After this David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" The LORD said to him, "Go up." And David asked, "Where shall I go up?" And the LORD said, "To Hebron." So David went up with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. David's men came with him, each bringing his household and they lived in the cities of Hebron. The men of Judah anointed David to be king over Judah. They told David it was the men of Jabeshgilead who had buried Saul. 24. David Honors The Men Of Jabeshgilead - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 2:5-7 David sent messengers to the men of Jabeshgilead, saying to them, "May you be blessed of the LORD because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord, by burying him. May the LORD show you His loving kindness. And I will remember this kindness you have done. Now, therefore, let you hands be strong and be valiant, for your master Saul is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me as their king."
25. Ishbosheth Reigns Over The Rest Of Israel For Two Years - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 2:8-11 But Abner the son of Ner and commander of Saul's army took Ishbosheth, Saul's son, and brought him to Mahanaim. There he made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim and Benjamin, and all of Israel. Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he was made king of Israel. He reigned two years while Judah followed David. David was king in Hebron for seven and one half years.
26. Abner And His Men Meet With Joab And His Men - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 2:12-17 Abner the son of Ner went from Mahanaim to Gibeon with Ishbosheth's servants. And Joab the son of Zeruiah and David's servants met them there by the pool of Gibeon. Abner and Joab sat on either side of the pool. Abner said to Joab, "Why not let the young men hold a contest while we watch." Joab agreed. So twelve young men from Benjamin belonging to Ishbosheth met twelve of Davids young men. Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent's side so that they all fell down together. That is why the place was called Helkathhazzurim, meaning the field of the sword edges, which is in Gibeon. The battle was very severe on that day. Abner and his men were beaten before David's servants. 27. Abner Takes The Life Of Asahel - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 2:18-23 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel could run like a gazelle. He pursued Abner turning neither right or left from following him. Abner looked back and said, "Is that you Asahel?" And he answered, "Yes it is I." Abner said, "Go after someone else and take their spoil." But Asahel kept following him. Again Abner said to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. How can I face your brother Joab if I strike you down?" But Asahel refused to turn aside and Abner struck him in the belly with the butt of his spear so that it came out his back side. He fell and died on the spot. All who came to the place where he lay stood around him.
28. The House Of David Grew Stronger And The House Of Saul Grew Weaker - Back to Page Index 2 Samuel 2:30-32 So Joab turned from following Abner. After making a count he learned that nineteen of David's servants besides Asahel were missing. And Joab's men had struck down three hundred and sixty of Abner's men. They buried Asahel in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men went all night to reach Hebron by dawn. 2 Samuel 3:1
Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. David made a feast for them. Abner said to David, "Let me arise and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you and that you may be their king." So David sent Abner away in peace. The servants of David and Joab returned from a raid bringing back much spoil. Abner had already left for David had sent him away in peace. Joab was told, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king and he has sent him away in peace." Then Joab came to the king and said, "Abner came to you. Why have you sent him away in peace? You know that he came to deceive you and to see everything he can about you."
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
The king chanted a lament for Abner. It said, "Should Abner die like a fool? Your hands were not tied, nor you feet in fetters. You fell as one who falls before the wicked." And all the people wept over him again. The people tried to get David to eat while it was still day, but he would not. He said, "May God do to me, and more also, if I taste anything before the sun goes down." The people took note of everything David did and all the people were please with him. Everyone understood that it had not been David's wish that Abner the son of Ner be put to death. Then David said, "Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? Though I am king, today I feel weak. These sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. May the LORD repay the evil doer according to his wickedness."
So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. He built all around from the Millo and inward. David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.
The LORD's outburst against Uzzah made David angry, and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah from that day. So David was afraid of the LORD that day. He said, "How can the ark of the LORD be brought to where I live?" He was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the city of David. Instead he had it taken aside to the house of Obededon the Gittite. The ark of the LORD stayed in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed Obededon and all his household.
So David and all the house of Israel brought the ark of the LORD to Jerusalem with shouting and the sound of the trumpet. As the ark of the LORD was being brought into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out a window and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD. And in her heart she despised him. They brought the ark of the LORD and set it inside the tent which David had pitched to house it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. When David had finished offering the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. In addition, he gave every man and woman of Israel a cake of bread, one of dates and another of raisins. Then everyone departed for his home.
Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul came to David and prostrated himself. David said, "Mephibosheth." And he replied, "Here is your servant." David said, "Do not be afraid for I will show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you shall eat at my table regularly." Again Mephibosheth prostrated himself before David and said, "Who is your servant that you should regard a dead dog like me?" Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. You, your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and harvest the produce so that your master's grandson may have food. Besides this your master's grandson shall eat at my table regularly." Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said, "All that you have commanded will be done." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king's table regularly. And he was lame in both feet.
|