COMMENT: Having sons was a woman's social security in her old age.

9 Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking.

Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the door post of the house of God. 10 Hannah was near by, greatly distressed and weeping bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. 11 She made a vow, saying, "O LORD of Hosts, if You will notice my affliction and remember me and give me a son, I will give him to You all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come upon his head."

12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth moving. 13 She was speaking in her heart and her lips were moving without making any sound. Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Calling to her, he said, "How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away the wine." 15 But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am oppressed in spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I am pouring out my heart before the LORD." 16 "Do not think of me as a worthless woman. I am speaking out of great concern and provocation." 17 Then Eli said to her, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel grant what you have asked of Him." 18 She said, "Please let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So she went on her way and ate, and was no longer sad.

19 The next morning they arose early and worshiped before the LORD, and then returned to their house in Ramah. Elkanah had relations with Hannah and the LORD remembered her. 20 It came about in due time after she had conceived, that she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she had asked for him from the LORD.

COMMENT: In Hebrew Samuel means "God heard."

21 The next year Elkanah went up with his family to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "I will not go up until the child is weaned. Then I will take him up and present him to the LORD that he may stay there forever."

COMMENT: So Elkanah knew that Hannah was giving her son away. And Hannah was trusting the Lord to give her another son. After all, she was giving God her first fruit and her future security.

23 Elkanah said to her, "Do what seems best to you. Wait until he is weaned and may the LORD confirm His word. So Hannah remained and nursed her son until he was weaned."

24 After she had weaned him, she took him with her, along with a three year old bull, an ephah of flour and a jug of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. The child was young.

25 They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. 26 She said to him, "O my lord! I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD." 27 "I prayed for this boy and the LORD has given him to me." 28 "So I have dedicated him to the LORD for as long as he shall live. And they worshiped the LORD there."

1 Samuel 2 - RWB Paraphrase (36 V)
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Hannah's Prayer
1 Then Hannah prayed, saying, "My heart exults in the LORD. My horn is exulted in the LORD. I speak boldly against my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation." 2 "There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You. Neither is there a rock like our God." 3 "Be not proud or let arrogance proceed from your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge and by Him actions are weighed." 4 "The bows of the mighty are shattered while the feeble are clothed with strength." 5 "Those who were full now look for a Job so they can eat, and those who were formerly hungry are hungry no more. Even the barren give birth to seven, but she who has many children grows weak." 6 "The LORD kills and He makes alive. He brings down to the grave and He raises up." 7 "The LORD makes some poor and others rich. He brings low and He also exalts." 8 "He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap and makes them sit with nobles, so that they inherit a seat of honor. The pillars of the earth are the LORD's and He sets the world on them." 9 "He keeps the feet of the godly but the wicked are silenced in darkness. A man does not prevail by his might." 10 "Those who contend with the LORD shall be broken, for He will thunder against them from heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and give strength to His king, exalting the horn of His anointed." 11 Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy remained with Eli the priest to minister to the LORD.

12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men, for they did not know the LORD. 13 It was the custom that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three pronged fork in his hand while the meat was boiling. 14 He would thrust the fork into whatever the meat was cooking in and all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This was done to all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 Before the fat had been burned the priest's servant would demand that some of the raw meat be given to him so it could be roasted instead of boiled. 16 If the man making the sacrifice insisted on burning the fat before giving some of the meat to the servant, the meat would be taken by force. 17 So the sin of Eli's sons was very great before the LORD because they despised the offering made to Him.

18 Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD and as a boy he wore a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and brought it to him when she came with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you children in place of the one she has dedicated to the LORD." Then they would go home to Ramah.

21 The LORD visited Hannah and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew up before the LORD.

22 Now Eli was very old. He heard of what his sons were doing to Israel, and how they were laying with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 23 He asked them why they were doing such things? 24 He said, "My sons, the report coming to me from the people is not good." 25 "If a man sins against another man, God will mediate for him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But his sons would not listen to their father, so the LORD planned to put them to death.

26 Now the boy Samuel was growing taller and in favor with the LORD and with men.

27 A man of God came to Eli, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Did I not reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh's control?'" 28 "Did I not choose them from among all the tribes of Israel to be My chosen priests, to go up to My altar and burn incense and carry an ephod before Me? Did I not give to your father all the fire offerings made by the children of Israel?" 29 "Why do you bring disgrace on the sacrifice I have commanded in My dwelling? Why do you honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest parts of every offering My people bring to Me?" 30 "Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, 'I had said that your house and your father's house should walk before Me forever. But now I am saying that I will not honor those who do not honor Me, and have little respect for Me.'" 31 "Behold, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's house and there will be no old men in your house." 32 "You will see an enemy in My dwelling, in spite of all the good that I do in Israel and there will be no old men in your house forever." 33 "Any man of yours that I do not cut off from My altar shall be spared only that his eyes may fail from weeping and all your descendants shall die in the prime of life." 34 "Here is the sign that all this will come true. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall die on the same day." 35 "And I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do what I ask. I will build him an enduring house and he shall walk before Me as My anointed forever." 36 "And everyone left in your house shall come and bow down before him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, saying, 'Please assign a priest's office to me so that I may have bread.'"

1 Samuel 3 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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Samuel Hears the Word of the Lord
1 The boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The word of the LORD was rare and visions were infrequent.

2 Eli had laid down and his eyesight was growing dim. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out. Samuel was lying down in the tabernacle where the ark of God was. 4 The LORD called to Samuel, and he said, "Here I am." 5 Then he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call you. Go lie down." So Samuel went back to his bed. 6 The LORD called again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose again and went to Eli, saying, "Here I am, for I heard you call me." But Eli answered him, "I did not call you, my son. Go lie down." 7 Up to this time Samuel had not yet known the LORD nor had His word been revealed through him. 8 So the LORD called Samuel the third time. Again he arose and went to Eli, saying, "Here I am, for I heard you call me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9 He said to Samuel, "Go lie down. If He calls you again, say, 'Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Then the LORD came again and called, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening." 11 The LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do something that will make the ears of everyone in Israel tingle." 12 "In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken against his house." 13 "I have told him that I am about to judge his house for the iniquity of his sons which he knew of and did not rebuke." 14 "I have sworn that Eli's house shall never more be atoned for by sacrifice or offering."

15 So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he got up and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And he was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.

16 Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." And Samuel replied, "Here I am." 17 Eli said, "What did the LORD say to you last night? Do not hide any of it from me. May God do to you, and more so, if you hide any of His words from me." 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then Eli said, "It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him."

19 Thus Samuel grew and the LORD was with him and did not let any of his words fail.

COMMENT: In other words, Samuel was a true prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:22 "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not comes true, the LORD has not spoken through him. The prophet has spoken presumptuously and you shall not be afraid of him."

20 All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD would appear at Shiloh to reveal Himself to Samuel.

1 Samuel 4 - RWB Paraphrase (22 V)
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The Philistines Capture the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord
1 Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle. They camped beside Ebenezer and the Philistines camped in Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in battle array against Israel. As the battle spread, Israel was defeated as the Philistines killed about 4,000 men. 3 When the men of Israel returned to camp, the elders said, "Why has the LORD smitten us today before the Philistines? Let's get the ark of the covenant from Shiloh. It will deliver us from the power of our enemy." 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and had the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts that dwelleth above the cherubims brought. Hophni and Phinehas came with the ark of the covenant. 5 As the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 When the Philistines heard the great noise, they said, "What does this noise coming from the Hebrew camp mean?" Then they were told that the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come into the camp. 7 The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into their camp. Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened to us before." 8 "Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness." 9 "Take courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been to us. Fight like men."

10 So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated. Every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great for 30,000 foot soldiers of Israel fell in battle. 11 The ark of God was captured by the Philistines, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were killed.

12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. 13 Eli was sitting by the road on his seat eagerly watching for news. His heart was trembling for the ark of God. The messenger from the battle came to the city and all the city cried out at the news. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry he asked, "What does this noise mean?" Then the man came quickly and told Eli. 15 Eli was ninety eight years old and he could not see. 16 The man said to Eli, "I escaped from the battle line today." And Eli asked, "How did the battle go, my son?" 17 The man answered, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, there has been a great slaughter among our people, and Hophni and Phinehas are dead. And the ark of God has been taken." 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backwards off the seat. His neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years. 19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was about to give birth. When she heard that the ark of God was taken, and that her husband her father-in-law had died, her birth pains came upon her and she knelt down to give birth. 20 As she was about to die, the women who stood by her said, "Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer them or pay any attention. 21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel." She said this on account of the ark of God being taken and the death of her father-in-law and husband. 22 She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken."

1 Samuel 5 - RWB Paraphrase (12 V)
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The Philistines Take the Ark of God
1 The Philistines took the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 They brought it into the house of their god Dagon and set it next to him. 3 Early the next morning they found Dagon face down in front of the ark of the LORD. They set Dagon back in his place.

COMMENT: This was symbolic of the need to submit to God or ultimately be destroyed by � him.

4 But when they got up the following morning they found Dagon face down on the ground. Its head and hands were broken off, and lying on the threshold. Only his trunk was left to him. 5 This is the reason to this day that the priests of Dagon never step on the threshold when they enter Dagon's temple in Ashdod. 6 So the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod. He ravaged them and their territories with tumors. 7 The men of Ashdod decided the ark of the God of Israel must leave, for His hand was very heavy on them and on Dagon their god. 8 They sent for all the lords of the Philistines and said, "What shall be done with the ark of the God of Israel?" And they said, "Take the ark of the God of Israel to Gath." And so they did this. 9 After it was brought to Gath, the hand of the LORD was against that city, bringing great confusion to both young and old and everyone broke out with tumors. 10 They then sent the ark of God to Ekron. When it arrived the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to kill us." 11 They sent for all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the God of Israel away from us so that we are not killed. Let it return to its own place." There was deadly confusion throughout the city and God's hand was heavy on them. 12 Those that did not die were smitten with tumors and their cry went up to heaven.

1 Samuel 6 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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The Philistines Return the Ark of God to Israel
1 The ark of the LORD remained with Philistines for seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and diviners, and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? How shall we return it to its place?" 3 They answered, "If you send it away, do not send it away empty. A guilt offering must be returned with it. Then you will be healed and His hand will no longer be against you." 4 So they asked, "What shall we give as a guilt offering to Him?" And they said, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, one for each of the lords of the Philistines." 5 "Make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of the mice that ravage the land. In this way you shall give glory to the God of Israel and perhaps He will ease His hand against you, your gods, and your land." 6 "Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians did when they would not let Israel leave their land?"

7 "Prepare a new cart with two milk cows to pull it that have never been yoked. Take their calves away from them." 8 "Place the ark of the LORD on the cart and put the articles of gold for your guilt offering in a box beside it. Then send it away to go wherever it may go." 9 "See if it goes to the territory of Bethshemesh. Then we will know the God of Israel has brought this great evil upon us. If it does not return to the land of the Israelites, then we shall know that it was not His hand that struck us. It only happened by chance."

10 So the men hitched two milk cows to the cart and shut their calves away from them. 11 They put the ark of the LORD on the cart along with the box containing the golden mice and golden tumors. 12 They started the cows moving and they headed straight for Bethshemesh, lowing as they went along the highway. They turned neither to the right or the left. The lords of the Philistines followed behind as far as the border of Bethshemesh.

13 The people at Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. They looked up and glad to see the ark of God. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua the Bethshemite and stopped by a large stone in the field. The men split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15 The Levites placed the ark of the LORD and the box of gold articles on the large stone. And the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrifices that day to the LORD.

16 When the five lords of the Philistines had seen this, they returned to Ekron that same day. 17 The five golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD, were for the five cities of the Philistines: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. 18 And the five golden mice were for the five cities belonging to the lords of the Philistines. The large stone where the ark was set is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite. 19 The LORD struck down some of the men of Bethshemesh because they looked into the ark of the LORD. In all He struck down 50,070 people, and the people mourned because He struck the people with a great slaughter. 20 The men of Bethshemesh said, "Who can stand before the LORD, this holy God?"

21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, "The Philistines have sent the ark of the LORD back. Come down and get it."

1 Samuel 7 - RWB Paraphrase (17 V)
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Israel Repents and Returns to God
1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came and took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep it. 2 The ark of God remained in the house at Kirjathjearim for twenty years and all Israel lamented after the LORD. 3 Then Samuel spoke to all Israel and said, "If you return to the LORD with all your heart, removing the foreign gods and Asharoth from among you, and directing your hearts to the LORD, serving Him alone, then He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines." 4 So the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Asharoth and served only the LORD. 5 Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you." 6 They gathered at Mizpah and drew water which they poured out before the LORD. They fasted on that day and said, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged Israel at Mizpah.

7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. The children of Israel heard of this and were afraid of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the Philistines." 9 Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And he cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD heard him. 10 Samuel was offering up the burnt offering as the Philistines were drawing near to battle against Israel. But the LORD made a great thunder against the Philistines, confusing them, and they were routed before Israel. 11 The men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down as far as Bethcar. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer. And he said, "The LORD has helped us."

13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not come within the border of Israel any more. The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored from Ekron to Gath. And so there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He used to make an annual circuit from Bethel to Gilgal and then to Mizpah. These were the places he judged Israel. 17 Afterwards he would return to his house in Ramah and judge Israel there. It was there that he built an altar to the LORD.

1 Samuel 8 - RWB Paraphrase (22 V)
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Israel Tells Samuel They Want a King
1 When Samuel was old he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 His firstborn was named Joel and the second was Abijah. They judged Israel in Beersheba. 3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways and turned aside for dishonest gain by taking bribes and perverting justice.

4 So all the elders went to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "Behold, you have grown old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint a king to be our judge like all the nations." 6 When they asked for a king it displeased Samuel, and he prayed to the LORD about it. 7 The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to what the people are saying to you, for they have not rejected you, but are rejecting Me from being their king." 8 "Like all the times since I brought them up from Egypt until this day, they have forsaken Me and served other gods. They are doing the same to you." 9 "You shall listen to their voice but you must solemnly warn them of what a king will do them when he reigns over them."

10 So Samuel told those who were asking for a king everything the LORD had said. 11 He said, "This is what will happen when a king reigns over you: he will take your sons for his own purposes." 12 "He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and fifties. Some will plow and harvest. Still others will make weapon of war and equip his chariots." 13 "He will take your daughters to be cooks, bakers and to make perfumes for him." 14 "He will take the best of your fields, vineyards and olive groves and put his servants in charge of them." 15 "He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards to give to his servants." 16 "He will take your male and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys to do his work." 17 "He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you will become his servants." 18 "Then you will cry out to the LORD because of the king you have chosen to be over you, but the LORD will not answer you."

19 In spite of these words, the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, "Never mind all that. We want a king to be over us." 20 "We want to be like other nations and have a king who will judge us and lead us in battle."

21 After Samuel had heard their words, he repeated them to the LORD. 22 The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to them and appoint them a king." So Samuel sent every man to his city.

1 Samuel 9 - RWB Paraphrase (27 V)
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Saul Meets Samuel
1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish. He was the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 2 He had a handsome son named Saul. There was no one in Israel more handsome and he was a head taller than any of the people. 3 Kish had lost some donkeys and he sent his son Saul with one of the servants to find them. 4 They passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalisha. But they did not find the donkeys. They then passed through the land of Shaalim, but they weren't there either. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, "We had better head for home. Otherwise my father will become anxious about us." 6 Then he added, "There is a man of God in this city. Whatever he says always comes true. Perhaps he can help us find our donkeys." 7 Then he said to his servant, "Behold, I have nothing with which to make a present to the man. Do we have anything we could give him?" 8 The servant said to Saul, "I have a fourth of a shekel of silver. You can give that to the man of God and he will tell us where to look."

9 In the former days in Israel, those now thought of as prophets were known as seers.

10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well then, let us go and see him." So they went into the city where the man of God was. 11 As they approached the city they met some young women coming out to draw water. They asked them, "Is the seer here?" 12 They answered, "Yes. He is just ahead of you. Hurry, for he has come to the city to sacrifice on the high place today." 13 "As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes to bless the sacrifice so that they may eat. Hurry and you will find him."

14 Saul and his servant went up to the city just as Samuel was coming out on his way to the high place. 15 The previous day the LORD had spoken with Samuel, saying, 16 "About this time tomorrow I will send a man to you from the land of Benjamin. You shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel and he will deliver them from the Philistines. I am answering their request for a king over them."

17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "Behold, this is the man I spoke of to you yesterday. He shall rule over My people."

18 As Saul approached Samuel at the gate, he said, "Please tell me where the seer lives." 19 Samuel answered, "I am the seer. Come with me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go after I tell you all that is on my heart." 20 "As for your donkeys which were lost, they have been found. And who is more favored in Israel than you and all your father's household." 21 Saul replied, "I am a Benjamite, the smallest of the tribes of Israel. My family is the least of all the families in the tribe. Why do you speak in this manner to me?"

22 Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and gave them a place at the head of the table. There were about thirty men there. 23 Samuel had the cook bring the portion he had arranged to be set aside. 24 The cook brought in the leg he had prepared and set it before Saul. Samuel then said, "Here is what has been reserved for you." So Saul and Samuel ate together that day.

25 When they had come down from the high place to Samuel's house in the city, Samuel took Saul up on the roof to talk with him. 26 Then at daybreak Samuel called Saul to send him on his way. They both went down into the street. 27 As they were about to leave the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Send your servant on ahead. I want to have a word with you by ourselves."

1 Samuel 10 - RWB Paraphrase (27 V)
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Saul Is Anointed King Over Israel
1 Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, "The LORD has anointed you to be ruler over His inheritance." 2 "Later today you will find two men close to Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will say to you, 'The donkeys which you were looking for have been found. And now your father is anxious to know where you are.'" 3 "When you come to the oak of Tabor, three men who are going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats. Another will be carrying three loaves of bread. And yet another will be carrying a jug of wine." 4 "They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread which you will accept." 5 "After that you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. When you come to the city a group of prophets coming down from the high place will meet you. They will be proceeded by harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre, and they will be prophesying." 6 "Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man." 7 "When you see these signs, do what the occasion requires, for God is with you." 8 "You are to go down to Gilgal before me. I will come down to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do." 9 And when Saul had turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came about on that day.

10 When Saul and his servant came to the hill, a group of prophets met him. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Saul mightily, and he prophesied among them. 11 When all those who knew him previously saw that he prophesied with the prophets, they said to each other, "What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also a prophet?" 12 A man of the place said, "Who is the father?" And it became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

13 After he had prophesied, he came to the high place. 14 Now Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where were you?" And Saul said, "We went looking for the donkeys. When we could not find them we stopped to see Samuel." 15 And his uncles said, "Please tell me what Samuel said." 16 So Saul said to his uncle, "He told us the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about Samuel anointing him prince over the kingdom of Israel.

17 Samuel called the people together before the LORD at Mizpah. 18 He said to the children of Israel, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "I brought Israel up from Egypt. And I delivered you from the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 19 "But today you have rejected your God, who delivered you from all your adversities and tribulations. You have asked Him to set a king over you. Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by tribes and clans."

20 Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and chose Benjamin by lot. 21 Then he brought the families of the tribe of Benjamin near and chose the Matrite family by lot. Then Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they looked for him they could not find him. 22 They asked the LORD if Saul had come yet. The LORD said, "He is hiding in the baggage." 23 So they ran and brought Saul from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders up.

24 Samuel said to the people, "Do you see who the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among the people." So the people all shouted and said, "Long live the king!"

25 Then Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in a book and placed it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent the people away, each to his own house. 26 Saul also went to his house at Gibeah, and valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But there were some worthless men who said, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him and did not bring him any present. But Saul kept silent.

1 Samuel 11 - RWB Paraphrase (15 V)
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Saul Leads Israel Against Nahash the Ammonite
1 Nahash the Ammonite came up and besiege Jabeshgilead. The men of Jabesh offered to make a covenant with him. 2 So Nahash said, "I will make a covenant with you on one condition. Let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you. In this way I will make a reproach on all Israel." 3 The elders of Jabesh asked for seven days so they could send messengers throughout Israel. They had decided that if no one would come to their aid, they would submit to Nahash. 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah where Saul was, and told the people of Jabesh and Nahash's threat, all the people wept. 5 It was at this time that Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. He asked why the people were weeping? So they related the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 Then it was that the Spirit of the LORD came upon Saul in a mighty way, and he became angry. 7 He took the yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces and sent the pieces throughout Israel by messengers who were told to say, "Whoever does not come out after Saul shall have this done to his oxen. The dread of the LORD fell on the people and they came out as one man."

8 He numbered the men who came out in Bezek. Those of Israel were 300,000 and those of Judah were 30,000. 9 They sent word back with the messengers of Jabesh, saying, "Tomorrow, by the time the sun gets hot, you will be delivered." So the messengers returned to the men of Jabesh and they were glad.

10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will come out to you and you may do to us whatever seems good."

11 The next morning Saul put the people in three companies, and they came into the camp of the Ammonites and struck them down until the heat of the day. The survivors were so scattered that no two were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, "Who was it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us? Bring them here that we may put them to death.'" 13 But Saul said, "Not one man shall be put to death, for today the LORD has delivered Israel."

14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come to Gilgal. Let us renew the kingdom there." 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and reaffirmed Saul as their king before the LORD.

1 Samuel 12 - RWB Paraphrase (25 V)
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Samuel Reviews the Lord's Leading
1 Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I listened to your request and have appointed a king over you." 2 "Now that the king walks before you, I am old and have walked before you from my youth." 3 "Now bear witness to me before the LORD and His anointed. Have I taken anyone's ox or donkey? Have I defrauded or oppressed anyone? Have I ever taken a bribe to blind my eye? If so, tell me and I will restore it to you now." 4 They said, "You have not done any of these things to us." 5 Samuel said, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

6 Then Samuel said to the people, "The LORD appointed Moses and Aaron when He brought your fathers up from Egypt." 7 "So now, take your stand, that I may recall with you all the righteous acts the LORD did for you and your fathers." 8 "When Jacob went down to Egypt and your fathers cried to the LORD, He sent Moses and Aaron to bring them out of Egypt and to settle them in this place." 9 "But they forgot the LORD their God, so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of Hazor's army. He also sold them into the hand of the Philistines and the king of Moab. Israel fought against these." 10 "They cried out to the LORD, admitting that they had forsaken Him and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and begged Him for deliverance from their enemies. And they promised to serve Him."

11 "Then the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah and Samuel. You were delivered from the hand of your enemies and lived in security."

COMMENT: This suggests the correct order of the stories told of these men in Judges.

12 "When you saw that Nahash, king of Ammon, came against you, you said to me that you wanted a king to rule over you, even though the LORD God had always been your king."

13 "Now you see the king whom you have asked for and accepted. Behold, the LORD has set a king over you." 14 "If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, listening to His voice and not rebelling against His command, then both you and your king will follow the LORD." 15 "If you will not listen to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against His command, then His hand will be against you as it was against your fathers."

COMMENT: Even though they have asked for a king and now have one, they still must follow God.

16 "Even now witness the great thing which the LORD will perform before your eyes." 17 "Is it not time for the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD and He will send thunder and rain. Then you will clearly see your wickedness in asking the LORD for a king."

18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and He sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19 They all said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD for your servants, so that we will not die, for we have added to our sins by asking for a king."

20 Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. Though you have done this wickedness, do not now turn from following the LORD, but serve Him with all your heart." 21 "You must not turn aside to go after futile things that are of no profit to you." 22 "For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name. The LORD has been pleased to make you His people."

COMMENT: God's name is associated with grace and mercy.

Exodus 15:13 "In Your mercy You have led forth Your redeemed. You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation."

Exodus 20:6 "And showing mercy to thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments."

23 "And I will not sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. I will instruct you in the good and right way." 24 "Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart. Always remember what great things He has done for you." 25 "But should you still do wickedly, you and your king will be swept away."

1 Samuel 13 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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Saul Offers the Burnt Offering Instead of Waiting for Samuel
1 Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign over Israel and he reigned 42 years. 2 He chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with him at Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people home. 3 Jonathan smote the garrison of Philistines in Geba and the Philistines heard of it.

Saul blew the trumpet calling men from throughout the land. 4 All Israel heard that Saul had struck a garrison of Philistines and that Israel had become odious to them. So the people came to Saul in Gilgal.

5 The Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, bringing 30,000 chariots. 6 The men of Israel became afraid and hid in caves, thickets, and any place they could find. 7 Some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into Gad and Gilead. Saul was still in Gilgal and those following him trembled.

8 He waited seven days for the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. The people had begun to scatter. 9 So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings, and he offered the burnt offering." 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel showed up. Saul went to meet him. 11 Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "I saw the people begin to scatter when you had not come by the appointed time, and the Philistines were assembling at Michmash." 12 "I thought, now the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal and I have not asked the favor of the LORD. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering." 13 Samuel said to Saul, "You acted foolishly; You have not kept the command of the LORD your God. The LORD would have established you as king over Israel forever." 14 "But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has found a man after His own heart, and He will appoint him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."

15 Samuel arose and went to Gilgal of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people with him, about six hundred men. 16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the people present with them were staying at Geba of Benjamin. The Philistines were camped at Michmash.

17 The Philistines sent raiders in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah in the land of Shula, 18 "another company turned toward Bethhoron, and the third company turned toward the border overlooking the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness." 19 At that time there was no blacksmith in Israel because the Philistines didn't want the Hebrews to be able to make swords and spears. 20 For this reason Israel went down to have the Philistines sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes and hoes. 21 The Philistines charged two thirds of a shekel to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, forks and axes, and the same to fix their hoes. 22 So on the day of battle Israel had no swords or spears, except for Saul and Jonathan his son.

23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the Michmash pass.

1 Samuel 14 - RWB Paraphrase (52 V)
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Jonathan's Trust in the Lord
1 One day Saul's son Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Let's cross over to the Philistine's garrison." He did this without telling his father. 2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about six hundred men with him. 3 These included Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the LORD at Shiloh who wore the ephod. No one knew that Jonathan had gone. 4 The place Jonathan planned to cross over was between two sharp crags, named Bozez and Seneh.

COMMENT: Their signification is disputed. Possibly Bozez signifies "Shining, " and Seneh "The accacia."

5 The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba. 6 Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Let us cross over to the uncircumcised. Perhaps the LORD will work for us, for He can accomplish His purpose with few or many." 7 His armor bearer said, "As you wish. I am with you." 8 Then Jonathan said, "We will cross over and reveal ourselves to them." 9 "If they tell us to wait until they come down to us, then we will stay were we are." 10 "But if they tell us to come up to them, then we will go up. It will be a sign from the LORD that He has given them into our hands."

11 When they allowed themselves to be seen by the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding." 12 Then they called down to Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up here and we will tell you something." Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Let us go. The LORD has given them to Israel." 13 Then Jonathan and his armor bearer scrambled up to them on their hands and feet, and the garrison fell before them as they put them to death. 14 Jonathan and his armor bearer slaughtered about twenty men in the small area of the garrison. 15 Then there was a great quaking of the earth in all the Philistine camp. 16 Saul's watchman in Gibeah of Benjamin saw the Philistines melting away. 17 Saul said, "Who is not with us?" So they quickly numbered off and discovered that Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing. 18 Then Saul called to Ahijah to bring the ark of God, " for they had it with them." 19 While Saul was talking with the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines increased. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20 Then Saul and all the people with him rallied to the battle. When they arrived they found every Philistine with his sword against his fellow because there was so much confusion. 21 There were some Hebrews who had been with the Philistines, and they now turned against them and joined Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the men of Israel who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they also pursued them in battle.

23 So the LORD delivered Israel that day as the battle spread beyond Bethaven. 24 Saul had put the people under oath to eat nothing before evening, until he had avenged himself of his enemies. So no one ate food, and this made it difficult for people to keep up their strength. 25 The army passed through the forest and there was honey on the ground. 26 No one took any of the honey, for fear of Saul's oath. 27 Jonathan had not heard his father's oath and took some of the honey up on his staff and ate it and immediately regained strength. 28 Then one of the people told him of his father's strict oath, cursing anyone who ate any food during the day, though the people were very weary. 29 Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how the honey has given me energy." 30 "How much better if all the people had eaten today from the enemy's spoil. Then the slaughter would have been greater."

31 So they struck the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very weary. 32 At the end of the day they rushed upon the spoil, slaying sheep, oxen and their calves, and eating them with their blood.

COMMENT: This does not mean they ate raw meat. Most likely they were not properly bleeding the animals before butchering because this would add to the time before they could eat.

33 Saul was informed that the people were sinning against the LORD, eating their meat with the blood and he took them to task. 34 He sent word out among the people that they must bring their oxen and sheep and slaughter and eat in his presence. So the people did as he directed.

35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first one he built. 36 Saul said, "Let us go down to the Philistines after dark and take spoil until morning. We won't leave even one of them alive." The priest said, "Let us draw near to God." 37 Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them to Israel?" But God did not answer him. 38 Then Saul asked the chief leaders of the people to draw near. He wanted to see if someone had sinned that day. 39 "For, " he said, "As the LORD lives, whoever has sinned, even if it be Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die." But not one of the people answered him. 40 Then Saul divided himself and Jonathan from the rest of the people. 41 He asked the God of Israel for a perfect lot. Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, but the people escaped. 42 Saul said, "Cast lots between Jonathan my son and me." And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul asked Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him he had tasted a little honey with the end of his staff."Here I am, " he said."I must die." 44 Then Saul said, "God do to me and more also, for you must surely die, Jonathan." 45 But the people said to Saul, must Jonathan die? It was he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel. As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground." So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die." 46 So Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they returned to their place.

47 After Saul became king over Israel he fought against all of his enemies, including Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah and the Philistines. He inflicted punishment on all sides. 48 He valiantly defeated the Amalekites and delivered Israel from those who plundered them.

49 Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Melchishua. The names of his daughters were Mereb and Michal. 50 His wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. Abner was the captain of his army. He was the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51 Saul's father was Kish, and Ner was Abner's father. Kish and Ner were sons of Abiel.

52 The war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul. And whenever he saw a valiant man, he attached him to his staff.

1 Samuel 15 - RWB Paraphrase (35 V)
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Saul Does Not Carry Out the Lord's Command
1 Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over Israel. Now listen to the word of the LORD."

COMMENT: Samuel is saying, "The Lord chose you. Listen to what He says to you."

2 "The LORD says, 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel when they were coming up from Egypt.'." 3 "Go and strike Amalek utterly and destroy all that he has. And do not spare him or any of the women and children, even the infants. Destroy also the oxen, the sheep, the camels and donkeys."

COMMENT: Has Saul learned to follow God's instructions?

4 So Saul gathered the people at Telaim. He had 10,000 men of Judah and 200,000 foot soldiers from the rest of Israel. 5 He came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the valley. 6 Saul told the Kenites to depart so they would not be destroyed for they had shown kindness to Israel when they came up from Egypt. So the Kenites separated from the Amalekites.

7 Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah on the way to Shur. 8 He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites but did not kill him. Otherwise he utterly destroyed all the people. 9 He not only spared Agag, but also the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings and the lambs. He wasn't willing to destroy anything that was good, but destroyed what was worthless.

10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I regret that I made Saul king for he does not follow Me or carry out My commands." Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night. 12 Samuel rose early in the morning and went to meet Saul. He learned that Saul had been at Carmel setting up a monument for himself before going on to Gilgal.

COMMENT: It seems that Saul was oblivious to his own mistakes until they were specifically pointed out to him. He thought that he had done everything right and he cannot remember the directions God gave him through Samuel.

13 When Saul saw Samuel, he said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have carried out the LORD's command." 14 Samuel replied, "Then why do I hear the bleating of sheep? And don't I also hear oxen lowing?" 15 Saul said, "The people spared the best of the sheep and oxen from the Amalekites, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. Everything else has been utterly destroyed."

COMMENT: Here is an important point about sacrifice. It isn't a sacrifice if it is not yours to give. God had said these animals were not to be spared.

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Hear what the LORD told me last night." And Saul said, "Tell me." 17 Samuel said, "Isn't it true that while you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? It was the LORD who appointed you to be king over Israel." 18 "And The LORD sent you to utterly destroy the Amalekite sinners, utterly consuming them." 19 "Why did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Taking spoil was evil in the LORD's sight." 20 Then Saul said, "But I did obey the voice of the LORD. I carried out His instruction and have brought back Agag, the king of Amalek and utterly destroyed the Amalekites."

COMMENT: Was this a case of Saul hearing what he wanted to hear? God had said to utterly destroy all, Aven Agag.

21 "The people did take the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal." 22 Samuel said, "Does the LORD have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying His voice? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed His word than the fat of rams." 23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. And insubordination is the same as iniquity and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you from being king." 24 Saul said, "I have sinned and transgressed the command of the LORD, as well as your words. I did this because I feared the people." 25 "Please pardon my sin, and return with me to worship the LORD." 26 Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and now the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." 27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul reached out to seize the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel then said to him, "Today the LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you and given it to your neighbor who is better than you." 29 "The Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man to go back on His decision." 30 Saul said, "Yes, I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders and before Israel. Go back with me that I may worship the LORD your God." 31 So Samuel followed Saul back and Saul worshiped the LORD. 32 Then Samuel said to him, "Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites to me." Agag came cheerfully, saying, "Surely the time for death is past." 33 But Samuel said, "Just as your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel cut Agag into pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah and Saul went to his house in Gibeah. 35 Samuel never met with Saul again, but he grieved over him. And the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 16 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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Samuel Anoints David
1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul because I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil. I am sendind you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. I have selected a king from among his sons." 2 Samuel said, "If I go and Saul hears of 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 you which son to anoint." 4 So Samuel did as the LORD directed him. When he arrived in Bethlehem the elders came out to meet him, trembling, and asking him, "Have you come in peace?" 5 He said, "Yes, I come in peace to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons, inviting them to the sacrifice as well. 6 As Jesse's sons entered, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the LORD's anointed." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his height, for I have not chosen him. God sees differently than man sees. A man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab for Samuel to see and Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." 9 Next Jesse brought Shammah and Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." 10 Thus it was that Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel and for each one Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all of your children?" And Jesse said, "There is one more, the youngest, who is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said, "Bring him here. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives." 12 So Jesse had the young man called. He was ruddy with a beautiful and handsome countenance. And the LORD said, "Arise and anoint him, for he is My choice." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him from among his brothers. And from that day the Spirit of the LORD came mightily on David. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

COMMENT: The evidence suggests that no one but David was present when Samuel anointed him. His brothers did not hold him in any special regard when he brought food to them as they prepared to fight the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:20 So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper. Taking these supplies, he went as Jesse had commanded. He came to the edge of the camp while the armies were approaching each other and shouting the battle cry.

1 Samuel 17:28 His oldest brother, Eliab, heard David asking questions of the men and was very angry with him. He said, "Why have you come here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? Your insolence is wicked. You just came to see the battle."

14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 His servants suggested that since an evil spirit from God was troubling him, 16 if he commanded it, they would find a skillful harp player. Then when the evil spirit from God troubled him, the harp music would make him feel better. 17 So Saul agreed for them to find a man that could play well. 18 One of the young men said, "I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, play skillfully. Not only can he play well, but he is a valiant warrior, prudent in speech, and handsome. And the LORD is with him."

COMMENT: This seems to have taken place after David's encounter with Goliath, since he did not fight until after that.

19 So Saul sent messengers to ask Jesse to send David who was with the flock. 20 Jesse loaded a donkey with bread, a jug of wine and a young goat for David to take to Saul. 21 And David attended Saul and Saul loved him very much. David became his armor bearer. 22 Saul asked Jesse to let David remain with him, for, he said, "He has found favor in my sight."

COMMENT: So David begins to learn something of the court.

23 And whenever an evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would play his harp, and Saul would be refreshed and the evil spirit would depart from him.

1 Samuel 17 - RWB Paraphrase (58 V)
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David Kills Goliath
1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle at Socoh which is part of Judah. They camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephesdammim. 2 Saul and the men of Israel camped in the valley of Elah ready to do battle with them. 3 The Philistines stood on one mountain and Israel on a mountain on the other side of the valley. 4 The Philistines had a champion from Gath by the name of Goliath. He was six cubits and a span in height.

COMMENT: He was more than nine feet tall, or half again as tall as the average man.

5 He had a bronze helmet and wore bronze scaled armor weighing five thousand shekels.

COMMENT: This was about one hundred and twenty five pounds.

6 In addition he had bronze greaves that protected his lower legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam. It had a iron head weighing six hundred shekels. A man went before him carrying his shield.

COMMENT: Six hundred shekels was about fifteen pounds.

8 This champion of the Philistines came out and shouted to the armies of Israel, saying, "Why should all of you come out to battle against the Philistines? Choose one of your men and let the two of us fight." 9 If he is able to kill me, then we will become your servants. But if I win, then you shall become our servants. 10 He continued, saying, "I defy the armies of Israel this day. Send a man that we may fight." 11 His words frightened Saul and all of Israel.

12 Now David was the son of Jesse who was of Bethlehem in Judah. He was an Ephrathite who had eight sons. Jesse was an old man. 13 The three oldest sons were with Saul ready for battle. They were Eliab the firstborn, Abinadab the second and Shammah the third. 14 David was the youngest. 15 He would go back and forth from his father's flock to Saul's army.

16 This Philistine presented himself morning and evening for forty days. 17 It was at this time that Jesse said to David, "Take an ephah of roasted grain and ten loaves of bread to your brothers in the camp of Israel."

COMMENT: An ephah was nearly six gallons.

18 "Take ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand, and bring back news of your brothers." 19 "Saul and the army are in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines."

20 So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper. Taking these supplies, he went as Jesse had commanded. He came to the edge of the camp while the armies were approaching each other and shouting the battle cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines drew up together, army against army, prepared for battle. 22 David left his baggage with the one keeping everyone's belongings, and ran to the battle line looking for his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks, and David heard him speak the same words he had been saying for forty days. 24 When the men of Israel saw him they fell back in terror. 25 Among themselves they said, "Have you ever seen anyone like this man to defy Israel as he does? The king will reward anyone killing this man with great riches, giving him his daughter, and his father's house will not have to pay taxes." 26 David asked the men standing near him, "What did I hear will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach of Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" 27 The people all said the same thing about what the reward would be. 28 His oldest brother, Eliab, heard David asking questions of the men and was very angry with him. He said, "Why have you come here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? Your insolence is wicked. You just came to see the battle." 29 But David replied, "What have I done now? Can't I ask a question." 30 Then he turned away from his brother and asked others the same question and received the same answer. 31 Saul eventually heard of what David had said and he sent for him. 32 David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of this Philistine. Your servant will fight him." 33 Saul said to David, "You cannot go against this Philistine. You are only a youth and he has been a warrior from his youth." 34 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," 35 "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." 36 "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." 37 "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." 38 Then Saul placed his own armor on David, including his bronze helmet. 39 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. 40 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.

COMMENT: Imagine the children of Israel watching as this youth walked toward Goliath. Imagine the Philistines from their perspective, certain of the obvious outcome.

41 The Philistine moved toward David with his shield bearer in front of him. 42 Seeing David he had contempt for him since he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome. 43 The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you approach me with sticks?" And he cursed David by his own gods. 44 "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." 45 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."

COMMENT: Inspired words.

46 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, 47 "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."

COMMENT: There may have been some Philistines who listened to David's inspired words and repeated them to other Philistines as time went on, creating a respect for the God of the Hebrews.

48 Then as the Philistine rose up and drew near to meet David, David ran to meet the giant. 49 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. 50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine giant with a sling and a stone.

COMMENT: A sort of new technology in weaponry and the way wars would be waged. The sling had been around for a long time but does not seem to have been the regular choice for using in battle. At least it was new to the Philistines.

Judges 20:16 Each of the 700 choice men were left handed and could sling a stone at a hair breadth and not miss.

51 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. 52 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. 53 The children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps.

54 David brought the Philistine's head to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent. 55 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. 56 The king told him to find out whose son he was. 57 So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him before Saul with the Philistine's head in his hand. 58 Saul asked him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

1 Samuel 18 - RWB Paraphrase (30 V)
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David Marries Michal
1 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. 2 Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 He gave David his robe, and his armor, including his sword, bow and belt. 5 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. 6 When David returned from killing Philistines the women would come out to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, tambourines and other musical instruments. 7 They played and sang, saying, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." 8 This made Saul very angry. He said, "They have ascribed David ten thousands and me only thousands. Next he will take the kingdom." 9 From that day Saul looked at David with suspicion.

10 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. 11 He hurled the spear intending to pin David to the wall, but David escaped from his presence. This happened twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David for he could see that the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 Saul removed David from his court and made him commander of a thousand, and the people appreciated whatever he did. 14 David prospered in everything for the LORD was with him. 15 His success made Saul dread him more and more, 16 but all Israel and Judah loved him.

17 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. 18 But David said to Saul, "Who am I, or my father's family, that I should be the king's son-in-law?" 19 So when the time came for Mereb to be given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as his wife.

20 Michal, Saul's younger daughter, loved David. When Saul learned of it he approved. 21 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." 22 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." 23 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." 24 Saul's servants reported David's words to him. 25 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.

COMMENT: What an unusual dowry.

26 It pleased David when he heard Saul's terms to become the king's son-in-law. That same day, 27 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. 28 Seeing that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David and became David's constant enemy. 30 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.

1 Samuel 19 - RWB Paraphrase (24 V)
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Saul Tries to Kill David
1 Saul told Jonathan and all of his servants to put David to death. 2 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. 3 He said, "I will go out into the field with my father and speak to him about you." 4 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, 5 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?" 6 Saul listened to Jonathan and agreed with him. 7 So Jonathan called David and told him of his conversation with his father. Then David returned to serve Saul.

8 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.

9 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. 10 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.

11 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.

12 So Michal let David down through a window and he got away. 13 She took the household idol and laid in the bed with goat's hair over its head. Then she covered it with a cloth. 14 When Saul's messengers arrived to take David, she told them that he was sick. 15 So Saul said to bring David, sick or not, so he could be put to death. 16 The messengers entered the house and found the idol with the goat's hair at its head. 17 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."

18 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. 19 Saul was told that David was in Naioth of Ramah, 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 Saul went there and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied all the way to Naioth in Ramah. 24 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?"

1 Samuel 20 - RWB Paraphrase (42 V)
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David and Jonathan Make a Covenant
1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah and met Jonathan, and said to him, "What wrong have I done, that your father seeks my life?" 2 Jonathan said, "You shall not die. My father never hides from me anything he is about to do." 3 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." 4 So Jonathan said, "What do you want me to do?" 5 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." 6 "If your father misses me, tell him that I earnestly asked leave to go to Bethlehem to attend the yearly sacrifice with my family." 7 "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." 8 "If there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself without bringing me to your father. Otherwise, please deal kindly with me." 9 Jonathan said, "If I learn that my father has decided evil against you, then I will tell you." 10 David said, "Who will tell me if your father answers harshly?" 11 Jonathan said, "Let's go out into the field." 12 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." 13 "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." 14 "If I am still alive, please show the kindness of the LORD to me that I may not die." 15 "Show this loving kindness to my house forever, even after the LORD has removed all your enemies from the earth."

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "If this covenant is broken, the LORD will require it of David." 17 Jonathan made David vow again because of he loved him as his own life.

18 Then Jonathan said, "Tomorrow is the new moon. You will be missed because your seat will be empty." 19 "After three days come back to the place where you hid yourself by the stone of Ezel." 20 "I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I was shooting at a target." 21 "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." 22 "But if I say, "Behold, the arrows are beyond you, then go, for the LORD has sent you away. 23 "As for our agreement, the LORD is witness between you and me forever."

24 So David hid in the field when the new moon came and the king sat down to eat. 25 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. 26 Saul said nothing about David not being there. He thought that it must be an oversight. 27 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?" 28 Jonathan replied, "David earnestly asked leave that he might go to Bethlehem," 29 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." 30 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." 31 "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." 32 But Jonathan answered his father, saying, "Why put him to death? What has he done?" 33 Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan, and he knew that his father had decided to put David to death.

34 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. 35 The next morning Jonathan went out into the field to meet David. He had a little lad with him. 36 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. 37 When the lad reached the place where the arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to him saying, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?" 38 He told the lad to hurry. The lad picked up the arrow and came back to his master, 39 without knowing anything about David. 40 Then Jonathan sent the lad back to the city with his weapons.

41 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. 42 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.

1 Samuel 21 - RWB Paraphrase (15 V)
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David and His Men Eat Consecrated Bread Meant Only for the Priests
1 Then David came to Abimelech the priest at Nob. Abimelech trembled as he came to meet David."Why are you alone?" He asked. 2 David told Abimelech that the king had sent him on a mission and no one was to know his whereabouts. 3 Then he said, "Do you have five loaves of bread, or anything else we can eat?" 4 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." 5 David answered, "Surely the young men have not been with women and their vessels are holy." 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread which had been replaced by fresh hot bread. 7 The chief of Saul's shepherds was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite.

8 David asked Abimelech, "Is there was a sword or spear on hand? I was in such a hurry that I brought neither with me." 9 The priest said, "Goliath's sword is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod." David took it and thanked him.

10 David fled from Saul on that day and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 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?" 12 So David was afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 He feigned insanity, scribbling on doors and letting his saliva dribble down his beard. 14 Achish saw this and asked them why they had brought a madman to him? 15 He said, "Do I lack madmen? Do I need another one?"

1 Samuel 22 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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Saul Has Eighty Five Priests of the Lord Killed
1 David escaped from there to the cave of Adullam. When his family heard of this they went down there with him. 2 Anyone in distress, in debt, or discontented, gathered to him. There were about four hundred men with him and he was their captain. 3 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. 4 And his parents remained in Moab all the time David was in the stronghold of the wilderness.

5 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." 6 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. 7 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?" 8 "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." 9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood near by said, "I saw the son of Jesse at Nob speaking with Ahimelech the son of Ahitub." 10 "He inquired of the LORD and Abimelech gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath." 11 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. 12 Addressing Abimelech, Saul said, 13 "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?" 14 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." 15 "This is not the first time I have inquired of God for him. As your servant I know nothing of any conspiracy against you." 16 But the king said, "You shall surely die, Abimelech, you and your father's household!" 17 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. 18 So the king told Doeg to attack the priests. He killed eighty five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 Then Saul struck the city of Nob with the sword, men, women and children as well as all the livestock. 20 One of Abimelech's sons, Abiathar, escaped and fled to David. 21 He told David all that Saul had done to the priests of the LORD. 22 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." 23 "Stay with me. I will keep you safe from the one who seeks your life and my life as well."

1 Samuel 23 - RWB Paraphrase (29 V)
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David Delivers Keilah and They Prepare to Deliver Him to Saul
1 Then David was told that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah and plundering their threshing floors. 2 So he inquired of the LORD to see if he should attack the Philistines. The LORD said, "Go, attack them and deliver Keilah." 3 But David's men were afraid to go because they would be in Judah and open to Saul's attack. 4 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." 5 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. 6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod.

7 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." 8 So Saul summoned all the people to war to besiege David at Keilah. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him. So he asked Abiathar to bring the ephod. 10 Then David asked, "O LORD God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul is coming to destroy Keilah because of me." 11 "Will the men of Keilah give me into his hand? Please tell Your servant." 12 Then David asked, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will surrender you." 13 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. 14 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.

15 David was aware that Saul was seeking his life. 16 Jonathan, Saul's son, went to meet David at Horesh and to encourage him in God. 17 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." 18 So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in Horesh while Jonathan returned to his home.

19 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." 20 "O king, satisfy your soul and come down and we will surrender him into your hand." 21 Saul said, "May the LORD blessed you for having compassion towards me." 22 "Go and make sure of where he is hiding and who has seen him, for he is very cunning." 23 "When you know for certain where he is, I will go with you and if he is in the land, I will find him."

24 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. 25 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.

26 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. 27 Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry. The Philistines are raiding the land." 28 So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. This is why the place was called the Rock of Escape. 29 So David left and went to the strongholds of Engedi.

1 Samuel 24 - RWB Paraphrase (22 V)
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David Cuts a Off Piece of Saul's Robe
1 When Saul was finished pursuing the Philistines, he was told that David had gone to Engedi. 2 So he took three thousand chosen men and went looking for David among the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 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. 4 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." 5 After he had done this his conscience bothered him. 6 He said to his men, "I should not have done this thing to my lord the king who is the LORD's anointed." 7 Having said this David would not allow his men to rise up against Saul. Saul arose and left the cave.

8 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. 9 Then he said to Saul, "Why do you believe what people say when they tell you that I want to harm you?" 10 "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.'." 11 "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." 12 "May the LORD judge between us, and may the LORD avenge me on you, but my hand shall not be against you." 13 "As the proverb of the ancients says, out of the wicked come forth wickedness, but my hand shall not be against you." 14 "Who is the king pursing? A dead dog, or a flea?" 15 "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."

16 When David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul said, "Is this the voice of my son David?" And Saul wept. 17 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." 18 "You have shown that though the LORD delivered me into your hand, you have treated me well and not killed me." 19 "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." 20 "I know that one day you will surely be king over Israel and the kingdom will be established in your hand." 21 "So swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or destroy my name from my father's household." 22 David swore to Saul and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 25 - RWB Paraphrase (44 V)
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Nabal and Abigail
1 Samuel died and all Israel gathered to lament him. They buried him at his house in Ramah. David moved to the wilderness of Paran. 2 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. 3 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.

4 David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5 He sent ten young men to visit Nabal and greet him in David's name. 6 They were to say, "Live in prosperity. Peace be to you, your house and everything you have." 7 "Your shearers have been with us and have come to no loss while they were in Carmel." 8 "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."

9 David's young men came to Nabal and relayed David's message to him, and waited for his reply. 10 Nabal answered them, saying, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their master these days." 11 "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?"

12 So David's young men came back and told him what Nabal had said. 13 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.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, that David had sent messengers to greet our master and he scorned them. 15 "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." 16 "They were a wall to us by night and day while we tended the sheep." 17 "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."

18 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. 19 She sent her young men on before her saying she would come after. And she did not tell Nabal what she was doing. 20 As she was riding her donkey through a hidden part of the mountain, David and his men met her. 21 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." 22 "By morning I do not plan to leave even one of his men alive."

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly dismounted and fell on her face to the ground at his feet. 24 She said, "On me alone, my lord, be the blame. Please hear the words of your maidservant." 25 "Let not my lord pay attention to Nabal who is a worthless man. His name means folly and so he is." 26 "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." 27 "Please let this gift which I have brought to my lord be given to the young men." 28 "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." 29 "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." 30 "When the LORD does for my lord according to all the good He has spoken of you and appoints you as ruler over Israel," 31 "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."

32 Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today." 33 "May He bless you for your discernment, by keeping me from bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand." 34 "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." 35 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."

36 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. 37 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. 38 Ten days later the LORD struck Nabal and he died.

39 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. 40 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." 41 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." 42 Then Abigail got up quickly, rode her donkey accompanied by her five maiden attendants, and followed David's messengers. 43 David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives. 44 Saul had given Michal, who he had originally given to David, to Palti the son of Laish who was from Gallim.

1 Samuel 26 - RWB Paraphrase (25 V)
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David Takes Saul's Spear and Water Jug
1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah before Jeshimon." 2 So Saul went down to the wilderness of Ziph to search for David. He took three thousand chosen men of Israel. 3 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, 4 he sent spies to make sure Saul was coming. 5 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. 6 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." 7 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. 8 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." 9 But David said, "He is the LORD's anointed. We cannot hurt him without being guilty." 10 "The LORD must strike him, or he will finally die a natural death or else in battle." 11 "The LORD forbid that I stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. Take his spear and water jug and let us go." 12 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.

13 David crossed over to the other side of the valley and stood on top of the mountain a great distance from them. 14 He called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Abner, will you not answer?" Abner replied, "Who are you?" 15 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." 16 "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?" 17 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." 18 "Why has my lord pursued his servant? What have I done or what evil is in my hand?" 19 "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." 20 "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." 21 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." 22 David replied, "Here is your spear. Let one of your young men come over and take it." 23 "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." 24 "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." 25 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.

1 Samuel 27 - RWB Paraphrase (12 V)
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David Goes to Live with the Philistines
1 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. 2 He arose and passed over with his six hundred men to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 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. 4 When Saul heard that David had fled to Gath he no longer went searching for him.

5 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?" 6 So Achish gave him Ziklag, which has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And he lived in the country of the Philistines for a year and four months.

8 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. 9 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. 10 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." 11 He never left anyone alive to bring any news otherwise to Gath. 12 So Achish believed David, thinking, "He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel. He will always be my servant."

1 Samuel 28 - RWB Paraphrase (25 V)
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Saul Visits a Medium
1 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." 2 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."

3 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.

4 The Philistines gathered in Shunem and Saul had gathered the army of Israel in Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the size of the camp of the Philistines, he was greatly troubled. 6 Whenever he inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him in a dream, or by Urim or by any of the prophets. 7 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."

COMMENT: God had strictly forbidden this.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 "There shall be no one among you who makes one of his children pass through the fire, or practices divination, interprets omens or is a sorcerer," [11] "or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead." [12] "All of these things are an abomination to the LORD. It is because of these detestable practices that the LORD is driving these nations out before you."

8 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."

COMMENT: So Saul believed that the dead are not really dead.

9 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?" 10 Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come to you for doing this thing for me." 11 The woman said, "Whom shall I bring up?" And he said, "Bring up Samuel." 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, saying to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul himself!"

COMMENT: The woman claimed to have seen someone. Saul saw nothing.

13 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."

COMMENT: The original deception of Satan.

Genesis 3:5 "God knows that on the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

14 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.

COMMENT: He is unknowingly giving homage to the devil.

15 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." 16 The one he thought was Samuel said, "Why do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and is now your adversary?" 17 "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." 18 "Because you did not obey the LORD and execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, you are now seeing the result of your disobedience." 19 "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."

COMMENT: Satan tells the truth when it serves his purpose.

20 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. 21 Seeing that Saul was so terrified, the woman said to him, "Behold, I have obeyed you, and taken my life in my hand." 22 "Let me give you some bread that you may eat and have strength to go on your way." 23 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. 24 The woman had a fattened calf. She quickly slaughtered it and made some unleavened bread. 25 She set these before Saul and his servants. They ate and then went on their way.

1 Samuel 29 - RWB Paraphrase (11 V)
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David Is Sent Home to Ziklag
1 The Philistines gathered their armies at Aphek. Israel had camped by a fountain in Jezreel. 2 The lords of the Philistines were proceeded by hundreds and thousands. David and his men came at the rear of Achish.

3 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." 4 But the commanders of the Philistines angrily replied, "He cannot go with us. He must go back, lest he become our adversary in battle." 5 "Isn't this the David of who the women sang and danced saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands?'" 6 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." 7 "So for this reason you will not be allowed to go with us." 8 David said to Achish, "What have I done to keep me from going to fight against your enemies?" 9 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." 10 "Tomorrow you and your men must go back." 11 So the next morning they got up early and returned to the land of the Philistines while the Philistines proceeded to Jezreel.

1 Samuel 30 - RWB Paraphrase (31 V)
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They Return to Discover Ziklag Has Been Sacked
1 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. 2 The women along with everyone else in the city had been carried away. 3 Finding the city burned and their wives, sons and daughters taken captive, 4 David and his men wept loudly until they could weep no more. 5 Both of David's wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken. 6 David was worried when he learn that his men were talking of stoning him, but he strengthen himself in the LORD his God.

7 David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 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." 9 So David went with his six hundred men and came to the brook Besor. Here two hundred stayed behind. 10 David pursued with four hundred of his men because two hundred were too exhausted to go any farther.

11 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, 12 a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. He ate and was revived. He had had no food for three days and nights.

13 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." 14 "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." 15 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."

16 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. 17 David slaughted them from twilight until evening of the next day. Only four hundred young men escaped riding away on camels.

18 So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken and rescued his two wives. 19 He brought back everything that was taken as well as the spoil. 20 They captured all the sheep and cattle which they drove ahead of the other live stock. They said, "This is David's spoil." 21 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. 22 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." 23 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." 24 "Everyone will receive his fair share, whether he goes to battle or stays by the baggage. All shall share and share alike." 25 So it has been from that day forward. It became a statute and ordinance for Israel until this day.

26 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." 27 "It is for those in Bethel, Ramoth of the Negev, to Jattir," 28 "to those in Aroer, and Siphmoth, to Eshtemoa," 29 "and to those in Racal and the cities of the Jerahmeelites, to the Kenites," 30 "to those in Hormah and Chorashan, Athach," 31 "Hebron, and all the places where David and his men were used to going."

1 Samuel 31 - RWB Paraphrase (13 V)
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Saul and Jonathan Die
1 The Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines followed hard upon Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua, all three of his sons. 3 The battle went heavily against Saul and he was badly wounded by archers. 4 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. 5 Seeing that Saul was dead, his armor bearer fell on his own sword and died, too. 6 Thus Saul died with his three sons and his armor bearer. 7 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.

8 On the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 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. 10 They placed his weapons in the temple of Asharoth, and fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

11 When the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 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. 13 Then they buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31