1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:1  The Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.

1 Samuel 17:2  Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah; then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:3  The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them.

1 Samuel 17:4  Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall

1 Samuel 17:5  and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed one hundred twenty-five pounds.

1 Samuel 17:6  There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze javelin was slung between his shoulders.

1 Samuel 17:7  His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him.

1 Samuel 17:8  He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not slaves of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me.

1 Samuel 17:9  If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your slaves. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our slaves and serve us.”

1 Samuel 17:10  Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!”

1 Samuel 17:11  When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.

1 Samuel 17:12  Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul’s reign was already an old man.

1 Samuel 17:13  Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third,

1 Samuel 17:14  and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

1 Samuel 17:15  but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 17:16  Every morning and evening for forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand.

1 Samuel 17:17  One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.

1 Samuel 17:18  Also take these ten portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the well-being of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them.

1 Samuel 17:19  They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 17:20  So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had charged him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry.

1 Samuel 17:21  Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other.

1 Samuel 17:22  David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were.

1 Samuel 17:23  While he was speaking with them, notice suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard.

1 Samuel 17:24  When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.

1 Samuel 17:25  Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the family of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”

1 Samuel 17:26  David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1 Samuel 17:27  The troops told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

1 Samuel 17:28  David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart– you came down to see the battle!”

1 Samuel 17:29  “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.”

1 Samuel 17:30  Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.

1 Samuel 17:31  What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him.

1 Samuel 17:32  David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your slave will go and fight this Philistine!”

1 Samuel 17:33  But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”

1 Samuel 17:34  David answered Saul: “Your slave has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,

1 Samuel 17:35  I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.

1 Samuel 17:36  Your slave has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

1 Samuel 17:37  Then David said, “Yahveh who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may Yahveh be with you.”

1 Samuel 17:38  Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor.

1 Samuel 17:39  David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off.

1 Samuel 17:40  Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:41  The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him.

1 Samuel 17:42  When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, healthy and handsome.

1 Samuel 17:43  He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods.

1 Samuel 17:44  “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”

1 Samuel 17:45  David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of Yahveh of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel– you have defied him.

1 Samuel 17:46  Today, Yahveh will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the land. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God,

1 Samuel 17:47  and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that Yahveh saves, for the battle is Yahveh’s. He will hand you over to us.”

1 Samuel 17:48  When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:49  David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown to the ground.

1 Samuel 17:50  David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. David overpowered the Philistine and killed him without having a sword.

1 Samuel 17:51  David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled.

1 Samuel 17:52  The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

1 Samuel 17:53  When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps.

1 Samuel 17:54  David took Goliath’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.

1 Samuel 17:55   When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this boy, Abner?” “Your Majesty, as surely as your throat lives, I don’t know,” Abner replied.

1 Samuel 17:56  The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is!”

1 Samuel 17:57  When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.

1 Samuel 17:58  Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, boy?” “The son of your slave Jesse of Bethlehem,” David answered.

God alone is Immortal
God is Different
Goliath, from Gath
just a word
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Friday, September 15, 2023
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, September 16, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, September 16, 2021
our tested tools
tested tools

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:1  Yahveh said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:2  Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!” Yahveh answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahveh.’

1 Samuel 16:3  Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”

1 Samuel 16:4  Samuel did what Yahveh directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

1 Samuel 16:5  “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to Yahveh. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

1 Samuel 16:6  When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly Yahveh’s anointed one is here before him.”

1 Samuel 16:7  But Yahveh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what Yahveh sees, for humans see what is visible, but Yahveh sees the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:8  Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “Yahveh hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said.

1 Samuel 16:9  Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “Yahveh hasn’t chosen this one either.”

1 Samuel 16:10  After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “Yahveh hasn’t chosen any of these.”

1 Samuel 16:11  Samuel asked him, “Are these all the boys you have?” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but notice right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.”

1 Samuel 16:12  So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance. Then Yahveh said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”

1 Samuel 16:13  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Breath of Yahveh came powerfully on David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:14  Now the Breath of Yahveh had left Saul, and an evil breath sent from Yahveh began to torment him,

1 Samuel 16:15  so Saul’s slaves said to him, “Notice that an evil breath from God is tormenting you.

1 Samuel 16:16  Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil breath from God comes on you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”

1 Samuel 16:17  Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

1 Samuel 16:18  One of the boys answered, “Notice, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and Yahveh is with him.”

1 Samuel 16:19  Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

1 Samuel 16:20  So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.

1 Samuel 16:21  When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.

1 Samuel 16:22  Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me.”

1 Samuel 16:23  Whenever the breath from God came on Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil breath would leave him.

links:

identity
Jesse’s eighth
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, September 15, 2021
the king’s musician
where did all the spirits go?

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel 15:1  Samuel told Saul, “Yahveh sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now, listen to the words of Yahveh.

1 Samuel 15:2  This is what Yahveh of Armies says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:3  Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.'”

1 Samuel 15:4  Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah.

1 Samuel 15:5  Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.

1 Samuel 15:6  He warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

1 Samuel 15:7  Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:8  He captured King Agag of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.

1 Samuel 15:9  Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

1 Samuel 15:10  Then the word of Yahveh came to Samuel,

1 Samuel 15:11  “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to Yahveh all night.

1 Samuel 15:12  Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Notice, Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.”

1 Samuel 15:13  When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May Yahveh bless you. I have carried out Yahveh’s instructions.”

1 Samuel 15:14  Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep, goats, and cattle I hear?”

1 Samuel 15:15  Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep, goats, and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to Yahveh your God, but the rest we destroyed.”

1 Samuel 15:16  “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what Yahveh said to me last night.” “Tell me,” he replied.

1 Samuel 15:17  Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? Yahveh anointed you king over Israel

1 Samuel 15:18  and then sent you on a mission and said: ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’

1 Samuel 15:19  So why didn’t you obey Yahveh? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in Yahveh’s sight?”

1 Samuel 15:20  “But I did obey Yahveh!” Saul answered. “I went on the mission Yahveh gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.

1 Samuel 15:21  The troops took sheep, goats, and cattle from the plunder – the first of what was set apart for destruction – to sacrifice to Yahveh your God at Gilgal.”

1 Samuel 15:22  Then Samuel said: Does Yahveh take pleasure in ascending offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying Yahveh? Notice: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:23  For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahveh, he has rejected you as king.

1 Samuel 15:24  Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned. I have transgressed Yahveh’s command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them.

1 Samuel 15:25  Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship Yahveh.”

1 Samuel 15:26  Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of Yahveh, Yahveh has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

1 Samuel 15:27  When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore.

1 Samuel 15:28  Samuel said to him, “Yahveh has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

1 Samuel 15:29  Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”

1 Samuel 15:30  Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to Yahveh your God.”

1 Samuel 15:31  Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to Yahveh.

1 Samuel 15:32  Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of Amalek.” Agag came to him trembling, for he thought, “Certainly the bitterness of death has come.”

1 Samuel 15:33  Samuel declared: As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women. Then he hacked Agag to pieces before Yahveh at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 15:34  Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

1 Samuel 15:35  Even to the day of his death, Samuel never saw Saul again. Samuel mourned for Saul, and Yahveh regretted he had made Saul king over Israel.

links:

disconnected leadership
leader lesson learned too late
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Friday, September 13, 2019
people pressure
set apart for destruction
valuable enemy
Why Samuel changed his mind

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14:1  That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the boy who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.

1 Samuel 14:2  Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. The troops with him numbered about six hundred.

1 Samuel 14:3  Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod, was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli Yahveh’s priest at Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

1 Samuel 14:4  There were sharp columns of rock on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh;

1 Samuel 14:5  one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba.

1 Samuel 14:6  Jonathan said to the boy who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps Yahveh will help us. Nothing can keep Yahveh from saving, whether by many or by few.”

1 Samuel 14:7  His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. You choose. Notice I’m right here with you whatever you decide.”

1 Samuel 14:8  “Notice,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us.

1 Samuel 14:9  If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them.

1 Samuel 14:10  But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because Yahveh has handed them over to us– that will be our sign.”

1 Samuel 14:11  They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Notice, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!”

1 Samuel 14:12  The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said. “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for Yahveh has handed them over to Israel.”

1 Samuel 14:13  Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off.

1 Samuel 14:14  In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field.

1 Samuel 14:15  Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties were terrified. The land shook, and terror spread from God.

1 Samuel 14:16  When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, they noticed the panicking troops scattering in every direction.

1 Samuel 14:17  So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and noticed that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

1 Samuel 14:18  Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites at that time.

1 Samuel 14:19  While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”

1 Samuel 14:20  Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and noticed the Philistines fighting against each other in great confusion!

1 Samuel 14:21  There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

1 Samuel 14:22  When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle.

1 Samuel 14:23  So Yahveh saved Israel that day. The battle extended beyond Beth-aven,

1 Samuel 14:24  and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

1 Samuel 14:25  Everyone went into the forest, and there was honey on the ground.

1 Samuel 14:26  When the troops entered the forest, they noticed the flow of honey, but none of them ate any of it because they feared the oath.

1 Samuel 14:27  However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb. When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy.

1 Samuel 14:28  Then one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.”

1 Samuel 14:29  Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little of this honey.

1 Samuel 14:30  How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.”

1 Samuel 14:31  The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash all the way to Aijalon. Since the Israelites were completely exhausted,

1 Samuel 14:32  they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it.

1 Samuel 14:33  Some reported to Saul: “Notice, the troops are sinning against Yahveh by eating meat with the blood still in it.” Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.”

1 Samuel 14:34  He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against Yahveh by eating meat with the blood in it.'” So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.

1 Samuel 14:35  Then Saul built an altar to Yahveh; it was the first time he had built an altar to Yahveh.

1 Samuel 14:36  Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain!” “Do whatever you want,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.”

1 Samuel 14:37  So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.

1 Samuel 14:38  Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.

1 Samuel 14:39  As surely as Yahveh lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him.

1 Samuel 14:40  So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”

1 Samuel 14:41  So Saul said to Yahveh, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

1 Samuel 14:42  Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected.

1 Samuel 14:43  Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.” Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. Notice, I am ready to die!”

1 Samuel 14:44  Saul declared to him, “May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die, Jonathan!”

1 Samuel 14:45  But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? No, as Yahveh lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.

1 Samuel 14:46  Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

1 Samuel 14:47  When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc.

1 Samuel 14:48  He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.

1 Samuel 14:49  Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, his firstborn, and Michal, the younger.

1 Samuel 14:50  The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner.

1 Samuel 14:51  Saul’s father was Kish. Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel.

1 Samuel 14:52  The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him.

links:

by many or by few
first domino
loyalty
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, September 13, 2023
redeemed by the people
trouble to the land

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13:1  Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty-two years over Israel.

1 Samuel 13:2  He chose three thousand men from Israel for himself: two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel’s hill country, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.

1 Samuel 13:3  Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

1 Samuel 13:4  And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:5  The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

1 Samuel 13:6  The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.

1 Samuel 13:7  Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.

1 Samuel 13:8  He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.

1 Samuel 13:9  So Saul said, “Bring me the ascending offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the ascending offering.

1 Samuel 13:10  Just as he finished offering the ascending offering, notice Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him,

1 Samuel 13:11  and Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,

1 Samuel 13:12  I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought Yahveh’s favor.’ So I forced myself to offer the ascending offering.”

1 Samuel 13:13  Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command Yahveh your God gave you. It was at this time that Yahveh would have permanently established your reign over Israel,

1 Samuel 13:14  but now your reign will not endure. Yahveh has found a man after his own heart, and Yahveh has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what Yahveh commanded.”

1 Samuel 13:15  Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.

1 Samuel 13:16  Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash.

1 Samuel 13:17  Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual.

1 Samuel 13:18  The next division headed toward the Beth-horon road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley toward the wilderness.

1 Samuel 13:19  No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”

1 Samuel 13:20  So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.

1 Samuel 13:21  The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod.

1 Samuel 13:22  So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

1 Samuel 13:23  Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.

links:

he would have
hiding at Gilgal
Is Death a Better Place ?
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, September 12, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, September 14, 2021
test completed — test failed
waiting for Jesus

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library