1 Samuel 10

1 Samuel 10:1  Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahveh anointed you ruler over his inheritance?

1 Samuel 10:2  Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and notice your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son? ‘

1 Samuel 10:3  “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine.

1 Samuel 10:4  They will ask how you are and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.

1 Samuel 10:5  “After that you will come to Gibeah of God where there are Philistine garrisons. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place prophesying. They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres.

1 Samuel 10:6  The Breath of Yahveh will come powerfully on you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed.

1 Samuel 10:7  When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require because God is with you.

1 Samuel 10:8  Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer ascending offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

1 Samuel 10:9  When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came about that day.

1 Samuel 10:10  When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, notice a group of prophets met him. Then the Breath of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them.

1 Samuel 10:11  Everyone who knew him previously and saw him noticed him prophesy with the prophets and asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

1 Samuel 10:12  Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?” As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying.

1 Samuel 10:13  Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place.

1 Samuel 10:14  Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.”

1 Samuel 10:15  “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”

1 Samuel 10:16  Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.

1 Samuel 10:17  Samuel summoned the people to Yahveh at Mizpah

1 Samuel 10:18  and said to the Israelites, “This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’

1 Samuel 10:19  But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to him, ‘You must set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before Yahveh by your tribes and clans.”

1 Samuel 10:20  Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.

1 Samuel 10:21  Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matrite clan was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they searched for him, they could not find him.

1 Samuel 10:22  They again inquired of Yahveh, “Has the man come here yet?” Yahveh replied, “Notice him, hidden among the supplies.”

1 Samuel 10:23  They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else.

1 Samuel 10:24  Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one Yahveh has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

1 Samuel 10:25  Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of Yahveh. Then Samuel sent all the people home.

1 Samuel 10:26  Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

1 Samuel 10:27  But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing.

links:

adventures in failure
ignoring criticism
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, September 10, 2019
the next step
the right man
what we don’t say
where did all the spirits go?

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 9

1 Samuel 9:1  There was a of Benjamin named Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite.

1 Samuel 9:2  He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man. No one was more impressive among the Israelites than he. He stood a head taller than anyone else.

1 Samuel 9:3  One day, the donkeys of Saul’s father, Kish, wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the boys with you and go look for the donkeys.”

1 Samuel 9:4  Saul and his servant went through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. They went through the land of Shaalim—nothing. Then they went through the Benjaminite region but still didn’t find them.

1 Samuel 9:5  When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the boy who was with him, “Come on, let’s go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”

1 Samuel 9:6  “Notice,” the servant said, “there’s a man of God in this city who is highly respected; everything he says is sure to come true. Let’s go there now. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.”

1 Samuel 9:7  “Notice, if we do go,” Saul said to his boy, “what do we take the man? The food from our packs is gone, and there’s no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

1 Samuel 9:8  The boy answered Saul: “Notice, I have a little silver. I’ll give it to the man of God, and he will tell us which way we should go.”

1 Samuel 9:9  Formerly in Israel, a man who was going to inquire of God would say, “Come, let’s go to the seer,” for the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.

1 Samuel 9:10  “Good,” Saul replied to his boy. “Come on, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

1 Samuel 9:11  As they were climbing the hill to the city, they found some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”

1 Samuel 9:12  The women answered, “Yes, notice he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now entered the city because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today.

1 Samuel 9:13  As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests can eat. Go up immediately– you can find him now.”

1 Samuel 9:14  So they went up toward the city. Saul and his servant were entering the town when they noticed Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place.

1 Samuel 9:15  Now, the day before Saul’s arrival, Yahveh had informed Samuel,

1 Samuel 9:16  “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people, Israel. He will save them from the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of my people, for their cry has come to me.”

1 Samuel 9:17  When Samuel saw Saul, Yahveh told him, “Notice the man I told you about; he will govern my people.”

1 Samuel 9:18  Saul approached Samuel at the city gate and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

1 Samuel 9:19  “I am the seer,” Samuel answered. “Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I’ll tell you everything that’s in your heart.

1 Samuel 9:20  As for the donkeys that wandered away from you three days ago, don’t worry about them because they’ve been found. And who does all Israel desire but you and all your father’s family?”

1 Samuel 9:21  Saul responded, “Am I not a Benjaminite from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and isn’t my clan the least important of all the clans of the Benjaminite tribe? So why have you said something like this to me?”

1 Samuel 9:22  Samuel took Saul and his boy brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the thirty or so men who had been invited.

1 Samuel 9:23  Then Samuel said to the cook, “Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.”

1 Samuel 9:24  The cook picked up the thigh and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Notice that the reserved piece is set before you. Eat it because it was saved for you for this solemn event at the time I said, ‘I’ve invited the people.'” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

1 Samuel 9:25  Afterward, they went down from the high place to the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.

1 Samuel 9:26  They got up early, and just before dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, and I’ll send you on your way!” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside.

1 Samuel 9:27  As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the boy to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I’ll reveal the word of God to you.” So the boy went on.

links:

adventures in failure
looking for donkeys

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8:1  When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

1 Samuel 8:2  His firstborn son’s name was Joel, and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.

1 Samuel 8:3  However, his sons did not follow his example—they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.

1 Samuel 8:4  So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.

1 Samuel 8:5  They said to him, “Notice, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”

1 Samuel 8:6  When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to Yahveh.

1 Samuel 8:7  But Yahveh told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.

1 Samuel 8:8  They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods.

1 Samuel 8:9  Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them.”

1 Samuel 8:10  Samuel told all Yahveh’s words to the people who were asking him for a king.

1 Samuel 8:11  He said, “These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots.

1 Samuel 8:12  He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.

1 Samuel 8:13  He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

1 Samuel 8:14  He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his slaves.

1 Samuel 8:15  He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and slaves.

1 Samuel 8:16  He can take your male slaves, your female slaves, your best young men, and your donkeys and use them for his work.

1 Samuel 8:17  He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his slaves.

1 Samuel 8:18  When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves, but Yahveh won’t answer you on that day.”

1 Samuel 8:19  The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

1 Samuel 8:20  Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.”

1 Samuel 8:21  Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to Yahveh.

1 Samuel 8:22  “Listen to them,” Yahveh told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”

links:

give and take
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, September 11, 2023
time for a king … or not

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 7

1 Samuel 7:1  So the people of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of Yahveh and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill. They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.

1 Samuel 7:2  Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for Yahveh.

1 Samuel 7:3  Samuel told them, “If you are returning to Yahveh with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to Yahveh, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 7:4  So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped Yahveh.

1 Samuel 7:5  Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahveh on your behalf.”

1 Samuel 7:6  When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in Yahveh’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against Yahveh.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

1 Samuel 7:7  When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 7:8  The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to Yahveh our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 7:9  Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole ascending offering to Yahveh. He cried out to Yahveh on behalf of Israel, and Yahveh answered him.

1 Samuel 7:10  Samuel was offering the ascending offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. Yahveh thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.

1 Samuel 7:11  Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.

1 Samuel 7:12  Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “Yahveh has helped us to this point.”

1 Samuel 7:13  So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel’s territory again. Yahveh’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life.

1 Samuel 7:14  The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

1 Samuel 7:15  Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.

1 Samuel 7:16  Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations.

1 Samuel 7:17  Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to Yahveh there.

links:

make your life count
revival
revive us again
traders of the lost ark

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library