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2 Samuel: Greatest Verses Of The Bible.

--Sermon by Dr. Bob Benchoff December 28, 2003

The Book of Ruth, followed by The First Book of Samuel, followed by The Second Book of Samuel.

Just click "Edit" and "Find" to find a phrase. The following are Bible verses or portions of verses.

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Ruth 1.1.

The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi. Ruth 1.2.

The woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband. Ruth 1.5.

Then she started with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. Ruth 1.6.

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.". Ruth 1.8.

The Lord grant that you may find a home each of you in the house of her husband. Ruth 1.9.

Ruth clung to her. Ruth 1.14.

And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.". Ruth 1.15.

But Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God". Ruth 1.16.

Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you. Ruth 1.17.

And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. Ruth 1.18.

So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?". Ruth 1.19.

She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.". Ruth 1.20 (Note: "Naomi" = "Pleasant", "Mara" = "Bitter").

I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has afflicted me ant the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?. Ruth 1.21 (Note: "afflicted" RSV = "testified against" Greek Syriac Vulgate: Hebrew: KJV).

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth 1.22.

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. Ruth 2.1.

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter.". Ruth 2.2.

So she set forth and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Ruth 2.3.

And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem; and he said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you!" And they answered, "The Lord bless you.". Ruth 2.4.

Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose maiden is this?". Ruth 2.5.

And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, "It is the Moabite maiden, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.". Ruth 2.6.

She said, 'Pray, let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.' So she came, and she has now, without resting even for a moment. Ruth 2.7.

Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my maidens.". Ruth 2.8.

Let your eyes be upon the field which they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to molest you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn. Ruth 2.9.

Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?". Ruth 2.10.

But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.". Ruth 2.11.

The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!. Ruth 2.12.

Then she said, "You are most gracious to me, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not one of your maidservants.". Ruth 2.13.

And at mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here, and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the wind." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her parched grain; and she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. Ruth 2.14.

When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheave, and do not reproach her.". Ruth 2.15.

And also pull out some from the bundles for her, and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her. Ruth 2.16.

So she gleaned in the field until evening; then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Ruth 2.17.

And she took it up and went into the city; she showed her mother-in-law what she had gleaned, and she also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. Ruth 2.18.

And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.". Ruth 2.19.

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.". Ruth 2.20.

And Ruth the Moabitess said, "Besides, he said to me, 'You shall keep close by my servants, till they have finished all my harvest.'". Ruth 2.21.

And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, "It is well, my duaghter, that you go out with his maidens, lest in another field you be molested.". Ruth 2.22.

So she kept close to the maidens of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law. Ruth 2.23.

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek a home for you, that it may be well with you?". Ruth 3.1.

Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Ruth 3.2.

Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Ruth 3.3.

But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do. Ruth 3.4.

And she replied, "All that you say I will do.". Ruth 3.5.

So she went down to the threshing floor anddid just as her mother-in-law had told her. Ruth 3.6.

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and lay down. Ruth 3.7.

At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!. Ruth 3.8.

He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant; spread your skirt over your maidservant, for you are next of kin.". Ruth 3.9.

And he said, "May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; you have made this last kindness greater than the first, in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.". Ruth 3.10.

And now, my daughter, do not fear, I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of worth. Ruth 3.11.

And now it is true that I am a near kinsman, yet there is a kinsman nearer than I. Ruth 3.12.

Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will do the part of the next of kin for you, well; let him do it; but if he is not willing to do the part of the next of kin for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will do the part of the next of kin for you. Lied down until the morning. Ruth 3.13.

So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another; and he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.". Ruth 3.14.

And he said, "Bring the mantle you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and laid it upon her; then she went into the city.". Ruth 3.15.

And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did you fare, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her. Ruth 3.16.

Saying, "These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, 'You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'". Ruth 3.17.

She replied, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.". Ruth 3.18.

And Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the next of kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside, friend; sit down here"; and he turned aside and sat down. Ruth 4.1.

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here"; so they sat down. Ruth 4.2.

Then he said to the next of kin, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land which belonged to our kinsman Elimelech.". Ruth 4.3.

So I thought I would tell you of it, and say, Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you. And he said, "I will redeem it.". Ruth 4.4.

Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the dead, in order to restore thename of the dead to his inheritance.". Ruth 4.5 (Note: Ruth was considered similar to property in this situation, with "must buy it also of Ruth", KJV, reading "buying Ruth", RSV; another version or rewording of the verse, Hebrew / Old Latin Vulgate, reads "of Naomi and from Ruth". These of course make a great difference in our perception of how God views slavery, marriage, women's rights, land ownership, and other.).

Then the next of kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.". Ruth 4.6.

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. Ruth 4.7.

So when the next of kin said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself," he drew off his sandal. Ruth 4.8.

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. Ruth 4.9.

Also Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate thename of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethern and from the gate of his native place; you are witnesses this day.". Ruth 4.10.

Then all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem". Ruth 4.11.

And may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman. Ruth 4.12.

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went into her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Ruth 4.13.

Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next of kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel!". Ruth 4.14.

He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him. Ruth 4.15.

Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosim, and became his nurse. Ruth 4.16.

And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naoim." They named him Obed; he was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4.17.

Now these are the descendants of Perez; Perez was the father of Hezron. Ruth 4.18.

Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab. Ruth 4.19.

Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon. Ruth 4.20.

Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed. Ruth 4.21.

Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David. Ruth 4.22.

The First Book of Samuel.

There was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah. 1 Samuel 1.1.

He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 1 Samuel 1.2.

Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 1 Samuel 1.3.

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 1 Samuel 1.4.

And, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the Lord had closed her womb. 1 Samuel 1.5.

And her rival used to provoke her sorely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 1 Samuel 1.6.

So it went on year by year; as often as she wept up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 1 Samuel 1.7.

And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?". 1 Samuel 1.8.

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 1 Samuel 1.9.

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. 1 Samuel 1.10.

And she vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me, and not forget thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.". 1 Samuel 1.11.

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 1 Samuel 1.12.

Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard; therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 1 Samuel 1.13.

And Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you.". 1 Samuel 1.14.

But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, But I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.". 1 Samuel 1.15.

Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. 1 Samuel 1.16.

Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Isreal grant your petition which you have made to him.". 1 Samuel 1.17.

And whe said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance was no longer sad. 1 Samuel 1.18.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 1 Samuel 1.19.

And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the Lord.". 1 Samuel 1.20.

And the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. 1 Samuel 1.21.

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and abide there for ever.". 1 Samuel 1.22.

Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. 1 Samuel 1.23.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine; and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. 1 Samuel 1.24 (Note: "a three-year-old bull", RSV = "three bullocks", AKJV).

Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 1 Samuel 1.25.

And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence praying to the Lord.". 1 Samuel 1.26.

For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me my petition which I made to him. 1 Samuel 1.27.

Therefore I ahve lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1.28.

And Hannah prayed and said "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord", my strength is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. 1 Samuel 2.1 (Note: composite; "Hannah" AKJV = "he" Hebrew = "they" RSV; "enlarged" AKJV = "derides" RSV).

"There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God.". 1 Samuel 2.2.

Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2.3.

The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. 1 Samuel 2.4.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. 1 Samuel 2.5.

The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 1 Samuel 2.6.

The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. 1 Samuel 2.7.

He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world. 1 Samuel 2.8.

"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.". 1 Samuel 2.9 (Note: So, as in studying, speaking, and doing the Word of God one can prepare for unifying and prevailing, steadfastfully and faithfully gaining might in the eyes of the Lord, yet the greatness and prevailing is of the Lord).

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed. 1 Samuel 2.10.

Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the Lord, in the presence of Eli the priest. 1 Samuel 2.11.

Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they had no regard for the Lord. 1 Samuel 2.12.

The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with the three-pronged fork in his hand. 1 Samuel 2.13.

And he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. So they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 1 Samuel 2.14 (Note: "himself" RSV = "with it" Hebrew Greek Syriac Vulgate).

Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw.". 1 Samuel 2.15.

And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish." he would say, "No, you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.". 1 Samuel 2.16.

Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord; for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. 1 Samuel 2.17.

Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy girded with a linen ephod. 1 Samuel 2.18.

And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 1 Samuel 2.19.

Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The Lord give you children by this woman for the loan which she lent to the Lord"; so then they would return to their home.". 1 Samuel 2.20.

And the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. 1 Samuel 2.21.

Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 1 Samuel 2.22.

And he said to them, "Why do you do such thing? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.". 1 Samuel 2.23.

No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. 1 Samuel 2.24.

If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him? 1 Samuel 2.25.

Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men. 1 Samuel 2.26.

And there came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, "Thus the Lord has said, 'I revealed myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh.'". 1 Samuel 2.27.

And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me; and I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. 1 Samuel 2.28.

Why then treat with scorn my sacrifices and my offerings which I commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves upon the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel? 1 Samuel 2.29.

Therefore the Lord the God of Israel declares: 'I promise that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me for ever'; but now the Lord declares: 'Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.' 1 Samuel 2.30 (So those who honor God are honored, and righteous light is shed on those who are ignorant that they might choose correctly and moreover that the Word of God has bountiful priority.).

Behold, the days are coming, when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 1 Samuel 2.31.

Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity which shall be bestowed upon Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house for ever. 1 Samuel 2.32 (Note: "there shall not be an old man in your house for ever" RSV = "for no one in your family will live to enjoy it" The Message, MSG).

The man of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep out his eyes and grieve his heart; and all the increase of your house shall die by the sword of men. 1 Samuel 2.33.

And this which shall befall your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. 1 Samuel 2.34 (Note: "sign" RSV & many other versions = "proof" MSG & English Standard Version, ESV = "to prove" New Living Translation, NLT & Contemporary English Version, CEV).

And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind; and I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed for ever. 1 Samuel 2.35.

And every one who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and shall say, "Put me, I pray you, in one of the priest's places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.". 1 Samuel 2.36.

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 1 Samuel 3.1.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 1 Samuel 3.2.

The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 1 Samuel 3.3.

Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!". 1 Samuel 3.4.

And ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am!, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 1 Samuel 3.5.

And the Lord called again, "Samuel!" And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again.". 1 Samuel 3.6.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 1 Samuel 3.7.

When the Lord called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, what do you want?" Eli finally realized that it was the Lord who was speaking to Samuel. 1 Samuel 3.8 (Note: "realized" CEV = "perceived" RSV).

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he cally you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3.9.

And the Lord came and stood forth, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for thy servant hears.". 1 Samuel 3.10.

Then the Lord said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel, at which the two ears of every one that hears it will tingle.". 1 Samuel 3.11.

On that day I will fulfil against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 1 Samuel 3.12.

And I tell him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 1 Samuel 3.13 (Note: The Amplified Bible interprets "blaspheming God" as "bringing a curse upon themselves", also indicated by some other versions; since no forgiveness is not the way of God: God often had to correct Israelites from their straying, and help them be victorious, see Exodus 17.11.).

Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever. 1 Samuel 3.14.

Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 1 Samuel 3.15.

But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am.". 1 Samuel 3.16.

And Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.". 1 Samuel 3.17.

So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.". 1 Samuel 3.18.

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 1 Samuel 3.19.

And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. 1 Samuel 3.20.

And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, fo rthe Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. 1 Samuel 3.21.

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines; they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 1 Samuel 4.1.

The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the field of battle. 1 Samuel 4.2.

And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord put us to rout today before teh Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that he may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.". 1 Samuel 4.3.

So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 1 Samuel 4.4.

When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 1 Samuel 4.5.

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, "What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp. 1 Samuel 4.6.

The Philistines were afraid; for they said "A god has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.". 1 Samuel 4.7.

Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 1 Samuel 4.8.

Take courage, and acquit yourselves like men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; acquit yourselves like men and fight. 1 Samuel 4.9.

So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home; and there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 1 Samuel 4.10.

And the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 1 Samuel 4.11.

A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent and with earth upon his head. 1 Samuel 4.12.

When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. 1 Samuel 4.13.

When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "What is this uproar?" Then the man hastened and came and told Eli. 1 Samuel 4.14.

Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set, so that he could not see. 1 Samuel 4.15.

And the man said to Eli, "I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today." And he said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great slaughter among the people: your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.". 1 Samuel 4.17.

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. 1 Samuel 4.18.

Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child, about to give birth. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth; for her pains came upon her. 1 Samuel 4.19.

And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, "Fear not, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or give heed.. 1 Samuel 4.20.

And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 1 Samuel 4.21.

And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.". 1 Samuel 4.22.

When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they carried it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 1 Samuel 5.1.

Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 1 Samuel 5.2.

And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 1 Samuel 5.3.

But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 1 Samuel 5.4.

This is who the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 1 Samuel 5.5.

The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. 1 Samuel 5.6.

And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us; for his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god.". 1 Samuel 5.7.

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. 1 Samuel 5.8.

But after they had brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out upon them. 1 Samuel 5.9.

So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to slay us and our people.". 1 Samuel 5.10.

They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not slay us and our people." For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 1 Samuel 5.11.

The men who did not die were stricken with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. 1 Samuel 5.12.

The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 1 Samuel 6.1.

And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.". 1 Samuel 6.2.

They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not sent it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.". 1 Samuel 6.3.

And they said, "What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?" They answered, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for the same plague was upon all of you and upon your lords.". 1 Samuel 6.4.

So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 1 Samuel 6.5.

Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had made sport of them, did not they let the people go, and they departed?. 1 Samuel 6.6.

Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows upon which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. 1 Samuel 6.7.

And take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart, and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then sent it off, and let it go its way. 1 Samuel 6.8.

And watch; if it goes up on the way to its own land, to Bethshemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm; but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us, it happened to us by chance. 1 Samuel 6.9 (Note: In verses 3 through 9, the priests were not followers of the Word of the God of Israel so would logically have optimum logic dysfunctionality, yet nonetheless as luck probability created of the God of Israel would have it, they reached sufficient logical solution via the process of eliminataion, having run out of options.).

The men did so, and took two milch cows and yoked them to the car, and shut up their calves at home. 1 Samuel 6.10.

And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. 1 Samuel 6.11.

And the cows went straight in the direction of Beths-hemesh along one highway, lowing as they went; they turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. 1 Samuel 6.12.

Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. 1 Samuel 6.13.

The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh, and stopped there. A great stone was there; and they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 1 Samuel 6.14.

And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone; and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord. 1 Samuel 6.15.

And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron. 1 Samuel 6.16.

These are the golden tumors, which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord. 1 Samuel 6.17.

The great stone, beside which they set down the ark of the Lord, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. 1 Samuel 6.18.

And the Lord slew some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the Lord; He slew seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had made a great slaughter among them. 1 Samuel 6.19 (Note: "Lord" AMP = "he" RSV; "seventy" AMP & RSV = "50,070" in many or most Hebrew manuscripts).

Then the men of Bethshemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?". 1 Samuel 6.20.

So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriathjearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you.". 1 Samuel 6.21.

And the men of Kiriathjearim came and took up the ark of the Lord, and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill; and they consecrated his son, Eleazar, to have charge of the ark of the Lord. 1 Samuel 7.1.

From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriathjearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 1 Samuel 7.2.

Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.". 1 Samuel 7.3.

So Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only. 1 Samuel 7.4.

Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.". 1 Samuel 7.5.

So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. 1 Samuel 7.6.

Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Don not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.". 1 Samuel 7.7.

And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.". 1 Samuel 7.8.

So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 1 Samuel 7.9.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. 1 Samuel 7.10.

And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far as below Bethcar. 1 Samuel 7.11.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, "Hitherto the Lord has helped us.". 1 Samuel 7.12.

So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 1 Samuel 7.13.

The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel rescued their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites. 1 Samuel 7.14.

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 1 Samuel 7.15.

And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places. 1 Samuel 7.16.

Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he administered justice to Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord. 1 Samuel 7.17.

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 1 Samuel 8.1.

The name of his first-born son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijaah; they were judges in Beersheba. 1 Samuel 8.2.

Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice. 1 Samuel 8.3.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 1 Samuel 8.4.

And said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations.". 1 Samuel 8.5.

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 1 Samuel 8.6.

And the Lord said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.". 1 Samuel 8.7.

According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 1 Samuel 8.8.

Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them. 1 Samuel 8.9.

So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking a king from him. 1 Samuel 8.10.

He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots". 1 Samuel 8.11.

And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 1 Samuel 8.12.

He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 1 Samuel 8.13.

He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 1 Samuel 8.14.

He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 1 Samuel 8.15.

He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best of your cattle and your asses, and put them to his work. 1 Samuel 8.16.

He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 1 Samuel 8.17.

And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day. 1 Samuel 8.18.

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No! but we will have a king over us". 1 Samuel 8.19.

That we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles. 1 Samuel 8.20.

And when Samuel had heard all the words of teh people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 1 Samuel 8.21.

And the Lord said to Samuel, "Hearken to their voice, and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city.". 1 Samuel 8.22.

There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 1 Samuel 9.1.

And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 1 Samuel 9.2 (Note: After "he;" RSV, the MSG version reads "he literally stood head and shoulders above the crowd".).

Now the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the asses.". 1 Samuel 9.3.

And they passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. 1 Samuel 9.4.

When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the asses and become anxious about us.". 1 Samuel 9.5.

But he said to him, "Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he says comes true. Let us go there; perhaps he can tell us about the journey on which we have set out.". 1 Samuel 9.6.

Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What have we?". 1 Samuel 9.7.

The servant answered Saul again, "Here, I have with me the fourth part of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God, to tell us our way.". 1 Samuel 9.8.

(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.). 1 Samuel 9.9.

And Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was. 1 Samuel 9.10.

As they went up the hill to the city, they met young maidens coming out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?". 1 Samuel 9.11.

They answered "He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Make haste; he has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 1 Samuel 9.12.

As soon as you enter the city, you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those eat who are invited. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.". 1 Samuel 9.13.

So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place. 1 Samuel 9.14.

Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel:. 1 Samuel 9.15.

"Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the affliction of my people, because their cry has come to me.". 1 Samuel 9.16 (Note: "the affliction of" RSV = missing from Hebrew Greek text. Olive oil was typically poured on the head of someone anointed to be a priest, a prophet, or a king: CEV).

When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall rule over my people.". 1 Samuel 9.17.

Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?". 1 Samuel 9.18.

Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer; go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.". 1 Samuel 9.19.

As for your asses that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?. 1 Samuel 9.20.

Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?". 1 Samuel 9.21.

Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 1 Samuel 9.22.

And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Put it aside.'". 1 Samuel 9.23.

So the cook took up the leg and the upper portion and set them before Saul; and Samuel said, "See, what was kept is set before you. Eat; because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests." So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 1 Samuel 9.24.

And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul upon the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 1 Samuel 9.25.

Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul upon the roof, "Up, that I may send you on your way." So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 1 Samuel 9.26.

As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on stop here yourself for a while, that i may make known to you the word of God.". 1 Samuel 9.27.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said, "Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel" And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their enemies round about. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. 1 Samuel 10.1 (Note: Hebrew: Septuagint and Vulgate variation: over his people Israel? You will reign over the LORD 's people and save them from the power of their enemies round about. And this will be a sign to you that the LORD has anointed you leader over his inheritance: NIV).

When you depart from me today you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, 'The asses which you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the asses and is anxious about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"'. 1 Samuel 10.2.

Then you shall go on from there further and come to the oak of Tabor; three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 1 Samuel 10.3.

And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. 1 Samuel 10.4.

After that you shall come to Gibeathelohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines; and there, as you come to the city, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 1 Samuel 10.5.

Then the spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you, and you shall prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 1 Samuel 10.6.

Now when these signs meet you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 1 Samuel 10.7.

And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do. 1 Samuel 10.8.

When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all these signs came to pass that day. 1 Samuel 10.9.

When they came to Gibeah, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them. 1 Samuel 10.10.

And when all who knew him before saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, "What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?". 1 Samuel 10.11.

And a man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?". 1 Samuel 10.12.

When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. 1 Samuel 10.13.

Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the asses; and when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.". 1 Samuel 10.14.

And Saul's uncle said, "Pray, tell me what Samuel said to you.". 1 Samuel 10.15.

And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the asses had been found." But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything. 1 Samuel 10.16.

Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. 1 Samuel 10.17.

And he said to the people of Israel, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.". 1 Samuel 10.18.

But you have this day rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said, 'No! but set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands. 1 Samuel 10.19.

Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 1 Samuel 10.20.

He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of the Matrites was taken by lot; finally he brought the family of the Matrites near man by man, and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 1 Samuel 10.21 (Note: Hebrew Greek lacks "finally...by man".).

So they inquired again of the Lord, "Did the man come hither?" and the Lord said, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.". 1 Samuel 10.22 (Note: Whether we discover a coward, a conscientious objector, or a person whose motives we don't understand, we must have reasonable compassion lest we happen to offend God.).

Then they ran and fetched him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 1 Samuel 10.23.

And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!". 1 Samuel 10.24.

Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship; and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 1 Samuel 10.25.

Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 1 Samuel 10.26.

But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace. 1 Samuel 10.27.

Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabeshgilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.". 1 Samuel 11.1.

But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel.". 1 Samuel 11.2.

The elders of jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.". 1 Samuel 11.3.

When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people; and all the people wept aloud. 1 Samuel 11.4.

Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, "What ails the people, that they are weeping?" So they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 1 Samuel 11.5.

And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 1 Samuel 11.6.

He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel so shall it be done to his oxen!" Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. 1 Samuel 11.7.

When he mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel were three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 1 Samuel 11.8.

And they said to the messengers who had come, "Thus shall you say to the men of Jabeshgilead: 'Tomorrow by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.'" When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 1 Samuel 11.9.

Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.". 1 Samuel 11.10.

And on the morrow Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 1 Samuel 11.11.

Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death.". 1 Samuel 11.12.

But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has wrought deliverance in Israel.". 1 Samuel 11.13.

Then samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.". 1 Samuel 11.14.

So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. 1 Samuel 11.15.

And Samuel said to all Israel "Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and have made a king over you.". 1 Samuel 12.1.

And now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 1 Samuel 12.2.

Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.". 1 Samuel 12.3.

They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.". 1 Samuel 12.4.

And he said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness.". 1 Samuel 12.5.

And Samuel said to the people, "The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 1 Samuel 12.6.

Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the saving deeds of the Lord which he performed for you and for your fathers. 1 Samuel 12.7.

When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. 1 Samuel 12.8.

But they forgot the Lord their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Jabin king of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. 1 Samuel 12.9.

And they cried to the Lord, and said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served the Baals and teh aAshteroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.'. 1 Samuel 12.10.

And teh Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. 1 Samuel 12.11.

And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the Lord your God was your king. 1 Samuel 12.12.

And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. 1 Samuel 12.13.

If you will fear the Lord and serve him and hearken to his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 1 Samuel 12.14.

But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king. 1 Samuel 12.15.

Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes. 1 Samuel 12.16.

Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king. 1 Samuel 12.17.

So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. 1 Samuel 12.18.

And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.". 1 Samuel 12.19.

And Samuel said to the people, "Fear not; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.". 1 Samuel 12.20.

And do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, for they are vain. 1 Samuel 12.21.

For the Lord will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 1 Samuel 12.22.

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 1 Samuel 12.23.

Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12.24.

But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.". 1 Samuel 12.25.

Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel. 1 Samuel 13.1.

Saul chose three thousand men of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; the rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 1 Samuel 13.2.

Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines which was at Geba; and teh Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear.". 1 Samuel 13.3.

And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. 1 Samuel 13.4.

And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude; they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Bethaven. 1 Samuel 13.5.

When the men of Israel saw that they were in straits (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns. 1 Samuel 13.6.

Or crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 1 Samuel 13.7.

He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 1 Samuel 13.8.

So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering. 1 Samuel 13.9.

As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and salute him. 1 Samuel 13.10 (Note: "salute" see Luke 10.4 and Matthew 10.12).

Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash". 1 Samuel 13.11.

I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of the Lord'; so I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering. 1 Samuel 13.12.

And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you; for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel for ever.". 1 Samuel 13.13.

But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart; and the Lord has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. 1 Samuel 13.14.

And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 1 Samuel 13.15.

And Saul and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 1 Samuel 13.16.

And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three cmpanies; one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual. 1 Samuel 13.17.

Another company turned toward Bethhoron, and another company turned toward the border. 1 Samuel 13.18.

Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears". 1 Samuel 13.19.

But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle. 1 Samuel 13.20.

And the charge was a pim for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening teh axes and for setting the goads. 1 Samuel 13.21.

Son on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 1 Samuel 13.22.

And teh garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. 1 Samuel 13.23.

One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on yonder side.". 1 Samuel 14.1.

Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is at Migron; the people who were with him were about six hundred men. 1 Samuel 14.2.

And Ahijah the son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of teh Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 1 Samuel 14.3.

In the pass, by thich Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 1 Samuel 14.4.

The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south infront of Geba. 1 Samuel 14.5.

And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us; for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.". 1 Samuel 14.6.

And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that your mind inclines to; behold, I am with you, as is your mind so is mine.". 1 Samuel 14.7.

Then said Jonathan, "Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 1 Samuel 14.8.

If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 1 Samuel 14.9.

But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up; for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us. 1 Samuel 14.10.

So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hid themselves.". 1 Samuel 14.11.

And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.". 1 Samuel 14.12.

Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands andfeet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 1 Samuel 14.13.

And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was of about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land. 1 Samuel 14.14.

And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic. 1 Samuel 14.15.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude was surging hither and thither. 1 Samuel 14.16.

Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 1 Samuel 14.17.

And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel. 1 Samuel 14.18.

And while saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more; and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand.". 1 Samuel 14.19.

Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 1 Samuel 14.20.

Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who weree with Saul and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14.21.

Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 1 Samuel 14.22.

so the Lord delivered Israel that day; and the battle passed beyond Bethaven. 1 Samuel 14.23.

And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for saul laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food. 1 Samuel 14.24.

And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. 1 Samuel 14.25.

And when the people entered the forest behold, the honey was dropping, but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 1 Samuel 14.26.

But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; so he put forth the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes became bright. 1 Samuel 14.27 (Note: Compare David eating bread of the Presence 21.6).

Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint. 1 Samuel 14.28.

Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have become bright, because I tasted a little of this honey.". 1 Samuel 14.29.

How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great. 1 Samuel 14.30.

They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. 1 Samuel 14.31.

The people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 1 Samuel 14.32 (Note: The life of any creature is it's "blood", not to be eaten. Leviticus 17.14).

Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord, by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.". 1 Samuel 14.33.

And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, 'Let every man bring his ox or his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 1 Samuel 14.34.

And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord. 1 Samuel 14.35.

Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and despoil them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near hither to God.". 1 Samuel 14.36.

And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day. 1 Samuel 14.37.

And Saul said, "Come hither, all you leaders of teh people; and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 1 Samuel 14.38.

For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 1 Samuel 14.39.

Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you.". 1 Samuel 14.40.

Therefore Saul said, "O Lord God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt is in thy people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 1 Samuel 14.41.

Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken. 1 Samuel 14.42.

Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand; here I am, I will die.". 1 Samuel 14.43.

And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.". 1 Samuel 14.44.

Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, that he did not die. 1 Samuel 14.45.

Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place. 1 Samuel 14.46.

When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines wherever he turned he put them to the worse. 1 Samuel 14.47.

And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 1 Samuel 14.48.

There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself. 1 Samuel 14.52 (Note: "attached" RSV = "drafted" NLT).

And Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore hearken to the words of the Lord. 1 Samuel 15.1.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'I will punish what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt.'. 1 Samuel 15.2.

Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 1 Samuel 15.3 (Note: Today such action may be considered racial cleansing to the extent of any mind respecting such race. Yet when God provided for this, it was hardly about mere human fears such as poverty, starvation, or torture; it was logically about something far worse, their rejection of good God and replacement with the opposite. The personal thought, judgement, and choice {to or to not} follow God, is a matter for God to judge; it is not for other humans to judge without that personal thorough information and/or an order from God. So we are to follow God and do as God has done, yet we are to distinguish the glory of God, from our own selfish desire for glory.). 1 Samuel 15.3.

So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men of foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 1 Samuel 15.4.

And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and lay in wait in the valley. 1 Samuel 15.5.

And Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 1 Samuel 15.6.

And Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 1 Samuel 15.7.

And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 1 Samuel 15.8.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and the oxen and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; all that was despised and worthless they utterly destroyed. 1 Samuel 15.9.

The word of the Lord came to Samuel:. 1 Samuel 15.10.

"I repent that I have made Saul king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry; and he cried to the Lord all night. 1 Samuel 15.11.

And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal.". 1 Samuel 15.12.

And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the Lord; I have performed the commandment of the Lord.". 1 Samuel 15.13.

And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in which I hear?". 1 Samuel 15.14.

Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.". 1 Samuel 15.15.

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night." And he said to him, "Say on.". 1 Samuel 15.16.

And Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.". 1 Samuel 15.17.

And the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'. 1 Samuel 15.18.

Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop on the spoil, and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?. 1 Samuel 15.19.

And Saul said to Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.". 1 Samuel 15.20.

But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal. 1 Samuel 15.21.

And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.". 1 Samuel 15.22 (Note: see Matthew 5.24).

For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king. 1 Samuel 15.23.

And Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.". 1 Samuel 15.24.

Now therefore, I pray, pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.. 1 Samuel 15.25.

And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.". 1 Samuel 15.26.

As Samuel turned to go away, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 1 Samuel 15.27.

And Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.". 1 Samuel 15.28.

And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent. 1 Samuel 15.29.

Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.". 1 Samuel 15.30.

So Samuel turned back after Saul; and Saul worshiped the Lord. 1 Samuel 15.31.

Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past.". 1 Samuel 15.32.

And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. 1 Samuel 15.33.

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 1 Samuel 15.34.

And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. 1 Samuel 15.35.

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.". 1 Samuel 16.1.

And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.'". 1 Samuel 16.2.

And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you.. 1 Samuel 16.3.

Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?". 1 Samuel 16.4.

And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the Sacrifice. 1 Samuel 16.5.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.". 1 Samuel 16.6.

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.". 1 Samuel 16.7.

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one.". 1 Samuel 16.8.

Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one.". 1 Samuel 16.9.

And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these.". 1 Samuel 16.10.

And Samuel said to Jesse, "are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and fetch him; for we will not sid down till he comes here.". 1 Samuel 16.11.

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he.". 1 Samuel 16.12.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16.13.

Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. 1 Samuel 16.14.

And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.". 1 Samuel 16.15.

Let our lord now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is skilful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you he will play it, and you will be well. 1 Samuel 16.16.

So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.". 1 Samuel 16.17.

One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him.". 1 Samuel 16.18.

Therefore Saul snet messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.". 1 Samuel 16.19.

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a skin of wine and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 1 Samuel 16.20.

And David came to Saul, and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he beecame his armor-bearer. 1 Samuel 16.21.

And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.". 1 Samuel 16.22.

And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. 1 Samuel 16.23.

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between socoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. 1 Samuel 17.1.

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 1 Samuel 17.2.

And teh Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 1 Samuel 17.3.

And there came out from teh camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 1 Samuel 17.4.

He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 1 Samuel 17.5.

And he had greaves of bronze upon his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 1 Samuel 17.6.

And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. 1 Samuel 17.7.

He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.". 1 Samuel 17.8.

If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. 1 Samuel 17.9.

And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.". 1 Samuel 17.10.

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 1 Samuel 17.11.

Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. 1 Samuel 17.12.

The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle; and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the first-born, and next to him Abinadab, and the thirs Shammah. 1 Samuel 17.13.

David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul. 1 Samuel 17.14.

But David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 1 Samuel 17.15.

For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. 1 Samuel 17.16.

And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ehpah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers". 1 Samuel 17.17.

Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand, See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them.. 1 Samuel 17.18.

Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 1 Samuel 17.19.

And David rose early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the provisions, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the encampment as the host was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 1 Samuel 17.20.

And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 1 Samuel 17.21.

And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, and ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. 1 Samuel 17.22.

As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Golaith by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. 1 Samuel 17.23.

All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were much afraid. 1 Samuel 17.24.

And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and the man who kills him, the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.". 1 Samuel 17.25.

And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?". 1 Samuel 17.26.

And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to the man who kills him.". 1 Samuel 17.27.

Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption, and teh evil of your heart; for you have come down to see the battle.". 1 Samuel 17.28.

And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?". 1 Samuel 17.29.

And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way; and the people answered him again as before. 1 Samuel 17.30.

When the words which David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul; and he sent for him. 1 Samuel 17.31.

And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.". 1 Samuel 17.32.

And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.". 1 Samuel 17.33.

But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock". 1 Samuel 17.34.

I went after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and killed him. 1 Samuel 17.35.

Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defiled the armies of the living God. 1 Samuel 17.36 (Note: So through the highest authority of the people of God, a person [or people] contrary to God may be devalued from human to animal, and may be killed; see Genesis 1.26; and similarly, dominion over animals may include killing animals according to that authority. See also Exodus 2.12 and 20.13.).

And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!". 1 Samuel 17.37.

Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a helmet of bronze on his head, and clothed him with a coat of mail. 1 Samuel 17.38.

And David girded his sword over his armor, and he tried in vain to go, for he was not used to them Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I am not used to them." And David put them off. 1 Samuel 17.39.

Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in his shepherd's bag or wallet; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17.40.

And the Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 1 Samuel 17.41.

And when the Philistine looked, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance. 1 Samuel 17.42.

And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.". 1 Samuel 17.43 (Note: Logically, a curse by that which is opposite of God = a blessing without useful coherent power, 1 Corinthians 13.1; unless God or the people of God choose to use that tool for good purposes.).

The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.". 1 Samuel 17.44.

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with 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. 1 Samuel 17.45.

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 1 Samuel 17.46 (Note: So eating of human flesh is only according to the top authority of the people of God for the glory of God: not for selfish consumption purposes.).

And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hand. 1 Samuel 17.47.

When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17.48.

And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 1 Samuel 17.49.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; there was no sword in the hand of David. 1 Samuel 17.50.

Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 1 Samuel 17.51.

And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell onthe way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. 1 Samuel 17.52.

And the Israelites came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 1 Samuel 17.53.

And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent. 1 Samuel 17.54.

When Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I cannot tell.". 1 Samuel 17.55.

And the king said, "Inquire whose son the stripling is.". 1 Samuel 17.56.

And as David returned from teh slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 1 Samuel 17.57.

And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.". 1 Samuel 17.58.

When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18.1.

And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his father's house. 1 Samuel 18.2.

Then Johathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18.3.

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his girdle. 1 Samuel 18.4.

And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 1 Samuel 18.5.

As they were coming home, when David returned from slaying the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singin and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels, with songs of joy, and with instruments of music. 1 Samuel 18.6.

And the women sang to one another as they made merry, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.". 1 Samuel 18.7.

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousnads, and to me they have ascribed thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?". 1 Samuel 18.8.

And Saul eyed David from that day on. 1 Samuel 18.9.

And on the morrow an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 1 Samuel 18.10.

And Saul cast the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice. 1 Samuel 18.11 (Note: see 19.10).

Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 1 Samuel 18.12.

So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commandeer of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 1 Samuel 18.13.

And David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him. 1 Samuel 18.14.

And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 1 Samuel 18.15.

But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them. 1 Samuel 18.16.

Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you for a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.". 1 Samuel 18.17.

And David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my kinsfolk, my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?". 1 Samuel 18.18.

But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. 1 Samuel 18.19.

Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 1 Samuel 18.20.

Saul thought, "Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David a second time, "You shall now be my son-in-law.". 1 Samuel 18.21.

And Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, 'Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you; now then become the king's son-in-law.'". 1 Samuel 18.22.

And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?". 1 Samuel 18.23.

And the servants of Saul told him, "Thus and so did David speak.". 1 Samuel 18.24.

Then Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, 'The king desires no foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 18.25.

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired. 1 Samuel 18.26.

David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 1 Samuel 18.27.

But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that all Israel loved him. 1 Samuel 18.28.

Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually. 1 Samuel 18.29.

Then the princes of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was highly esteemed. 1 Samuel 18.30.

And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 1 Samuel 19.1.

And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you; therefore take heed to yourself in the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself". 1 Samuel 19.2.

And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; and if I learn anything I will tell you. 1 Samuel 19.3.

And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you". 1 Samuel 19.4.

For he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?. 1 Samuel 19.5.

And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.". 1 Samuel 19.6.

And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before. 1 Samuel 19.7.

And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and made a great slaughter among them, so that they fled before him. 1 Samuel 19.8.

Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing the lyre. 1 Samuel 19.9.

And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped. 1 Samuel 19.10 (Note: The preceding focused on God and his chosen one, David son of Jesse, is retold from another perspective focused on king Saul and Saul's son Jonathan. Verse 18.11 is similar to this verse.).

That night Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.". 1 Samuel 19.11.

So Michal let David down through the window; and he fled away and escaped. 1 Samuel 19.12.

Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes. 1 Samuel 19.13.

And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick.". 1 Samuel 19.14.

Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.". 1 Samuel 19.15.

And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head. 1 Samuel 19.16.

Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me thus, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go; why should I kill you?'". 1 Samuel 19.17.

Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt at Naioth. 1 Samuel 19.18.

And it was told Saul, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.". 1 Samuel 19.19.

Then Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 1 Samuel 19.20.

When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 1 Samuel 19.21.

Then he himself went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu; and he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.". 1 Samuel 19.22.

And he went from there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 1 Samuel 19.23.

And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel, and lay naked all that day and all that night. Hence it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?". 1 Samuel 19.24 (Note: So with higher priority purpose, nudity too is acceptable; the higher purpose being having nothing to hide from God.).

Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt: and What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?". 1 Samuel 20.1.

And he said to him, "Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me; and why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.". 1 Samuel 20.2.

But David replied, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he thinks, 'Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.". 1 Samuel 20.3.

Then said Jonathan to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you.". 1 Samuel 20.4.

David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening.". 1 Samuel 20.5.

If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.'. 1 Samuel 20.6.

If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him. 1 Samuel 20.7.

Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have grought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, slay me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?. 1 Samuel 20.8.

And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you?". 1 Samuel 20.9.

Then said David to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?". 1 Samuel 20.10.

And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field. 1 Samuel 20.11.

And Jonathan said to David, "The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, bahold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?. 1 Samuel 20.12.

But should it please my father to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. 1 Samuel 20.13.

If I am still alive, show me the loyal love of the Lord, that I may not die. 1 Samuel 20.14.

And do not cut off your loyalty from my house for ever. When the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth. 1 Samuel 20.15.

Let not the name of Jonathan be cut off from the house of David. 1 Samuel 20.16 (Note: Hebrew Greek interpretation is of a covenant Jonathan made with the house of David.).

And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loave him as he loved his own soul. 1 Samuel 20.17.

Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.". 1 Samuel 20.18.

And on the third day you will be greatly missed; then go to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain besid yonder stone heap. 1 Samuel 20.19.

And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, at though I shot at a mark. 1 Samuel 20.20.

And behold, I will send the lad, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the lad, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them' then you are to come, for, as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 1 Samuel 20.21.

But if I say to the youth, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go; for the Lord has sent you away. 1 Samuel 20.22.

And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me for ever. 1 Samuel 20.23.

So David his himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 1 Samuel 20.24.

The king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall; Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. 1 Samuel 20.25.

Yet Saul did not say anything that day; for he thought, "Something has befallen him; he is not clean, surely he is not clean.". 1 Samuel 20.26.

But on the second day, the morrow after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jessy come to the meal, either yesterday or today?". 1 Samuel 20.27.

Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem". 1 Samuel 20.28.

He said, 'Let me go; for our family holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I ahve found favor in your eyes, let me get away, and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table. 1 Samuel 20.29.

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?". 1 Samuel 20.30.

For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and fetch him to me, for he shall surely die. 1 Samuel 20.31.

Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?". 1 Samuel 20.32.

But Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; so Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 1 Samuel 20.33.

And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. 1 Samuel 20.34.

In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little lad. 1 Samuel 20.35.

And he said to his lad, "Run and find the arrows which I shoot." As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 1 Samuel 20.36.

And when the lad came to the place of the arrow which Honathan had shot, Jonathan called after the lad and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?". 1 Samuel 20.37.

And Jonathan called after the lad, "Hurry, make haste, stay not." So Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. 1 Samuel 20.38.

But the lad knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 1 Samuel 20.39.

And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city.". 1 Samuel 20.40.

And as soon as the lad had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times; and they kissed one another, and wept with one another, until David recovered himself. 1 Samuel 20.41.

Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, for ever.'" And he rose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city. 1 Samuel 20.42.

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one with you?". 1 Samuel 21.1.

And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 1 Samuel 21.2.

Now then, what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.". 1 Samuel 21.3.

And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread at hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.". 1 Samuel 21.4.

And David answered the priest, "Of a truth women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition; the vessels of the young men are holy, even when it is a common hourney; how much more today will their vessels be holy?". 1 Samuel 21.5.

So the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. 1 Samuel 21.6 (Note: Compare Jonathan eating prior to completion of the mission of king Saul, 1 Samuel 14.27.).

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen. 1 Samuel 21.7.

And David said to Ahimelech, "And have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have grought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.". 1 Samuel 21.8.

And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me.". 1 Samuel 21.9.

And David rose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 1 Samuel 21.10.

And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" . 1 Samuel 21.11.

And David took these words to heart, and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 1 Samuel 21.12.

So he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and made marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. 1 Samuel 21.13.

Then said Achish to his servants, "Lo, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me?". 1 Samuel 21.14.

Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?. 1 Samuel 21.15.

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam' and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 1 Samuel 22.1.

And every one who was in distress, and every one who was in debt, and every one who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. 1 Samuel 22.2.

And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, "Pray let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.". 1 Samuel 22.3.

And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 1 Samuel 22.4.

Then the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah." So David departed, and went into the forest of Hereth. 1 Samuel 22.5.

Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. 1 Samuel 22.6.

And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, "Hear now, you Benjaminites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds". 1 Samuel 22.7.

That all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, none of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day. 1 Samuel 22.8.

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, 'I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 1 Samuel 22.9.

And he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Golaith the Philistine. 1 Samuel 22.10.

Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob; and all of them came to the king. 1 Samuel 22.11.

And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahitub," And he answered, "Here I am, my lord.". 1 Samuel 22.12.

And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?". 1 Samuel 22.13.

Then Ahimelech answered the king, "And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house?". 1 Samuel 22.14.

Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father; for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little. 1 Samuel 22.15.

And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.". 1 Samuel 22.16.

And the king said to the guard who stood about him, "Turn and kill the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me." But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.". 1 Samuel 22.17.

Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and fall upon the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and fell upon the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five, persons who wore the linen ephod. 1 Samuel 22.18.

And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both men and women, children and sucklings, oxen, asses and sheep, he put to the sword. 1 Samuel 22.19.

But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 1 Samuel 22.20.

And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 1 Samuel 22.21.

And David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house.". 1 Samuel 22.22.

Saty with me, fear not; for he that seeks my life seeks your life; with me you shall be in safekeeping. 1 Samuel 22.23.

Now they told David, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.". 1 Samuel 23.1.

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the Lord said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.". 1 Samuel 23.2.

But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?". 1 Samuel 23.3.

Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, "Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will give the Philistines into your hand.". 1 Samuel 23.4.

And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter among them. So David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. 1 Samuel 23.5.

When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. 1 Samuel 23.6.

Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, "God has given him into my hand; for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.". 1 Samuel 23.7.

And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 1 Samuel 23.8.

David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here.". 1 Samuel 23.9.

Then said David, "O Lord, the God of Israel, thy servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account.". 1 Samuel 23.10.

Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant." And the Lord said, "He will come down.". 1 Samuel 23.11.

Then said David, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the Lord said, "They will surrender you.". 1 Samuel 23.12.

Then Davied and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 1 Samuel 23.13.

And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. 1 Samuel 23.14.

And David was afraid because Saul was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 1 Samuel 23.15.

And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose, and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 1 Samuel 23.16.

And he said to him, "Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; Saul my father also knows this.". 1 Samuel 23.17.

And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. 1 Samuel 23.18.

Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Does not David hide among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?". 1 Samuel 23.19.

Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand.". 1 Samuel 23.20.

And Saul said, "May you be blessed by the Lord; for you have had compassion on me.". 1 Samuel 23.21.

Go, make yet more sure; know and see the place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for it is told me that he is very cunning. 1 Samuel 23.22.

See therefore, and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah. 1 Samuel 23.23.

And they arose, and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. 1 Samuel 23.24.

And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told; therefore he went down to the rock which is in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 1 Samuel 23.25.

Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was making haste to get away from Saul, as Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to capture them. 1 Samuel 23.26.

When a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Make haste and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land.". 1 Samuel 23.27.

So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. 1 Samuel 23.28.

And David went up from there, and dwelt in the strongholds of Engedi. 1 Samuel 23.29.

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.". 1 Samuel 24.1.

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. 1 Samuel 24.2.

And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 1 Samuel 24.3.

And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe. 1 Samuel 24.4.

And afterward David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 1 Samuel 24.5.

He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.". 1 Samuel 24.6.

So David persuaded his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave, and went upon his way. 1 Samuel 24.7.

Afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. 1 Samuel 24.8.

And David said to saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your hurt'?". 1 Samuel 24.9.

Lo, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave; and some bade me kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.'. 1 Samuel 24.10.

See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 1 Samuel 24.11.

May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me upon you; but my hand shall not be against you. 1 Samuel 24.12.

As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. 1 Samuel 24.13.

After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!. 1 Samuel 24.14.

May the Lord therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see to it, and plead my cause, and deliver me from your hand. 1 Samuel 24.15.

When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 1 Samuel 24.16.

He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.". 1 Samuel 24.17.

And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 1 Samuel 24.18.

For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 1 Samuel 24.19.

And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 1 Samuel 24.20.

Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.. 1 Samuel 24.21.

And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold. 1 Samuel 24.22.

Now Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 1 Samuel 25.1.

And there was a man in Maon, whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 1 Samuel 25.2.

Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was of good understanding and beautiful, but the man was churlish and ill-behaved; he was a Calebite. 1 Samuel 25.3.

David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 1 Samuel 25.4.

So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.". 1 Samuel 25.5 (Note: "my name" is appropriate at times and "David" was well known, yet for him to represent the kingdom of Saul was moot. After the anointing of "David", there seems and/or is a lack of his oral respect of his great success being chosen of God, for example he might have had his men say "We represent David, anointed by Samuel and chosen of God." 1 Samuel 16.13).

And thus you shall salute him: 'Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.'. 1 Samuel 25.6.

I hear that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing, all the time they were in Carmel. 1 Samuel 25.7.

Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes; for we come on a feast day. Pray, give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David. 1 Samuel 25.8.

When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David; and then they waited. 1 Samuel 25.9.

And Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who are breaking away from their masters.". 1 Samuel 25.10.

Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?. 1 Samuel 25.11.

So David's young men turned away, and came back and told him all this. 1 Samuel 25.12.

And David said to his men, "Every man gird on his sword!" And every man of them girded on his sword; David also girded on his sword; and about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage. 1 Samuel 25.13.

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed at them.". 1 Samuel 25.14.

Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. 1 Samuel 25.15.

They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 1 Samuel 25.16.

Now therefore know this and consider what you should do; for evil is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is so ill-natured that one cannot speak to him. 1 Samuel 25.17.

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two skins of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. 1 Samuel 25.18.

And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 1 Samuel 25.19.

And as she rode on the ass, and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them. 1 Samuel 25.20.

Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; and he has returned me evil for good.". 1 Samuel 25.21.

God do so to David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him. 1 Samuel 25.22.

When Abigail saw David, she made haste, and alighted from the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed to the ground. 1 Samuel 25.23.

She fell at his feet and said, "Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; pray let your handmaid speak in your ears, and hear the words of your handmaid.". 1 Samuel 25.24.

Let not my lord regard this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I your handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 1 Samuel 25.25.

Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, seeing the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt, and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 1 Samuel 25.26.

And now let this present which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 1 Samuel 25.27.

Pray forgive the trepass of your handmaid; for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 1 Samuel 25.28.

If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 1 Samuel 25.29.

And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel. 1 Samuel 25.30.

My lord shall have no cause of grief, or pangs of conscience, for having shed blood without cause or for my lord taking vengeance himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid. 1 Samuel 25.31.

And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!". 1 Samuel 25.32.

Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand!. 1 Samuel 25.33.

For as surely as the Lord the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had made haste and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male. 1 Samuel 25.34.

Then David received from her hand what she had brought him; and he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house; see, I have hearkened to your voice, and I have granted your petition.". 1 Samuel 25.35.

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, lo, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she told him nothing at all until the morning light. 1 Samuel 25.36.

And in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 1 Samuel 25.37.

And about ten days later the Lord smote Nabal; and he died. 1 Samuel 25.38 (Note: Nabal had a strong case, his accountability was accurate; but life is greater than justice and accountability. Those are less than minimum requirements according to this great verse. Life is more about voluntarily praising God for providing grace, mercy, hope, love, and charity: and people working to share and give in the name of God faithfully, reasonably, and not for selfish reasons.).

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the reproach I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil; the Lord has returned the evil-doing of Nabal upon his own head." Then David sent and wooed Abigail, to make her his wife. 1 Samuel 25.39.

And when the servants of David came to Abigail, at Carmel they said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.". 1 Samuel 25.40.

And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground, and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wasy the feet of the servants of my lord.". 1 Samuel 25.41.

And Abigail made haste and rose and mounted on an ass, and her five maidens attended her; she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. 1 Samuel 25.42.

David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and both of them became his wives. 1 Samuel 25.43.

Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim. 1 Samuel 25.44.

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?". 1 Samuel 26.1.

So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 1 Samuel 26.2 (Note: So we find this chronologically uneven tale unraveling with different aspects emphasized. One great aspect is how this mix of time sequences is helpful is with respect to our understanding of the initial plan of God in creating our Universe, planning for building precept on precept: God knowing before-hand of events that must occur in the future. Isaiah 28.10 & 2 Nephi 28.30).

And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on teh east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 1 Samuel 26.3.

David sent out spies and learned of a certainty that Saul had come. 1 Samuel 26.4.

Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. 1 Samuel 26.5.

Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai siad, "I will go down with you.". 1 Samuel 26.6.

So David and Abishai went to the army by night; and there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him. 1 Samuel 26.7.

Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now therefore let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.". 1 Samuel 26.8.

But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?". 1 Samuel 26.9.

And David said, "As the Lord lives, the Lord will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. 1 Samuel 26.10.

The Lord forbid that I should put forth my hand against the Lord's anointed; but take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.". 1 Samuel 26.11.

So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head; and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them. 1 Samuel 26.12.

Then David went over to the other side, and stood afar off on the top of the mountain, with a great space between them. 1 Samuel 26.13.

And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you that calls to the king?". 1 Samuel 26.14.

And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.". 1 Samuel 26.15.

This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head. 1 Samuel 26.16.

Saul recognized David's voice, and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king.". 1 Samuel 26.17.

And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What guilt is on my hands?. 1 Samuel 26.18.

Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'. 1 Samuel 26.19.

Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to seek my life, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains. 1 Samuel 26.20.

Then Saul said, "I have done wrong; return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day; behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.". 1 Samuel 26.21.

And David made answer, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it.". 1 Samuel 26.22.

The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put forth my hand against the Lord's anointed. 1 Samuel 26.23.

Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of teh Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation. 1 Samuel 26.24.

Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. 1 Samuel 26.25.

And David said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul' there is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.". 1 Samuel 27.1.

So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 1 Samuel 27.2.

And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. 1 Samuel 27.3.

And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he sought for him no more. 1 Samuel 27.4.

Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there; for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?". 1 Samuel 27.5.

So that day Achish gave him Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 1 Samuel 27.6.

And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. 1 Samuel 27.7.

Now David and his men went up, and made raids upon the Geshurites and Girzites, and the Amalekites; for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 1 Samuel 27.8.

And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the asses, the camels, and the garments, and came back to Achish. 1 Samuel 27.9.

When Achish asked, "Against whom have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Against the Negeb of the Kenites.". 1 Samuel 27.10.

And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, thinking, "Lest they should tell about us, and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 27.11.

And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself utterly abhorred by his people Israel; therefore he shall be my servant always.". 1 Samuel 27.12.

In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.". 1 Samuel 28.1.

David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.". 1 Samuel 28.2.

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the wizards out of the land. 1 Samuel 28.3.

The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 1 Samuel 28.4.

When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afreid, and his heart trembled greatly. 1 Samuel 28.5.

And when saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 1 Samuel 28.6.

Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at Endor.". 1 Samuel 28.7.

So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.". 1 Samuel 28.8.

The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?". 1 Samuel 28.9.

But Saul swore to her by the Lord, "As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.". 1 Samuel 28.10.

Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me.". 1 Samuel 28.11.

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.". 1 Samuel 28.12.

The king said to her, "Have no fear; what do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth.". 1 Samuel 28.13.

He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. 1 Samuel 28.14.

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you distrubed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, for God has turned away against me, and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.". 1 Samuel 28.15.

And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?". 1 Samuel 28.16.

The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. 1 Samuel 28.17.

Because you did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 1 Samuel 28.18.

Moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.". 1 Samuel 28.19.

Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 1 Samuel 28.20.

And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your handmaid has hearkened to you; I have taken my life in my hand, and have hearkened to what you have said to me.". 1 Samuel 28.21.

Now therefore, you also hearken to your handmaid; let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way. 1 Samuel 28.22.

He refused, and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he hearkened to their words. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 1 Samuel 28.23.

Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour, and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it. 1 Samuel 28.24.

And she put it before Saul and his servants; and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. 1 Samuel 28.25.

Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek; and the Israelites were encamped by the fountainwhich is in Jezreel. 1 Samuel 29.1.

As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish. 1 Samuel 29.2.

The commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is not this David, teh servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.". 1 Samuel 29.3.

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him; and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him; he shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?. 1 Samuel 29.4.

Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?". 1 Samuel 29.5.

Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign; for I ahve found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless the lords do not approve of you.". 1 Samuel 29.6.

So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 29.7.

And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?". 1 Samuel 29.8.

And Achish made answer to David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to battle.'". 1 Samuel 29.9.

Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you; and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light. 1 Samuel 29.10.

So David set out with his men early in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel. 1 Samuel 29.11.

Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites ahd made a raid upon the Negeb and upon Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag, and burned it with fire. 1 Samuel 30.1.

And taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great; they killed no one, but carried them off, and went their way. 1 Samuel 30.2.

And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 1 Samuel 30.3.

Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept, until they had no more strength to weep. 1 Samuel 30.4.

David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 1 Samuel 30.5.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30.6.

And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 1 Samuel 30.7.

And David inquired of the Lord. "Shall I pursue after this band? Sahll I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue; for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.". 1 Samuel 30.8.

So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 1 Samuel 30.9.

But David went on whit the pursuit, he and four hundred men; two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. 1 Samuel 30.10.

They found an Egyptian in the open country, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, they gave him water to drink. 1 Samuel 30.11.

And they gave him a piece of cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived; for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 1 Samuel 30..

And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?' He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.". 1 Samuel 30.13.

We had made a raid upon the Negeb of teh Cherethites and upon that which belongs to Judah and upon the Negeb of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. 1 Samuel 30.14.

And David said to him, "Will you take me down to this band?" And he said, "Swear to me by God, that you will not kill me, or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.". 1 Samuel 30.15.

And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the Land of Judah. 1 Samuel 30.16.

And David smote them from twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 1 Samuel 30.17.

David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives. 1 Samuel 30.18.

Nothing was missing whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David brought back all. 1 Samuel 30.19.

David also captured all the flocks and herds; and teh people drove those cattle before him, and said, "This is David's spoil.". 1 Samuel 30.20.

Then David came to the two hundred men, who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor; and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him; and he saluted them. 1 Samuel 30.21.

Then all the wicked and base fellows among the men who had gone with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil which we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.". 1 Samuel 30.22.

But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us; he has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against.". 1 Samuel 30.23.

Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike. 1 Samuel 30.24.

And from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day. 1 Samuel 30.25.

When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord". 1 Samuel 30.26.

For all the places where David and his men had roamed. 1 Samuel 30.31.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 1 Samuel 31.1.

And the Philistines overtook saul and his sons; and teh Philistines slew Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 1 Samuel 31.2.

The battle pressed hard upon Saul, and the archers found him; and he was badly wounded by teh archers. 1 Samuel 31.3.

Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and make sport of me." But his armor-bearer would not; for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it. 1 Samuel 31.4.

And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword, and died with him. 1 Samuel 31.5.

Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 1 Samuel 31.6.

And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. 1 Samuel 31.7.

On the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 1 Samuel 31.8.

And they cut off his head, and stripped off his aromo, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 1 Samuel 31.9.

They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. 1 Samuel 31.10.

But when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul. 1 Samuel 31.11.

All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan; and they came to Jabesh and burnt them there. 1 Samuel 31.12.

And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jebesh, and fasted seven days. 1 Samuel 31.13.

The Second Book of Samuel.

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 Samuel 1.1.

And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obesiance. 2 Samuel 1.2.

David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel.". 2 Samuel 1.3.

And David said to him, "How did it go? Tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.". 2 Samuel 1.4 (Note: The great have "fallen" by their own choice: result explained by God in 1 Samuel 8.7).

Then David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?". 2 Samuel 1.5.

And the young man who told him said, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa; and there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him.". 2 Samuel 1.6.

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.'. 2 Samuel 1.7.

And he said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'. 2 Samuel 1.8.

And he said to me, 'Stand beside me and slay me; for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'. 2 Samuel 1.9.

So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown which was on his head and the armlet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord. 2 Samuel 1.10.

Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and so did all the men who were with him. 2 Samuel 1.11.

And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 2 Samuel 1.12.

And David said to the young man who told him, "Where do you come from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.". 2 Samuel 1.13.

David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?". 2 Samuel 1.14.

Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go, fall upon him." And he smote him so that he died. 2 Samuel 1.15.

And David said to him, "Your blood be upon your head; for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have slain the Lord's anointed.'". 2 Samuel 1.16 (Note: So obeying the commandments of God, Exodus 20.13, is more important than following orders of King Saul seeking to have killed the anointed of God.).

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son. 2 Samuel 1.17.

And he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:. 2 Samuel 1.18 (Note: "the Book of Jashar" = "The upright").

"Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen! 2 Samuel 1.19.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 2 Samuel 1.20 (Note: "Philistines" reference Genesis 10.14 & 2 Nephi 12.6).

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor upsurging of the deep! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 2 Samuel 1.21.

"From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.". 2 Samuel 1.22.

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 2 Samuel 1.23.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you daintily in scarlet, who put ornaments of Gold upon your apparel. 2 Samuel 1.24.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon thy high places. 2 Samuel 1.25.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 2 Samuel 1.26.

"How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!". 2 Samuel 1.27.

After this David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." David said, "To which shall I go up?" and he said "To hebron.". 2 Samuel 2.1.

So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 2 Samuel 2.2.

And David brought up his men who were with him, every one with his household; and they dwelt in the towns of Hebron. 2 Samuel 2.3.

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When they told David, "It was the men of Jabeshgilead who buried Saul,". 2 Samuel 2.4.

David sent messengers to the men of Jabeshgilead, and said to them, "May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord, and buried him!". 2 Samuel 2.5.

Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you! And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 2 Samuel 2.6.

Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and teh house of Judah has anointed me king over them. 2 Samuel 2.7.

Now Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim. 2 Samuel 2.8.

And he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 2 Samuel 2.9.

Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 2 Samuel 2.10.

And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 2 Samuel 2.11.

Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 2 Samuel 2.12.

And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 2 Samuel 2.13.

And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and play before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise.". 2 Samuel 2.14.

Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 2 Samuel 2.15 (Note: "So twelve men were chosen from each side to fight against each other." is the New Living Translation Version.).

And the battle was very fierce that day; and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. 2 Samuel 2.17.

Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me; why should I smite you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?". 2 Samuel 2.22.

But he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner smote him in the belly with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back; and he fell there, and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still. 2 Samuel 2.23.

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner; and as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 2 Samuel 2.24.

And the Benjaminites gathered themselves together behind Abner, and became one band, and took their stand on the top of a hill. 2 Samuel 2.25.

Then Abner called to Joab, "Shall the sword devour for ever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you bid your people turn from the pursuit of their brethern?". 2 Samuel 2.26.

And Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would have given up the pursuit of their brethern in the morning.". 2 Samuel 2.27.

So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the men stopped, and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight any more. 2 Samuel 2.28.

And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; they crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole forenoon they came to Mahanaim. 2 Samuel 2.29.

Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David's servants nineteen men besides Asahel. 2 Samuel 2.30.

But the servants of David had slain of Benjamin three hundred and sixty of Abner's men. 2 Samuel 2.31.

And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron. 2 Samuel 2.32.

There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. 2 Samuel 3.1.

And sons were born to David at Hebron his first-born was Amnon. 2 Samuel 3.2 (Note: geneology omitted).

While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 2 Samuel 3.6.

Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?". 2 Samuel 3.7.

Then Abner was very angry over the wods of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head of Judah? This day I keep showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.". 2 Samuel 3.8 (Note: It is a moot point "Abner" is making relative to guilt (for God to judge), yet his view holds important logic value for distinctions to be made between levels of priority. To apply the valuable portion of this reasoning in modern application for instance regarding government, federal government should offer strict law and should offer few guidelines; and local government should offer advice and should offer few additional legal restrictions, Mark 3.5. Furthermore, local government should work to help, not encumber, the greater value federal government leaders provide, Matthew 12.7.).

God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him. 2 Samuel 3.9.

To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba. 2 Samuel 3.10.

And Ishbosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 2 Samuel 3.11 (Note: Nonetheless, the query of "Ishbosheth", 3.7, may have helped motivate "Abner".).

And Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.". 2 Samuel 3.12.

And he said, "Good; I will make a covenant with you; but one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.". 2 Samuel 3.13.

Then David sent messnegers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed at the price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.". 2 Samuel 3.14.

And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 2 Samuel 3.15.

But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return"; and he returned. 2 Samuel 3.16.

And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.". 2 Samuel 3.17.

Now then bring it about; for the Lord has promised David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, adn from the hand of all their enemies.'. 2 Samuel 3.18.

Abner also spoke to Benjamin; and then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do. 2 Samuel 3.19.

When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 2 Samuel 3.20.

And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires. So David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 2 Samuel 3.21.

Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 2 Samuel 3.22.

When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.". 2 Samuel 3.23.

Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone?. 2 Samuel 3.24.

You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.". 2 Samuel 3.25.

When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it. 2 Samuel 3.26.

And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he smote him in the belly, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 2 Samuel 3.27.

Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are for ever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.". 2 Samuel 3.28.

May it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, or who lacks bread!. 2 Samuel 3.29.

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. 2 Samuel 3.30.

Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your clothes, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier. 2 Samuel 3.31.

They buried Abner at Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 2 Samuel 3.32.

And the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?". 2 Samuel 3.33.

Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen. And all the people wept again over him. 2 Samuel 3.34.

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying "God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or any thing else till the sun goes down!". 2 Samuel 3.35.

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 2 Samuel 3.36.

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to slay Abner the son of Ner. 2 Samuel 3.37.

And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?". 2 Samuel 3.38.

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. The Lord requite the evildoer according to his wickendess!. 2 Samuel 3.39.

When Ishbosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2 Samuel 4.1.

Now Saul's son, had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the names of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin. 2 Samuel 4.2.

The Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there to this day). 2 Samuel 4.3.

Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled; and, as she fled in her haste, he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 4.4.

Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ishbosheth, as he was taking his noonday rest. 2 Samuel 4.5.

And behold, the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat, but she grew drowsy and slept; so Rechab and Baanah his brother slipped in. 2 Samuel 4.6.

When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him. They took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night. 2 Samuel 4.7.

And brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring.". 2 Samuel 4.8.

But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothith, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity.". 2 Samuel 4.9.

When one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and slew him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 2 Samuel 4.10.

How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous man in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand, and destroy you from the earth?. 2 Samuel 4.11.

And David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron. 2 Samuel 4.12.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh.". 2 Samuel 5.1.

In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'. 2 Samuel 5.2.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 2 Samuel 5.3.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 2 Samuel 5.4.

At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 2 Samuel 5.5.

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, "You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off"-thinking, David cannot come in here. 2 Samuel 5.6.

Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 2 Samuel 5.7.

And David said on that day, "Whoever would smite the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul." Therefore it is said, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.". 2 Samuel 5.8.

And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built the city round about from the Millo inward. 2 Samuel 5.9.

And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. 2 Samuel 5.10.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 2 Samuel 5.11.

And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 2 Samuel 5.12.

And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. 2 Samuel 5.13.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; but David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 2 Samuel 5.17.

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 2 Samuel 5.18.

And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up; for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.". 2 Samuel 5.19.

And David came to Baalperazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baalperazim. 2 Samuel 5.20.

And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 2 Samuel 5.21.

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 2 Samuel 5.22.

And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees.". 2 Samuel 5.23.

And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then bestir yourself; for then the Lord has gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 5.24.

And David did as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. 2 Samuel 5.25.

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 Samuel 6.1.

And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 2 Samuel 6.2.

And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart. 2 Samuel 6.3.

With the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 2 Samuel 6.4 (Note: "Ahio" or "his brother").

And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 2 Samuel 6.5 (Note: "songs" Hebrew text has "fir-trees".).

And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 2 Samuel 6.6 (Note: The Ark of God was made by the hands of select men, at the direction of God. When construction was complete, the Ark was from those men of God dedicated to God and then became not the property of just any man, but the property of God uniquely. Similarly, for instance, today if you see a roof blown off a house not your own, and you cover the roof to protect valuables for the absent owner, that is against canon law and the owner should judge you perhaps as ranging typically from charging you a trespass fee, to paying you for service. Likewise, for instance, dating might involve a dowry or reward. Similarly, for instance, shared ownership and/or shared responsibility choice applies to one raped, over the rapist and one not yet born of the body of the woman, unless countermanded by the husband. Related to each situation other concerns may apply such as assult charges, unborn rights, abortion rights, rights of accused, community property, landlord/tenant aspects, and so on. References: 2 Nephi 28.30, Numbers 5.29, Numbers 30.7, Deuteronomy 5.9, Joshua 18.10, Matthew 20.15, Matthew 20.15 & 16.).

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6.7.

And David was angry because the Lord had broken forth upon Uzzah; and that place is called Perezuzzah, to this day. 2 Samuel 6.8.

And David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?". 2 Samuel 6.9.

So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David; but Obededom the Gittite. 2 Samuel 6.10.

And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months; and the Lord blessed Obededom and all his household. 2 Samuel 6.11.

And it was told King David, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obededom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom to the city of David with rejoicing. 2 Samuel 6.12.

And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 2 Samuel 6.13.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might: and David was girded with a linen ephod. 2 Samuel 6.14.

So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the horn. 2 Samuel 6.15.

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6.16.

And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 2 Samuel 6.17.

And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 2 Samuel 6.18.

And distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people departed, each to his house. 2 Samuel 6.19 (Note: "of meat", or perhaps "for meat" if it was not meat, as the Hebrew Vulgate meaning is "uncertain" / RSV).

And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' maids, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!". 2 Samuel 6.20.

And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord-and I will make merry before the Lord.". 2 Samuel 6.21.

I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor. 2 Samuel 6.22 (Note: "your" RSV = "my" Hebrew Greek).

And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. 2 Samuel 6.23.

Now when the king dwelt in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies round about. 2 Samuel 7.1.

The king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.". 2 Samuel 7.2.

And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the Lord is with you.". 2 Samuel 7.3.

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan. 2 Samuel 7.4.

"Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?'. 2 Samuel 7.5.

I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 2 Samuel 7.6.

In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?". 2 Samuel 7.7 (Note: Perfect questions have their answer: yes. God asks "did I speak", so the answer is yes: Exodus 19.9. The degree to which the people paid attention and understood is another matter, according to the degree of their faithful purity for the glory of God.).

Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel'. 2 Samuel 7.8.

And I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 2 Samuel 7.9.

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly. 2 Samuel 7.10.

From the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 2 Samuel 7.11.

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 2 Samuel 7.12.

He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 2 Samuel 7.13.

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men. 2 Samuel 7.14.

But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 2 Samuel 7.15.

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever. 2 Samuel 7.16.

In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. 2 Samuel 7.17.

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?". 2 Samuel 7.18.

And yet this was a small thing in thy eyes, O Lord God; thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast shown me future generations, O Lord God!. 2 Samuel 7.19 (Note: "future generations" RSV is interpreted as "law for man" corrected from Hebrew and the original tongues; and in NLT it is a "lasting dynasty.).

And what more can David say to thee? For thou knowest thy servant, O Lord God! 2 Samuel 7.20.

Because of thy promise and according to thy own heart, thou hast wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant know it. 2 Samuel 7.21.

Therefore thou art great, O Lord God; for there is none like thee, and there is no God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Samuel 7.22.

What other nation on earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name, and doing for them great and terrible things, by driving out before his people a nation and its gods?. 2 Samuel 7.23 (Note: The previous three verses vary in Greek and in Hebrew texts, including a correction / RSV.).

And thou didst establish for thyself thy people Israel to be thy people for ever and thou, O Lord, didst become their God. 2 Samuel 7.24.

And now, O Lord God, confirm for ever the word which thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house, and do as thou hast spoken. 2 Samuel 7.25.

And thy name will be magnified for ever, saying, 'The Lord of hosts is God over Israel, and the house of thy servant David will be established before thee. 2 Samuel 7.26.

For thou, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, hast made this revelation to thy servant saying, 'I will build you a house'; therefore thy servant has found courage to pray this prayer to thee. 2 Samuel 7.27.

And now, O Lord God, thou art God, and thy words are true, and thou hast promised this good thing to thy servant. 2 Samuel 7.28.

Now therefore may it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou O Lord God, hast spoken, and with thy blessing shall the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. 2 Samuel 7.29.

After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 8.1.

And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; two lines measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute. 2 Samuel 8.2 (Note: Comparing many versions indicated David made groups and spared groups intermittantly.).

David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 2 Samuel 8.3.

And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for a hundred chariots. 2 Samuel 8.4.

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians. 2 Samuel 8.5.

Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 2 Samuel 8.6.

And David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 8.7.

And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze. 2 Samuel 8.8.

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer. 2 Samuel 8.9.

Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him, and to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver of gold, and of bronze. 2 Samuel 8.10.

These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold which he dedicated from all the nations he subdued. 2 Samuel 8.11.

From Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 2 Samuel 8.12.

And David won a name for himself. When he returned, he slew eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 2 Samuel 8.13.

And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 2 Samuel 8.14.

So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and equity to all his people. 2 Samuel 8.15.

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. 2 Samuel 8.16.

And Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Seraiah was secretary. 2 Samuel 8.17.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were priests. 2 Samuel 8.18.

And David said, "Is there still any one left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?". 2 Samuel 9.1.

Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "Your servant is he.". 2 Samuel 9.2.

And the king said, "Is there not still some one of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.". 2 Samuel 9.3.

The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lodebar.". 2 Samuel 9.4.

Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lodebar. 2 Samuel 9.5.

And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Behold, your servant.". 2 Samuel 9.6.

And David said to him, "Do not fear; for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat at my table always.". 2 Samuel 9.7.

And he did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?". 2 Samuel 9.8.

Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I gave given to your master's son.". 2 Samuel 9.9.

And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and shall bring in the produce, that your master's son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master's son shall always eat at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 2 Samuel 9.10.

Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons. 2 Samuel 9.11.

And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who dwelt in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. 2 Samuel 9.12.

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet. 2 Samuel 9.13.

After this the king of the Ammonites died and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Samuel 10.1.

And David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me." So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 2 Samuel 10.2.

But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?". 2 Samuel 10.3.

So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off half the beard of each, and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. 2 Samuel 10.4.

When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.". 2 Samuel 10.5.

When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. 2 Samuel 10.6.

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 2 Samuel 10.7.

And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate; and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the open country. 2 Samuel 10.8.

When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Syrians. 2 Samuel 10.9.

The rest of his men he put in thhe charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 2 Samuel 10.10.

And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.". 2 Samuel 10.11.

Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him. 2 Samuel 10.12.

So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians; and they fled before him. 2 Samuel 10.13.

And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites, and came to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 10.14.

But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 2 Samuel 10.15.

And Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the [Euphrates] river; and they came to Helam, with Shoback the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 2 Samuel 10.16.

And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians arrayed themselves against David, and fought with him. 2 Samuel 10.17.

And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 2 Samuel 10.18.

And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel, and became subject to them. So the Syrians feared to help the Ammonites any more. 2 Samuel 10.19.

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go forth to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11.1.

It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking upon the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 2 Samuel 11.2.

And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not thie Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?". 2 Samuel 11.3.

So David sent nessengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. 2 Samuel 11.4.

And the woman conceived and she sent and told David, "I am with child.". 2 Samuel 11.5.

So David sent word to Joab, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. 2 Samuel 11.6.

When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the ppeople fared, and how the war prospered. 2 Samuel 11.7.

Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house, and wash your feet." And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. 2 Samuel 11.8.

But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house whith all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 2 Samuel 11.9.

When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?". 2 Samuel 11.10.

Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.". 2 Samuel 11.11.

Then David said to Uriah, "Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day, and the next. 2 Samuel 11.12.

And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. 2 Samuel 11.13.

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 2 Samuel 11.14.

In the letter he wrote, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.". 2 Samuel 11.15.

And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. 2 Samuel 11.16.

And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab; and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite was slain also. 2 Samuel 11.17.

Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting. 2 Samuel 11.18.

And he instructed the messenger, "When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king". 2 Samuel 11.19.

Then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, 'Why did you not near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?'. 2 Samuel 11.20.

Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall? then you shall say, 'Your servant, Uriah the Hittite is dead also.". 2 Samuel 11.21.

So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. 2 Samuel 11.22.

The messenger said to David, "The men gained an advantage over us, and came out against us in the field; but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. 2 Samuel 11.23.

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall; some of the king's servants are dead; and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 2 Samuel 11.24.

David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; strengthen your attack upon the city, and overthrow it.' And encourage him.". 2 Samuel 11.25.

When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband. 2 Samuel 11.26.

And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. 2 Samuel 11.27.

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and siad to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 Samuel 12.1.

The rich man had very many flocks and herds. 2 Samuel 12.2.

But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his morsel, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. 2 Samuel 12.3.

Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.". 2 Samuel 12.4.

Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die". 2 Samuel 12.5.

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 2 Samuel 12.6.

Nathan said to David, "You are the man. Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.'" 2 Samuel 12.7.

And I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 2 Samuel 12.8.

Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have smitten Uriah the Hittite with thesword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. 2 Samuel 12.9.

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 2 Samuel 12.10.

Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.'. 2 Samuel 12.11.

For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 2 Samuel 12.12.

David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.". 2 Samuel 12.13.

Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die. 2 Samuel 12.14 (Note: "Lord" RSV = "enemies of the Lord" Hebrew).

Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became sick. 2 Samuel 12.15.

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the ground. 2 Samuel 12.16.

And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 2 Samuel 12.17.

On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.". 2 Samuel 12.18.

But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead.". 2 Samuel 12.19.

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 2 Samuel 12.20.

Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.". 2 Samuel 12.21.

He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'". 2 Samuel 12.22.

But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me. 2 Samuel 12.23.

Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him. 2 Samuel 12.24 (Note: So although a person can do something horrible, if they repent for the Lord, the Lord may have mercy on them.).

And sent a message by Nathan the prophet; so he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord. 2 Samuel 12.25.

Now Joab fought against Rabah of the Ammonites, and took the royal city. 2 Samuel 12.26.

And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.". 2 Samuel 12.27.

Now, then gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called by my name. 2 Samuel 12.28.

So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it. 2 Samuel 12.29.

And he took the crown of their king from his head; the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 2 Samuel 12.30.

And he brought forth the people who were in it, and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them toil at the the brickkilns; and thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 12.31.

Now Absalom, David's son had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. 2 Samuel 13.1.

And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. 2 Samuel 13.2.

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother and Jonadab was a very crafty man. 2 Samuel 13.3.

And he said to him, "O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?". Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.". 2 Samuel 13.4.

Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be ill; and when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.'". 2 Samuel 13.5.

So Amnon lay down, and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Pray let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.". 2 Samuel 13.6.

Then David sent home to Tamar saying, "Go to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him.". 2 Samuel 13.7.

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 2 Samuel 13.8.

And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Send out every one from me." So every one went out from him. 2 Samuel 13.9.

Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the chamber, that I may from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 2 Samuel 13.10.

But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister.". 2 Samuel 13.11.

She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me; for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this wanton folly. 2 Samuel 13.12.

As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the wanton fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pary you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.". 2 Samuel 13.13.

But he would not listen to her; and being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. 2 Samuel 13.14.

Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone.". 2 Samuel 13.15.

But she said to him, "No, my brother; for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other which you did to me." But he would not listen to her. 2 Samuel 13.16.

He called the young man who served him and said, "Put this woman out of my presence, and bolt the door after her.". 2 Samuel 13.17.

Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves; for thus were the virgin daughters of the king clad of old. So his servant put her out, and bolted the door after her. 2 Samuel 13.18.

And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent the long robe which she wore; and she laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went. 2 Samuel 13.19.

And her brother Absalom said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister; he is your brother; do not take this to heart." So Tamar dwelt, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house. 2 Samuel 13.20.

When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 2 Samuel 13.21.

But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 2 Samuel 13.22.

After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baalhazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 2 Samuel 13.23.

And Absalom came to the king, and said, "Behold, your servant has sheepshearers; pray let the king and his servants go with your servant.". 2 Samuel 13.24.

But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you." He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 2 Samuel 13.25.

Then Absalom said, "If not, pray let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?". 2 Samuel 13.26.

But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 2 Samuel 13.27.

Then Absalom commanded his servants, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Fear not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.". 2 Samuel 13.28.

So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled. 2 Samuel 13.29.

While they were on the way, tidings came to David, "Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.". 2 Samuel 13.30.

Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants who were standing by rent their garments. 2 Samuel 13.31.

But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead, for by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he forced his sister Tamar. 2 Samuel 13.32.

Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead.". 2 Samuel 13.33.

But Azsalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the Horonaim road by the side of the mountain. 2 Samuel 13.34.

And Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons have come about.". 2 Samuel 13.35.

And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept; and the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly. 2 Samuel 13.36.

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 2 Samuel 13.37.

So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 2 Samuel 13.38.

And David longed to go forth to Absalom; for he was comforted about Amnon, seeing he was dead. 2 Samuel 13.39.

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart went out to Absalom. 2 Samuel 14.1.

And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched from there a wise woman, and said to her, "Pretent to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments; do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead. 2 Samuel 14.2.

And go to the king, and speak thus to him." So Joab put the words in her mouth. 2 Samuel 14.3.

When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king.". 2 Samuel 14.4.

And the king said to her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead. 2 Samuel 14.5.

And your handmaid had two sons, and they quarreled with one another in the field; there was no one to part them, and one struck the other and killed him. 2 Samuel 14.6.

And now the whole family has risen against your handmaid, and they say, 'Give up the man who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew'; and so they would destroy the heir also. Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant upon the face of the earth.". 2 Samuel 14.7.

Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.". 2 Samuel 14.8.

And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, "On me be the guilt, my lord the king, and on my father's house; let the king and hsi throne be guiltless.". 2 Samuel 14.9.

The king said, "If any one says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall never touch you again.". 2 Samuel 14.10.

Then she said, "Pray let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood slay no more, and my son be not destroyed." He said, "As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.". 2 Samuel 14.11.

Then the woman said, "Pray let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king." He said, "Speak". 2 Samuel 14.12.

And teh woman said, "Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision teh king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. 2 Samuel 14.13.

We must all die, we are like water split on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; but God will not take away the life of him who devises means not to keep his banished one an outcast. 2 Samuel 14.14 (The great way [or mercy] of God provides for reaching-out-to help others rely on God, even if they refuse.).

Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid; and your handmaid thought, 'I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.'. 2 Samuel 14.15.

For the king will hear, and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God. 2 Samuel 14.16.

And your handmaid thought, 'The word of my lord the king will set me at rest'; for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!. 2 Samuel 14.17.

Then the king answered the woman. "Do not hide from me anything I ask you." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king speak.". 2 Samuel 14.18.

The king said,"Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered and said, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was he who put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid.". 2 Samuel 14.19.

In order to change the course of affairs your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth. 2 Samuel 14.20.

Then the king said to Joab, "Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Abasalom.". 2 Samuel 14.21.

And Joab fell on his face to the ground, and did obeisance, and blessed the king; and Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant.". 2 Samuel 14.22.

So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 14.23.

And the king said, "Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence." So Absalom dwelt apart in his own house, and did not come into the king's presence. 2 Samuel 14.24.

Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his beauty as Absalom; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 2 Samuel 14.25.

And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight. 2 Samuel 14.26.

There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a beautiful woman. 2 Samuel 14.27 (Note: This story builds great precepts in a helical pattern, moving from time line thinking to priority thinking; reference human desire, human love, and God love.).

So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence. 2 Samuel 14.28.

Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come. 2 Samuel 14.29.

Then he said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 2 Samuel 14.30.

Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house, and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?". 2 Samuel 14.31. Then Joab went to the king, and told him; and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom. 2 Samuel 14.33.

After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Samuel 15.1.

And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate; and when any man had a suit to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him, and say, "From what city are you?" And when he said, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel". 2 Samuel 15.2.

Absalom would say to him, "See your claims are good and right; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear you.". 2 Samuel 15.3.

Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a suit or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.". 2 Samuel 15.4.

And whenever a man came near to do obeisance to him, he would put out his hand, and take hold of him, and kiss him. 2 Samuel 15.5.

Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15.6.

And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, "Pray let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.". 2 Samuel 15.7 (Note: "four" RSV = "forty" Hebrew Greek Syrian).

For your servand vowed a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.'. 2 Samuel 15.8.

The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went to Hebron. 2 Samuel 15.9.

But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, 'Absalom is king at Hebron!'". 2 Samuel 15.10.

With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their simplicity, and knew nothing. 2 Samuel 15.11.

And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. 2 Samuel 15.12.

And the messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.". 2 Samuel 15.13.

Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom; go in haste, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.". 2 Samuel 15.14.

And the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.". 2 Samuel 15.15.

So the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 2 Samuel 15.16.

And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they halted at the last house. 2 Samuel 15.17.

And all his servants passed by him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 2 Samuel 15.18.

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with us? Go back, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile from your home.". 2 Samuel 15.19.

You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, seeing I go I know not where? Go back, and take your brethern with you; and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. 2 Samuel 15.20.

But Ittai answered the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.". 2 Samuel 15.21.

And David said to Ittai, "Go then, pass on." So Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 2 Samuel 15.22.

And all the country wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness. 2 Samuel 15.23.

And Abiathar came up, and lo, Zadok came also, with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God, until the people had all passed out of the city. 2 Samuel 15.24.

Then teh king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his habitation.". 2 Samuel 15.25.

But if he says, 'I have no pleasure in you,' behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him. 2 Samuel 15.26.

The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Look, go back to the city in peace, you and Abiathar, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.". 2 Samuel 15.27 (Note: RSV correction of "and Abiathar" lacking in Hebrew).

See, I wait at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me. 2 Samuel 15.28.

So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem; and they remained there. 2 Samuel 15.29.

But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered: and all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 2 Samuel 15.33.

And it was told David, "Ahithophei is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophei into foolishness.". 2 Samuel 15.31.

When David came to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushi the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon his head. 2 Samuel 15.32.

David said to him, "If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.". 2 Samuel 15.33.

But if you return to the city, and say to Absalim, 'I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 2 Samuel 15.34.

Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 2 Samuel 15.35.

Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send to me everything you hear. 2 Samuel 15.36.

So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 15.37.

When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 Samuel 16.1.

And the king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.". 2 Samuel 16.2.

And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'". 2 Samuel 16.3.

Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." And Ziba said, "I do obeisance; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.". 2 Samuel 16.4.

When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. 2 Samuel 16.5.

And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 2 Samuel 16.6.

And Shimei said as he cursed, "Begone, begone, you man of blood, you worthless fellow!". 2 Samuel 16.7.

The Lord has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a man of blood. 2 Samuel 16.8.

Then Abiashai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head?". 2 Samuel 16.10.

And David said to Abiashai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord has bidden him.". 2 Samuel 16.11.

It may be that the Lord will look upon my affliction, and that for this cursing of me today. 2 Samuel 16.12 (Note: "affliction" RSV = "iniquity" Hebrew Greek Vulgate).

So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and flung dust. 2 Samuel 16.13.

And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself. 2 Samuel 16.14.

Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 2 Samuel 16.15.

And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!". 2 Samuel 16.16.

And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?". 2 Samuel 16.17.

And Hushai said to Absalom, "No; for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.". 2 Samuel 16.18.

And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you. 2 Samuel 16.19.

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel; what shall we do?". 2 Samuel 16.20.

Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.". 2 Samuel 16.21.

So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 2 Samuel 16.22.

Now in those days the counsel which Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophei esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. 2 Samuel 16.23 (Note: "oracle" RSV = "word" Hebrew).

Moreover Ahithophei said to Absolom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight.". 2 Samuel 17.1.

I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged, and throw him into a panic; and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down the king only. 2 Samuel 17.2.

And I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to one man, and all the people will be at peace.. 2 Samuel 17.3.

And the advice pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel. 2 Samuel 17.4.

Then Absalom said, "Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.". 2 Samuel 17.5.

And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, "Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he advises? If not, you speak.". 2 Samuel 17.6.

Then Hushai said to Absalom, "This time the counsel which Ahithophel has given is not good.". 2 Samuel 17.7.

Hushai said moreover, "You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people.". 2 Samuel 17.8.

Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits, or in some other place. And when some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.'. 2 Samuel 17.9.

Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. 2 Samuel 17.10.

But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 2 Samuel 17.11.

So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. 2 Samuel 17.12.

If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there. 2 Samuel 17.13.

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. 2 Samuel 17.14.

Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, "Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and so have I counseled.". 2 Samuel 17.15.

Now therefore send quickly and tell David, 'Do not lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.'. 2 Samuel 17.16.

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at Enrogel; a maidservant used to go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David; for they must not be seen entering the city. 2 Samuel 17.17.

But a lad saw them, and told Absalom; so both of them went away quickly, and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard; and they went down into it. 2 Samuel 17.18.

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and scattered grain upon it; and nothing was known of it. 2 Samuel 17.19.

When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" And the woman said to them, "They have gone over the brook of water." And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 17.20.

After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, "Arise, and go quickly over the water; for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.". 2 Samuel 17.21.

Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan; by daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan. 2 Samuel 17.22.

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and went off home to his own city. And he set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. 2 Samuel 17.23.

Then David came to Mahanim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 17.24.

Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had married Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 2 Samuel 17.25.

And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 2 Samuel 17.26.

(Note: In verses 27, 28, & 29, Shobi gave David's people provisions.).

Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 Samuel 18.1.

And David sent forth the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you.". 2 Samuel 18.2.

But the men said, "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.". 2 Samuel 18.3.

The king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 2 Samuel 18.4.

And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom. 2 Samuel 18.5.

So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 2 Samuel 18.6.

And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 2 Samuel 18.7.

The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword. 2 Samuel 18.8.

And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 2 Samuel 18.9.

And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.". 2 Samuel 18.10.

Joab said to the man who told him, "What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a girdle.". 2 Samuel 18.11.

But the man said to Joab, "Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, 'For my sake protect the young man Absalom.'". 2 Samuel 18.12.

On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof. 2 Samuel 18.13.

Joab said, "I will not wast three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak. 2 Samuel 18.14.

And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him. 2 Samuel 18.15.

Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel; for Joab restrained them. 2 Samuel 18.16.

And they took Absalom, and threw him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones; and all Israel fled every one to his own home. 2 Samuel 18.17.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar which is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in rememberance"; he called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument to this day. 2 Samuel 18.18.

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, "Let me run, and carry tidings to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the power of his enemies.". 2 Samuel 18.19.

And Joab said to him, "You are not to carry tidings today; you may carry tidings another day, but today you shall carry no tidings, because the king's son is dead.". 2 Samuel 18.20.

Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. 2 Samuel 18.21.

Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the tidings?". 2 Samuel 18.22.

"Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite. 2 Samuel 18.23.

Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. 2 Samuel 18.24.

And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth." And he came apace, and drew near. 2 Samuel 18.25.

And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gate and said, "See, another man running alone!" The king said, "He also brings tidings.". 2 Samuel 18.26.

And the watchman said, "I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.". 2 Samuel 18.27.

Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "All is well." And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth, and said, "Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.". 2 Samuel 18.28.

And the king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.". 2 Samuel 18.29.

And the king said, "Turn aside, and stand here." So he turned aside, and stood still. 2 Samuel 18.30.

And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, "Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the power of all who rose up against you.". 2 Samuel 18.31.

The kings said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man.". 2 Samuel 18.32.

And the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom my son, my son!". 2 Samuel 18.33.

It was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.". 2 Samuel 19.1.

And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. 2 Samuel 19.2.

And the people stole into the city that day, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 2 Samuel 19.3.

But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!. 2 Samuel 19.4.

And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;. 2 Samuel 19.5.

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 2 Samuel 19.6 (Note: Here is great reasoning revealed that the king [or God] is no respecter of men as compared relatively [or absolutely, entirely perfectly] to his most beloved son.).

Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak kindly to your servants: for I swear by the Lord, if you go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto you than all the evil that befell you from your youth until now. 2 Samuel 19.7.

Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And all the people were told, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate." and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. 2 Samuel 19.8.

And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.". 2 Samuel 19.9.

And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?. 2 Samuel 19.10.

And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? When the word of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 2 Samuel 19.11.

Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are you the last to bring back the king?. 2 Samuel 19.12.

And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in place of Joab. 2 Samuel 19.13.

And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, "Return both you, and all your servants.". 2 Samuel 19.14.

So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over Jordan. 2 Samuel 19.15.

And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 2 Samuel 19.16.

And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 2 Samuel 19.17.

And they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 2 Samuel 19.18 (Note: RSV correction to Hebrew text).

And said unto the king, let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 2 Samuel 19.19.

For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 2 Samuel 19.20.

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed? 2 Samuel 19.21.

And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?. 2 Samuel 19.22.

Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him. 2 Samuel 19.23.

And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 2 Samuel 19.24.

And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 2 Samuel 19.25.

And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 2 Samuel 19.26.

And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 2 Samuel 19.27.

For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?. 2 Samuel 19.28.

And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 2 Samuel 19.29.

And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. 2 Samuel 19.30.

And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 2 Samuel 19.31.

Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 2 Samuel 19.32.

And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 19.33.

19:34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?. 2 Samuel 19.34.

I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?. 2 Samuel 19.35.

Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?. 2 Samuel 19.36.

Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 2 Samuel 19.37.

And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. 2 Samuel 19.38.

And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 2 Samuel 19.39.

Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 2 Samuel 19.40.

And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? 2 Samuel 19.41.

And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?. 2 Samuel 19.42.

And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 19.43.

And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 2 Samuel 20:1.

So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 20:2.

And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. 2 Samuel 20:3.

Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. 2 Samuel 20:4.

So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 2 Samuel 20:5.

And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. 2 Samuel 20:6.

And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 2 Samuel 20:7.

When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. 2 Samuel 20:8.

And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 2 Samuel 20:9.

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 2 Samuel 20:10.

And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. 2 Samuel 20:11.

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. 2 Samuel 20:12.

When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 2 Samuel 20:13.

And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 2 Samuel 20:14.

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. 2 Samuel 20:15.

Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. 2 Samuel 20:16.

And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 2 Samuel 20:17.

Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. 2 Samuel 20:18.

I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?. 2 Samuel 20:19.

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 2 Samuel 20:20.

The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. 2 Samuel 20:21.

Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king. 2 Samuel 20:22.

Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:. 2 Samuel 20:23.

And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:. 2 Samuel 20:24.

And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:. 2 Samuel 20:25.

And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. 2 Samuel 20:26 (Note: Compilation of various versions indicate Ira was chief priest or chief minister under David.).

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gib'eonites to death.". 2 Samuel 21.1.

So the king called the Gib'eonites. Now the Gib'eonites were not of the people of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to slay them in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. 2 Samuel 21.2.

And David said to the Gib'eonites, "What shall I do for you? And how shall I make expiation, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?". 2 Samuel 21.3.

The Gib'eonites said to him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." And he said, "What do you say that I shall do for you?". 2 Samuel 21.4.

They said to the king, "The man who consumed us and planned to destroy us, so that we should have no place in all the territory of Israel,. 2 Samuel 21.5.

let seven of his sons be given to us, so that we may hang them up before the LORD at Gibeon on the mountain of the LORD." And the king said, "I will give them.". 2 Samuel 21.6.

But the king spared Mephib'osheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the LORD which was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 2 Samuel 21.7.

The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah, whom she bore to Saul, Armo'ni and Mephib'osheth; and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to A'dri-el the son of Barzil'lai the Meho'lathite;. 2 Samuel 21.8.

And he gave them into the hands of the Gib'eonites, and they hanged them on the mountain before the LORD, and the seven of them perished together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of barley harvest. 2 Samuel 21.9.

Then Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell upon them from the heavens; and she did not allow the birds of the air to come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night. 2 Samuel 21.10.

When David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah, the concubine of Saul, had done,. 2 Samuel 21.11.

David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the men of Ja'besh-gil'ead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, on the day the Philistines killed Saul on Gilbo'a;. 2 Samuel 21.12.

and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan; and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. 2 Samuel 21.13.

And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father; and they did all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded supplications for the land. 2 Samuel 21.14.

The Philistines had war again with Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines; and David grew weary. 2 Samuel 21.15.

And Ish'bi-be'nob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was girded with a new sword, thought to kill David. 2 Samuel 21.16.

But Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah came to his aid, and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men adjured him, "You shall no more go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.". 2 Samuel 21.17.

After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; then Sib'becai the Hu'shathite slew Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. 2 Samuel 21.18.

And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elha'nan the son of Ja'areor'egim, the Bethlehemite, slew Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 2 Samuel 21.19.

And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was descended from the giants. 2 Samuel 21.20.

And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shim'e-i, David's brother, slew him. 2 Samuel 21.21.

These four were descended from the giants in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. 2 Samuel 21.22.

And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 Samuel 22.1.

He said, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,. 2 Samuel 22.2.

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence. 2 Samuel 22.3.

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22.4.

"For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me;. 2 Samuel 22.5.

the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me. 2 Samuel 22.6.

"In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.". 2 Samuel 22.7.

"Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry. 2 Samuel 22.8.

Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. 2 Samuel 22.9.

He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. 2 Samuel 22.10.

He rode on a cherub, and flew; he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 2 Samuel 22.11.

He made darkness around him his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water. 2 Samuel 22.12.

Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth. 2 Samuel 22.13.

The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice. 2 Samuel 22.14.

And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and routed them. 2 Samuel 22.15.

Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 2 Samuel 22.16.

"He reached from on high, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 2 Samuel 22.17.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. 2 Samuel 22.18.

They came upon me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my stay. 2 Samuel 22.19.

He brought me forth into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 2 Samuel 22.20.

"The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me. 2 Samuel 22.21.

For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 2 Samuel 22.22.

For all his ordinances were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside. 2 Samuel 22.23.

I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 2 Samuel 22.24.

Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. 2 Samuel 22.25.

"With the loyal thou dost show thyself loyal; with the blameless man thou dost show thyself blameless;. 2 Samuel 22.26.

with the pure thou dost show thyself pure, and with the crooked thou dost show thyself perverse. 2 Samuel 22.27 (Note: "perverse" RSV = "unsavory" KJV. Logically God is not perverse, yet from the perspective of those who would choose to be perverse, it would seem so and the greater peversity would lose logic and be in grand delusion; permanently, save through Jesus Christ: John 3.16.).

Thou dost deliver a humble people, but thy eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down. 2 Samuel 22.28.

Yea, thou art my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness. 2 Samuel 22.29.

Yea, by thee I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 2 Samuel 22.30.

This God -- his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22.31.

"For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?. 2 Samuel 22.32.

This God is my strong refuge, and has made my way safe. 2 Samuel 22.33.

He made my feet like hinds' feet, and set me secure on the heights. 2 Samuel 22.34.

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 2 Samuel 22.35.

Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy help made me great. 2 Samuel 22.36.

Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip;. 2 Samuel 22.37.

I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed. 2 Samuel 22.38.

I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise; they fell under my feet. 2 Samuel 22.39.

For thou didst gird me with strength for the battle; thou didst make my assailants sink under me. 2 Samuel 22.40.

Thou didst make my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them. 2 Samuel 22.41.

They looked, but there was none to save; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them. 2 Samuel 22.42.

I beat them fine as the dust of the earth, I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets. 2 Samuel 22.43.

"Thou didst deliver me from strife with the peoples; thou didst keep me as the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. 2 Samuel 22.44.

Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me. 2 Samuel 22.45.

Foreigners lost heart, and came trembling out of their fastnesses. 2 Samuel 22.46.

"The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,. 2 Samuel 22.47.

the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me,. 2 Samuel 22.48.

who brought me out from my enemies; thou didst exalt me above my adversaries, thou didst deliver me from men of violence. 2 Samuel 22.49.

"For this I will extol thee, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to thy name. 2 Samuel 22.50.

Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David, and his descendants for ever.". 2 Samuel 22.51.

Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:.2 Samuel 23.1.

"The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me, his word is upon my tongue.2 Samuel 23.2.

The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,.2 Samuel 23.3.

he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.2 Samuel 23.4.

Yea, does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?.2 Samuel 23.5.

But godless men are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be taken with the hand;.2 Samuel 23.6 (Note: So Christians can be conquerors through [not hands, but] the logic of God that confounds the godless.).

but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.".2 Samuel 23.7 (Note: This verse is from RSV. KJV reads "But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.". Logical preparation is needed by each [and all] Christians personally to have great success over handling illogical thorn bearers for the greater glory of God. This includes greatest defense [as verbally illustrated here with iron] and greatest control [spear staff] to prune and/or manage properly for God.).

These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshe'beth a Tah-che'monite; he was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he slew at one time.2 Samuel 23.8.

And next to him among the three mighty men was Elea'zar the son of Dodo, son of Aho'hi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew.2 Samuel 23.9.

He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand cleaved to the sword; and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.2 Samuel 23.10.

And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Har'arite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the men fled from the Philistines.2 Samuel 23.11.

But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD wrought a great victory.2 Samuel 23.12.

And three of the thirty chief men went down, and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Reph'aim.2 Samuel 23.13.

David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.2 Samuel 23.14.

And David said longingly, "O that some one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!".2 Samuel 23.15.

Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD,.2 Samuel 23.16.

and said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.2 Samuel 23.17.

Now Abi'shai, the brother of Jo'ab, the son of Zeru'iah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and slew them, and won a name beside the three.2 Samuel 23.18.

He was the most renowned of the thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.2 Samuel 23.19.

And Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.2 Samuel 23.20.

And he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but Benai'ah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.2 Samuel 23.21.

These things did Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, and won a name beside the three mighty men..2 Samuel 23.22.

He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.2 Samuel 23.23.

As'ahel the brother of Jo'ab was one of the thirty; Elha'nan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,.2 Samuel 23.24 (Note: see references for name list.).

Uri'ah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.2 Samuel 23.39.

Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah.". 2 Samuel 24.1.

So the king said to Jo'ab and the commanders of the army, who were with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.". 2 Samuel 24.2.

But Jo'ab said to the king, "May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?". 2 Samuel 24.3.

But the king's word prevailed against Jo'ab and the commanders of the army. So Jo'ab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. 2 Samuel 24.4.

They crossed the Jordan, and began from Aro'er, and from the city that is in the middle of the valley, toward Gad and on to Jazer. 2 Samuel 24.5.

Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; and they came to Dan, and from Dan they went around to Sidon,. 2 Samuel 24.6.

and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites; and they went out to the Negeb of Judah at Beer-sheba. 2 Samuel 24.7.

So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 2 Samuel 24.8.

And Jo'ab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand. 2 Samuel 24.9.

But David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, I pray thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.". 2 Samuel 24.10.

And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,. 2 Samuel 24.11.

"Go and say to David, `Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.". 2 Samuel 24.12.

So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, "Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.". 2 Samuel 24.13.

Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.". 2 Samuel 24.14.

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men. 2 Samuel 24.15.

And when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented of the evil, and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Arau'nah the Jeb'usite. 2 Samuel 24.16.

Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was smiting the people, and said, "Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, I pray thee, be against me and against my father's house.". 2 Samuel 24.17.

And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, rear an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Arau'nah the Jeb'usite.". 2 Samuel 24.18.

So David went up at Gad's word, as the LORD commanded. 2 Samuel 24.19.

And when Arau'nah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him; and Arau'nah went forth, and did obeisance to the king with his face to the ground. 2 Samuel 24.20.

And Arau'nah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy the threshing floor of you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be averted from the people.". 2 Samuel 24.21.

Then Arau'nah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him; here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. 2 Samuel 24.22.

All this, O king, Arau'nah gives to the king." And Arau'nah said to the king, "The LORD your God accept you.". 2 Samuel 24.23.

But the king said to Arau'nah, "No, but I will buy it of you for a price; I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 2 Samuel 24.24.

And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded supplications for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel. 2 Samuel 24.25.

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