1 Samuel 11 - 15
Saul Strikes Down the Ammonites
11And aNahash the Ammonite came up and 1besieged bJabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Cut ca covenant with us, and we will serve you.” 2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will cut it with you on this condition, athat I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it ba reproach on all Israel.” 3aThen the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” 4Then the messengers came ato Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people blifted up their voices and wept.
5Now behold, Saul was coming from the field abehind the oxen, and 1he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6Then athe Spirit of God 1came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and 2he burned with anger exceedingly. 7Then he took a pair of oxen and acut them in pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “bWhoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out cas one man. 8And he 1numbered them in aBezek; and the bsons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. 9And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have salvation.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10Then the men of Jabesh said, “aTomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good in your eyes.” 11Then the next morning Saul put the people ain three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12Then the people said to Samuel, “aWho is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ 1,bBring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13But Saul said, “aNot a man shall be put to death this day, for today bYahweh has accomplished salvation in Israel.”
14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to aGilgal and brenew the kingdom there.” 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king abefore Yahweh in Gilgal. There they also boffered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel were exceedingly glad.
Samuel Speaks to Israel
12Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, aI have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and I bhave 1appointed a king over you. 2“So now, ahere is the king walking before you, but bI am old and gray, and behold, cmy sons are with you. And dI have walked before you from my youth even to this day. 3“Here I am; bear witness against me before Yahweh and aHis anointed. bWhose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or cfrom whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you.” 4And they said, “You have not extorted us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.” 5So he said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that ayou have found nothing bin my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”
6Then Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who 1,aappointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. 7“So now, take your stand, athat I may judge you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh which He did for you and your fathers. 8“aWhen Jacob went into Egypt and byour fathers cried out to Yahweh, then cYahweh sent Moses and Aaron 1,dwho brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9“But athey forgot Yahweh their God, so bHe sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and cinto the hand of the Philistines and dinto the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10“aAnd they cried out to Yahweh and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served bthe Baals and the Ashtaroth; but cnow deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’ 11“Then Yahweh sent aJerubbaal and 1,bBedan and cJephthah and dSamuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security. 12“But you saw athat Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, and you said to me, ‘bNo, but a king shall reign over us,’ calthough Yahweh your God was your king. 13“So now, abehold, the king whom you have chosen, bwhom you have asked for, and behold, Yahweh has set a king over you. 14“aIf you will fear Yahweh and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against the 1command of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow Yahweh your God. 15“aBut if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the 1command of Yahweh, then bthe hand of Yahweh will be against you, cas it was against your fathers. 16“Even now, atake your stand and see this great thing which Yahweh will do before your eyes. 17“aIs it not the wheat harvest today? bI will call to Yahweh, that He may send 1thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that cyour wickedness is great which you have done in the eyes of Yahweh by asking for yourselves a king.” 18So Samuel called to Yahweh, and Yahweh sent 1thunder and rain that day; and aall the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
19Then all the people said to Samuel, “aPray for your servants to Yahweh your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins bthis evil by asking for ourselves a king.” 20And Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet ado not turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. 21“And you must not turn aside, for then you would go after ameaningless things which cannot profit and cannot deliver, because they are meaningless. 22“For aYahweh will not abandon His people bon account of His great name, because Yahweh chas been pleased to make you a people for Himself. 23“Moreover, as for me, afar be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you; but bI will instruct you in the good and upright way. 24“aOnly 1fear Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for see bwhat great things He has done for you. 25“aBut if you still do wickedly, bboth you and your king cwill be swept away.”
Saul Strikes Down the Philistines
2And Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in aMichmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at bGibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. 3And Jonathan struck athe garrison of the Philistines that was in bGeba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul cblew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4Then all Israel heard 1the news that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel ahad become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned 2to Saul at Gilgal.
5Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and apeople like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of bBeth-aven. 6Now the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed). Then athe people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits. 7Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of aGad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Saul Doesn’t Keep Yahweh’s Commandment
8So ahe waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. 9So Saul said, “Bring near to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And ahe offered the burnt offering. 10And as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and aSaul went out to meet him and to 1greet him. 11But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that athe Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 13And Samuel said to Saul, “aYou have acted foolishly; byou have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you, for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom 1over Israel cforever. 14“But anow your kingdom shall not endure. bYahweh has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you.”
15Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to aGibeah of Benjamin. And Saul 1numbered the people who were present with him, babout six hundred men. 16Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in aGeba of Benjamin, and the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17And athe 1raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three 2companies: one 3company turned 4toward bOphrah, to the land of Shual, 18and another 1company turned to the way of aBeth-horon, and another 2company turned to the way of the border which overlooks the valley of bZeboim toward the wilderness.
19Now ano blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make 1,bswords or spears.” 20So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his 1goad. 21And the charge was 1two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the goad. 22So it happened on the day of battle that aneither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan. 23And athe garrison of the Philistines went out to bthe pass of Michmash.
Jonathan Slaughters the Philistines
14Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2And Saul was staying in the outskirts of aGibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in bMigron. And the people who were with him were cabout six hundred men, 3and Ahijah, the ason of Ahitub, bIchabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at cShiloh, dwas 1wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4aNow between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.
6Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of athese uncircumcised; perhaps Yahweh will work for us, for bYahweh is not restrained to save by many or by few.” 7And his armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your heart.” 8Then Jonathan said, “aBehold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9“If they 1say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10“But if they 1say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for Yahweh has given them into our hands; and athis shall be the sign to us.” 11So both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, “Behold, aHebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12So the men of the garrison 1hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us, and awe will make you know something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for bYahweh has given them into the hands of Israel.” 13Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. 14And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an 1acre of land. 15And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and athe raiders trembled, and bthe earth quaked so cthat it became a 1great trembling.
16Then Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. 17So Saul said to the people who were with him, “1Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had 2numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “aBring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. 19aAnd it happened that while Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, aevery man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even athey also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22Now all the amen of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, and they pursued them closely in the battle. 23So aYahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle 1spread beyond bBeth-aven.
Saul’s Oath Makes the People Weary
24Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day. And Saul had aput the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food 1before evening and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25Now all the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26So the people entered the forest, and behold, athere was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the sworn oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under a sworn oath; therefore, ahe put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and bhis eyes brightened. 28Then one of the people answered and said, “Your father strictly put the people under a sworn oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29Then Jonathan said, “aMy father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30“How much more, if only 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.”
31Then they struck among the Philistines that day from aMichmash to bAijalon. And the people were very weary. 32aSo the people 1rushed greedily upon the spoil, and they took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them bwith the blood. 33Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are asinning against Yahweh by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.” 34And Saul said, “Scatter yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against Yahweh by eating with the blood.’” So all the people that night brought each one his ox 1with him and slaughtered it there. 35And aSaul built an altar to Yahweh; it was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.
36Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good in your eyes.” So athe priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37And Saul aasked of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But bHe did not answer him on that day. 38And Saul said, “aDraw near here, all you 1chiefs of the people, and know and see how this sin has happened today. 39“For aas Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him. 40Then 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 in your eyes.” 41Therefore, Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “aGive a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “aTell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “bI indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I must die!” 44And Saul said, “aMay God do 1this to me and more also, for byou shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has 1brought about this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, anot one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for bhe has worked with God this day.” So the people 2redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. 46Then Saul went up from 1pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Saul Fights Against His Enemies
47Now Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, and he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, athe sons of Ammon, Edom, bthe kings of Zobah, and cthe Philistines; and wherever he turned, he 1inflicted punishment. 48And he acted valiantly and astruck down the Amalekites and delivered Israel from the hands of 1those who plundered them.
49Now athe sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn bMerab and the name of the younger cMichal. 50And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And athe name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51aAnd Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and Saul would see any mighty man or any man of valor and would agather him to 1his staff.
Saul’s Disobedience
15Then Samuel said to Saul, “aYahweh sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; so now, 1obey the voice of the words of Yahweh. 2“Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘I will 1punish Amalek afor what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. 3‘Now go and strike Amalek and adevote to destruction all that he has, and do not spare him; but bput to death both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
4Then Saul summoned the people and 1numbered them in aTelaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. 5And Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. 6And Saul said to athe Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; byou showed lovingkindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7So aSaul struck the Amalekites, from bHavilah as you go to cShur, which is 1east of Egypt. 8And he seized aAgag the king of the Amalekites alive and bdevoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9But Saul and the people aspared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and they were not willing to devote them to destruction; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
Yahweh Regrets He Made Saul King
10Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying, 11“aI regret that I have made Saul king, for bhe has turned back from 1following Me and has not established My words.” And Samuel became angry and ccried out to Yahweh all night. 12Then Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told to Samuel, saying, “Saul came to aCarmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on 1down to bGilgal.” 13And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “aBlessed are you of Yahweh! I have established the word of Yahweh.” 14But Samuel said, “aWhat then is this sound of the sheep in my ears and the sound of the oxen which I am hearing?” 15And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for athe people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God; but the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what Yahweh spoke to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”
17And Samuel said, “Is it not true, athough you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Yahweh anointed you king over Israel, 18and Yahweh sent you on a 1mission and said, ‘aGo and devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19“Why then did you not 1obey the voice of Yahweh, abut rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh?”
20Then Saul said to Samuel, “aI did 1obey the voice of Yahweh and went on the way on which Yahweh sent me and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek and have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21“But athe people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.” 22And Samuel said, “aHas Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrificesAs in obeying the voice of Yahweh?Behold, bto obey is better than sacrifice,And to heed than the fat of rams.
23“For rebellion is as the sin of adivination,And insubordination is as bwickedness and idolatry.Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh,cHe has also rejected you from being king.”24Then Saul said to Samuel, “aI have sinned; bI have indeed trespassed against the 1command of Yahweh and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25“So now, aplease forgive my sin and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh.” 26But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for ayou have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27Then Samuel turned to go, but aSaul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28So Samuel said to him, “aYahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. 29“Also the aEternal One of Israel bwill not lie or have regret; for He is not a man that He should have regret.” 30Then he said, “I have sinned; abut please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, bthat I may worship Yahweh your God.” 31So Samuel returned, following after Saul, and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
32Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag near to me, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him 1in chains. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death has departed.” 33But Samuel said, “aAs your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before Yahweh at Gilgal.