Through The Bible 
9 I Samuel

March 21 - I Samuel 1 - 2

It was good to have a week to rest from the chemo.  I begin my second session today with the intravenous chemotherapy and also start on the chemo pills again, which I am supposed to take for two weeks.  I desire your prayers. 

Our next book in the historical section of the Old Testament is I Samuel.  There was a man named Elkanah who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah.  Peninnah had children but Hannah did not.  Each year they went to worship and offer sacrifices at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were the priests.  Elkanah gave Hannah more because he loved her and year after year Peninnah provoked her because she didn't have children.  Hannah wept, but her husband did not understand her anguish.  "Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?"  (I Samuel 1:8)  

"10  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12  And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13  Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken."  (1:10-13)

Hannah told the priest that she was not drunk, but had poured out her soul before the Lord.  Eli told her to go in peace and the God of Israel would answer her prayer.  So they returned back home and she wasn't sad any longer.  Hannah believed!  She left her burden at the altar.  Verse 19 tells us, "and the LORD remembered her."  (In the book of Genesis we saw that God remembered Noah, 8:1, God remembered Abraham, 19:29, and God remembered Rachel, 30:22.  Now, God remembered Hannah.)  She had a son and called his name, Samuel.  After he was weaned she kept her vow and took him to Eli.  

"26  And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28  Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there."  (1:26-28)

​Chapter 2 begins with Hannah's prayer of praise.  Samuel was just a child, yet he ministered unto the Lord, wearing a linen ephod and Hannah took him a little coat every year.  Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah and the Lord gave them three more sons and two daughters.  "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men."  (2:26)

The chapter also tells of the evil sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, and how the people didn't like to give their offerings to the Lord because of them.  Eli heard of the wickedness of his sons and told them, "If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them."  (2:25)  A man of God told Eli, "Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?"  (2:29)  He told the old priest that there would not be an old man in his house forever, but all of his increase would die "in the flower of their age" and end up begging for bread.  He also told Eli that both his sons would die on the same day.

​March 22 - I Samuel 3 - 4

​An update on my chemo treatment yesterday… the labs and visit with the cancer doctor were good. Even the chemo IV went well but when I leaned forward to stand I couldn’t breathe. I grabbed the nurse by the arm and tried to say, “I can’t breathe.” The nurse called for help, they gave me oxygen and a breathing treatment and put the IV back in. They said it was asthma but I told them I thought it was a reaction to the meds. I also think it could have been the cold air when I took off the two blankets. I desire your prayers.

Chapter 3 of the book of Samuel brings back sweet memories of our children when they were small.  This was their favorite Bible story and they would act it out as Michael told the story.  I remember well, our little David would lay on a blanket on the floor to be Samuel, and one of his older brothers would lay on the couch to be Eli.  Michael would tell the story and David would jump up and run to the couch each time and say, "Eli, Eli, did you call me?"  Our pretend priest would send him back to bed.  The last time he would say, "Here my am, Lord!"

"1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2  And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3  And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4  That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5  And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6  And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."  (I Samuel 3:1-10)

The message to Samuel must have been hard for him to hear and he lay awake the rest of the night.

"11  And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12  In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13  For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14  And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever."  (3:11-14)

Eli asked Samuel what the Lord had told him and even though he was afraid to tell Eli, he told him all that the Lord had said.

"19  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20  And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21  And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD."  (3:19-21)

​In Chapter 4 Israel went to battle against the Philistines and about 4,000 Israelites had been smitten so they sent for the ark of the covenant.  Hophni and Phinehas took it to the battle, but the Philistines took the ark and killed the two sons of Eli.  Eli sat waiting, "for his heart trembled for the ark of God."  (4:13)  Eli was 98 and blind and he heard the people crying in the city when they heard the news and he asked what had happened.  

"17  And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18  And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19  And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
20  And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
21  And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22  And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken."  (4:17-22)

​March 23 - I Samuel 5 - 7

Did you know... the second verse of "Come Thy Fount", that old hymn by Robert Robinson written in 1758, comes in part from I Samuel 7:12?  "Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."

"Here I raise mine Ebenezer; Hither by thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood."

In Chapter 5 the Philistines took the ark of the covenant which they had taken from the army of Israel and put it in the house of their false god, Dagon.  The next morning, Dagon had fallen on his face and they set him up again.  The next day Dagon's head and hands were cut off and he had fallen to the ground again.  "But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof."  (I Samuel 5:6)  So they took the ark to Gath, and the hand of the Lord was against that city with great destruction.  So, they sent the ark to Ekron, and the Lord was against them too, "and the cry of the city went up to heaven."  (5:12)  The ark was in the land of the Philistines seven months, and they decided to send it back to Israel.

"7  Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:
8  And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.
9  And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us."  (6:7-9)

"12  And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.
13  And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
14  And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD."  (6:12-14)

The Philistines saw it and went back to Ekron.  The men of Bethshemesh looked in the ark and the Lord smote 50,070 men.  They asked, "Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?"  (6:20)  They sent messengers to Kirjathjearim to come and get the ark.  Chapter 7.  The men of Kirjathjearim went and got the ark and took it to the house of Abinadab and  it was there 20 years.  Samuel told the people to return to the Lord and put away the strange gods, prepare their hearts, and serve the Lord only.  "And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.  And they gathered together to Mizpeh, 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 children of Israel in Mizpeh."  (7:5-6)  (This reminds me of the many times we saw where Moses prayed for the people.)  The Philistines went up against Israel to Mizpeh.  

"9  And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
10  And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
11  And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12  Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
13  So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.  "  (7:9-13)

March 24 - I Samuel 8 - 10

We have three Life Lessons today ... 
(1)  It is never good to ask for something just so we can be like someone else. "...make us a king to judge us like all the nations."  (8:5)
(2)  Sometimes we have to stand still a while to know the Word that God has for us.  "...stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God." (9:27)
(3)  Has God ever called us to serve Him, but we are hiding among the stuff? "...Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff."  (10:22)

In Chapter 8 Israel asked for a king.  Samuel made his sons judges in Israel, but they took bribes and perverted judgment, so the elders of Israel went to Samuel and told him they wanted a king.  "And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."  (I Samuel 8:7)  The Lord told Samuel, "Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."  (8:9)  Samuel told the people how a king would take their sons to be his horsemen, and to work in his fields.  He would take their daughters to be confectioneries, cooks, and bakers.  A king would take their fields and vineyards for his servants, and the tenth of their seed and fruit of their vineyards.  He would take their servants, and their livestock.  "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;  That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."  (8:19-20)  So the Lord told Samuel to make them a king.  

(One of the ways we can tell that the last chapters of Judges took place much earlier in the history of Israel is because Saul was a Benjamite.  The tribe of Benjamin was wiped out except for 600 men in chapter 20 of Judges.  The first king of Israel will come from the tribe of Benjamin.)  Chapter 9 begins, "Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.  And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people."  (9:1-2)  Some donkeys of Kish were lost and he sent Saul to find them.  Saul and his servant went several places and could not find them so they went to see if Samuel could tell them where they were.  Have you ever felt like the Lord whispered something in your ear?  Look at the  next verse.

"15  Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16  To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17  And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people."  (9:15-17)

Samuel told them to eat with him that day and he would tell them all that was in their heart and send them away the next day.  He also told them that the donkeys that were lost three days ago had been found.  Samuel told Saul that he was the desire of Israel. "And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?"  (9:21)  Saul ate with Samuel and the next morning he got up early to start back home.  "And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God."  (9:27)  Chapter 10 continues, Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head and anointed him "to be captain over his inheritance."  Samuel then told him the people he would see as he was on his way home.  "And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.  And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee."  (10:6-7)  Samuel told him to wait in Gilgal for him seven days and then he would come and tell him what to do.

"9  And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
10  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
11  And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"  (10:9-11)

Samuel called the people together and told them that Saul was to be king, but they could not find him.  

"22  Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
23  And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24  And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king."  (10:22-24)  

March 25 - I Samuel 11 - 13

​Life Lesson... Consider how great things the Lord hath done for you!  Also... It should be our desire to be a man or woman after God's own heart.  "... the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart..."  (I Samuel 13:14) 
The Ammonites rose up against Jabeshgilead and the people sent messengers to Gibeah of Saul.  "And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent."  (11:6-7)  Saul and his men slew the Ammonites so that there were not two left together.  Then they went to Gilgal and made Saul king before the Lord.  In Chapter 12 Samuel told the people that he was old and grayheaded and he had served from his childhood unto that day.  He told them that the Lord was witness that he had done them no wrong.  "Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers."  (12:7)  Then he reviewed some of the history of Israel and how the Lord had delivered them from their enemies.

"16  Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17  Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
18  So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel."  (12 16-18)

All the people asked Samuel to pray for them.  "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you."  (12:23-24)  In Chapter 13 King Saul had 2,000 men with him and his son, Jonathan, had 1,000 men with him. Notice that Jonathan had the victory, but Saul blew the trumpet and took the credit.

"3  And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
4  And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
5  And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
6  When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits."  (13:3-6)  

​King Saul waited on Samuel and when he did not come, Saul offered a burnt-offering.  When Samuel came, the king told him that he forced himself to offer the burnt-offering.  "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee."  (13:13-14)  In Acts 13:22-23 we see that Paul preached that after King Saul, the Lord chose David. "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.  Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:"

​March 26 - I Samuel 14 - 15

Life Lesson... "... to obey is better than sacrifice... (15:22)  
In Chapter 14 Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and his armor bearer went to the garrison of the Philistines.  "If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.  But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us."  (I Samuel 14:9-10)  Oh, the faith of Jonathan.  "And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel."  (14:12)  They climbed up and killed about 20 Philistines and there was trembling in the host, and all around, and the earth quaked and the watchman of Saul saw that the people went down beating one another.  Saul asked who was gone and found that it was Jonathan and his armor bearer.  Saul and his men went to the battle and were joined by all the men of Israel who had been hiding in the caves and the Lord saved Israel that day.  "And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food."  (14:24)  Jonathan had not heard what Saul had said and he tasted some honey that was in the woods and his eyes were enlightened.  Jonathan told the men that they would have had a greater victory if they had been allowed to eat of the spoil of their enemies.  The battle continued and they were so hungry that they killed sheep and oxen and calves and were eating them.  King Saul had them roll up a large stone so they wouldn't eat the blood with the meat and built an altar to the Lord.  When Saul found out that Jonathan ate some honey he was ready to kill his own son, but the Israelites rescued Jonathan.  King Saul fought against his enemies on every side and delivered Israel.  The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua and his daughters were Merab and Michal.  His wife's name was Ahinoam.  The captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.  

Chapter 15 begins... 

"1  Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not..."  (15:1-3)

"9  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10  Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
11  It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night."  (15:9-11)

​"And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"  (15:13-14)  Saul told Samuel that he saved the best to sacrifice to the Lord.  "And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?"  (15:17)  And Samuel said, Hath 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.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."  (15:22-23)  Saul told Samuel that he had sinned and asked him to return and worship with him. 

"26  And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27  And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28  And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou."  (15:26-28)

Samuel never went to see Saul again, but mourned for him.

​March 27 - I Samuel 16

​Life Lesson... At the end of this devotional we see how different people felt about David, but what really mattered was what the Lord saw in David.  Don't let the opinions of those around you keep you from serving the Lord.  If your heart is right with God, then it doesn't matter what others think and say.

​"1  And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2  And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3  And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee."  (I Samuel 16:1-3)

When Samuel saw Eliab he thought that would surely be the choice for a new king.  "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."  (16:7)  We already saw in I Samuel 13:14 that God chose a man after His own heart.  Jesse called Abinadab, Shammah, and all of his other sons to come before Samuel.  

"10  Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah."  (16:10-13)

As the Spirit of the LORD came upon David, the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul and an evil spirit troubled him.  Saul's servants suggested that they find a cunning man who could play the harp and it would help him.  Here we see God's providence, for who would they get, but David!  "Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him."  (16:18)  Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and he sent David to King Saul.

"21  And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22  And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23  And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."  (16:21-23)

Instead of moving on to the next chapter, I want to look at how different people felt about David.  We see above that the servant said he was cunning in playing the harp, but also a mighty valiant man, a man of war, prudent in matters and a comely person, and the Lord was with him.  That's about as good a recommendation as you would find!  Jesse, David's father said he was the youngest, and out keeping the sheep, basically just a shepherd boy.  Saul loved him, but when he wanted to go before Goliath Saul said he was not able to go against the giant because he was a youth.  Elliab, his oldest brother was the first to stand before Samuel, and rejected, and he saw Samuel anoint his younger brother.  We see his jealousy in 17:28.  "And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."  Goliath disdained him.  (17:42-48)  Jonathan, the son of King Saul, loved him as his own soul. (18:1)  We will see in 18:5, 16, & 30 that all Israel and Judah loved him. The women of Israel said, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."  (18:7)  In the book of Nehemiah, he is described as "the man of God".  (Nehemiah 12:24 & 36)  King Saul will later come to hate David and even try to kill him on several occasions.  Michal, his wife, came to despise him.  (II Samuel 6:16)  So we see that some people loved David and others hated him.  What did David say?  "Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?"  (II Samuel 7:18)    But, what really matters is what the Lord knew about David, "...the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart,..."  (I Samuel 13:14)  The Lord also promised to establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  (II Samuel 7:13)  And we see that fulfilled in Jesus!  

"30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."  (Luke 1:30-33)

​March 28 - I Samuel 17

​Life Lesson...We have a cause!  "And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"  (17:29)  We need to take a stand for the cause of Christ!  We also see that God used what He had placed in David's hand.  When the Lord calls you to serve Him, then He will place in your hands what you need.  Today we look at a favorite story of David, as he faced the giant Goliath.  

"3  And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4  And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5  And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
6  And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7  And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8  And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9  If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10  And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11  When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid."  (I Samuel 17:3-11)

David had returned from Saul but his three oldest brothers were in Saul's army.  Goliath (around 9 1/2 feet tall) went before the army of Israel morning and night for forty days.  Jesse sent David with some food for his brothers and their captain and to see how they were doing.  "And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle."  (17:20)  David asked, "... What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"  (17:26)  The men told David that the one who killed Goliath would be given great riches and the king's daughter, and his father's house would be made free.  "And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."  (17:28)  And then we have this great answer from young David.  "And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"  (17:29)  David was the youngest of eight sons and he may have often said, "What have I now done?"  He actually says this again in 20:1, 26:18, & 29:8.  (It is good to notice in II Samuel 24:17,  "And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.)   There may have been times in your life when you asked, "What have I done now?"  The next thing David asked was, "Is there not a cause?"  We have a cause!  The world is getting more and more sinful.  People are bold in their rejection to God.  Stand for the righteous cause.  "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long."  (Psalm 35:27-28)

David told King Saul that he would go and fight with the Philistine.  Saul told him that he was a youth, and Goliath was a man of war from his youth.  Then David told him how a lion and a bear took a lamb out of the flock of sheep and he killed them both.  He had faith that the Lord would deliver him out of the hand of the giant.  So King Saul put his armor on David, but it didn't work for David.  Remember that Saul was head and shoulders taller than any of the Israelites and David was a youth.  

"40  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
41  And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42  And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43  And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44  And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands."  (17:40-47)

​David ran towards the giant.  He took a stone from his bag and smote the Philistine in his forehead and the stone sunk in his head and he fell upon his face to the ground.  David didn't have a sword, so he took Goliath's sword and cut off his head.  When the Philistines saw that he was dead they all fled.  The men of Israel and Judah shouted and pursued the Philistines and spoiled their tents.  King Saul asked Abner who David was and he said, "As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell."  (17:55)  Abner took David to Saul and he said, "I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."  

March 29 - I Samuel 18 - 20

​In Chapter 18 we see the close friendship between David and Jonathan.  Jonathan, the son of King Saul, who people would think to be the next king, gave his robe, his garments, even his sword and his bow to David.  

"6  And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8  And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9  And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
11  And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12  And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13  Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14  And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
15  Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16  But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them."  (I Samuel 18:6-16)

Saul told David that he would give David his daughter Merab to him if he would fight the Philistines.  "And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?"  (18:18)  But Merab was given to Adriel.  "And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.  And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain."  (18:20-21)  So David fought the Philistines and Michal became his wife.  "And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.  Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by."  (18:29-30)

​In Chapter 19 Saul told Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.  Jonathan told his father how David had put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine, so Saul said he would not kill David.  There was war again and David fought the Philistines again and they fled.  Saul threw a javelin at him again and David fled.  He sent messengers to David's house to kill him but Michal let him down through a window.  So David escaped and went to see Samuel and told him all that Saul had done.  The next chapter tells us that David went back to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done?"  They made a plan to meet in a field and Jonathan would shoot arrows. "And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.  But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away."  (20:21-22)  When Jonathan talked with Saul, he became angry and threw a javelin at his own son.  So Jonathan went out to the field and shot an arrow.  "And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master."  (20:38)  As soon as Jonathan sent the lad back to the city he and David wept together and said their good-byes.  

March 30 - I Samuel 21 - 23

​Did you know... that the 400 men who joined David were in distress, in debt, or discontented?  (I Samuel 22:2)

As we begin Chapter 21 we see that David was running from fear of Saul.  "Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?  And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place."  (I Samuel 21:1-2)  David asked for some bread and the priest only had hallowed bread, but he gave it to David.  David also asked for a weapon and the priest gave him the sword of Goliath.  Doeg, a servant of Saul, saw David, so he fled to Achish the king of Gath.  

"11  And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
12  And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard."  (21:11-13)

Chapter 22 shows how far King Saul had fallen.

"1  David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2  And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3  And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4  And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5  And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
6  When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7  Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8  That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9  Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10  And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."  (22:1-10)

​Saul went to Ahimelech and told his servants to kill the priest, but they would not.  So he told Doeg to kill the priests and he killed 85 priests, and men, women, and children of the city and even their livestock.  Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech that escaped, went and told David.  David told him he had caused the death of his family and promised to protect him.  In the next chapter, David with his men went to fight the Philistines at Keilah and saved the city.  When Saul found out that David was at Keilah, then David and his growing group of men, now about six hundred, escaped to the wilderness.  Jonathan went to David in the wilderness.  "And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.  And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house."  (23:17-18)  Saul finally found the mountain where David and his men were hiding, but a messenger told Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land, so the King left from pursuing David and went against the Philistines.

March 31 - I Samuel 24 - 26

​In Chapter 24 David and his men were hiding in a cave and Saul went into the cave.  While he was there David cut off part of his robe.  After Saul went on his way David called out to him and told him that he was not trying to kill Saul, and he showed him the piece of his robe.  Saul told David that he knew he would be king and asked him not to destroy his seed.  Saul went home, and David and his men went back up unto the hold.  Chapter 25 begins with the death of Samuel.  Then we read about Nabal.  He had 3,000 sheep, and 1,000 goats.  His servants were shearing the sheep in Carmel.  "Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb."  (I Samuel 25:3)  David sent ten of his men to Nabal for something in return for watching over the men.  Nabal refused so David decided to take 400 of his men and take what he wanted.  

"14  But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
15  But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
16  They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
17  Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
18  Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
19  And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal."  (25:14-19)

Abigail bowed before David and told him to give his men her gift and not have the grief of shedding blood causeless.  Nabal held a feast and was drunk so his wife waited until morning to tell him all that had happened.  Verse 37 tells us that "his heart died within him, and he became as a stone."  About ten days later Nabal died and Abigail became David's wife.  David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel as his wife.  Saul had given Michal, his daughter, to Phalti for a wife.  In Chapter 26 Saul took up his pursuit of David again.  "And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him."  (26:5)  Saul and his men  were all asleep.  Abishai was with David and he wanted to kill Saul. (Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were sons of Zeruiah, who was David's sister.  II Samuel 2:18)

"8  Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
9  And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?
10  David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11  The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go."  (26:8-11)

David went to the other side to the top of the hill and called to Abner.  

"15  And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
16  This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
17  And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18  And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?"  (26:15-18)

"21  Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
22  And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23  The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed."  (26:21-23)

April 1 - I Samuel 27 - 31

​David didn't believe Saul, so he and his 600 men went to Gath, the land of the Philistines.  Achish the king gave David Ziklag and he dwelt there a year and four months.  David invaded people of the land and made Achish believe that he was attacking his own people.  In Chapter 28 the Philistines gathered for war against Israel and Achish told David that he and his men could go with him to battle.  I have always wondered what would have happened if it had not been for God's providence.  King Saul was afraid, and the Lord would not answer him, so he sought out a woman of familiar spirits. I have also wondered about the next verses.

"11  Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12  And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13  And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14  And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15  And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
16  Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17  And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
18  Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
19  Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
20  Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night."  (I Samuel 28:11-20)

The woman and Saul's servants talked Saul into eating and then they rose up and left that night.  In Chapter 29 the Philistines gathered their armies together and David and his men were with Achish in the rear.  "And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?  Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?"  (29:4-5)  Chapter 30 tells us that when David and his men went back and came to Ziklag, the Amalekites had invaded and burned the city and taken their women and children captive.  "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."  (30:6)  "And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all."  (30:8)  David pursued after them, he and four hundred men, while two hundred were so faint they had to stay behind.  They found an Egyptian that had been left by the Amalekites and he took them to the company.  "And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.  And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all."  (30:18-19)  When they got back to the two hundred men that stayed with the stuff, David said that they would divide the spoil with them.  David also sent a present of the spoil to the elders of Judah and to all the places "where David himself and his men were wont to haunt."  (30:31)  The book of I Samuel ends with the death of King Saul and his sons.

"2  And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
3  And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4  Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5  And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6  So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together."  (31:2-6)

"11  And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
12  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 came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
13  And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days."  (31:11-13)