I Samuel
Chapter 14
Now a detachment
of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash. One day Jonathan son of Saul
said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine
outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
Saul was staying
on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were
about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a
son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, YAHWEH’s priest
in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
On each side of
the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a
cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north
toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of
those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps YAHWEH will act in our behalf. Nothing can
hinder YAHWEH from saving, whether by many or by few.”
“Do all that you
have in mind,” his armor-bearer said, “go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
Jonathan said,
“Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. If they say
to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go
up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that
will be our sign that YAHWEH has given them into our hands.’”
So both of them
showed themselves to the Philistine outpost, “Look!” said the Philistines. “The
Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” The men of the
outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach
you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said
to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; YAHWEH has given them into the hand of
Israel.”
Jonathan climbed
up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The
Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed
behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some
twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
Then panic struck
the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and
raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by Elohim.
Saul’s lookouts at
Gibeah of Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. Then Saul said
to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When
they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.
 Saul said to
Ahijah, “Bring the ark of Elohim.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)
While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp
increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
Then Saul and all
his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total
confusion, striking each other with their swords. Those Hebrews who had
previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp
went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the
Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the
Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. So YAHWEH
rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
Now the men of
Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an
oath, saying, “Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes, before I
have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
The entire army
entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. When they went into the
woods, they saw the honey oozing out, yet no one put his hand to his mouth,
because they feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard that his father had
bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was
in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth,
and his eyes brightened. Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound
the army under a strict oath, saying, “Cursed be any man who eats food today!”
That is why the men are faint.”
Jonathan said, “My
father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I
tasted a little of this honey. How much better it would have been if the men had
eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the
slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
That day, after
the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, they
were exhausted. They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and
calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.
Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against YAHWEH by eating
meat that has blood in it.”
“You have broken
faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” Then he said, “Go out
among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and
slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against YAHWEH by eating meat with
blood still in it.’”
So everyone
brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. Then Saul built an altar to
YAHWEH; it was the first time he had done this.
Saul said, “Let us
go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us
not leave one of them alive.”
“Do whatever seems
best to you,” they replied.
But the priest
said, “Let us inquire of YAHWEH here.”
So Saul asked
Elohim, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s
hand?” But Elohim did not answer him that day.
Saul therefore
said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what
sin has been committed today. As surely as YAHWEH who rescues Israel lives, even
if it lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of the men said a
word.
Saul then said to
all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over
here.”
“Do what seems
best to you,” the men replied.
Then Saul prayed
to YAHWEH, the Elohim of Israel, “Give me the right answer.” And Jonathan and
Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. Saul said, “Cast the lot
between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
Then Saul said to
Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”
So Jonathan told
him, “I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now must I
die?”
Saul said, “May
Elohim deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”
But the men said
to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in
Israel? Never! As surely as YAHWEH lives not a hair of his head will fall to the
ground, for he did this today with Elohim’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan,
and he was not put to death.
Then Saul stopped
pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
After Saul had
assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab,
the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he
turned, he inflicted punishment on them. He fought valiantly and defeated the
Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Saul’s sons were
Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and
that of the younger was Michal. His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz.
The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was
Saul’s uncle. Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
All the days of
Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty
or brave man, he took him into his service.
Chapter 15
Samuel said to
Saul, “I am the one YAHWEH sent to anoint you king over His people Israel; so
listen now to the message from YAHWEH. This is what YAHWEH says: ‘I will punish
the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came
up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that
belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and
infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
So Saul summoned
the men and mustered them at Telaim—two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten
thousand men from Judah. Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the
ravine. Then he said to the Kenites, “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do
not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites
when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
Then Saul attacked
the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. He took
Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with
the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and
cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were
unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they
totally destroyed.
Then the word of
YAHWEH came to Samuel: “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has
turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was
troubled, and he cried out to YAHWEH all that night.
Early in the
morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to
Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone
on down to Gilgal.”
When Samuel
reached him, Saul said, “YAHWEH bless you! I have carried out YAHWEH’s
instructions.”
But Samuel said,
“What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle
that I hear?”
Saul answered,
“The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the
sheep and cattle to sacrifice to YAHWEH your Elohim but we totally destroyed the
rest.”
“Stop!” Samuel
said to Saul. “Let me tell you what YAHWEH said to me last night.”
“Tell me,” Saul
replied.
Samuel said,
“Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of
the tribes of Israel? YAHWEH anointed you king over Israel. And He sent you on a
mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people the Amalekites;
make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey YAHWEH?
Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of YAHWEH?”
“But I did obey
YAHWEH,” Saul said. “I went on the mission YAHWEH assigned me. I completely
destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took
sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to Elohim, in
order to sacrifice them to YAHWEH your Elohim at Gilgal.”
But Samuel
replied:
“Does YAHWEH
delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of YAHWEH?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of YAHWEH,
He has rejected you as king.”
|
Obedience is a good thing. When you are obedient to
your parents, for instance, you can learn to do some really neat
things, like how to roller skate! Also, when you are obedient to
your parents, you are obeying our Heavenly Father Yahweh and He,
Himself, will see that you are rewarded more than you can ever
imagine! |
 |
Then Saul said to
Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated YAHWEH’s command and your instructions. I was
afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.
Now I beg you,
forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship YAHWEH.”
But Samuel said to
him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of YAHWEH, and
YAHWEH has rejected you as king over Israel!”
As Samuel turned
to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to
him, “YAHWEH has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to
one of your neighbors—to one better than you. He who is the Glory of Israel does
not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his
mind.”
Saul replied, “I
have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before
Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship YAHWEH your Elohim.” So Samuel
went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped YAHWEH.
Then Samuel said,
“Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”
Agag came to him
confidently, thinking, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
But Samuel said,
“As your sword has
made women childless,
so will your mother be childless among women.”
And Samuel put
Agag to death before YAHWEH at Gilgal.
Then Samuel left
for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. Until the day Samuel
died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And YAHWEH
was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
CHAPTER 16
YAHWEH said to
Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king
over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to
Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
But Samuel said,
“How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.”
YAHWEH said, “Take
a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to YAHWEH. Invite Jesse to
the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one
I indicate.”
Samuel did what
YAHWEH said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when
they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
Samuel replied,
“Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to YAHWEH. Consecrate yourselves and
come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and
invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived,
Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely YAHWEH’s anointed stands here before
YAHWEH.”
But YAHWEH said to
Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.
YAHWEH does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward
appearance, but YAHWEH looks at the heart.”
Then Jesse called
Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “YAHWEH has not
chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor
has YAHWEH chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but
Samuel said to him, “YAHWEH has not chosen these.”
So he asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still
the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send
for him, we will not sit down until he arrives.”
So he sent and had
him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then YAHWEH said,
“Rise and anoint him; he is the one.”
So Samuel took the
horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day
on the Spirit of YAHWEH came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Now the Spirit of
YAHWEH had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from YAHWEH tormented him.
Saul’s attendants
said to him, “See, an evil spirit from Elohim is tormenting you. Let our master
command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will
play when the evil spirit from Elohim comes upon you, and you will feel better.”
So Saul said to
his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
One of the
servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to
play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a
fine-looking man. And YAHWEH is with him.”
Then Saul sent
messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and
sent them with his son David to Saul.
David came to Saul
and entered his service. Saul liked him very much and David became one of his
armor-bearers. Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in
my service, for I am pleased with him.”
Whenever the
spirit from Elohim came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then
relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave
him.
Test Your Knowledge!
Click here
to go to the Quiz.
To continue with Chapters 17-19, click here.
|
HalleluYAH!
|
|
