001:001
The Book of I Samuel.
By Darren Johnson
A Commentary on I Samuel Chapters 1-31.
Publisher’s Note:
The Scripture quotations found herein are from the text of the Old King James, 1611 Authorized Version of the Bible.
Any deviations there from are not intentional.
The publisher owns the copyright and hereby gives anyone permission to reproduce or transmit in any form and any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage, retrieval system, multimedia, or Internet system, any part or all of this publication. However, he may not sell any of it for profit.
Matt. 10:8 “…freely ye have received, freely give.
The Book of I Samuel. ©Darren Johnson 2016.
Table of Contents
Introduction …………..…..…………..................4
I. I Samuel 1: …….…..………….......5-7
II I Samuel 2: …….…..…………......8-12
III. I Samuel 3: …..……….…….......13-15
IV. I Samuel 4: …..…….………........16-18
V. I Samuel 5: ………........…….......19-20
VI. I Samuel 6: ………………….......21-23
VII. I Samuel 7: …….…………….....24-26
VIII. I Samuel 8: …......…………….....27-29
IX. I Samuel 9: …….…………..........30-32
X. I Samuel 10:....….……………......33-36
XI. I Samuel 11: ..….……………......37-38
XII. I Samuel 12: ..….….…………......39-41
XIII. I Samuel 13: . …….…..………....42-44
XIV. I Samuel 14: …...……….……....45-50
XV. I Samuel 15: …..…….…….….....51-54
XVI. I Samuel 16: ……….......……......55-57
XVII. I Samuel 17: …….……...….…....58-64
XVIII. I Samuel 18: …….……………....65-68
XIX. I Samuel 19: …….…………........69-71
XX. I Samuel 20: ...….………….….....72-75
XXI. I Samuel 21: ..….………….….....76-77
XXII. I Samuel 22: ...….…………..…...78-80
XXIII. I Samuel 23: …...……....….........81-84
XXIV. I Samuel 24: …...…….….……....85-86
XXV. I Samuel 25: …..……........……...87-90
XXVI. I Samuel 26: …………….............91-93
XXVII. I Samuel 27: ……..…………......94-95
XXVIII. I Samuel 28: ……..………...........96-98
XXIX. I Samuel 29: …….……………..99-100
XXX. I Samuel 30: ...….…….….…....101-104
XXXI. I Samuel 31: ..….…….….…....105-106
XXXII. Salvation Message ..……............107-108
Introduction:
The book of I Samuel begins with the mother of Samuel seeking a son. Eli is the high priest and judge of Israel(I Sam. 4:18, judged for forty years, 2985-3025 after the fall of man). Samuel is the next judge after Eli(3025-3065 and last judge of Israel, whereas Saul is the first king of Israel(I Sam. 8:-9:, 3065-3105, download The Bible Time Line at ). The book of Samuel marks the change of Israel as a nation from having a judge of God to get things spiritually right to a king that rules over them. Israel started as a nation with a leader of God(Moses, Joshua), to judges(Othniel through Samuel) and then a king in Saul. Because of Saul's sin, David was anointed king, but did not take over until after the death of Saul.
Had Israel served the Lord continually, they would have had elders, officers and judges for civil and military matters and a tabernacle(temple) for spiritual matters. They didn't need a king and only got a judge when they did evil against the Lord. By getting a king, they became like the rest of the nations around them. Hence it is told that Israel went from a theocracy(God was their king) to a monarchy(man was their king). The book of I Samuel ends with the death of king Saul in battle.
Remember that king Solomon in his fourth year as king(3148 years after the fall of Adam) began to build the temple(I King 6:1). This occurred 480 years after the Exodus. The time of the judges is around 336 years(given Joshua and the elders died within 15 years after the land of Canaan was subdued). There were a total of 450 years of each judge ruling with about a 114 year overlap(Acts 13:20). Saul(Acts 13:21, 3065-3105) and David(3105-3145) reigned 40 years each, so the beginning of the kings and the end of the judges under Samuel ended 397 years after the Exodus or 351 years after they subdued the land of Canaan(3065). The Exodus happens 430 years later after Jacob entered Egypt 2668(Ex. 12:40).
Now the material presented in this book is not exhaustive. It just provides the reader with a brief verse by verse commentary of the book of Judges. It explains what is going on in the Bible as well as making a few applications to Christian living today. I pray you will get a blessing out of it and it will encourage you to serve the Lord Jesus more.
I Samuel 1:1-7 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
:4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
:7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
Elkanah lived in Ramathaimzophim of mount Ephraim and he had two wives. Hannah had no children whereas Peninnah had children. He went up yearly to Shiloh where the Tabernacle was to worship and sacrifice. At this time Eli was the high priest and judge with his two sons as priests(Hophni and Phinehas) were priests.
Elkanah gave Peninnah his wife along with her sons and daughters(evidently had kids not by Elkanah) portions when he offered, but gave Hannah a worthy portion. Elkanah loved Hannah, but the LORD shut up her womb. As a result, Peninnah provoked her sore to make her fret(adversary) because the LORD had shut up her womb. Because of the provocation, Hannah wept sorely and didn't eat.
In the bible, it was always God's will that if a man got married, he would only have one wife. However, the people of Israel didn't follow the law of Moses and as a result, ended up with more than one wife. Multiple wives leads to serious problems as we have seen in the bible. Anyways, polygamy for any reason was allowed in Israel(like fornication and adultery in America for any reason). I Samuel is giving us the historical account of the events of the time, not necessarily endorsing their sinful behaviors(I Cor. 10:6, see comments there).
In the US, polygamy(more than one wife) was outlawed. Sadly to say, now that sodomite marriage(sic) is legal(2015), it won't be long before polygamy is legal. Remember Christian that under the new testament church covenant you can only marry one wife(Heb. 13:4).
I Samuel 1:8-11 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?
:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
: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.
Elkanah tried to comfort Hannah because she wept and would not eat. Elkanah loved Hannah (evidently didn't love Peninnah as much-like Jacob with Rachel and Leah(Gen. 29:30-31, see comments there). Hannah wouldn't be comforted and wanted a son more than anything.
After the others ate and drank in Shiloh, Hannah, who was in bitterness of soul, prayed to the LORD and wept sore for a son. She vowed a vow(Eccl. 5:4) that if she got a son she would give him to the Lord. He would serve the Lord all the days of his life and no razor would come upon his head(like with Samson, Numb. 6:1-21, see comments there).
I Samuel 1:12-17 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.
:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
:16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
When Hannah prayed, her lips moved but her voice was not heard. When Eli saw this, he thought that she was drunk with wine while praying. When Eli rebuked Hannah, she told him that she wasn't drunk but of a sorrowful spirit. She poured out her soul before the Lord and gave God her complaint and grief(I Pet. 5:7, see comments there). She denied being a daughter of Belial or false god. When Eli realized Hannah was telling the truth, he told her to go in peace and desired that God would grant her petition. : for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Afterward Hannah ate food and was no longer sad.
For the Christian, when he is right with God and prays for the right things, he can get his prayers answered(go to and download, How to Get your Prayers Answered, Part I & II). Hannah was praying like her life was on the line and gave it everything she had. Sadly to say for the carnal Christian, if he actual prays for 5 minutes a day, his intensity in prayer doesn't shine very bright(like it does at the ball game, I Jo. 2:15-17).
I Samuel 1:19-28 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
:22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
:23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child 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.
Before returning home to Ramah, they worshiped the LORD. Sometime afterward, the Lord remembered Hannah and she conceived a son by Elkanah, and called his name Samuel.
She called him Samuel because she asked him of the LORD. The following year, Hannah was evidently large with child from her pregnancy(or recently gave birth) and hence did not go up to Shiloh with Elkanah and all his house. Hannah stayed home until the child was weaned(no longer drinks only milk-breast feeding, usually 12-18 months).
After Samuel was weaned he was taken to the tabernacle along with three bullocks, one ephah of flour and a bottle of wine(most likely at age 2). There they slew a bullock and brought the child to Eli. Hannah reminded Eli that she was the woman that prayed for a son before him and that God had granted her petition. Hence, the child was lent to the Lord for life to serve Him and was left at the tabernacle. The chess board of God is set up for Samuel to be judge after Eli.
Worship is praising the Lord for his goodness as well as His power. Every saved person can worship the Lord for being eternally saved. However, the saved person living for God has much more to worship the Lord for. E.g. I have worshiped the Lord hours at a time. I could worship God all weekend for all the things He has done for me at work and ministry alone(let alone other stuff). Christian, you should worship the Lord every time he does some big thing in your life at the least(Phil. 4:4, see comments there).
I Samuel 2:1-5 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
Hannah's prayer rejoiced in the LORD(Phil. 4:4), thanked God for her horn(or strength through childbirth) being exalted in the LORD, she was enlarged over her enemies(especially Peninnah) and Hannah rejoiced in her salvation of her lineage(had a child). Hannah thanked God for His holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16), being the only God(Mic. 4:5) and being unique(Deut. 32:4).
Hannah's prayer rebukes the exceeding proud and arrogant, because God is a God of knowledge(Pr. 1:7) that weighs the actions of men(Ps. 7:11). God breaks the bows of the enemy army and girds(like a belt) those that stumble with strength(II Cor. 4:16, God's army). God makes the full of bread to work for bread and those that are hungry to be satisfied with bread(Mat.. 6:33). God makes the barren womb have seven kids and the woman of many children become weak.
I Samuel 2:6-10 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.
:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Hannah's prayer continues by proclaiming that the LORD kills, makes alive(Is. 42:5), He brings those down to the grave and those out of the womb. God is the author of live(Acts 3:15) and death. The Lord makes poor and rich(Job 1:21, Pr. 10:22) as well as exalts and humbles a person(Matt. 23:12). He raises the poor out of the dust and the beggar from the dunghill(low estate) to set them amongst princes and inherit the throne of glory(like king David, II Samuel). God made the pillars of the earth that the world is set on(Gen. 1:1, Job 9:6, see comments there).
God keeps the feet of his saints(keeps the saved people safe and protected, Ps. 121:) whereas the wicked will be silenced in their darkness(Is. 13:11). The strength of man won't prevail against God. God will break His adversaries to pieces, judge the ends of the earth(Rev. 20:12-15, II Cor. 5:10), give strength to His king(Jesus) and exalt the horn of His anointed(saved, priests, etc.).
For the Christian, the prayer of Hannah is straight forward in interpretation and no further comment will be given.
I Samuel 2:11-17 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
:13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
:14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
:16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
Afterward, Elkanah went home with his family to Ramah, while the child stayed with Eli at the tabernacle. As the child grew, he ministered before the Lord. However, the sons of Eli were sons of Belial(were lost and knew not the Lord). The lesson here Christian is that just because you have children growing up in a Christian household doesn't guarantee that they will come out right. You still have to teach and discipline them in the Lord(Pr. 22:6). They came out lost or carnal because you trained them wrong(parents are at fault).
The priests’ of the tabernacle(Eli & Hophni) had a custom that went contrary to the law of Moses with respect to the rules of the tabernacle(go to and download The Book of Leviticus). The priests would take a flesh hook with three teeth(forks have four teeth) and take out flesh for himself while it was still boiling(seething). The priests would defile the burnt offerings by demanding raw flesh(sodden means soaked) rather than burning the fat of the offering first before taking flesh for themselves(allowed under the Levitical priesthood). When a man that sacrificed protested the act, the priests threatened them to take the raw flesh by force. Because of the sins of Eli and Hophni, the men of Israel abhorred the offering of the LORD.
We see that there was spiritual corruption in the priesthood, just like there is spiritual corruption in American churches(2016). This is why there are standards for a new testament church to be legitimate(go to and download, The Church, Parts I & II). Not every church and/or pastor(I Tim. 3:, Tit. 1: ) qualifies for the ministry.
E.g. One basic qualification is that the pastor and the new testament church believe that the bible is perfect(Ps. 12:6-7, 19:14, II Tim. 3:16-17). Most churches and pastors don’t believe that they have a perfect copy of a bible in their hand, but a copy that has errors(they believe the original is perfect, but it no longer exists, go to and download, The Bible, Part I & II). Also, a new testament church has to have the plan of salvation right(rom. 3:23, 6:23, 10:13, see comments there).
I Samuel 2:18-21 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Samuel wasn’t corrupt, but ministered before the LORD as a child, wearing a linen ephod.
Every year when Elkanah came to sacrifice, Hannah would bring Samuel a little coat to wear. Eli blessed Elkanah for giving Samuel to him with more children and as a result they had five more kids(three sons and two daughters). Over time, Samuel grew before the LORD.
Christians shouldn’t be corrupt(carnal(Rom. 8:6), worldly(I Jo. 2:15-17)), but spiritual(I Cor. 2:15). Christians should be consistent in their sacrifices(Rom. 12:1-2) and giving(I Cor. 16:1-2, tithes and offerings). God blesses those that give for the right reasons and right heart attitude(Lu. 6:38). A Christian is to grow spiritually over time(I Pet. 2:2, Hebr. 5:13-14). Physical birth(picture of salvation, not of works, a child part of a family) and growth(mature over time) is a picture of spiritual salvation and growth of a Christian. There is something wrong with a Christian who has been saved for twenty years and still can’t grasp basic doctrine or only knows basic doctrine(Heb. 5:12). This happens all the time in churches where the leaders don’t know much about the bible either(Jo. 13:16, see comments there).
I Samuel 2:22-26 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
:23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
:24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.
:25 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.
:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
Eli is old and close to the end of his rule as judge and high priest. He knew of the thievery of his two sons with the burnt offerings as well as them fornicating with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation(sanctuary). Eli rebuked his sons for making the people transgress the Lord’s commandments. Also, he rebuked them for sinning against the Lord. However, his two sons wouldn’t listen because the Lord was going to kill them for their sin(I Jo. 5:16). Meanwhile Samuel grew and gained favor with God and men.
God is setting of the chessboard for Samuel to take over as judge in Eli’s place and the corruption cleansed from the tabernacle(Numb. 32:23). For the Christian it doesn’t pay to sin (Gal. 6:7, II Cor. 5:10). Eli and Hophni were making a mockery of the ministry of the tabernacle (stealing burnt offerings and fornicating). Sadly to say in modern Christianity, there are a lot of so called preachers stealing from the offering plate and committing fornication or adultery with women. They then use their authority and power to cover it up until the Lord blows it up(E.g. most television evangelists that are Charismatics and Assembly of God, etc.).
I Samuel 2:27-36 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
:29 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?
:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
:32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
:33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
:34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
:36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
God sent a man of God to Eli to rebuke him and pass judgment on his house. God reminded Eli how the house of his father(previous generation, Aaron the first high priest) was originally in bondage in Egypt. God chose the tribe of Levi to minister in the tabernacle(give offerings, burn incense and wear an ephod). God gave the offerings by fire as payment to the tribe of Levi for their service(along with other payments according to the Book of Leviticus). In spite of this, Eli as high priest honored his sons over the commandments of God. Eli benefited from their corruption and was made fat with the best of the offerings.
God promised to oppose those that despise him, honor those that honor Him and to kill both of Eli’s sons in one day. He will make sure that those of Eli’s house will not live to be old men(die before 60), Eli shall see an enemy in God’s habitation(the Philistines captured the ark of God), the man not cut off from the altar will be a grief of mind and consume the eyes because of his disposition and the increase of Eli’s future generations will die in their strength(flower of their age, 20-50, etc.).
God promises to raise up a faithful priest(Samuel, who also was a judge like Eli and in the future Jesus) that will obey God exactly. God will establish his house and his offspring will serve as faithful priests(I Pet. 2:9, see comments there). The priests will walk before God’s anointed(saved people) forever(Rev. 21:22, see comments there). However, those left of Eli’s house will crouch(bow low with knees bent, stoop) before the faithful priests house(Samuel genealogy) for minimum payment to serve in the priests office(piece of silver and a morsel of bread).
Spiritually, God judges sin in this life(Gal. 6:7) and the life to come(II Cor. 5:10) for the Christian as well as the lost person(Rev. 20:12-15). This includes dying early(before your time), and your offspring being a curse and not a blessing(E.g. like millennials in the US who in general can’t support themselves, have kids out of wedlock, rack up great debt and complain about everything being some else’s fault, etc.).
God reminds us of previous history as fact(this includes the creation of the universe and man, the worldwide flood and creation of the races, go to and download, The First Eleven Chapters of Genesis). God keeps his promises(tribe of Levi), but demands faithfulness and exact obedience(Jo. 14:15). Beware of modern day Sadducee Christianity that calls holiness(obeying God’s commandments literally and exactly in the power of the Holy Ghost) legalism(I Pet. 1:22, see comments there).
Beware of those who make the ministry a family business. E.g. All the kids have church positions in their dad’s church(who is pastor). When push comes to shove, the kids get special treatment at the expense of holiness, the word of God and the congregation. People get run out of the church to protect the kids from rebuke, reproof and instruction. The father benefits from the compromise until God blows up the church(church split or church folds, etc.). Remember that the new testament church is to be run by spiritually people that qualify(Tit. 1:, I Tim. 3:) and discipline administered regardless of who is in charge and who is guilty, etc..
I Samuel 3:1-5 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;
Before the Lord called Samuel for the first time, Eli was blind(or legally blind, no glasses back then). This was a picture of his spiritual blindness towards favoring his children over the Lord. The word of God(prophets) was rare and there were no open visions(dream state while awake-see the future) from God.
The lamp of God in the tabernacle(temple-a permanent tabernacle) of the Lord went out. The lamp going out was a picture of the corruption brought on by Eli and his sons to the Levitical priesthood. Remember, the lamp was to be burning always continually(Lev. 24:1-4, see comments there). The lamps of the golden candlestick was lit with pure beaten olive oil(picture of the Holy Ghost, I Sam. 16:13). The candlestick had seven lamps on it(number of completion) and they were to always be burning(picture of eternal security, picture of God’s infinite power, etc.). Eli's sons were lost so the typology met nothing to them. For more information on the tabernacle furniture download ‘The Tabernacle, Parts I & II’ at .
I Samuel 3:4-9 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.
When Samuel heard the Lord for the first time, it was at night and he thought that Eli called him. However, Eli responded that he didn't and to go back to sleep. After the third time the Lord called Samuel and he thought it was Eli, Eli realized that it was the Lord calling him. Previously up to this time, Samuel didn't know the Lord or have His word revealed to him.
Eli told Samuel to respond to the Lord the next time He called by telling him to speak to him for he is listening.
Spiritually, a lost person doesn't know the Lord(Jo. 1:12, Eph. 1:13, Rom. 10:13, see comments there) because he is not saved. Hence, unless it has to do with God's conviction to be saved and the lost person praying for God to save him(Acts 20:21, see comments there), God doesn't deal with nor speak with a lost person. Samuel grew up in the tabernacle before the age of accountability(Rom. 9:11, see comments there). It was Eli's job to tell him about the salvation of the Lord(Acts 10:43, see comments there). Once saved, the Christian is to respond to whatever God commands Him(Jo. 14:15, I Cor. 6:19-20). The Christian should listen to God and his word(II Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17).
I Samuel 3:10-15 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
: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.
The fourth time the LORD called, Samuel responded to the Lord to speak for he is listening. The LORD told Samuel of the future judgment of Israel. God will perform the words of the man of God against the house of Eli(I Sam. 2:27-36), because he didn't restrain his vile(morally bad, wicked) sons. Hence, the iniquity of Eli's house(future generations of priests) couldn't be purged for ever with sacrifice nor offering.
Spiritually, we see what happens to a parent and his family when the parent doesn't discipline his kids in the Lord(Pr. 22:6). Eli's kids were lost and will die and go to hell. The future generations of priests from the genealogy of Eli are now all cursed. They have lost their standing
and privilege as priests before God for ever(Samuel's house will replace Eli's evidently). In spite of being told directly, Eli still refused to restrain or discipline his sons(Eli chose his sons above God-big mistake, Ps. 138:2).
I Samuel 3:15-21 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
: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.
In the morning, Samuel opened the doors of the tabernacle and feared to show Eli the vision from God. However, Eli pressed Samuel to tell him everything and Samuel told him everything the Lord said. Eli accepted the judgment of God on his life, yet still did nothing to try to correct the situation(II Cor. 7:10, see comments there).
Over time Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and none of his words fell to the ground (everything he said either came true or he kept his word, etc.). Samuel was trusted to tell the truth and obey God exactly. This is why in all Israel from Dan(north, city of Dan) to Beersheba (south, tribe of Judah) knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. The Lord appeared again to Samuel in Shiloh to reveal Himself to Samuel by the word of the LORD(Ps. 119:89, 138:2).
By the way, Samuel was a prophet, priest(ministered in the tabernacle before Eli) and then a judge(judged Israel before there were any kings). Samuel is like Jesus who is a Prophet, High Priest of the tabernacle in heaven(Heb. 8:5, I Jo. 2:1, see comments there) and future king during the millennium(Rev. 20:). The Christian is a priest(I Pet. 2:9), prophet(Rev. 19:10) and will reign with Christ(king, Rom. 8:17) in the millennium. Hence it pays to get saved and then sell out to God(Rom. 8:28, Jo. 14:15).
I Samuel 4:1-3 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
Samuel was known as a prophet to all Israel. At this time, Israel went to battle with the Philistines. Israel pitched beside Ebenezer(2 miles east of Aphek & 18 miles west & 3 miles north of Shiloh) and the Philistines pitched in Aphek(10 miles east of the Mediterranean Sea). In the battle, Israel was beaten before the Philistines and lost 4000 men. As a result, Israel retrieved the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh, believing that it would saved them from the Philistines.
The mercy seat sat on the ark of the covenant where God met with the high priest in the holy of holies(Lev. 16:2, see comments there). When God wanted Israel to travel, the tabernacle along with the ark moved, because God in a form of a cloud(pillar of fire at night) was leading the way. The ark wasn't to be brought out of the tabernacle without God's approval and wasn't supposed to be brought to the battle field. Israel thought the ark itself had power and not the God it represented. Religion takes the symbol and tries to attribute power to it(E.g. Communion and Water Baptism being necessary for salvation, which they are not(Tit. 3:5).
I Samuel 4:4-11 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
:8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
:9 Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Israel brought the ark along with Hophni and Phinehas. When it arrived, the army of Israel gave a great shout that the Philistines heard. When the Philistines heard that the ark was in the camp of Israel, they feared because they remembered what God did in the past. The God of the ark of the covenant was the one that delivered Israel out of Egypt and smote the Egyptians with plaques(Ex. 7:-14:, see comments there). The Philistines concept of God and history was a little confused. They didn't understand the Godhead(one God and three persons, I Jo. 5:7, see comments there) and the plagues against Egypt were done in Egypt.
However, in spite of knowing what the God of heaven could do, they would not submit to his authority. They decided to fight Israel, encouraged themselves and fought and killed 30,000 men. As a result, the army of Israel fled and Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were killed.
God brought judgment on Eli's house for the wickedness of his two sons(Numb. 32:23, see comments there).
I Samuel 4:12-18 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
:13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
:14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
:15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
:16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
: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.
After the defeat to the Philistines, a soldier of Benjamin ran to Shiloh to bring the bad news that Israel was defeated, the ark was taken and Phinehas and Hophni were dead. A sign that someone in Israel was in mourning was that his clothes was rent(torn) and earth was upon his head. When the city heard the news, they cried out in dismay. When Eli heard the news, he fell backwards on his chair and ended up breaking his neck. Eli judged Israel for 40 years(see Bible Timeline, Page 3, at ) and was blind and 98 years old when he died.
God judged Eli’s house for their sins. Sadly to say, the army suffered as well. When the spiritual leaders aren’t right with God, the whole country suffers. The defeat at the hands of the Philistines and the death of Eli’s sons could have been avoided if Eli would have obeyed God and disciplined his kids(Pr. 22:6) and/or disciplined them as adults when they were priests.
Just because Eli was high priest, didn’t imply his kids would get saved and be spiritual. Spirituality has to be trained in to a person after they are saved(Matt. 28:18-20).
I Samuel 4:19-22 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.
The day Phinehas and Eli died was the day Phinehas’s wife gave birth to a son. The child was named Ichabod, because the glory is departed from Israel for the ark of God was taken. She also chose this name because of the death of her father in law and her husband. That son lost his parents, uncle and grandfather in one day. Because of sin, they didn’t get to see the child born and grow up.
With the ark gone, the tabernacle would be currently out of commission until it returned. The sin of Eli affected his family, the army of Israel and now the spirituality of Israel. Remember Christian that your sin doesn’t just affect you, but those around you as well(Rom. 14:7, see comments there).
In America, where fornication and adultery reigns, the family structure has been downgraded and somewhat destroyed. This is the judgment of God on our country for not honoring marriage God’s way(Heb. 13:4). Note that 25% of children born in the US are born into single parent homes(not God’s plan). It pays to live godly(I Pet. 1:15-16) and sell out to God(Rom. 12:1-2, see comments there). Christian, you will do enough wrong(sin) trying to do right. Don’t give sin a free ride, etc..
I Samuel 5:1-6 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
:3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
:6 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.
The Philistines took the ark and brought it from Ebenezer(2 miles east of Aphek & 18 miles west & 3 miles north of Shiloh) to Ashdod(18 miles south & 16 miles west of Ekron).. They put the ark into the house of their statue of their false god Dagon and set it next to Dagon. When they woke up the next morning, the statue was fallen face down before the ark(Mic. 4:5, see comments there). The next morning, Dagon was not only on his face before the ark, but both of his hands and feet were cut off and left on the threshold(doorsill, entrance). Because of what happened, the priests of Dagon nor any of that enter his house walk on the threshold. Afterward, God’s killed many in Ashdod as well as smite them with emerods(a dilatation of the veins about the rectum, with a discharge of blood).
God showed that He is the true God above all the other gods(devils, etc.) in the earth(Is. 45:5, see comments there). Spiritually, Dagon bows to God(Jam. 2:19, Phil. 2:10-11, see comments there). Having your hands and feet cut off is a picture of being judged for your sins(II Sam. 4:12). God will judge over everyone at the final day(Rev. 20:12-15).
God punished the Philistines of Ashdod with sickness for taking the ark into their city. God can take care of Himself and His word will come to pass(Matt. 5:18) regardless of the Christian’s help. For the Christian it pays to serve God every day in every way(Jo. 14:21, 23).
I Samuel 5:7-12 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.
:9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
:10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
:11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
:12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
The Philistines of Ashdod saw that the judgment of God was sore on Dagon and their city. Hence they consulted with the lords of the Philistines and it was determined that the ark would be sent to Gath(3 miles south & 11 miles east of Ashdod). When the ark rested in Gath, the Lord caused great destruction in Gath(many men were killed) and smote all the men both small and great with emerods in their secret parts(groin area). Afterward, they decided to send the ark to Ekron(5 miles north of Gath), but the Ekronites cried out against it saying that the ark of the God of Israel would slay their people. So it was determined by all the lords of the Philistines to send away the ark of the God of Israel so it would go to his own place and not slay them. The emerods were so painful that the cry of the men went up to heaven.
We see God judging the land of the Philistines for taking the ark of God. Rather than repenting of their sin and declaring the God of the ark as the real God of heaven, they sent the ark away. Sadly to say in this world, people would rather suffer and die in their sins rather than repent(Lu. 13:3) and get saved(Rom. 10:13). Lost people who reject God’s salvation have sorrow and suffering from what their sin brings them in life. However, it doesn’t lead them to godly repentance(II cor. 7:10, see comments there). Also, God is bearing witness to the nation of the Philistines that He is the true God(Ps. 19:1-3). God gives man His creation and conscience (Rom. 2:15, see comments there) as witnesses of Him.
I Samuel 6:1-5 And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
:2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.
:3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.
:4 Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
:5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
The ark of God was in the land of the Philistines seven months. The priests and diviners advised not to send the ark away empty, but return it with a trespass offering of five golden emerods and mice. This was done because there were five lords of the Philistines and one plague on everyone. Evidently, the mice went out of control in the land of Philistines as well at the same time. The Philistines were to give glory to the God of Israel so that they could be healed and would lighten His hand of the gods of the Philistines, the people and the land.
So everyone whether lord or not was judged by God. The whole land as well as the gods of the land were affected. When God judges the world before the second coming of Christ, every lost person will be killed, every nation judged and the world burnt to the ground(Rev. 19:11-21, see comments there).
I Samuel 6:6-9 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
: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.
The priests and diviners warned the Philistines to not be like the Egyptians(Ex. 7:-14:) whom God judged and destroyed their economy, firstborn and army, etc., because they resisted God's will. Hence, a new cart had two milch kine tied to it with their calves(young) left at home. These cows were never tied to a cart, so they weren't domesticated to work. It would be the natural desire for the milch kine(cows kept for milking) to go to and attend to their calves (young). If the cows go to Bethshemesh(1 miles south of the Sea of Galilee, by the Jordan river) in Israel or away from their young, then it was proof that God judged the land of the Philistines. In the cart were the trespass offerings of jewels of gold.
I Samuel 6:10-15 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
:11 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.
: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.
:15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.
The ark of the LORD was put upon the cart and the golden mice and images of their emerods were put in the coffer(compartment) of the cart. Evidently God used the mice(unclean animals) to spread the plague of the emerods. The kine went took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh. The lords of the Philistines watched the kine lowing(for their calves) and didn't move aside to the right or left as they went. Hence, the Philistines had proof that God judged them and their land. Unfortunately, instead of revival for God in the land of the Philistines, they went back to their sins and lifestyle. This is why spiritually, the Philistines represent the world and Israel represents the saved people when making analogies and applications.
When the ark of God came to Bethshemesh, the people rejoiced to see it(during wheat harvest). The ark stopped into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there in front of a great stone. The wood of the cart was used to burn the two kine for an offering to the Lord. The Levites took the ark and put the jewels of gold on the great stone. Afterward the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrifices the same day to the LORD.
God delivered His ark from the Philistines that captured it. It shows the Christian that God is mighty(Is. 10:21) and all-powerful. The gold jewels on the great stone was a testimony of all to God's greatness and judging hand. The men of Behshemesh showed their gratitude to God for returning the ark by offering sacrifices. Christians should always remind themselves of God's greatness, power and judgments. They should not take their blessings for granted and give to the ministry of God(II Cor. 9:7, see comments there).
I Samuel 6:16-21 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
:17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
:18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.
:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
:21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
The five lords of the Philistines saw what happened and then returned to Ekron. The two kine traveled 42 miles west and 58 miles north(Ekron to Bethshemesh, around 71 miles) away from their young to return the ark of God to Israel. The five golden emerods and mice were for the five cities of the Philistines: Ashdod, Gaza, Askelon, Gath and Ekron(go to
to see the cities on a new testament map). Evidently the golden emerods were for the main cities and the golden mice for all the minor cities.
The great stone of Abel, where the ark of God was set down, remained over time in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. It served as a landmark of God returning to the land of Israel, through the ark of God. In America, sadly to say, Christian landmarks are disappearing and corruption in government and amongst the people is taking over(Ps. 9:17, 2016).
The ark of God could be opened and contained the ten commandments, the ephah of manna and Aaron's rod that budded. However, it was not to be opened by anyone but the high priest. Because, the men of Bethshemesh opened it to look inside, God killed 50070 men of the city. Because of the judgment of God on Bethshemesh, they sent messengers to the people of Kirjathjearim(5 miles up the coast of the Sea of Galilee from Bethshemesh) to retrieve the ark.
Just like God judged the Philistines for disrespecting the ark(put it in the house of Dagon, etc.), God judged the men of Bethshemesh as well(they looked inside without permission). God is holy(I Pet. 1:15-16, see comments there) and will not tolerate His ark to be disrespected by anyone(I Ch. 13:10). God doesn't tolerate those who abuse His word(Rom. 1:18, see comments there). In the end, God reigns supreme(Rom. 3:4, see comments there).
I Samuel 7:1-4 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
The men of Kirjathjearim brought the ark to the house of Abinadab in the hill and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep it. However, the ark was to be in the tabernacle in Shiloh with Levitical priests ministering before it. Israel wasn't right with God and it is no surprise that they were serving the false gods of Baalim and Ashtaroth and were under the hand of the Philistines(after losing a major battle and the ark to the Philistines).
The ark remained in Kirjathjearim for twenty years. Over this time, the people of Israel lamented(passionate grief and sorrow) after the Lord. Samuel was judge at this time during these 20 years. He encouraged the nation of Israel to repentance(put away the strange gods and return to the Lord with all your hearts) followed by holy livingf(prepare their hearts to serve God only). When they did this, God would deliver them from the hands of the Philistines.
When Israel wasn't right with God, they were under foreign oppression, serving false gods and weren't right with serving God(tabernacle not operating correctly). When the Christian isn't right with God, he is under fleshly(Rom. 7:18, 8:6) and worldly(I Jo. 2:15-17) oppression, serving idols(I Jo. 5:21, see comments there) and isn't right with serving God with the new testament church.
Time line wise, since the tabernacle was operating under Eli and Israel had an army on the east(free from Ammon oppression, 300 and after), it implies that the Philistine oppression was only on the west of the country(282-322), before the ark was taken. If the ark was taken at 311, then Eli judged from 271-311(eleven years of no foreign oppression) and Samuel from 311-351(includes 20 years for Philistine oppression and 20 years for him and his kids to judge(I Sam. 7:15-8:5), go to and download, 'Timeline Page 03'). Since Eli was high priest simultaneously and not tied to the other judges time lines, then this would fit. Of course this would have Samuel judging at the same time as Elon(313-323) and Abdon(323-331). Since there could be more than one judge at a time, this time line scenario fits the time frame of events. Note, I am still allowing 15 years for Joshua and all the elders of Israel dying after the land of Canaan was subdued. The goal of the time line chart of the judges are to help the reader get a general time frame if not an exact time frame of what happened. Since exact dates aren't given, I believe I have gotten as close as possible. However, it is the readers job to check everything with the scriptures(II Tim. 2:15) and go with the scriptures where I am in error.
I Samuel 7:5-9 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
:6 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 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
:8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
: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.
Samuel had all of Israel gather at Mizpeh(6 miles north & 1 mile west of Jerusalem). Samuel prayed before the Lord, the people confessed their sins and everyone fasted. The drawing of the water and pouring it out before the Lord could be the denying of water while fasting or a picture of the word of God(Eph. 5:26, see comments there). However, when the Philistines heard that Israel gathered at Mizpeh, they went up to attack. Israel feared and asked Samuel to ask God to save Israel from the Philistines (intercessory prayer, like Jesus, I Jo. 2:1, see comments there). Samuel offered a sucking(baby) lamb for a burnt offering and the Lord heard him. Remember that Samuel was a priest as well as a judge.
When a Christian gets right with God, he needs to confess his sins(I Jo. 1:9), pray to God for deliverance from his sin(go to and download, Repentance, Parts I & II) and then forsake his sin(Pr. 28:13). Israel got right as a nation by offering a lamb for their sins(Jo. 1:29, see comments there). The world, flesh and the devils don’t want a Christian to get right with God, so they will oppose him. Christians are to gather at the new testament church to get right with God as well as fellowship(Heb. 10:25, etc.). When praying for someone else to get right with God is called intercessory prayer(Jam. 5:16, see comments there).
I Samuel 7:10-14 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.
:14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
While Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. However, the LORD thundered a great thunder(Ex. 9:23, see comments there) on the Philistines and they were killed and confused(discomfited) before Israel. Afterward, Israel pursued the Philistines and killed them until they came to Bethcar(close to Mizpeh).
As a symbol of God’s deliverance, Samuel set a stone between Mizpeh and Shen(close to Mizpeh), and called the name of it Ebenezer(“Hitherto hath the LORD helped us”). After the Philistines were subdued, they came no more into the coast of Israel all the days of Samuel(If this happened at 331 in the timeline of the judges, it is still 9 years after Samson(322, when he died). The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, as well as the coasts of Israel being delivered from Philistine rule. Also, there was peace between Israel and the Amorites(since Jephthah(300-331(current)).
God fights the battles for the Christians(Eph. 5:18, see comments there) and sends His angels to help him(Heb. 1:14). Monuments, etc. are symbols of great accomplishments. This is why in America we used to have the ten commandments in every courthouse(symbolizing God’s superiority over mankind, Ps. 138:2 & ultimate judge of truth). Now the US is doomed with far left wing political correctness(immoral humanism, Ps. 9:17, 60:11, 2016). The stone is a picture of the rock(Deut. 32:4, see comments there). For the Christian, his sins(the Philistines and the Amorites) are subdued when he gets right with God(Israel under Samuel). The Christian will have peace(Matt. 11:28-30) when God is in charge of his life(reigning over the land of Israel).
Notice that all the lands given to Israel when they entered the land of Canaan that were lost to the Philistines were restored again. This is a picture of the complete victory or dominion in the Christian life over sin, world and the devils, etc..
I Samuel 7:15-17 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
:16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
:17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life since growing up in the tabernacle. After the defeat of the Philistines he went in a circuit to Bethel(5 miles north of Ramah), Gilgal(1 mile north & 13 miles west of Ramah) and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. Afterward, he returned to Ramah where he lived and judged Israel there as well.
Samuel returned home to Ramah(5 miles north of Jerusalem, 18 miles east of the Jordan river) where he lived and built an altar there. He judged Israel there as well.
Evidently, the beginning of Samuel as a judge started while Eli was still alive(not sure of the time line, so I just give the time he was judge after the death of Eli). Apart from those four cities and surrounding areas, it doesn’t seem that Samuel did much judging in the rest of Israel, unless they came to him. Evidently the tabernacle in Shiloh wasn’t in operation, since Samuel built an altar at his house and God approved. Remember that Eli and his two sons died and the ark was there in Kirjathjearim when the Philistines were defeated.
I Samuel 8:1-5 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
When Samuel was old he made his sons(Joel and Abiah) judges over Israel. They judged in
Beersheba and didn’t follow the holy ways of Samuel. They turned after lucre(reward and gain), took bribes(money or benefit given to a person in power in exchange for a favor, not allowed by law). Samuel made the same mistake as Eli in putting his sons in power rather than someone who was godly. Also, he didn’t pass on the spirituality to his kids(II Tim. 2:2, Pr. 22:6). This is the danger of the family spiritual business. The parent will have a different standard for his kids than everyone else and will too quickly overlook the sins of his children. As a result, all the elders of Israel gathered together and asked Samuel to make a king over them like all the other nations.
Here we see the end of the judges of Israel and the beginning of the kings of Israel. Under the judges, God was king and he administered his justice through the judge(theocracy). Now a man will sit as king(monarchy). Because of their sin in the land of Canaan, God had to appoint them judges to give them God’s word and get them right as a nation. Now, they will be going to a king directly like the rest of the world(I Jo. 2:15-17). Notice how Israel is going downward as a nation gradually. Next, the nation will split into two nations(under king Rehoboam, 4th king of Israel) and later both nations will go into captivity because of their sins(Israel-Assyrian captivity & Judah-Babylonian captivity). It would have been better if the people and leaders just served and obeyed God(Eccl. 12:13-14).
I Samuel 8:6-9 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
:7 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.
:8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
:9 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.
Samuel was upset because they asked for a king and afterward prayed to the LORD. The Lord told Samuel that the people of Israel rejected God as their king(theocracy) for a human king(monarchy), because they didn’t want God ruling over them. God made references to all the rebellion of the nation of Israel from Egypt up until know. The people forsook God and served other gods. God tells Samuel to listen to the request of the people, yet protest it and warn them what will happen if they get a human king.
In spite of all the miracles, the book of Moses, the continual deliverances from foreign oppression, the misery of sin, etc., Israel rejects God’s perfect ways for the ways of the world.
For the Christian, it pays to be spiritual in this life and the life to come(I Pet. 1:15-16, II Cor. 5:10, see comments there). Yet Christians refuse to obey God’s word(Jo. 14:15), try to change God’s word and imply different meanings than what it says(Rom. 1:18) and end up going back into the world(I Jo. 2:15-17, 5:21). There sinful ways will eventually destroy them (Rom. 8:6, Jam. 1:14-16) and their families. This is why God repeatedly gives the same lessons over and over in history with the same results(Rom. 3:4), just from different angles(download, The Test of Man and the Bible through the Ages at ). Yet what we learn about Christian bible history is that Christians don’t learn from history(I Cor. 10:6, Rom. 15:4). In some churches, the Old Testament is a dead book, rather than around a 4000 year repeated history lesson that teaches that God is the only way to be saved from hell fire(Acts 10:43) and holy living is the only real way of life(I Pet. 1:22).
I Samuel 8:10-18 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
:13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
:14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
:16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
Samuel told the people all the words of the LORD. He told them that the king would take their sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, to be his horsemen and some shall run before his chariots. He will appoint him captains over thousands, and fifties and will set them to ear his ground, reap his harvest, make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots.
The king will take their daughters to be confectionaries(make sweet foods, e.g. cakes and pies), cooks and bakers. The king will take their fields, vineyards and oliveyards(including the best of them) and give them to his servants. The king will take the tenth of their seed and vineyards to give to his officers and servants. The king will take their menservants, maidservants, goodliest young men and asses to put them to his work. The king will take the tenth of their sheep and the people will serve him.
When you get a king, he will impose his needs on the family. When God was in charge, sons would gather into an army, fight and then go home. Daughters would stay home and do their own cooking and baking. Now, some kids have to leave home and stand before their king and do whatever he says. The king and not God will choose who is the best captain and will make the people take care of his farm land and make his weaponry. With God, everyone worked in their field for their own benefit and didn’t have to make any weapons for the king or anyone else.
The king will take the people’s property away from them for his own benefit and purposes when needed along with their servants that they acquired through their own money and businesses. The only requirements of offerings and payments were done at the tabernacle to support the tabernacle. Now they will have to pay taxes in various forms to support this new monarchy government. The king will take the best of the land plus an additional ten percent of the sheep, seed and and increase of the crops(plus the ten percent they have to give to God at the tabernacle). The people’s asses and the best of the laborers as well as servants will be taken when needed by the king. In other words, Israel will have more work, less freedom and higher costs(taxes). When the people of Israel realize the mistake they made in rejecting God as their king, God wouldn’t hear them(Is. 59:1-2, see comments there).
Like former president Ronald Reagan of the US once said, government isn’t the solution to our problem, government is the problem). This was judgment on the sins of the nation of Israel (Ps. 9:17). We see in the bible that a government that is based on the bible(Old King James) has the best chance to succeed. This is why we used to have the bible as a required textbook in all the public schools before 1962. The creation account in Genesis chapter one was taught until 1925 and not the false tax supported lie of evolution(I Tim. 6:20, see comments there and go to ). Sadly to say in America, the people as a whole reject God’s ways and when the disasters follow, they explain it away due to other causes. Anything but the obvious truth(II Tim. 3:16=17).
I Samuel 8:19-22 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
:20 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.
:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
:22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
In spite of the future oppressions from having a king, the people chose the king over God(who wouldn’t oppress them). The people of Israel wanted to be like the rest of the world(I Jo. 2:15-17) and have a human king that judges them and leads them into battle. They refused to obey Samuel and rejected his godly advice. Samuel gave the people’s response to God who told him to give the people a king.
When a Christian rejects God’s sound counsel(from the Old King James bible for the English speaking people, Ps. 12:6-7, 19:14, Rev. 22:18-19), trouble, heartache, loss, etc. will follow(Gal. 6:7-8, see comments there). Some things in life can’t be recovered from(death of a family member, permanent injury, great loss of income, etc.). Some things in life you only have one real chance(education, secular career, ministry, etc.). When you openly disobey God, you won’t get a second chance Christian. This is why I always tell people to sell out to God and make the most out of every spiritual opportunity. You will do enough wrong in life trying to do right. Hence serve God(Eccl. 12:13-14) and don’t give in sin without a fight, etc..
I Samuel 9:1-5 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.
:2 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.
:3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
:4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
:5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
There was a man of Benjamin, named Kish, that was a mighty man of power. He had a son named Saul who was a choice young man, more goodly than the other men of Israel and he was taller than everyone Hebrew. From the world's perspective he was the perfect specimen in terms of size and strength. One day the asses of Kish were lost and he sent Saul and one of his servants to find the asses and return. While searching for the asses they passed through the land of Shalisha(5 miles north & 3 miles west of Jerusalem), Shalim(by Shalisha) and the Benjamites without any success. When they got to the land of Zuph(by Shalisha), they decided to return home before Kish would worry about their wellbeing.
God is setting up the chess board for Saul to be king. In the flesh he is what Israel would choose in a king, but not necessarily God. God is giving them what they asked for not what God wanted for them(I Sam. 16:7). Spiritually, do God's will in spite of your circumstances(I Cor. 10:13) or appearances, etc.. The Christian is supposed to seek the lost and bring them to Christ(Matt. 28:18-20). Saul and his servant(type of spiritual Christian) that is seeking the asses wandering in the world(type of carnal Christian forsaking holiness for worldliness) to bring them back home to the Father(God the Father, Rom. 8:6, 14:17, see comments there). God the Father cares about the wellbeing of his children.
I Samuel 9:6-13 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
:7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
:8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
:9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
:10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
:11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
:12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
:13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
The servant told Saul about Samuel, a man of God, honorable and all that he says comes to pass(prophet or seer). They go to Samuel with a fourth part of a shekel of silver(55 grains, $1.95 worth of silver at $17/toz) to get his advice on their journey.
They asked some young maidens at the well about Samuel the seer. They were told that Samuel came to the city to offer sacrifice in the high place(evidently tabernacle still not in operation after the fall of Eli and his house) and if they went immediately they could catch him before he blessed the sacrifice and ate.
God works out the timing so Saul and Samuel meet at the same time so Saul can be anointed king of Israel. Saul gave Samuel what he had($1.95 in silver) with a heart to get help for the lost asses(donkeys). Spiritually, give God what you have with a right heart attitude and he can change and fix a lot of things in your life for the good(Rom. 8:28, see comments there).
I Samuel 9:14-20 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
: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.
:18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
:19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
:20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
When Saul and his servant came to the city, Samuel met them to take them to the high place. God told Samuel before Saul came that he would send a man out of the land of Benjamin to be anoint captain over Israel. He would be king and save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
When Saul came near to Samuel(he didn't know who he was or what his name was), he asked where to find the seer's house. Samuel told him that he was the seer and that he would eat with him in the high place today and the next before telling them what they needed to know and let them go. Samuel told them that the asses were found, but it wasn't important. He told him that on him was the desire of Israel(wanted a king) and on his father's house(in a monarchy, the kingship is passed on to the son(usually the firstborn).
God chooses a man who didn't seek the kingship(civil leader) nor know Samuel(spiritual leader), but ended up being chosen as king(Rev. 20:4, see comments there). Saul evidently wasn't rich or his dad didn't spoil him(Saul and servant had $1.95 on their person). Hence Saul's beginnings were humble, not given to riches and seeking to be obedient(did what his father said) and efficient(find the asses). When a Christian has the right attitude about God and life(Matt. 6:33), everything will work out for the good(Rom. 8:28, see comments there).
I Samuel 9:21-27 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?
:22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
:23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
:24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
:25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
:26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
:27 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.
Saul told Samuel that he was a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel. His family was the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. He didn't understand why Saul was choosing him(humble, not power or money seeking, etc.).
Samuel put Saul in the best place amongst 30 people and was given a special portion of meat to eat(shoulder-bears the burden, king bears the burdens of the people). After eating they went into the city and talked with Samuel at the top of a house(evidently hotel accommodations).
In the morning at the break or spring of day(around 6 AM), Samuel sent them home, but had Saul's servant go home first. Afterward Samuel showed Saul the word of the Lord.
Spiritually, we see the humble being exalted(Saul, Jam. 4:10, see comments there). For the obedient Christian, God(Samuel, prophet) dines with the Christian(Saul, Jo. 14:23, see comments there) and shows him God's will for his life. Notice, to be blessed with the will and direction of God, you have to be faithful and hard working with what God gave you already(Saul obeyed his father, worked with his servants and was humble, etc.).
I Samuel 10:1-4 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
:3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
:4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
Samuel anoints Saul as king of Israel with oil, by pouring it on his head(picture of being empowered or anointed by the Holy Ghost). Samuel told Saul that he would find two men by Rachel's sepulchre at Zelzah(3 miles south & 3 miles west of Jerusalem, border of Benjamin) that will tell him that the asses were found and his father his worried about him. On the way home in the plain of Tabor, Saul will meet three men going up to God to Bethel(one carrying three kids(young goats), another carrying three loaves of bread and another carrying a bottle of wine. They will greet(salute) Saul and give him two loaves of bread.
The rule of the judges over Israel comes to end after 351 years. To further give confidence to Saul, Samuel tells him about his father worrying, the asses being found and meeting three people of which one gives him two loaves of bread. With God and the bible, every detail is exactly correct without error. Only the true God of heaven can be 100% accurate all the time with every prediction. Religions like Islam, Catholicism, Hinduism as well as Astrology, Theosophy, mediums, etc. can't give details nor get even half of their predictions right(false prophets, Deut. 18:20-22, see comments there).
I Samuel 10:5-8 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
:7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
:8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
After getting two loaves of bread, Saul tells Samuel that he would come to the hill of God, where was the garrison of the Philistines(the troops stationed in a fortress or town to defend it).
When he got to the city, he would meet a company(group) of prophets coming down from the high place preceded by musicians playing the psaltery(like a dulcimer, played by plucking the strings), tabret(tambourine), pipe and harp. When they prophesied, the Spirit of the LORD will come upon Saul, he would prophesy with them and would be turned into another man. After Saul was filled with the Spirit, he would do whatever the Lord led him to do(Eph. 5:18, Ps. 119:105). Saul would go down with Samuel to Gilgal(7 miles east & 2 miles north of Jerusalem) to offer burnt and peace offerings. Seven days after the offerings, Samuel would tell Saul what he had to do next.
Spiritual, Saul was turned into another man by the Holy Ghost. The lost person turns into a new man when he gets saved(II Cor. 5:17, see comments there) and the saved men gets renewed daily(made new again to serve God daily, II Cor. 4:16, see comments there). There is godly music that God promotes(go to and download, New Testament Church Music). For the Christian, preaching Jesus in the power of God is the spirit of prophesy(Rev. 19:10, see comments there).
Notice that Samuel is giving Saul exact instructions on what to do. When you serve God, he gives the Christian exact instructions to obey. Serving God is easy, just do what the perfect God tells you according to His perfect book(Ps. 138:2).
I Samuel 10:9-16 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?
:12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
:13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
:14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
:15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
:16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
After Saul left Samuel, God gave him another heart and all those signs came to pass that day like Samuel said. He met the company of prophets and prophesied among them. Afterward people wandered if Saul was among the prophets(Spiritually, we see Saul as a prophet and king, like Jesus). When Saul came to the high place he ceased prophesying(I Th. 5:19-20, see comments there).
Time after time in the bible we see this pattern where a man of God says something and later it comes to past. That said, the apostle John gave us the book of Revelation with four detailed views on the seven year tribulation(Rev. 4:-19:), the millennial kingdom(Rev. 20:) and then eternity(Rev. 21:-22:). As sure as you are breathing, it will come to pass exactly (go to and download, The Book of Revelation).
Saul's uncle(brother to Kish) asked where Saul when and he told them to find the lost asses (donkeys). When they couldn't be found he went to Samuel. Saul told his uncle that Samuel told him that the asses were found but not that he was anointed king of Israel. We see that Saul isn't ready to admit to being king yet. However, he had enough faith to listen and obey God through Samuel.
For the Christian, sometimes we are low on confidence to do the Lord's work. Through prayer(Phil. 4:6-7), the peace of God and getting victory by acting on God's promises, our confidence is built up for the task.
I Samuel 10:17-23 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
:18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
:20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
:21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
: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.
At Mizpeh, Samuel called the people together. He gave them God's word that He brought up Israel out of Egypt, delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians(Ex. 7:-14:), out of the hand of all kingdoms and of them that oppressed you(during the 351 years of the judges, download, The Book of Judges, at ). Yet they rejected God, who saved them out of all their adversities and tribulations. In spite of God's goodness they asked for a king like all the other nations.
Samuel had the nation present themselves before the LORD by their tribes(12) and then by their thousands(within a tribe). So the tribe of Benjamin, the family of Matri and Saul the son of Kish was taken. However, when they looked for him he couldn't be found. When they inquired of the Lord they were told that he was hiding among the stuff(things, possessions brought to Mizpeh, etc.). Hence the got him and presented him amongst the nation of Israel.
Spiritually, when you reject God, you become like the world(I Jo. 2:15-17). Israel went from a theocracy(God over Israel through the tabernacle), to a monarchy(the king may or may not follow the word of God when ruling(I & II Kings, more bad kings than good kings in terms of serving the Lord). God is eternal, all knowing and powerful and will always give you exactly what you need when you need it. Yet carnal Christian's go by what feels good(image, flesh) and sounds good(politics, talk of men) instead of what is holy and right regardless how it feels and sounds. This was the downfall of the American new testament churches(2016). They were more interested in money(more offerings), numbers(church attendance) and prestige(amongst other Christians and the community, I Tim. 6:5) instead of just obeying God, standing and letting the spiritual chips fall where they may.
I Samuel 10:24-27 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.
:25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
:26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.
Samuel proclaimed the one God chose and the people shouted God save the king. Samuel reminded the nation of the manner of the kingdom(I Sam. 8:10-18, see comments there), wrote it down in a book(book of I Samuel) and put it before the Lord. Afterward, Saul went home to Gibeah with a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. However, the lost of Israel or children of Belial despised Saul, didn't believe he could save them from anything and brought no presents to Saul. Saul however, didn't say anything about their behavior and let it go.
Samuel obeys God and writes the account in a book. This is how the bible was written(II Pet. 1:20-21, see comments there). God speaks, actions happen and man writes them down as God directs(II Tim. 3:16-17).
Saul was hiding because he evidently didn't want to be king or wasn't ready to be king. Nevertheless God made him king and gave him men led by God to support and comfort him. In the ministry, God has over the years given me people to encourage and assist me to keep me heavenly minded(Col. 3:2) and focused on the task at hand(Matt. 28:18-20). Also, in the ministry, lost people don't know God personally and hence his ways will seem foolish(I Cor. 2:14, see comments there). However, for the Christian, just do what God says and everything else will take care of itself (Matt. 6:33).
I Samuel 11:1-9 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
:7 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.
:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
:9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
After Saul was made king of Israel, Nahash the Ammonite(east of the tribe of Gad & southeast of east Manasseh) came up and encamped against Jabeshgilead(7 miles east of the Jordan river, in the tribe of east Manasseh). The men of Jabesh didn't want to fight but asked for a covenant of peace. Nahash agreed if he could remove all the right eyes of the people of Jabesh that it would be a reproach to the nation of Israel. The elders of Jabesh asked for seven days to consider it. They told the people of Gibeah and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.
Spiritually, the world wants to mock the Christian and get them to surrender and/or compromise without a fight. However, Christian we are to fight God's battles by faith and stand against the enemy(Eph. 6:10-18, see comments there). In the world Christian you will never find peace(Jo. 14:27, see comments there).
When king Saul heard of what happened after tending to his herd in the field, the Spirit of God came upon him and he was greatly angered. He took two(yoke) of oxen, cut them to pieces and sent them throughout the coasts of Israel. He said that those who didn't come to help Saul against Nahash, will have their oxen cut up in the same way. Afterward the fear of the LORD fell on the people and 300,000 came from Israel including 30,000 from the tribe of Judah with one consent to Bezek(10 miles west of the Jordan river & 17 miles west of Jabeshgilead). The messengers of Jabeshgilead were told that they would get help and were glad.
Saul went back to his day job of tending the herd. He was a dedicated hard working man(why God chose him). However, to fight God's battles, Saul like the Christian need to be empowered by the Spirit of God(Eph. 5:18). You can't always beat the world and never the devils on your own strength. You need God's power and help(Heb. 1:14). Under God's directive, Saul got the nation of Israel organized and ready for battle against Nahash. A good leader(pastor, evangelist, missionary, bible teacher) will know how to organize his resources to fight an efficient battle for God, etc..
I Samuel 11:10-15 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
:12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
The men of Jabesh told Nahash a partial truth, that they would come out. They didn't tell them the whole truth that 300,000 foot soldiers of Israel would be joining them. Saul attacked the Ammonites in three companies of soldiers in the morning and defeated them so that those that escaped, escaped alone.
Afterward the people wanted to put the children of Belial(not God, I Sam. 10:27) to death, but Saul forbade it. He showed them mercy because of the victory God gave them. The people decided to renew the kingdom or make Saul king again with a greater commitment. The first time no sacrifices were made(I Sam. 10:24-27). However since they had a great victory in battle, they wanted to show their gratitude to God with peace offerings(Lev. 3:, download, The Book of Leviticus at ).
Spiritually, when Christians are united in Spirit and resources, they can do great things for God. They can defeat great armies as well as build great countries, ministries, businesses and new testament churches, etc.. In America, the sold out Christians are few and far in between. Many talk big, but are really promoting themselves and/or their religions(Mark 7:6-9). Most churches have been abandoned by the Spirit of God a long time ago and as a result, America is going down the toliet(Ps. 9:17). The Christian is to renew himself spiritually daily to serve the Lord(II Cor. 4:16, see comments there).
I Samuel 12:1-5 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
:2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
:3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
:4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
:5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
Samuel listened to the people and gave them a king. Samuel is old, his sons are grown up. He asked the people if he was guilty of any wrong doing as judge and they responded that he didn’t defrauded(to trick or cheat someone or something in order to get money) them, oppressed them, nor stolen from any of them. Samuel had the Lord and the king as a witness of this fact before the people.
Samuel was a righteous judge that had a good testimony with the community. Christians need to behave righteously before the community, so the only thing they can complain about is the laws of God and their obedience to them.
I Samuel 12:6-11 And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
:7 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.
:8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
:9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
:10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
:11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
Samuel reminded the people of their history. Note that God keeps repeating the same facts of history over and over again over the centuries. Jacob went into Egypt and after thirty years the Egyptians started to oppress them. 400 years later, the LORD chose Moses and Aaron(high priest) as leaders and God brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt(Ex. 7:-14:). Joshua took over after Moses died(Deut 34:) and they took over the land of Canaan in six years. Afterward, the nation of Israel forsook God and the law of Moses and over time were sold into bondage under Sisera(Judg. 4:, king of Canaan), the Philistines(Jud. 3:31, 10:7) and the king of Moab(Judg. 3:12-22, and they fought against them. When Israel cried to God for help by repenting of serving false gods(Baalim and Ashtaroth), God sent judges to deliver them. God sent Jerubbaal(Judges 6:11-8:28), Bedan(not mentioned in the book of judges), Jephthah(Judg. 11:-12:) and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of their enemies on every side and they dwelled safe.
God kept his side of the bargain with the law of Moses. Also, he sent judges to help the nation get right with God and stay preserved over the 351 years the time Israel subdued the land until Saul became king. History, law, peace, safety, righteousness, personal testimonies, etc. are on God’s side whereas disobedience and serving false gods are on Israel’s side(Rom. 3:4). It’s the same way with America. Science, history, morality, common sense, truth, etc. are on God’s side and sin, immorality, murder, thievery, lying, etc. are on the US’s side(Ps. 9:17).
I Samuel 12:12-15 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
:13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
:14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
:15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Evidently, Nahash the king of Ammon was opposing Israel before Saul was anointed and this was the reason they wanted a king. Hence, God gave them king Saul who God used to defeat Nahash. God could have easily beaten Nahash without a king as he did for the last 336 years of Hebrew history. Unfortunately, sin blinds and dulls the mind and common sense of man(I Cor. 2:14, see comments there). That is why in the US we have such ridiculous laws(pervert marriage and protections, Rom. 1:27, Lev. 18:22) and common sense laws aren’t enforced(illegal immigration).
Samuel tells the people of Israel that if they fear the LORD(Hebr. 12:28-29), serve him, obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD(Ex. 15:26, see comments there), then they and the king will continue to follow the LORD. However, if they disobey God’s
voice and rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against them like it was in the past with their fathers.
Under the new testament covenant it is the same way. Yet in the US we are constantly told by the main line so-called Christians that obeying God’s word(Old King James) literally is legalism(Sadducees: legalism call God’s law man made). They continually ignore bible history(I Cor. 10:6, see comments there) and end up making the same mistakes(Rom. 8:6, I Jo. 2:15-17). It is funny that the doctrines of these goofy so-called Christians are never found and continually repeated in the bible from cover to cover(Pr. 29:25)..
I Sam 12:16-18 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.
To signify the wickedness of the nation of Israel for rejecting God’s direct rule(theocracy) and giving it to a human king(monarchy), God sent thunder and rain during wheat harvest. When the Lord sent thunder and rain after Samuel prayed to the Lord, they greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. Samuel was an old man, yet with God he had great power and his position feared.
In America, because in general, so-called Christian leaders don’t fear God and keep His commandments(Jo. 14;15, Eccl. 12:13-14), they lack God’s power and the fear of God that it brings. As a result, the church in America is a joke(Mark 7:6-9) that follows the whims of the world to avoid persecution, while the country falls into the pit(Ps. 9:17).
I Samuel 12:19-25 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
:21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
:23 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:
:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
:25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
Afterward the people repented of their sins and for asking for a king. They had Samuel to pray for them to God(intercessory prayer). Samuel encouraged the people to follow the Lord and
serve Him with all their heart. Samuel points out that when Israel turns aside from God’s way, they go after vain or empty things that can’t profit nor deliver them.
For the Christian, the world’s ways end up in bondage(Jam. 1:14-15), death(Rom. 8:6) and destruction(Jo. 10:10). God’s ways result in salvation(Rom. 10:13), deliverance(II Tim. 4:18), righteous, peace and joy(Rom. 14:17). Yet, in spite of God’s consistency throughout the ages, man goes aside to his own destruction(Gal. 6:7-8) in this life and the life to come(Rev. 20:12-15).
God chose Abram after the tower of Babel because he had faith in God and made a covenant with Him. From Abram came Isaac, Jacob and then the twelve tribes of Israel. Hence God chose the nation of Israel for Himself. As a judge, it was Samuel’s job to teach the people of Israel the good and write way(the book of Moses) as well as pray for them. For the Christian teacher, pastor, evangelist and missionary, it is there job to pray for others as well as teach them the good and right way(new testament church covenant).
Samuel tells Israel to fear the LORD and serve him in truth with all your heart(Eccl. 12:13-14). They are to remember what great things He has already done for them. However, he warns them that if they do wickedly(forsake god and his laws), God would consume them and their king(which he did eventually through the Assyrian captivity(ten northern tribes) and the Babylonian captivity(two southern tribes)).
For the Christian, he is to obey God’s word(Jo. 14:15) and love the Lord with all his heart (Matt. 22:37). He is to remember bible history(I Cor. 10:6) and be warned that if he goes off into sin it will consume him(Jam. 1:14-15, I Jo. 5:16).
I Samuel 13:1-7 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
:2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
: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.
:7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Saul reigned one year without choosing any men to accompany him. However after reigning two years he chose 3000 men(2000 with Saul in Michmash(3 miles east & 6 miles north of Jerusalem) and in mount Bethel(9 miles north or Jerusalem) and 1000 with his son Jonathan in Gibeah(3 miles north of Jerusalem)). He sent the rest of the men of Israel home.
One day Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba(2 miles east & 6 miles north of Jerusalem). Saul blew a trumpet throughout Israel claiming that Saul smote the garrison. The first sign of a leader going bad is that he takes the credit for what others have done. Being a leader is not a pride nor image issue but a capability and righteous issue.
The people were gathered after Saul in Gilgal(12 miles east & 2 miles north of Geba) against the Philistines in battle. The Philistines had 30,000 chariots, 6000 horsemen and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude. They pitched camp in Michmash(east from Bethaven) where Saul was stationed. Because of the distress of the people of Israel, they hid themselves in caves, thickets(a thick or dense growth of shrubs, bushes, or small trees), rocks, high places and in pits. Some Jews escaped over the Jordan river to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul faced his second big test as king(first Nahash, the king of Ammon). The odds in the flesh were insurmountable. For the Christian, God will test our faith(Jam. 1:3, see comments there) with impossible tasks in the flesh to develop our faith as Christians(Heb. 11:6). When we pass the test we are given bigger tasks later and when we fail the test we have to repeat it.
I Samuel 13:8-14 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
:10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
:13 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.
:14 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.
Saul waited seven days at Gilgal for Samuel, who was to offer burnt(Lev. 1:, see comments there) and peace offerings(Lev. 3:, see comments there) to God. When Samuel didn’t’ show up on time, he felted compelled to make the offerings himself. By offering the burnt offering, king Saul was taking the place of the priest for Israel(which was Samuel). God set up authorities with limited powers(download, Proper Authority, at ) that were all under the word of God(Ps. 138:2). Saul the king, was over the civil law, but not the ceremonial (sacrifices, Levitical priesthood) law.
When Samuel arrived, he rebuked Saul for not waiting(Is. 40:31). Saul made an excuse to justify his sin by citing the extreme circumstances(people scattered, Samuel was late, Philistines are gathered for battle). Saul wanted to make his offering before he was attacked to get the Lord’s favor. Because he took the place of the priest, he disobeyed God and lost the kingdom of Israel in the future. It turns out that David will be Saul’s replacement, because he was a man after God’s heart(the desires of God).
In America, we have the president(who is supposed to enforce the laws), making laws and the Congress(who is supposed to make good laws) make bad laws. The US government makes excuses of extreme circumstances to limit and take away freedoms(a little liberty for a lot of security), rather than solve the problems.
The US government intrudes into the separate authorities of the home, new testament church (regulation, 501c3), schools (teachers) as well as personal accountability. The US government isn’t the final authority, the bible over the government is the final authority(Ps. 138:2). The US government also messes with God’s institution of marriage(Hebr. 13:4, one man and one woman), life(abortion, Ex. 20:13, murder), the creation of the universe(Gen. 1:1, I Tim. 6:20 - tax supported evolution). Judgment is continually coming to America if we don’t repent(Ps. 9:17).
Sadly to say, when you get a politician who is open about his desire to serve God, he is immediately branded a racist, bigot, extremist, out of touch, etc.. In other words, everything the far left wing progressive Democrats are about(using race to discriminate against white people, reinventing sexuality to impose their bigotry(LGBT perversions) on the nation, extremist(welfare, foreign trade agreements, socialism, transgenderism bathroom policies) and out of touch(illegal immigration, no discipline in the public schools(Pr. 13:24, paddle removed)). The US democrats are the party for the murders(abortionists), criminals, undisciplined, welfare moochers, socialists and sexual perverts, etc..
I Samuel 13:15-23 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.
:16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
:17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
:18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
:20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
:21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
:23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
Samuel leaves for Gibeah of Benjamin, whereas Saul numbered 600 people that were with him presently(not scattered). The Philistines attacked Israel in three companies. One attacked from Ophrah(4 miles east & 7 miles north of Gibeah), to the land of Shual, another attacked towards Bethhoron(8 miles west & 4 miles north of Gibeah) and another attacked towards the valley of Zeboim(12 miles east & 6 miles north of Gibeah) toward the wilderness. The attack is coming from the north(directly and on the east and west side of Gibeah).
In the past, the Philistines made sure there was no smith(blacksmith, worker in metals, etc.), so the people of Israel would be dependent on them to sharpen their tools(share(plowshare, the part of a plow that digs into the soil), coulter(a cutting tool (as a knife or sharp disc) that is attached to the beam of a plow, makes a vertical cut in the surface), axe and mattock(A digging tool with a flat blade set at right angles to the handle)). They only had a file for the mattocks, coulters, forks, axes and to sharpen the goads(a pointed rod used to make an animal move forward.). Hence, when the Philistines attacked in battle, there was no sword or spear found in the hand of any of the people except for Saul and Jonathan.
Here we an Old Testament example of spear control(gun control in the modern day). It is hard to resist an enemy when you lack weapons to fight back with. E.g. One person with a gun can control 100 people without a gun. My definition of gun control is holding that gun steady long enough to accurately shoot the target. In the US, most of the crazy people with guns do the most damage in gun free areas(the examples of tragedies in the US are endless, etc.). If there were no gun free zones and people were allowed to defend themselves and the nation(2nd amendment), most of these crazy people would get killed on the spot(save money on law enforcement, etc.). Nevertheless, the people of Israel hid because the Philistines had spears, as well as chariots, and they didn’t. Notice that the Hebrews had tools to work with, but not weapons to fight with. By the way, the problem isn’t spears or guns, just the lawless people who use them to hurt others for the wrong reasons, etc..
I Samuel 14:1-3 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.
:2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
:3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
On a certain day, Jonathan the son of Saul and the one that bare his armor went over to a garrison of the Philistines, without telling his father. Saul and his 600 men were under a pomegranate tree in Migron(6 miles north & 2 miles east of Jerusalem). At the time, Ahiah, the son of Ahitub(Ichabod's brother), the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod.
We see division in the forces of Saul. Johnathon, evidently second in command, is operating covertly or unilaterally without Saul’s knowledge or the knowledge of the people. Ahiah is the grandson of Phineas(who died roughly 40 years ago) and is currently the high priest. However, Samuel was making offerings to God without going to Shiloh. This would imply that God evidently is not recognizing the sacrifices of the tabernacle because of the sins of Eli’s house.
I Sam. 14:4-10 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
:5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
:7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
:8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
:9 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.
:10 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.
Between where the garrison of the Philistines and Johnathon, were two sharp rocks named Bozez and Seneh. One stone was pointing northward towards Michmash and the other southward towards Gibeah.
Jonathan and his armor barer decided to attack the Philistine garrison. Johnathon knew that there was no limit to what God could do whether there were many or few who fought for them.
For the Christian, God is not limited by your finances, physical ability, social skills, the country you live in, but by your faith(Heb. 11:6),
Johnathon’s plan was simple. They would make themselves known to the garrison. If the garrison told them to come to them, they would attack, because that was the sign that the Lord would give them the victory. Otherwise they would stay still. Johnathon’s armor bearer was in complete unity and submission to his plan. In the army, teamwork and precision is everything. If one person is out of step, the whole group working together can get killed, etc..
I Samuel 14:11-17 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
:12 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.
:13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
:15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
:16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
:17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
The Philistines told them to come up to them, so they attacked. The attack led to twenty Philistines being killed within ½ acre of land(43560 sq. ft. = 1 acre). After the slaughter(implied a one-sided battle), the host in the field and among the people, the garrison and spoilers all trembled greatly because the earth quaked. As a result of the trembling, the host of the Philistines started killing one another. When Saul investigated, he realized that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not present.
If you take a rectangle with one side 147 feet(49 yards) and another 148 feet), you have a region of about ½ acre. In this space around the rocks, Johnathon and his armor bearer fought victoriously. God used nature(earthquake) to kill most of the Philistine multitude(I Sam. 13:5). As before, when Israel trusts God by faith, His power kicks in and does more than they could ever do. In this victory, you had two sold out Hebrews destroying the Philistines like the sand of the sea shore by acting on their faith in God(Jam. 2:18, see comments there).
When the Christian does all he can by faith, the power of God kicks in and God does way more than the Christian can, etc.. This is why holiness and trusting God by faith with what little you have is the key to great victories and deliverances in the Christian life(Pr. 11:4).
I Samuel 14:18-23 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
:19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.
:20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
:21 Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
:22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
Saul asks Ahiah the high priest to bring the ark of God. While talking to the priest Saul heard the noise of the Philistines went on and increased. Evidently he discerned the sound of defeat amongst the Philistines and assemble the people with him to attack.
Saul is making decisions based on what he can see and hear in the flesh and not making a general spiritual decision to ask for God’s help. He should have had the high priest to enquire of God and make a sacrifice. Saul’s disregard for the spiritual is what gets him in trouble, causes him to lose the kingdom for himself and his children and leads to his ultimate defeat and death(Jam. 1:14-15, see comments there).
When Saul gets to the battle, the Philistines were already attacking each other. The Hebrews that were confederate with the Philistines turned on them and joined Israel in the attack. Also, those that hid themselves in mount Ephraim joined the attack when they heard that the Philistines fled. The Philistine army was badly beaten as the battle went to Bethaven(1 mile east & 6 miles north of Gibeah).
When the ministry is going well it is easy to serve God by faith and hence most Christians will join the fight. When things aren’t going well, the weak Christians will compromise with the world(join the Philistine army, I Jo. 2:15-17, see comments there) or hide(afraid to stand and fight, Eph. 6:10, see comments there). The real faith is with the those that get the victory started under impossible odds(Johnathon and his armor bearer).
I Samuel 14:24-34 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.
:25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
:26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
:27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
:28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
:29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
:30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
:31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
:32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
:33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
:34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
The men of Israel were distressed that day because Saul proclaimed a curse on the people to not eat anything until even the he may be avenged of the Philistines. However, Johnathon didn’t hear about the oath that brought a curse until after he had eaten some of the honey.
Johnathon was enlightened by the honey, just like a Christian is enlightened by the word of God(Matt. 4:4). Johnathon was innocent of the oath because he was not present when it was made.
Johnathon rebuked his father for his oath in front of the people. However, once an oath is made it must be kept(Eccl. 5:4-5). Bad decisions can lessen the victory in the Christian life(there would have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines if the army could have eaten).
However, the Christian is under authority(God’s word supremely, then the government, employee, teachers, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, home). He doesn’t have the right to usurp others authority(go to and download Proper Authority).
The Philistines were killed from from Michmash to Aijalon(12 miles west & 1 mile north of Gibeah & 15 miles east & 2 miles north of Michmash). At even the people flew upon the spoil. They slew the livestock on the ground(sheep, oxen and calves) and ate the food with blood still in it(food not completely cooked- rare, medium rare). Under the book of Moses, the eating of blood was forbidden(Lev. 17:10-14, see comments there). Saul rebuked the people for sinning against the Lord. He demanded that the livestock be killed upon a stone and the blood drained so they wouldn’t eat the blood anymore. Saul had some spirituality in him. However, he wasn’t sold out nor consistent. The Christian needs to be sold out(Rom. 12:1-2, see comments there) all the time and every day(consistent) to guarantee the complete victory of God in his life.
I Samuel 14:35-37 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
:36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
:37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
Saul built his first altar to the Lord. This was Samuel’s job and not his to do. Once again, Saul is usurping Samuel’s authority. Separation of church and state means that the state doesn’t run the church and the church doesn’t run the state. The state(civil government) is a separate authority from the church(spiritual government). The state must be obedient to spiritual law(law of Moses) and the church(tabernacle here) must be obedient to civil law. However, neither interferes with the affairs or authority of the other.
In the US, we have the civil government under Obama trying to remove spirituality and holiness from the government, criminalized Christianity in some areas and changed the institution of marriage(spiritual issue not a civil issue). All under the guise of separation of church and state and the authority of the government(sic, Ps. 9:17), etc..
Saul planned to attack the Philistines by night, spoil them until the morning light and then kill all of them. The priest requested that they get close to God and His advice. When Saul asked for the counsel of God he got no answer that day(Is. 59:1-2, see comments there). For more information go to and download, How to Get your Prayers Answered, Part I & II.
I Samuel 14:38-46 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
:39 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
:40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
:41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
:42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
:44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
:45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
:46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
Saul makes inquiry to see why God hasn’t answered him. A perfect lot is given between the leaders(Saul and Johnathon) and the people and the people were spared. Next, lots were cast between the two and Johnathon was taken. Johnathon told him that he ate some honey before evening without knowledge of the oath. Saul wanted to kill him, but the people intervened and
Jonathan was spared. He was spared because of the great victory God gave him to deliver Israel.
Afterward, Saul went home and didn’t pursue the Philistines(who also went home).
Obviously when lots are drawn, someone has to be chosen. If Saul would have realized that he was the problem and not Johnathon, all this could have been avoided. However, it shows that Saul gave in to the will of the people even after a decision had been made by casting lots. It shows that the people could influence his spirituality and overrule what God told him. This is the mistake he makes later after defeating the Amalekites. God delivered Johnathon since he was innocent because he didn’t hear the oath when it was made.
For the Christian, clean up your own house first(Ps. 66:18, I Jo. 1:9, see comments there) and then you will have the power of God and ability to ask God for help(Is. 59:1-2, see comments there). When you take credit for what others have done, don’t obey God exactly(Jo. 14:15), let your circumstances and the people under you influence you over the word of God(I Tim. 6:5, see comments there), then disaster is sure to follow in your life.
I Samuel 14:47-52 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
:48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
:50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
:51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
:52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
Saul fought against all his enemies on every side. Ammon(east of Reuben), Moab(east of Gad) and Edom(south of Moab) are east of Israel and make up the modern day country of Jordan. The Philistines were on the west of Israel and east of the Mediterranean Sea whereas the kings of Zobah(36 miles north & 36 miles east of Damascus, capital of Syria(). The Amalekites were a people mainly beaten by Israel under Moses on the east side of Jordan, although a remnant of them survived. Saul beat the Amalekites, cursed his enemies and basically delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
Saul had three sons: Jonathan, Ishui and Melchishua and two daughters: Merab(firstborn) and Michal. Saul was married to Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The captain of Saul’s army or host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. Kish was the father of Saul, Abiel was the father of Ner and Ner was the father of Abner. Because of Saul’s war with the Philistines all his days, any time Saul saw any strong or valiant man, he took him to him(be part of his army). In the bible, genealogies and timelines are important. God drops pieces of the complete picture throughout the bible. Hence always pay attention to detail(go to and download, The Bible Timeline & Genealogy).
God used the king to deliver them from oppression. By the way, had Saul handled the original battle with the Philistines that Johnathon started, they may have all been beaten down into complete submission. It seems that God left the Philistines around to test and punish Saul for his disobedience. It also showed that when David got the complete victory over the Philistines, it was because of his obedience to God without wavering.
It must also be mentioned that Saul gave key positions in his army to family members (Johnathon and Abner). Like the new testament church, the army, the government, etc., positions should be given based on ability and performance. They shouldn’t be family business nor favoritism showed to a particular group, etc.. Making decisions like this weaken a nation(e.g. Affirmative Action, no-contract government bids, etc.).
I Samuel 15:1-9 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; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
:6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
: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.
Samuel commands by the words of the Lord for Saul to kill all the people of Amalek. Amalek was guilty for laying ambush against Israel when he came out of Egypt. Saul was to completely destroy Amalek, including both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep and camel and ass. God was judging the nation of Amalek for their sin as a nation, just like He will judge all the nations at the end of the tribulation(Matt. 25:31-46).
Remember that God has the right to invoke the death penalty on anyone or any country if they are deserving according to their sin. God has perfect love, perfect hate and perfect judgment. Don't let the backward, perverted, children of hell, left wing progressives, confuse you with their political correct nonsense. For that matter, remember that God has the right to throw a lost person into hell and the lake of fire for ever(Rev. 20:12-15, see comments there).
Saul numbered the army in Telaim(19 miles west of the Dead Sea & 5 miles north of the bottom of the Dead Sea) to be 200,000 men of Israel plus 10,000 men of Judah. Saul laid ambush against Amalek in the valley of a particular city. Saul showed mercy to the Kenites, because they showed kindness to Israel when they came out of Egypt. Hence the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. Afterward Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until you came to Shur(southwest of the tribe of Judah), that is over against Egypt. Saul destroyed all the people and everything that was vile and refuse. However, he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, along with the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs and all that was good.
Saul disobeyed the words of God, because he didn't obey exactly. He was not to spare anything good or bad. However, once again Saul decides to usurp God's authority and use his own judgment. To God, everything in Amalek was vile and refuse. Hence, you don't spare the best of the garbage, you destroy it all. Beware of people, who think they are smarter than God to take unilateral action, add, change, and/or delete God's word(Gen. 3:5, Rev. 22:18-19, see comments there). For that matter, anyone who doesn't believe the the Old King James Bible is not the perfect bible for the English speaking people, doesn't qualify for the ministry(Ti. 1:9).
I Samuel 15:10-15 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.
:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
:14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
After Saul's disobedience(not performing God's word, Jo. 14:15), God told Samuel that he repented(changed His mind), about making Saul king. When a person repents to get saved(Lu. 13:3), he is changing his mind about his sin(bad behavior) and turning to God(perfect standard). Just because you change you mind about something, doesn't imply that you sinned. For more information go to and download Repentance Part I & II.
Samuel was grieved as well and prayed to the Lord all night(watching in prayer or go without sleep). In the morning Samuel goes to meet Saul and found out that he set up a place in Carmel(14 miles west of the Dead Sea) and then went to Gilgal(4 miles east of the Jordan river & 6 miles north of the top of the Dead Sea). When Saul met Samuel he blessed the Lord and declared that he kept the commandment of the LORD. Samuel rebuked him by asking why he can hear bleating of sheep and lowing of oxen if God's commandment was kept. Saul replied that he spared the best of the sheep and oxen for sacrifice, but destroyed the rest.
Saul made the mistake by thinking God would be pleased with the sacrifice of the best of the world's garbage)livestock of Amalek). Everything he had was to be destroyed because God detested it. Saul, like a religious person(Mark 7:6-9) knows the lingo(“Blessed be thou of the Lord”), claims to be obedient to God(Sadducee and Pharisee) and offers God the best of his garbage(Is. 64:6, see comments there). He is rejected by God and loses the kingdom to David in the process.
I Samuel 15:16-21 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
:17 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?
:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
Samuel rebuked Saul with the word of God. God said that when Saul was little in his own sight(humble, Jam. 4:6, see comments there), he was made anointed king and made the head over the tribes of Israel. God told Saul to completely destroy Amalek by fighting against them until they were consumed. Instead, he disobeyed and flew on the spoil(Achan, Joshua 7:1, see comments there) and did evil in God’s sight.
However, Saul denied it and said he obeyed and brought Agag the king of Amalek, but the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen and the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed to sacrifice to the LORD thy God in Gilgal. Saul not only denies wrongdoing after God tells him directly he was evil through Samuel, but justifies his actions(smarter than God) and then blames the people for taking the best of the things of Amalek to sacrifice to God. Saul isn’t taking accountability or responsibility for his actions. He is trying to overrule the law of God and is trying to justify it through a sacrifice to God. This is the twisted way of the religious person who adds, deletes and changes God’s word to justify his actions(Mark 7:6-9).
I Samuel 15:22-29 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.
:23 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.
:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
: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.
Samuel told Saul that God delights in being obeyed(holiness) than in burnt offerings and sacrifices. To obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams. Rebellion against God is the sin of witchcraft(Ex. 22:18, see comments there) and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry(I Jo. 5:21, see comments there). Hence God rejected Saul as king because he rejected His word.
For the Christian, we see that the end doesn’t justify the means(I Tim. 6:5). Hence all these outcome oriented churches are guilty of iniquity, idolatry and witchcraft. They are stubborn and in rebellion against God. These people put bigger attendance(numbers), offerings(money) and prestige amongst others both saved and lost above holiness and the word of God. It is not a coincidence that there leaders are always being caught in grievous scandals, cover ups, etc. and their members are religious and carnal(Rom. 8:6, 14:17, see comments there). This is one of the reasons why the American new testament church went down the drain as a whole and lost the power of God(Ps. 9:17).
Saul, after hearing God’s judgment of the kingdom being lost, now admits to sin and disobedience to God, but claimed he feared the people and obeyed their voice. Saul is trying to lessen his guilt before God in hopes for some leniency. Instead he should have repented and yielded to the judgment handed down to him. Sadly to say, many carnal Christians aren’t sorry that they sinned, just sorry they got caught(II Cor. 7:10, see comments there).
Samuel isn’t buying Saul’s phony repentance and hence wouldn’t return with him to worship the Lord. He wouldn’t pray for Saul to be pardoned either because he rejected God’s word and hence God rejected him as king. By the way, your worship before God won’t justify nor lessen the punishment for the sin you did and may still do. God doesn’t reduce your sentence because of good behavior, that is a modern day Satanic invention in American criminal justice(what a joke).
I Samuel 15:27-35 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.
:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
:31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
:32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
:33 And Samuel said, As the sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed and tore the skirt of his mantle(like an overcoat, cape). Samuel used his torn mantle as an example how God tore the kingdom from Saul and has given it to someone else better than him. God is called the Strength of Israel, because He is the reason that they are a nation and in the land of Canaan. With respect to rejecting Saul as king, He will not change His mind(repent). God is not like man that sins and needs to repent(turn from his sin, II Cor. 5:21). God is holy and sinless all the time(I Pet. 1:15-16, see comments there).
Saul once again admits his sin, but asks to be honored before the elders of his people and before Israel. Saul is still not repentant for the right reasons. He is more concerned how he looks(Image) amongst the people of Israel than being right with God(holiness). Nevertheless, Samuel returns with him and they worship the Lord. However, Samuel calls for Agag and then promptly kills him(chopped to pieces in front of all Israel). This showed what God thought of king Saul’s actions of sparing Agag. Afterward, Samuel went to Ramah(2 miles north of Gibeah, where Saul lived) and never came to king Saul ever again. Samuel mourned for Saul and his behavior.
For the Christian, we see that sin ruin a ministry. E.g. a pastor caught in adultery and/or stealing is immediately disqualified for the ministry. Sadly to say there are many pastors out there in the US who disqualified themselves, but like king Saul continued like everything was forgiven and forgotten, etc.. It is the same way with Christian schools who have abandoned the Old King James Bible. God has abandoned them, yet they keep on going like everything is fine (when it isn’t). This is how churches and Christian named and based colleges can be packed, but lack the power of God as well as being of the world(I Jo. 2:15-17, see comments there).
I Samuel 16:1-7 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.
:4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
:5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
:7 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.
God tells Samuel to stop mourning for Saul, fill his horn with oil and go to Jesse the Bethlehemite to anoint a king. God had Samuel bring a heifer for a sacrifice for cover against Saul trying to kill him. Jesse would be called to the sacrifice. When Samuel came to Bethlehem, the elders trembled at his coming, wandering if he came peacefully. Samuel came peacefully and called them to the sacrifice along with Jesse and his sons. When Samuel saw Eliab, he thought the Lord would choose him for his countenance(looks) and stature(size). However, God refused him because he looks at man's heart.
King Saul is now at a point that he would kill Samuel if he tried to oppose him. Saul went from humble to proud murderer to keep his power. He had no regard for man and/or God if it got in his way. God looks for leaders that are sold out to him(Rom. 12:1-2). Saul was originally chosen because of his humility(Jam. 4:6), not because of his size.
In American Christianity, it seems those with 'celebrity' status get exalted and chosen to lead and rather than those who are holy(I Pet. 1:15-16, see comments there). When the church rejected God's word(Old King James) and His holiness(Jo. 14:15, see comments there), then they start trusting in fleshly methods for church building(image-looks good, politics-sounds good, gimmicks and gadgets-flesh motivators) to increase their attendance(numbers), offerings(money) and community prestige(I Tim. 6:5, see comments there).
I Samuel 16:8-13 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
:9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
: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.
Samuel has Abinadab, Shammah and five other sons pass before him, but the Lord didn't choose any of them. Samuel had Jesse get the eighth son, which was the youngest and kept the sheep. The eighth son was David, who was ruddy, of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to. The Lord chose him to be king and had Samuel anoint him with the horn of oil. From that day forward the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. Afterward, Samuel went home to Ramah. For the Christian when he serves the Lord, he is annointed by the Spirit(Eph. 5:18., I Pet. 1:22, see comments there).
I Samuel 16:14-18 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
:15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
:17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
:18 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.
After David was anointed king, the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. Saul's servants perceived the evil spirit from God troubled him and therefore recommended a player of the harp to drive the evil spirit away. Saul agreed and had them bring a harp player, which turned out to be David. David was not only a cunning harp player, but a mighty valiant man, a man of war, prudent in matters, a comely person and the LORD was with him.
We see God setting up the chess board to prepare David to take over the kingdom. God gets David with the king and in the process learns everything and gets to know and be known by everyone.
For the Christian, we see that good qualities in a man are that he listens to and can play music that promotes godliness(go to and download, New Testament Church Music). Also, he is a soldier for God(II Tim. 2:3), he is mighty for God(Eph. 6:10, see comments there), prudent in matters(makes good decisions for God), comely person(agreeable, suitable, in speech and appearance) and the LORD was with him(has the power of God on him).
I Samuel 16:19-23 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
:20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto 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.
King Saul sends for David and he goes to Saul with an ass laden with bread, a bottle of wine and a kid(young goat). Saul loved David(was pleased greatly with his abilities and behavior) and made him his armor bearer. Afterward, when the evil spirit came by, David played his harp and drove it away.
God put David in a key position(armor bearer to Saul). He performs well and is exalted. He, was now one step away from taking the kingdom.
We see that good Christian music drives away evil spirits and refreshes a person(II Cor. 4:16, see comments there). Likewise, bad music invites evil spirits(rock, country, rap regardless whether they call it Christian or secular). Bad music destroys a new testament church. It hinders spirituality and the power of God. Bad music stirs the flesh to sin(Sadducee and Pharisee-ism, worldliness and ungodliness).
I Samuel 17:1-7 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
:2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
: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.
One day the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle at Shochoh(in the tribe of Judah) and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim(16 miles west of Bethlehem). Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah(3 miles west of Ephesdammim) and set the battle in array against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.
Out of the Philistines camp came their champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span(9 ft. & 9 in. tall). He had a helmet of bras and a brass coat of mail that weighed 15.713 lbs(5000 shekels). He had greaves(leg armor) of brass on his legs and a target of brass between his shoulders. His staff was life a weaver’s beam(make clothes) and his spear head weighed 18.86 lbs(600 shekels) of iron.
In Christianity, the world and Christian are to be separated. In the valley is where the battle of the flesh and spirit occur. If the spirit loses, the flesh gains ground and visa versa. Surrender is not an option Christian, because the flesh never stops fighting(Jam. 1:14-15, see comments there). Likewise, a peace agreement is not an option, because the spirit needs to keep getting closer to God(Rom. 12:1-2, see comments there). Hence, Christianity should be a constant spiritual battle. Now you see why the US has fallen apart(Ps. 9:17, 2016).
The world’s champion is no match for the Christian in his own power. However in the power of the Holy Ghost, he can overcome anything(Eph. 5:18, I Cor. 10:13, Jo. 16:33).
I Samuel 17:8-11 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.
The Philistine champion challenged Israel to send their champion to fight him. The nation of the loser will have to be servants to the winner. Goliath defied the armies of Israel to give him a man to fight. When Saul and all Israel heard the Philistine’s words, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Saul was supposedly the champion of Israel. Yet he cowered in fear because God wasn’t with him. He couldn’t win in the flesh and he knew it. When the Christian isn’t right with God, he is no match for the flesh, world and devils. Either the Christian will serve his flesh or spirit(Rom. 8:6, see comments there). This is why it pays to daily practice holiness(I Pet. 1:15-16, see comments there). You will do enough wrong trying to do right. Do right, find God’s will for your life and work out the details with fear and trembling(Phil. 2:12, see comments there). Hence when the day of testing and great battle arises, you will stand and fight victoriously.
I Samuel 17:12-22 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;
:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
:20 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.
:21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
Jesse had eight sons(evidently one adopted, go to and download the genealogy chart). David was the youngest son of Jesse(who went among men for an old man in the days of Saul, Ruth 4:18-22, see comments there). The three oldest sons of Jesse(Eliab the firstborn, 2nd - Abinadab, 3rd - Shammah) went to Saul for the battle. David was sent home from his harp playing during the battle against the Philistines.
For 40 days(time of testing), the Philistine drew near morning and evening and presented his challenge. Meanwhile back at home, David was sent by his father to take an ephah (55 liters or 1 bushel) of parched corn and ten loaves for his three brothers. Also, he took 10 cheeses to the captain of their 1000 and asked how the three brothers were doing. David arrives in the trench while the battle was going on. He ran into the army where the fighting was going on to greet his brothers.
David was faithful with his harp playing with Saul, his sheep keeping at home and a responsible and consistent servant to his father. Faithful, responsible and consistent Christians servants(I Cor. 6:19-20) are what God needs for his work(Matt. 28:18-20). Notice that David was bold and brave to not be afraid to go into the army during the battle.
I Samuel 17:23-27 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, 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?
:27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
While David was talking with his brothers, the Goliath the Philistine presented himself and challenged Israel again like the previous 40 days. When the men of Israel saw Goliath they were very afraid and ran from him. The men of Israel told David that the man who killed Goliath would be enriched by king Saul with great riches, give him his daughter in marriage and make his father's house free(of taxes) in Israel. David called the Philistine a reproach of Israel and uncircumcised because he defied the armies of the living God(army of Israel).
Spiritually, when the Christian is carnal and not holy, he will fear great challenges for God. In every Christian’s life we have worldly Goliath’s that oppose us. E.g. I had doubts about my Ph. D., career as a research scientist, how I was going to write a verse by verse commentary of the bible, how would I pastor a new testament church, etc.. I got victory over all of these because one day in the power of God, I faced my fears or Goliath’s. I got victory over all of them. The victories led to great financial and spiritual rewards in this life and the life to come.
Great rewards from God only come with great victories by faith for God.
In David’s case, only one person would be free of taxes for life and get to marry one of Saul’s daughters. The prize was for one fight only at one point in time. The challenge and the prize were great. Philistine was a killing machine that wasn’t going to be beat in the flesh. When we realize that obstacles in our Christian walk are reproaches to serving the Lord and they are usually led by lost or uncircumcised people, we can get the victory by faith(Heb. 11:6).
I Samuel 17:28-32 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.
:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
:30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
:31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard David speak to men in the army, he was upset. He accused him of being where he shouldn’t be, pride, naughtiness(up to bad behavior), irresponsible with the sheep and there to see the battle(amusement). However, David said that there is a cause or reason that he is there. Once again David asked what would be done to the man that killed the Goliath and he got the same response. When king Saul heard David’s words, he sent for him. David agreed to fight with the Philistine.
Rather than being the hero of the story, Eliab accused David of no good. When fighting God’s battles, the Christian should be on the front line dealing with the sin or those opposing the advancement of the gospel(Matt. 28:18-20). It is holiness to fight God’s battles in the power of God(I Pet. 1:22) and it is done in humility(Jam. 4:10, see comments there). David was not irresponsible, didn’t go to the battle to see a show and was bold and brave to tell the king he would fight Goliath. Real spiritual Christians are self-starters who don’t need someone to tell them what to do but go to the front lines and bring it, etc.. Notice that David asked the question twice about the reward to make sure he got it right before he went to fight Goliath.
I Samuel 17:33-37 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Saul told David that he couldn’t fight Goliath because he was a youth whereas Goliath was a man of war from his youth. David responded that one day while keeping his father’s sheep he slew a lion and a bear at the same time while they were trying to steal a sheep. David rescued the sheep out of one animal while killing it and killed the other after grabbing it by the beard.
The lion is the most powerful animal whereas bears are big and long(like Goliath was big and tall). To David, Goliath was like both a lion and bear in one. David had experience doing right and getting the victory. When Goliath came around, it was just another day in the office by faith in serving God for David.
Christian, when you get into the habit of serving God and getting the victory, the big jobs are normal and the real big jobs are not that big. God is bigger than any obstacle you will ever face and He has all the power(Matt. 28:18), whereas Satan and his army are on defense(Matt. 16:18).
These stories in the bible were written for our learning and encouragement to do great and
greater things for God(Rom. 15:4, see comments there). The bible is not a fairy tale but a live account of real saved people serving God in real situations.
David convinced Saul that he could beat the Philistine based on his past experience with the lion and the bear. Notice that God first built up David’s faith through service, then gave him the challenge of the lion and the bear when he was ready and now the Philistine. God never puts the Christian beyond what he can bare(I Cor. 10:13, see comments there).
I Samuel 17:38-44 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
:39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
: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.
Saul armed David with his armor that consisted of a helmet of brass, coat of mail and a sword. However, David had no experience with Saul’s armor and wouldn’t fight with it.
By the way, it should be Saul that fought Goliath in his own armor, but Saul didn’t have God’s blessing and was weaker than Goliath.
To defeat your enemies by faith, you have to use the weapons of faith(Eph. 6:10-18, see comments there). The world’s weapons won’t defeat the world’s enemies. God developed David with stones, a sling and a staff and not by armor of brass and a sword.
David took his staff, five smooth stones out of the brook, a sling and a shepherd’s bag against the Philistine. When Goliath saw David in battle, he looked at him with disdain(contempt, scorn) because he was just a youth or stripling(young man, evidently a teenager). Goliath called David staves(narrow pieces of wood, like a staff) that are being used against a dog to defeat it. Dogs run from big sticks, but Goliath didn’t and hence he cursed David by the gods of the Philistines(Mic. 4:5). Goliath promised to give David’s flesh to the fowls(birds) of the air and the beasts of the field.
The world doesn’t understand God(I Cor. 2:14, see comments there) and hence has no fear against the warrior of God. The ignorance and pride of the lost is what gets them slaughtered (Jam. 4:10, see comments there). Lost people(including religious people) serve false gods(Mark 7:6-9) and some even claim to serve Jesus, but are really serving the devils(I Cor. 10:19-20, see comments there). However, in the end the one who serves God by faith always wins.
I Samuel 17:45-47 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.
David told Goliath that he came at him with the weapons of the world(sword, spear, and shield), but he went after him in the name of the LORD of hosts and the God of the armies of Israel whom he defied. David proclaimed that he would kill the Philistine and then behead him with God's help. He would give the dead carcases of the army of the Philistines to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field. He would do this so that all the world would know that there is a God in Israel, God doesn't save by sword and spear and the battle is the LORD's.
Given all the victories that the nation of Israel got from Egypt, through the wilderness and in the land of Canaan up to this point, what David said about the battle is of the Lord in the Lord's power was was right on the money. This is what separates the victorious Christian from the rest. He fights God's battles, in God's power and with God's weapons(Eph. 6:10-18, see comments there). Notice that David answered Goliath's claims by saying he would not be the one killed and that all of the host of the Philistines will be eaten by the birds and the beasts of the field. This soon to be one way slaughter is a picture of God at the second coming wiping out the antichrist armies of the world(Rev. 19:11-21, see comments there). Here David is picture of Jesus and Goliath is a picture of the antichrist. Israel is a picture of God's army whereas the Philistines are a picture of the antichrist's army.
I Samuel 17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
:50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
:51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
When the Philistine arose to meet David, David quickly ran toward the Philistine. David had no fear of man because he feared God(I Jo. 4:18, see comments there). David slung a stone into the Philistine's forehead and killed him. Like Dagon falling face first before the ark of the Lord, Goliath fell down dead face first before David(I Sam. 5:1-4, see comments there). So David prevailed over Goliath because God prevailed over Dagon, the Philistine false god. David killed Goliath without a sword and afterward used Goliath's sword to cut off his own head. Goliath's sword which he trusted in is what killed him in the end. The sinner who trusts in his sin, will be killed by it in the end(Jam. 1:14-15, I Jo. 5:16, see comments there). Likewise, the spiritual Christian that trusts in his righteousness, will be delivered by it from death(Pr. 11:4). When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. When the world loses it power, people flee from it, etc..
I Samuel 17:52-58 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
:53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
:55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
:56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
:57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
:58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
After David's victory, the men of Israel and Judah arose, shouted and pursued the Philistines, until they came to the valley and to the gates of Ekron(major city of the Philistines). The wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim(17 miles west of Bethlehem), Gath (3 miles west of Shaaraim), and Ekron(5 miles north of Gath). When returning from the battle, the children of Israel spoiled the abandoned tents of the Philistines. Meanwhile, David took Goliath's head and brought it to Jerusalem and put his armor in his tent.
Everyone in Israel benefited from David's victory as well as participated in it. In Christianity it is the same way when one person has a great victory and opens the door for others(E.g. A church planting missionary, go to and download, Missions).
Saul or Abner didn't recognize David in battle, even though he played the harp before him to drive away the evil spirit. This implies that David was just another faceless and nameless servant of Saul. However with such a great victory, Saul now puts a face to David. Saul has Abner find out who David. When Abner brings David, he tells Saul that he David, the son of Saul's servant, Jesse the Bethlehemite.
Notice that David didn't seek any glory, but the captain of the army and the king went looking for him afterward. Christian, serve the Lord not to be seen of men(Matt. 6:1-6). I have seen church members avoid doing spiritual activities because they weren't getting any credit or points with the people in charge(pastor, elders, etc.). When you don't do things because they are right, but because you are trying to gain or get promoted by men, trouble is on the way(I Tim. 6:5, see comments there). The same problem occurs when people don't want to witness for Christ, do follow up visits, disciple converts, etc., because only God will see it and not the other church members. Just because the person you talk to may never attend your new testament church, doesn't mean you are off the hook in helping them spiritually(Don't be result oriented but spiritually oriented(Rom. 14:17). E.g. My internet ministry reached out to over 40 foreign countries plus the US. I have never met any of my foreign patrons and doubt I ever will meet any of them, but I know God sees and God rewards.
I Samuel 18:1-4 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
After Saul was done talking to David, Johnathon was knit with the soul of David and loved him as his own soul. It must be mentioned here, because of the sexual perverts in the US who try to use scripture to justify their perversions, that you can love someone or something without wanting to have sex with it. E.g. I love my brother and sister, but I never wanted to have sex with them. I loved my dog growing up, yet never wanted to have sex with it. I love pizza, barbecue, Coca-Cola, steak & cheese, etc.. Love is not lust(fornication, adultery, sodomy, beastiality). Love rejoices in the truth(I Cor. 13:6, see comments there), God is love(I Jo. 4:8) and He hates sexual perversion(Le. 20:10-21, Rom. 15:4, see comments there). That said, brothers and sisters in Christ are commanded to love one another(I Jo. 4:7, see comments there).
After David's victory over Goliath, Saul took him as a soldier and David never went home on a extended basis again. Also, Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. Johnathon gave David his robe and garments(outer covering clothes) down to his weapons and belt as a sign of the covenant. Note for the pervert, it never said Johnathon was naked in anyway. Remember that uncovering nakedness is a sin in the bible(Lev. 18:6, see comments there). Sadly to say in the US(fornication nation), marriage is dishonored(Heb. 13:4) and most people run around naked in the summer time.
I Samuel 18:5-9 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
: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.
David behaved himself wisely in everything he did. A serious man is taken seriously whereas a clown in not. Christian, it pays to be ultra conservative on the job and the ministry because of all the crazy hyper sensitive people out there. Most new testament church members are immature babies(I Pet. 2:2) and some have been babies for over twenty years(Heb. 5:13-14). Babies need to be handled delicately with a serious countenance all the time. Also, in the sue-happy and false accusation nation, the less the enemy can say bad about you the better(have a good testimony before God and man). Because of David's wise behavior, he was promoted over the men of war and was accepted in the sight of the people and all of Saul's servants.
One day when David was returned from battle and the slaughter of the Philistine people, the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy and with instruments of music. The women answered each other as they played that Saul had slain his thousands and David his ten thousands. Because David was ascribed ten times more kills than Saul, Saul was angry, displeased and jealous. Rather than rejoicing that someone in his army was better at defeating the enemy than himself(asset to the army), he took offense and thought David would take his kingdom. Christian, don't be jealous of others successes(spiritual family, job performance, financial gain, etc.), but be happy for them in the Lord. Christianity is not a corporation to where the higher you go the better you are than everyone else. It is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost(Rom. 14:17) and fulfilling God's commission(Matt. 28:18-20).
David never tried to take Saul's kingdom while Saul was alive, even though God had anointed David as king and rejected Saul. David waited for God to promote him. In the meantime he just was the best Christian soldier he could be for God, etc.. Christian, whatever you do for God, whether sweeping floors or doing research science, do the best job for God as possible. As a result, God will promote you when needed and make sure you get what you need in this life (Matt. 6:33).
I Samuel 18:10-16 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.
The next day, the evil spirit from God returned and came upon Saul to where he prophesied in the middle of the house. Notice that evil spirits can prophesy, like the false prophets claim to be prophesying in your average false Charismatic, Assembly of God, Apostolic and Pentecostal churches in the US to name a few, etc.. Like I have always said, never doubt the prophesy, just find out the source of it(Deut. 13:1-5, sometimes evil spirits give correct prophesies, see comments there).
While David was playing his harp as at other times, Saul took his javelin and through it at David to kill him. After it happened twice, David knew it wasn't a coincidence and feared to be in Saul's presence ever since. However, the Lord was with David. Saul removed David from playing before him and made him a captain over 1000 men. David wasn't shaken by his circumstances and kept behaving wisely. Because David wasn't shaken and behaved wisely with confidence, Saul was afraid of him. However, all the people of Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
When other carnal Christians or lost people of the world get jealous, they will try to give the Christian a hard time. However, the Christian needs to live holy and wisely(I Pet. 3:16-17, see comments there). Don't be shaken by your circumstances Christian, God will give you a way out every time(I Cor. 10:13). When you do right, in the end God will exalt you. E.g. After staying faithful to God with the ministry He gave me(since April 2001), I know have a regular television ministry and internet ministry that reaches over 40 countries plus the US(2016).
I Samuel 18:17-21 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
:18 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?
:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
:20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
:21 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.
Saul laid a trap for David, that he would die by the hands of the Philistines. He told David that he would give his elder daughter Merab to be his wife, if he would fight his battles for him. Remember that Saul already promised his daughter to be David's wife, because David killed Goliath. We see Saul doesn't keep his promises nor is accountable for his broken promises. By the way, a bad leader will demand unlimited authority, when the bible only gives him limited authority(download, Proper Authority, at ).
David didn't see himself worthy to be son in law to the king, even though he earned it(I Sam. 17:25). Merab was given to Adriel the Meholathite to wife instead of David. Later, David would get Merab back. However, Michal Saul's daughter loved David and when Saul found out he used her as a snare to kill David as well by the Philistines. It is said that king Saul would use his daughters for his own dirty work(murder David). Saul had definitely lost God's power and favor and was falling deeper into sin.
It is sad in the new testament church that parents would use their kids for their own personal devices. Remember that the church is not a family business nor a corporation, but a spiritual hospital and training ground for the Christians(Matt. 28:18-20).
I Samuel 18:22-25 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
:23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
:24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
:25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Saul even used his power to command his servants to talk(commune) with David secretly and tell him that the king delights in him(lie, he wanted to kill David) and all of Saul's servants love him (accept those lying on Saul's behalf). They encouraged David to be Saul's son in law. However, David was a poor man and lightly esteemed(regarded). David didn't have great riches and Saul wanted to kill him, although the people in general loved him.
The servants of Saul reported back to him all of David's words. Saul told his servants to tell David that he didn't want a dowry(property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage), but the foreskins of 100 Philistines. Since David had to kill the Philistines first to get their foreskins, Saul thought David would die for sure. Saul is trying to trick David into dangerous situations to get killed. A good leader would look out for his soldiers(like captain Jesus would looking out for those in His army(II Tim. 2:3-4)).
I Samuel 18:26-30 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
:27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
:28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
:29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
:30 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.
David was pleased to hear what Saul's servants told him. Since the days to go to war were not expired(evidently during the winter, everyone stayed home and basically indoors, etc.), David and his men arose and slew 200 Philistines and brought their foreskins to Saul. As a result, Michal became David's wife. Because Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, he became a greater enemy to him as time progressed and became increasingly became afraid of him. David gave king Saul double what he asked for.
For the Christian, when you have a bad or corrupt leader over you(like at school and/or work), you can be a testimony by doing your best before him(Rom. 12:18-21, see comments there). Try to live in peace with everyone, especially your enemies and God will reward you.
Evidently, the princes of the Philistines went forth in some kind of parade(event or reason not mentioned here). Whatever the princes did, David wasn't shaken and behaved himself better than all the servants of Saul to where he made a great name for himself in the process. Once again, when the Christian is behaving wisely and acting holy, he can stand out in certain circumstances from the rest of the world(E.g at work, school, the community, etc.).
I Samuel 19:1-6 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
:2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
:3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
:4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
:5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Saul spoke with Jonathan and to all his servants that they should kill David. Saul didn't give a reason but a command. However, Jonathan delighted much in David and warned him and told him to hide somewhere safely. He would talk to his father Saul and see why he wanted to kill David.
Johnathon spoke good to Saul about David in that he hadn't sinned against him and his works towards him were very good. He mentioned how he risked his life to kill Goliath. As a result he gave Israel a great victory and pointed out that Saul rejoiced as well. Johnathon pleaded with Saul not to sin against innocent blood(true) and kill David without a cause(true). Saul agreed and swore by the Lord he wouldn't be killed.
Saul is acting out of pride, arrogance and fear of losing the kingdom to David. Sadly to say, he had such a grip on power, only his son Johnathon could reason with him. Because David had a perfect testimony before Saul and all Israel, he was spared.
This is how the wicked world treats the Christians(and in general for that matter, those who disagree with them). They look for excuses to punish the Christian and ignore all the good works in the process. Notice this philosophy with the far left with illegal immigration(crime), abortion(murder) and sexual perversion(LGBT groups). It doesn't matter how many innocent people get their freedoms taken away, killed, robbed, raped, financial ripped off, etc., they will impose their will on people at all costs. The federal public school system(forced indoctrination, unsafe environments, forced taxation regardless of the results(taxation without representation) and certain labor unions(forced dues, mob tactics, against right to work policies, etc.).
I have seen and experienced the discrimination of Christianity everywhere(work, school, neighborhood, etc.). We have to be perfect in every way, but they can basically act any way they want to. Still, they are always right regardless of the facts and will alter facts and strong arm politicians and legislators to get their way. President Obama is the worst of this heap and couldn't care less about the freedoms protected under the 1st amendment. Nevertheless, the only thing they should find fault with us, is that we obey God's commandments over man's commandments(Acts 5:19, see comments there). Hence, God will take care of us.
I Samuel 19:7-10 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
:8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Afterward Johnathon told David the good news and brought him to Saul. David once again was in Saul's presence as in times past. There was war again with the Philistines and David went out and slew them with a great slaughter so that they fled from him. After the battle back in his house, the evil spirit from the LORD returned upon Saul while David was playing his harp. Saul tried to kill David with his javelin, but David slipped away and escaped that night.
Saul's change of heart towards David was only temporary. He made a vow to the Lord and didn't keep it(Eccl 5:4). The evil spirit was controlling Saul, because he refused to obey the Lord.
For the Christian, either the Spirit of God will control you(Eph. 5:18) or something else will. That something else will lead you into sin and if you are not careful, your eventual death(Jam. 1:14-15). When persecuted, you want God to control you because he will show you the way of escape when danger arrives(Pr. 11:4, I Cor. 10:13).
I Samuel 19:11-17 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
:13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
:14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
:15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
:16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
:17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, so he could be killed in the morning. However, Michal David's wife warned him that if he didn't save his wife this night, he would be killed in the morning. David agreed and was let down through a window and escaped(Josh. 2:15). Afterward, Michal took an image with a pillow of goats' hair for a body and put a blanket over it. When Saul sent messengers to take David, Michal lied and said he was sick in bed. Saul decided to take this opportunity to kill David in his bed. However, when Saul realized he was duped he asked Michal his daughter why she lied to him. Michal lied again and said that if she didn't let David go, he would have killed him.
Even Saul's family members are against him. Michal used lies and deception to save David and give him more time to escape. Saul was so low, that he would kill David while being sick in bed. However, God anointed David as king and planned to bring it to pass. God looked out for David during every dangerous time in his life(Pr. 11:4).
I Samuel 19:18-24 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
:19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
:21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
:22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
:24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
David fled and escaped to Samuel to Ramah(5 miles north of Jerusalem). He told Samuel all that Saul had done to him (wrongful acts). Afterward the both went and dwelt in Naioth(2 miles north & 1 mile west of Ramah). However, it was told Saul that David went to Naioth. When Saul sent messengers to take David, they came by a company of the prophets prophesying with Samuel standing as appointed over them. As a result, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul so they also prophesied. Saul sent a second and then a third group of messengers, but each time the Spirit of God came upon them that they prophesied and didn't apprehend David.
Finally, Saul went to Ramah and came to a great well that is in Sechu. There he asked for the exact location of Samuel and David and was told that they were at Naioth in Ramah. Saul went there and the Spirit of God was upon him also so that he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. When he saw Samuel, he stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner and lay down naked all that day and all that night. People thought that Saul was also among the prophets.
However, God used the prophesying to keep Saul and his men from killing David. In type, Samuel was the spiritual leader of Israel(priest) and David was the civil leader(future king), whereas Saul(lost person, antichrist) bowed before him in the power of the word of God(Phil. 2:10-11). Notice that Saul was naked before Samuel. Everything the Christian does is naked or made bare before God(Heb. 4:13). Nobody gets away with anything(II Cor. 5:10, Rev. 20:12-15).
Spiritually, Saul's sins(carnal Christian or lost person) and made manifest before Samuel (God) and his prophets(God's army of saved people who stand with Jesus against the lost in judgment, Rev. 20:12-15). God's will and his power will not yield to the powers of the world.
David(Christian) runs to God(Samuel) and the word of God(prophets) for protection from the world(Saul and his servants). Also, Saul is a picture of a Christian who rejects God's will for his life and goes back into the world. Although saved, God will oppose him in this life in judgment and his end will be destruction(I Cor. 5:5, see comments there).
I Samuel 20:1-8 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
:2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
:4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.
:5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
:6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
:7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
:8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
David fled from Naioth in Ramah to Jonathan and asked him what his iniquity was that Saul was trying to kill him. Johnathon promises to find out what the problem was and make sure David doesn't die. David claimed that the information of Saul trying to kill him was withheld because he had found grace in Johnathon's eyes.
Because of the situation, David asked Jonathan to tell Saul that during the feast of the new moon he would be missing, because he would go to Bethlehem his city for a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. If Saul answered Johnathon in peace, then everything was okay. Otherwise, evil was determined against him. David would hide in the field for three days until Johnathon returned with the news. David told Johnathon that he could kill him himself if David was guilty of iniquity.
The chess board of God is set up. The evil spirit is on Saul and not the Holy Spirit. Johnathon and David have a covenant with the Lord. David is running for his life. The Devil and his minions are trying to destroy the Christian(Jo. 10:10), but the Christian has a covenant with God(new testament covenant). If the Christian obeys God, he is under the protection(Heb. 1:14) and God will show him the way out(I Cor. 10:13). God uses persecutions(I Pet. 4:12-19) to develop the Christian, help the Christian earn rewards and fulfill God's will on earth.
I Samuel 20:9-17 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
:10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
:11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
:12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
:13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
:14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
:15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
:16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
:17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Jonathan promises to tell David by the third day of the feast of the new moon of any danger. If so, he would send David away in peace. Johnathon asks in exchange that David would show him and his household the kindness of the Lord. He knows that David will be king and afterward will cut off every enemy he has off the face of the earth. Afterward, they swore to this covenant of kindness.
David is a spiritual picture of Jesus. He will take over the kingdom of Israel and subdue the earth before him(bring peace to Israel, Isa. 2:2, see comments there). Johnathon represents the Christians who get saved and king Saul represents the antichrist who temporarily reigns over Israel. Saul, like the Devil, is trying to destroy God's seed and anointed(Gen. 3:15, see comments there). God has a covenant(new testament church covenant) of kindness with the Christian.
I Samuel 20:18-29 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
:19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
:20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
:21 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.
:22 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.
:23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
:24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
:25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
:26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
:27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
:28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
:29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.
For three days, David will be hiding by the stone named Ezel. Meanwhile Jonathan will find out what Saul is up to. When Johnathon gets word, he will return to the same spot where he was talking to David. He will shoot three arrows on the side thereof as though he shot at a mark. He will send a lad to gather his arrows. If the arrows are all gathered in one spot, then there is peace for David. If Johnathon tells the lad that the arrows are beyond him(can't gather them) then David is in danger and should escape. If David is in danger, then the covenant between them is in effect.
When the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat and noticed that David's place was empty. Saul thought David was unclean(according to Levitical law the unclean are quarantined until the even or end of the day) so he didn't say anything. When David's seat was empty the next day, Saul realized that it was something else and asked Johnathon for an explanation. Jonathan answered Saul that David asked him leave of him to go to Bethlehem for a yearly family sacrifice. Johnathon used the excuse that David's brother commanded him to be there.
Johnathon puts his plan in effect to test Saul. For the Christian, he is not to rush to judgment, but investigate a situation. The goal is to make peace(Rom. 12:18, see comments there).
I Samuel 20:30-34 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
:31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
:32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
:33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
:34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
When Saul heard the news of David, he called his son a son of the perverse rebellious woman(great insult). He accused him of choosing David to his own confusion and confusion of his mother's nakedness. He then told Johnathon to bring David to him so that he would die. When Johnathon asked for a reason, Saul cast javelin at him to smite him. Jonathan knew that it was determined for his father to slay David and hence he arose from the table in fierce anger and out of grief at no meat the second day of the month.
Saul openly shamed his son and wife over David. Furthermore, he almost killed Johnathon. Saul at this point has totally lost his morals and will stop at nothing to kill David and stay in power. Saul has hardened his heart against God and is heading for complete destruction.
I Samuel 20:35-42 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
:36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
:37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
:38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
:39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
:40 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
:41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
:42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
As agreed, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David and a little lad with him. He shot an arrow beyond him and told the lad that the arrow was beyond him(not worth recovering). Johnathon told the lad to gather the arrows and carry them to the city. Meanwhile, Jonathan spoke to David and wept, with David exceeding in weeping. Johnathon sent David off in peace according to the covenant of peace they swore between their seeds(future offspring). God delivers David yet again from death(Pr. 16:8).
I Samuel 21:1-6 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?
:2 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.
:3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
:4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
:6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
David escaped to Nob(2 miles northeast of Jerusalem) to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, because he was alone. David lied and said that the king had commanded him a secret business. Also, he appointed his servants to such and such a place. It was true that his business was secret and he was going to meet his servants at an undisclosed place, but king Saul knew nothing of the matter.
David asked for the food of the tabernacle(hallowed bread left over from the previous day).
Each day fresh bread was put on the table of showbread in the sanctuary in the tabernacle(go to and download, The Tabernacle, Part I & II). David tells the priest what he wants to hear to get what he needs while escaping Saul.
Remember that in some places of the bible, it is an accurate historical account of events that took place. This is why it records the lies and deceptions of men in history. It is not that the bible contradicts it itself or has errors in it, but that it 100% accurately describes man in his current state and situation. This is why people who hate God, hate the bible. It tells the truth about their behavior and nature(Rom. 3:4, see comments there).
I Samuel 21:7-9 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
:8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
:9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
:10 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went 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.
:14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
:15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
Doeg the Edomite, was the chief of the herd men that belonged to Saul. He heard the conversation between David and Ahimelech. David asked Ahimelech for a sword and got the one from Goliath the Philistine.
David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath(21 miles west of Bethlehem). Achish recognized David as the one that the women sang in their dances of Saul killing his 1000’s and David his 10,000’s. When David heard this he played the mad man before Achish(scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down upon his beard).
Achish complained about David’s condition and afterward David left.
The chess board of God is set up for Doeg to tell on David, which gets the priests of the Lord killed except for Ahimelech. Also, David is on the run from king Saul.
For the Christian, we see that God always provides a way out(I Cor. 10:13). When you do right, you have a testimony that goes beyond what you thought. David had a testimony in the land of the Philistines. Christians have a testimony of the world. They may not tell you, but they usually know who you are if you are bold in your preaching. E.g. Having a local television ministry keeps my testimony visible amongst the 500,000 plus in my vicinity. I have had complete strangers tell me stuff about me and my ministry like I knew them for years, etc..
Hence, Christian it pays to have a good testimony and ministry for the Lord(Matt. 28:18-20).
David realized that hiding with the Philistines wasn’t an option. For the Christian, hiding from your enemies and problems in the world is not an option either(Jo. 2:15-17).
I Samuel 22:1-4 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.
David departed from Gath and escaped to the cave Adullam(3 miles south and 12 miles west of Bethlehem). When it was known where David went, his brethren and all his father's house came to him. Also, everyone that was in distress, debt and discontent gathered themselves to him. Afterward, David became their captain, which was over 400 men. We see the beginning of David’s rise to power with people siding with him. Notice that he learns affliction first, so when he rises to power he will know what to do in fairness and equity, etc..
Spiritually, Jesus is the captain of our salvation(Heb. 2:10). He helps the Christian, who is in distress(needs spiritual help), debt(financial help) and discontent(fed up with the ways of the world and wants to be holy, I Pet. 1:15-16). In terms of salvation, Jesus paid the sin debt(Jo. 1:29).
From Adullam David went to Mizpeh(13 miles east of the Jordan river & 3 miles south of the Jabbok river) of Moab(east of Gad). There David asked to let his family stay with them until he knew what God wanted him to do while he was holed up from king Saul.
David looked out for the safety of his family. He waited on God(Is. 40:31, see comments there) to find His will for his life before acting in haste.
I Samuel 22:5-8 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?
The prophet Gad told David to go into the land of Judah. As a result, he went to the forest of Hareth. Because David waited on the Lord, the Lord sent him the prophet Gad to tell him what to do next(Rom. 8:14, see comments there).
When Saul knew that David was discovered, he had a meeting with his men and servants under a tree in Ramah. Saul accused his men and servants of conspiring against him on the assumption that David promised every one of them fields and vineyards and to make them all captains of thousands and hundreds. He accused them of not revealing the league between David and Johnathon to him, being sorry for his situation and showing that David had been stirred up to kill him.
Saul is having a pity party for himself in hopes to extract information. He is using his position to give his men and servants power and possessions in exchange for loyalty. This is the kind of corruption you find in governments of the world today. It is not about upholding the truth to insure the liberty and justice for all, but to manipulate the law and the tax revenue to consolidate their power and impose their will on the people, etc..
By the way, David wasn’t lying in wait to kill Saul, so Saul was lying about his opposition to get favor from the people (sounds like a left wing progressive US Democrat, etc.). The servants of Saul, apart from Doeg, were kept in the dark of what David and Johnathon had done(Saul’s false accusation).
I Samuel 22:9-17 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.
:11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
:12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
:13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
:15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
:16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
:17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, told Saul that he saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech. Ahimelech enquired of the Lord for him, gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine. Hence the king sent to Ahimelech the high priest, all his father's house and the priests that were in Nob. When they met Saul, they were accused of
conspiracy along with David against Saul.
However, Ahimelech answered the king that David had a testimony of being very faithful among all his servants, was the king's son in law, goes at your bidding, and is honorable in his house. Ahimelech thought he was doing right and didn’t know he was being deceived. However, Saul wasn’t interested in the truth but taking out anyone that helped David regardless of the reason. Saul had turned into a ruthless leader to where even the priests of the Lord Levitical priesthood) were disrespected and murdered in his presence. The servants of Saul were afraid to cross the line of tabernacle(spiritual government) and civil government, seeing they lacked the authority(go to and download, Proper Authority).
This sounds like the Obama Administration vs. religious freedoms under the 1st Amendment, given to all Americans since 1776-240 years). At this time, the nation of Israel was under the Levitical priesthood of the book of Moses for 395 years plus however long Saul has reigned up to this point). This is why God ordained civil government separate from spiritual government(tabernacle, temple, new testament church). This way if one goes corrupt, the corruption is contained. When the government runs the church, the country is in trouble. Likewise, the church doesn’t run the government(church of England, 1776, Rom. 13:4, see comments there). This is what is meant by separation of church and state. Not separation of holiness, law and order and spiritual freedom from the government(left with liars, thieves, criminals, perverts-progressive far left wing Democrats).
I Samuel 22:18-23 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
:19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
:20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
:21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
:22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
:23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
However, Doeg was an Edomite and had no regard for the spiritual laws of Israel. Notice that a corrupt government doesn’t care who gets power just as long as they are loyal to the leader or leaders. Doeg killed 85 priests of the Lord. The linen ephod was the overcoat that the priests wore in service in the tabernacle, etc.. In the process, Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, the priest escaped and fled after David. Abiathar told David what king Saul had done and gave Abiathar sanctuary. He took the blame for the death of the priests, because he knew Doeg would tell Saul about his conversation with Ahimelech. Evidently, he didn’t think Saul would falsely accuse and murder everyone in the process.
Saul is totally corrupt and David know has a priest of the Lord with 400 men. God is taking care of David and building him up slowly until he gets anointed king. For the Christian, he develops him spiritually with the word of God(Is. 28:10-11, see comments there) accompanied with trials and tribulations(I Pet. 4:12-19, Eph. 6:10-18) until he is ready for the task of God’s will for his life. With David it was king of Israel. With me it was a television and internet ministry and a job as a Research Scientist.
I Samuel 23:1-5 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
:2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
:3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
:4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
:5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
The Philistines fought against Keilah(6 miles south & 11 miles west of Bethlehem) and they robbed the threshing floors(where the crops are process, e.g. separate the chaff from the wheat). David asked the Lord if he should kill the Philistines at Keilah and the Lord approved. Because the people with David were afraid as a result of hiding out from Saul in Judah, let alone fighting the armies of the Philistines, he asked the Lord again. The Lord reassured David that he would be safe and victorious. As a result, David smote the Philistines with a great slaughter, took their cattle and saved the city of Keilah.
David gets his first test while as a fugitive from Saul. He wants to fight the Philistines, but has to worry about Saul’s army as well. However, God is totally capable in fighting the two front war for David.
In the ministry, I have had to fight the local new testament church and the world at the same time. The church is carnal and doesn’t want to act holy and the world doesn’t want to repent to get saved. When you reach the world with salvation, then the church doesn’t want to do the follow up because they don’t want ‘those kind’ of people in their church. Hence, those in authority justify their positions in hypocrisy, meanwhile the world is setting the local authorities on you to shut you down, etc.. This is real world Christianity as an evangelist in America. However, in the power of God, you can fight the two front war for God in victory.
I Samuel 23:6-13 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
:7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
:8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
:10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
:11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
:12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
:13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
When Abiathar fled, he met David in Keilah. This would imply that chapters 22 & 23 are happening simultaneously. Abiathar had an ephod(Ex. 39:18, see comments there) in his hand. When Saul heard that David was in Keilah, he called the army down to besiege David and his men. David asked the Lord what he should do. The LORD told him that he would come to Keilah and the men would deliver him up to Saul. Hence David and his 600 men left Keilah, before Saul arrived.
We see David trusting God, asking for counsel and doing His will. We see Saul killing the priests of the Lord and forsaking God’s word and will for His life. Over time, Saul will fall deeper into sin until it kills him(Jam. 1:14-15) whereas David will ascend to be one of the greatest and most powerful kings of Israel. Sadly to say that Saul didn’t care about Keilah being robbed by the Philistines nor that David did the kings responsibility by rescuing them from the Philistines. All he cared about was his position and power in Israel and that David was a threat to it.
I Samuel 23:14-18 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
:15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
:16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
:17 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.
:18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
David abode in the wilderness in strong holds and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph(9 miles south & 7 miles east of Keilah). Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. While in pursuit, Johnathon came to David in the wood and strengthened David’s hand in God. David and Johnathon make another covenant(agreement) before the Lord in the wood. He promised him that Saul wouldn’t find him and that he would be king over Israel.
Saul knew that David would be king and God told him he would be replaced. Yet, he resists the will of God in the flesh anyway(Rom. 8:6). Hence, just because you know the truth of God and have proof continually, doesn’t mean that you will automatically repent, get saved and serve the Lord. Repentance and faith is a heart problem, not necessarily a fact and proof problem.
The story line here is pretty straight forward and not hard to understand. Hence no further or in depth comments are being given. Saul tried to kill David every day, but God delivered him every day(Prov. 11:4).
I Samuel 23:19-23 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
:20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
:21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
:22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
:23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
The Ziphites came to Saul in Gibeah and revealed that David was hiding with them in the south of Jeshimon(city on the west coast of the Dead Sea). The Ziphites agreed to help Saul capture David. The Ziphites were pretending to be David’s friend so they could trap him for Saul. Saul was pleased and asked for an exact location. Saul accused David of what he was guilty of, acting subtle while lying about and trying to kill David. Saul planned to search him out through all the people and land of Judah.
In the ministry, there are those who pretend to be your friend to turn you in and/or bring you down later. I have seen a few turncoats in the new testament churches as well. They only care about favor and benefits and not what is right for God. However, God can fight that war front simultaneously as well. The Christian is not to give in or compromise to corruption in the world or churches, but to stay the course for God(I Cor. 10:13, II Tim. 2:3).
Saul was committed to destroying David. There are those in the world who are committed to destroying Christianity(Obama Administration, 2009-2017), while claiming to be a Christian.
Don’t fear them regardless of their power and influence, but fear God(Lu. 12:4-5). Sadly to say in the world of our day and age, you will always be outnumbered. However, in heaven, they will always be outnumbered(Heb. 1:14).
I Samuel 23:24-29 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
:25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
:26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
:27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
:29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
The Ziphites went to Ziph before Saul, whereas David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon. While Saul was in pursuit on one side of the mountain with David on the other, a messenger came to Saul that said the Philistines have invaded the land. Saul pursued the Philistines while David went to the strong holds at Engedi(all places were in the vicinity of Jeshimon, for more maps of the Old & New Testament geography with cities).
God used Saul’s enemies to protect David. Saul now is fighting a two front war(the Philistines and David and his men). Sin can wear you down and attack you from multiple fronts until it destroys you(Jo. 10:10). Had Saul been right with God, he wouldn’t be fighting David and David would be helping him fight the Philistines. The lesson here is that you live godly so all your energies can be used for God in fighting the wars of God(Matt. 28:18-20).
E.g. Use your money wisely Christian, so that when needs arise unexpectedly, you have a reserve to take care of it. If you spend your money foolishly on carnal things, then when the important spiritual things come along, you are broke(also loose a spiritual blessing, not to mention the financial blessing, Mal 3:10-12, see comments there).
I Samuel 24:1-7 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
:3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
:4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
:7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
After the battle with the Philistines, Saul took 3000 men and went after David when he heard that they were in the wilderness of Engedi. Saul went to find shelter in a cave where David was hiding. David had a chance to kill Saul but wouldn’t. He knew he didn’t have the authority to kill the Lord’s anointed. That was God’s job. In the bible, only certain people under certain conditions have authority to execute(book of Moses, Ex. 20:13, see comments there). Although David’s men tried to encourage and justify him to kill Saul, David wouldn’t do it. He trusted in God’s proper authority(go to and download, Proper Authority).
David, decided to cut off part of the overcoat(skirt) on Saul privately. However, he was convicted of his sin afterward by God. Hence, David wouldn’t allow his men to kill Saul, because he was the Lord’s anointed(Rom. 13:1-4, see comments there).
For the Christian, it is easy to bend the rules of God when convenient and profitable. However, regardless of the circumstance, the Christian must always do right or at least try to.
God never blesses sin in the short or long run(Gal. 6:7-8).
I Samuel 24:8-15 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
:9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.
:11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
After David left the cave he called out to Saul. When Saul heard him, David bowed himself before the king of Israel. He pleaded his case that he meant him no harm and showed proof of it by telling him he cut off his skirt. However, he would not kill the king even though his men encouraged him to do so. David proclaimed his innocence before all and asked for the Lord to judge between David and Saul.
David quoted a proverb from of old that wickedness proceeds from wicked people. David claimed he was righteous and would not hurt Saul in any way. David said he was nothing before Saul. He likened himself to a dead dog or a flea. He claimed he wasn’t a threat to king Saul’s kingdom nor was planning to do anything against Saul. With all hearing, there would be no doubt of David’s innocence before Israel and the falsehood of the accusations of wrongdoing against him. David was trusting in the Lord to keep him safe from Saul.
In a way, David was doing the right thing through the right channels(like a court of law) to prove and defend his innocence. Christians don’t try to subvert laws to exalt, prove, and/or defend themselves. The Lord and His word(Ps. 138:2) is all that he needs. When the world cheats in the area of law(like the Obama Administration), the American Christian needs to appeal to a higher authority(the word of God & God, Ps. 138:2). God can and will deliver(Heb. 1:14).
I Samuel 24:16-22 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
:17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
:18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
:19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
:20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
:21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
:22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
When Saul heard David’s words, he lifted up his voice and wept. He proclaimed in front of all that David was more righteous then himself, thus proving David’s innocence on all accounts. David rewarded his enemies with good and not evil(Rom. 12:18-21, see comments there).
Saul concluded that David would be king and the kingdom would be established in his hand. Hence, he made a covenant with him that David wouldn’t kill off his seed after he was dead. Afterward, David went back into hiding.
David showed Saul mercy for himself and his seed after him. However, he still didn’t trust Saul completely and wisely stayed in hiding in a safe place from Saul. This is what separates the Christian from the other religions. The Christian prays and helps his enemies in hopes to win them over to Christ(II Tim. 2:25-26). The Muslim extremist tries to kill his enemies, etc..
I Samuel 25:1-9 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
:2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
:3 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.
:4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
:5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
:6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
:7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
:8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
:9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
Samuel, the last judge of Israel died. Meanwhile, David went down to the wilderness of Paran(40 miles south of Kadesh Barnea). There in Maon(13 miles west & 3 miles south of Engedi or Jeshimon) was a man named Nabal who had great possessions and a beautiful wife named Abigail. David and his men helped his shepherds by giving them protection and hence guaranteeing a good livestock and wool, etc.. David was in need of victuals so he decided to send ten men to ask Nabal for help. However, Nabal was churlish(rude and vulgar) and evil in his doings.
The men went to Carmel(1 mile north of Maon) to Nabal and greeted him in peace. They reminded him that they protected his shepherds and sheep from harm. They came during a day of prosperity of Nabal to ask for whatever extra he has to spare to help them in their time of need.
I Samuel 25:10-19 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
:11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
:12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
: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.
Nabal answered David's servants roughly and sent them away empty handed. When David heard what Nabal said he had 400 of his men suit up to attack Nabal and his compound.
However, the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, that Nabal railed on David’s when who greeted Nabal in peace. The young men testified of how good David and his men were to them so there was no harm to the shepherds or the flock. They feared that evil was determined against their master and all his household(including themselves). They called their master a son of Belial(lost person) that a man can’t speak to him.
As a result, Abigail made haste to bring victuals to David : 200 loaves, two bottles of wine, 5 sheep ready dressed, 5 measures(bushels) of parched corn, 100 clusters of raisins and 200 cakes of figs. She had the victuals delivered to David without the knowledge of her husband Nabal.
Spiritually, David represents Jesus, Abigail represents the lost Gentiles who get saved(Eph. 5:23, 25), the ten servants are the Christians(Matt. 28:18-20) and Nabal represents the unrepentant lost and his possessions the things of the world that oppose God and his word. The shepherds of Nabal were saved people who were blessed by God and his protection. Christians testify of the truth that leads to people getting saved and disasters averted(Jo. 10:10). Abigail gets saved and brings her offerings to God. Nabal dies later(pictures someone that died and goes to hell, lost son of Belial).
I Samuel 25:20-31 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
:21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
:22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
:24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
:25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
:26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
:27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
:28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
:29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
:30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
:31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
Abigail meets David and his men. Previously, David told his men that he helped Nabal in vain and was returned(requited) evil for good. Hence, he was going to kill everyone in Nabal’s compound including Nabal. In haste, Abigail bows before David and asked to take the iniquity of Nabal on herself. Abigail called her husband a son of Belial and full of folly(lack of good sense). However, Abigail didn’t see the men that David sent.
Abigail came to keep David from shedding blood and avenging himself(Rom. 12:19, see comments there). She proclaimed Nabal to be like David’s enemies and the Lord taking care of David’s enemies. Afterward, Abigail presented her gift as a blessing to David and his men. Furthermore, she asked for forgiveness of the iniquity of her household. She pointed out that David fights the battles of the Lord and not his own battles by himself. She said that God would give him a sure(prosperous and stable) house. Finally, she pointed out that when David became king, the incident with Nabal won’t come back to haunt him or cause him grief, because he killed innocent blood in anger(Eph. 4:26, see comments there). She asked to be remembered when David is exalted by God.
Abigail is a picture of the Christian that intercedes for others on their behalf. Every new testament church needs a current prayer list and at least one prayer warrior praying for everyone daily(go to and download, How to Get your Prayers Answered, Part I & II). For the Christian, he is not to avenge himself like the world acts, but to give his burdens to the Lord and let Him avenge him(Rom. 12:19). The Christian is to act wisely, kindly, sternly and boldly for God. He is not to be a walking mat(Eph. 6:10), but not the one who fights back in his own power(Eph. 6:11-18, see comments there).
I Samuel 25:32-39 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
:33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
:34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
:35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
:38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
David blessed Abigail for meeting him, advising him and keeping himself from avenging himself instead of the Lord(Rom. 12:19). David accepted Abigail and her gift. When Abigail returned home, Nabal held a feast for himself like a king and got very drunken (Eph. 5:18). In the morning when the wine(alcohol, Pro. 23:29-33) left Nabal, Abigail told him what she did for David. Afterward, Nabal’s heart died within him, he became as a stone(comatose) and he died ten days later. When David got the news of Nabal’s death he blessed the Lord for pleading his cause against Nabal and keeping him from evil(Matt. 6:13).
For the Christian we see that David and Abigail trusted in what was right in the Lord and they survived and prospered. Nabal trusted in the world and its riches and died before his time(Lu. 12:19-21).
I Samuel 25:40-44 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
:42 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
:43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
After the death of Nabal, David sent to take Abigail to be his wife. Abigail accepted immediately and arose to go to David. She bowed before David and offered to wash the feet of his servants. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel to be his wife. Michal, his other wife, was given to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim(3 miles north & 1 mile east of Jerusalem).
We see the desire of many wives to be David’s downfall(sin of Beersheba later on). Under the book of Moses(Deut. 17:15-17, see comments there), a king of Israel was not to multiply wives to himself. Although David was a great king, he wasn’t perfect. The Devil attacks Christians where they are weak to take them down(I Pet. 5:8, see comments there).
I Samuel 26:1-12 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
:2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
:3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
:5 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.
:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
: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.
:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah and revealed that David was hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon. David was prudent not to trust the word of king Saul(I Sam. 24:22). Saul confessed his wrongdoing in front of all because he was sorry he got caught and to make himself look good(II Cor. 7:10). Apart from the grandstanding or worldly sorrow, he didn't repent. Time has passed and he is back to sinning abundantly and trying to kill David.
Transformation is when someone who is saved confesses and forsakes their sin(Prov. 28:13). Reformation is when you temporarily fix the flesh problem without fixing the source of the spiritual problem(Lu. 11:26).
Saul went down with 3000 chosen men to pursue David in the wilderness of Ziph. David abode in the wilderness and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. He verified what Saul did by sending out spies. He found out where Saul was staying or pitched his tent. Afterward, he arose at night and went down to the camp of Saul, with Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai the son of Zeruiah. God put a deep sleep on the camp of Saul, so David wouldn't be detected. Once again he didn't kill Saul, but this time he took Saul's spear by his bolster(a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support) and cruise of water as proof of his innocence.
I Samuel 26:13-19 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
:14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
: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?
:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
After David departed and stood on the top of a hill afar off, he cried out to Abner and accused him of not protecting the Lord's anointed. David told him he was worthy of death for not protecting the king and asked him where Saul's spear is and the cruse of water went. Afterward, Saul asked David if it was him and David complied. David asked why he was being pursued and what evil he had done. He agreed to give an offering if Saul was stirred up by the Lord to go after him. However, if the children of men had stirred Saul, David accused them of driving him out of his rightful inheritance in the land of Canaan.
Once again, the Lord takes care of David and gives him yet another avenue to prove his innocence. David asks openly what crime he has committed. If no crime has been committed then there are only two possibilities. The one could be solved with an offering because it was of the Lord whereas the other was the sin of men.
So regardless how you slice it, David is righteous before God and men. For the Christian when he does right, he will also be righteous before God and men. The only thing Christian they can fault you for is your belief and practice in God's word. This is where the far left wing liberal attacks in the US. He doesn't have truth, so he has to change it and blame Christians for promoting truth as being racists, bigots, hateful, not compassionate, not scientific, not practical, etc.). Many of the nations woes are a result of lack of discipline in child rearing, enforcing the civil laws, enabling criminal activities(illegal immigration, Black Lives(Lies) Matter group, abortion), taking away religious freedoms, not balancing the budget in favor of wasteful social programs and sexual sins(LGBT, pre-marital sex, adultery, Heb. 13:4) to name a few, etc..
I Samuel 26:20-25 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
: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.
:24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
:25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
David likened himself to a harmless flea and a partridge(a short-tailed game bird with mainly brown plumage, native to Eurasia) in the mountains. Saul agreed and once again confessed his sin for pursuing David and promising to do him no harm. David afterward returned his spear as a sign of good faith that he meant Saul no harm.
David declared to all that the LORD give to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness. He further proclaimed that he could have killed Saul but didn't because he was the LORD's anointed. He asked the Lord to protect him from harm like Saul was protected in the camp and to be delivered out of all tribulation. Saul blessed David and both went on there way.
Because of David's near perfect testimony and Saul's continual corruption, David shined brightly and was found innocent before all Israel. This is the example that the Christian must follow in the world(I Pet. 4:12-19) to win over the lost and change bad laws in the world. It won't be done by fighting the world with the things of the world, but the things of God(Eph. 6:10-18).
I Samuel 27:1-4 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
:2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
:4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
David knew that Saul didn't keep his promises and believed that Saul would try to kill him again in the future. Hence, he speedily escaped into the land of the Philistines with his 600 men and their households to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath(I Sam. 21:10-15). When Saul heard that David fled to Gath, he stopped chasing him.
Spiritually, David showed prudence in not trusting Saul. His wisdom saved the lives and loss of possession for 600 men and their families. A good leader makes good decisions that benefits everyone, not just himself regardless of the others.
I Samuel 27:5-12 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
:6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
:7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
:8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
:9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.
:10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
:11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
:12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
While in Gath, David asked to dwell in some town in the country. Hence David dwelt in Ziklag(30 miles east & 16 miles south of Bethlehem) for 1 year and four month. While in Ziklag, David used it as a base to carry out attacks against the enemies of the Lord. In this time he attacked and spoiled the Geshurites, Gezrites and Amalekites(going south towards Shur(southwest of Israel) and the land of Egypt. David killed every living person so that no one would escape to Achish and tell him what David was really doing. When Achish asked were David came from, he lied and told him that he was fighting against the south of Judah, Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites. Therefore, Achish thought David would be his servant for ever because he attacked, killed and spoiled his own people.
Spiritually, a Christian can serve God and prosper while in captivity and/or persecution from the world(Pr. 11:4). David used prudence with his attacks and keeping his business secret. Sometimes in the world it is better that others don't know your personal business. E.g. If I had 100 million dollars in cash in my home, I wouldn't broadcast it to everyone I knew and bumped into. I would be inviting trouble and it wouldn't be long before people would try to rob me, etc..
David didn't stir up trouble and kept a low profile while doing the Lord's work.
I Samuel 28:1-2 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
Later on, the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare to fight with Israel. Achish wanted David to go to battle to fight against Israel and be Achish's protector. David lied in agreement.
David was right with God and hence had God's favor and approval in battle. He was trying to trick Achish in letting him go with the Philistines to war and then turn on them to bring victory to Israel.
I Samuel 28:3-6 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
:6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Meanwhile in Israel after the death of Samuel, Saul put away those that had familiar spirits and wizards out of the land. In battle the Philistines came and pitched in Shunem(3 miles east & 2 miles south of Endor) whereas Saul gathered all Israel together and pitched in Gilboa(16 miles south & 10 miles east of the bottom of the Sea of Galilee). When Saul saw the host of the Philistines he was afraid and he greatly trembled. He inquired of the Lord for guidance, but the Lord would not answer him directly, by the prophets, by dreams, or by Urim(Ex. 28:29-30, see comments there).
Because of sin, God wouldn't answer the call of help from Saul(Is. 59:1-2, see comments there). Sinful thoughts(Ps. 66:18) as well as actions limit God's power in a Christian. The Christian needs to deal with his sins first before engaging in spiritual battle(Pr. 28:13).
In the bible mediums(command familiar spirits or unclean spirits) and wizards(male sorcerer or witch, Ex. 22:18) were condemned under the book of Moses and the bible. The point here is that a lost person needs to get saved(Eph. 1:13, they receive the Holy Spirit) and then let the Holy Spirit guide them into all truth(Jo. 16:13, see comments there). The Devil and his kingdom is out to cause harm and destruction to their followers(Jo. 10:10) and help the lost end up in hell.
I Samuel 28:7-10 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
:9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
:10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
Because Saul wasn't getting any help from God, he turned to the mediums for help. Saul only cared about his kingdom and hanging on to power at any cost. It didn't matter if he consulted the Devil and his kingdom of darkness, he turned on faithful and righteous soldiers like David, killing the priests of the Lord, offering sacrifices on his own accord, taking any valiant man he sees to help him in war, etc.. The summary of Saul's downfall is that he rejected the word of the Lord and wouldn't repent afterward. In the end, God abandoned him and turned him over to his sin(I Jo. 5:16, see comments there) for punishment.
Saul goes to a woman with a familiar spirit at Endor(5 miles south & 10 miles east of the bottom of the Sea of Galilee). He disguised himself and went with two men by night to have the woman divine for him. The woman was aware and afraid of the death penalty enforced by Saul for mediums. Saul swore that no harm would come to her. Sadly to say like an American politician(2015), the laws only seemed to apply to the people and not the leaders. Saul would execute medium and those that seek them for help, but when he did it, it was excused.
E.g. Obama claims that no one is above the law, while he doesn't enforce it(president's job regardless of his ideology) based on his liberal ideology. Also, Obama makes laws that are the job of the Congress and then tries to enforce them to the detriment of the country(2016). Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has broken multitudes of laws with regards to her emails, yet somehow still walks around free(May, 2016), etc.).
I Samuel 28:11-19 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.
The woman brings up the spirit of Samuel at the request of Saul. However, when the woman saw Samuel, she realized that she was tricked by Saul. However, the king reassured her that she would not be harmed. It appears that God allowed the spirit of Samuel to come out of the Abraham's bosom to talk to Saul(Lu. 16:23-31). The fact that the woman reacted negatively implied that she didn't expect to get the real Samuel, but an unclean spirit impersonation of him(how real mediums operate).
The woman saw gods ascending out of the earth, implying she saw more than one spirit. By the way, men are referred to gods(John 10:34, see comments there). The woman saw specifically and old man covered with a mantle. Saul perceived that it was Samuel he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed himself. Samuel was upset that his spirit was disquieted, implying he was at rest in Abraham's bosom. Saul complained that the Philistines made war against him and God departed from him. God wouldn't answer him any more by prophets nor dreams.
In desperation he called to Samuel from the dead for help. Samuel reminded Saul that God took the kingdom away from him(I Sam. 15:, see comments there) and gave it to David, because he wouldn't obey God exactly against the people of Amalek. Samuel correctly predicted that Saul and all Israel would fall at the hand of the Philistines the next day. Saul would be killed along with his sons and join Samuel in Abraham's bosom.
Saul turns to the devil for help and God opposed him. He gave him the real Samuel who told him everything he already knew. Saul rejected God and now His word is coming to pass. By Saul and his sons dying, there was no one to succeed in the throne, hence opening the door for David to reign. Because of Saul's sin, he lost a major battle against the Philistines, causing great loss of life and harm to Israel. However, in spite of his carnality, Saul was still saved(Acts 10:43, Jo. 10:28, Eph. 2:8-9, see comments there), hence when he died he went to Abraham's bosom like every other dead saved person in the Old Testament. Remember that the saved in the Old Testament couldn't go to heaven until Jesus, the great high priest of heaven(I Jo. 2:1), poured his sinless blood(Jo. 1:29) on the mercy seat of the temple in heaven(Heb. 8:5).
I Samuel 28:20-25 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.
:21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
:22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
:23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
:25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
After Saul heard what Samuel said, he fell flat along on the earth and was sore afraid. Also, he hadn't eaten any food all day and night. The woman requested that Saul eat some food given she risked her life for him. Saul refused, but the woman and Saul's servants compelled him until he did eat. Afterward, Saul and his men returned back to the army of Israel. Saul got the sentence of death and new it was over. In spite of that, he didn't surrender to the Philistines, retreat, nor repent of his sins(II Cor. 7:10, worldly sorrow). Saul was obstinate to the end.
Christian, when God shows you the truth in your life that is negative, the best thing you can do is agree with God, make your peace and submit to the punishment given to you. Resisting and/or denying only will make it worse for yourself and those that you love, etc..
I Samuel 29:1-5 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
:2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
:3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
:4 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?
:5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
This is happening before Saul went to the witch at Endor evidently(I Sam. 28:4). The Philistines here are gathered and evidently leaving the land of the Philistines from Aphek(23 miles west & 25 miles north of Jezreel) to go to Shunem. Meanwhile, the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel(13 miles west & 8 miles south of the bottom of the Sea of Galilee or around 3 ½ miles away from I Sam. 28:4).
While the armies of the Philistines passed on to battle, David and his men were in the rear with Achish(rereward). When the leaders(princes) of the Philistines, saw David with Achish, they questioned his presence. Achish defended David saying there was no fault in him(16 months while with Achish). However, the princes disagreed and rightly claimed in the battle that David and his men would turn on them. David was also known amongst the Philistines for his battle victories of killing his 10,000's versus Saul's 1000's.
Had David been allowed to fight, he could have delivered Saul yet again like he did with Goliath. However, Saul consulting a medium was his final doom. Had Saul just been humble and did what God said or gracefully stepped down when rejected by God for his sin, he would have survived and prospered in a lesser manner.
For the Christian, when God proclaims judgment on another brother, all you can do is just get out of the way, lest you participate in the judgment. E.g. A Christian is in a great financial straight because of mismanaging his finances. Don't be a surety for his debts, lest you find yourself in a similar straight(Pr. 6:1-3, 17:18). The best way people learn the truth sometimes is to get a scouring from God(Heb. 12:6).
I Samuel 29:6-11 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
:7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
:8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
:9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
:10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
:11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Although Achish could find no fault in David, he didn't find favor with the Lord's of the Philistines. Hence, David was sent away. David wanted to fight against the enemies of my lord the king(referring to Saul and not the lords of the Philistines). Hence in the morning of the battle, at the same time Saul returned from the witch of Endor, David returned home. The final chess piece of Saul's doom is set into motion while David is being put into position to assume the throne of Israel.
I Samuel 30:1-6 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
:2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
:4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
:6 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.
When David returned to Ziklag after traveling for three days, he found out that the Amalekites had invaded the south and Ziklag. They smote Ziklag, burned it with fire, had taken the women, sons and daughters captives and burned their city and homes down to the ground.
As a result, the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep. David was greatly distressed because the people thought he was responsible and talked about stoning him to death for his mistake. However, in spite of all the losses including David's two wives being taken captive he encouraged himself in the LORD.
David lost all his family, friends, home and possessions. He could have easily blamed God, but instead encouraged himself and trusted in the Lord. David knew that things happen for a reason(I Pet. 4:12-19).
For the Christian, he can encourage himself in the Lord by remembering that he is eternally saved(I Jo. 1:7), he doesn't have to worry(I Pet. 5:7) and he can forget his past(all forgiven).
Also, when he is weak God is strong((II Cor. 12:10), he doesn't have to worry about the present, future, or of the things of this world(Rom. 8:38-39) and that God is waiting for him in eternity(I Tim. 4:18).
I Samuel 30:7-13 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
:8 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.
:9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
:10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
:11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;
:12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.
:13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.
The first thing David does is consult with God. He got Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod so he could inquire of God about his situation. God told David to pursue the ones that attacked his home while he was away and that he would surely recover everything he lost.
Remember Christian that the Devil is here to destroy(Jo. 10:10), devour(I Pet. 5:8) and cause confusion(I Cor. 14:40). God doesn't promise us an easy ride, just meeting our needs(Matt. 6:33) and deliverance(Pr. 11:4). The real reward for serving God by faith comes later(II Cor. 5:10).
David and his men came to the brook Besor(15 miles west & 4 miles south of Beersheba). 400 men went with David whereas the other 200 because of fatigue stayed behind to watch their stuff. On there way to the Amalekite camp, they found an abandoned Egyptian man in the field, who was a slave to an Amalekite, had gotten sick and hadn't eaten in three full days. They gave him food until his spirit or strength returned to him.
David had compassion on a dying, starving and abandoned slave. Jesus has compassion on the lost, spiritually starving and abandoned soul enslaved by the world. Remember that Egypt is a picture of the world and the Amalekite slave master is a picture of the Devil. God has the solution(Jo. 1:29), the nourishment(Matt. 4:4) and the Spirit to strengthen(II Cor. 4:16).
Notice that in the world, people are enslaved for the world's use. When they lose their usefulness, the world abandons them. In the US, we see this in sports with athletes all the time. They are promised and given everything imaginable as long as they perform(make money for those propping them up). As soon as they under perform and/or get injured, they are dropped like a hot potato, etc.. The world only cares about what they can get and benefit, not about the individual they are using to get it. With the US government, we have politicians using the needs of the people(desires, lusts, grievances, needs, etc.) to consolidate their power and get rich. Sadly to say they could care less about the veterans, the school kids, the aborted babies, the elderly, the middle class, the poor, etc.. This is because the world has abandoned God, God's word and the fear of the Lord(I Jo. 2:15-17).
I Samuel 30:14-20 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
:15 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.
:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
:18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
:19 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.
:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
The freed Egyptian told David that the Amalekits invaded the south of the Cherethites, upon the coast which belonged to Judah and upon the south of Caleb. They burned Ziklag with fire.
David asked to be led to this company and the Egyptian agreed, provided David didn't turn him over to his previous slave master.
When David arrived where the Amalekites were, they were eating, drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines and Judah.
David attacked and killed them from the twilight(evening) to the evening of the next day. Only 400 Amalekites escaped on camels, whereas the rest were killed.
David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away along with his two wives. Like God promised, David recovered everything that was previously lost. David's spoil in the battle was the cattle not originally belonging to his men, but the cattle stolen from others by the Amalekites. David made sure that everyone got their possessions returned. Because David encouraged himself and trusted in the Lord, he got the victory for everyone.
David was a mature leader who lead when it wasn't popular. He made the hard decisions and took on the hard battles. He didn't bend to the will of the people, like Saul did(I Sam. 15:21), but to the will of the Lord.
I Samuel 30:21-25 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.
:22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.
:23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
:25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
When David returned to the 200 men left behind at the brook Besor he saluted or greeted them. However, the wicked men and men of Belial(lost) said that because these men stayed behind, they would not get any of the spoil apart from their wives and children. Afterward, they would have to leave David and the 400. However, David would have none of this. Because the Lord delivered them, he proclaimed that those who stay behind to watch the stuff get the same reward as those that go into battle. As a result from that day forward, David made that ruling a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
David was a fair and just ruler. He cared about everyone in every situation. He knew where the blessings came from and that some days some men would have strength and other days they wouldn't. He believed in unity and working together as a time and not exalting one over the other.
The new testament church is strongest when it is united and acting as a unit like a single man. A good leaders knows that talents are different and spread around(I Cor. 12:) as well as people being at different stages in their growth. A good leader will be able to get a hold of God when he needs to and make the right executive decisions that will benefit the whole congregation and not just one part of it or one part of it at the expense of another.
I Samuel 30:26-31 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;
:27 To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,
:28 And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,
:29 And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,
:30 And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,
:31 And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.
When David returned to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah his friends.
He proclaimed that it was a present for them from the spoil of their enemies of the LORD.
David also sent presents from the spoil of the Amalekites to those in Bethel(14 miles north of Jerusalem), south Ramoth(13 miles west & 8 miles south of the bottom of the Sea of Galilee), Jattir(9 miles north & 2 miles east of Hormah), Aroer(15 miles west of the Jordan river, 1 mile north of the Arnon river), Siphmoth(4 miles east of Jattir), Eshtemoa(2 miles north of Amin), Rachal(4 miles east & 2 miles north of Eshtemoa), the cities of the Jerahmeelites, the cities of the Kenites, Hormah(7 miles east of Beersheba), Chorashan, Athach, Hebron(11 miles north & 5 miles east of Jattir) and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt (place you go frequently).
David brings rewards to his friends and further cements his allies in Israel. He continually delivers them from their enemies and blesses them equally with the spoils of war. David's prudence laid the foundation of him being king of Israel.
I Samuel 31:1-6 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, 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.
As Samuel prophesied, the Philistines defeated Israel in battle, the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. The Philistines went all out against Saul and killed his three sons: Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua. Afterward, the battle went against Saul to where he was mortally wounded by the Philistine archers. Because Saul knew he was going to die he asked his armor bearer to kill him before the Philistines did and abuse him. Because the armor bearer refused to kill Saul, Saul killed himself and his armor bearer did likewise.
Because of sin, not only did Saul die, but his three sons died as well. Beware Christian, your sin not only affects you, but your families future as well. Had Saul obeyed God or stepped down in humility, David would have fought this battle. As a result, Israel would have won and Saul's three sons would be alive. Also, because of Saul's sin, the nation suffered an unnecessary defeat in battle. Many families in Israel that day lost their father because of Saul.
Bad leaders(like Obama and the US Congress, 2007-2016) make bad laws and decisions that affected the whole country immediately and for years to come(Ps. 9:17). Yet America as a whole just keeps getting worse and is more unrepentant than ever(2016).
I Samuel 31:7-13 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
:9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
: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.
Whem the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley as well as the other side of Jordan saw that the men of Israel fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled. Afterward, the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
Because of the defeat of Israel, the common people close to the battle field had to flee their homes and cities. The Philistines stole all their homes and possessions as a result.
The next day while stripping the slain of Israel for spoil, they found Saul and his three sons. They cut off Saul's head, stripped off his armor and sent the news throughout the land, published it in the house of their idols and among the people. Saul and his sons bodies were fastened to the wall of Bethshan() to be put on display. Also, Saul's armor was put on display in Ashtaroh.
When the Devil gets a victory over a famous Christian, he puts their failure on national display. This is why someone like Hillary Clinton can get away with mass incompetence(email scandal, Bengahi, etc.), yet a Christian leader can oppose homosexuality(Lev. 18:22, Rom. 1:27) and he is branded a bigot, racist and full of hate. By the way, homosexuality is a sinful choice not a genetic trait you are born with. A great or famous Christian leader falling into great sin(sex and/or money scandal) is something that lost people love to exploit and brag over. By the way, the fact that Christian's get caught acting like lost people doesn't discredit God and His word, it just reinforces it(Rom. 3:10-11, 6:23, see comments there). Also, notice that for religion and other false belief systems hate Christianity to the point they celebrate their failures, etc..
When the the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead() of what the Philistines did to Saul, the valiant men arose and went all night in recovering Saul and his sons bodies from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh and burnt them there. Afterward they buried their bones under a tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
Out of respect and decency the men of Jabesh risked their lives to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons and to give them a proper burial. Christians have respect for the fallen(Memorial Day, veterans killed in battle, the heroes of WWII, etc.) and decency for the proper burial of the dead. It is a shame in the US that our government cares more about illegal aliens than they do about veterans(health care, needs, honor, respect, making sure there oversea absentee votes gets counted before an election is decided, etc.).
The book of I Samuel ends with the complete defeat of Saul and the failure of the first king of Israel. It sets up the chess board of God for David to take over as king.
Salvation Message
Because of sin we got to see the judgment of God on mankind in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. However, there is another judgment of God. That is when a person dies without Christ and being forgiven of his sin and wakes up in hell. I don’t want that to happen to you. If you would like to be 100% sure you are going to heaven, please read carefully the salvation message below. All verses can be found in the King James Bible. There are two places where a person can go when they die, either heaven (Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.) or the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.).
Now nobody really wants to go to the lake of fire when they die. However, people go to the lake of fire because of sin (Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;). Now sin is when you break God’s law. Have you ever made a foolish thought?(Prov. 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.). Have you ever lied before? (Exod. 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.). Have you ever gotten punished as a kid for being bad (Exod. 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.). Plain and simply we all have sinned.
God will punish your sin. Do parents have a right to punish kids if they are bad? Sure they do. Well doesn’t God have a right to punish us? Yes he does, and that is why there is a hell and a lake of fire. We all deserve it, but God doesn’t want us to go there (Mark 9:43-44 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.).
We must be sorry that we have sinned against God and repent (II Cor. 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.). Repentance means to turn to God from our sins (we want to change, not just sorry we got caught). It is a change of heart toward God. Our desires toward God changes. Our ‘want to’ changes.
We must understand that Jesus was God in the flesh (I John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.). Jesus is God, he is man(the Son of God), and he is eternal life. Also we must believe that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day in an eternal resurrected body(I Cor. 15:2-3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures).
We must put our trust or faith in the blood of Jesus who is God to have all of our sins forgiven. That is the past, present, and future sins, from the time we are born to the time we die, once for all (I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.). Once we are forgiven we are born again into God’s family (Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,). Once you are in a family would that ever change? In the same way, once you are in God’s family it is forever and you get eternal life. Understand that though God wants you to be good, like doing good works, getting baptized, and going to church etc., being good can’t save you (Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;). Only the blood alone, once for all can save you.
If you would like to have all your sins forgiven, this is what you must do. Pray to God in your heart to be saved. You can use your own words or the sample prayer below. Now praying this prayer won’t forgive you unless you understand it and mean it in your heart. Otherwise God can’t forgive you.
THE SALVATION PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I deserve the lake of fire, but I want to change, please forgive me, for all of my sins, by your blood, once for all, so I can go to heaven. Amen.
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