Study Desk

But now your rule will not last. The Lord has found a man who is pleasing to him in every way. He has chosen him to rule over his people, because you have not obeyed the Lord."

So on the day of battle there was no sword or spear in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come, let us go over to the place where the Philistine soldiers are on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

But if they say, ‘Come up to us,' then we will go up. For the Lord has given them into our hands. This will be the special thing for us to see."

The people went among the trees and saw honey flowing, but no man tasted it. For the people were afraid of Saul's promise.

But Jonathan had not heard his father make the promise to the people. So he put the stick that was in his hand into the honeycomb. Then he put it to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.

So Saul asked God, "Should I go down to the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.

For as the Lord lives Who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will die for sure." But not one of all the people answered him.

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has saved all these people of Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground. For he has worked with God this day." So the people saved Jonathan and he did not die.

But Saul and the people did not kill Agag and the best of the sheep, the cattle, the fat animals ready to be killed, the lambs, and all that was good. They would not destroy them. But they destroyed everything that was hated and was of no worth.

But Samuel said, "Then why do I hear the sounds of sheep and cattle?"

Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people saved the best of the sheep and cattle to give to the Lord your God. But we have destroyed all the rest."

But the people took some of their things that were left. They took sheep and cattle and the best of the things to be destroyed, to give to the Lord your God at Gilgal."

But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you. For you have turned away from the Word of the Lord. And the Lord has turned away from you being king over Israel."

Saul said, "I have sinned. But I beg you, honor me now in front of the leaders of my people and in front of Israel. Return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God."

But Samuel said, "As your sword has killed the children of women, so will your mother have no children." And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. But Samuel was filled with sorrow because of Saul. And the Lord was sorry that He had made Saul king over Israel.

But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will kill me when he hears about it." The Lord said, "Take a young cow with you, and say, ‘I have come to give a gift to the Lord.'

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at the way he looks on the outside or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. For the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. A man looks at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen this one."