Study Desk

The next day, Saul divided his army into three groups and attacked before daylight. They started killing Ammonites and kept it up until afternoon. A few Ammonites managed to escape, but they were scattered far from each other.

But your ancestors forgot the Lord , so he let them be defeated by the Philistines, the king of Moab, and Sisera, the commander of Hazor's army.

Again your ancestors cried out to the Lord for help. They said, "We have sinned! We stopped worshiping you, our Lord , and started worshiping Baal and Astarte. But now, if you rescue us from our enemies, we will worship you."

You asked for a king, and you chose one. Now he stands here where all of you can see him. But it was really the Lord who made him your king.

Samuel answered: Even though what you did was wrong, you don't need to be afraid. But you must always follow the Lord and worship him with all your heart.

But the Lord has chosen you to be his own people. He will always take care of you so that everyone will know how great he is.

But if you and your king do evil, the Lord will wipe you out.

Jonathan led an attack on the Philistine army camp at Geba. The Philistine camp was destroyed, but the other Philistines heard what had happened. Then Saul told his messengers, "Go to every village in the country. Give a signal with the trumpet, and when the people come together, tell them what has happened."

and they were starting to run off and leave him. Saul waited there seven days, just as Samuel had ordered him to do, but Samuel did not come.

But no, you disobeyed, and so the Lord won't choose anyone else from your family to be king. In fact, he has already chosen the one he wants to be the next leader of his people."

Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons talked as they went toward the Philistine camp. "It's just the two of us against all those godless men," Jonathan said. "But the Lord can help a few soldiers win a battle just as easily as he can help a whole army. Maybe the Lord will help us win this battle."

But we will go if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean the Lord is going to help us win."

The army and the people who lived nearby had gone into a forest, and they came to a place where honey was dripping on the ground. But no one ate any of it, because they were afraid of being put under the curse.

Jonathan said, "My father has caused you a lot of trouble. Look at me! I had only a little of this honey, but already I feel strong and alert.

"The army took them from the Amalekites," Saul explained. "They kept the best sheep and cattle, so they could sacrifice them to the Lord your God. But we destroyed everything else."

Samuel continued, "You may not think you're very important, but the Lord chose you to be king, and you are in charge of the tribes of Israel.

"But I did listen to the Lord !" Saul answered. "He sent me on a mission, and I went. I captured King Agag and destroyed his nation.

Saul said, "I did sin, but please honor me in front of the leaders of the army and the people of Israel. Come back with me, so I can worship the Lord your God."

But Samuel said, "Agag, you have snatched children from their mothers' arms and killed them. Now your mother will be without children." Then Samuel chopped Agag to pieces at the place of worship in Gilgal.

Samuel did what the Lord told him and went to Bethlehem. The town leaders went to meet him, but they were terribly afraid and asked, "Is this a friendly visit?"