Study Desk

If he says, ‘Good!' your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, then you will know that he has decided to do what is bad.

So be kind to your servant. For you have brought me into an agreement of the Lord with you. But if I am guilty, kill me yourself. For why should you bring me to your father?"

But if my father wants to hurt you, may the Lord do the same to Jonathan and even more, if I do not let you know and send you away, so you may be safe. May the Lord be with you as He has been with my father.

But if I say to the boy, ‘See, the arrows are farther away,' then go, for the Lord has sent you away.

The king sat on his seat by the wall as he did other times. Jonathan sat on the other side from him, and Abner sat beside Saul. But David's place was empty.

But Saul did not say anything that day. For he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean. For sure he is not clean."

But David's place was empty the next day, the second day of the new moon. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the supper yesterday and today?"

But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father had decided to kill David.

When the boy was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground. He bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and cried together, but David more.

So the religious leader gave him holy bread. For there was no bread there but the bread before the Lord. It was taken from before the Lord, so hot bread could be put in its place.

But the king said, "You will die for sure, Ahimelech, you and all those of your father's family!"

The king said to the soldiers who stood around him, "Turn and put the religious leaders of the Lord to death. Because they are on David's side. They knew he was running away, and did not tell me." But the servants of the king were not willing to go against the religious leaders of the Lord.

But Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, got away and ran after David.

Stay with me. Do not be afraid. For he who wants to kill me wants to kill you. But you are safe with me."

But David's men said to him, "See, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?"

David stayed in the safe places in the desert. He stayed in the hill country in the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him every day, but God did not give David to him.

But a man came with news to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have come into the land by surprise to fight us."

See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord's chosen one.'

Now, my father, see the piece of your clothing in my hand. I cut off the piece of your clothing but did not kill you. So know and understand that I have no desire to do wrong to you. I have not sinned against you, yet you come wanting to kill me.

May the Lord judge between you and me. May He punish you for your action against me. But my hand will not be against you.