Study Desk

Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king."

So he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.

So Saul said, "Bring near to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering.

therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Yahweh.' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering."

So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his goad.

So it happened on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan.

So both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, "Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves."

So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will make you know something." And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me, for Yahweh has given them into the hands of Israel."

And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and the raiders trembled, and the earth quaked so that it became a great trembling.

So Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number now and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

And it happened that while Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

So Yahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.

Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day. And Saul had put the people under oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening and until I have avenged myself on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

So the people entered the forest, and behold, there was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the sworn oath.

So the people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and they took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

And Saul said, "Scatter yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against Yahweh by eating with the blood.'" So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtered it there.

Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good in your eyes." So the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here."

Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him and said, "I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I must die!"

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Yahweh sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; so now, obey the voice of the words of Yahweh.