1Samuel 15-17; Psalms 82

Saul Defeats the Amalekites

15One day Samuel said to Saul, "It was the LORD who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the LORD!H8050H559H7586H3068H7971H4886H4428H5971H3478H8085H6963H1697H3068

2This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.H559H3068H6635H6485H6002H6213H3478H7760H1870H5927H4714

3Now go and completely destroy

the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys."H3212H5221H6002H2763H2550H4191H376H802H5768H3243H7794H7716H1581H2543

4So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah.H7586H8085H5971H8085H6485H2923H3967H505H7273H6235H505H376H3063

5Then Saul and his army went to a town of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley.H7586H935H5892H6002H7378H693H5158

6Saul sent this warning to the Kenites: "Move away from where the Amalekites live, or you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites packed up and left.H7586H559H7017H3212H5493H3381H8432H6002H622H6213H2617H1121H3478H5927H4714H7017H5493H8432H6003

7Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt.H7586H5221H6002H2341H935H7793H6440H4714

8He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else.H8610H90H4428H6002H2416H2763H5971H6310H2719

9Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.H7586H5971H2550H90H4315H6629H1241H4932H3733H2896H14H2763H4399H5240H4549H2763

The Lord Rejects Saul

10Then the LORD said to Samuel,H1697H3068H8050H559

11"I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.H5162H4427H7586H4428H7725H310H6965H1697H2734H8050H2199H3068H3915

12Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal."H8050H7925H7125H7586H1242H5046H8050H559H7586H935H3760H5324H3027H5437H5674H3381H1537

13When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. "May the LORD bless you," he said. "I have carried out the LORD's command!"H8050H935H7586H7586H559H1288H3068H6965H1697H3068

14"Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?" Samuel demanded.H8050H559H6963H6629H241H6963H1241H8085

15"It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else."H7586H559H935H6003H5971H2550H4315H6629H1241H2076H3068H430H3498H2763

16Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What did he tell you?" Saul asked.H8050H559H7586H7503H5046H3068H1696H3915H559H1696

17And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel.H8050H559H6996H5869H7218H7626H3478H3068H4886H4428H3478

18And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.'H3068H7971H1870H559H3212H2763H2400H6002H3898H3615

19Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD's sight?"H8085H6963H3068H5860H7998H6213H7451H5869H3068

20"But I did obey the LORD," Saul insisted. "I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.H7586H559H8050H8085H6963H3068H3212H1870H3068H7971H935H90H4428H6002H2763H6002

21Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."H5971H3947H7998H6629H1241H7225H2764H2076H3068H430H1537

22But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.H8050H559H3068H2656H5930H2077H8085H6963H3068H8085H2896H2077H7181H2459H352

23Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."H4805H2403H7081H6484H205H8655H3988H1697H3068H3988H4428

Saul Pleads for Forgiveness

24Then Saul admitted to Samuel, "Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD's command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.H7586H559H8050H2398H5674H6310H3068H1697H3372H5971H8085H6963

25But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the LORD."H5375H2403H7725H7812H3068

26But Samuel replied, "I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the LORD's command, he has rejected you as king of Israel."H8050H559H7586H7725H3988H1697H3068H3068H3988H4428H3478

27As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe.H8050H5437H3212H2388H3671H4598H7167

28And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.H8050H559H3068H7167H4468H3478H3117H5414H7453H2896

29And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!"H5331H3478H8266H5162H120H5162

30Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God."H559H2398H3513H2205H5971H3478H7725H7812H3068H430

31So Samuel finally agreed and went back with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD.H8050H7725H310H7586H7586H7812H3068

Samuel Executes King Agag

32Then Samuel said, "Bring King Agag to me." Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought, "Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!"

H559H8050H5066H90H4428H6002H90H3212H4574H90H559H403H4751H4194H5493

33But Samuel said, "As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless." And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.H8050H559H2719H802H7921H517H7921H802H8050H8158H90H8158H6440H3068H1537

34Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah of Saul.H8050H3212H7414H7586H5927H1004H1390H7586

35Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.H8050H3254H7200H7586H3117H4194H3588H8050H56H7586H3068H5162H7586H4427H3478

Samuel Anoints David as King

16Now the LORD said to Samuel, "You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king."H3068H559H8050H56H7586H3988H4427H3478H4390H7161H8081H3212H7971H3448H1022H7200H4428H1121

2But Samuel asked, "How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me." "Take a heifer with you," the LORD replied, "and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD.H8050H559H3212H7586H8085H2026H3068H559H3947H1241H5697H3027H559H935H2076H3068

3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me."H7121H3448H2077H3045H6213H4886H559

4So Samuel did as the LORD instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. "What's wrong?" they asked. "Do you come in peace?"H8050H6213H3068H1696H935H1035H2205H5892H2729H7125H559H935H7965

5"Yes," Samuel replied. "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.H559H7965H935H2076H3068H6942H935H2077H6942H3448H1121H7121H2077

6When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the LORD's anointed!"H935H7200H446H559H3068H4899

7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."H3068H559H8050H5027H4758H1364H6967H3988H120H7200H120H7200H5869H3068H7200H3824

8Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "This is not the one the LORD has chosen."H3448H7121H41H5674H6440H8050H559H3068H977

9Next Jesse summoned Shimea

, but Samuel said, "Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen."H3448H8048H5674H559H3068H977

10In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."H3448H7651H1121H5674H6440H8050H8050H559H3448H3068H977

11Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats." "Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives."H8050H559H3448H8552H5288H559H7604H6996H7462H6629H8050H559H3448H7971H3947H5437H935H6311

12So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the LORD said, "This is the one; anoint him."H7971H935H132H5973H3303H5869H2896H7210H3068H559H6965H4886

13So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.H8050H3947H7161H8081H4886H7130H251H7307H3068H6743H1732H3117H4605H8050H6965H3212H7414

David Serves in Saul’s Court

14Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit

that filled him with depression and fear.H7307H3068H5493H7586H7451H7307H3068H1204

15Some of Saul's servants said to him, "A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.H7586H5650H559H7451H7307H430H1204

16Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again."H113H559H5650H6440H1245H376H3045H5059H3658H7451H7307H430H5059H3027H2895

17"All right," Saul said. "Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here."H7586H559H5650H7200H376H5059H3190H935

18One of the servants said to Saul, "One of Jesse's sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him."H6030H259H5288H559H7200H1121H3448H1022H3045H5059H1368H2428H376H4421H995H1697H8389H376H3068

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, "Send me your son David, the shepherd."H7586H7971H4397H3448H559H7971H1732H1121H6629

20Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine.H3448H3947H2543H3899H4997H3196H259H1423H5795H7971H3027H1732H1121H7586

21So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.H1732H935H7586H5975H6440H157H3966H5375H3627

22Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, "Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him."H7586H7971H3448H559H1732H5975H6440H4672H2580H5869

23And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.H7307H430H7586H1732H3947H3658H5059H3027H7586H7304H2895H7451H7307H5493

Goliath Challenges the Israelites

17The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.H6430H622H4264H4421H622H7755H3063H2583H7755H5825H658 2Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah.H7586H376H3478H622H2583H6010H425H4421H6186H7125H6430 3So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.H6430H5975H2022H3478H5975H2022H1516 4Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet

tall!H3318H376H1143H4264H6430H8034H1555H1661H1363H8337H520H2239 5He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds

.H3553H5178H7218H3847H8302H7193H4948H8302H2568H505H8255H5178 6He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder.H4697H5178H7272H3591H5178H3802 7The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver's beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds

. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.H6086H2671H2595H707H4500H2595H3852H8337H3967H8255H1270H5375H6793H1980H6440 8Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. "Why are you all coming out to fight?" he called. "I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me!H5975H7121H4634H3478H559H3318H4421H6186H6430H5650H7586H1262H376H3381 9If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!H3201H3898H5221H5650H3201H5221H5650H5647 10I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!"H6430H559H2778H4634H3478H3117H5414H376H3898H3162 11When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.H7586H3478H8085H1697H6430H2865H3966H3372

Jesse Sends David to Saul’s Camp

12Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons.H1732H1121H376H673H1035H3063H8034H3448H8083H1121H376H935H582H2204H3117H7586 13Jesse's three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea

—had already joined Saul's army to fight the Philistines.H7969H1419H1121H3448H3212H310H7586H4421H8034H7969H1121H1980H4421H446H1060H4932H41H7992H8048 14David was the youngest son. David's three oldest brothers stayed with Saul's army,H1732H6996H7969H1419H1980H310H7586 15but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.H1732H1980H7725H7586H7462H1H6629H1035 16For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.H6430H5066H7925H6150H3320H705H3117 17One day Jesse said to David, "Take this basket

of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers.H3448H559H1732H1121H3947H251H374H2088H7039H6235H3899H7323H4264H251 18And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing

."H935H6235H2461H2757H8269H505H6485H251H7965H3947H6161 19David's brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.H7586H376H3478H6010H425H3898H6430 20So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.H1732H7925H1242H5203H6629H8104H5375H3212H3448H6680H935H4570H2428H3318H4634H7321H4421 21Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army.H3478H6430H6186H4634H7125H4634 22David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers.H1732H5203H3627H3027H8104H3627H7323H4634H935H7592H7965H251 23As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.H1696H5927H376H1143H6430H1661H1555H8034H4634H4630H6430H1696H428H1697H1732H8085 24As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.H376H3478H7200H376H5127H6440H3966H3372 25"Have you seen the giant?" the men asked. "He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man's entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!"H376H3478H559H7200H376H5927H2778H3478H5927H376H5221H4428H6238H1419H6239H5414H1323H6213H1H1004H2670H3478 26David asked the soldiers standing nearby, "What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?"H1732H559H582H5975H559H6213H376H5221H1975H6430H5493H2781H3478H6189H6430H2778H4634H2416H430 27And these men gave David the same reply. They said, "Yes, that is the reward for killing him."H5971H559H1697H559H6213H376H5221 28But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway?" he demanded. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!"H446H1419H251H8085H1696H582H446H639H2734H1732H559H3381H5203H2007H4592H6629H4057H3045H2087H7455H3824H3381H7200H4421 29"What have I done now?" David replied. "I was only asking a question!"H1732H559H6213H1697 30He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.H5437H681H4136H312H559H1697H5971H1697H7725H7223H1697 31Then David's question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.H1697H8085H1732H1696H5046H6440H7586H3947

David Kills Goliath

32"Don't worry about this Philistine," David told Saul. "I'll go fight him!"H1732H559H7586H120H3820H5307H5650H3212H3898H6430 33"Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth."H7586H559H1732H3201H3212H6430H3898H5288H376H4421H5271 34But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,H1732H559H7586H5650H7462H1H6629H935H738H1677H5375H7716H2089H5739 35I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.H3318H310H5221H5337H6310H6965H2388H2206H5221H4191 36I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!H5650H5221H738H1677H6189H6430H259H2778H4634H2416H430 37The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" Saul finally consented. "All right, go ahead," he said. "And may the LORD be with you!"H1732H559H3068H5337H3027H738H3027H1677H5337H3027H6430H7586H559H1732H3212H3068 38Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.H7586H3847H1732H4055H5414H6959H5178H7218H3847H8302 39David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. "I can't go in these," he protested to Saul. "I'm not used to them." So David took them off again.H1732H2296H2719H4055H2974H3212H5254H1732H559H7586H3201H3212H5254H1732H5493 40He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.H3947H4731H3027H977H2568H2512H68H5158H7760H7462H3627H3219H7050H3027H5066H6430 41Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him,H6430H3212H1980H7131H1732H376H5375H6793H6440 42sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.H6430H5027H7200H1732H959H5288H132H3303H4758 43"Am I a dog," he roared at David, "that you come at me with a stick?" And he cursed David by the names of his gods.H6430H559H1732H3611H935H4731H6430H7043H1732H430 44"Come over here, and I'll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!" Goliath yelled.H6430H559H1732H3212H5414H1320H5775H8064H929H7704 45David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.H559H1732H6430H935H2719H2595H3591H935H8034H3068H6635H430H4634H3478H2778 46Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!H3117H3068H5462H3027H5221H5493H7218H5414H6297H4264H6430H3117H5775H8064H2416H776H776H3045H3426H430H3478 47And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!"H6951H3045H3068H3467H2719H2595H4421H3068H5414H3027 48As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.H6430H6965H3212H7126H7125H1732H1732H4116H7323H4634H7125H6430 49Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.H1732H7971H3027H3627H3947H68H7049H5221H6430H4696H68H2883H4696H5307H6440H776 50So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.H1732H2388H4480H6430H7050H68H5221H6430H4191H2719H3027H1732

Israel Routs the Philistines

51Then David ran over and pulled Goliath's sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.H1732H7323H5975H6430H3947H2719H8025H8593H4191H3772H7218H6430H7200H1368H4191H5127 52Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath

and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.H582H3478H3063H6965H7321H7291H6430H935H1516H8179H6138H2491H6430H5307H1870H8189H1661H6138 53Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp.H1121H3478H7725H1814H310H6430H8155H4264 54(David took the Philistine's head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man's armor in his own tent.)H1732H3947H7218H6430H935H3389H7760H3627H168 55As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" "I really don't know," Abner declared.H7586H7200H1732H3318H7125H6430H559H74H8269H6635H74H1121H5288H74H559H5315H2416H4428H518H3045 56"Well, find out who he is!" the king told him.H4428H559H7592H1121H5958 57As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine's head still in his hand.H1732H7725H5221H6430H74H3947H935H6440H7586H7218H6430H3027 58"Tell me about your father, young man," Saul said. And David replied, "His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem."H7586H559H1121H5288H1732H559H1121H5650H3448H1022

82[A psalm of Asaph.] God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings.H4210H623H430H5324H5712H410H8199H7130H430 2“How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? InterludeH8199H5766H5375H6440H7563H5542 3“Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.H8199H1800H3490H6663H6041H7326 4Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.H6403H1800H34H5337H3027H7563 5But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.H3045H995H1980H2825H4144H776H4131 6I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High.H559H430H1121H5945 7But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’”H403H4191H120H5307H259H8269 8Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.H6965H430H8199H776H5157H1471

1Samuel 15-17; Psalms 82 - Prayer Tents