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Towering Figures of the Old Testament |
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Saul and David
The
Insecure Kingship (1
Samuel
16-xxxx) |
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Introduction |
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Early in the
morning he goes to meet Saul, but is
informed that Saul had gone to Carmel to
erect a trophy in his own honor.
When Samuel finally meets up with Saul he
points out to Saul that he has broken the
ban and saved the spoils of Amalek. Saul
informs Saul that he saved the best sheep
and to sacrifice to the LORD.
Samuel argues that Saul has disobeyed the
LORD and thus has displeased Him. Samuel
tells Saul that obedience is better than
sacrifice and submission than the fat of
rams. Samuel tells Saul that since he has
rejected the command of the LORD, He, too,
has rejected Saul as ruler.
After Saul
begs Samuel to go and honor him in front of
the elders of Israel. Samuel reluctantly
obliges. Afterwards, Samuel asks to have
Agag brought to him. Then Samuel cuts Agag
down before the LORD in Gilgal. |
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Samuel departs
while Saul goes to his home. Never again, as
long as he lived, does Samuel see Saul. Yet he
grieves over Saul, because the LORD regretted
having made him king of Israel.
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From the Family
of Jesse of Bethlehem |
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The LORD tells
Samuel to fill his horn with oil, and leave
for Jesse of Bethlehem, for He has chosen
His king from among his sons. The LORD tells
Samuel to take a heifer with him to
sacrifice before the LORD and invite Jesse,
and He will point out to Samuel the
one whom the LORD has chosen for him to
anoint.
When Samuel enters Bethlehem, the elders of
the city meet him trembling with fear.
Samuel tells them that he has only come to
offer sacrifice to the LORD. He tells them
to cleanse themselves and join him. He also
tells Jesse and his sons to cleanse
themselves and invites them to the
sacrifice.
When Jesse’s
sons arrive to join Samuel, he looks at
Eliab, the first-born of Jesse, thinking
that he might be the chosen one. But the
LORD says to Samuel not |
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judge from his
appearance or from his lofty stature, because he
is not the chosen one.
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“Not as man sees
does God see, because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart,” says the
LORD.
Jesse then presents his other sons, each of whom
Samuel says is not the chosen one. After Jesse
presents his seventh son Samuel asks of they are
all the sons that he has. Jesse tells Samuel
that their youngest is tending the sheep. Samuel
asks for him for he will not start the
sacrificial banquet until he arrives.
Jesse sends for
the young man to be brought to them. When David,
a ruddy and handsome youth arrives, the LORD
tells Samuel the he is the one to anoint. Then
Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anoints
him in the midst of his brothers. From that day
on, the spirit of the LORD comes upon David.
Samuel then leaves for Ramah. |
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The Rise of
David
At this time the spirit of the LORD departs from
Saul and he is tormented by an evil spirit sent
by the LORD. After his servants’ suggested,
Saul orders to find a skilled harpist to soothe
his torment. |
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One of the
servants tells Saul that he knows that
David, one the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem
is a skillful harpist. The servant says
further that he is also a stalwart
soldier, besides being an able speaker,
and handsome, and that the LORD is with
him.
So Saul dispatches his messengers to
Jesse to send for David, whom at that
time is tending a flock. Then Jesse
sends David to Saul along with five
loaves of bread, a skin of wine and a
kid.
Thus
David comes to the service of Saul who
becomes fond of David and makes him his
armor-bearer.
And whenever the spirit from God seizes
Saul, David plays the harp. This
relieves Saul and makes him feels
better, for the evil spirit would leave
him. |
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Goliath
Challenges Israel
The Philistines gather their forces for
battle in Judah. Saul and the Israelites
gather and camp in the Valley of the
Terebinth, drawing up their battle line to
meet the Philistines. The Philistines
stand on a mountain on the one side, and
Israelites stand on a mountain on the other side
- a valley is between them.
A champion of the Philistines named Goliath
of Gath steps forward and challenges Israel.
Goliath is a giant (6 cubits and a span, or
over 9 ft tall) and very well armored with
heavy brass helmet, brass scale armor to
cover his body and greaves of brass on his
legs. He carries a huge scimitar and an
enormous spear.
He cries out to the Israelites to let one of
them step forward to battle with him alone.
Goliath roars that if their chosen one kills
him, the Philistines will be their servants.
However, Goliath continues, if he kills the
Israelite they will be servants to the
Philistines. This goes on for forty days,
striking fear among Saul
and the Israelites.
David
Goes to the Battle Camp
While Saul is in battle, David goes home to
tend his father’s sheep. With the Israelites
are his three brothers, Eliab, Abinadab and
Shammah who heeded Saul call to war.
In one of the days while Goliath is
challenging Israel, Jesse tells David to
take some food to his brothers in the battle
camp. Early the next morning, David leaves
his father’s flock to the camp as father
ordered. At the camp, David leaves what he
brought for his brothers with the keeper of
the baggage and runs to see his brothers.
At this time Goliath comes up from the ranks
of the Philistines to challenge Israel
again, and David listens. When they see
Goliath the Israelites retreat in fear. Upon
hearing this David asks what happens if one
kills the Philistine. One of the Israelites
answers that if anyone kills Goliath the
king would give him great wealth and his
daughter as well. The king would grant
exemption to his father's family in Israel. |
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When his
older brother Eliab hears David speaking
to the men, he scolds him. Later David
again asks the other soldiers and they
all give him the same answer.
When Saul
hears about David speaking to the
soldiers, he sends for him. Then David
tells Saul not to lose courage for he is
at his service and will fight the
Philistine. But Saul refuses and tells
David that he is too young to fight
Goliath.
But David assures Saul that he has
seized a lion who carried off his
father’s sheep in one instance and a
bear in another, by hand before. Goliath
will be just one of them, because he has
insulted the armies of the living God.
David continues that the LORD who
delivered him from the claws of the lion
and the bear will also keep him safe
from the Philistine. |
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David
Battles a Champion
Saul
relents and clothes David in his own
tunic. He puts on David his brass helmet
and his coat of armor and gives his
sword. But with all that weight David
walks with difficulty. David tells Saul
that he cannot wear all that armor so he
took them off.
Then, staff in hand, David selects five
smooth stones from the brook and puts
them in the pocket of his shepherd's
bag. With his sling also ready on hand,
he approaches the Philistine.
With
his shield-bearer marching before him,
Goliath also advances closer and closer
to David. When he sees the youthful
David, he becomes contemptuous and he
insults David. David answers
that he has come against his spear and
scimitar in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel that he has insulted. |
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David
continues that the LORD will deliver
Goliath and he will cut off his head. He
says that he will leave his corpse and
the corpses of the Philistine army for
the birds of the air and the beasts of
the field. Thus the whole land shall
learn that Israel has a God and that it
is not by sword or spear that the LORD
saves. |
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Goliath
then moves toward David while David runs
toward the battle line of the
Philistines. Then David takes out one of
the stones from his shepherd’s bag,
loads his sling and hurls it to Goliath.
The
stone strikes Goliath between his
eyebrows and he falls on the ground.
David then runs towards the fallen
giant, grabs his sword and cuts off the
head of Goliath! When the Philistines
see their champion dead they take flight
with the armies of Israel and Judah in
pursuit, and they routed the
Philistines. On their return from the pursuit of the
Philistines, the Israelites loot their camp. David takes
the head of the Philistine and brings it to
Jerusalem; but he keeps Goliath's armor in
his own tent. Later David identifies himself
to Saul as the son of Jesse of Bethlehem. |
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Saul’s
Jealousy
From that moment on Saul loves David as he
loves himself. Saul does not allow him to
return to his father's house. Jonathan takes
off his own mantle and gives it to David,
along with his military dress, his sword,
his bow and his belt.
After David
slays the Philistine he goes with Saul where
women would come out from each of the city
of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and
dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and
sistrums. The women sing, "Saul has slain
his thousands, and David his ten thousands."
This makes Saul very angry and resentful.
Saul begins to be very wary of David
thinking he might be after his kingship.
And from that day on, Saul grows jealous of
David.
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Saul Gets
Possessed |
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The next
day an evil spirit from God comes over
Saul, and he rages in his house. David,
playing the harp as at other times to
calm Saul, is present. Saul grabs his
spear and throws it at David! David
escapes. Saul throws the spear again at
David but David again escapes.
Saul then begins to fear David, because
the LORD is with him, but has departed
from Saul himself. So Saul removes David
from his presence by appointing him a
field officer. |
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David
leads the people on their military
expeditions, and succeeds for the LORD is
with him.
David then
carries out successfully every mission
on which Saul sends him. So Saul puts
him in charge of his soldiers, which is
agreeable to the whole army, even to
Saul's own officers.
Seeing
how successful he is, Saul fears David
even more. But on the other hand, all
Israel and Judah love
him, since he leads them on their successful
expeditions.
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The
King’s Son-in-Law
Saul offers to David his older daughter,
Merob, in marriage if David becomes the
king’s champion and fights the battles of
the LORD. But Saul has in mind for David to
be killed by the Philistines. David refuses
to marry Merod because he feels he is not
worthy to become the king's son-in-law.
So Saul plots through his servants to tell
David that the king is very fond of him and
wants him to be his son-in-law, now offering
his other daughter Michal who loves David.
Again David refuses, because he feels he is
poor and insignificant.
When Saul hears David’s answer he orders
that the servants tell David that the king
demands a price for the bride no less than
the foreskins of one hundred Philistines. At
this offer, David is pleased with the
prospect of becoming the king's son-in-law.
Again, in Saul’s mind the Philistines will
surely kill David.
David and with his men do battle and slay
two hundred Philistines. He brings back
their foreskins and counts them out before
the king so that he might thus become the
king's son-in-law. Saul gives him his
daughter Michal in marriage.
Saul thus comes to recognize that the LORD
is with David; besides, his own daughter
Michal loves David. Therefore, Saul fears
David all the more.
The Philistine chiefs continue to attack,
but each time they take the field, David
defeats them. He is more successful against
them than any other of Saul's officers, and
as a result acquires great fame.
Saul Plots
to Kill David
Saul discusses his intention of killing
David with his son Jonathan and with all his
servants. But Saul's son Jonathan, who is
very fond of David, warns David to go into
hiding and remain there. Jonathan tells David that
he will let him know whatever his father is
planning about David. |
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Later,
Jonathan speaks well of David to his father.
He recounts all that David has done for
Israel. Saul changes his mind and orders
that David shall not be killed.
Jonathan then repeats this good news to
David and brings David back to his father.
David serves his father once again as
before.
War breaks out again. David goes out to
fight against the Philistines and defeats
them. The evil spirit from the LORD comes
upon Saul as he was sitting in his house
with spear in hand while David is playing
the harp nearby. Saul throws the spear at
David but David escapes. The same night,
Saul sends messengers to David's house to
guard it, that he might kill him in the
morning. David's wife Michal informs him of
her fathers plan, and lets David down
through a window to safety. |
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David Escapes
After escaping Saul with the help of Michal
David goes to Samuel in Ramah. David informs
Samuel of all that Saul had done to him. Then he
and Samuel go to hide in the sheds of Ramah.
When Saul learns where David is hiding, he sends
messengers to arrest him. But when the
messengers arrive they see a band of prophets, presided
over by Samuel, in a prophetic frenzy, they
fall into the prophetic state.
When he learns of their failure to capture
David, Saul sends other messengers. But they
promptly fall into the prophetic state. For the
third time Saul sends messengers, but they again
fall into the prophetic state.
Saul then goes to Ramah himself. Arriving at the
cistern of the threshing floor on the bare
hilltop, he is directed to the sheds near Ramah
where Samuel and David are. As he sets out from
the hilltop toward the sheds, the spirit of God
also comes upon him and he continues on in a
prophetic condition. When he reaches the sheds
near Ramah he strips himself of his garments and
remains in the prophetic state in the presence
of Samuel.
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David and
Jonathan |
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David flees
from the sheds near Ramah, and goes to
Jonathan asking why the king is seeking to
kill him. To test the king’s real
intentions, David and Jonathan devise a
test.
David tells Jonathan that on the next day he
will hide in the open country until evening.
David tells Jonathan that if his father
misses David to tell his father that David
has gone to his city Bethlehem where his
whole clan is holding its seasonal
sacrifice. David says that if the king says
that that is good then David is safe.
However, if the king gets quite angry then
the king has a plan to do David harm.
Jonathan tells
David that he will let him know how the
inquiry will go by the next day.
Jonathan then
tells David that if Jonathan dies
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David must not
withdraw his kindness from his house. They make
a pact before the LORD that when the LORD
exterminates all the enemies of David from the
surface of the earth, the name of Jonathan must
never be allowed by the family of David to die
out from among them.
The King's Real
Intention
Jonathan tells
David to go in hiding. On the appointed day, he
will shoot an arrow in the air. If he sends his
servant to recover the arrow, then David is safe
and he can go home. However, if Jonathan tells
his servant that the arrow is beyond him David
must leave.
On the day of the new moon the king sits down to
dine in his usual place but David is missing,
but he says nothing then. On the second day,
however, when the king sits down to dine, David
again is missing. This time he asks Jonathan.
Jonathan tells as they planned and Saul becomes
extremely angry with Jonathan. He accuses
Jonathan that to his mother's shame, he is a
companion of the son of Jesse. Saul demands that
David be brought back so he will die.
Jonathan then asks his father what crime David
has done. At this Saul grabs his spear to strike
Jonathan and thus Jonathan learns that his
father has decided to kill David. Jonathan jumps
out from the table and leaves without eating.
David’s
Departure |
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The next
morning Jonathan goes out into the field
with his servant. Jonathan tells the boy to
run and fetch the arrow, and then he shoots
an arrow beyond the boy. Then Jonathan tells
the boy that it is out farther. Then he says
to go quickly without delay. The boy
recovered the arrow and goes back to his
master not knowing what really happened.
Then Jonathan gives his weapons to the boy
and tells him to take them back to the city.
When the boy has left, David comes out and
bows three times before Jonathan in homage.
They weep together and bid goodbye. Jonathan
and David renew the pact they have sworn by
the name of the LORD.
From there
Jonathan goes back into the city. David
leaves and goes to Ahimelech, the priest of
Nob, who comes trembling to meet him asking
why David is alone. |
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David answers the
priest that the king has sent him on a secret
mission that no one can know. He tells the
priest that he has arranged to meet his men in
secret. He then asks the priest to give him
provisions.
But the priest only had holy bread and can only
be consumed if they have abstained from women.
David assures him that they are separated from
women and that they are consecrated to arms. So
the priest gives David the holy bread. David
also asks for a weapon and is given the sword of
Goliath.
In the meantime, one of Saul's servants, Doeg
the Edomite sees him talking with the priest.
That same day that
David escapes from Saul David goes to Achish,
king of Gath, but the servants become suspicious
so he feigns insanity. Achish leaves David
alone. |
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David’s Army |
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From Gath David escapes to the cave of Adullam,
where his brothers and the rest of his family
meet him when they learn of it. He is also
joined by all those who are in difficulties or
in debt, or who are embittered. He becomes the
leader of about four hundred men.
From there David goes to Mizpeh of Moab and with
the king of Moab’s permission leaves his father
and mother with the king while he is in refuge.
But the prophet of Gad tells David to leave for
the land of Judah. So David leaves. |
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In the meantime Saul learns from his servant
Doeg the Edomite that he saw David speaking to
the priest Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, in Nob. So
the kings summons Ahimelech and to all his
family who are priests in Nob to come to the
king.
When Ahimelech arrives the king asks him why he
has conspired with David against him. He then
commands his soldiers to kill Ahimelech and his
whole family of priests, but the soldier refuse.
The king then commands Doeg to kill the priests,
and he kills eighty five priests of the LORD.
Saul further orders that everyone in the
priestly city of Nob be killed, including men
and women, children and infants, and oxen, asses
and sheep. However, one son of Ahimelech, named Abiathar, escapes and flees to David. Abiathar
then tells David that Saul had slain the priests
of the LORD. David tells Abiathar that he is now under
his
protection. |
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Saul Pursues
David |
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David learns
that the Philistines are attacking and
plundering Keilah. David consults the LORD
who tells David he will defeat the
Philistines and rescue Keilah. Although his
men are fearful the LORD assures David that
the Philistines will fall. Thus David goes
with his men to Keilah and defeats the
Philistines severely. As the LORD said,
David rescues the inhabitants of Keilah.
When Saul learns that David is going down to
Keilah he plans to attack and destroy the
gated city to kill David. But the LORD warns
David of what Saul is planning and that the inhabitants of Keilah will turn him
over to Saul.
So David and
his six hundred men leave Keilah. They
wander from place to place and live in
refuges in the desert. When |
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Saul is informed that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandons his plan to attack.
While in Horesh in the barrens near Ziph, Saul's
son, Jonathan, comes down to see David. Jonathan
tells David that he shall be king of Israel and
that he shall be second to David.
The Informers
However, some Ziphites informs Saul that David
is hiding among them and they promise to deliver
David to him. Saul then sends the informers back
to learn more about where David is hiding, and
to come back to Saul with the new information.
The informants then go back to Ziph ahead of
Saul to spy on David, who at this time is in the
desert below Maon, in the Arabah south of the
wasteland. But David learns that Saul is coming
after him so he escapes to the gorge in the
desert below Maon with Saul behind him.
At this time Saul moves along one side of the
gorge while David and his men were on the other
side. Saul attempts to outflank David and his
men in order to capture them. But just then a
messenger arrives and tells Saul that the
Philistines have invaded their land.
Temporarily, Saul stops his pursuit of David to
meet the Philistines. |
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David
Spares Saul |
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After fighting the Philistines, Saul picks
three thousand men and resumes to his
pursuit of David. At that time David is
hiding at the sheepfold in one of the caves
in the desert. When Saul arrives at the
sheepfold he enters a cave he found to
relieve nature.
Further inside that cave David sees Saul
enter. His servants tell him that this is
the day that the LORD will deliver Saul to
him. But David knows that he cannot kill the
LORD’s anointed so he stealthily approaches
Saul and he cuts off a piece of his
mantle. Then he orders his men
not to attack Saul.
When Saul
leaves the cave David calls out to him and
tells him that today that the LORD just now
delivered him into his grasp in the cave. He
then tells Saul that |
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although he had thought of killing him,
David spared his life because he cannot kill
the LORD'S anointed.
David then asks Saul why he is pursuing him.
Saul then says to David that he has indeed
done David harm and is thankful for not
killing him when he could have. Saul who
acknowledges that David will surely be king
over Israel, asks David to swear not to blot
out Saul’s name and family. David does so.
Samuel Dies
Samuel dies, and all Israel gather to mourn
him. They bury him at his home in Ramah.
Then David goes down to the desert of Maon.
David and Abigail
There in Maon is a very wealthy man named
Nabal, whom at this time is present during
the shearing of his flock in Carmel. His
wife is named Abigail. Abigail is
as intelligent and attractive, as Nabal is
harsh and selfish. |
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While Nabal is
shearing his flock, David sends out ten
young men to ask Nabal to give to them
whatever he can manage. But Nabal refuses to
give anything to David’s men. When they tell
David this he tells them to prepare to
attack.
But one of the servants tells Nabal's wife
Abigail of what happened when David’s men
asked for provisions from Nabal. The servant
tells Abigail that Nabal was enraged by
David’s request. The servant also tells
Abigail that David and his men had been very
good to them and protected them while they
tended their sheep.
Sensing
danger Abigail quickly gathers together two
hundred loaves, two skins of wine, five
dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain,
a hundred cakes of pressed raisins, and two
hundred cakes of |
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pressed figs, and
loads them on asses. Without telling Nabal, she
goes up to meet David and his men who are at
that same time already coming down the same
mountain pass to attack Nabal and kill every
male in Nabal’s household.
As soon as Abigail sees David, she dismounts
quickly from the ass and falls prostrate on the
ground before David in homage. She asks for
forgiveness for what Nabal had done. She begs
David not to shed blood and instead accept the
presents she had brought.
David blesses Abigail, accepts her presents and
grants her request to spare the life of the men
in her household. He then sends her to her home
in peace.
When Abigail arrives home she finds Nabal in a
drinking party in his house like that of a king.
Since Nabal is very drunk she does not tell him
anything at all. When Nabal becomes sober, his
wife tells him what had happened. At this his
courage left him, and he becomes like a stone.
About ten days later the LORD strikes him and he
dies.
On hearing that Nabal is dead, David sends a
proposal of marriage to Abigail, which she
accepts. David also marries Ahinoam of Jezreel.
In the meantime Saul gives David's wife Michal,
Saul's own daughter, again to another man in
marriage.
David Spares
Saul Again
Men from Ziph come to Saul with information that
David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah at the
edge of the desert. So Saul goes down to the
desert of Ziph with three thousand picked men of
Israel, to search for David. Saul sets up camp
beside the road on the hill of Hachilah.
David, who at that time is living in the desert,
sees that Saul has come into the desert after
him. He sends out scouts, who confirm Saul's
arrival. David himself then goes to Saul camp
and examines the sleeping quarters of Saul and
Abner, son of Ner, the general. Saul's is within
the barricade, and all his soldiers are camped
around him. |
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That night
David with Abishai, who volunteered to go
with him go into Saul’s
camp. They find Saul asleep within the
barricade, with his spear thrust into the
ground at his head and Abner and his men
sleeping around him.
Abishai whispers to David that God has
delivered his enemy into his grasp this day
and asks permission to kill Saul. But David
tells Abishai not to harm the LORD'S
anointed. David tells him that the LORD
Himself will be strike Saul.
Instead David
takes the spear and the water jug from their
place at Saul's head, and they leave without
anyone's awakening. All remain asleep, because
the LORD has put them into a deep slumber.
David goes across to an opposite slope and
stands on a remote hilltop at a great |
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distance from Abner, son of Ner, and the
troops. He then shouts to Abner. When Abner answers back David
rebukes him for not guarding the king since they
were able to come and leave without anyone
noticing. David then tells Abner to look for the
king's spear and the water jug that was at his
head.
Saul wakes and recognizes David’s voice. David
once again asks him what he has done to be
hunted. David points out once again that the
LORD delivered Saul to him but he did not harm
him for he is the LORD’s anointed.
Once again Saul acknowledges that he has made a
serious mistake to David. He tells David that he will succeed in
whatever he undertakes. With that Saul then
returns to his home.
David Flees to
the Land of the Philistines
David then says to himself that he has no choice
but to escape to the land of the Philistines so
he will be out of his reach, thinking that Saul
will then give up his search for David
throughout the land of Israel.
From there David
and six hundred men and their families leave for Gath where he implores Achish, king of Gath to
allow them to live in one of the country towns.
There he lives for over a year with his two
wives Ahinoam and Abigail.
When Saul learns that David has fled to Gath, he
does not pursue him.
David and his men go up to raid the Geshurites,
Girzites, and Amalekites-peoples living in the
land between Telam, on the approach to Shur, and
the land of Egypt. He leaves no man or woman
alive from those lands, but he carries off
sheep, oxen, asses, camels, and clothes. These
he brings to Achish. When Achish asks whom he
raided this time David answers, "The Negeb of
Judah," or "The Negeb of Jerahmeel," or "The
Negeb of the Kenites."
Since there are no survivors to these raids no
one betrays David. And Achish begins to trust
David, thinking that David must surely be
detested by his people, and that he will
have David as his vassal forever.
Saul and the
Ghost of Samuel
Achish tells David that now he and his men will
have to join the military forces in campaigns
against Israel to Jezreel. David consents and
Achish appoints David as his permanent
bodyguard. |
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When the
Philistines advance to Shunem and encamp,
Saul also calls all of Israel and they
advance to Gilboa. Saul is dismayed when
sees the camp of the Philistines, and loses
heart completely. He consults the LORD but
the LORD remains completely silent.
However after Samuel died Saul drove out the mediums and
fortune-tellers from the land of Israel. So he orders his servants to
find him a medium so he can seek counsel
through her. The servants tell Saul that
there is a woman in Endor who is a medium. |
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Disguising
himself, Saul sets out to the witch of Endor
with two companions. They come to the woman by
night and Saul tells her to conjure the ghost of
Samuel. The witch conjures the ghost of Samuel
and the medium recognizes the guest as Saul. She
decries him for his trickery but Saul assures
her that he will hold her blameless for this.
When the ghost of Samuel comes up Saul tells him
that he is in great dilemma for the Philistines
are waging war against him and the LORD has
abandoned him. He tells the ghost of Samuel that
he is asking guidance as to what to do.
The ghost of Samuel tells Saul that the LORD has
abandoned him for David because Saul disobeyed
His orders to exterminate Amalekites. Moreover,
Samuel tells Saul that the LORD will deliver
Israel to the Philistines and that by the next
day both he and his sons will die.
Badly shaken by the dire message, Samuel falls
to the ground with no energy left to get up for
he has eaten nothing that day. The witch of
Endor offers him something food, which he at
first refuses but eventually relents. After
eating, Saul and his companions leave. |
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The Rescue |
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During the advance to Jezreel, David and his
men march in the rear guard with Achish.
However, when the Philistine lords see David
and his men they complain to Achish who
initially defends David’s presence in the
military. Philistine lords however reasoned
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