Discovery Box1 Samuel 7:2--15:35
Context7:2 It was quite a long time – some twenty years in all – that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people 1 of Israel longed for 2 the Lord. 7:3 Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really turning to the Lord with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. 3 Give your hearts to the Lord and serve only him. Then he will deliver you 4 from the hand of the Philistines.” 7:4 So the Israelites 5 removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the Lord.
7:5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.” 7:6 After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted on that day, and they confessed 6 there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” So Samuel led 7 the people of Israel at Mizpah.
7:7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines. 7:8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Keep 8 crying out to the Lord our 9 God so that he may save us 10 from the hand of the Philistines!” 7:9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb 11 and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
7:10 As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel. 12 But on that day the Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated by 13 Israel. 7:11 Then the men of Israel left Mizpah and chased the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car.
7:12 Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. 14 He named it Ebenezer, 15 saying, “Up to here the Lord has helped us.” 7:13 So the Philistines were defeated; they did not invade Israel again. The hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
7:14 The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their territory from the control 16 of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. 7:15 So Samuel led 17 Israel all the days of his life. 7:16 Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, 18 Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places. 7:17 Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged 19 Israel there and built an altar to the Lord there.
8:1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 8:2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba. 8:3 But his sons did not follow 20 his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice. 21
8:4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah. 8:5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead 22 us, just like all the other nations have.”
8:6 But this request displeased Samuel, for 23 they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 8:7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. 24 For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. 8:8 Just as they have done 25 from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. 8:9 So now do as they say. 26 But seriously warn 27 them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.” 28
8:10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 8:11 He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot. 8:12 He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties, 29 as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment. 8:13 He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers. 8:14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants. 8:15 He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators 30 and his servants. 8:16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use. 8:17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants. 8:18 In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.” 31
8:19 But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. 32 Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us! 8:20 We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us 33 and fight our battles.”
8:21 So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord. 34 8:22 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they say 35 and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”
9:1 There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He was a prominent person. 9:2 He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.
9:3 The donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, 36 so Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go 37 look for the donkeys.” 38 9:4 So Saul 39 crossed through the hill country of Ephraim, passing through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. So they crossed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he crossed through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
9:5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come on, let’s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!” 9:6 But the servant said to him, “Look, there is a man of God in this town. He is highly respected. Everything that he says really happens. 40 Now let’s go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here.” 41 9:7 So Saul said to his servant, “All right, 42 we can go. But what can we bring the man, since the food in our bags is used up? We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” 9:8 The servant went on to answer Saul, “Look, I happen to have in my hand a quarter shekel 43 of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us where we should go.” 44 9:9 (Now it used to be in Israel that whenever someone went to inquire of God he would say, “Come on, let’s go to the seer.” For today’s prophet used to be called a seer.) 9:10 So Saul said to his servant, “That’s a good idea! 45 Come on. Let’s go.” So they went to the town where the man of God was.
9:11 As they were going up the ascent to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, “Is this where the seer is?” 9:12 They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place. 9:13 When you enter the town, you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he arrives, for he must bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, for 46 this is the time when you can find him!”
9:14 So they went up to the town. As they were heading for the middle of the town, Samuel was coming in their direction 47 to go up to the high place. 9:15 Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told 48 Samuel: 9:16 “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecrate 49 him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me!”
9:17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, 50 “Here is the man that I told you about! He will rule over my people.” 9:18 As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
9:19 Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking. 51 9:20 Don’t be concerned 52 about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?” 53
9:21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”
9:22 Then Samuel brought 54 Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present. 9:23 Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you – the one I asked you to keep with you.”
9:24 So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel 55 said, “What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
9:25 When they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. 9:26 They got up at dawn and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, so I can send you on your way.” So Saul got up and the two of them – he and Samuel – went outside. 9:27 While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” So he did. 56 Samuel then said, 57 “You remain here awhile, so I can inform you of God’s message.”
10:1 Then Samuel took a small container of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s 58 head. Samuel 59 kissed him and said, “The Lord has chosen you 60 to lead his people Israel! You will rule over the Lord’s people and you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the Lord has chosen 61 you as leader over his inheritance. 62 10:2 When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin’s border. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! 63 He is asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
10:3 “As you continue on from there, you will come to the tall tree of Tabor. At that point three men who are going up to God at Bethel 64 will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, one of them will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and one of them will be carrying a container of wine. 10:4 They will ask you how you’re doing and will give you two loaves of bread. You will accept them. 10:5 Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. 65 When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. 10:6 Then the spirit of the Lord will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
10:7 “When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you. 66 10:8 You will go down to Gilgal before me. I am going to join you there to offer burnt offerings and to make peace offerings. You should wait for seven days, until I arrive and tell you what to do.”
10:9 As Saul 67 turned 68 to leave Samuel, God changed his inmost person. 69 All these signs happened on that very day. 10:10 When Saul and his servant 70 arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul 71 and he prophesied among them. 10:11 When everyone who had known him previously saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people all asked one another, “What on earth has happened to the son of Kish? Does even Saul belong with the prophets?”
10:12 A man who was from there replied, “And who is their father?” Therefore this became a proverb: “Is even Saul among the prophets?” 10:13 When Saul 72 had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.
10:14 Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” Saul 73 replied, “To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, 74 we went to Samuel.” 10:15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” 75 10:16 Saul said to his uncle, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But Saul 76 did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.
10:17 Then Samuel called the people together before the Lord at Mizpah. 10:18 He said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power 77 of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 10:19 But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, “No! 78 Appoint a king over us.” Now take your positions before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.’”
10:20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 10:21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. 10:22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Has the man arrived here yet?” The Lord said, “He has hidden himself among the equipment.” 79
10:23 So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. 10:24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!” All the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”
10:25 Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. 80 He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. 10:26 Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched. 10:27 But some wicked men 81 said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it. 82
11:1 83 Nahash 84 the Ammonite marched 85 against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us and we will serve you.”
11:2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!”
11:3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Leave us alone for seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one who can deliver us, we will come out voluntarily to you.”
11:4 When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) 86 and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly. 87 11:5 Now Saul was walking behind the 88 oxen as he came from the field. Saul asked, “What has happened to the people? Why are they weeping?” So they told him about 89 the men of Jabesh.
11:6 The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry. 11:7 He took a pair 90 of oxen and cut them up. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, who said, “Whoever does not go out after Saul and after Samuel should expect this to be done to his oxen!” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out as one army. 91 11:8 When Saul counted them at Bezek, the Israelites were 300,000 92 strong and the men of Judah numbered 30,000. 93
11:9 They said to the messengers who had come, “Here’s what you should say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow deliverance will come to you when the sun is fully up.’” When the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh Gilead, they were happy. 11:10 The men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you 94 and you can do with us whatever you wish.” 95
11:11 The next day Saul placed the people in three groups. They went to the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and struck them 96 down until the hottest part of the day. The survivors scattered; no two of them remained together.
11:12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who were the ones asking, ‘Will Saul reign over us?’ Hand over those men so we may execute them!” 11:13 But Saul said, “No one will be killed on this day. For today the Lord has given Israel a victory!” 11:14 Samuel said to the people, “Come on! Let’s go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” 11:15 So all the people went to Gilgal, where 97 they established Saul as king in the Lord’s presence. They offered up peace offerings there in the Lord’s presence. Saul and all the Israelites were very happy.
12:1 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have done 98 everything you requested. 99 I have given you a king. 100 12:2 Now look! This king walks before you. As for me, I am old and gray, though my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from the time of my youth till the present day. 12:3 Here I am. Bring a charge against me before the Lord and before his chosen king. 101 Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe so that I would overlook something? Tell me, 102 and I will return it to you!”
12:4 They replied, “You have not wronged us or oppressed us. You have not taken anything from the hand of anyone.” 12:5 He said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his chosen king 103 is witness this day, that you have not found any reason to accuse me.” 104 They said, “He is witness!”
12:6 Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors 105 up from the land of Egypt. 12:7 Now take your positions, so I may confront you 106 before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors. 107 12:8 When Jacob entered Egypt, your ancestors cried out to the Lord. The Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
12:9 “But they forgot the Lord their God, so he gave 108 them into the hand of Sisera, the general in command of Hazor’s 109 army, 110 and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 12:10 Then they cried out to the Lord and admitted, 111 ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth. 112 Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.’ 113 12:11 So the Lord sent Jerub-Baal, 114 Barak, 115 Jephthah, and Samuel, 116 and he delivered you from the hand of the enemies all around you, and you were able to live securely.
12:12 “When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, ‘No! A king will rule over us’ – even though the Lord your God is your king! 12:13 Now look! Here is the king you have chosen – the one that you asked for! Look, the Lord has given you a king! 12:14 If you fear the Lord, serving him and obeying him 117 and not rebelling against what he says, 118 and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the Lord your God, all will be well. 119 12:15 But if you don’t obey 120 the Lord and rebel against what the Lord says, the hand of the Lord will be against both you and your king. 121
12:16 “So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the Lord is about to do in your sight. 12:17 Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the Lord so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves.”
12:18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the Lord and Samuel. 12:19 All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God on behalf of us – your servants – so we won’t die, for we have added to all our sins by asking for a king.” 122
12:20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed sinned. 123 However, don’t turn aside from the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart. 12:21 You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty. 124 12:22 The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. 125 The Lord was pleased to make you his own people. 12:23 As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright. 12:24 However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you! 12:25 But if you continue to do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
13:1 Saul was [thirty] 126 years old when he began to reign; he ruled over Israel for [forty] 127 years. 13:2 Saul selected for himself three thousand men from Israel. Two thousand of these were with Saul at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel; 128 the remaining thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. 129 He sent all the rest of the people back home. 130
13:3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost 131 that was at Geba and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul alerted 132 all the land saying, “Let the Hebrews pay attention!” 13:4 All Israel heard this message, 133 “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel is repulsive 134 to the Philistines!” So the people were summoned to join 135 Saul at Gilgal.
13:5 For the battle with Israel the Philistines had amassed 3,000 136 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 13:6 The men of Israel realized they had a problem because their army was hard pressed. So the army hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, strongholds, 137 and cisterns. 13:7 Some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan River 138 to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal; the entire army that was with him was terrified. 13:8 He waited for seven days, the time period indicated by Samuel. 139 But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army began to abandon Saul. 140
13:9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” Then he offered a burnt offering. 13:10 Just when he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel appeared on the scene. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. 141
13:11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “When I saw that the army had started to abandon me 142 and that you didn’t come at the appointed time and that the Philistines had assembled at Micmash, 13:12 I thought, 143 ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated 144 to offer the burnt offering.”
13:13 Then Samuel said to Saul, “You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed 145 the commandment that the Lord your God gave 146 you. Had you done that, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever! 13:14 But now your kingdom will not continue! The Lord has sought out 147 for himself a man who is loyal to him 148 and the Lord has appointed 149 him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the Lord commanded you.”
13:15 Then Samuel set out and went up from Gilgal 150 to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. 151 Saul mustered the army that remained with him; there were about six hundred men. 13:16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the army that remained with them stayed in Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Micmash. 152 13:17 Raiding bands went out from the camp of the Philistines in three groups. One band turned toward the road leading to Ophrah by the land of Shual; 13:18 another band turned toward the road leading to Beth Horon; and yet another band turned toward the road leading to the border that overlooks the valley of Zeboim in the direction of the desert.
13:19 A blacksmith could not be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines had said, “This will prevent the Hebrews from making swords and spears.” 13:20 So all Israel had to go down to the Philistines in order to get their plowshares, cutting instruments, axes, and sickles 153 sharpened. 13:21 They charged 154 two-thirds of a shekel 155 to sharpen plowshares and cutting instruments, and a third of a shekel 156 to sharpen picks and axes, and to set ox goads. 13:22 So on the day of the battle no sword or spear was to be found in the hand of anyone in the army that was with Saul and Jonathan. No one but Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
13:23 A garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash. 14:1 Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, 157 “Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.” But he did not let his father know.
14:2 Now Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree in Migron, on the outskirts of Gibeah. The army that was with him numbered about six hundred men. 14:3 Now Ahijah was carrying 158 an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, who was the brother of Ichabod and a son of Phineas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh. The army was unaware that Jonathan had left.
14:4 Now there was a steep cliff on each side of the pass through which Jonathan intended to go to reach the Philistine garrison. One cliff was named Bozez, the other Seneh. 14:5 The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba.
14:6 Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will intervene 159 for us. Nothing can prevent the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few.” 14:7 His armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is on your mind. 160 Do as you’re inclined. I’m with you all the way!” 161
14:8 Jonathan replied, “All right! 162 We’ll go over to these men and fight them. 14:9 If they say to us, ‘Stay put until we approach you,’ we will stay 163 right there and not go up to them. 14:10 But if they say, ‘Come up against us,’ we will go up. For in that case the Lord has given them into our hand – it will be a sign to us.”
14:11 When they 164 made themselves known to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, “Look! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves.” 14:12 Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer, “Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!” 165 Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up behind me, for the Lord has given 166 them into the hand of Israel!”
14:13 Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines, 167 while his armor bearer came along behind him and killed them. 168 14:14 In this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre.
14:15 Then fear overwhelmed 169 those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God. 170
14:16 Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin 171 looked on 172 as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another. 173 14:17 So Saul said to the army that was with him, “Muster the troops and see who is no longer with us.” When they mustered the troops, 174 Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 14:18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring near the ephod,” 175 for he was at that time wearing the ephod. 176 14:19 While 177 Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistines’ camp was becoming greater and greater. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”
14:20 Saul and all the army that was with him assembled and marched into battle, where they found 178 the Philistines in total panic killing one another with their swords. 179 14:21 The Hebrews who had earlier gone over to the Philistine side 180 joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 14:22 When all the Israelites who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they too pursued them in battle. 14:23 So the Lord delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven. 181
14:24 Now the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had made the army agree to this oath: “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening! I will get my vengeance on my enemies!” So no one in the army ate anything.
14:25 Now the whole army 182 entered the forest and there was honey on the ground. 183 14:26 When the army entered the forest, they saw 184 the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, 185 for the army was afraid of the oath. 14:27 But Jonathan had not heard about the oath his father had made the army take. He extended the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he ate it, 186 his eyes gleamed. 187 14:28 Then someone from the army informed him, “Your father put the army under a strict oath 188 saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today!’ That is why the army is tired.” 14:29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has caused trouble for the land. See how my eyes gleamed 189 when I tasted just a little of this honey. 14:30 Certainly if the army had eaten some of the enemies’ provisions that they came across today, would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
14:31 On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired. 14:32 So the army rushed greedily on 190 the 191 plunder, confiscating sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground, and the army ate them blood and all.
14:33 Now it was reported to Saul, “Look, the army is sinning against the Lord by eating even the blood.” He said, “All of you have broken the covenant! 192 Roll a large stone over here to me.” 14:34 Then Saul said, “Scatter out among the army and say to them, ‘Each of you bring to me your ox and sheep and slaughter them in this spot and eat. But don’t sin against the Lord by eating the blood.” So that night each one brought his ox and slaughtered it there. 193 14:35 Then Saul built an altar for the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar for the Lord.
14:36 Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines at night; we will rout 194 them until the break of day. 195 We won’t leave any of them alive!” 196 They replied, “Do whatever seems best to you.” 197 But the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.” 14:37 So Saul asked God, “Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day.
14:38 Then Saul said, “All you leaders of the army come here. Find out 198 how this sin occurred today. 14:39 For as surely as the Lord, the deliverer of Israel, lives, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan, he will certainly die!” But no one from the army said anything. 199
14:40 Then he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The army replied to Saul, “Do whatever you think is best.”
14:41 Then Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, O Lord God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, respond with Thummim.” 200 Then Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, while the army was exonerated. 201 14:42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!” 202 Jonathan was indicated by lot.
14:43 So Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him, “I used the end of the staff that was in my hand to taste a little honey. I must die!” 203 14:44 Saul said, “God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn’t die!” 204
14:45 But the army said to Saul, “Should Jonathan, who won this great victory in Israel, die? May it never be! As surely as the Lord lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground! For it is with the help of God that he has acted today.” So the army rescued Jonathan from death. 205
14:46 Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home. 206 14:47 After Saul had secured his royal position over Israel, he fought against all their 207 enemies on all sides – the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. In every direction that he turned he was victorious. 208 14:48 He fought bravely, striking down the Amalekites and delivering Israel from the hand of its enemies. 209
14:49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. 210 He had two daughters; the older one was named Merab and the younger Michal. 14:50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the general in command of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 211 14:51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son 212 of Abiel.
14:52 There was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. So whenever Saul saw anyone who was a warrior or a brave individual, he would conscript him.
15:1 Then Samuel said to Saul, “I was the one the Lord sent to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now listen to what the Lord says. 213 15:2 Here is what the Lord of hosts says: ‘I carefully observed how the Amalekites opposed 214 Israel along the way when Israel 215 came up from Egypt. 15:3 So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don’t spare 216 them. Put them to death – man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.’”
15:4 So Saul assembled 217 the army 218 and mustered them at Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. 15:5 Saul proceeded to the city 219 of Amalek, where he set an ambush 220 in the wadi. 221 15:6 Saul said to the Kenites, “Go on and leave! Go down from among the Amalekites! Otherwise I will sweep you away 222 with them! After all, you were kind to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites withdrew from among the Amalekites.
15:7 Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to 223 Shur, which is next to Egypt. 15:8 He captured King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but he executed all Agag’s people 224 with the sword. 15:9 However, Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the flock, the cattle, the fatlings, 225 and the lambs, as well as everything else that was of value. 226 They were not willing to slaughter them. But they did slaughter everything that was despised 227 and worthless.
15:10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: 15:11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.” Samuel became angry and he cried out to the Lord all that night.
15:12 Then Samuel got up early to meet Saul the next morning. But Samuel was informed, “Saul has gone to Carmel where 228 he is setting up a monument for himself. Then Samuel left 229 and went down to Gilgal.” 230 15:13 When Samuel came to him, 231 Saul said to him, “May the Lord bless you! I have done what the Lord said.”
15:14 Samuel replied, “If that is the case, 232 then what is this sound of sheep in my ears and the sound of cattle that I hear?” 15:15 Saul said, “They were brought 233 from the Amalekites; the army spared the best of the flocks and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord our God. But everything else we slaughtered.”
15:16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait a minute! 234 Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul 235 said to him, “Tell me.” 15:17 Samuel said, “Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord chose 236 you as king over Israel. 15:18 The Lord sent you on a campaign 237 saying, ‘Go and exterminate those sinful Amalekites! Fight against them until you 238 have destroyed them.’ 15:19 Why haven’t you obeyed 239 the Lord? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the Lord’s estimation.” 240
15:20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed 241 the Lord! I went on the campaign 242 the Lord sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. 15:21 But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle – the best of what was to be slaughtered – to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
15:22 Then Samuel said,
“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as he does in obedience? 243
Certainly, 244 obedience 245 is better than sacrifice;
paying attention is better than 246 the fat of rams.
15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as 247 king.”
15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the Lord commanded 248 and what you said as well. 249 For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes. 250 15:25 Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship 251 the Lord.”
15:26 Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel!”
15:27 When Samuel turned to leave, Saul 252 grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore. 15:28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to one of your colleagues who is better than you! 15:29 The Preeminent One 253 of Israel does not go back on his word 254 or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.” 255 15:30 Saul 256 again replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the Lord your God.” 15:31 So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
15:32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites.” So Agag came to him trembling, 257 thinking to himself, 258 “Surely death is bitter!” 259 15:33 Samuel said, “Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!” Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the Lord.
15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 15:35 Until the day he 260 died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
[7:2] 1 tn Heb “house” (also in the following verse).
[7:2] 2 tn Heb “mourned after”; NIV “mourned and sought after”; KJV, NRSV “lamented after”; NAB “turned to”; NCV “began to follow…again.”
[7:3] 3 tn Heb “the Ashtarot” (plural; also in the following verse). The words “images of” are supplied for clarity.
[7:3] 4 tn Following imperatives, the jussive verbal form with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose/result.
[7:4] 5 tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”
[7:6] 7 tn Heb “judged”; NAB “began to judge”; TEV “settled disputes among.”
[7:8] 9 tc The LXX reads “your God” rather than the MT’s “our God.”
[7:8] 10 tn After the negated jussive, the prefixed verbal form with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose/result.
[7:9] 11 tn Heb “a lamb of milk”; NAB “an unweaned lamb”; NIV “a suckling lamb”; NCV “a baby lamb.”
[7:10] 12 tn Heb “approached for battle against Israel.”
[7:12] 14 tn Cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT “Jeshanah.”
[7:12] 15 sn The name Ebenezer (אֶבֶן הָעָזֶר) means “stone of help” in Hebrew (cf. TEV); NLT adds the meaning parenthetically after the name.
[7:15] 17 tn Heb “judged” (also in v. 17).
[7:16] 18 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[7:17] 19 tn Or perhaps “settled disputes for” (cf. NLT “would hear cases there”; NRSV “administered justice there”).
[8:3] 20 tn Heb “walk in” (also in v. 5).
[8:3] 21 tn Heb “and they turned aside after unjust gain and took bribes and perverted justice.”
[8:5] 22 tn Heb “judge” (also in v. 6).
[8:7] 24 tn Heb “Listen to the voice of the people, to all which they say to you.”
[8:8] 25 tn Heb “according to all the deeds which they have done.”
[8:9] 26 tn Heb “and now, listen to their voice.”
[8:9] 27 tn The infinitive absolute appears before the imperative for emphasis.
[8:9] 28 tn Heb “and tell them the manner of the king who will rule over them.”
[8:12] 29 tc The numbers of v. 12 are confused in the Greek and Syriac versions. For “fifties” the LXX has “hundreds.” The Syriac Peshitta has “heads of thousands and heads of hundreds and heads of fifties and heads of tens,” perhaps reflecting influence from Deut 1:15.
[8:15] 30 tn Or “eunuchs” (so NAB); NIV “officials”; KJV, NASB, NRSV, NLT “officers.”
[8:18] 31 tc The LXX adds “because you have chosen for yourselves a king.”
[8:19] 32 tn Heb “and the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel.”
[8:20] 33 tn Heb “and go out before us.”
[8:21] 34 tn Heb “and Samuel heard all the words of the people and he spoke them into the ears of the
[8:22] 35 tn Heb “listen to their voice.”
[9:3] 36 tn Heb “became lost.”
[9:3] 37 tn Heb “and arise, go.”
[9:3] 38 tc The Syriac Peshitta includes the following words: “So Saul arose and went out. He took with him one of the boys and went out to look for his father’s donkeys.”
[9:4] 39 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[9:6] 40 tn The infinitive absolute precedes the verb for emphasis.
[9:6] 41 tn Heb “our way on which we have gone.”
[9:8] 43 sn A quarter shekel of silver would weigh about a tenth of an ounce (about 3 grams).
[9:10] 45 tn Heb “your word is good.”
[9:13] 46 tc The MT has “him” (אֹתוֹ, ’oto) here, in addition to the “him” at the end of the verse. The ancient versions attest to only one occurrence of the pronoun, although it is possible that this is due to translation technique rather than to their having a Hebrew text with the pronoun used only once. The present translation assumes textual duplication in the MT and does not attempt to represent the pronoun twice. However, for a defense of the MT here, with the suggested translation “for him just now – you will find him,” see S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 72-73.
[9:14] 47 tn Heb “to meet them.” This may indicate purpose on Samuel’s part. The next sentence indicates that the meeting was by design, not just an accident.
[9:15] 48 tn Heb “uncovered the ear of.”
[9:19] 51 tn Heb “all that is in your heart.”
[9:20] 52 tn Heb “do not fix your heart.”
[9:20] 53 tn Heb “and all the house of your father.”
[9:22] 54 tn Heb “took and brought.”
[9:24] 55 tn Heb “he” (also in v. 25); the referent (Samuel) has been specified in both places in the translation for clarity.
[9:27] 56 tc This statement is absent in the LXX (with the exception of Origen), an Old Latin
[9:27] 57 tn The words “Samuel then said” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[10:1] 58 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:1] 59 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Samuel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:1] 60 tn Heb “Is it not that the
[10:1] 61 tn That is, “anointed.”
[10:1] 62 tc The MT reads simply “Is it not that the
[10:2] 63 sn In the Hebrew text the pronoun you is plural, suggesting that Saul’s father was concerned about his son and the servant who accompanied him.
[10:3] 64 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[10:5] 65 tn Or “sentries.” Some translate “outpost” (NIV) or “garrison” (NAB, NRSV, NLT) here (see 1 Sam 13:3). The noun is plural in the Hebrew text, but the LXX and other ancient witnesses read a singular noun here.
[10:7] 66 sn In light of Saul’s commission to be Israel’s deliverer (see v. 1), it is likely that some type of military action against the Philistines (see v.5) is implied.
[10:9] 67 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:9] 68 tn Heb “turned his shoulder.”
[10:9] 69 tn Heb “God turned for him another heart”; NAB, NRSV “gave him another heart”; NIV, NCV “changed Saul’s heart”; TEV “gave Saul a new nature”; CEV “made Saul feel like a different person.”
[10:10] 70 tc Two medieval Hebrew
[10:10] 71 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:13] 72 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:14] 73 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:14] 74 tn Heb “And we saw that they were not.”
[10:15] 75 tc In the LXX and Vulgate the pronoun “you” is singular, referring specifically to Saul. In the MT it is plural, including Saul’s servant as well.
[10:16] 76 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:18] 77 tn Heb “hand” (also later in this verse).
[10:19] 78 tc The translation follows many medieval Hebrew
[10:22] 79 tn Or “baggage” (so many English versions); KJV “stuff”; TEV “supplies.”
[10:25] 80 tn Heb “the regulation of the kingship.” This probably refers to the regulations pertaining to kingship given to Moses (see Deut 17:14-20).
[10:27] 81 tn Heb “sons of worthlessness” (see 2:12).
[10:27] 82 tc In place of the MT (“and it was like one being silent”) the LXX has “after about a month,” taking the expression with the first part of the following chapter rather than with 10:27. Some Hebrew support for this reading appears in the corrected hand of a Qumran
[11:1] 83 tc 4QSama and Josephus (Ant. 6.68-71) attest to a longer form of text at this point. The addition explains Nahash’s practice of enemy mutilation, and by so doing provides a smoother transition to the following paragraph than is found in the MT. The NRSV adopts this reading, with the following English translation: “Now Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the Gadites and the Reubenites. He would gouge out the right eye of each of them and would not grant Israel a deliverer. No one was left of the Israelites across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. But there were seven thousand men who had escaped from the Ammonites and had entered Jabesh-gilead.” This reading should not be lightly dismissed; it may in fact provide a text superior to that of the MT and the ancient versions. But the external evidence for it is so limited as to induce caution; the present translation instead follows the MT. However, for a reasonable case for including this reading in the text see the discussions in P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 199, and R. W. Klein, 1 Samuel (WBC), 103.
[11:1] 84 sn The name “Nahash” means “serpent” in Hebrew.
[11:1] 85 tn Heb “went up and camped”; NIV, NRSV “went up and besieged.”
[11:4] 86 tn Heb “to Gibeah of Saul.”
[11:4] 87 tn Heb “lifted their voice and wept.”
[11:5] 88 tn Or perhaps, “his oxen.” On this use of the definite article see Joüon 2:506-7 §137.f.
[11:5] 89 tn Heb “the matters of.”
[11:7] 91 tn Heb “like one man.”
[11:8] 92 tc The LXX and two Old Latin
[11:8] 93 tc The LXX, two Old Latin
[11:10] 94 tn The second masculine plural forms in this quotation indicate that Nahash and his army are addressed.
[11:10] 95 tn Heb “according to all that is good in your eyes.”
[11:11] 96 tn Heb “Ammon.” By metonymy the name “Ammon” is used collectively for the soldiers in the Ammonite army.
[11:15] 97 tn Heb “and there in Gilgal.”
[12:1] 98 tn Heb “Look, I have listened to your voice.”
[12:1] 99 tn Heb “to all which you said to me.”
[12:1] 100 tn Heb “and I have installed a king over you.”
[12:3] 101 tn Heb “anointed [one].”
[12:3] 102 tn The words “tell me” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[12:5] 103 tn Heb “anointed [one].”
[12:5] 104 tn Heb “that you have not found anything in my hand.”
[12:6] 105 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 7, 8).
[12:7] 106 tn Heb “and I will enter into judgment with you” (NRSV similar); NAB “and I shall arraign you.”
[12:7] 107 tn Heb “all the just actions which he has done with you and with your fathers.”
[12:9] 108 tn Heb “sold” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “he allowed them to fall into the clutches of Sisera”; NLT “he let them be conquered by Sisera.”
[12:9] 109 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
[12:9] 110 tn Heb “captain of the host of Hazor.”
[12:10] 111 tn Heb “and said.”
[12:10] 112 tn Heb “the Ashtarot” (plural). The words “images of” are supplied in both vv. 3 and 4 for clarity.
[12:10] 113 tn After the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose/result.
[12:11] 114 sn Jerub-Baal (יְרֻבַּעַל) is also known as Gideon (see Judg 6:32). The Book of Judges uses both names for him.
[12:11] 115 tc The MT has “Bedan” (בְּדָן) here (cf. KJV, NASB, CEV). But a deliverer by this name is not elsewhere mentioned in the OT. The translation follows the LXX and the Syriac Peshitta in reading “Barak.”
[12:11] 116 tc In the ancient versions there is some confusion with regard to these names, both with regard to the particular names selected for mention and with regard to the order in which they are listed. For example, the LXX has “Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel.” But the Targum has “Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, and Samuel,” while the Syriac Peshitta has “Deborah, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson.”
[12:14] 117 tn Heb “and you listen to his voice.”
[12:14] 118 tn Heb “the mouth of the
[12:14] 119 tn The words “all will be well” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[12:15] 120 tn Heb “listen to the voice of.”
[12:15] 121 tc The LXX reads “your king” rather than the MT’s “your fathers.” The latter makes little sense here. Some follow MT, but translate “as it was against your fathers.” See P. K. McCarter, 1 Samuel (AB), 212.
[12:19] 122 tn Heb “for we have added to all our sins an evil [thing] by asking for ourselves a king.”
[12:20] 123 tn Heb “you have done all this evil.”
[12:21] 124 tn Or “useless” (so NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “nothing”; NASB “futile”; TEV “are not real.”
[12:22] 125 tn Heb “on account of his great name.”
[13:1] 126 tc The MT does not have “thirty.” A number appears to have dropped out of the Hebrew text here, since as it stands the MT (literally, “a son of a year”) must mean that Saul was only one year old when he began to reign! The KJV, attempting to resolve this, reads “Saul reigned one year,” but that is not the normal meaning of the Hebrew text represented by the MT. Although most LXX
[13:1] 127 tc The MT has “two years” here. If this number is to be accepted as correct, the meaning apparently would be that after a lapse of two years at the beginning of Saul’s reign, he then went about the task of consolidating an army as described in what follows (cf. KJV, ASV, CEV). But if the statement in v. 1 is intended to be a comprehensive report on the length of Saul’s reign, the number is too small. According to Acts 13:21 Saul reigned for forty years. Some English versions (e.g., NIV, NCV, NLT), taking this forty to be a round number, add it to the “two years” of the MT and translate the number in 2 Sam 13:1 as “forty-two years.” While this is an acceptable option, the present translation instead replaces the MT’s “two” with the figure “forty.” Admittedly the textual evidence for this decision is weak, but the same can be said of any attempt to restore sense to this difficult text (note the ellipsis marks at this point in NAB, NRSV). The Syriac Peshitta lacks this part of v. 1.
[13:2] 128 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[13:2] 129 tn Heb “at Gibeah of Benjamin.” The words “in the territory” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
[13:2] 130 tn Heb “each one to his tents.”
[13:3] 131 tn Or perhaps “struck down the Philistine official.” See the note at 1 Sam 10:5. Cf. TEV “killed the Philistine commander.”
[13:3] 132 tn Heb “blew the ram’s horn in.”
[13:4] 133 tn The words “this message” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[13:4] 134 tn Heb “stinks.” The figurative language indicates that Israel had become repulsive to the Philistines.
[13:4] 135 tn Heb “were summoned after.”
[13:5] 136 tn Many English versions (e.g., KJV, NASB, NRSV, TEV) read “30,000” here.
[13:6] 137 tn Or perhaps “vaults.” This rare term also occurs in Judg 9:46, 49. Cf. KJV “high places”; ASV “coverts”; NAB “caverns”; NASB “cellars”; NIV, NCV, TEV “pits”; NRSV, NLT “tombs.”
[13:7] 138 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[13:8] 139 tn This apparently refers to the instructions given by Samuel in 1 Sam 10:8. If so, several years had passed. On the relationship between chs. 10 and 13, see V. P. Long, The Art of Biblical History (FCI), 201-23.
[13:8] 140 tn Heb “dispersed from upon him”; NAB, NRSV “began to slip away.”
[13:10] 141 tn Heb “to bless him.”
[13:11] 142 tn Heb “dispersed from upon me.”
[13:12] 144 tn Or “I forced myself” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV, CEV); NAB “So in my anxiety I offered”; NIV “I felt compelled.”
[13:13] 146 tn Heb “commanded.”
[13:14] 147 tn This verb form, as well as the one that follows (“appointed”), indicates completed action from the standpoint of the speaker. This does not necessarily mean that the Lord had already conducted his search and made his choice, however. The forms may be used for rhetorical effect to emphasize the certainty of the action. The divine search for a new king is as good as done, emphasizing that the days of Saul’s dynasty are numbered.
[13:14] 148 tn Heb “according to his heart.” The idiomatic expression means to be like-minded with another, as its use in 1 Sam 14:7 indicates.
[13:14] 149 tn Heb “commanded.”
[13:15] 150 tc The LXX and two Old Latin
[13:15] 151 tn Heb “at Gibeah of Benjamin.” The words “in the territory” are supplied in the translation for clarity (likewise in the following verse).
[13:16] 152 tn The juxtaposition of disjunctive clauses in v.16 indicates synchronic action.
[13:20] 153 tc The translation follows the LXX (“their sickle”) here, rather than the MT “plowshares,” which is due to dittography from the word earlier in the verse.
[13:21] 154 tn Heb “the price was.” The meaning of the Hebrew word פְּצִירָה (pÿtsirah) is uncertain. This is the only place it occurs in the OT. Some propose the meaning “sharpening,” but “price” is a more likely meaning if the following term refers to a weight (see the following note on the word “shekel”). See P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 238.
[13:21] 155 tn This word, which appears only here in the OT, probably refers to a stone weight. Stones marked פִּים (pim) have been found in excavations of Palestinian sites. The average weight of such stones is 0.268 ounces, which is equivalent to about two-thirds of a shekel. This probably refers to the price charged by the Philistines for the services listed. See P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 238; DNWSI 2:910; and G. I. Davies, Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions, 259.
[13:21] 156 tc Heb “and for a third, a pick.” The Hebrew text suffers from haplography at this point. The translation follows the textual reconstruction offered by P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 235.
[14:1] 157 tn Or “the servant who was carrying his military equipment” (likewise in vv. 6, 7, 12, 13, 14).
[14:3] 158 tn Heb “bearing.” Many English versions understand this verb to mean “wearing” (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NLT).
[14:7] 160 tn Heb “in your heart.”
[14:7] 161 tn Heb “Look, I am with you, according to your heart.” See the note at 13:14.
[14:11] 164 tn Heb “the two of them.”
[14:12] 166 tn The perfect verbal form is used rhetorically here to express Jonathan’s certitude. As far as he is concerned, the victory is as good as won and can be described as such.
[14:13] 167 tn Heb “and they fell before Jonathan.”
[14:13] 168 tn Heb “and the one carrying his equipment was killing after him.”
[14:15] 169 tn Heb “fell upon.”
[14:15] 170 tn Heb “and it was by the fear of God.” The translation understands this to mean that God was the source or cause of the fear experienced by the Philistines. This seems to be the most straightforward reading of the sentence. It is possible, however, that the word “God” functions here simply to intensify the accompanying word “fear,” in which one might translate “a very great fear” (cf. NAB, NRSV). It is clear that on some occasions that the divine name carries such a superlative nuance. For examples see Joüon 2:525 §141.n.
[14:16] 171 tn Heb “at Gibeah of Benjamin.” The words “in the territory” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
[14:16] 172 tn Heb “saw, and look!”
[14:16] 173 tn Heb “the crowd melted and went, even here.”
[14:17] 174 tn Heb “and they mustered the troops, and look!”
[14:18] 175 tc Heb “the ark of God.” It seems unlikely that Saul would call for the ark, which was several miles away in Kiriath-jearim (see 1 Sam 7:2). The LXX and an Old Latin
[14:18] 176 tc Heb “for the ark of God was in that day, and the sons of Israel.” The translation follows the text of some Greek manuscripts. See the previous note.
[14:19] 177 tn Or perhaps “until.”
[14:20] 178 tn Heb “and look, there was”
[14:20] 179 tn Heb “the sword of a man against his companion, a very great panic.”
[14:21] 180 tn Heb “and the Hebrews were to the Philistines formerly, who went up with them in the camp all around.”
[14:23] 181 tc The LXX includes the following words: “And all the people were with Saul, about ten thousand men. And the battle extended to the entire city on mount Ephraim.”
[14:25] 182 tn Heb “all the land.”
[14:25] 183 tn Heb “the surface of the field.”
[14:26] 184 tn Heb “and the army entered the forest, and look!”
[14:26] 185 tn Heb “and there was no one putting his hand to his mouth.”
[14:27] 186 tn Heb “and he returned his hand to his mouth.”
[14:27] 187 tc The translation follows the Qere and several medieval Hebrew
[14:28] 188 tn Heb “your father surely put the army under an oath.” The infinitive absolute is used before the finite verb to emphasize the solemn nature of the oath.
[14:29] 189 tc The LXX reads “saw.” See v. 27.
[14:32] 190 tc The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew
[14:32] 191 tc The translation reads with the Qere and many medieval Hebrew
[14:33] 192 tn Heb “You have acted deceptively.” In this context the verb refers to violating an agreement, in this case the dietary and sacrificial regulations of the Mosaic law. The verb form is second masculine plural; apparently Saul here addresses those who are eating the animals.
[14:34] 193 tn Heb “and all the army brought near, each his ox by his hand, and they slaughtered there.”
[14:36] 195 tn Heb “until the light of the morning.”
[14:36] 196 tn Heb “and there will not be left among them a man.”
[14:36] 197 tn Heb “all that is good in your eyes.” So also in v. 40.
[14:38] 198 tn Heb “know and see.”
[14:39] 199 tn Heb “and there was no one answering from all the army.”
[14:41] 200 tc Heb “to the
[14:41] 201 tn Heb “went out.”
[14:42] 202 tc The LXX includes the following words: “Whomever the Lord will indicate by the lot, let him die! And the people said to Saul, ‘It is not this word.’ But Saul prevailed over the people, and they cast lots between him and between Jonathan his son.”
[14:43] 203 tn Heb “Look, I, I will die.” Apparently Jonathan is acquiescing to his anticipated fate of death. However, the words may be taken as sarcastic (“Here I am about to die!”) or as a question, “Must I now die?” (cf. NAB, NIV, NCV, NLT).
[14:44] 204 tn Heb “So God will do and so he will add, surely you will certainly die, Jonathan.”
[14:45] 205 tn Heb “and he did not die.”
[14:46] 206 tn Heb “to their place.”
[14:47] 207 tn Heb “his,” which could refer to Israel or to Saul.
[14:47] 208 tc The translation follows the LXX (“he was delivered”), rather than the MT, which reads, “he acted wickedly.”
[14:48] 209 tn Heb “plunderers.”
[14:49] 210 sn The list differs from others. In 1 Sam 31:2 (= 1 Chr 10:2), Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua are listed as Saul’s sons, while 1 Chr 8:33 and 9:39 list Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
[14:50] 211 sn The word “uncle” can modify either Abner or Ner. See the note on the word “son” in v. 51 for further discussion.
[14:51] 212 tn 1 Chr 9:35-36 indicates that Jeiel (= Abiel?) had two sons (among others) named Ner and Kish (see also 1 Sam 9:1 and 1 Chr 8:30, where some Greek manuscripts include the name Ner, though it is absent in the Hebrew text). If this Kish was the father of Saul and Ner was the father of Abner, then Saul and Abner were cousins. However, according to 1 Chr 8:33 and 9:39, Ner, not Abiel, was the father of Kish. In this case, Kish and Abner were brothers and Abner was Saul’s uncle. The simplest solution to the problem is to see two men named Kish in the genealogy: Abiel (Jeiel) was the father of Ner and Kish I. Ner was the father of Abner and Kish II. Kish II was the father of Saul. The Kish mentioned in 1 Sam 9:1 was the father of Saul (v.2) and must be identified as Kish II. In this case the genealogy is “gapped,” with Ner being omitted. Abiel was the grandfather of Kish II.
[15:1] 213 tn Heb “to the voice of the words of the
[15:2] 214 tn Heb “what Amalek did to Israel, how he placed against him.”
[15:2] 215 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Israel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[15:3] 216 tn Or perhaps “don’t take pity on” (cf. CEV).
[15:4] 217 tn Heb “caused the people to hear.”
[15:5] 219 tc The LXX has the plural here, “cities.”
[15:5] 220 tc The translation follows the LXX and Vulgate which assume a reading וַיָּאָרֶב (vayya’arev, “and he set an ambush,” from the root ארב [’rv] with quiescence of alef) rather than the MT, which has וַיָּרֶב (vayyareb, “and he contended,” from the root ריב [ryv]).
[15:5] 221 tn That is, “the dry stream bed.”
[15:6] 222 tc The translation follows the Syriac Peshitta and Vulgate which assume a reading אֶסִפְךָ (’esfÿka, “I sweep you away,” from the root ספה [sfh]) rather than the MT אֹסִפְךָ (’osifÿka, “I am gathering you,” from the root אסף[’sf]).
[15:7] 223 tn Heb “[as] you enter.”
[15:8] 224 tn Heb “all the people.” For clarity “Agag’s” has been supplied in the translation.
[15:9] 225 tn The Hebrew text is difficult here. We should probably read וְהַמַּשְׂמַנִּים (vÿhammasmannim, “the fat ones”) rather than the MT וְהַמִּשְׂנִים (vÿhammisnim, “the second ones”). However, if the MT is retained, the sense may be as the Jewish commentator Kimchi supposed: the second-born young, thought to be better than the firstlings. (For discussion see S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 123-24.)
[15:9] 227 tc The MT has here the very odd form נְמִבְזָה (nÿmivzah), but this is apparently due to a scribal error. The translation follows instead the Niphal participle נִבְזָה (nivzah).
[15:12] 228 tn Heb “and look.”
[15:12] 229 tn Heb “and he turned and crossed over.”
[15:12] 230 tc At the end of v. 12 the LXX and one Old Latin
[15:14] 232 tn The words “if that is the case” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[15:15] 233 tn Heb “they brought them.”
[15:16] 234 tn Or perhaps “be quiet.”
[15:16] 235 tc The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew
[15:17] 236 tn Heb “anointed.”
[15:18] 238 tc The translation follows the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Targum in reading the second person singular suffix (“you”) rather than the third person plural suffix of the MT (“they”).
[15:19] 239 tn Heb “listened to the voice of the
[15:19] 240 tn Heb “you have done what is evil in the eyes of the
[15:20] 241 tn Heb “listened to the voice of the
[15:22] 243 tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the
[15:22] 245 tn Heb “listening.”
[15:22] 246 tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).
[15:23] 247 tn Or “from [being].”
[15:24] 248 tn Heb “the mouth of the
[15:24] 249 tn Heb “and your words.”
[15:24] 250 tn Heb “and I listened to their voice.”
[15:25] 251 tn Following the imperative, the cohortative with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose/result.
[15:27] 252 tn Heb “he,” but Saul is clearly the referent. A Qumran
[15:29] 253 tn Heb “splendor,” used here by metonymy as a title for the
[15:29] 254 tn Or perhaps “does not lie.”
[15:29] 255 sn This observation marks the preceding statement (v. 28) as an unconditional, unalterable decree. When God makes such a decree he will not alter it or change his mind. This does not mean that God never deviates from his stated intentions or changes his mind. On the contrary, several passages describe him as changing his mind. In fact, his willingness to do so is one of his fundamental divine attributes (see Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). For a fuller discussion see R. B. Chisholm, Jr., “Does God Change His Mind?” BSac 152 (1995): 387-99.
[15:30] 256 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[15:32] 257 tn The MT reading מַעֲדַנֹּת (ma’adannot, literally, “bonds,” used here adverbially, “in bonds”) is difficult. The word is found only here and in Job 38:31. Part of the problem lies in determining the root of the word. Some scholars have taken it to be from the root ענד (’nd, “to bind around”), but this assumes a metathesis of two of the letters of the root. Others take it from the root עדן (’dn) with the meaning “voluptuously,” but this does not seem to fit the context. It seems better to understand the word to be from the root מעד (m’d, “to totter” or “shake”). In that case it describes the fear that Agag experienced in realizing the mortal danger that he faced as he approached Samuel. This is the way that the LXX translators understood the word, rendering it by the Greek participle τρέμον (tremon, “trembling”).
[15:32] 258 tn Heb “and Agag said.”
[15:32] 259 tc The text is difficult here. With the LXX, two Old Latin
