When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and said to himself, “Surely, here before the Lord stands his chosen king!”

Then Saul’s servants said to him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!”

Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question, but they gave him the same answer as before.

When David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him.

The Philistine drew steadily closer to David to attack him, while David quickly ran toward the battle line to attack the Philistine.

and Saul threw the spear, thinking, “I’ll nail David to the wall!” But David escaped from him on two different occasions.

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him.

When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod!”

So David’s servants went on their way. When they had returned, they came and told David all these things.

Both night and day they were a protective wall for us the entire time we were with them, while we were tending our flocks.

Now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord.

He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?

So Achish trusted David, thinking to himself, “He is really hated among his own people in Israel! From now on he will be my servant.”

The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

But Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!”

From that time onward it was a binding ordinance for Israel, right up to the present time.

So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together that day.

David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

Then Joab blew the ram’s horn and all the people stopped in their tracks. They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting.

“Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?