She was very upset as she prayed to the Lord, and she was weeping uncontrollably.

Now the boy Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the Lord and with people.

Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him through God.

The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba.

But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.

His armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is on your mind. Do as you’re inclined. I’m with you all the way!”

Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, “Let David be my servant, for I really like him.”

Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back.

The next morning Jonathan, along with a young servant, went out to the field to meet David.

Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod.

David was very upset, for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the Lord his God.

Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another.

Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands’?”

So Saul assembled the army and mustered them at Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

Saul removed David from his presence and made him a commanding officer. David led the army out to battle and back.

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

For the battle with Israel the Philistines had amassed 3,000 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.

When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him.

After some time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, thinking, “I asked the Lord for him.