The next morning the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered up burnt sacrifices and token of peace.

When they took roll call, they noticed none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were there.

The people regretted what had happened to Benjamin because the Lord had weakened the Israelite tribes.

So Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law back home!”

This ought not to be, my sons! For the report that I hear circulating among the Lord’s people is not good.

So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.

But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!

So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.

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!”

Samuel said to the people, “Come on! Let’s go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”

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.

On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired.

He captured King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but he executed all Agag’s people with the sword.

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.”

The soldiers told him what had been promised, saying, “This is what will be done for the man who can strike him down.”

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

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.”

When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.

He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites.