All you Israelites, make a decision here!”

So all the men of Israel gathered together at the city as allies.

Eighteen thousand Benjaminites, all of them capable warriors, fell dead.

Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he used to give meat portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

This man Elkanah went up with all his family to make the yearly sacrifice to the Lord and to keep his vow,

Samuel continued to grow, and the Lord was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled.

All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.”

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

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”

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

Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.

So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all.

The men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you and you can do with us whatever you wish.”

Now the whole army entered the forest and there was honey on the ground.

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

When Saul and all the Israelites heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.

They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.”

When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated from his presence and were very afraid.

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