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.

Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told Samuel:

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

The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry.

“So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the Lord is about to do in your sight.

Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

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

Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the Lord.”

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

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

David was going back and forth from Saul in order to care for his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

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

When the Israelites returned from their hot pursuit of the Philistines, they looted their camp.

David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath’s weapons in his tent.

So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward.

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

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

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