The southern border extended from Bethel to Luz, and crossed to Arkite territory at Ataroth.

Then the survivors came down to the mighty ones; the Lord’s people came down to me as warriors.

Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother.

Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!”

He defeated them from Aroer all the way to Minnith – twenty cities in all, even as far as Abel Keramim! He wiped them out! The Israelites humiliated the Ammonites.

Manoah said to the Lord’s messenger, “Please stay here awhile, so we can prepare a young goat for you to eat.”

After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley.

So the Levite agreed to stay with the man; the young man was like a son to Micah.

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

He said to them, “Why do you behave in this way? For I hear about these evil things from all these people.

Then the Philistine said, “I defy Israel’s troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight each other!”

So Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.

It’s like the old proverb says: ‘From evil people evil proceeds.’ But my hand will not be against you.

The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands; I have not rebelled against my God.

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.

You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.

The Lord is alive! My protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king!

When David got up the next morning, the Lord had already spoken to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:

David said to Gad, “I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!”