<p class="bodytext">But the people refused to heed Samuel&#8217;s warning.<n id="1" /> Instead they said, &#8220;No! There will be a king over us!

<p class="bodytext">Saul accepted Jonathan&#8217;s advice<n id="1" /> and took an oath, &#8220;As surely as the <sc>Lordsc> lives, he will not be put to death.&#8221;

While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the <sc>Lordsc>, or else I will die!

But Saul swore an oath to her by the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;As surely as the <sc>Lordsc> lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">The priest replied to David, &#8220;I don&#8217;t have any ordinary bread at my disposal. Only holy bread is available, and then only if your soldiers<n id="1" /> have abstained from sexual relations with women.&#8221;<n id="2" />

Therefore I swore an oath to the house of Eli, &#8216;The sin of the house of Eli can never be forgiven by sacrifice or by grain offering.&#8217;&#8221;p>

If they say to us, &#8216;Stay put until we approach you,&#8217; we will stay<n id="1" /> right there and not go up to them.

For as surely as the <sc>Lordsc>, the deliverer of Israel, lives, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan, he will certainly die!&#8221; But no one from the army said anything.<n id="1" />p>

Samuel said, &#8220;Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The <sc>Lordsc> chose<n id="1" /> you as king over Israel.

If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, we will become your servants. But if I prevail against him and strike him down, you will become our servants and will serve us.&#8221;

If he should then say, &#8216;That&#8217;s fine,&#8217;<n id="1" /> then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me.<n id="2" />

So now swear to me in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s name<n id="1" /> that you will not kill<n id="2" /> my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father.&#8221;p>

God will severely punish David,<n id="1" /> if I leave alive until morning even one male<n id="2" /> from all those who belong to him!&#8221;p>

David went on to say, &#8220;As the <sc>Lordsc> lives, the <sc>Lordsc> himself will strike him down. Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away.

She made a vow saying, &#8220;O <sc>Lordsc> of hosts, if you will look with compassion<n id="1" /> on the suffering of your female servant,<n id="2" /> remembering me and not forgetting your servant, and give a male child<n id="3" /> to your servant, then I will dedicate him to the <sc>Lordsc> all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Even before they burned the fat, the priest&#8217;s attendant would come and say to the person who was making the sacrifice, &#8220;Hand over some meat for the priest to roast! He won&#8217;t take boiled meat from you, but only raw.&#8221;<n id="1" />

If a man sins against a man, one may appeal to God on his behalf. But if a man sins against the <sc>Lordsc>, who then will intercede for him?&#8221; But Eli&#8217;s sons<n id="1" /> would not listen to their father, for the <sc>Lordsc> had decided<n id="2" /> to kill them.p>

So Eli said to Samuel, &#8220;Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, &#8220;Speak, <sc>Lordsc>, for your servant is listening.&#8221; So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.p>

Eli<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;What message did he speak to you? Don&#8217;t conceal it from me. God will judge you severely<n id="2" /> if you conceal from me anything that he said to you!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">They replied, &#8220;If you are going to send the ark of<n id="1" /> the God of Israel back, don&#8217;t send it away empty. Be sure to return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you.&#8221;