<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> shatters<n id="1" /> his adversaries;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he thunders against them from<n id="3" /> the heavens.p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> executes judgment to the ends of the earth.p> <p class="poetry">He will strengthen<n id="4" /> his kingp> <p class="poetry">and exalt the power<n id="5" /> of his anointed one.&#8221;<n id="6" />p>

When Saul and his servant<n id="1" /> arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul<n id="2" /> and he prophesied among them.

<p class="bodytext">David said to Saul, &#8220;Don&#8217;t let anyone be discouraged.<n id="1" /> Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!&#8221;

Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear, including his sword, his bow, and even his belt.p>

Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan<n id="1" /> in order to strike him down. So Jonathan was convinced<n id="2" /> that his father had decided to kill David.

<p class="bodytext">When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him,<n id="1" /> he told Abiathar the priest, &#8220;Bring the ephod!&#8221;

But when they got up early the following day, Dagon was again lying on the ground before the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>. The head of Dagon and his two hands were sheared off and were lying at the threshold. Only Dagon&#8217;s body was left intact.<n id="1" />

So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don&#8217;t spare<n id="1" /> them. Put them to death &#8211; man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

<t /><p class="bodytext">But Saul found out the whereabouts of David and the men who were with him.<n id="1" /> Now Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at an elevated location with his spear in hand and all his servants stationed around him.

Saul said to his servants who were stationed around him, &#8220;Listen up, you Benjaminites! Is Jesse&#8217;s son giving fields and vineyards to all of you? Or is he making all of you<n id="1" /> commanders and officers?<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time<n id="1" /> and was very intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing<n id="2" /> until morning&#8217;s light.

Then the king said to the messengers<n id="1" /> who were stationed beside him, &#8220;Turn and kill the priests of the <sc>Lordsc>, for they too have sided<n id="2" /> with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.&#8221; But the king&#8217;s servants refused to harm<n id="3" /> the priests of the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="bodytext">But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said<n id="1" /> to him, &#8220;Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don&#8217;t let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become<n id="2" /> our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?<n id="3" />