But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors<n id="1" /> and worshiped instead<n id="2" /> the gods of the native peoples<n id="3" /> whom God had destroyed before them.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him.

The Philistines stayed right on the heels of<n id="1" /> Saul and his sons. They<n id="2" /> struck down Saul&#8217;s<n id="3" /> sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its surrounding towns<n id="1" /> away from the Philistines.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;So now, say this to my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies<n id="1" /> says: &#8220;I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd<n id="2" /> to make you a leader of my people Israel.