<t /><p class="bodytext">In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.

But his sons did not follow<n id="1" /> his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.<n id="2" />p>

When Saul counted them at Bezek, the Israelites were 300,000<n id="1" /> strong and the men of Judah numbered 30,000.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Saul was [thirty]<n id="1" /> years old when he began to reign; he ruled over Israel for [forty]<n id="2" /> years.

Saul, his son Jonathan, and the army that remained with them stayed in Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Micmash.<n id="1" />

Then Saul said, &#8220;Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!&#8221;<n id="1" /> Jonathan was indicated by lot.p>

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

Then Saul said, &#8220;Listen, son of Ahitub.&#8221; He replied, &#8220;Here I am, my lord.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him<n id="1" /> through God.

(Now Saul had given his daughter Michal, David&#8217;s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.)p>

<p class="bodytext">When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned.<n id="1" /> Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive.

So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together that day.p>

<n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem<n id="2" /> in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saul&#8217;s days he was old and well advanced in years.<n id="3" />

Jesse&#8217;s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the<n id="1" /> three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest.

But the next morning, the second day of the new moon, David&#8217;s place was still vacant. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, &#8220;Why has Jesse&#8217;s son not come to the meal yesterday or today?&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Saul became angry with Jonathan<n id="1" /> and said to him, &#8220;You stupid traitor!<n id="2" /> Don&#8217;t I realize that to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother&#8217;s nakedness you have chosen this son of Jesse?

For as long as<n id="1" /> this son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now, send some men<n id="2" /> and bring him to me. For he is as good as dead!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

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" />