Saul and the Israelite army<n id="1" /> assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they arranged their battle lines to fight against<n id="2" /> the Philistines.

When Saul and all the Israelites<n id="1" /> heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.p>

They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army<n id="1" /> in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.&#8221;p>

When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated<n id="1" /> from his presence and were very afraid.p>

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

But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back.p>

Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

<p class="bodytext">Then David said to Abigail, &#8220;Praised<n id="1" /> be the <sc>Lord,sc> the God of Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me!

The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa.

I chose your ancestor<n id="1" /> from all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifice on my altar, to burn incense, and to bear the ephod before me. I gave to your ancestor&#8217;s house all the fire offerings made by the Israelites.

<p class="bodytext">The men of Israel said, &#8220;Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so<n id="1" /> to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father&#8217;s house exempt from tax obligations in Israel.&#8221;p>

The <sc>Lordsc> will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines!<n id="1" /> Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me.<n id="2" /> The <sc>Lordsc> will also hand the army<n id="3" /> of Israel over to the Philistines!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">When the men of Israel who were in the valley and across the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.p>

<p class="bodytext">Eli replied, &#8220;Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.&#8221;

Why are you<n id="1" /> scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place?<n id="2" /> You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel.&#8217;p>

You will see trouble in my dwelling place!<n id="1" /> Israel will experience blessings,<n id="2" /> but there will not be an old man in your<n id="3" /> house for all time.<n id="4" />

When the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc> arrived at the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly<n id="1" /> that the ground shook.p>

<p class="bodytext">So the Philistines fought. Israel was defeated; they all ran home.<n id="1" /> The slaughter was very great; thirty thousand foot soldiers fell in battle.

<t /><p class="bodytext">It was quite a long time &#8211; some twenty years in all &#8211; that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people<n id="1" /> of Israel longed for<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc>.