When the residents of Ashdod got up early the next day,<n id="1" /> Dagon was lying on the ground before the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place.

Why harden your hearts like the Egyptians and Pharaoh did?<n id="1" /> When God<n id="2" /> treated them harshly, didn&#8217;t the Egyptians send the Israelites on their way?<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Now the residents of Beth Shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley. When they looked up and saw the ark, they were pleased at the sight.

<p class="bodytext">So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath Jearim, saying, &#8220;The Philistines have returned the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>. Come down here and take it back home with you.&#8221;p>

Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel,<n id="1" /> Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places.

<p class="bodytext">Then Samuel brought<n id="1" /> Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present.

Samuel said to the cook, &#8220;Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you &#8211; the one I asked you to keep with you.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;But they forgot the <sc>Lordsc> their God, so he gave<n id="1" /> them into the hand of Sisera, the general in command of Hazor&#8217;s<n id="2" /> army,<n id="3" /> and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

<p class="bodytext">So Samuel called to the <sc>Lordsc>, and the <sc>Lordsc> made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the <sc>Lordsc> and Samuel.

The <sc>Lordsc> will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation.<n id="1" /> The <sc>Lordsc> was pleased to make you his own people.

<p class="bodytext">So Saul assembled<n id="1" /> the army<n id="2" /> and mustered them at Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out<n id="1" /> to you.&#8221;p>

He replied, &#8220;Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc>. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.&#8221; So he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire and put a bronze helmet on his head. He also put body armor on him.

<p class="bodytext">So when David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. He still had the head of the Philistine in his hand.

<p class="bodytext">Then Michal took a household idol<n id="1" /> and put it on the bed. She put a quilt<n id="2" /> made of goat&#8217;s hair over its head<n id="3" /> and then covered the idol with a garment.

Don&#8217;t ever cut off your loyalty to my family, not even when the <sc>Lordsc> has cut off every one of David&#8217;s enemies from the face of the earth

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.

Stay with me. Don&#8217;t be afraid! Whoever<n id="1" /> seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me.&#8221;p>

David asked, &#8220;Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me and my men into Saul&#8217;s hand?&#8221; The <sc>Lordsc> said, &#8220;They will deliver you over.&#8221;p>