For all of you have conspired against me! No one informs me ¹  when my own son makes an agreement with this son of Jesse! Not one of you feels sorry for me or informs me that my own son has commissioned my own servant to hide in ambush against me, as is the case today!”

Then David instructed his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So each one strapped on his sword, and David also strapped on his sword. About four hundred men followed David up, while two hundred stayed behind with the equipment.

But the woman said to him, “Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed ¹  the mediums and magicians ²  from the land! Why are you trapping me ³  so you can put me to death?”

all their warriors set out and traveled throughout the night. They took Saul’s corpse and the corpses of his sons from the city wall of Beth Shan and went ¹  to Jabesh, where they burned them.

Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn’t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning ¹  evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life.

When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, “Praised be the Lord who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from Nabal! ¹  The Lord has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.” ²  Then David sent word to Abigail and asked her to become his wife.

But he would give a double ¹  portion to Hannah, because he especially loved her. ²  Now the Lord had not enabled her to have children. ³ 

As she continued praying to ¹  the Lord, Eli was watching her mouth.

So he ¹  said to her, “How often do you intend to get drunk? Put away your wine!”

I prayed for this boy, and the Lord has given me the request that I asked of him.

Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord. The boy was dressed in a linen ephod.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord; the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

However, Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He replied, “Here I am.”

Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.”

In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us ¹  and fight our battles.”

So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord. ¹ 

Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told ¹  Samuel:

Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.