The five leaders of the Philistines watched what was happening and then returned to Ekron on the same day.

So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship ¹  the Lord.”

David was going back and forth ¹  from Saul in order to care for his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

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

Saul retained David ¹  on that day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house.

So David’s servants went on their way. When they had returned, they came and told David ¹  all these things.

So turn and leave ¹  in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!” ² 

They replied, “If you are going to send the ark of ¹  the God of Israel back, don’t send it away empty. Be sure to return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you.”

They got up early the next morning and after worshiping the Lord, they returned to their home at Ramah. Elkanah had marital relations with ¹  his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered ²  her.

Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli ¹  said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So he went back and lay down.

When the residents of Ashdod got up early the next day, ¹  Dagon was lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place.

These are the gold sores that the Philistines brought as a guilt offering to the Lord – one for each of the following cities: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down here and take it back home with you.”

When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come on, let’s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!”

Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel!”

Saul ¹  again replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the Lord your God.”

Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question, ¹  but they ²  gave him the same answer as before.

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.

So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth. ¹