I Samuel 01

v 1. Elkanah was an Ephraimite living at Ramah, a Levite and Kohathite, 1 Chron. 6:33-35, which allowed Samuel to serve in the Tabernacle. Like others of his day who were doing what was right in his own eyes, he wasn’t living in a Levite city, Num. 35, but was for the most part faithful unto God, compared to those about him.
v 2. Elkanah’s mistake - married two wives. Problem, one had children, one not. Like Abraham, he took matters in his own hands instead of waiting on God.
v 3. He went at least annually, even though Hophni and Phinehas were evil. We must not stay away from church because of hypocrites or inadequate pastors in it. 
v 4,5. Elkanah’s error - partiality. gave a worthy or double portion to Hannah. Joseph gave a five times as much to Benjamin Gen. 43:34. How did they eat it? It was of the choice part, not whole meal.
v 6,7 Result - embarrassment to Hanna. Penninah irritated and provoked her all the more, to tears, for childlessness, which was considered a reproach Gen. 30:23. On the 10 mile walk to Shiloh, she was probably ridiculed in front of other women. 
v 8. Elkanah tried to be a comforter, but that didn’t take away her reproach.
v 9,10. Only God could give the comfort she needed. This was a tearful prayer from bitterness of soul. Tears are not required, but are spontaneous in stress. Weeping for lost souls shows deep concern, Ps. 126:6, but there are differences in personalities so don’t condemn those who don’t weep.
v 11. This is an extreme vow, and vows must be kept, Eccl. 5:4. (Except. Num. 30)
v 12-14. Only her lips moved, and since she had just come from eating and drinking, Eli assumed her drunk. Our pastor encourages us to speak the words, at least quietly as she did. We can visualize a beautiful rainbow, but to express it to another, we must even think in words. We may only think the words when we pray, but vocalizing them helps to keep our minds on track and adequately expressed.
v 15,16. She informs Eli that she is not a wicked drunk, but was pouring out her soul in great sorrow, grief and bitterness.
v 17-19. She went to the Lord, is encouraged by the priest, went home in peace.
v 20,21. She had to be spiritually ready before God would answer her prayer with the boy, Samuel. Samuel means “Asked of God.” Her vow was also Elkanah’s, because he did not annul it. He was responsible to see it was performed, Num. 30:6-8. At leasr Elkanah went three times a year, but all would have come to Feast if Taberbackes with offerings. 
v 22,23. This was common sense to get the child old enough to leave his mother, which weaning age according to Jews was three years. It is not unreasonable that if she had been teaching Samuel in preparation, he would have been ready to leave on the beginning of a life with the priest. Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
v 24. Some say that the three bullocks were one for each year she had missed the yearly sacrifice. Better translation, it was one three year old bullock. Notice also in v 25, they only killed one bullock. The bullock was perhaps necessary to the vow, but according to Leviticus, the flour and wine would have been a voluntary offering.
v 25-28. What heart rending to part with the small child, but she could rejoice and worship because he was given to the Lord. They kept the vow exactly as promised. Many battlefield conversions or vows are not kept, but if you promise God, do it. “Lent” or granted to the Lord. At perhaps 3 yr. 3 mo., Samuel also worshiped the Lord.

1 Samuel 02

v 1-10. Hannah’s prophetic prayer ranks with any other in Scripture. Mary’s prayer in Luke 1:46-55 is similar.
v 1,2. Parting from the child was no doubt hard, but it was still a great feeling to perform the vow Hannah had made. She is full and overflowing with gratitude to the Lord for many things, including now being elevated above the other wife who had been an enemy to her. She honors the Lord even above her own blessing. 
v 3. She is able to rebuke the other woman and her children by declaring their former actions will be judged by the Lord. This may also be a rebuke to Philistines.
v 4-8. Hannah eventually had three more sons and two daughters, v 21. The seven  in v 5 refers to her complete satisfaction in bearing Samuel. In 1:8 Elkanahcompared himself to ten sons. She gives the Lord credit for all things mentioned.
v 9,10. She states prophetically that the Lord will bless the saints but bring judgment upon the wicked. Then she closes with reference to the anointed, Messiah.
v 11. After this time of celebration they return home leaving Samuel with Eli.
v 12-17. The priests did as the people, whatever they saw fit “right in their own eyes”. Eli’s evil sons appropriated to themselves choice meat of the offerings which belonged to the Lord. The practice of using a trident to hook meat for themselves actually became a custom, and they demanded meat raw so they could roast it. In doing this, the fat was not burned as commanded by Moses, Lev. 7:31. When they did not heed the people’s protest, the people developed contempt for the offerings.
v 18,19.. Little Samuel wore a linen ephod because he was serving before the Lord, but his mother showed her love and provided for additional needs by bringing him a little cloak at their annual sacrifice. 
v 20,21. Eli called upon the Lord to give Elkanah and Hannah additional children since they had loaned Samuel to the Lord, and the Lord blessed accordingly.
v 22-26. Eli was personally a good man, but a poor father, and consequently a poor priest. Canaanites practiced ritual prostitution of women at their temples, and Eli’s sons forced the women who served about the tabernacle into similar immorality. They paid no attention to Eli’s belated  rebuke, so it was in God’s plan to kill them. In contrast, Samuel’s physical and spiritual growth were comparative to that of Jesus as a youth, Lk 2:52.
v 27-29. The Lord sent an unnamed prophet to remind Eli what his responsibility had been as a priest, and strongly rebuked him for allowing his sons to to the wrongs concerning the offerings. In permitting this, he was also guilty before God. His failure to enforce the regulations was one reason his sons became so wicked. According to v 29, he also partook of the choice meats they extracted, 12-17.
v 29-36. Because Eli had not honored God in this, the priesthood would depart from him and all his descendants would die young. It has been reported by some Jewish writers that the family of Eli rarely lived much over 18 years. So he would know this before he died, God would cause both of his sons to die in one day. This took place in the battle with Philistines, 4:11,17. The first faithful priest God raised up was Samuel, but the faithful priestly line would pass from Abiathar to Zadok, 1 Ki. 2:35. Eli’s descendants would come to him begging for food, and for priestly duties so they could receive offerings in their own right. Ultimately the faithful priest is Christ, Heb. 5:6.

1 Samuel 03

v 1-10. It was normal for some of he laps to go out before morning. Eli had failed in training his own sons, but diligently trained up Samuel, perhaps to age 12 by now. For centuries God had rarely visited His people with revelation, but in Samuel He had one who could be entrusted to give Eli the message.  This was a new experience for Samuel, so he assumed it was Eli calling him, until Eli realized it was the Lord. Three times Samuel obediently arose and said, “Here am I”, much as Isaiah did, Isa. 6:8. He as quickly responded to the Lord, “Speak for they servant heareth”.
v 11-14. The things God would bring to pass would be extremely shocking, even terrifying to the people. When God’s judgment began, there would be no reprieve. It was only a few more years, after the battle with the Philistines, that Eli died as a blind old man, 4:15, but the priesthood remained in the family for three more generations. Everything God had told Eli, 2:27-36, would come to pass, and Eli would know why, because God had told him, and he knew it was because his sons had become evil and he had not restrained them. This is a powerful message to all parents that God holds them responsible for the upbringing of their children.
v 15-18. Samuel apparently lay awake the rest of the night and tried to go about his duties as usual because he was afraid to tell Eli such a personal condemning message. Still he responded promptly when called. Eli may have suspected this type of message when he adjured Samuel to tell all or face similar judgment. Hard as it must have been to do, Samuel showed he had become a true prophet by telling all. To Eli’s credit, he did not blame Samuel, as Israel blamed many later prophets, but accepted this as coming from a just God.
v 19-21. As Samuel grew, people recognized him as a prophet, because every thing he prophesied came to pass, Deut. 18:15-22. Everyone throughout the 150 mile length of the land could see that this lad was to be a prophet of the Lord, as the Lord continued to give him revelations at Shiloh.  A new era was developing. Instead of revelation by the priest and ephod, God was beginning to speak through His prophets. While Joseph, Jacob and others made prophecies, Acts, 3:24 refers to “All the prophets from Samuel and those who follow after. See also Acts 13:20; Heb. 11:32. 

1 Samuel 04

v 1,2. Only a few years had elapsed since Samuel began serving Eli and this battle with Phislistines, but even as a young man, he was firmly established as a prophet in Israel. Ebenezer was named 20 yr. later. In this case Israel rebelled against the Philistine rule, another part of the cycle of God’s judgment on Israel for their sins.
v 3-5. The Israelites rightly observed that the Lord had not been with them in the losing battle, but they erred in bringing the ark to battle like it was a lucky rabbit’s foot or some other charm (Like church, baptism, communion financial gifts). In the ark they had the symbol of God’s presence with them, but because of their sins, He was far from them, and they failed. Eli should have risked his life to stop Hophni and Phinehas.  Perhaps they carried or assisted in carrying the ark, but we are not told if even the precaution of covering it with blue linen and skins was done. The soldiers were elated to see it in their midst.
v 6-9. The Philistines may have learned by the loud shouting that God was supposed to have come into Israel’s camp. They had heard of the mighty things God (or as they thought, the gods) had done for Israel in Egypt and the wilderness, and they assumed they would just have to fight harder to overcome Israel’s gods.
v 10-11. The Philistines fought in desperation, so without God, Israel not only lost 30,000 men, but Hophni and Phinehas were slain and the ark captured.
v 12-18. When the Benjamite runner came from the battle to report to Eli, he found him trembling, not for his sons, but for the ark of God, which he should have stopped them from taking, even if it cost him his life. When this 98 year old blind, overweight priest heard the news, he knew that the word of the man of God, 2:27-36 and of God through Samuel, 3:11-14, was beginning to come to pass. He was told, 2:24 that both his sons would die in one day. He apparently fainted and the fall broke his neck.
v 19-22. The news of the loss of the ark, her husband, and father-in-law caused Phinehas’ wife to go into premature labor from which she died. However, before her death she named him Ichabod, “No glory”, or “The glory is departed”, especially because the ark of God was taken. However, because of their sins, the glory had departed from Israel even before the ark was taken. Many churches today who have gone into apostasy should be called Ichabod instead of Bethel, “House of God”.

Ebenezer 1 Samuel 4:1    <Twenty Years >    Ebenezer 1 Samuel 7:12
Israel in premature revolt                                         Lord leading enemy to defeat
Superstitiously carried ark to war                          Turned to the Lord Himself
Only the symbol of God’s presence                       God’s presence a reality
To war presumptuously                                            Sins are confessed
Suffered defeat                                                          God miraculously delivered
(Thunderstorm routed Philistines)

I Samuel 05

v 1,2. The Philistines originally came from Crete or other Aegean Sea area as early as 2000 BC, Abraham’s time, (Gen. 10:14) with another migration about 1200 BC. From this background, their god, Dagon, was god of the seas, half fish and half man. When they became farmers they added to him the title of god of harvest. They believed they had just captured another god to use, and set the ark beside Dagon.
v 3-5. The first night Dagon had fallen as if in submission to Israel’s God, much to the embarrassment of the Philistines. The next night Dagon was shattered on the threshold with just the fish tail part intact, so Philistines refused to step on the threshold thereafter. Some say threshold may also be translated as the pedestal on which Dagon stood. However, others feel that this superstitious act of the Dagon worshipers is referred to in Zechariah 1:9, where punishment is pronounced on those who leap over the threshold.
v 6-9. Emerods in KJV is here better translated tumors. They  affected all sex amd age. Many suppose these tumors to be painful hemorrhoids, but they are more likely nodules which develop in the groin in connection with bubonic plague. Mice and rats carry bubonic plague, and they were overrun with mice (or rats), 6:5.  Multitudes of people do not die from hemorrhoids, but they do from bubonic plague. The plague was so severe that the people of Ashdod asked what could be done. The leaders couldn’t believe the ark was the cause of the problem so they just had it sent to Gath.
v 10-12. Gath had the same problems so they had it sent to Ekron. The people of Ekron raised such a cry that it was not sent to the remaining two cities of the other two kings. Instead they set up an enormous cry that it be sent back to Israel. It was grievous  to them because all those who didn’t die were suffering from the tumors. The people were correct in thinking that this was the hand of the Lord upon them, but they chose to get rid of the ark rather than get rid of their sins and turn to God. 

1 Samuel 06

v 1,2. The deaths and agony had gone on for seven months, so the priests and diviners were called in to see what would be the best method to send the ark away.
v 3-9. The consensus was that they should send a trespass offering of five gold images of their tumors and five gold mice, one for each of the five kings. They are told not to be like the Egyptians who hardened their hearts, refusing to let Israel go. The priests and diviners were still not completely convinced this problem was from the God of Israel and the ark, so they arranged a test. They were to put the ark and the trespass offering on a new cart and hitch it to two milk cows that had never been hitched before. To make the test even more foolproof, they were to confine their calves. If the cows left their calves and went on their own directly to the border Israelite town of Bethshemesh, then they would know the problems were not just by chance, but of God.
v 10-12. The test went against all natural tendencies. First, cows hitched for the first time would have jumped around and had the cart upset before they ever got out of Ekron. Second, they would not have left their calves but come bawling back to them on the run. I have experienced cows tearing fences down in order to get back with their calves which are shut up. Notice, these were bawling for their calves as they went, but kept plodding onward. Third, even without calves,they would not have taken a direct route, but would have wandered around, eventually getting back to their home. This would have been very convincing to the rulers who followed to observe.
v 13-18. The cart finally came to a stop at a great stone in the field of a man  of Bethshemesh named Joshua. The Israelites who were harvesting wheat rejoiced, and using the cart for wood, offered the cows as a burnt offering to God. The Levites placed the ark and the golden images on the great rock, and after observing all this, the five Lords of the Philistines returned to Ekron. Bethshemesh was a city of priests and Levites, Josh. 21:16, so the time was ripe for setting up a tabernacle and having a revival. 
v 19,20. Instead of a revival, some of the men disobeyed what they knew was against God’s laws and looked into the ark, possibly under pretense to see if the tables of stone had been left in it. As a result the Lord slew many of the people. KJV says that 50,070 people died. Since this was a village of only 1,400 people, it may best be understood that 50 out of every 1,000 men were killed, or a total of 70. There are various other explanations, but Josephus says that only 70 were slain. Some think 50,000 Philistines
v 21. This slaughter so alarmed and depressed the men of the town that they sent messengers to Kiriath-jearim, about 10 miles northwest of Jerusalem, to come and take the ark there. It probably was not taken to Shiloh because it was quite likely destroyed by the Philistines in the battle of chapter four, Jer. 26:9. We will see in 7:1 that the ark was taken to the property of Abinadab, and it was there about 100 years.

1 Samuel 07

v 1,2. Abinadab had the ark brought into his home and set his son as custodian over it. The fact it was not in the tabernacle caused the people to lament for 20 years before Samuel began his first public ministry. He may have been around 40 at the time, and this would be consistent with God’s many 40 year periods of testing.
Bible Knowledge Commentary says it remained their about 100  years, from the time it was taken at the battle of Aphek, 1104 BC until David brought it back 1003 BC. This would include the 20 years mentioned, the remainder of Samuel’s rule, Saul’s reign, and the some under David.
v 3. If the people were sincere about returning to the Lord, Samuel gave them a four point formula for revival which could be illustrated as stair steps. First step, turn to God; (Repentance) Second, put away idols; (vanity, worry, unbelief, depression, pride, impatience, stress, fear, anger, resentment etc.) Third, prepare hearts; (Scripture, prayer, Holy Spirit filled) Four, Serve God only. (Not just camps, retreats, prayer groups, even soul winning, but a way of life.) In their case, Samuel said if they did that, God would deliver them from the Philistines.
v 4-6. The people responded by doing what Samuel said, so he had them gather at Mizpah, about seven miles north of Jerusalem and he would pray for them. This was a common place of assembly for Israel. In Jud. 20:1 they gathered there to decide what to do about Benjamin after the murder of the Levite’s concubine. Saul was presented as king of Israel at Mizpah, 1 Sam. 10:17.  It was the capital of Judah after Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians, 2 Ki. 25;23,25. They had a real spiritual time as they fasted,  confessed their sins, and poured out water as a symbol of their confessed sins as they poured out their hearts to the Lord. Perhaps also as David did, 2 Sam. 23:16, that though he wanted it so much, he gave it to God.
v 7,8. The Philistines mistook the huge gathering at Mizpah as a preparation for  war, so they came to join battle. This frightened the Israelites and they begged Samuel to call upon the Lord for their deliverance.
v 9-12. Even while Samuel was making his offering to the Lord, the Philistines drew near to attack this relatively defenseless gathering. The Lord sent a severe thunderstorm upon them and routed them with Israel in pursuit. This was the same battle ground where Israel had been severely defeated 20 years earlier. Samuel set up a stone calling the place Eben-ezer, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” (He may have written it on the stone.) See the chart at the end of chapter four for the difference when people rely upon God, not just a symbol of God.
v 13,14. In this revival under Samuel, the Philistines were so subdued that Israel even took back the chief cities of Gath and Ekron and the surrounding areas. This was the greatest peace Israel had had in that area.
v 15-17. Samuel had a successful ministry judging Israel the rest of his life. He was a “circuit riding preacher”, going at least annually to Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah and back to his home town of Ramah, where people came from all over Israel to bring their complaints. He built an altar to the Lord there, since Shiloh had been destroyed by Philistines, and there was as yet no other permanent place established for worship. While Bethel is mentioned first, he likely went to Gilgal first and circled back to Bethel. 

1 Samuel 08

v 1-3. Eli had failed to discipline his sons and they were a failure. Samuel may have taught his sons well, but apparently he placed them as judges while their interest lay in business. As a result, they enriched themselves by taking bribes in judging.
v 4,5. The corruption of Samuel’s sons was the catalyst behind the request of the  elders, but the real motive was the desire to have a king like other nations. This reminds of present day youth who say, “All the other kids are wearing them. All the other kids are doing it. All the other kids go there.” Though Samuel was old, it was unfair after his years of fine leadership to suggest he resign.
v 6-9. Samuel was offended and took the matter to the Lord. The Lord assured him that they really were seeking a king instead of seeking to follow the Lord. Samuel was to give them their wish, but first point out the problems this choice would bring.
v 10-18. The problems stated by Samuel are self explanatory and did come to pass in future years. The fact, v 18, that they would some day cry out because of the oppression by their king, is summed up in Psalm 106:15, and speaks to our own requests in prayer.
v 19-22. From a human standpoint, the people may have felt justified in asking for a king to lead in their battles. The trouble with Nahash in chapter 11 may have already been threatening, because 12:12 quotes Samuel that when Nahash, king of Ammon came against them, they asked for a king. They seem to have forgotten the great victory the Lord had given over the Philistines several years before, in chapter 7. They may have remembered only that Samuel was their leader then and now he is getting old. The people rejected Samuel’s advice and he reported it to the Lord. The Lord told Samuel to protest, but go ahead and appoint a king, but didn’t say how at this point. The Lord often leads just a step at a time.
The Lord had said they would have a king, Gen. 49:10; Deut. 17:14-20, and if they had waited on the Lord’s timing, He would have given them one. See my comments at the end of chapter 10 about the line of Judah not yet being eligible.

1 Samuel 09

v 1,2. Saul, the potential king, was son of a wealthy man of high esteem. Saul was a tall, handsome, desirable young man, standing head and shoulders taller than other men, which would make him well accepted by the people. 
3-10. A series of seeming coincidences, which were really the providence of the Lord, led him to Samuel. After searching a large area for 3 days for his father’s lost donkeys, he suggested to his accompanying servant that they return home because his father would be worried. The servant suggested they stop at the immediate city  and ask the man of God where to find the donkeys. When the servant was told Saul had nothing along to pay for the service, he offered to pay it with a fourth shekel of silver he had, and Saul agreed. A man of God, prophet, was called a seer at that time.
v 11-14. Providentially, young ladies going to draw water told them not only where to find Samuel, but to hasten and catch him before he went to ask the blessing and eat at the high place (Not to be confused with the idolatrous high places.) where a sacrifice was being held. The young ladies of course had no knowledge that the feast was in Saul’s honor, v 23,24. Upon entering the city, they met Samuel on his way to the high place, that is, the place of worship. Evening feast, stayed night, left morning.
v 15-18. Only the day before, the Lord had told Samuel that He was sending him a man out of Benjamin who he should anoint as king. Samuel did not make the choice on the basis of Saul’s stature, but the Lord specifically told him as Saul approached. They met at the city gate and Saul asked where to find the seer.
v 19,20. He was surprised, not only to learn that Samuel was the seer, but for the invitation to go ahead to the meal, and that the next day Samuel would answer any of his questions. Samuel proceeded to tell him that the asses which had been lost three days had been found, and that all that was desirable in Israel was for Saul and his father’s house. This was a veiled announcement that Saul would be king.
v 21,22. Saul may not have known Israel had been promised they could have a king, and thought Samuel was jesting, because of Saul’s commanding stature. He humbly protested that he was from the nearly obliterated tribe of Benjamin, but may have been overly modest to say his father’s house was most insignificant. Samuel did not reply, but had Saul and the servant seated in the most prominent place among the 30 guests. (Two high honors worthy of a king, place and portion, v 22 and 24.)
v 23,24. This sacrifice and feast was not  routine, but had been specially planned by Samuel the day before, after the Lord told him He would be bringing the king to be, to him. Samuel had specifically brought a shoulder for the cook to prepare for Saul, and now instructed that it be  brought to him. The cook brought that portion which had been reserved throughout the day for Saul, lifting it high to indicate it was the priest’s honored portion. By Samuel giving Saul his own portion, it showed he was relinquishing  his leadership. Saul ate with Samuel, but was probably still wondering.
v 25-27. The conversation on the roof that evening probably hinged around confirming Saul becoming king and the responsibilities of it. They communed again on the roof in the morning, or some think Saul slept on the flat top roof of the house, then was called by Samuel in the morning. After leaving the city, the servant was sent on ahead so Samuel could privately say and do the things in chapter 10.

1 Samuel 10

v 1. With the servant sent on ahead Saul is privately anointed king. The kiss showing Samuel’s respect and devotion to God’s appointed man.
v 2-8. Saul was well informed that he was to be king, but Samuel knew doubts would still arise, so gave Saul a series of about 25 circumstances which would confirm it. First he would meet two men in a specific place, by Rachel’s sepulcher, who would tell him the asses were found and of his father’s concern. Then at the oak of Tabor he would meet three men going up to God at Bethel, one carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, another carrying a skin of wine. They would greet him and give him two loaves of bread. Next he would meet a company of prophets at specific place, and accompanied by musical instruments would prophecy. Finally, the Spirit of the Lord would come on him and he too would prophesy as a different man. These were all to be a sign that God was with him. Then he was to go down to Gilgal and wait until Samuel came to make sacrifices and give further instruction.
v 9-13. The signs all came to pass precisely as stated, the Spirit of God came on Saul, and he prophesied. This amazed people who knew him, that this son of Kish would be doing this. After that he went to the high place as instructed.
v 14-16. Saul’s uncle quizzed him about where he had been, and he reported fully except he said nothing about the matter of the kingdom.
v 17-22. Samuel called all the people to his usual gathering place at Mizpah and reminded them how the Lord had delivered them from Egypt and all their enemies, but now they had rejected God and insisted on a king. In the selection he drew lot by tribe, by families and finally to the individual Saul. Saul had possibly hidden among the baggage, partly in modesty, partly because he realized many would look with disfavor upon him and he would give them a chance to select another, and partly because he feared the overwhelming responsibility for one not previously interested in such things.
v 23,24. When Samuel presented this tall man to the people they were very enthusiastic about him. Then Samuel gave instructions concerning a king, possibly from Deut. 17:14-20 as well as warnings he had previously given, 1 Sam. 8:10-17. All this he wrote in a book for permanent reference, and sent everyone home.
v 26,27. Some valiant men were immediately attracted to support Saul, while some wicked, ungodly men had nothing to do with him and ridiculed him. He could have executed them, but he was still humble at this point and let it pass.
It is appropriate to comment on why God chose a Benjamite to be king, when the scepter was to be with Judah. It is stated in Deut 23:2, A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. Judah had an illegitimate son so his line was eliminated till the tenth generation. This was only in the ninth generation at the time of Saul, so David was the first in the line of Judah to be eligible to be king. According to the prophecy of Jacob, Gen. 49:9, 27, Benjamin would consume as a wolf, but Judah would reign as a young lion.

1 Samuel 11

v 1-3. The Ammonites encamped for war against Jabesh-Gilead and would accept peace with them only on the condition that they could put out the right eye of everyone. This would be an insult and  a reproach to all of Israel. Jabesh-Gilead asked for seven days respite and called for help from all over Israel. Nahash of Ammon knew Saul didn’t even have an army, so he agreed, certain that this would save him a long and costly siege. (We don’t know where Saul was born, but his home was in Gibeah. We see he assisted the people of Jabesh-gilead here. They came and buried the bones of Saul and his sons after his last battle. David in turn blessed them for what they had done, 2 Sam., 2:6, for Saul and encouraged them to follow him, but Abner persuaded them not to.)
v 4-7. Saul had not taken on any kingly responsibilities and was in the field when the message came. When he found all the people weeping, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he rose up in righteous indignation. Slaughtering a yoke of oxen, he sent their pieces throughout Israel as the Levite did with his concubine, Judges 19:29, with the warning that the same would be done to anyone who did not come after Saul and Samuel. Notice Saul’s reliance on the Lord at this point, and how the fear of the Lord came upon the people.
v 8-11. After assembling 330,000 soldiers at Bezek, 12 miles west of Jabesh-Gilead, he sent word of his help. The men of the city falsely reported to Nahash that they would come out at noon to submit. Meanwhile, Saul marched his men all night and staged an early morning surprise attack. He had no military experience, but was responsive to God’s leading and surrounded the enemy with three companies. It was a total rout and slaughter, and by the heat of the day, the Ammonites didn’t have two men together in flight.
v 12,13. Now Saul was a national hero, and there was a cry to have the ones who had originally opposed Saul put to death. Saul rejected their request and gave the glory to the Lord.
v 14, 15. Samuel called the people to Gilgal to reaffirm Saul as king, and probably anointing him as the leader of a united Israel. They all sacrificed and rejoiced.

1 Samuel 12

v 1-5. While the people were gathered at Gilgal, 11:14,15, Samuel gave his farewell address to the people. There is nothing to support those who think this is the first anniversary of Saul being made king. Samuel first showed recognition of his old age in 8:1. He is probably just past fifty. His sons had taken bribes and perverted justice, 8:3, but when he says “behold my sons are before you, he is indicating they are out of office and just private citizens. Then he challenges the people if he had personally done anything wrong. They not only agreed to his innocence, but pledged it as witness before the Lord and the new King.
v 6-11. Samuel reviewed before them the Lord’s deliverances from the time Jacob entered Egypt until the present. Each time the people fell away from the Lord in the promised land and repented, He sent judges as deliverers, and they should have been content with that. Samuel’s examples were, Jerubbaal (Gideon), Bedan (Abdon), Jephthah, and himself.
v 12-15. After those deliverances, Samuel chides them for asking for a king when Nahash began threatening them. (Apparently Nahash was becoming threatening even before his ultimatum to Jabesh-Gilead in chapter 11.) The Lord had granted them their request, but Samuel emphasizes that their well being does not rest in having a king, but in their obedience  to the Lord. Disobedience will bring judgment.
v 16-19. The people  may have thought they did a good  thing in getting a king to bring them victory. Samuel announced to them that to show the Lord’s rebuke for asking a king, the Lord would send a big thunder and rain storm in the midst of wheat harvest. This was unheard of in the dry season of that area, but the storm came. The people were quick to acknowledge their sin as an addition to their other sins, and in fear of Samuel and the Lord, begged for their lives.
v 20-25. Samuel assured the people that in spite of their wickedness, the Lord would still bless them if they would serve Him faithfully. After all, the Lord had not blessed them for their own merit, but because He had chosen them. Samuel also assured them that in his remaining years he would continue to pray for them. He ended with a reminder that if they followed the Lord they would experience great things, but if they did wickedly, the Lord would be unmerciful and consume them.

1 Samuel 13

v 1. There is considerable disagreement over the wording of this verse, but the most likely seems to be, “Saul was forty years old when he began to reign, and when he had reigned two years over Israel.” Apparently Saul was married at the time he went looking for his father’s asses and his son Jonathan was near military age. This would also fit well with probability David was just a little younger than Jonathan.
v 2. Saul appointed a 3000 man standing army. He is criticized by some for having too many body guards or not enough army, but Israel had not had any standing army, and these could handle small disturbances from Philistines or others, and would be trained to lead bands of volunteers when the occasion arose. 1000 of these were with Jonathan, other soldiers were released to go home.
v 3,4. Matthew Henry feels that Saul had unwisely ordered his son to attack the Philistine garrison. Jonathan’s actions in chapter 14:3-17, prove he was a young, impulsive captain with more guts than discretion, and Saul didn’t know. Also Saul would not likely order an attack right after sending home his reserves. This unprovoked attack, when there was apparently a truce in effect, made Israel to stink in the estimation of the Philistines. Now Saul had no choice but to assemble Israel men.
v 5-7. Despite critics, there were probably 30,000 chariots including those for supplies. The Philistines were so enraged they gathered allies making the number of soldiers beyond count, and 6000 horsemen. They covered a vast area, completely demoralizing Israel, and most of them hid or skipped country. The few left were scared.
v 8-10. Samuel had told Saul to wait seven days, as he had in 10:8. Saul began to panic, and when time for the evening sacrifice approached, he took it upon himself to intrude into the priest’s office and offer sacrifice rather than waiting on Samuel. At once Samuel arrived and Saul expected he would receive a blessing.
v 11-14. Saul was conscience stricken by Samuel’s four words, and after telling of his panic, pled that he forced himself to sacrifice. David and Solomon later made sacrifice without censure, but Saul’s biggest sin was disobedience, not waiting and relying on God. Then like we shift blame, he accused Samuel of being late. Uzziah later became proud and was rebuked and punished for intruding, 2 Chron. 26:16. Saul felt the sacrifice was a mere formality to go through before going to battle, just like some prayers before a church business meeting mean nothing but routine carried out.
v 15,16. With only 600 cowering men left, Saul joined forces with Jonathan at Gibeah. We don’t know if Jonathan had anyone left but his armor bearer.
v 17,18. The Philistines sent raiding parties in three directions and completely controlled all roads and the countryside.
v 19-23. Israel had not acquired skill working with iron, so the Philistines provided them with farming tools and files. (A share is a plow point and cutting edge.) With the exception of Saul and Jonathan, swords and spears appear to have been confiscated, so Israel had only slings, bow and arrows and crude weapons. Saul was very neglectful not to gather the weapons of the conquered Ammonites, but perhaps even these were dutifully turned over to the Philistines, just as our gun control advocates want citizens to do. Philistine control of the pass was a strategic move on their part.

1 Samuel 14

v 1-3. Saul and his men stood on a high place where he would be safe, and helplessly watched the Philistines below, while impulsive Jonathan, or in faith, took matters in his own hands. Some commentators wonder if Saul sent Jonathan on this skirmish, but this plainly states he did not tell his father, and it wasn’t known he was gone, v 17. (Ahijah was a young priest, the son of Ahitub Ichabod’s older brother.)
v 4-12. For all Jonathan’s impulsiveness, he trusted God for help, v 6. His armor bearer was in perfect accord with him, and agreed with the plan to scale the nearly impossible cliff and ask God for a sign. If after they were seen, the Philistines asked them to climb on up, the Lord would deliver them, but if the Philistines said they would come to them, then they would retreat. When the Philistines saw them. they ridiculed them for coming out of their holes. They may have thought they wanted to defect to them. Their invitation could be understood as, “Come up here and we will teach you a lesson.” Thus Jonathan did not speak uncertainly as he did in v 6, but with assurance, knowing  the battle was the Lord’s.
v 13-15. He did not attack as they slept, as Josephus states, but overcame by God’s power. Jonathan had quite a system, he knocked them down and his armor bearer finished them off. His heroic slaughter of 20 men in a small field caused the others to panic. The Lord increased their panic by sending an earthquake. Wherever they were, even those on raiding parties, spoilers, were affected and frightened.
v 16-18. The allied armies of the Philistines probably didn’t know the others from the Israelites and in the confusion, started killing each other. Possibly captured and defected Israelites also turned on them. After Saul found out Jonathan and his armor bearer were responsible for the Philistine rout, he called for the ark of God to be brought. Since Saul had been rejected by Samuel, he sought to get to God by the high priest, but his heart was still not right with God.
v 19-23. When Saul saw the total rout of the Philistines, he thought the will of God was so apparent he literally told the priest their was no need to consult the Urim and Thummim. It was as much as saying, never mind Lord, I don’t need you now. Never think we don’t need prayer just because things are going our way. Israelites who heard of the victory joined battle from wherever they had hidden.
v 24-32. Fasting is proper, but not in the heat of a strenuous battle. The forest had many bees and honey, and Jonathan, not being aware of the ban not to taste food till evening, ate some. Jonathan commented that they could have had a greater victory if they had been allowed to eat. Now evening, the people were so faint and hungry that they killed stock captured from  Philistines by just killing them on the ground instead of properly draining the blood. In their hunger they may also have eaten it half cooked. Saul had denied them even the privilege of oxen treading out the corn, Deut. 25:4.
v 33-35. Messengers told this to Saul, so he ordered a large stone to be brought at which to slay the animals, and he made an altar to the Lord. This was a propitiatory sacrifice, not improper like that in 13:9. Saul had disobeyed in other areas, but when he saw the people sin in this, he took action. People respond to a leader, good or bad. Apparently Saul made other altars, a form of Godliness, 2 Tim. 3:5.
v 36-39. After eating, the men were willing to follow Saul’s unwise idea of an all night battle in wiping out the enemy. However, the priest intervened and urged that they ask God. (Men writing our constitution were stalemated, until Benjamin Franklin suggested they call upon God.) But here, God refused to answer. Saul recognized this to mean sin in the camp, so made a rash and improper vow that even if Jonathan was guilty, he would have him killed. The people knew, but wouldn’t tell on Jonathan.
v 40-46. When the lot fell upon Jonathan, he admitted his minor error but was willing to accept death. Saul would have proceeded with the execution, even though Jonathan had not been aware of the order, but the people came to Jonathan’s rescue and did not allow their gallant hero to be killed. The people repented of their sin, but Saul did not. Since the Lord did not permit the battle to continue, and Saul had wasted time trying to prosecute Jonathan according to his ill advised orders, the Philistines escaped and  both sides returned to their own places.
v 47-51. Saul was in almost constant warfare repelling attacks during the rest of his reign, but the Lord very graciously permitted victory everywhere. The Amalekites had troubled Israel ruthlessly from the time they began picking off the stragglers in the wilderness and were defeated by Moses. As a result we will see in chapter 15 that he was to totally destroy them, but again he has incomplete obedience. Saul’s family are listed here. Correct rendering of the relationship is, Ner was Saul’s grandfather and Abner was his uncle,  brother to Kish.
v 52. The Philistines were a constant threat all of the years of Saul. Now came to pass what Samuel had warned the people about, 8:16. He would take their choice young men.

1 Samuel 15

v 1-5. The Lord reminds Saul through Samuel of the dastardly deeds of the Amalekites on the relatively defenseless Israelites near Sinai. The Lord had said, Ex. 17:14; Deut. 25:17-19, that He would totally destroy Amalek, and now that time of judgment has come. Saul assembles 210,000 men and lays wait to join them in battle.
v 6. Jethro, Moses father-in-law, was a Kenite, and the Kenites had been good to Israel, so Saul allowed them to leave before the battle began.
v 7-9. Saul and the people started to destroy the Amalekites as bidden, but he  took King Agag prisoner to enhance his own prestige, see v 12, and saved the best of the livestock and other things. This was incomplete obedience, see v3.
v 10-12. The Lord knew before the foundation of the earth what Saul would do, but He was still grieved that Saul was rebellious and disobedient. Samuel grieved. Saul’s pride in v 8,9 is seen by the monument he built for himself near Carmel.
v 13. Saul expected praise, by now not even realizing his disobedience.
v 14,15. Samuel’s reply was sharp and convicting, but Saul merely laid the blame on the people for saving the best animals for sacrifice to Samuel’s God.
v 16.-19. Samuel reminds Saul of his early meekness, thinking of when he was anointed and when he hid in the baggage. Now, why has he rebelled against God?
v 20,21. Saul claims obedience in capturing Agag and destroying his people, and again blames the people for saving the good animals for sacrifice to Samuel’s God.
v 22,23. Samuel pulls no punches in placing obedience above sacrifice, and equates rebellion to witchcraft, stubbornness to idolatry, plus Saul’s rejection as king.
v 24,25. Saul’s confession of sin is no confession, because he again blames the people. His worship with Samuel would have been a mere semblance of religion.
v 26-29. Samuel was not taken in by Saul’s plea, and when he turned to leave, Saul tried to stop him by grabbing his garment. This amounted to an act of violence, and Samuel calls it a symbol that his kingdom was being torn from him. The Strength of Israel is of course the Lord, and He does not repent, though as in verse 11 and 35, He is grieved that people make the wrong choices. God knew before Saul was ever made king that one day David would replace him, though that didn’t happen for another 15 years. The people still accepted him as king, but God had rejected him.
v 30,31. Saul’s plea for Samuel to worship with him is merely to save face with the people. He still refers to Samuel’s God rather than his own personal God. Samuel did turn and worship with Saul one more time out of respect for his position as king.
v 32,33. What Saul failed to do, Samuel did. Ignoring Agag’s smiling entreaty, he chopped Agag in pieces as Agag had done others, possibly even some Israelites.
v 33,34. Saul and Samuel went their separate ways and were never together again. Saul may have been shamed and chose to shun Samuel, but Samuel mourned for Saul, who had such great potential and lost it. Again this speaks of the Lord’s grief at Saul’s response. The Lord knew all along and did not change His mind.

1 Samuel 16

v 1. Samuel needed to quit mourning for Saul and go on with life. We may be disappointed in the spiritual lives of some we know, but there are others out there who need us. The rest of 1 Sam. deals with the parallel lives of David and Saul till he died.
v 2-5. Samuel had already told Saul he would be replaced by a neighbor better than he, 15:28. From Saul’s first violent act, v 27, and the broken relationship, Samuel knew Saul would kill him if he anointed another to be king. The Lord did not ask him to lie, but to be discreet. He was to actually sacrifice, but he was also to call Jesse to the sacrifice. The elders of Bethlehem were frightened that Samuel had come to their town in judgment. He assured them he came in peace, and they, Jesse and his sons were to sanctify themselves and come to the sacrifice.
v 6,7. Samuel was taken in by the stature and good looks of Eliab, but the Lord reminded him that He looks on the heart, not the outward appearance.
v 8-11. The Lord did not accept any of the first seven sons. Young, insignificant David was tending sheep while the others went to the feast, almost like a Cinderella story, but Samuel would not start the feast till he came.
v 12.,13. David was red headed with fair skin, nice eyes and handsome, but the Lord still looked on the heart in choosing him. Samuel went on to Ramah, but the Spirit of the Lord came upon David to indicate the Lord’s appointment. Compare Saul, 10:6. The Spirit did not come on him for salvation, but for authentication of God’s will. None of them probably knew at this time that he was being anointed to be king. It was apparently not yet known by Eliab in 17:28. In the original Hebrew, 16:13 can read that David was anointed away from the midst of his brothers, and he would have been given a charge not to let them know. This would agree with Samuel’s fear of Saul.
v 14-18. The Spirit of the Lord can be omnipresent, but left Saul and came upon David. Saul’s servants could tell by his actions and moods that an evil spirit was permitted by the Lord to come upon him. Saul heeded the servants’ advice and asked that a skillful musician be brought to soothe him from apparent demonic influence. By the Lord’s providence, one of the servants was apparently acquainted with David and recommended him highly in many ways. Probably the young man knew of David’s feats with the lion and bear, 17:34, and saw  he had the potential to be a man of war.
v 19,20. Jesse responded to Saul’s request by sending David along with a gift.
v 21-23. That David was probably in upper teens can be seen that he was old and big enough to be Saul’s armor bearer, but young enough that his brothers chided him for leaving the sheep and coming to watch the battle, 17:28. Probably David came to learn when Saul was needing soothing music played.

1 Samuel 17

v 1-3. We don’t know how many years after David played for Saul that this battle takes place. The Philistines invaded Israel, and when Saul counter attacked, the Philistines took positions on the hill toward Socoh, south of the valley of Elah, and Israel toward Azekah on the north.
v 4-7. Goliath was a descendant of the Anakim giants which Joshua defeated, Josh. 11:21,22. He was nine foot nine, his armor 125 # and the head of his spear 15 #. This heavy a spear he would carry on his shoulders.  Greaves were shin guards on his boots. Target is later spoken of as a shield, but here, a short sword.
v 8-11. When battles were at a stalemate, as this had been for forty days, v 16, armies at times selected champions who would decide the outcome in this manner. The Israelites were sure they would be defeated if an individual had to fight Goliath. However, the Philistines had no intention of keeping their word, as they did not surrender but fled, v 51,52.
v 12-16. David’s father was older than most men of that day, well beyond military age, but he had sent his three oldest to battle. Idleness is the “Devil’s workshop”, but now Saul is more active and doesn’t need David’s soothing music. David could have stayed in court, no doubt, but responsibly went back to care for his father’s sheep.
v 17-19. David was given nearly a bushel of ripening grain which was parched, and the loaves and cheeses to carry (run) without the aid of a donkey. The cheese was for the officer to distribute. Jesse was probably concerned for both the physical and moral well being of his sons. The pledge was some small thing, such as a lock of hair or nail, to send back to show that they were all right and David had done his job.
v 20-27. Leaving the sheep with a caretaker, David arose early and made haste to get to the encampment as the fighting was beginning. Leaving his goods with the baggage keeper, he hurried to check on his brothers just as Goliath presented his daily defiance of Israel. The men fled from him in fear and called David’s attention to him, telling what awards there would be for killing Goliath, riches, the king’s daughter, and his family exempt from tax and military service. David as a shepherd had a close relationship with God, and was outraged that  Goliath would defy the armies of God.
v 28. Eliab was shamed that he had not stood against Goliath, and took out his anger on his little brother, making four false accusations against him.
v 29. David’s soft answer to turn away wrath, Prov. 15:1, was perhaps a greater feat even than his victory over Goliath.
v 30,31. David asked again, perhaps not so much to make sure of the reward, but that someone would report his zeal to the king, which they did.
v 32-37. If Saul still had the Spirit of the Lord, he might have conquered Goliath, but David tactfully says “no man”. Saul objected to David’s lack of training compared to Goliath, but David assures him that God would deliver him from this heathen Philistine just as he had from the lion and the bear. Then Saul gave his permission.
v 38-40. David rejected Saul’s heavy armor for his usual weapons, a sling, stones and  staff. Some ridiculously claim that David took five stones, one for Goliath and one for each of his four brothers who might avenge him. David probably wasn’t even aware of his brothers. Shepherds normally carried five stones. It was just as normal for people of that day to carry several stones as it is today to wear an ammo belt. In action they held a second one in their other hand as a spare, even if their accuracy was within a hair breadth, Jud. 20:16.
41-44. Goliath was insulted and infuriated to see an obvious shepherd youth advancing toward him like toward a dog, and cursed David by his gods.
v 46,47. David was not intimidated, but returned the threat with a statement of triumph and testimony before all that it was the Lord who would bring deliverance.
v 48-54. This  was probably no pebble, because military slingers used rocks nearly as large as a baseball, very deadly. After killing Goliath by a blow in the only open place in his armor, David ran and used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head. This spurred the other Israelites on and they killed and pursued the enemy for miles until they reached their walled cities for protection, then took much booty. The context infers that David did not proceed further in battle, but gathered up his spoils. He may have had in mind at this point that he needed to be getting back to his father. Context of the following verses indicate Saul must have left pursuit of the Philistines to his commanders,  It is unclear when David put Saul’s armor in his tent or if one was immediately provided, but the sword was later put in the tabernacle, 21:9.  Likewise his head was not taken to Jerusalem that day, because he took it first to Saul, v 57.
v 55-58. Some say David was  not recognized because he was no longer a minstrel boy, but a young man with a beard. More likely, Saul is simply asking who the father is, because he would not have remembered that. He would need to know in order to make the father’s house free in Israel. However, Saul did not carry through on any of those promises. As commented on v 54, this is the day Goliath’s head was brought to Saul. He may have exhibited it in Jerusalem later as a warning to Jebusites and others who sought to rebel against Israel.

1 Samuel 18

v 1-4. Saul had allowed David to quit playing for him and go back to the flocks, but no more after he killed Goliath.  Hebrew style does not allow us to assume the action of Jonathan was on that very day. The charge of some liberals that David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship is rubbish, this was a mutual love as brethren, 1 Pet. 3:8. Jonathan recognized the bravery of David with his own, and gave sacrificial love, probably also honor to the one he suspected would replace his father.
v 5-9. David served so well he was given command over part of the army, Abner was general and Jonathan had some command. His exploits led ladies to unwisely vocally compare David and Saul. By this, Saul probably and jealously concludes that David will be God’s choice for king.
v 10,11. Though David served with utmost faithfulness, Saul tried twice to pin him to the wall with his javelin, or light spear.
v 12-16. That the Lord was obviously with David caused Saul to fear. In making him captain over 1000, he intended to increase his risk of death and reduce his public exposure, but further exploits only made David more popular with the people.
v 17-21. In urging David to valiance and offering his oldest daughter in marriage, Saul expected him to be killed in battle. David felt unworthy to accept the offer, and Saul  gave Merab to Adriel. When Saul learned that his daughter Michal loved David, he extended the same offer concerning her, still hoping David would be killed in battle.
v 22-27. Saul’s servants were to scheme and urge David to accept, but he still felt unworthy. When they told David that Saul didn’t want dowry, just 100 foreskins of the Philistines, David quickly responded by killing Philistines to get them.
It should be noted that while the Septuagint states 100 foreskins, the Syriac and Arabic state 200, and Josephus claims five times that what Saul required of David was 600 heads of the Philistines. This can be born out some by the words of the Philistines in 1 Sam. 29:4 that David would reconcile himself with the heads of the Philistines. It seems best, without additional proofs, to stick with the statement that Saul requested  100 foreskins, v 25, but David actually brought 200, v 27. 
v 28-30. It was apparent to Saul that the Lord was with David and Michal loved this hero of the people, so he gave her in marriage, thinking that in obtaining dowry, David would be killed by the Philistines. Saul feared and hated David even more after his success. David’s subsequent faithfulness and victories brought him even more esteem. Events brought a later change in Michal’s attitude, 2 Samuel, 6:16 that resulted in David sleeping with her no more. But it must be remembered that in 1 Sam. 25:44 Saul gave her to another man while David was in exile. Then in 2 Sam. 3:13-16, David claimed her back, at much grief to her second husband. Saul’s actions brought far reaching sorrow into David’s home.

1 Samuel 19

v 1-3. Saul’s jealous fear and hatred of David grew to the point that he openly asked his servants and Jonathan to kill David. Jonathan informed David and told him to hide in a certain place. Then he would bring his father into hearing range and David could know how Saul would respond.
v 4-7. Jonathan brought David’s good deeds before Saul, and in David’s hearing Saul promised not to kill David. Temporarily, relations appeared as good as before.
v 8-11. After David won another great victory over the Philistines, the evil spirit again came upon Saul and he tried to pin David to the wall with his light spear, but again he escaped. Now Saul turned vicious, and set men to watch David’s house that night and to kill him when he came out next morning. Michal learned of this or saw the guards, and warned David he must escape immediately. She who Saul intended to have been David’s snare, turns out to be a faithful wife and his protector.
v 12-17. After Michal let David down by a window to escape, she faked his form in the bed. This image is translated as a teraphim, household good luck image, but I tend to think this to be inconsistent in David’s house, and suppose it was simply something she used to fake his body. The slayers fell for it and had respect not to kill a sick man in his bed. Saul had said, 18:21, that the hand of the Philistines should slay David, but now he is degraded to the point he will kill him in bed himself. When they discover the fake by Michal, Saul rebukes her for deceit. Probably in fear of her own life, she infers David threatened to kill her if she didn’t help him, and no doubt Saul hated him more.
v 18. David could think of no better place to go than to Samuel, a true man of God, the one who had anointed him, and report what had happened. Ramah was Samuel’s home town, and Naioth the part of the town where other prophets dwelled.
v 19-24. Three times, messengers sent by Saul came under the power of the Spirit and began praising God with the other prophets instead of seeking David. Saul left his dignity as king to go slay David himself, but God took away his purpose, and laying aside his royal robes and armor, not nude according to Josephus, he likewise praised God and lay in a trance all that day and night. This was the second time it was questioned if Saul was one of the prophets, 10:10-12. This was only a temporary condition and Saul returned to evil when this special action of the Spirit was removed.

1 Samuel 20

v 1,2. While Saul lay in a trance, David escaped back to Jonathan, innocently imploring what he had done to make Saul want to kill him. Jonathan just could not believe that his father would do such a terrible thing without telling him.
v 3-10. David convinced Jonathan that Saul would indeed hide it from him, being David’s friend, and David’s death was imminent. When Jonathan offered to help, David suggested he would hide and absent himself from the feast the next two evenings and Jonathan would make excuse for him to get Saul’s reaction. If he was satisfied, there would be peace, but if he was angry there would be trouble. David asked further, that if he had done wrong, for Jonathan to ignore their covenant and kill him himself, not turn him over to his father. He vowed not to do that, so David asked how Jonathan would get word to him.
v 11-23. Jonathan took David to a field by a hiding place near a stone, Ezel. Ezel means departure, but it would not have been named that until after this incident. Verses 13-15 indicate that Jonathan knew David would be king and wanted not only the best for him, but a pledge of his kindness to Jonathan’s family as well. The next day and the day following, David was to come to that rock and Jonathan would let him know the results. This would be by shooting arrows. If he told the lad with him specifically that the arrows landed this side of him, all would be well, but if he told the lad they had landed beyond him, David should flee. This would be in case Jonathan had no opportunity to personally give leave to David. Jonathan pledged secrecy.
v 24-29. Jonathan arose in respect to the king and probably then sat across from him with Abner at Saul’s side. David would have been seated near Saul,  and he saw David was not there,  but supposed he must have abstained because he was ceremonially unclean, Lev. 15. This would not be unusual, because so many things, even the normal marriage privilege would make a person unclean. However when he was gone the second night, he asked and Jonathan made the excuse that David’s family had a special sacrifice and he had asked for permission to go there.
v 30-34. Saul had thought this was the opportunity he could seize David, so he angrily turned on Jonathan, addressing him in foul language that implicated his mother in a vile way, just as profane people do yet today. Then (proving he knew David was anointed to be king) he called him a fool, because as long as David lived, Jonathan could not have the throne. Finally he ordered Jonathan to have David brought for execution. When Jonathan requested what David had done worthy of death, Saul was in such a rage he threw his javelin with intent to kill his own son. Now Jonathan was convinced of the threat on David’s life, and left in anger, partly for his grief for David, and partly for the shameful way he had been treated. No doubt all the guests would have been embarrassed or ashamed, and the entire evening spoiled.
v 35--40. Jonathan overshot and emphasized David’s danger by telling the lad, “Make haste, speed, stay not”, before sending him away.
v 41,42. Since there were no observers, David and Jonathan were able to meet for a tearful farewell. They renewed their covenant and each went their own way. They would meet briefly one more time in chapter 23.

1 Samuel 21

v 1. Samuel or Jonathan could not help David, so he fled first to the tabernacle.  Abimelech was alarmed that David appeared with only two or three of his personal servants instead of the usual official court that had accompanied him. That he was not entirely alone is proven by mention of others three times in v 4, 5 as well as  Jesus’ words in Matt. 12:5, Mk. 2:25, where He expressed approval of David eating showbread. 
v 2-7. In his great stress and fear, David lied to the priest concerning his mission. The Lord would not deprive one of the holy things if there was a great need, so when the priest determined there was at least some degree of ceremonial cleanness, he gave him five loaves of the holy bread which had been replaced with fresh. Doeg, a proselyte Jew of prominence under Saul,  had been detained by the priest for some reason. Possibly to fulfill a vow. Even as he is observing, he is letting his Edomite background influence his desire to avenge them on two good Jews, David and Abimelech.
v 8,9. When David asked if there was a sword there, he probably had in mind the sword of Goliath which he had donated there. He also knew the quality of that sword.
v 10. Abimelech did not inquire of the Lord for David as Doeg lied, or assumed he had done, 22:10. Abimelech claims in 22:15 that he had not. If David had not lied to Abimelech, perhaps he could have inquired of God and given him better advice than to seek shelter with the Philistine enemy.
v 11-15. David was immediately recognized for his valor against the Philistines, and too late, realizes he has jumped from the frying pan into the fire. What a sad thing that this mighty warrior and Godly man has reduced himself to scribbling on a door and letting his spit run down his beard like an insane man. Tradition has it that king Achish had two sons who were insane. Regardless of that, it was superstitiously considered one would incur the wrath of the gods by harming an insane person, so rather than harm him, Achish has him be banished from his presence. It is indeed sad that sometimes believers neglect their faith and shame themselves before unbelievers. This was perhaps the lowest point on David’s lack of faith in exile.

1 Samuel 22

v 1,2. David left Gath and went mostly east to the cave near Adullam, which is about half way between Jerusalem and Lachish. David’s disfavor with the king put his fathers family in jeopardy, so when they heard where David was, they fled to him. So did all who were Depraved: Distressed, Debtors and Discontented. Through David, God was able to give them Deliverance. He maybe had 400 men with him at this time.
v 3,4. The others may have gone with David when he took his father and mother to security in Moab, where they stayed through the crises. Jesse was old, 17:12, and not able to handle the rigors and rapid movement of an exile.
v 5. The prophet Gad was with David throughout most of his ordeal, and he gave word from God that he should move from the security of Moab back to Judah where a forest became his place of concealment. Even under trial, David was not to leave the place of blessing. 
v 6-8. When it was known where David was, Saul lied several times to turn people against him. That David would make them all prosperous and military leaders, that everyone conspired against Saul, that the covenant between Jonathan and David was not of friendship, but of aggression, that Jonathan had stirred up David, and that David was lying in wait for Saul.
v 9,10. Doeg was not a reputable character, but he might not have disclosed the meeting of David with Ahimelech if Saul had not been pressuring them. He either lied or assumed that Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for David. Ahimelech denied it, v 15. If he had, God would surely have told David what to do, not go to Gath, 21:10.
v 11-16. Saul summoned Ahimelech and all the other priests at Nob and accused them of conspiring against him. Ahimelech explained their lack of knowledge and  their innocence regarding the matter, but Saul had become so crazed in his anger against David, he still sentenced Ahimelech and all the priesthood to death.
v 17-19. Saul’s servants had too much respect for the priesthood to obey Saul’s order. This was not justice, but unbridled wrath of Saul. Unscrupulous and cruel Doeg killed not only eighty five priests, but he killed all the men, women, children and babies of Nob. along with all the oxen, asses and sheep, just as the Israelites were to do with the corrupt Canaanites. This was no doubt in obedience to Saul’s orders. God could have protected these priests, but He allowed the wickedness of Saul to partially fulfill His word to Eli that the priesthood would depart from him, 12:27-36.
20-23. One of Ahimelech’s sons, Abiathar, escaped and told David what had happened. David must have had some knowledge of the kind of man Doeg was, because he was sure he would report the visit, but no way could he have expected the extreme reaction of Saul. David felt responsible for the death of Abiathar’s relatives and assured him of security with him. This was because David felt secure in God’s promise that he would one day be king. It would seem from 23:6 that Abiathar did not come to David until he was in Keilah.
Saul would not be without the form of Godliness, and made priest a different Ahitub than the father of Ahimelech. This one was the son of Amariah, of the family of Eleazar, and father of Zadok.  Duplication of names is confusing.

1 Samuel 23

v 1-6. Saul was eager to pursue David, but he was lax in protecting his borders against the Philistines. David was concerned by the invasion and looting by the Philistines, so he inquired of God through the prophet Gad if he should attack. Those with him were fearful, so he inquired again, with the result that he slaughtered many Philistines and took their cattle. It was while at Keilah that Abiathar came to him.
v 7-12. When Saul heard David was at Keilah, he thought to surround the city and capture him. Now with Abiathar the priest and the ephod, David inquired of the Lord if the inhabitants of Keilah would turn him over to Saul. He found that the ungrateful people of Keilah would reward his rescue of them by turning him over to Saul.
v 13-15. David’s men now numbered about 600 and they sought hiding in the forest wilderness of Ziph. When Saul learned he had fled Keilah, he didn’t go there, but still looked for him daily.
v 16-18. Jonathan came seeking David for the purpose of giving him spiritual encouragement. He assured him that Saul wouldn’t find him and he would end up being king. Such had become the evil mind of Saul that he continued looking for him even though he knew David was God’s anointed successor to him. This is the third time Jonathan and David entered this covenant of friendship. Jonathan had hopes to be next unto David in his kingdom, but this was not in God’s plan. They never met again and Jonathan died in battle.
v 19-21. Without any promise of punishment or reward from Saul, the people of Ziph went to Saul and volunteered to turn David over to him. These were people of David’s own tribe, who he would not have looted but protected. Even Judas had some motive in betraying David’s descendant, Christ. Verse 21 shows that Saul was a victim of self pity, perhaps part of his earlier depression.
v 22-26. They apparently were opportunists who expected to gain favor from Saul by setting spies to watch David’s every move. David heard of it, so he took his men to the rock in the wilderness of Maon, 10 miles southeast of Hebron. This situation was critical with Saul’s men on one side of the mountain and David’s fleeing on the other side, nearly surrounded. Similar situations took place in our own Civil War, with the Union army kept apart on one side of the mountains and the South on the other.
v 27,28. By Divine intervention, Philistines invaded the land and Saul went against them. Apparently his own interests were at stake, because it did not concern him when they attacked Keilah. Sela-hammahlekoth means cliff of divisions.
v 29. David next sought refuge at the oasis of Engedi, “fount of the kid”. This is about 10 miles north of Masada on the west shore of the Dead Sea.

1 Samuel 24

v 1-6. Trouble with the Philistines being over, Saul went after David in earnest with 3000 of the top soldiers in Israel. It would have been hot, and Saul went into the same cave to rest in which David’s men were hiding farther in. (I reject the modern interpretation that Saul went into the cave to relieve himself.) David’s men urged him to kill Saul, but David merely cut a piece off the skirt of Saul’s robe while he slept. Even that convicted David that he had done that to the Lord’s anointed.
v 7,8. David restrained his men from harming Saul, and after he left the cave, David followed and called to him, doing obeisance to him.
v 9--15. As proof that David would not harm the king, he held up the portion of his robe to show that he could have easily killed him. He called upon the Lord to judge between them, that he would not harm Saul, and in humility compared himself to a dead dog or a flea that Saul was chasing. Again David says he would rely on the Lord to be the judge and deliver him.
v 16. Saul must have been deeply convicted by these words and wept. Hearing David’s voice, he addressed him as “my son”. No doubt it reminded him of the times David had played for him and done many good deeds for him.
v 17-21. Saul acknowledged that David was more righteous than himself, that David had rewarded good for evil and deserved the blessing of the Lord. Saul had known before that David was to be king, but now he knows it in a practical, personal way. He asks David not to destroy his family when he became king, which he would probably have done if the circumstances were reversed.
v 22. David promised this to Saul, and kept his promise. Saul’s conviction and  repentance did not last, see chapter 26, and David expected as much, so he remained in strongholds and secret places.
Look at the ups and downs of faith in David’s life, and compare them to situations in our own .

1 Samuel 25

v 1. Samuel died, but David dared not go with the rest of Israel to mourn him. He took his men to the wilderness of Paran which is the southernmost portion of the land. It is bordered by the gulf of Aqaba on the east, and on the west, Kedesh-barnea, and the Wilderness of Zin along the road to Egypt.
v 2,3. Maon of 23:24 is in this area, and David spent considerable time there in which he helped guard Nabal’s flocks from enemies and predators. Nabal was as miserly and rude as his wife, Abigail was generous and lovely.
v 4-9. Sheep shearing was a time of celebration, so David sent 10 young men to request if in exchange for their good treatment given his flocks and shepherds, Nabal would extend the celebration by giving some gift by them to the name of David.
v 10--13. Nabal not only refused, but insinuated that David was just another rebel run away from his master. He knew different, from Abigail’s comment, v 28,29. When David heard his response he left 200 men to guard and girded 400 to attack Nabal.
v 14-17. One of Nabal’s young men ran and told Abigail what had happened, how helpful David had been to them , how worthless Nabal was, and that evil would follow unless she did something. Nabal means “fool”.
v 18,19. In haste she sent servants with 200 loaves, 2 skins of wine, 5 dressed sheep, 5 measures of parched grain, 100 clusters of raisins, 200 cakes of figs, then she followed after, all without telling Nabal.
v 20-31. David had said he would kill every male of Nabal’s household because Nabal had given him evil for good, but when Abigail met David, she dismounted and fell on her face at his feet petitioning him. First she pointed out Nabal’s name means “fool”, and that is what he was. She explained that she had not seen David’s men and the Lord had withheld David from shedding blood to this point. She asks him to accept her gift and asks for forgiveness. She knows David will be king and is being pursued unjustly, so when the Lord has overcome his enemies and placed him as king, he will not grieve that he had avenged himself by blood without cause, but will earnestly remember her (what she had done).
v 32-35. David blessed her and her advice in keeping him from shedding blood, because before morning he would have killed every male of Nabal’s household. He accepted her gift and her person and bid her return home in peace.
v 36-38. Nabal got very drunk at the shearing celebration, so Abigail didn’t tell him what she had done till he was sober next morning. When she told him, he must have become so angry that he had a stroke, and 10 days later, another and died.
v 39-43. When David heard Nabal was dead, he thanked the Lord that he had been kept from evil. David talked to her about marriage, then sent servants to get her. She came in total humility bringing five of her servant girls with her and became his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel as a wife. Saul was so bitter against David that he gave Michal, David’s wife to another man. It may be David had already heard of this, influencing him into a life of polygamy.

1 Samuel 26

v 1-4. This is the second time the Ziphites voluntarily exposed David’s presence to Saul, 23:19.  His promise forgotten, Saul again took 3000 of his top soldiers to try to capture David as he did in 24:2. By spies, David found out that Saul truly was coming.
v 5-12. Apparently Zeruiah and her sister Abigail were step sisters of David by his mother and Nahash, not Jesse. So the three brothers, Abishai, Joab and Asahel would have been nephews of David. Abishai volunteered to go with David into the camp where Saul was sleeping. Abishai wanted to pin Saul to the earth with one deadly stroke of his spear, but David refused to let him harm the Lord’s anointed. He was sure the Lord would dispose of Saul in His own way and His own time. Instead, David took the spear that was at Saul’s head and the cruse of water which was at his side. This was all possible because the Lord had brought a deep sleep on all Saul’s army.
v 13-16. Then David called to Abner, Saul’s commander, taunting him for not protecting Saul, and showing the spear and water cruse as evidence.
v 17-20. Saul recognized David’s voice, and in conviction, called him son as he had, 24:16. Again David pleads innocence and questions the purpose behind the pursuit. If this was of God, David would repent, but if it was of men, they should be cursed by God, for they had not only interfered and driven him from his home, but also from serving God at the tabernacle as he would long to do. David makes a final plea to be left alone from this unreasonable pursuit.
v 21-25. Saul admits his sin, even to the point of saying he had played the fool, but does not seek forgiveness or offer restitution. After David reminded Saul he had not harmed him, he told him to send someone for his spear and cruse. Saul made even more confession than he had in 24:20. He blessed him, acknowledged that David would do great things and admitted that David would prevail. They never saw each other again.

1 Samuel 27

v 1-4. Often after a mountain top experience of victory, we enter a valley of despair. Compare Elijah’s great victory over the 400 prophets of Baal, only to fall apart at the threats of Jezebel and wish he was dead, 1 Ki. 19. David knows from experience that  his own countrymen would betray him to Saul, and that Saul would go back on his word. Not only did David have his wives along, the 600 men had their households, making concealment and flight almost impossible, and provisions very difficult. He had a lapse of faith in which he failed to realize that though Saul would not keep his promise, the Lord would keep His. God had promised that David would be king, and he would continue to protect him. Without consulting the prophet Gad or Abiathar the priest, David made a determination in the flesh to go into the land of the Philistines. By now they knew David was Saul’s mortal enemy, and they would welcome David as a tentative ally instead of an enemy. Humanly speaking, it worked, and Saul quit pursuing David.
v 5-7. David apparently made a covenant of loyalty with Achish, the king of Gath, if he would grant David’s people a place in the country. This was not only an humble entreaty, but would keep the Israelites from mingling with the Philistines and falling after their gods. Achish generously gave David the remote town of Ziklag, which thereafter remained in Israel’s hands. This was David’s home a year and four months.
v 8,9. David gained valuable provisions as well as military experience for his group by attacking and annihilating Israel’s enemies south of Judah and the Philistines in the present Gaza strip and beyond, then he returned. 
v 10-12. David did not want Achish to begin to feel uneasy about his exploits, so he gave him an answer that amounted to a lie. His sortie had truly been to the south of Judah, but he left the impression it was against the south part of Judah. He had left none alive to tell, so Achish concluded that David had made himself so repulsive to the people of Judah that he would be his permanent servant. David later regretted his deception and said, “remove from me the way of lying”, Ps. 119:29.

1 Samuel 28

v 1.2. David’s covenant with Achish  now places him in a dilemma. Philistines are going to go to war against Israel, and David has no choice but to go against his own countrymen in order to keep his word with Achish. His reply was a little ambiguous, but Achish took it affirmatively, and appointed him as his life long body guard.
v 3-6. Saul is in a different dilemma. In spite of other failures, he had properly put out all necromancers, fortune tellers etc. from the land. Now Philistines were poised to invade and Saul was very much afraid. Samuel was dead, and the Lord would not answer Saul by dreams, by the priests through the Urim, or by prophets. It was his own actions that had shut the Lord out, why He would not hear his prayer, Ps. 66:18.
v 7-10. Since he couldn’t go to the Lord, he sought a medium, that he might gain an answer. Though they had been outlawed, Saul’s servant knew of one who had survived the purge, but Saul knew she wouldn’t talk to him if she knew who he was. Saul’s desperation is seen in that he had to skirt the Philistine line to get to her. The woman was fearful it might be a “sting” to trap her, but Saul promised her safety. She had safety from Saul, but not from Divine judgment for breaking God’s law.
v 11-14  The woman probably did much by fraud, but she is surprised to see the apparition of Samuel.  Saul did not see him but heard his voice, and identified him as an old man in priest’s apparel. This enabled the woman to recognize Saul.
There is much difference of opinion on whether or not this was of God. The wording in following verses seems to indicate it was, but look behond the words to their context. I believe this was demonic from start to finish.
God had quit answering Saul by any means at all, so Saul goes to a witch, a woman who should have been sttoned, to get answer in spite of God. Except for the defeat and day of his death, the apparition does not give any information that Saul does not already know. The creatures see saw would have been demonic, not angels.
v 15-19. How much better if Saul had consistently called upon God through Samuel during his life, but now it is too late. The Lord had departed from him and rent the kingdom from him because of his disobedience regarding Amalek, 15:3-9. Previously Samuel told him he was being replaced by someone better, 15:28, but here he specifically adds the name of David, which Saul already knew.  Samuel further informs him that the Philistines will win the the next day’s battle, and Saul and his sons will be killed. This was a true demonic revelation, and is fulfilled in chapter 31. We see examples in te New Testament of demon controlled people recognizing Jesus and Paul. If Saul was a believer, in spite of his many wicked deeds, he would go to the portion of Hades known as Abraham’s bosom, Lk. 16:22. If not, he would go to the other side, in torment.  We note that Saul was rebuked for disobedince, for saving the Amalakite king and for going to a medium. We shold stay away from fortune tellers, wiege boards etc.
v 20. Saul had bowed low, v 14, but at this message he collapsed flat on the ground. His strength was not helped by the fact he had lost appetite to eat in 24 hours.
v 21-25. Even though the woman’s life might yet be in jeopardy, she had grace and care to see that he got essential nourishment. His servants joined her in this. She even honored him as king by killing her pet calf and baking fresh bread for him. The men all finally ate and left, Saul going to his doom.

1 Samuel 29

v 1-5. This area was critical, because whoever owned the passes, had virtual control of all of southern Canaan. As Achish and his men approach the battle line, David finds himself in a very difficult situation. If he fought with the Philistines, he would be fighting against his own countrymen. If he went over to the Israelites, Saul would immediately kill him, and Achish would take revenge on all the families of David and his men at Ziklag. The other Philistines knew of David’s exploits against them, and would not risk him being a turncoat against them in the midst of battle.  The Lord was intervening in spite of David’s error, and they demanded that he be sent back.
The comment by the Philistines, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” can well be said by unbelievers about Christians in certain activities or places of entertainment.
v 6,7. Achish tried to soothe his remarks by telling David he had always been faithful to him, but the other Philistines demanded he be sent back.
v 8. David’s response reminds me of Shakespeare's “Me thinks thou dost protest too much”. He was no doubt relieved to get out of his dilemma, but it was politically expedient to fake his regret at not being allowed to go as Achish’s protector.
v 9-11. Achish reassured David of his confidence in him, but do to the other Philistines, he could not go up to battle. They would be moving out next morning, so David must arise earlier and get his men out of there. The Lord not only relieved David from fighting Israel, but was sending him back to an emergency at Ziklag, chapter 30. Truly, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”, Ps. 37:23.

1 Samuel 30

v 1,2. It may have been 80 miles or more from the battle area to Ziklag, and since this was not a forced march, they didn’t get back till some time on the third day to find out what the Amalekites had done.
v 3-6. Finding the city burned and nothing left, they had no idea of the fate of their families and all were in deep grief. The first impulse was to blame David and kill him for taking them off on this wild goose chase.  He did not retaliate against the leaders, of the rebellion, but  exhibited patience and his own faith.
v 7-10. David did the right thing in inquiring of the Lord, and the word that all would be recovered quickly encouraged everyone. He also did the right thing in permitting the 200 exhausted men to stay at the Brook Besor. Verse 9 states that he had 600 total. However, we learn from 1 Chr. 12:1-20 that In addition to the 400 who had been with him and who were stronger to cross over and continue the pursuit, David had help from some mighty men who had defected to him, including some from Manasseh. These weren’t mentioned here as they would have been individual new volunteers, so were not experiencing the grief of the 600. Probably the thousands of Manasseh listed in 1 Chr. 12:20 did not join David till he came to claim the throne. 
v 11-15. When the Egyptian servant of an Amalekite fell sick, he was simply left to die. After David revived him with food and water, which he had not had for three days and nights, he told about the invasion and burning of Ziklag. He agreed to show David where the company of people were only if he was not turned over to his master.
v 16-20. David made a surprise attack while they were celebrating and killed all the enemy but the 400 who escaped on camels. Every person was rescued unharmed with their possessions, plus cattle and spoils which had been captured other places.  That captured from others, David called his spoil, so he could regulate how it was distributed.
v 21-25. Some of the greedy men wanted to keep the spoils and only give back the wives and children of those who had been too weak to cross over Bezor. However, David reminded them that the Lord had delivered them. He established a principal that became law, that after a battle, there would be equal division to those who were in the battle as well as to those who stayed by the supplies.
v 26-31. David then made a wise diplomatic move. He gave gifts from spoils to all the cities and areas from which the Amalekites had stolen and those who had been kind to him. This ingratiated them to him forever. In this list of towns which received gifts, notice that no gifts were sent to Keilah or the Ziphites. He did not punish them, but he made them aware that they had lost privileges.

1 Samuel 31

v 1-3. The Philistine overcame Israel in the battle at Mount Gilboa and many fled in wounded condition.  Saul’s three sons, Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua died, and he was severely wounded. They didn’t die in flight, but were overrun, 2 Sam. 2:22, probably trying to stem the tide and rally those around them who were fleeing.
v 4-6. To avoid capture and certain torture by the Philistines, Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him with his sword. His armor bearer feared to do that, so Saul fell upon his own sword in an attempt to commit suicide. Then the armor bearer committed suicide by falling on his sword. This is not in conflict with the report of the Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1:10. Saul had mortally wounded himself but was not yet dead, so the Amalekite finished him off in what he thought was a mercy killing. He possibly thought also that David might reward him, as he also brought Saul’s crown and bracelet. (Some think the Amalekite was lying, that Saul was already dead.)
v 7-10. Hearing of the death of their leaders, the Israelites abandoned their cities to the Philistines and fled to the wilderness. When stripping the slain, the Philistines beheaded Saul, took his armor and sent word of the victory to all the surrounding countryside, and to the house of their idol, to whom they gave credit for the victory. In respect to their god, Ashtaroth, they also put Saul’s armor there. They hung Saul’s body on the wall of Bethshan or Bethshean, Josh. 17:11. Since they could not torture Saul alive, they would shame him after death and discourage his followers.
v 11-13. The men of Jabesh-gilead remembered how Saul had come to their aid at the beginning of his reign. It was against Jewish belief to leave a body hanging all night, Deut. 21:22,23, so out of respect for their king,  they risked their lives by fording the Jordan at night and retrieving the bodies of Saul and his sons. The condition of the bodies by now was such that they burned them (customarily with spices to perfume them), then they buried the bones under a tree for a marker. There was no general mourning for Saul throughout Israel, but here they fasted till evening for each of seven days. They probably also lamented the sad state of Israel at this time. 
1 Chr. 10:13,14 stipulate the reason for Saul’s death. He disobeyed God’s word and asked advice from a medium, so God gave the kingdom to David. 

 copyright © 2012 Christ Is Alive Ministry
www.christisalive.net
All Rights Reserved.  

In the early 90's I started studing the bible by taking colleger courses, because I believe the Lord wanted me to become a pastor in a Nazarne Church. My goal has changed with all my studies. I have read and compared numerous translations and commentaries in my many years of studying the bible. Some of these authorities disagree with each other. I come across information on studies and classes that I have taken 15 to 20 years before and I have no documentation of where it came from. Plus I have given away or returned many books for college classes that I have taken. So if I have failed to give someone the credit that is due them I ask for their forgiveness. The following is a list of translations and commentaries that I still have and use.

1. Apocrypha
2. Confessions of St Augustine
3. Divine Comedy of Dante (Henery Carytr)
4. King James Bible
5. LDS (Mormons)
6. Martin Luther
7. St John of the Cross
8. Budhist
9. Christian-King James
10. Hindu
11. Islam
12. Judaism
13. Sikh
14. Tao
15. Zoroastrian

OUR ETERNAL HOME by Richard W. Dehaan,
PROPHECY STUDY BIBLE by Tim Lahaye
READER'S DIGEST JESUS AND HIS TIMES by the Readers Digest Association Inc,
REFLECTING GOD STUDY BIBLE By Zondervan Corporation;
SAINT JOSEPH EDITION OF THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE by Catholic Book Publishing Co.
SEVEN KEYS TO FAMILY POWER by Billy Joe Daugherty,
SIX HOURS ONE FRIDAY by Max Lacado,
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE by the Zondervan Corporation;
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD by Jocyce Meyer,
THE BIBLE PROMISE BOOK by Babbour Publishing Inc,
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER by Charles Mortimer Guilbert
THE BOOK OF HOPE by Tyndale House Publishiers, Inc,
THE BORN AGAIN CATHOLIC by Albert H. Boudreau,
THE CASE FOR CHRIST by Lee Strobel,
THE CATHOLIC ANSWER BOOK by Peter MJ Stravinsiasi
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BIBLE KNOWLEDGE by Mark D. Taylor;
THE DAY CHRIST DIED by Jim Bishop,
THE GREAT BIBLE QUESTION AND ANWERS BOOK by Playmore Inc
THE HOME BIBLE STUDY COURSE by Dr. Harold L. Wilmington;
THE KING JAMES BIBLE ARCHAIE WORDS DEFIND by David W. Daniel
THE KING JAMES BIBLE COMPANION by David W. Daniels;
THE KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
THE LAYMAN’S BIBLE  DICTIONARY by George W. Knight and Rayburn W. Ray;
THE LAYMAN’S PARALLEL NEW TESTAMENT by Zondervan Bible Publisher
THE LAYMAN'S LIST by Calance Stucup
THE MESSAGE BIBLE by Eugone H. Peterson,
THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE by World Catholic Press;
THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE Saint Joseph Edition;
THE NEW STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE by James Strong LL. D S.T.D.;
THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE by Cardinal Francis Arinze
THE TRINITY by Rose Publish
THE VERY FIRST ESTER by Paul L. Maier,
THE WAY CATHOLIC LIVING BIBLE by Tyndale House Publishers;
UNCHRISTIAN by David Kennan and Gabe Lyon
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S LOVE by Ronald Greib
VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WORDS By W. E. Vine;
WHAT’S SO SECRET ABOUT THE RAPTURRE? By Christian Record Services, INC
WHEN GOD WINKS AT YOU by Tomas Nelson
WILLMINGTON’S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE by Dr. H.L. Willmington,
WOMAN OF FAITH STUDY BIBLE by Zschech/Heillsong
YESTERDAY TODAY AND FOREVER by New Leaf Press
YOU WERE BORN FOR THIS by Anthony Wilhen

08/19/2011