1 Samuel 13:1-23 The Israelites Scatter from the Philistines in Fear

 

The Israelites Scatter from the Philistines in Fear

1 Samuel 13:1-23                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Saul [ruled] 1 year & when he had [ruled] 2 years over Israel, [he] chose 3,000 men of Israel. 2,000 [of them] were with Saul in Michmash & Mount BethEl & 1,000 were with Jonathan, in Gibeah of Benjamin.

He sent the rest of the people to [their tents.] Jonathan [attacked] the Philistine [camp] that was in Geba & the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews [Israelites] hear.

All Israel heard that Saul had [defeated] the [Philistine camp] & that Israel [had become repulsive to] the Philistines. The [Israelites] were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

The Philistines gathered themselves together with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen & people as numerous as the sand of the seashore, to fight Israel. They came up & pitched [tents] in Michmash [a.k.a. Mishmash,] eastward from Beth Aven.

When the men of Israel saw they were in [danger] (for the people were distressed,) then. The people [hid] themselves in: caves, thickets, rocks, in [cliffs] & [water] pits. Some of the Hebrews went over [the] Jordan [River] to the [lands] of: Gad & Gilead. Saul was [still] in Gilgal & all the people followed him trembling.

He [waited there] 7 days, according to the time set [by] Samuel, but Samuel [didn’t come] to Gilgal [then] & the people were scattered from him. Saul said, Bring [here] a burnt offering & a Peace Offering.

As soon as he [finished making] his burnt offering, Samuel came & Saul went out to [greet] & salute him. Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, Because I saw the people were scattered from me & you [hadn’t come] within the [arranged time] & the Philistines had gathered together in Michmash.

Therefore, I said, The Philistines will now come down [against] me [at] Gilgal & I haven’t [prayed] to the Lord, [so] I forced myself & offered a burnt offering. Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly & haven't kept the commandment of the Lord your God, [that] He had commanded you.

For now the Lord would have established your kingdom [in] Israel forever, but now your kingdom shall not continue.

The Lord has [searched] for a man after His own heart & the Lord has commanded him to be [leader] over His people, because you haven’t kept [what] the Lord commanded you.

Samuel arose & [left] Gilgal to [go to] Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul [counted] about 600 men [there] with him. Saul & his son, Jonathan & the people [there] with them [stayed] in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines [set up camp] in Michmash.

The [raiders] came out of the camp of the Philistines in 3 companies. 1 company turned [on] to the [road] that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual. Another company turned [on the road] to Beth Horon & another company turned to the border [road] that [overlooks] the Valley of Zeboim, [facing] the wilderness.

Now, there wasn’t a [blacksmith] found throughout all the land of Israel: [since] the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [themselves] swords or spears. But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, [so] every man [could] sharpen his [tips of his plow, picks, axes & sickles.]

They [still] had to [use] a file [to sharpen] the [plow tips, picks, axes & cow prods.] It [happened on] the day of battle, none of the people with Saul & Jonathan had a sword or spear in their hand, [except] for Saul & Jonathan [who had them.] The [Philistine camp] went out to the passage of Michmash.

1 Samuel 12:1-25 Elderly Samuel Asks If He’s Ever Defrauded, Oppressed or Taken a Bribe

Elderly Samuel Asks If He’s Ever Defrauded, Oppressed or Taken a Bribe

1 Samuel 12:1-25                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Samuel said to all [of] Israel, I have [listened] to your voice in all that you said & have made a king over you. Now, [see,] the king walks before you & I am old & gray headed.

[Look,] my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood [until] this day. [See,] I am here. Witness against me before the Lord & His anointed: Whose ox or [donkey] have I taken?

Whom have I defrauded [or] oppressed? Of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind [my] eyes [with it?] [Tell me] & I will restore it [to] you. They said, You haven’t defrauded us, nor oppressed us & neither have you taken [anything from] any man’s hand.

[Samuel] said to them, The Lord & His anointed [are witnesses] against you this day, that you haven’t found [anything] in my hand. They answered, He is [a] witness.

Samuel said to the people, It is the Lord, [Who] advanced Moses & Aaron & brought your [forefathers] up out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, standstill, [so] I may reason with you before the Lord [about] all the righteous acts of the Lord, that He did to you & to your [forefathers.]

When Jacob [a.k.a. Israel, came] into Egypt & your [forefathers] cried [out] to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses & Aaron [who] brought your [forefathers] out of Egypt & [made] them [live] in this  place.

When they [forgot] the Lord their God, He sold them into the [hands] of Sisera; captain of [Hazor’s army] & into the [hands] of the Philistines & into the [hands] of [Moab’s] king.

They fought against them & cried [out] to the Lord & said, We have sinned, because we have [abandoned] the Lord & have served Baalim & Ashtaroth.

But now, deliver us out of the hands of our enemies & we will serve You. The Lord sent Jerubbaal [a.k.a. Gideon] & Bedan, Jephthah & Samuel & delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side & you [lived safely.]

When you saw that Nahash, the king of the children [people] of Ammon came against you, you said to me, [No;] but a king shall [rule] over us; when the Lord your God was your king.

Therefore, now, [see,] the king you have chosen & desired! [Look,] the Lord has [put] a king over you.

If you will fear [respect] the Lord & serve Him & obey His voice & not rebel against the [commandments] of the Lord, then both you & the king [who rules] over you shall continue following the Lord your God.

But if you won’t obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the [commandments] of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord shall be against you [like] it was against your [forefathers.]

Therefore, now stand & see this great thing, [that] the Lord shall do before your eyes. Isn’t today wheat harvest?

I will call to the Lord & He shall send thunder & rain, [so] that you may see & [realize] your wickedness is great & [what] you have done in the sight of the Lord, [by] asking for a king [for yourselves.]

So, Samuel called to the Lord & the Lord sent thunder & rain that day & all the people greatly feared [respected] the Lord & Samuel.

And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, [so] that we [won’t] die: for we have added to all our sins, this evil in [asking] for a king [for us.]

And Samuel said to the people, [Don’t be fearful,] you have done all this wickedness, but don’t [go astray] from following the Lord, but [continue] to serve the Lord with all of your heart.

[Don’t go astray]: for then if you go after vain things, [that] can’t [benefit] or deliver [you,] for they are [worthless.] For the Lord won’t [abandon] His people for His great Name’s sake; because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.

As for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. But I will teach you the good & right way. Only fear [respect] the Lord & serve Him in truth with all your heart. Consider how [many] great things He has done for you. But if you shall still do wickedly, you & your king shall both [perish.]

1 Samuel 11: 15 The Threat of Nahor

 

The Threat of Nahor

1 Samuel 11:1-15               The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Nahash, the Ammonite, came up & [set up camp] against Jabesh Gilead & all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant [contract] with us & we will serve you.

Nahash answered them, On this condition I will make a [contract] with you, that I may [poke] out all your right eyes & [bring a disgrace] upon all [of] Israel.

The elders of Jabesh said to [Nahash, Leave us alone for] 7 days, [so] we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel & then, if there is no man to save us, we will come out to you.

Then, the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul & told [this] to the people, [they all] lifted up their voice & [cried.] [Look,] Saul came out of the field [following] the herd & said, What [is wrong with] the people [who cry?]

They told [Saul] the [words] of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard [this news] & his anger [grew] greatly.

[Saul] took a [pair] of oxen & [cut] them [into] pieces & sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel [with the] messengers, saying, [Whoever doesn’t come forward] after Saul & Samuel, [this] shall be done to his oxen.

The fear of the Lord fell on the people & 300,000 men of Judah [came out united,] when [he counted] them in Bezek.

They said to the messengers that came, You shall say [this] to the men of Jabesh Gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun [is] hot, you shall have help.

And the messengers [told] it to the men of Jabesh & they were glad. Therefore, the men of Jabesth said [to Nahor,] Tomorrow we will come out to you & you shall do with us all that seems good to you.

The [next day,] Saul put the people into 3 companies & they came into the midst of the [army] in the morning watch & [killed] the Ammonites until the heat of the day.

It [happened, that those who] remained scattered, [so there] weren’t 2 of them left together. The [Israelites asked] Samuel, Who said, Shall Saul [rule] over us? Bring the men, [so] we may put them to death.

And Saul said, [No] man shall be put to death this day: for the Lord has [brought about] salvation in Israel.

Then, Samuel said to the people, Come, let’s go to Gilgal & renew the kingdom there. All the people went to Gilgal & they made Saul king there, before the Lord. They [made] sacrifices of Peace Offerings there before the Lord & Saul & all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly there.

1 Samuel 10:1--27 Samuel Anoints Saul

 

Samuel Anoints Saul

1 Samuel 10:1-27                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Samuel took a vial of oil & poured it on [Saul’s] head & kissed him & said, Isn’t [this] because the Lord has anointed you to be the [ruler] over His inheritance [for Israel?]

When you [depart] from me today, then you will find 2 men by Rachel’s [tomb] at Zelrah [a.k.a. Zulrah] in the border of Benjamin & they will say to you, The [donkeys] you went to [look for] are found.

Your father [no longer] cares [about the donkeys,] but is [sad about] you, saying, What shall I do for my son? [Saul,] you shall go forward from [there] & you shall come to the plain of Tabor.

[You] shall meet 3 men there going up to God [at] Bethel, 1 carrying 3 kid [goats] & another carrying 3 loaves of bread & another carrying a bottle of wine. They will [greet] you & give you 2 loaves of bread, [that] you shall receive [from] their hands.

After that, you shall come to the hill of God, where there is a [platoon] of Philistines.

It shall [happen,] when you shall come [near] the city, you shall meet a [group] of prophets coming down from the high place with [lyres, tambourines, flutes] & harps [in front of them] & they shall prophesy.

And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you & you shall prophesy with them & be turned into another man. When these signs [happen] to you, [do as you feel led;] for God is with you.

You shall go down to Gilgal before me & [watch,] I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings & to make sacrifices of Peace Offerings. You shall [wait there] 7 days [until] I come to you & show you what you shall do.

It [happened,] that when [Saul] turned his back to go from Samuel, God [changed Saul’s] heart & all those signs [happened] that day. When they came [near] the hill, a [group] of prophets met him & he prophesied [with] them.

When [those who] knew him [before] saw that [Saul] prophesied [with] the prophets, they said one to another, What [has happened] to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

[Someone from there] answered, But who is their father? It became a [saying,] Is Saul also among the prophets?

When [Saul] had [finished] prophesying, he came to the high place [of worship.] And Saul’s uncle said to him & to his servant, [Where] did you [go?] [Saul] said, To [search] for the [donkeys] & when we saw [they weren’t there,] we [went] to Samuel.

And Saul’s uncle said, I pray [that] you tell me what Samuel said to you. Saul said to his uncle, He plainly [told us] the [donkeys] were found, but [Saul didn’t tell] him the [rest] of what Samuel [had said.]

Samuel called the people together to the Lord [at] Mizpeh. [Samuel] said to the children [people] of Israel, The Lord God of Israel says [this,] I brought Israel up out of Egypt & delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians & out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.

This day you have rejected your God, Who Himself saved you out of all your [troubles] & tribulations. And you have said to Him, No, [put] a king over us [instead.]

Therefore, present yourselves now before the Lord by your tribes & by your 1,000’s. When Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come [close,] the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

When [Samuel] had the tribe of Benjamin come [close] by their families, the family of Matri was taken & Saul, the son of Kish was taken, [but when they looked] for him, he couldn’t be found.

Therefore, they [inquired] of the Lord further, if [Saul still needed to] come [there.] And the Lord answered, [See, Saul has hidden] himself among the stuff. They ran & [brought] him [there.]

When [Saul] stood among the people, he was [taller] than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Samuel said to all the [Israelites,] See [Saul,] whom the Lord has chosen & there is none like him among all the people?

All the people shouted, God save the king. Then, Samuel told the people the [laws] of the kingdom & wrote it in a book & [placed] it before the Lord [in the tabernacle.]

And Samuel sent all the people to [their houses.] Saul also went home to Gibeah & a [group] of men, whose hearts had been touched by the [Lord] God went with him.

But the [worthless scoundrels] said,  How shall this man save us? They despised [Saul] & didn’t bring him [any] presents. But [Saul] held his peace.

1 Samuel 9:1-27 The Lord Said a Man from Benjamin Shall be Anointed

 

The Lord Said a Man from Benjamin Shall be Anointed

1 Samuel 9:1-27                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Kish was a man of Benjamin, [Abel’s] son, [who was] the son of Zeror, [Bechorath’s] son, [who] was the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite & mighty man of power.

[Kish] had a son [named] Saul, an [impressive & handsome] young man. There weren’t [any] more [handsome] among the children [people] of Israel than [Saul.]

[Also] he was [taller] from his shoulders & upward than any of the people. The [donkeys] of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish [told] Saul, Go [search] for the [donkeys] & take 1 of the servants with you.

[Saul] passed through Mount Ephraim & the land of Shalisha & [didn’t find] them. They weren’t in Shalim [or] the land of the Benjamites. When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul [told] his servant, Let’s return; lest my father stops [worrying about the donkeys & starts worrying about] us.

[The servant] said, [Look,] in this city is a man of God [who] is an honorable man & all he says [happens.] Let’s go [there] & [maybe] he can show us the way we should go.

Saul said to his servant, But [look,] if we go, what shall we bring the man? [Our] bread is [used up] & there isn’t a present to bring the man of God. What [do] we have? The servant answered Saul, [Look,] I have 1/4 of a shekel of silver here: that I will give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

([Previously] in Israel, when they wanted to [ask] of God, [they said, Let’s] go to the seer, [but] now he is called a Prophet, [but before that time] was called a Seer.) Saul said to his servant, [You] said well, let’s go.  So, they went to the city where the man of God was.

As. They went up the hill to the city, they [saw] young maidens going out to draw water & [asked,] Is the seer here? They answered, [Look,] he is in the city before you. [Hurry, because] he came to the city today; for the sacrifice of the [Israelite] people, today in the high place.

As soon as you come into the city, you shall [go immediately] to find him, before he goes to the high place to eat. For the people won’t eat until he [comes & blesses] the sacrifice. Afterward [those] eat [who are invited.]

Now, [go] up for this is about [the] time you shall find him. When they [came] into the city, Samuel came [toward] them, to go up to the high place.

Now, the Lord had [secretly] told Samuel, [the] day before Saul came, saying, Tomorrow about this time, I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin & you shall anoint him to be [a leader] over My people, Israel, [so] he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines.

For I have looked upon My people, because their [out] cry has come to Me. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to [Samuel, See,] the man [whom] I spoke of to you! [He] shall [rule] over My people.

Then, Saul drew [close] to Samuel [at] the gate & said, I pray [that] you tell me where the seer’s house is. Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer. Go up before me into the high place; for you shall eat with me today & tomorrow I will let you go & will tell you all that is [on] your heart.

[Don’t worry about] the [donkeys] that were lost 3 days ago, for they’ve [been] found. Isn’t the desire of all of Israel on you & your father’s house? Saul answered, Am I not [just] a Benjamite, [from] the smallest of [the] tribes of Israel?

[Why] then [do] you [say this] to me? Samuel took Saul & his servant & brought them into the parlor & made them sit in the place [of honor] among about 30 [who had been asked to attend.]

Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion [of food that] I gave you & said, [Put] it by you. The cook [picked] up the shoulder & set it before Saul. Samuel said, [Look, what] is [remaining!][Put] it [in front of] you & eat what has been kept [especially] for you, [ever] since I said, I have invited the people.

So, Saul [ate] with Samuel that day. When they went down from the high place into the city, Samuel [talked] with Saul on the [rooftop] of the house. They arose early [at sunrise] & Samuel called Saul to the top of the house & said, [Get] up, so I may send you away.

Saul arose & they [both] went [outside.] As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, [Ask] your servant [to go ahead of] us & (he went ahead.) [Samuel said to Saul,] Stand still a while, so I may show you the word of God.

1 Samuel 8:1-22 Samuel & His 2 Sons

 

Samuel & His 2 Sons

1 Samuel 8:1-22                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

[It happened,] when Samuel was old, he made his sons: Joel & Abiah, judges over Israel in Beer Sheba. Joel was the firstborn & Abiah, his 2nd. They were judges in Beer Sheba. His sons [didn't follow] his ways & turned aside after [profit] & took bribes & perverted [justice.]

Then, all the elders of Israel gathered together & came to Ramah to Samuel & said to him, [Look,] you are old & your sons [don’t] walk in your ways. Now [give] us a king to judge us like all the [other] nations.

[This] displeased Samuel [that they asked,] Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

The Lord said to Samuel, [Listen] to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For they haven’t rejected you, but they have rejected Me, so that I shouldn’t [rule] over them.

[They are doing to you, just like they did to Me,] since the day I brought them up out of Egypt [until] this day. They have [abandoned Me] & have served other gods. [They are doing the same] to you.

Now [listen] to [them,] yet solemnly protest to them & [declare to] them the [type] of king that shall [rule] over them. Samuel told the people [who] asked for a king, all the words of the Lord.

[Samuel] said, This will be the [type] of king [who] shall [rule] over you. He will take your sons & appoint them for himself, for his chariots & to be his horsemen. Some shall run [in front of] his chariots.

He will appoint [himself] captains over 1,000’s, captains over 50’s & will [have] them [plow] his ground & reap his harvest & make his [weapons] of war & make [equipment] for his chariots.

He will take your daughter to be [candy & sweet makers,] cooks & bakers. He will take [all the best of] your fields, vineyards & olive [groves] & give them to his servants.

He will take 1/10 of your [grain] & [grape harvest] to give to his officers & servants. He will take your male & female servants & your [handsome] young men & [donkeys] & [have] them do his work.

He will take 1/10 of your sheep & you shall be his servants. And you shall cry out that day, because of your king [that] you have chosen [for yourselves] & the Lord [God] will not hear you [on] that day.

[Still] the [Israelites] refused to obey the voice of Samuel & they said, [No,] we will have a king over us, [so] we may be like all the nations & also our king may judge us & go out before us & fight our battles.

Samuel heard all the words of the people & [repeated] them [to] the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, [Listen] to their [voices & give] them a king. And Samuel [told] the men of Israel, Every man, go back to your city.

1 Samuel 7:1-17 Taking the Ark of the Lord to the House of Abinadab

 

Taking the Ark of the Lord to the House of Abinadab

1 Samuel 7:1-17                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

The men of Kirjath Jearim came & [took] the Ark of the Lord into the house of Abinadab [on] the hill & sanctified Eleazar, his son to [take care of] the Ark the Lord. The Ark had stayed [a] long time, for 20 years in Kirjath Jearim & all the house of Israel [mourned & sought] after the Lord.

Samuel [spoke] to all the [Israelites,] saying, If you return to the Lord with all your hearts & put away the strange gods & Ashtaroth from among you & prepare your hearts to the Lord & serve only Him; He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

The children [people] of Israel did put away Baalim & Asharoth & served only the Lord [God.] Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mispeh & I will pray for you to the Lord.

They gathered together in Mizpeh & drew water & poured it out before the Lord & fasted that day & said, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children [people] of Israel in Mizpeh. When the Philistines heard the [Israelites] were gathered together in Mizpeh, the Philistine lords went to [battle] against Israel.

When the [Israelites] heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines & said to Samuel, [Don’t stop crying out] to the Lord our God for us, so He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

Samuel took a lamb [that wasn’t weaned] & offered it for a burnt offering [totally] to the Lord. And Samuel cried [out] to the Lord for Israel & the Lord heard him.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but the Lord thundered [loudly] that day upon the Philistines & [defeated] them & they were [destroyed] before Israel.

The men of Israel went out of Mizpeh & pursued the Philistines & [struck them down] until they came to Beth Car. Samuel took a [rock] & put it between Mizpeh & Shen & & [named] it Ebenezer, saying, [Up until now,] the Lord [God] helped us. So, the Philistines were [forced into submission] & they no [longer] came into [Israel’s] coast & the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

The cities the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath. And Israel delivered [its coastal territory from] the hands of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel & the Amorites.

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life & he went from year to year in a circuit [from] Bethel to Gilgal & [to] Mizpeh & judged Israel in all those places. His house was in Ramah, where he [returned] & he judged Israel there & built an altar to the Lord.