1 Samuel 27:1-12 Achish Gives Ziklag to David, so He & His Men Can Stay There

 

Achish Gives Ziklag to David, so He & His Men Can Stay There

1 Samuel 27:1-12                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

David said in his heart, One day, I shall perish at the hand of Saul. The [best thing] for me is to speedily escape into the land of the Philistines.

Saul shall [be discouraged from looking for] me any [longer within] any coast of Israel & I shall escape out of his hand.

David arose & 600 men [crossed] over with him to Achish, [Maoch’s] son, king of Gath. David & his men & [their families stayed] with Achish, even David’s 2 wives: Ahinoam, [of Jezreel] & Abigail, [of Carmel,] Nabal’s [widow.]

And Saul was told that David [had] fled to Gath & [Saul didn’t search for him any] more. And David said to Achish, If I have found grace in your eyes now, let them give me a place in some town in the country, [so] I may [live] there.

Why should [I,] your servant, [live] in the royal city with you? Achish gave [David] Ziklag, [which still belongs] to the kings of Judah, to this day. And the time that David [stayed] with the Philistines was 1 year & 4 months.

And David & his men went up & invaded the Geshurites, the Gezrites, the Amalekites. [From ancient times,] those nations [lived from] Shur, even to the land of Egypt.

David [attacked] the lands & left neither man nor woman alive & took away the sheep, oxen, [donkeys,] camels & [clothing] & returned & came to Achish.

And Achish said, [Where] have you [invaded & made a road] today? And David said, Against the [desert areas:] south of Judah, south of the Jerahmeelites & south of the Kenites.

And David [didn’t] save [men or women] alive, [so they didn’t] bring [news about this] to Gath, saying, Lest they tell on us, saying, [This is what David has done & it’s been his pattern] all the time he [stayed] in the country of the Philistines.

And Achish believed David, saying, [David] has made his people, Israel [totally hate] him. Therefore, he shall be my servant forever.

1 Samuel 26:1-25 David Sneaks into Saul’s Camp & Takes His Spear

 

David Sneaks into Saul’s Camp & Takes His Spear

1 Samuel 26:1-25                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

The Ziphites came to Saul [in] Gibeah, saying, [Isn’t] David [hiding] himself in the Hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? Then, Saul arose & went down to the Wilderness of Ziph [with] 3,000 [of the best] men of Israel, to [look for] David in the Wilderness of Ziph.

Saul pitched [tents] in the Hill of Hachilah, which is by the [road] before Jeshimon. But David [stayed] in the wilderness & saw that Saul came into the wilderness after him. Therefore, David sent out spies to [find out why] Saul [had come & what his plan was.]

David arose & came to the place where Saul pitched [tents & saw] where Saul lay & Abner, [Ner’s] son, the captain of [his] army. Saul lay in the trench [camp with] the pitched [tents of] the people [all around Saul.]

Then, David [asked] Ahimelech, the Hittite & Abishai, son of Zeruiah, [the] brother [of] Joab, saying, Who will go down to [Saul's] camp with me? Abishai said, I will go down with you.

So, David & Abishai came to the people [at] night & [saw] Saul la sleeping within the trench with his spear stuck in the ground by his [head,] but Abner & the people lay [around] him.

Then, Abishai said to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day.  I pray that] you let me [go & strike] him with the spear to the [ground,] at once & I won’t [need to strike] him the 2nd time.

David said to Abishai, [Don’t] destroy him, for who can stretch [their] hand against the Lord's anointed & be guiltless? David [further] said, As the Lord lives, the Lord shall [strike] him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall [go] into battle & perish.

The Lord forbid that I should stretch [out my] hand against the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray [that] you now take the spear at his [head] & the [jug] of water & let’s go.

So, David took the spear & the [jug] of water [by] Saul’s [head] & [went] away & no man saw it, knew [of] it, [or was awakened, because] the Lord [had] a deep sleep [fall] upon them.

David went over to the other side & stood on top of a hill far [away] with [lots] of space between them. David cried [out] to the people & Abner, [Ner’s] son, & [said, Why] don’t] you answer, Abner?

Then, Abner answered & said, Who are you [who] cries [out] to the king? David said to Abner, Aren’t you a valiant man? Who is [similar] to you in Israel? [Why] haven't you [guarded] your lord, the king?

For [someone] came in there of the people to destroy the king, your lord. This thing you’ve done isn't good. As the Lord lives; you are worthy [of death,] because you haven’t [guarded] your master, the Lord’s anointed.

Now, see where the king’s spear & [jug] of water at his [head are.] And Saul knew David’s voice & [asked,] Is this your voice, my son, David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. [Why do] you pursue after [me,] your servant? What have I done?

Or what evil is in my hand? Therefore, I now pray [that] you let the lord, the king, hear the words of his servant, [David.] If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let [God] accept an offering.

But if the children of men [have stirred you up against me, then let them] be cursed before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from [living] in the inheritance of the Lord [God.]

[For they say,] Go serve other gods. Therefore now, [don’t] let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, [like someone who hunts] a partridge in the mountains.

Then, Saul said, I have sinned. Return, my son, David, for I will [no longer] harm you, because my soul was precious in your eyes, this day. [See,] I have [been a] fool & I have [committed a serious error.]

And David answered, [See, I have] the king’s spear! Let one of the young men come over & [get] it. [May] the Lord [repay] every man [for] his righteousness & his faithfulness.

For the Lord [God] delivered you into my hand today, but I wouldn’t stretch [out my] hand against the Lord’s anointed. [See,] your life was [valued] in my eyes this day, so let my life be [valued] in the eyes of the Lord [God] & let Him deliver me [from] all [trouble.]

Then, Saul said to David, Blessed [are] you, my son, David. You shall do both great things & shall also prevail. So, David went on his way & Saul returned [home.]

1 Samuel 25:1-44 David Has His Men Ask Nabal for Food for Them

 

David Has His Men Ask Nabal for Food for Them

1 Samuel 25:1-44                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Samuel, [the priest,] died & all the Israelites were gathered together & [mourned] for him & buried him [at] his house in Ramah. David arose & went down to the Wilderness of Paran.

There was a man named Nabal in Mahon whose possessions were in Carmel. He was very [prosperous] & had 3,000 sheep, 1,000 goats & was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

His wife [was] Abigail & she was [wise] & beautiful, but [Nabal] was [harsh] & evil in his [dealings] & was of the house of Caleb. [While] in the wilderness, David heard [that] Nabal [was shearing] his sheep.

David sent 10 young men & [told them, Go] up to Carmel & go & greet Nabal [by] name & say to him [who] lives in prosperity, Peace be to both you & your house & peace be to all that you [have.]

[The reason I know] you have shearers [is that] your shepherds were with us & we [didn’t] hurt them & neither was [anything of theirs] missing [the whole time] they were in Carmel. Ask your young men & they will [tell] you.

[For this reason,] let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a good day & I pray [that] you give to [us,] your servants & your son, David, [whatever] your hand [can spare.]

When David’s young men came, they [spoke] to Nabal [all that] David [had said & finished.] Nabal answered David’s servants & said, Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse?

There [are] many servants [these] days [who] break away from his master. Shall I then take my bread, water & [meat,] that I have killed for my shearers & give it to men, whom I don’t [know where they’re from?]

David’s young men [returned] & told him [everything that was said.] David said to his men, Everyone [strap on] your sword & they [did] & David [did, too.] About 400 men went up [with] David & 200 [stayed to protect their] stuff.

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, [Look,] David sent messengers [from] the wilderness to [greet] our master & [Nabal scolded] them. [David’s] men were very good to us.

But [their] men were very good to us & we weren’t hurt. Neither were we [missing] anything [the whole time we talked] with them, when we were in the fields. They [were like] a wall [protecting] us both night & day, all the [time] we were with them keeping the sheep.

Therefore, now know [this] & consider what you will do: for evil is determined against our master & all his household: for he is such a [wicked man] that [no one] can speak to him.

Abigail [hurried] & took 200 loaves [of bread,] 2 bottles of wine, 5 [slaughtered] sheep, 5 measures of [dried corn,] 100 clusters of raisins & 200 [fig] cakes & laid them on [donkeys.]

She [told] her servants, Go on [ahead] of me & I [will] come after you, but she [didn’t tell] her husband, Nabal. [When] she rode her [donkey] down by the [mountain ravine, she saw] David & his men [come] down [toward] her & she met them.

Now, David had said [to his men,] Surely, I have [protected] in vain all [Nabal] has in the wilderness, so that [he] missed nothing that [belonged] to him & he has [repaid] me evil for good.

[May] God also do so & more to the enemies of David, if [by daylight] I leave [any male’s of Nabal’s family alive.] When Abigail saw David, she [hurried & got] off the [donkey.]

[Abigail] fell before David & bowed [facing] the ground, at his feet & said, Let this [sin] be upon me, your handmaid. I pray [that] you speak [with me & listen to what I,] your handmaid, [say.]

I pray [that] you, my lord, regard not this [wicked man,] even Nabal.  Nabal is his name & he is [a fool just as his name suggests.] But, I, your handmaid [didn’t] see the young men you [sent.]

As the Lord [God] lives & your soul lives & seeing [that] the Lord [God kept] you from [shedding] blood & avenging yourself [by] your own hand. Now let your enemies & [those who] seek your [harm,] be [like] Nabal.

And now, [may] this blessing [of food that] your handmaid has brought to [you,] my lord, be given to the young men who follow [you.] I pray [that] you forgive the [sin] of your handmaid;

For the Lord [God] will certainly make for [David,] my lord, a [secure] house, because [David] fights the battles of the Lord [God] & evil hasn’t been found in you, all your [life.]

[Still, if] a man [has] risen to pursue you & seek your [life,] then [your] life shall be [securely tied] to the Lord your God [with] the bundle of [the living.] The [Lord] shall sling out the souls of your enemies [like stones from] the middle of a [slingshot.]

It shall [happen,] when the Lord [God has] done all the good that He has [promised] concerning you & [has] appointed you ruler over Israel, my lord, that [you won’t have any] grief [or a troubled] heart for either [needlessly shedding] blood, of [for avenging yourself.]

But remember [me,] your handmaid, when the Lord [God has] dealt well with, you,] my lord. David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, [Who] sent you [today] to meet me & blessed [is] your advice which has kept me from [shedding] blood & avenging myself, [by] my own hand [today.]

As the Lord God of Israel lives, [He] has kept me back from hurting you, for in [your] very deed [of hurrying] to come to meet me, [there] surely [wouldn’t] be left [any male’s of Nabal’s family alive] by [sunrise.]

So, David received [by] her hand [all the food] she had brought to him. [David] said to [Abigail,] Go in peace to your house. I have [listened] to you & have accepted [you.]

[When,] Abigail came to Nabal, he held a feast in his house [fit for] a king. Nabal’s heart was very merry, [because] he was very [drunk, so] she didn’t [tell] him [anything] until morning light.

It [happened] in the morning, when Nabal [was sober,] his wife told him [everything] & his heart died within him & he became [like] a stone. It [happened] about 10 days [afterward,] the Lord [struck] Nabal & he died.

When David heard Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, [Who] has avenged my cause [of disgrace with] Nabal & has kept [me,] His servant, from evil, for the Lord [has] returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.

And David sent servants, [to propose] to Abigail, to take her, [to be his] wife. When [his] servants [spoke] to Abigail in Carmel, saying, David sent us to you, to take you to [marry] him & to [be his] wife.

[Abigail] arose & bowed [facing] the [ground] & said, [Look,] let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord, [David.] Abigail arose & [hurried] & rode on a [donkey] with 5 of [her] damsels, [who waited on her] & she [followed David’s] messengers & became his wife

David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel & they were also both his wives, [since king] Saul had given his daughter, Michal, David’s [first] wife to Phalti, the son of Laish, [who] was [of] Gallim.

1 Samuel 24:1-22 David Cuts Off the Hem of Saul’s Robe

 

David Cuts Off the Hem of Saul’s Robe

1 Samuel 24:1-22                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

It [happened,] when [king] Saul returned from following the Philistines, that [he was] told, [Look,] David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi. Saul took 3,000 [of the best] men out of all Israel & went to [search for] David & his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

And [Saul] came to the [sheep pens] by the [road,] where a cave was & Saul went in to cover his feet [& sleep.] And David & his men remained in the [back] sides of the cave.

And [David’s] men said to him, [Remember when] the Lord said to you, [Watch,] I will deliver your enemy into your hand, [so] you [can] do to him as [seems] good to you. Then, David [rose] & cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe [secretly.]

It [happened,] afterward, [David’s] heart was [troubled, because of it.] And [David] said to his men, The Lord [forbids] me to do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch [out] my hand against him, [for he’s] the anointed of the Lord.

So, David [stopped] his servants with these words & [warned] them not to rise against Saul. [Later,] Saul rose up out of the cave & went on his way. Afterward, David also arose & went out of the cave & cried after Saul, saying, My lord, the king.

And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed himself [facing] the [ground.] David said to Saul, [Have you] heard men [say, See,] David [seeks] to hurt you? [Look] this day, your [own] eyes have seen how the Lord has delivered you into [my] hand in the cave & some [begged] me [to] kill you, but [I] spared you.

I said, I will not put [my] hand against my lord, [Saul,] for he is the Lord’s anointed. [Additionally,] my father, see the [corner of] your robe in my hand, for [when] I cut [it] off, [I didn’t] kill you.

[Now,] you know & see there is neither evil nor [sin] in my hand & I haven’t sinned against you & [still] you hunt my soul to take it. The Lord judge between me & you & [may] the Lord avenge me of you, but [my] hand [won’t] be upon you.

As the [ancient] proverb [says;] Wickedness proceeds from the wicked: but [my] hand shall not be upon you. After whom [has] the king of Israel come out? After whom [do] you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.

The Lord [will] therefore judge between me & you, see & plead my [case] & deliver me out of your hand. It [happened,] when David [finished] speaking to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, my son, David? And Saul lifted up his voice & wept.

And [Saul] said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, [but] I have rewarded you evil. And you have [shown me] this day, how you have dealt [kindly] with me, [since] the Lord has delivered me into your hand & you [didn’t] kill me.

If a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away [safely]? [For this reason,] the Lord [shall] reward you good for [what] you have done to me this day. And now, I know [for certain] that you shall surely be king & the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

Now, swear to me by the Lord, that you won’t cut off my [descendants] after me & won’t destroy my name out of my father’s house. David [swore] to Saul & Saul went home, but David & his men [went] up to the [safe place of refuge.]

1 Samuel 23:1-29 David & His Men Hide From Saul in the Mountains

 

David & His Men Hide From Saul in the Mountains

1 Samuel 23:1-29                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Then they told David, saying, [Look,] the Philistines fight against Keilah & they [are stealing grain] from the threshing floors. Therefore, David [consulted] the Lord, saying, Shall I go & [attack] these Philistines?

And the Lord said to David, Go & [attack] the Philistines & save Keliah. David’s men [told] him, [See,] we’ve been afraid here in Judah. How much [worse will it be] if we come to Keilah against the [Philistine] armies?

Then, David [consulted] the Lord again & the Lord answered him & said, Arise & go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hands. So, David & his men went to Keilah & fought with the Philistines & [took] away their cattle & [struck the Philistines] with great slaughter.

So, David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. It [happened,] when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, fled to David [in] Keilah & he came with an ephod in his hand.  [1 Samuel 22:20-21 And one of the sons named Abiathar, of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, escaped & fled after David. And Abiathar [showed] David that Saul had [killed] the Lord’s priests.]

[When] Saul was told David was [in] Keilah, Saul said, God has delivered [David] into [my] hand; for [David has trapped himself] in, by entering into [a walled city] with gates & bars.

Saul called the people together to go down to Keilah & [attack] David & his men. And David knew Saul secretly [planned harm] against him & [David] said to Abiathar, the priest, Bring the ephod here.

[1 Samuel 2:28 And [didn’t] I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon [My] altar, to burn incense & to wear an ephod before Me? And [didn’t] I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the children [people] of Israel?]

Then, David said, O Lord God of Israel, [I,] Your servant has certainly heard that Saul [plans] to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah [turn me over to Saul?] Will Saul come down as [I,] Your servant has heard?

O Lord God of Israel, I [beg that] You, tell [me,] Your servant. And the Lord said, [Saul] will come down. Then, David said, Will the men of Keilah deliver me & my men [over] into the hand of Saul? The Lord said, They will deliver you [to them.]

Then, David & about 600 [of] his men [left] Keilah & went [wherever] they could [find.] [When] Saul was told David [had] escaped from Keilah, he [declined to go there.]

And David [stayed] in the wilderness [in safe places of refuge] & remained in a mountain in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul [searched for David] every day, but God didn’t deliver [David] into [Saul’s] hand.

While David was in the wilderness in the [woods in Horesh,] David saw that Saul had come to [take his] life. Jonathan, Saul’s son, [rose] & went to David into the [woods] & [encouraged him to keep his faith strong] in God.

Jonathan said, [Don’t] fear, for my father, Saul, shall not find you & you will be the king over Israel. And I will be next to you, [which] my father also knows. They [both] made a covenant [promise] before the Lord & David [stayed] in the [woods] & Jonathan went to his house.

Then, the Ziphites came to Saul [in] Gibeah & [said,] Doesn’t David hide himself with us in [safe places of refuge] in the [woods,] in the Hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?

Therefore, O king, now come down [as] your soul [desires] & our part shall be to deliver him [over to you.] Saul said, Blessed you of the Lord, for you have [had] compassion on me. I pray [that] you go & prepare [further] & [watch to] see where his [hideout] is & who has seen him there.

For [I’ve] been told that he is very [subtle & crafty.] Therefore, take [note] of all the places where he [hides] himself & come to me again [when you are certain] & I will go with you.

It [shall happen,] if [he’s] in the land, I will [search & find] him [among] the 1,000’s of Judah. And they arose & went to Ziph: but David & his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain south of Jeshimon.

Saul & his men also went to [search for] him. David [was] told & he came down [to] a rock & [stayed] in the Wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon.  And Saul went on [1] side of the mountain & David & his men [were] on the [other] side of the mountain.

David [hurried] to get away for fear of Saul, [since] Saul & his men [surrounded] David & his men to [capture] them. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, [Hurry] & come: for the Philistines have invaded the land.

[For this reason,] Saul returned from pursuing after David & went [to fight] against the Philistines. Therefore, they [call] that place, Sela Hammahlekoth. And David went up from [there] & [stayed] in the [safe place of refuge] at En Gedi.

1 Samuel 22:1-23 Doeg Tells King Saul Where David is Hiding

 

Doeg Tells King Saul Where David is Hiding

1 Samuel 22:1-23                The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

Therefore, David departed from [there] & escaped to the cave Adullam & when his brethren & his father’s [family] heard it, they went down [there] to him. Everyone [who] was in distress, in debt, [or] discontented, gathered [with David.]

He became a captain over them & there were about 400 men with him. And David [then] went to Mizpeh of Moab & he said to the king of Moab, I pray [that] you let my mother & father [please stay here] & be with you [until] I know what God will do for me. And [David] brought them [in front of] the [Moab’s] king.

They [stayed] with the [king of Moab] while David was [hiding in the stronghold.] The prophet, Gad, said to David, [Don’t stay] in the [stronghold, but] depart & [go] to the land of Judah. Then, David departed & came to the forest of Hareth.

When Saul heard David & [his] men [were found,] (Saul [currently stayed] in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, [with] his spear in hand & all his servants standing [around] him.)

Then, Saul said to [those] servants, Hear now, you Benjamites; will [David,] the son of Jesse give [each] of you fields & vineyards & make you all captains of 1,000’s & captains of 100’s?

All of you have conspired against me & none [of you showed] me that my son had made a [pact] with the son of Jesse. There [are] none of you [who are] sorry for me, or [show] me that my son has stirred up my servant, [David,] against me, to lie in wait, [like] this day.

Then Doeg, the Edomite, [who was put] over [Saul’s] servants, answered & said, I saw [David] coming to [the priest,] Ahimelech, [Ahitub’s] son, [in] Nob. He [consulted] the Lord for [David] & gave him [food] & the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.

Then, king [Saul] sent [for] Ahimelech, the priest & all his father’s [family,] the priests that were in Nob & they all came to the king. And Saul said, [Listen] now, you son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

Saul [asked Ahimelech,]  Why have you conspired against me by giving [David] bread, a sword & [by consulting] God for him, [so] that he should rise against me & lie in wait, [like it is] this day?

Then, Ahimelech answered the king & said, Who is so faithful [of] all your servants as David, [who] is the king’s son-in-law & goes at your bidding & is honorable in your house?

[Was this the beginning of my consulting] God for him? Far be it from me. [Don’t] let the king [accuse me,] his servant, nor all my father’s [family:] for we [didn’t know anything about] all this, [even a little bit] or more.

And King [Saul] said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech & all your father’s [family.] [Saul] told the [guards, who] stood [around] him, Turn & [kill] the priests of the Lord, because they [are] also with David & knew when he fled & didn’t show it to me.

But the [king’s guards] wouldn’t put their hands out to [kill] the priests of the Lord. King [Saul] said to Doeg, Turn & fall upon the priests & [he did] & 85 [people] died [who] wear a linen ephod.

[1 Samuel 2:28 And [didn’t] I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon [My] altar, to burn incense & to wear an ephod before Me? And [didn’t] I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the children [people] of Israel?]

He [attacked] Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men, women, children, [nursing babies,] oxen, [donkeys] & sheep with the edge of the sword.

One of the sons of  Ahimelech, [Ahitub’s] son, named Abiathar, escaped & fled after David. Abiathar [told] David that Saul had [killed] the Lord’s priests. And David said to Abiathar, I knew that day, when Doeg, the Edomite, was there. That he would surely tell Saul.

I [am responsible for] the death of all the [people] of your father’s [family.] [Stay] with me & [don’t be afraid]: for [Saul, who] seeks my life [also] seeks your life, but with me, you will be [safe.]