Day 101: OT First Kings C25-31 (END); Philistines Defeat Israel, Kill Saul; David is Living

During a hiatus of the King Saul, future king David scenario there was a changing of the guard with the death of Samuel.

A sort of odd married couple was introduced—Nabal, a churlish, and very bad and ill-natured fellow and his wife Abigail who was prudent and a very comely woman.

David had a squabble with Nabal about how he took care of some of Nabal’s belongings in the desert and Nabal was not receptive to his urging for him to treat his servants a little better.

Nabal disregards the future king of Israel and his prudent wife secretly makes amends to David by bearing and bringing him some gifts.

Abigail to David: Let not my lord the king, I pray, regard this naughty man Nabal: for according to his name, he is a fool, and folly is with him.

David to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me, and blessed be thy speech… Go in peace to thy house, behold I have heard thy voice, and have honored thy face.

Later that night… Abigail came to (her husband) Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, like the feast of a king, and Nabal’s heart was merry: for he was very drunk: and she told him nothing less or more until morning. But early in the morning when Nabal had digested his wine, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became a stone. And after ten days had passed, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

And then there was some wife swapping…

Then David sent and treated with Abigail, that he might take her to himself for a wife… and five damsels went with her, her waiting maids… and Abigail became David’s wife.

Moreover David took also Achinoam of Jezrahel: and they were both of them his wives.

But Saul gave Michol his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti, the son of Lais, who was of Gallium.

The cat and mouse between David and King Saul continues with David once again, by the Lord’s grace, able to be in a position to kill King Saul but out of respect for the Lord and His anointed leader not taking advantage of the situation.

David: Kill him not: for who shall put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and shall be guiltless… the Lord be merciful unto me, that I extend not my hand upon the Lord’s anointed.

So David took the spear, and the cup of water which was at Saul’s head, and they went away: and no man saw it, or knew it, or awaked, but they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

And Saul said: I have sinned, return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life hath been precious in thy eyes this day: for it appeared that I have done foolishly, and have been ignorant in many things… Blessed art thou, my son David: and truly doing thou shalt do, and prevailing thou shalt prevail.

Perhaps the Lord is saying to David that I am the one providing you access and I am doing it because I want you to be the next King of Israel.

David decided to flee from Saul and Israel and found exile with the Philistines and pillaged and did harm to his home country of Israel.

And David said in his heart: I shall one day or another fall into the hands of Saul: is it not better for me to flee, and to be saved in the land of the Philistines… and six hundred men.

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Geth, and he sought no more after him.

And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was four months.

And David pillaged Gessuri, and Gerzi, and the Amalecities… and left neither man or woman alive.

And Achis believed David, saying: He hath done much harm to his people Israel: therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

But why was David only with the Philistines for four months?

Now the fight is not Saul against David but Saul against David and the Philistines.

And Saul saw the army of the Philistines, and was afraid, and his heart was very much dismayed. And he consulted the Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.

And Saul had put away all the magicians and soothsayers out of the land yet he went to a witch: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell thee… Bring me up Samuel.

And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disturbed my rest, that I should be brought up? Why askest thou me, seeing the Lord has departed from thee, and is gone over to thy rival… and to morrow thou and thy sons shall be with me: and the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

Not the type of news you want to hear… lose the war, lose your and your sons lives too.

Yet David, who once killed Goliath, the Philistine and ten thousand more, seemed to be trying to serve two masters: Saul in Israel and Achis with the Philistines. Isn’t there a Bible passage that says one cannot serve two masters—for either you will hate the one, and love the other; or else you will hold to the one, and despise the other—you cannot serve God and man, or God and two men (Matthew 6:24).

Princes of Philistine to Achis: Let this man return, and abide in his place, which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest he be an adversary to us, when we shall begin to fight: for how can he otherwise appease his master, but with our heads.

Achis to David: As the Lord liveth, thou art upright and good in my sight… I have not found any evil in thee… but thou pleases not the lords… Return therefore, and go in peace, and offend not the eyes of the princes of the Philistines.

David to Achis: But what have I done?

Achis to David: I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of the God… but… up before day… go on your way.

So David and his men headed back to Siceleg, the place that Achis had given to him only to find it devastated and the wives and children gone too.

Now when David and his men were come to Siceleg… the Amalecities had made an invasion… and had smitten Siceleg, and burnt it with fire… they had not killed any person, but had carried them with them, and went on their way.

David and the people that were with him, lifted up their voices, and wept till they had no more tears… but David took courage in the Lord his God.., And the Lord said to him: Pursue after them: for thou shall surely overtake them and recover the prey.

And they found an Egyptian in the field… and when they had eaten them his spirit returned… I am a young man of Egypt, the servant of Amalecite… And David swore to him that he would not kill him if he brought them to his company.

And when he brought him, behold they were lying spread upon all the ground, eating and drinking, and as it were keeping a festival day… And David slew them all… and he rescued his two wives… and whatsoever they had taken David recovered all… And David came to Siceleg…

And the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fell from before the Philistines… and the Philistines fell upon Saul, and upon his sons, and they slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchisua the sons of Saul… And the weight of the battle was turned upon Saul… and he was grievously wounded by the archers… then Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it.

An anticlimactic end to say the least as when David, who was loyal to Saul, was with Saul he was slaying giants like Goliath and Israel was a prosperous and safer place. Seems like jealousy and madness came to Saul and as the result of one man, the country was overtaken by the Philistines.

The First Book of Kings is about the rule of Samuel. The Second Book of Kings is about the rule of David, the grandfather of Jesus…

Day101: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Philistines Defeat Israel, Kill Saul; David is Living.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Kings Chapters 25-31 (END)

Bible Notes:

This and the following Book are also called the Books of Samuel, because they tell of Samuel and the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. After the history of Heli and Samuel, the last of the Judges, this book records the beginning of the Jewish monarchy and the rule of the first king, Saul.

1 Kings Chapter 25: The death of Samuel; Nabal and Abigail; David sends to Nabal for food; Nabal refuses food to David; Abigail learns of Nabal’s refusal; Abigail sets out to see David; Abigail asks David’s forgiveness; David thanks Abigail; Nabal dies; Abigail and Achinoam marry David; Saul gives Michol to Phalti.

And Samuel died, and all Israel was gathered together, and they mourned for him, and buried him in his house at Ramatha.

Nabad… her husband was churlish, and very bad and ill natured…

Abigail, Nabal’s wife was prudent and a very comely woman….

David to Nabal via ten young men: Whatsoever thy hand shall find give to thy servants, and to thy son David….

Nabal: Who is David? And what is the son of Isai? Servants are multiplied now a days who flee from their masters… and give to men whom I know not whence they are?

Nabal’s servants to Abigail: Behold David sent messengers out of the wilderness to Nabal…

David: Truly in vain I kept all that belonged to this man (Nabal) in the wilderness… and he hath returned me evil for good. May God do so and so, and add more to the foes of David…

Abigail to David: Let not my lord the king, I pray, regard this naughty man Nabal: for according to his name, he is a fool, and folly is with him.

David to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me, and blessed be thy speech… Go in peace to thy house, behold I have heard thy voice, and have honored thy face.

And Abigail came to Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, like the feast of a king, and Nabal’s heart was merry: for he was very drunk: and she told him nothing less or more until morning. But early in the morning when Nabal had digested his wine, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became a stone. And after ten days had passed, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

Then David sent and treated with Abigail, that he might take her to himself for a wife… and five damsels went with her, her waiting maids… and Abigail became David’s wife.

Moreover David took also Achinoam of Jezrahel: and they were both of them his wives.

But Saul gave Michol his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti, the son of Lais, who was of Gallium.

1 Kings Chapter 26: Saul again seeks David; Saul again falls into David’s hands; David again spares Saul; David again declares his innocence; Saul confesses his sin.

And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And David arose secretly, and came to the place where Saul was…

David: Kill him not: for who shall put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and shall be guiltless… the Lord be merciful unto me, that I extend not my hand upon the Lord’s anointed.

So David took the spear, and the cup of water which was at Saul’s head, and they went away: and no man saw it, or knew it, or awaked, but they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

And Saul said: I have sinned, return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life hath been precious in thy eyes this day: for it appeared that I have done foolishly, and have been ignorant in many things… Blessed art thou, my son David: and truly doing thou shalt do, and prevailing thou shalt prevail.

1 Kings Chapter 27: David dwells at Geth; Achis gives Siceleg to David; David pillages the various cities.

And David said in his heart: I shall one day or another fall into the hands of Saul: is it not better for me to flee, and to be saved in the land of the Philistines… and six hundred men.

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Geth, and he sought no more after him.

And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was four months.

And David pillaged Gessuri, and Gerzi, and the Amalecities… and left neither man or woman alive.

And Achis believed David, saying: He hath done much harm to his people Israel: therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

1 Kings Chapter 28: Achis appoints David his bodyguard; The Philistines assemble to war on Saul; Saul consults a witch; Samuel appears; Samuel’s prophecy frightens Saul; Saul is refreshed with food.

Achis to David: I will appoint thee to guard my life forever.

And Saul saw the army of the Philistines, and was afraid, and his heart was very much dismayed. And he consulted the Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.

And Saul had put away all the magicians and soothsayers out of the land.

Saul to a witch: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell thee… Bring me up Samuel.

And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disturbed my rest, that I should be brought up? Why askest thou me, seeing the Lord has departed from thee, and is gone over to thy rival… and to morrow thou and thy sons shall be with me: and the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

1 Kings Chapter 29: The Philistines mistrust David; David is dismissed by the Philistines.

David and his men were in the rear with Achis.

Princes of Philistine to Achis: Let this man return, and abide in his place, which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest he be an adversary to us, when we shall begin to fight: for how can he otherwise appease his master, but with our heads.

Achis to David: As the Lord liveth, thou art upright and good in my sight… I have not found any evil in thee… but thou pleases not the lords… Return therefore, and go in peace, and offend not the eyes of the princes of the Philistines.

David to Achis: But what have I done…

Achis to David: I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of the God… but… up before day… go on your way.

1 Kings Chapter 30: The Amalecities despoil Siceleg; David pursues the Amalecities; An Egyptian slave offers to help David; David recovers the Amalecite booty; David’s law for dividing booty; David sends presents to his friends.

Now when David and his men were come to Siceleg… the Amalecities had made an invasion… and had smitten Siceleg, and burnt it with fire… they had not killed any person, but had carried them with them, and went on their way.

David and the people that were with him, lifted up their voices, and wept till they had no more tears… but David took courage in the Lord his God.., And the Lord said to him: Pursue after them: for thou shall surely overtake them and recover the prey.

And they found an Egyptian in the field… and when they had eaten them his spirit returned… I am a young man of Egypt, the servant of Amalecite… And David swore to him that he would not kill him if he brought them to his company.

And when he brought him, behold they were lying spread upon all the ground, eating and drinking, and as it were keeping a festival day… And David slew them all… and he rescued his two wives… and whatsoever they had taken David recovered all/// And David came to Siceleg…

1 Kings Chapter 31: Philistines slay the sons of Saul; Death of Saul and his armorbearers; The Philistines dishonor Saul’s body; Funeral of Saul and his sons.

And the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fell from before the Philistines… and the Philistines fell upon Saul, and upon his sons, and they slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchisua the sons of Saul… And the weight of the battle was turned upon Saul… and he was grievously wounded by the archers… then Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it.

 

 

 

 

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