本日經文提要( 撒母耳記上 26:1~31:13)

.掃羅帶領三千精兵追殺大衛，結果大衛如何回應掃羅的追殺?
.掃羅看見非利士的軍旅，就懼怕，心中發顫，但因為那時撒母耳已經死了，掃羅求問耶和華，耶和華卻不藉夢，或烏陵，或先知，回答他，結果最後掃羅作了甚麼事情?
.非利士人因為擔心大衛再與以色列人打仗中陣前倒戈，因此，不讓他出戰，因此大衛和跟隨他的人，只能回往非利士地去，到了洗革拉之後發生甚麼事情?神如何幫助大衛解決這件事情?
撒上26:1西弗人到基比亞見掃羅，說：大衛不是在曠野前的哈基拉山藏著麼。
撒上26:2掃羅就起身，帶領以色列人中挑選的三千精兵，下到西弗的曠野，要在那裡尋索大衛。
撒上26:3掃羅在曠野前的哈基拉山，在道路上安營。大衛住在曠野，聽說掃羅到曠野來追尋他。
撒上26:4就打發人去探聽，便知道掃羅果然來到。
撒上26:5大衛起來，到掃羅安營的地方，看見掃羅和他的元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥睡臥之處，掃羅睡在輜重營裡，百姓安營在他周圍。
撒上26:6大衛對赫人亞希米勒，和洗魯雅的兒子約押的兄弟亞比篩說：誰同我下到掃羅營裡去，亞比篩說：我同你下去。
撒上26:7於是大衛和亞比篩夜間到了百姓那裡，見掃羅睡在輜重營裡，他的槍在頭旁，插在地上，押尼珥和百姓睡在他周圍。
撒上26:8亞比篩對大衛說：現在神將你的仇敵交在你手裡，求你容我拿槍將他刺透在地，一刺就成，不用再刺。
撒上26:9大衛對亞比篩說：不可害死他，有誰伸手害耶和華的受膏者而無罪呢。
撒上26:10大衛又說：我指著永生的耶和華起誓，他或被耶和華擊打，或是死期到了，或是出戰陣亡。
撒上26:11我在耶和華面前，萬不敢伸手害耶和華的受膏者，現在你可以將他頭旁的槍和水瓶拿來，我們就走。
撒上26:12大衛從掃羅的頭旁，拿了槍和水瓶，二人就走了，沒有人看見，沒有人知道，也沒有人醒起，都睡著了，因為耶和華使他們沉沉的睡了。
撒上26:13大衛過到那邊去，遠遠的站在山頂上，與他們相離甚遠。
撒上26:14大衛呼叫百姓，和尼珥的兒子押尼珥，說：押尼珥阿，你為何不答應呢，押尼珥說：你是誰，竟敢呼叫王呢。
撒上26:15大衛對押尼珥說：你不是個勇士麼，以色列中誰能比你呢，民中有人進來要害死王你的主，你為何沒有保護王你的主呢。
撒上26:16你這樣是不好的，我指著永生的耶和華起誓，你們都是該死的，因為沒有保護你們的主，就是耶和華的受膏者，現在你看看王頭旁的槍和水瓶在那裡。
撒上26:17掃羅聽出是大衛的聲音，就說：我兒大衛，這是你的聲音麼，大衛說：主我的王阿，是我的聲音。
撒上26:18又說：我作了甚麼，我手裡有甚麼惡事，我主竟追趕僕人呢。
撒上26:19求我主我王聽僕人的話，若是耶和華激發你攻擊我，願耶和華收納祭物，若是人激發你，願他在耶和華面前受咒詛，因為他現今趕逐我，不容我在耶和華的產業上有分，說：你去事奉別神罷。
撒上26:20現在求王不要使我的血流在離耶和華遠的地方，以色列王出來，是尋找一個虼蚤，如同人在山上獵取一個鷓鴣一般。
撒上26:21掃羅說：我有罪了，我兒大衛，你可以回來，因你今日看我的性命為寶貴，我必不再加害於你，我是糊塗人，大大錯了。
撒上26:22大衛說：王的槍在這裡，可以吩咐一個僕人過來拿去。
撒上26:23今日耶和華將王交在我手裡，我卻不肯伸手害耶和華的受膏者，耶和華必照各人的公義誠實報應他。
撒上26:24我今日重看你的性命，願耶和華也重看我的性命，並且拯救我脫離一切患難。
撒上26:25掃羅對大衛說：我兒大衛，願你得福，你必作大事，也必得勝。於是大衛起行，掃羅回他的本處去了。

撒上27:1大衛心裡說：必有一日我死在掃羅手裡，不如逃奔非利士地去，掃羅見我不在以色列的境內，就必絕望，不再尋索我，這樣我可以脫離他的手。
撒上27:2於是大衛起身，和跟隨他的六百人，投奔迦特王瑪俄的兒子亞吉去了。
撒上27:3大衛和他的兩個妻，就是耶斯列人亞希暖，和作過拿八妻的迦密人亞比該，並跟隨他的人，連各人的眷屬，都住在迦特亞吉那裡。
撒上27:4有人告訴掃羅，說：大衛逃到迦特，掃羅就不再尋索他了。
撒上27:5大衛對亞吉說：我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你在京外的城邑中，賜我一個地方居住，僕人何必與王同住京都呢。
撒上27:6當日亞吉將洗革拉賜給他，因此洗革拉屬猶大王，直到今日。
撒上27:7大衛在非利士地住了一年零四個月。
撒上27:8大衛和跟隨他的人上去，侵奪基述人，基色人，亞瑪力人之地，這幾族歷來住在那地，從書珥直到埃及。
撒上27:9大衛擊殺那地的人，無論男女都沒有留下一個，又奪獲牛，羊，駱駝，驢，並衣服，回來見亞吉。
撒上27:10亞吉說：你們今日侵奪了甚麼地方呢。大衛說：侵奪了猶大的南方，耶拉篾的南方，基尼的南方。
撒上27:11無論男女，大衛沒有留下一個，帶到迦特來，他說：恐怕他們將我們的事告訴人，說：大衛住在非利士地的時候，常常這樣行。
撒上27:12亞吉信了大衛，心裡說：大衛使本族以色列人憎惡他，所以他必永遠作我的僕人了。

撒上28:1那時非利士人聚集軍旅，要與以色列人打仗。亞吉對大衛說：你當知道，你和跟隨你的人，都要隨我出戰。
撒上28:2大衛對亞吉說：僕人所能作的事，王必知道。亞吉對大衛說：這樣，我立你永遠作我的護衛長。
撒上28:3那時撒母耳已經死了，以色列眾人為他哀哭，葬他在拉瑪，就是在他本城裡。掃羅曾在國內不容有交鬼的和行巫術的人。
撒上28:4非利士人聚集，來到書念安營，掃羅聚集以色列眾人，在基利波安營。
撒上28:5掃羅看見非利士的軍旅，就懼怕，心中發顫。
撒上28:6掃羅求問耶和華，耶和華卻不藉夢，或烏陵，或先知，回答他。
撒上28:7掃羅吩咐臣僕說：當為我找一個交鬼的婦人，我好去問他，臣僕說：在隱多珥有一個交鬼的婦人。
撒上28:8於是掃羅改了裝，穿上別的衣服，帶著兩個人，夜裡去見那婦人，掃羅說：求你用交鬼的法術，將我所告訴你的死人，為我招上來。
撒上28:9婦人對他說：你知道掃羅從國中剪除交鬼的，和行巫術的，你為何陷害我的性命，使我死呢。
撒上28:10掃羅向婦人指著耶和華起誓，說：我指著永生的耶和華起誓，你必不因這事受刑。
撒上28:11婦人說：我為你招誰上來呢，回答說：為我招撒母耳上來。
撒上28:12婦人看見撒母耳，就大聲呼叫，對掃羅說：你是掃羅，為甚麼欺哄我呢。
撒上28:13王對婦人說：不要懼怕，你看見了甚麼呢，婦人對掃羅說：我看見有神從地裡上來。
撒上28:14掃羅說：他是怎樣的形狀，婦人說：有一個老人上來，身穿長衣。掃羅知道是撒母耳，就屈身，臉伏於地下拜。
撒上28:15撒母耳對掃羅說：你為甚麼攪擾我，招我上來呢。掃羅回答說：我甚窘急，因為非利士人攻擊我，神也離開我，不再藉先知，或夢，回答我，因此請你上來，好指示我應當怎樣行。
撒上28:16撒母耳說：耶和華已經離開你，且與你為敵，你何必問我呢。
撒上28:17耶和華照他藉我說的話，已經從你手裡奪去國權，賜與別人，就是大衛。
撒上28:18因你沒有聽從耶和華的命令，他惱怒亞瑪力人，你沒有滅絕他們，所以今日耶和華向你這樣行。
撒上28:19並且耶和華必將你和以色列人交在非利士人的手裡，明日你和你眾子必與我在一處了，耶和華必將以色列的軍兵交在非利士人手裡。
撒上28:20掃羅猛然仆倒，挺身在地，因撒母耳的話，甚是懼怕，那一晝一夜，沒有吃甚麼，就毫無氣力。
撒上28:21婦人到掃羅面前，見他極其驚恐，對他說：婢女聽從你的話，不顧惜自己的性命，遵從你所吩咐的。
撒上28:22現在求你聽婢女的話，容我在你面前擺上一點食物，你吃了，可以有氣力行路。
撒上28:23掃羅不肯，說：我不吃。但他的僕人，和婦人，再三勸他，他才聽了他們的話，從地上起來，坐在床上。
撒上28:24婦人急忙將家裡的一隻肥牛犢宰了，又拿麵摶成無酵餅，烤了。
撒上28:25擺在掃羅和他僕人面前，他們吃完，當夜就起身走了。

撒上29:1非利士人將他們的軍旅聚到亞弗，以色列人在耶斯列的泉旁安營。
撒上29:2非利士人的首領，各率軍隊，或百，或千，挨次前進，大衛和跟隨他的人，同著亞吉，跟在後邊。
撒上29:3非利士人的首領說：這些希伯來人在這裡作甚麼呢。亞吉對他們說：這不是以色列王掃羅的臣子大衛麼，他在我這裡有些年日了，自從他投降我，直到今日，我未曾見他有過錯。
撒上29:4非利士人的首領，向亞吉發怒，對他說：你要叫這人回你所安置他的地方，不可叫他同我們出戰，恐怕他在陣上反為我們的敵人，他用甚麼與他主人復和呢，豈不是用我們這些人的首級麼。
撒上29:5從前以色列的婦女跳舞唱和，說：掃羅殺死千千，大衛殺死萬萬，所說的不是這個大衛麼。
撒上29:6亞吉叫大衛來，對他說：我指著永生的耶和華起誓，你是正直人，你隨我在軍中出入，我看你甚好，自從你投奔我到如今，我未曾見你有甚麼過失，只是眾首領不喜悅你。
撒上29:7現在你可以平平安安的回去，免得非利士人的首領不歡喜你。
撒上29:8大衛對亞吉說：我作了甚麼呢，自從僕人到你面前，直到今日，你查出我有甚麼過錯，使我不去攻擊主我王的仇敵呢。
撒上29:9亞吉說：我知道你在我眼前是好人，如同神的使者一般，只是非利士人的首領說：這人不可同我們出戰。
撒上29:10故此你和跟隨你的人，就是你本主的僕人，要明日早晨起來，等到天亮回去罷。
撒上29:11於是大衛和跟隨他的人早晨起來，回往非利士地去。非利士人也上耶斯列去了。

撒上30:1第三日大衛和跟隨他的人到了洗革拉，亞瑪力人已經侵奪南地，攻破洗革拉，用火焚燒。
撒上30:2擄了城內的婦女，和其中的大小人口，卻沒有殺一個，都帶著走了。
撒上30:3大衛和跟隨他的人到了那城，不料，城已燒燬，他們的妻子兒女，都被擄去了。
撒上30:4大衛和跟隨他的人就放聲大哭，直哭得沒有氣力。
撒上30:5大衛的兩個妻，耶斯列人亞希暖，和作過拿八妻的迦密人亞比該，也被擄去了。
撒上30:6大衛甚是焦急，因眾人為自己的兒女苦惱，說：要用石頭打死他，大衛卻倚靠耶和華他的神，心裡堅固。
撒上30:7大衛對亞希米勒的兒子祭司亞比亞他說：請你將以弗得拿過來，亞比亞他就將以弗得拿到大衛面前。
撒上30:8大衛求問耶和華說：我追趕敵軍，追得上，追不上呢。耶和華說：你可以追，必追得上，都救得回來。
撒上30:9於是，大衛和跟隨他的六百人來到比梭溪，有不能前去的，就留在那裡。
撒上30:10大衛卻帶著四百人，往前追趕，有二百人疲乏，不能過比梭溪，所以留在那裡。
撒上30:11這四百人在田野遇見一個埃及人，就帶他到大衛面前，給他餅吃，給他水喝。
撒上30:12又給他一塊無花果餅，兩個葡萄餅，他吃了，就精神復原，因為他三日三夜沒有吃餅，沒有喝水。
撒上30:13大衛問他說：你是屬誰的，你是那裡的人，他回答說：我是埃及的少年人，是亞瑪力人的奴僕，因我三日前患病，我主人就把我撇棄了。
撒上30:14我們侵奪了基利提的南方和屬猶大的的，並迦勒的的南方，又用火燒了洗革拉。
撒上30:15大衛問他說：你肯領我們到敵軍那裡不肯，他回答說：你要向我指著神起誓，不殺我，也不將我交在我主人手裡，我就領你上到敵軍那裡。
撒上30:16那人領大衛下去，見他們散在地上，吃喝跳舞，因為從非利士地和猶大地所擄來的財物甚多。
撒上30:17大衛從黎明直到次日晚上，擊殺他們，除了四百騎駱駝的少年人之外，沒有一個逃脫的。
撒上30:18亞瑪力人所擄去的財物，大衛全都奪回，並救回他的兩個妻來。
撒上30:19凡亞瑪力人所擄去的，無論大小，兒女，財物，大衛都奪回來，沒有失落一個。
撒上30:20大衛所奪來的牛群羊群，跟隨他的人趕在原有的群畜前邊，說：這是大衛的掠物。
撒上30:21大衛到了那疲乏不能跟隨，留在比梭溪的二百人那裡，他們出來迎接大衛，並跟隨的人，大衛前來問他們安。
撒上30:22跟隨大衛人中的惡人和匪類說：這些人既然沒有和我們同去，我們所奪的財物就不分給他們，只將他們各人的妻子兒女給他們，使他們帶去就是了。
撒上30:23大衛說：弟兄們，耶和華所賜給我們的，不可不分給他們，因為他保佑我們，將那攻擊我們的敵軍交在我們手裡。
撒上30:24這事誰肯依從你們呢，上陣的得多少，看守器具的也得多少，應當大家平分。
撒上30:25大衛定此為以色列的律例典章，從那日直到今日。
撒上30:26大衛到了洗革拉，從掠物中取些送給他朋友猶大的長老，說：這是從耶和華仇敵那裡奪來的，送你們為禮物。
撒上30:27他送禮物給住伯特利的，南地拉末的，雅提珥的。
撒上30:28住亞羅珥的，息末的，以實提莫的。
撒上30:29住拉哈勒的，耶拉篾各城的，基尼各城的。
撒上30:30住何珥瑪的，歌拉珊的，亞撻的。
撒上30:31住希伯崙的，並大衛和跟隨他的人素來所到之處的人。

撒上31:1非利士人與以色列人爭戰，以色列人在非利士人面前逃跑，在基利波有被殺仆倒的。
撒上31:2非利士人緊追掃羅和他兒子們，就殺了掃羅的兒子約拿單，亞比拿達，麥基舒亞。
撒上31:3勢派甚大，掃羅被弓箭手追上，射傷甚重。
撒上31:4就吩咐拿他兵器的人說：你拔出刀來，將我刺死，免得那些未受割禮的人來刺我，凌辱我，但拿兵器的人甚懼怕，不肯刺他，掃羅就自己伏在刀上死了。
撒上31:5拿兵器的人見掃羅已死，也伏在刀上死了。
撒上31:6這樣，掃羅和他三個兒子，與拿他兵器的人，以及跟隨他的人，都一同死亡。
撒上31:7住平原那邊並約但河西的以色列人，見以色列軍兵逃跑，掃羅和他兒子都死了，也就棄城逃跑，非利士人便來住在其中。
撒上31:8次日非利士人來剝那被殺之人的衣服，看見掃羅和他三個兒子仆倒在基利波山。
撒上31:9就割下他的首級，剝了他的軍裝，打發人到非利士地的四境，〔到或作送到〕報信與他們廟裡的偶像，和眾民。
撒上31:10又將掃羅的軍裝放在亞斯他錄廟裡，將他的屍身釘在伯珊的城牆上。
撒上31:11基列雅比的居民聽見非利士人向掃羅所行的事，
撒上31:12他們中間所有的勇士就起身，走了一夜，將掃羅和他兒子的屍身從伯珊城牆上取下來，送到雅比那裡，用火燒了。
撒上31:13將他們骸骨葬在雅比的垂絲柳樹下，就禁食七日。

 

 

 

  

 

1 Samuel 26 

David Again Spares Saul’s Life

26 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

1 Samuel 27

David Among the Philistines

27 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. 3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

6 So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. 7 David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.

8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.

10 When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” 11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”

1 Samuel 28 

28 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

2 David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but theLord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said.

8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.”

14 “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 TheLord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.

4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.

7 When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.