The Living Bible (97 page)
Authors: Inc. Tyndale House Publishers
Tags: #BIBLES / Other Translations / Text
The Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelis camped at the springs in Jezreel.
2
As the Philistine captains were leading out their troops by battalions and companies, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.
3
But the Philistine commanders demanded, “What are these Israelis doing here?”
And King Achish told them, “This is David, the runaway servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found one fault in him since he arrived.”
4
But the Philistine leaders were angry. “Send them back!” they demanded. “They aren’t going into the battle with us—they’ll turn against us. Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by turning against us in the battle?
5
This is the same man the women of Israel sang about in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands!’”
6
So Achish finally summoned David and his men.
“I swear by the Lord,” he told them, “you are some of the finest men I’ve ever met, and I think you should go with us, but my commanders say no.
7
Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.”
8
“What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “Why can’t I fight your enemies?”
9
But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But my commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.
10
Now get up early in the morning and leave as soon as it is light.”
11
So David headed back into the land of the Philistines while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.
Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their city of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided the city and burned it to the ground,
2
carrying off all the women and children.
3
As David and his men looked at the ruins and realized what had happened to their families,
4
they wept until they could weep no more.
5
(David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, were among those who had been captured.)
6
David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. But David took strength from the Lord.
7
Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it.
8
David asked the Lord, “Shall I chase them? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them; you will recover everything that was taken from you!”
9-10
So David and his six hundred men set out after the Amalekites. When they reached Besor Brook, two hundred of the men were too exhausted to cross, but the other four hundred kept going.
11-12
Along the way they found an Egyptian youth in a field and brought him to David. He had not had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights, so they gave him part of a fig cake, two clusters of raisins, and some water, and his strength soon returned.
13
“Who are you and where do you come from?” David asked him.
“I am an Egyptian—the servant of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master left me behind three days ago because I was sick.
14
We were on our way back from raiding the Cherethites in the Negeb, and had raided the south of Judah and the land of Caleb, and had burned Ziklag.”
15
“Can you tell me where they went?” David asked.
The young man replied, “If you swear by God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”
16
So he led them to the Amalekite encampment. They were spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of loot they had taken from the Philistines and from the men of Judah.
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David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them all that night and the entire next day until evening. No one escaped except four hundred young men who fled on camels.
18-19
David got back everything they had taken. The men recovered their families and all of their belongings, and David rescued his two wives.
20
His troops rounded up all the flocks and herds and drove them on ahead of them. “These are all yours personally, as your reward!” they told David.
21
When they reached Besor Brook and the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go on, David greeted them joyfully.
22
But some of the ruffians among David’s men declared, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the loot. Give them their wives and their children and tell them to be gone.”
23
But David said, “No, my brothers! The Lord has kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy.
24
Do you think that anyone will listen to you when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.”
25
From then on David made this a law for all of Israel, and it is still followed.
26
When he arrived at Ziklag, he sent part of the loot to the elders of Judah. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he wrote them.
27-31
The gifts were sent to the elders in the following cities where David and his men had been: Bethel, South Ramoth, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Racal, the cities of the Jerahmeelites, the cities of the Kenites, Hormah, Borashan, Athach, Hebron.
Meanwhile the Philistines had begun the battle against Israel, and the Israelis fled from them and were slaughtered wholesale on Mount Gilboa.
2
The Philistines closed in on Saul and killed his sons Jonathan, Abinidab, and Malchishua.
3-4
Then the archers overtook Saul and wounded him badly. He groaned to his armor bearer, “Kill me with your sword before these heathen Philistines capture me and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid to, so Saul took his own sword and fell upon the point of the blade, and it pierced him through.
5
When his armor bearer saw that he was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.
6
So Saul, his armor bearer, his three sons, and his troops died together that same day.
7
When the Israelis on the other side of the valley and beyond the Jordan heard that their comrades had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities; and the Philistines lived in them.
8
The next day when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa.
9
They cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor and sent the wonderful news of Saul’s death to their idols and to the people throughout their land.
10
His armor was placed in the temple of Ashtaroth, and his body was fastened to the wall of Beth-shan.
11
But when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done,
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warriors from that town traveled all night to Beth-shan and took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall and brought them to Jabesh, where they cremated them.
13
Then they buried their remains beneath the oak tree at Jabesh and fasted for seven days.
Saul was dead and David had returned to Ziklag after slaughtering the Amalekites. Three days later a man arrived from the Israeli army with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.
3
“Where do you come from?” David asked.
“From the Israeli army,” he replied.
4
“What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”
And the man replied, “Our entire army fled. Thousands of men are dead and wounded on the field, and Saul and his son Jonathan have been killed.”
5
“How do you know they are dead?”
6
“Because I was on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning against his spear with the enemy chariots closing in upon him.
7
When he saw me he cried out for me to come to him.
8
“‘Who are you?’ he asked.
“‘An Amalekite,’ I replied.
9
“‘Come and put me out of my misery,’ he begged, ‘for I am in terrible pain but life lingers on.’
10
“So I killed him,
*
for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and one of his bracelets to bring to you, my lord.”
11
David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news.
12
They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s people, and for the men of Israel who had died that day.
13
Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”
And he replied, “I am an Amalekite.”
14
“Why did you kill God’s chosen king?” David demanded.
15
Then he said to one of his young men, “Kill him!” So he ran him through with his sword and he died.
16
“You die self-condemned,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed God’s appointed king.”
17-18
Then David composed a dirge for Saul and Jonathan and afterward commanded that it be sung throughout Israel. It is quoted here from the book
Heroic Ballads.
19
O Israel, your pride and joy lies dead upon the hills;
Mighty heroes have fallen.
20
Don’t tell the Philistines, lest they rejoice.
Hide it from the cities of Gath and Ashkelon,
Lest the heathen nations laugh in triumph.
21
O Mount Gilboa,
Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Let no crops of grain grow on your slopes.
*
For there the mighty Saul has died;
He is God’s appointed king no more.
22
Both Saul and Jonathan slew their strongest foes,
And did not return from battle empty-handed.
23
How much they were loved, how wonderful they were—
Both Saul and Jonathan!
They were together in life and in death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24
But now, O women of Israel, weep for Saul;
He enriched you
With fine clothing and gold ornaments.
25
These mighty heroes have fallen in the midst of the battle.
Jonathan is slain upon the hills.
26
How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan;
How much I loved you!
And your love for me was deeper
Than the love of women!
27
The mighty ones have fallen,
Stripped of their weapons, and dead.
