Bible

The third and final session of 1 Samuel concludes today with chapters 21 through 31.

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1 Samuel – Part 3

Chapter 21. Fugitive

On the run from Saul, David makes two stops: 

• A fugitive, alone, David stops at Nob, needs food;
• He tells the priest his men are to meet him somewhere;
• The only bread available is consecrated from the day before;
• David will take it, asks if the priest has any weapons;
• Nob is where David had left Goliath’s sword after that victory;
• The priest offers that sword to David;
• David continues on the run, stops at Gath;
• Arrested by the king’s servants, David pretends to be insane;
• The king wants nothing to do with a madman.

Chapter 22. Martyred

Priests of the Lord are killed for protecting David from Saul:

• David has four hundred men, gets into the cave of Adullam;
• Sends his family into Moab for safety;
• Learning of the help David received at Nob, Saul retaliates;
• Eighty-five men of the priesthood are martyred at Nob, along with everything living in the town, with one exception;
• One son escapes, meets David in the cave, finds safety.

Chapter 23. Protected

Relentlessly pursued by Saul, David is protected by the Lord:

• Though on the run, David hears of some people in need;
• The people of Keilah are under attack by the Philistines;
• The Lord calls David to go and save Keilah;
• He has the Lord’s assurance of victory;
• With six hundred fighting men, David stays on the move;
• Jonathon finds David, offers reassurance: “Do not fear;”
• “You will be king over Israel.” (Their last meeting.)
• Philistines are attacking, Saul goes home to fight them.

Chapter 24. Compassion

In a cave, David has compassion on Saul, spares his life:

• Saul resumes the pursuit of David with three thousand men;
• David and his men take refuge deep in a cave;
• Saul, not knowing they are there, takes a break in the cave;
• Unseen, David cuts a corner from Saul’s robe;
• He could have taken Saul’s life, but has compassion on him;
• Saul leaves the cave not knowing what has transpired;
• David calls to him to tell him what he has done;
• He wants Saul to know he harbors no ill will toward him;
• Saul admits his wrong-doing against David;
• They have a reconciliation there in the Desert of En Gedi.

Chapter 25. Intercessor

Abigail intercedes with David to spare her entire family:

• Samuel dies, is buried at Ramah, his home.
• After mourning for Samuel, David, his men, move south;
• Nabal, wealthy sheepherder, is mean, wicked landowner;
• His wife, Abigail, is beautiful, sensible;
• David’s men protect Nabal’s estate from plunder;
• He has no respect for David or his men, will not feed them;
• David intends to punish Nabal for his disrespect to David;
• Abigail hears of David’s plan, goes to intercede for Nabal;
• David changes his plans, leaves Nabal alone;
• Soon, Nabal becomes helpless, dies suddenly;
• Abigail accepts David’s marriage proposal;
• David has two wives: Ahinoam, mother of Amnon; Abigail;
• Previous wife Michal was taken back by her father, Saul.

Chapter 26. Foolish

Saul renews his hatred for David, once again plans to kill him:

• With his three thousand men, Saul pursues David;
• David gets word Saul is camped not far away;
• At night, David, his servant, go quietly to scout the camp;
• They see Saul sleeping, surrounded by his army;
• His spear is stuck in the ground near his head;
• They take the spear, leave without waking Saul;
• Next morning, David calls to Saul, tells him he has his spear;
• Saul knows, as in the cave, David could have taken his life;
• Saul admits he has sinned, has been very foolish;
• He repents, tells David he will be great, do great things;
• David says he could not harm the Lord’s anointed.

Chapter 27. Raiders

Leery of Saul, David goes into Philistine territory:

• David’s successes in battle have made him widely known;
• He is welcomed to the area by the Philistines;
• They give him the town of Ziklag for residence;
• David’s army of six hundred raid and plunder many towns;
• These are places that remained to be taken by Israelites;
• David lives in Philistine territory for sixteen months;
• Saul hears where David has moved, leaves him alone;
• David, his men, expected to join the Philistine army.

Chapter 28. Witchcraft

Once again, the Philistines threaten to attack Israel:

• Saul sees the size of the Philistine army, is fearful;
• The Lord has left Saul, will not answer his pleadings;
• At Endor, in disguise, Saul seeks advice from a witch;
• She conjures up Samuel for him, he has bad news:
• The Lord will not save them in the coming battle;
• The Lord has torn the kingdom from Saul, given it to David;
• The Lord will give Saul, and Israel, to the Philistine army.

Chapter 29. Rejected

David’s army is rejected as fighters alongside the Philistines. 

• David has acquired the confidence of the Philistine king;
• However, his army does not trust the Hebrews among them;
• They suggest David will turn against them in battle;
• David’s army is sent back, a three-day march, to Ziklag.

Chapter 30. Rescued

David finds Ziklag has been raided, burned, by Amalekites.

• Everyone is kidnapped, wives Ahinoam and Abigail;
• He inquires of the Lord whether he is to retaliate;
• The Lord instructs him to find, destroy, the Amalekites;
• Two hundred soldiers stay behind to guard supplies;
• David takes four hundred men, pursues the raiders;
• An Egyptian witness agrees to help find them;
• David’s army attacks, destroys the Amalekites;
• All the victims are rescued, wives and children;
• He recovers all the plunder stolen in numerous raids;
• Gives equal shares to the two hundred who stayed behind;
• Distributes plunder to several towns in Judah.

Chapter 31. Suicide

The Philistines press their attack against Saul, the Israelites:

• Saul’s sons, many Israelites perish on Mt. Gilboa;
• Wounded, Saul commits suicide with his own sword;
• Saul, his sons, all of his men, die together that day;
• With this news, the Israelites abandon homes, towns, flee;
• Philistines occupy the towns, remove Saul’s head;
• They hang bodies of Saul, his sons, on public display;
• At night, men from Gilead recover their bodies;
• The bodies are cremated, bones buried at Gilead.

END OF 1 SAMUEL – Part 3