1 Samuel

Saul and Jonathan

Saul told his son Jonathan and his servants of his intention to kill David. But Jonathan, who liked David very much,

said to David: “My father Saul wants to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning and hide yourself in a secret place.

I will go out and keep my father company in the countryside where you are, and I will speak to him about you. If I find out something, I will let you know.”

Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying: “Let not the king sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, what he has done has benefited you.

He risked his life in killing the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for Israel. You yourself saw this and greatly rejoiced. Why then sin against innocent blood and kill David without cause?”

Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore: “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.”

So Jonathan called David and told him all these things. He then brought him to Saul, and David returned to Saul’s service as before.

War broke out again, and David set out to fight the Philistines. David crushed them so severely that they had to flee.

Then an evil spirit from the Lord seized Saul as he held his spear in his house while David played on the lyre.

Saul attempted to pin David to the wall with his spear. David, however, dodged the blow, and the spear hit the wall instead. David fled and escaped.

Michal Saves David

That night, Saul sent messengers to David’s house to keep an eye on him as he intended to kill him the following morning. But David’s wife, Michal, told him: “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”

So Michal let David down through the window, allowing him to escape.

Next, Michal took the household idol, laid it on the bed, and put a bundle of goat’s hair on its head. She then covered this with a blanket.

When Saul sent messengers to capture David, Michal told them: “He is sick.”

Saul sent messengers back to David and said: “Bring him up to me on his bed for me to kill him.”

But when the messengers entered, they saw the household idol in the bed with the bundle of goat’s hair at its head.

Saul asked Michal: “Why did you deceive me and allow my enemy to escape?” Michal answered: “He threatened to kill me if I did not let him go!”

Saul in a Trance

David had fled and was safe. He went to Samuel at Ramah and related all Saul had done to him. He and Samuel then went to live at Naioth.

Saul was told that David stayed at Naioth in Ramah,

so he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the band of prophets prophesying (signifying that they had fallen into a trance) with Samuel leading them, the spirit of the Lord came upon them and made them prophesy.

Upon hearing what happened, Saul sent more messengers who also began to prophesy. Saul sent more than the third time, and the same thing happened.

Then Saul went to Ramah and arrived at the deep well in Secu. He asked, “Where can I find Samuel and David?” The people answered, “They are at Naioth in Ramah.”

So Saul proceeded to Naioth in Ramah, but the Lord’s spirit also came upon him. And he walked along, prophesying, until he reached the entrance of Naioth in Ramah.

He took off his clothes and prophesied in Samuel’s presence. Then he fell down naked, remaining in that position all day and all night. Hence sprang the saying, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”