Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 129
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S am u el – K I N G S
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all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron. Then the Isra
elite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp. (David
took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in
his own tent.)
As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the
commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”
“I really don’t know,” Abner declared.
“Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.
As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to
Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. “Tell me about your father,
young man,” Saul said.
And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”
After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son.
There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.
From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return
home. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved
him as he loved himself. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and
giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul
made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was
welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.
When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had
killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet
King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.
This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David
with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making
him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and
he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as
he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled
it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had
turned away from Saul. Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him
commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.