FIRST SAMUEL

 

1 Samuel Chapter 19

1 ¶ Now Saul told Jonathan his son, and all his servants, that they must kill David.

2 But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much: so Jonathan warned David, saying, Saul my father is seeking to kill you: therefore be on guard tomorrow morning, hide in some secret place, and keep out of sight:

3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you; and I will tell you what I learn.

4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, The king should not wrong David his servant; because David has not wronged you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you:

5 For he took his life in his hand, and killed the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great victory for all Israel: you saw it, and rejoiced: why then will you sin against innocent blood, by killing David without a reason?

6 And Saul listened to what Jonathan said: and swore, As the LORD lives, he will not be killed.

7 Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

8 ¶ Then there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and defeated them with such heavy losses that they fled from him.

9 Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played music with his hand.

10 And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the javelin; but David dodged away from Saul, so that he stuck the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 ¶ Saul then sent agents to David’s house, to watch for him, and to kill him in the morning: but David’s wife Michal warned him, saying, If you do not escape tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.

12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he fled, and escaped.

13 And Michal took an image, and laid it on the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with a sheet.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

15 Then Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in his bed, that I may kill him.

16 And when the messengers came in, they found an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair at its head.

17 And Saul said to Michal, Why have you deceived me this way, and let my enemy escape and get away? And Michal answered, He said to me, Let me go; why should I kill you?

18 ¶ So David fled, and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him everything that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel left and stayed in Naioth.

19 And Saul was told, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20 So Saul sent messengers to capture David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21 And when Saul was told of it, he sent different messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again for the third time, and they also prophesied.

22 Then Saul himself went to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked, Where are Samuel and David? And was told, Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.

23 So he went on to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went on he prophesied, until he got to Naioth in Ramah.

24 Saul then removed his clothes, and prophesied before Samuel, and lay there naked all that day and all that night. Hence it is asked, Is Saul also among the prophets?