Saul

3By now Samuel had died. All Israel had cried for him. They buried him in Ramah, his own town. Saul had also driven out of the land everyone who talked with the spirits of the dead.

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

NoteSamuel was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. Ramah was his home town. Some people said they could talk to those who had died. God's law told Israel not to do that. So Saul had made them all leave.

4The Philistines came together and set up their camp at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

NoteShunem and Gilboa are places in the north of Israel. Gilboa is a line of hills. Armies liked to camp on high ground.

5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid. His heart shook inside him.

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6Saul asked the LORD what to do. But the LORD did not answer him. No dream came. The Urim gave nothing. No prophet spoke.

And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

NoteThe Urim was a special object the priests kept. A king used it to ask God a question. A prophet was a person who told people what God said. None of these gave Saul an answer.

7So Saul told his servants, "Find me a woman who talks with the dead. I want to go and ask her." His servants said, "There is one at Endor."

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

NoteEndor was a small town close to where the armies were camped.

8Saul dressed in different clothes so no one would know him. He took two men and came to the woman at night. He said, "Please call up a spirit for me. Bring up the one I name."

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

NoteSaul put on other clothes so the woman would not know he was the king. He came at night so no one would see him.

9The woman said, "You know what Saul has done. He has driven all such people out of the land. Why are you setting a trap to get me killed?"

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

10Saul made a promise to her in the LORD's name. He said, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."

And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

NoteMaking a promise in the LORD's name meant it was very serious. People believed such a promise must never be broken.

11The woman asked, "Who should I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel."

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. She said to Saul, "Why did you trick me? You are Saul!"

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13The king said, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" She said, "I see a godlike being coming up out of the ground."

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

NoteThe woman used a word for a being from the world of the dead. What she saw surprised and scared her.

14He asked, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up. He is wearing a long robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel. He bowed low with his face to the ground.

And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

NoteSamuel wore a long robe like that when he was alive. That is how Saul knew it was him. Bowing with your face on the ground showed great respect.

15Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you bothered me and brought me up?" Saul said, "I am in deep trouble. The Philistines are fighting me. God has left me. He does not answer me anymore, not by prophets and not by dreams. So I called you to tell me what to do."

And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16Samuel said, "Why ask me? The LORD has left you and has become your enemy.

Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

17The LORD has done just what he said through me. He has torn the kingdom out of your hand. He has given it to the man near you, to David.

And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

NoteTo tear the kingdom out of his hand means to take the right to be king away from him.

18This is because you did not obey the LORD. You did not carry out his burning anger against the Amalekites. That is why the LORD has done this to you today.

Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

NoteThe Amalekites were a people who had fought Israel long before. Saul had been told to fight them, and he had not done all he was told.

19The LORD will hand over Israel and you to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines too."

Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

NoteSamuel was dead. Saying they would be with him means Saul and his sons would die in the battle.

20At once Saul fell flat on the ground. Samuel's words filled him with fear. He had no strength left. He had not eaten all day and all night.

Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

21The woman came to Saul and saw how upset he was. She said, "I did what you asked me to do. I risked my own life to obey your words.

And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

NoteShe could have been killed for doing what Saul asked. That is why she says she risked her life.

22Now please listen to me too. Let me set a little bread in front of you. Eat, so you will have strength for your journey."

Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

23He said no. "I will not eat," he said. But his servants and the woman kept urging him, and he gave in. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

24The woman had a well-fed calf at her house. She quickly killed it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked flat bread with no yeast.

And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

NoteA well-fed calf was a young cow fattened for a special meal. Killing it was a big gift for a guest. To knead means to press and fold the dough with your hands. Bread with no yeast bakes fast, because you do not wait for the dough to puff up.

25She set the food in front of Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.

And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

1The Philistines fought against Israel. The Philistines were a people who lived nearby. Israel's soldiers ran away from them. Many were killed on Mount Gilboa.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

NoteThe Philistines lived by the sea, right next to Israel. The two peoples fought each other for many years. Mount Gilboa is a long, low hill in northern Israel.

2The Philistines chased Saul, the king, and his sons very closely. They killed three of Saul's sons. Their names were Jonathan, Abinadab, and Melchishua.

And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s sons.

NoteSaul was the first king Israel ever had. Jonathan was his oldest son. Jonathan was also David's closest friend.

3The fighting around Saul grew worse and worse. Men shooting arrows found him and hit him. He was hurt very badly.

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

NoteThe King James says Saul was "sore wounded." Here "sore" means very badly hurt, not aching.

4Saul spoke to the man who carried his weapons. He said, "Take your sword and kill me. If you do not, these Philistines will kill me and hurt me first." But the man was too afraid to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

NoteAn armorbearer carried the king's shield and extra weapons. He stayed close beside the king in every battle. The King James calls the Philistines "uncircumcised." That was an Israelite word for people outside Israel. "Abuse me" means they would hurt him to shame him. Falling on his sword means Saul killed himself with it.

5The man who carried Saul's weapons saw that Saul was dead. So he fell on his own sword too. He died beside Saul.

And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6So Saul died that day. His three sons died. The man who carried his weapons died. All his men died with him, on that same day.

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

7Some Israelites lived across the valley. Others lived across the Jordan River. They saw that Israel's army had run away. They heard that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left their towns and ran. Then the Philistines came and lived in those towns.

And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

NoteThe Jordan is the main river of that land. Many Israelite families lived and farmed on the far side of it.

8The next day the Philistines came back to take things from the dead soldiers. They found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

NoteAfter a battle, the winners took things off the dead soldiers. They took swords, armor, and anything else worth keeping.

9They cut off Saul's head. They took off the metal clothes he wore for fighting. They sent the news all over the land of the Philistines. They told it in the temples of their idols and to all their people.

And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

NoteAn idol is a statue that people pray to like a god. A temple is a big building made for a god. Sending this news showed everyone that the Philistines had won.

10They put Saul's armor in the temple of Ashtaroth. Ashtaroth was a goddess the Philistines worshiped. They hung Saul's body on the city wall of Bethshan.

And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

NoteAshtaroth was a goddess that many people near Israel worshiped. Bethshan was a city with a high wall around it. Hanging a dead king there let everyone see who won.

11The people of the town called Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul.

And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

NoteJabesh-gilead was a town across the Jordan River. Years before, Saul had rescued that town from an enemy. Its people had not forgotten him.

12All their brave men got up and walked all night long. They took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall of Bethshan. They carried them back to Jabesh and burned them there.

All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

NoteIsraelites almost always buried their dead in the ground. Burning the bodies here was unusual. It may have kept enemies from taking them again.

13Then they took the bones and buried them under a tree at Jabesh. For seven days they did not eat.

And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

NoteThe tree was a tamarisk, a small tree with feathery leaves. Going without food is called fasting. People did it for seven days to show deep sadness.

1Saul the king had died. David had just come back from fighting the Amalekites. He had been staying in the town of Ziklag for two days.

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

NoteThe Amalekites were a people who often fought against Israel. Ziklag was a small town where David and his men lived. Saul was the king of Israel before David.

2On the third day a man came from Saul's army camp. His clothes were torn and there was dirt on his head. He came to David, bowed low, and put his face to the ground.

It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

NoteLong ago, people tore their clothes to show they were very sad. They also put dirt or ashes on their heads. It was their way of saying, "Something terrible has happened." Bowing low with your face to the ground showed great respect.

3David asked him, "Where have you come from?" The man said, "I got away from Israel's camp."

And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4David asked, "What happened? Please tell me." The man said, "Our soldiers ran away from the fight. Many of them fell and died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too."

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5David asked the young man who told him this, "How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"

And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6The young man said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. Saul was there, leaning on his spear. Enemy chariots and men on horses were coming closer and closer.

And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

NoteMount Gilboa is a hill in Israel where the big battle happened. A chariot was a small cart pulled by horses. Soldiers rode in chariots to fight.

7Then Saul turned around and saw me. He called out to me. I answered, 'I am here.'

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

8He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I am an Amalekite.'

And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9Then he said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me. I am in great pain, but I am still alive.'

He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10So I stood over him and killed him. I knew he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown off his head and the band off his arm. I brought them here to you, my master."

So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

NoteA crown and a gold arm band were things only a king wore. Bringing them to David proved the man had really seen Saul.

11Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them. All the men who were with him tore their clothes too.

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12They cried and were very sad. They ate no food until evening. They grieved for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the LORD's people, and for all Israel. So many of them had died in the battle.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

NoteGoing without food was a way to show deep sadness. People did this when someone they loved had died. The word LORD in capital letters is God's own special name.

13David asked the young man who told him this, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner. I am an Amalekite."

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

NoteA foreigner is someone whose family came from another country.

14David said to him, "Saul was the king the LORD chose. Why were you not afraid to lift your hand and kill him?"

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

NoteWhen a man became king, oil was poured on his head. This showed that God had chosen him. People called such a king "the LORD's anointed." Hurting the king was seen as a very serious crime.

15Then David called one of his young men over. He said, "Go and put him to death." So the young man struck him down, and he died.

And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16David said to the Amalekite, "What has happened to you is your own fault. Your own mouth said you killed the king the LORD chose."

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.

Note"Thy blood be upon thy head" was an old way of speaking. It meant, "What happens to you is your own doing."

17Then David sang a sad song about Saul and about his son Jonathan.

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

NoteA sad song sung when someone dies is called a lament. People sang these songs out loud so everyone could remember.

18He said the people of Judah should be taught this song. It is called the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jasher.

(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

NoteJudah was one of the big family groups of Israel. The Book of Jasher was an old book of songs and stories. Nobody has that book anymore. It is lost.

19"Israel, your best and finest men lie dead on your hills. See how the strong ones have fallen!

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

Note"The mighty" means the strongest and bravest soldiers. "High places" here just means the hills where they died.

20Do not tell the news in the town of Gath. Do not say it in the streets of Ashkelon. The women of the Philistines must not be glad. The daughters of our enemies must not cheer.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

NoteGath and Ashkelon were towns of the Philistines. The Philistines were a people who lived near the sea and fought Israel often. "The daughters of the uncircumcised" was a way of saying the women of those enemy people.

21Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you. May no grain grow in your fields for gifts to God. There a strong man's shield was thrown down and left in the dirt. It was Saul's shield, and no one rubbed it with oil anymore.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

NoteDew is the water that sits on grass early in the morning. Grain was grown to give to God as a gift, or offering. Soldiers rubbed oil on their leather shields to keep them smooth and shiny. A shield left in the dirt meant its owner had died.

22Jonathan's bow did not turn back from the enemies it struck. Saul's sword never came home without doing its work.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

NoteA bow shoots arrows from far away. A sword is used up close. Saying they never "came back empty" meant these two men always won their fights.

23People loved Saul and Jonathan and were glad to be near them. In life and in death, the two of them stayed together. They were faster than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24Women of Israel, cry for Saul. He gave you fine red clothes and other good things. He put gold on the clothes you wore.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

NoteScarlet is a bright red cloth. It cost a lot, so only rich people wore it. A king shared such gifts when his army won a battle.

25See how the strong ones have fallen right in the middle of the fight! Jonathan lies dead on your hills.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26I am very sad for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful. It meant more to me than the love of women.

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

NoteHere "love" means the deep, loyal friendship between two close friends. David and Jonathan had promised to stand by each other always.

27See how the strong ones have fallen! The weapons of war are broken and gone."

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

1While David was king, there was no food for three years in a row. Crops failed year after year. David asked the LORD why. The LORD said, "It is because of Saul and his family. Saul killed the people of Gibeon."

Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

NoteA famine is a long time when crops will not grow. People go hungry because there is not enough food. When the story says David "enquired of the LORD," it means he asked God a question. Kings did this through a priest, a man whose job was to serve God and help people talk to him.

2So King David called the people of Gibeon and talked with them. The Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were the last of a people called the Amorites. Long ago Israel had made a solemn promise to them. But Saul had tried to kill them, because he cared only for Israel and Judah.

And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

NoteLong before this, the people of Gibeon had made a deal with Israel. Israel promised in God's name never to hurt them. A promise made that way was meant to last forever. Saul broke it when he tried to kill them.

3David asked them, "What can I do for you? How can I make this wrong right? Then you can ask God to bless the people who belong to him."

Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

Note"How can I make this wrong right?" is one word in the old text: atonement. It means doing something to fix a wrong you or your family did. Back then, a family who lost someone could say what would make things right again.

4The Gibeonites said, "We do not want silver or gold from Saul's family. And we may not just kill any man in Israel." David said, "Tell me what you want, and I will do it."

And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.

NoteIn those days a family could take silver or gold instead. It was a payment for someone who had been killed. The Gibeonites said no to money.

5They said to the king, "Saul was the man who destroyed us. He made a plan to wipe us out so none of us would be left anywhere in Israel.

And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

6So give us seven men from his family. We will hang them before the LORD at Gibeah, Saul's own town. Saul was the man the LORD once chose to be king." The king said, "I will give them to you."

Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

NoteGibeah was the town Saul came from. Long ago, people thought a whole family shared the blame for what one man did. That is why Saul's sons and grandsons were asked for.

7But the king kept Mephibosheth safe. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. David saved him because of the promise he and Jonathan had made before the LORD.

But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

NoteJonathan was Saul's son and David's closest friend. The two of them had promised, with God listening, to look after each other's families. David kept that promise here.

8The king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons Rizpah had borne to Saul. Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah. He also took five sons of Saul's daughter, whom she had borne to Adriel. Adriel was the son of Barzillai from Meholah.

But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

NoteOld copies of this book do not all say the same name here. Some say Michal, and some say her sister Merab. Both were daughters of Saul.

9He handed the seven men over to the Gibeonites. They hanged them on the hill before the LORD. All seven died together. It happened at the start of harvest time, when the barley was first cut.

And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

NoteBarley is a grain, like wheat, that people ground up to make bread. It was cut in the spring, near the start of the growing year.

10Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took rough cloth and spread it on a rock. She stayed there from the start of harvest until rain fell from the sky. She would not let birds land on the bodies by day. She would not let wild animals near them by night.

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

NoteRough cloth means sackcloth, scratchy cloth people wore when they were very sad. Rizpah spread it out to sit on. Guarding the bodies from birds and animals was her way of caring for her sons. And rain falling at last meant the dry years were over.

11Someone told David what Rizpah had done. She had been one of Saul's wives, but with a lower place in his house.

And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

12Then David went and got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. He got them from the men of Jabesh-gilead. Those men had taken the bodies from the town square of Beth-shan. The Philistines had hung them there after they killed Saul at Mount Gilboa.

And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived near the sea. They fought against Israel again and again. Long before this they had killed Saul and hung his body up in a town so everyone would see. The men of Jabesh-gilead took it down because Saul had once saved their town.

13David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan back from that place. They also gathered the bones of the seven men who had been hanged.

And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

14They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the land of Benjamin, at a town called Zelah. They laid them in the grave of Kish, Saul's father. They did everything the king had told them to do. After that, God answered the prayers for the land.

And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.

NoteA grave like this was a small cave where one family laid their dead. Being buried with your father and grandfather was a way of coming home.

1The Philistines went to war against Israel. The men of Israel ran away from them. Many were killed on Mount Gilboa.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

NoteThe Philistines lived near the sea, next to Israel. They fought against Israel many times. Mount Gilboa is a tall hill in northern Israel.

2The Philistines chased hard after Saul and his sons. They killed Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

NoteSaul was the first king of Israel. Jonathan was his son. Jonathan was also David's dearest friend.

3The fighting around Saul grew worse. Men with bows caught up to him. Their arrows wounded him.

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.

NoteArchers are soldiers who shoot arrows from bows. They could hurt someone from far away.

4Saul said to the man who carried his weapons, "Take your sword and kill me. If you do not, these Philistines will come and hurt me." But the man was too afraid to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

NoteA man who carried a soldier's weapons stayed close beside him in battle. He handed him his shield and his spear. The King James calls the Philistines "these uncircumcised." That was a rude name for people who were not part of Israel.

5The man who carried Saul's weapons saw that Saul was dead. So he fell on his own sword and died too.

And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.

6So Saul died. His three sons died. Everyone in his house died with him.

So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.

NoteThe King James says "all his house." A person's house meant everyone in the family who lived with him.

7The men of Israel in the valley saw that the army had run away. They saw that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left their towns and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived in those towns.

And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

NoteA valley is the low, flat land between hills.

8The next day the Philistines came to take things from the dead. They found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

NoteAfter a battle, the winners took clothes, weapons, and armor off the dead. Those things were worth a lot.

9They took Saul's things. They cut off his head and took his armor. Then they sent men all through Philistine country with the news. The news was told in the houses of their idols and to the people.

And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.

NoteAn idol is a statue that people pray to as if it were a god. The Philistines had many idols.

10They put Saul's armor in the house of their gods. They hung his head in the temple of Dagon, one of their gods.

And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

NoteDagon was one of the gods the Philistines prayed to. A temple is a big house built for a god.

11The people of Jabesh-gilead heard everything the Philistines had done to Saul.

And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

NoteJabesh-gilead was a town on the far side of the Jordan River. Long before, Saul had saved that town from enemies. The people there still remembered.

12All their brave men went and got the bodies of Saul and his sons. They carried them back to Jabesh. They buried the bones under the big oak tree there. Then they went seven days without eating.

They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

NoteBurying a dead person was a way of showing honor. Leaving a body out in the open was shameful. Going without food for days showed how sad people were.

13So Saul died because he was not faithful to the LORD. He did not obey what the LORD said. He also went to someone who talked with the spirits of the dead, and he asked for advice.

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;

NoteSome people said they could talk to those who had died. Israel's rules said no one should go to them for advice.

14He did not ask the LORD what to do. So the LORD put him to death. The LORD gave the kingdom to David, the son of Jesse.

And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

NoteJesse was David's father. David became the next king of Israel after Saul.

21Then the people asked for a king. God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, from the family group of Benjamin. Saul was king for forty years.

And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

NoteIsrael was made up of twelve family groups called tribes. Benjamin was one of them. The King James spells the father's name Cis; today we say Kish.

22God took Saul away and made David their king. God said about him, "I have found David, the son of Jesse. He is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want."

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Note"A man after mine own heart" means someone who wants what God wants. Jesse was David's father.