1 Samuel 30-31 ESV
David's Victory Over the Amalekites
1 Samuel 30 (ESV)
David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives, sons, and daughters were taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him wept until they had no more strength to weep. David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. (1 Samuel 30:3-5 ESV)
David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6 ESV)
David asked God, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" God answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue." (1 Samuel 30:8 ESV)
David and his 600 men went in pursuit of the Amalekites, and they overtook them. David rescued all the people, including his two wives, and slew the Amalekites from twilight until the evening of the next day. (1 Samuel 30:17-25 ESV)
The Death of Saul and His Sons
1 Samuel 31 (ESV)
The Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and they killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. (1 Samuel 31:1-2 ESV)
Saul was wounded by the archers, and he said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. (1 Samuel 31:3-4 ESV)
When the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons dead. They cut off his head and sent the news to the land of the Philistines, and they carried his armor to the temple of their idols. (1 Samuel 31:8-10 ESV)
The people of Jabesh Gilead heard of the slaughter, and they took the bodies of Saul and his sons and burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. (1 Samuel 31:11-13 ESV)
Thus Saul died for his breach of faith. He was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord slew him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (1 Samuel 31:13-14 ESV)
