Dog Dad Devotions on Leadership, Loyalty and Love

When God Says No!

The Last Half Hour: When Waiting Becomes Glory

See God’s Peace: 3 Days of Visio Divina

God Gives Good Gifts to Everyone

The Journey of Yes

Living With a Strong-Willed Child

Pawprints & Prayers: Devotions for Dog Lovers

A Brighter Future: A 5-Day Devotional

Acts Reading Plan

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk1SA">
      <div class="chapter ch31" data-usfm="1SA.31">
         <div class="label">31</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Saul Takes His Life</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="1SA.31.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1SA.31.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.31.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.31.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1SA.31.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Saul said to his armor-bearer, &#8220;Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1SA.31.4"><span class="content">But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1SA.31.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1SA.31.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1SA.31.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1SA.31.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1SA.31.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1SA.31.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1SA.31.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.31.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.31.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1SA.31.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1SA.31.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="1SA.31.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk2SA">
      <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="2SA.1">
         <div class="label">1</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">David Hears of Saul&#8217;s Death</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="2SA.1.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="2SA.1.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">On the third day a man arrived from Saul&#8217;s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="2SA.1.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.1.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">&#8220;Where have you come from?&#8221; David asked him.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.1.3"><span class="content">He answered, &#8220;I have escaped from the Israelite camp.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="2SA.1.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.1.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">&#8220;What happened?&#8221; David asked. &#8220;Tell me.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.1.4"><span class="content">&#8220;The men fled from the battle,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="2SA.1.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.1.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, &#8220;How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="2SA.1.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="2SA.1.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">&#8220;I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,&#8221; the young man said, &#8220;and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="2SA.1.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, &#8216;What can I do?&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="2SA.1.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="2SA.1.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">&#8220;He asked me, &#8216;Who are you?&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="2SA.1.8"><span class="content">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;An Amalekite,&#8217; I answered.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="2SA.1.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="2SA.1.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">&#8220;Then he said to me, &#8216;Stand here by me and kill me! I&#8217;m in the throes of death, but I&#8217;m still alive.&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="2SA.1.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="2SA.1.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">&#8220;So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="2SA.1.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="2SA.1.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="2SA.1.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="2SA.1.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="2SA.1.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">David said to the young man who brought him the report, &#8220;Where are you from?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="2SA.1.13"><span class="content">&#8220;I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite,&#8221; he answered.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="2SA.1.13"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="2SA.1.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">David asked him, &#8220;Why weren&#8217;t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">&#8217;s anointed?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="2SA.1.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="2SA.1.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Then David called one of his men and said, &#8220;Go, strike him down!&#8221; So he struck him down, and he died. </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="2SA.1.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">For David had said to him, &#8220;Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, &#8216;I killed the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">&#8217;s anointed.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">David&#8217;s Lament for Saul and Jonathan</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="2SA.1.16"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="2SA.1.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="2SA.1.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="2SA.1.18"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="2SA.1.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">&#8220;A gazelle</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">1:19 </span><span class="fq">Gazelle </span><span class="ft">here symbolizes a human dignitary.</span></span></span><span class="content"> lies slain on your heights, Israel.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="2SA.1.19"><span class="content">How the mighty have fallen!</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="2SA.1.19"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="2SA.1.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">&#8220;Tell it not in Gath,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="2SA.1.20"><span class="content">proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="2SA.1.20"><span class="content">lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="2SA.1.20"><span class="content">lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="2SA.1.20"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="2SA.1.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">&#8220;Mountains of Gilboa,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="2SA.1.21"><span class="content">may you have neither dew nor rain,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="2SA.1.21"><span class="content">may no showers fall on your terraced fields.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">1:21 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">/ nor fields that yield grain for offerings</span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="2SA.1.21"><span class="content">For there the shield of the mighty was despised,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="2SA.1.21"><span class="content">the shield of Saul&#8212;no longer rubbed with oil.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="2SA.1.21"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="2SA.1.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">&#8220;From the blood of the slain,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="2SA.1.22"><span class="content">from the flesh of the mighty,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="2SA.1.22"><span class="content">the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="2SA.1.22"><span class="content">the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="2SA.1.22"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.1.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">Saul and Jonathan&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.1.23"><span class="content">in life they were loved and admired,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.1.23"><span class="content">and in death they were not parted.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.1.23"><span class="content">They were swifter than eagles,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.1.23"><span class="content">they were stronger than lions.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="2SA.1.23"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.1.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">&#8220;Daughters of Israel,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.1.24"><span class="content">weep for Saul,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.1.24"><span class="content">who clothed you in scarlet and finery,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.1.24"><span class="content">who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="2SA.1.24"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="2SA.1.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">&#8220;How the mighty have fallen in battle!</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="2SA.1.25"><span class="content">Jonathan lies slain on your heights.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="2SA.1.25"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.1.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.1.26"><span class="content">you were very dear to me.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.1.26"><span class="content">Your love for me was wonderful,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.1.26"><span class="content">more wonderful than that of women.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="2SA.1.26"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="2SA.1.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">&#8220;How the mighty have fallen!</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="2SA.1.27"><span class="content">The weapons of war have perished!&#8221;</span></span></div>
      </div>
   </div>
</div>

1 SamuelSample

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