1 Samuel 19

Saul Tries to Kill David

1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan liked David very much.2 So he warned David, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Watch out in the morning. Hide in a secret place.

3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are hiding, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll let you know what I find out.”
4 When Jonathan talked to Saul his father, he said good things about David. Jonathan said, “The king should do no wrong to your servant David since he has done nothing wrong to you. What he has done has helped you greatly.

5 David risked his life when he killed Goliath the Philistine, and the Lord won a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and were happy. Why would you do wrong against David? He’s innocent. There’s no reason to kill him!”

6 Saul listened to Jonathan and then made this promise: “As surely as the Lord lives, David won’t be put to death.”

7 So Jonathan called to David and told him everything that had been said. He brought David to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.

8 When war broke out again, David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them, and they ran away from him.
9 But once again an evil spirit from the Lord rushed upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp.

10 Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear, but David jumped out of the way. So Saul’s spear went into the wall, and David ran away that night.
11 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, saying, “Tonight you must run for your life. If you don’t, you will be dead in the morning.”12 So she let David down out of a window, and he ran away and escaped.

13 Then Michal took an idol, laid it on the bed, covered it with clothes, and put goats’ hair at its head.

14 Saul sent messengers to take David prisoner, but Michal said, “He is sick.”

15 Saul sent them back to see David, saying, “Bring him to me on his bed so I can kill him.”

16 When the messengers entered David’s house, they found just an idol on the bed with goats’ hair on its head.

17 Saul said to Michal, “Why did you trick me this way? You let my enemy go so he could run away!”
Michal answered Saul, “David told me if I did not help him escape, he would kill me.”
18 After David had escaped from Saul, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then David and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.19 Saul heard that David was in Naioth at Ramah.

20 So he sent messengers to capture him. But they met a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there leading them. So the Spirit of God entered Saul’s men, and they also prophesied.
21 When Saul heard the news, he sent more messengers, but they also prophesied. Then he sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied.

22 Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah, to the well at Secu. He asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”
The people answered, “In Naioth at Ramah.”
23 When Saul went to Naioth at Ramah, the Spirit of God also rushed upon him. And he walked on, prophesying until he came to Naioth at Ramah.24 He took off his robes and prophesied in front of Samuel. He lay that way all day and all night. That is why people ask, “Is even Saul one of the prophets?”

1 Samuel 19

Saul Repeatedly Attempts to Take David’s Life

1 Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much.t2 So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is tryingt to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Findt a hiding place and stay in seclusion.t

3 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak about you to my father. When I find out what the problem is,t I will let you know.”
4 So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalft to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficialt for you.

5 He risked his lifet when he struck down the Philistine and the Lord gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”
6 Saul accepted Jonathan’s advicet and took an oath, “As surely as the Lord lives, he will not be put to death.”

7 Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.t
8 Now once again there was war. So David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them thoroughlyt and they ran away from him.9 Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upont Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.t

10 Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saul’s presence and the spear drove into the wall.t David escaped quicklyt that night.
11 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to guard it and to kill him in the morning. Then David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save yourselft tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”

12 So Michal lowered David through the window, and he ran away and escaped.
13 Then Michal took a household idolt and put it on the bed. She put a quiltt made of goat’s hair over its headt and then covered the idol with a garment.

14 When Saul sent messengers to arrest David, she said, “He’s sick.”
15 Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed so I can kill him.”

16 When the messengers came, they found only the idol on the bed and the quilt made of goat’s hair at its head.

17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me this way by sending my enemy away? Now he has escaped!” Michal replied to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away or else I will kill you!’”t
18 Now David had run away and escaped. He went to Samuel in Ramah and told him everything that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth.19 It was reported to Saul saying, “David is at Naioth in Ramah.”20 So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied.21 When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied.

22 Finally Sault himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the large cistern that is in Secu, he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” They said, “At Naioth in Ramah.”
23 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay theret naked all that day and night. (For that reason it is asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”)