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Today's Bible Reading :: 1 Samuel 28 - 31 (ESV)

1 Samuel 28Listen to the passage

1 Samuel 29Listen to the passage

1 Samuel 30Listen to the passage

1 Samuel 31Listen to the passage

1 Samuel 28

Saul and the Medium of En-dor

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:1 - In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:2 - David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
(cf. Deu 18:9–14 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:3 - Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:4 - The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:5 - When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:6 - And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:7 - Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:8 - So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:9 - The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:10 - But Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:11 - Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:12 - When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:13 - The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:14 - He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:15 - Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:16 - And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:17 - The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:18 - Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:19 - Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:20 - Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:21 - And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:22 - Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:23 - He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:24 - Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:25 - and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

1 Samuel 29

The Philistines Reject David

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:1 - Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:2 - As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:3 - the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:4 - But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:5 - Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:6 - Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:7 - So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:8 - And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:9 - And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:10 - Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 29:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 29:11 - So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

1 Samuel 30

David’s Wives Are Captured

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:1 - Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:2 - and taken captive the women and all[fn] who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:3 - And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:4 - Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:5 - David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:6 - And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul,[fn] each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:7 - And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:8 - And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:9 - So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:10 - But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:11 - They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:12 - and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:13 - And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:14 - We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:15 - And David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.”

David Defeats the Amalekites

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:16 - And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:17 - And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:18 - David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:19 - Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:20 - David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him,[fn] and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:21 - Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:22 - Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:23 - But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:24 - Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:25 - And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:26 - When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:27 - It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:28 - in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:29 - in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:30 - in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 30:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 30:31 - in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.
ESV Footnotes
Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and all
Compare 22:2
The meaning of the Hebrew clause is uncertain

1 Samuel 31

The Death of Saul

(1Ch 10:1–14 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:1 - Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:2 - And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:3 - The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:4 - Then Saul 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:5 - And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:6 - Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:7 - And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:8 - The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:9 - So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:10 - They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:11 - But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:12 - 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 Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 31:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 31:13 - And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
See the ESV Preface
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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