March 28, 2025
A spear, the Philistines, and a medium—oh my!
1 Samuel 26-28
Kelsey Foreman
Big Book Idea
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart!
Key Verse | 1 Samuel 27:11
And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 26-28
Chapter 26
David Spares Saul Again
1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.
13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.”
17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Chapter 27
David Flees to the Philistines
1 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.
8 Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”
Chapter 28
Saul and the Medium of En-dor
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.” 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.”
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. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 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.”
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.” 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?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 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.” 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.” 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.
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.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? 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. 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. 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.”
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. 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. 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.” 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. 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, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
Table of Contents
Introduction to 1–2 Samuel
Timeline
Author and Date
The author or authors of 1 and 2 Samuel are not known. These books recount the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David. Saul’s reign began between 1050–1030 B.C. and ended in 1010. David then reigned until 971. The books were probably written soon after the end of his reign.
Theme
The central theme of the books of Samuel is how the Lord (1) established a dynasty (“house”) in Israel for David rather than Saul and (2) how he chose Jerusalem as the place where David’s successor would establish the temple (“house”) for the worship of the divine King Yahweh.
Purpose
The purpose of 1 Samuel is to highlight two major events: the establishment of the monarchy in Israel (chs. 8–12); and the rise of David to be king after Saul (chs. 16–31). After ruling for a while, Saul was rejected by the Lord in favor of David (chs. 15–16), though Saul stayed on the throne until his death at Mount Gilboa (ch. 31). Later, in 2 Samuel 7, God promises David and his house an eternal dynasty. The book of 1 Samuel establishes the principle that obedience to the word of God is the necessary condition for a king to be acceptable to the God of Israel.
First and Second Samuel deal with a transitional period in the history of ancient Israel. There is a transition of leadership first from the priest Eli to the judge Samuel, then from the judge Samuel to the king Saul, and then from Saul to David. Samuel thus is the link between the judgeship and the kingship in Israel. He is the prophet God uses to anoint both Saul and David. The kingdom of Saul was also transitional. Under Saul, Israel was more than a loose confederation that gathered together whenever there was a common threat, but there was no strong central rule such as existed later. The story of the rise of David in the second half of 1 Samuel prepares for the full-scale kingship of David in 2 Samuel.
1 Samuel Key Themes
- God’s kingship. God is King of the universe and always has been. No human king can assume kingship except as a deputy of the divine King.
- God’s providential guidance. God providentially and individually guided the lives of chosen people such as Hannah, Samuel, and David. Even the life of Saul was in God’s providential care (see 1 Sam. 9:16). God’s timing is always perfect (see 1 Samuel 9 and the end of 1 Samuel 23), for he is the Lord of history.
- God’s sovereign will and power. God chooses or rejects people according to his absolute sovereign will and purpose. He may change his way of dealing with individuals according to his plan and purpose, but his decision is always just and right. At the same time, he is merciful and gracious.
Therefore, obedience to God’s word is of prime importance. Only God’s grace allows sinful human beings to be in relationship with the holy God. Only the God-given way of approaching him through sacrifice can prepare humans to come closer to God. Believers can only wait on God, who will do his will according to his own purpose. What is impossible for humans is possible for God. This should encourage believers to put their faith in the one who is sovereign over the entire creation.
2 Samuel Key Themes
The themes of 1 Samuel are related to the themes of 2 Samuel: the sovereign God, who has guided David’s life, chooses David as the ruler of God’s people. God pledges to David an eternal covenant. David thus becomes the prototype of the future Messiah, Jesus Christ.
- Davidic covenant. See 2 Samuel 7.
- Messianic promise. Second Samuel 7 is a turning point in the history of salvation. God chose David to be the beginning of an enduring dynasty, from which the ultimate Ruler, Jesus, would come. God used David to fulfill his eternal plan of salvation, not because he was perfect from a human viewpoint, but because the Lord was “with him” and showed grace to him.
1 Samuel Outline
- The Story of Samuel (1:1–7:17)
- Transition to the Monarchy (8:1–22)
- The Story of Saul (9:1–15:35)
- The Story of Saul and David (16:1–31:13)
2 Samuel Outline
- Story of King David (1:1–20:26)
- Epilogue (21:1–24:25)
The Setting of 1 Samuel
c. 1050 B.C.
The book of 1 Samuel is set in Israel during the transition between the period of the judges and the period of the monarchy. It opens with Samuel’s birth and then describes his role as judge over Israel. When the people ask for a king, the Lord instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king.
The Setting of 2 Samuel
The Setting of 2 Samuel
c. 1000 B.C.
The book of 2 Samuel recounts David’s reign over Israel and his battles to establish Israel as the dominant power in Syria and Palestine. David expanded Israel’s borders from Saul’s smaller territory. By the end of his reign, David controlled all of Israel, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, and Zobah. Other kingdoms, such as Tyre and Hamath, established treaties with him.
Fact: “Go, serve other gods.”
“Go, serve other gods.” Telling a fellow Israelite to go and serve other gods (26:19) was a capital offense against the Lord. For non-Israelites, it was a commonly accepted practice to serve the gods of the nation where one lived, regardless of one’s own national gods.
Fact: How is a fattened calf different from a regular calf?
How is a fattened calf different from a regular calf? A fattened calf (28:24) was one that had been set aside for a special occasion. While most cattle simply grazed in fields, these select animals were fed in a stall. The extra food and the inability to roam freely meant that they would gain more weight.
Fact: What is Sheol
What is Sheol? In the OT, Sheol (7:9–10) is where the dead reside. It is a place of rest for believers (1 Sam. 28:14), but a place of punishment for the wicked (Isa. 14:3–23).
Fact: En-dor
En-dor (83:10) is perhaps most famous for being home to a spiritual medium whom Saul consulted on the eve of his final battle (1 Sam. 28:7–25).
The Setting of 1 Samuel
c. 1050 B.C.
The book of 1 Samuel is set in Israel during the transition between the period of the judges and the period of the monarchy. It opens with Samuel’s birth and then describes his role as judge over Israel. When the people ask for a king, the Lord instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king.
Events of 1–2 Samuel Referenced in the Psalms
| 1 Samuel | Incident | Psalm |
|---|---|---|
| 19:11 | David’s house surrounded | 59 |
| 21:10–11 | David seized by Achish | 56 |
| 21:12–22:1 | David escapes from Achish (called Abimelech in Psalm 34 title) | 34 |
| 22:1 (possibly also 24:3) | David in cave | 57; 142 |
| 22:9–19 | Doeg the Edomite | 52 |
| 23:14–15 (possibly) | Desert of Judah | 63 |
| 23:19 | David betrayed by Ziphites | 54 |
| 2 Samuel | Incident | Psalm |
|---|---|---|
| 8:1–14 | Victory over Transjordan | 60 |
| chs. 11–12 | Against house of Uriah | 51 |
| chs. 15–17 | Absalom’s revolt | 3 |
| chs. 15–17 (possibly) | Desert of Judah | 63 |
| ch. 22 | Victory over all enemies | 18 |
The Rise and Failure of David in 1 and 2 Samuel
| David’s Rise (1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 10) | David’s Failures (2 Samuel 11–20) |
|---|---|
| Eager holy warrior | Remains in palace |
| Marries honorably | Adultery with Bathsheba |
| Protects Saul’s life | Plots Uriah’s death |
| Decisive | Indecisive |
| Prayers effective | Prayers ineffective |
| Fearless when outnumbered | Fearfully takes census |
| Attracts thousands of followers | Loses thousands of followers |
The Fall of Saul and the Rise of David in 1 Samuel
| Saul | David |
|---|---|
| Holy Spirit removed; evil spirit given (16:14–23) | Anointed with Holy Spirit (16:1–13) |
| Jealous and treacherous (ch. 18) | Faithful friend (ch. 20) |
| Attempts to kill David (ch. 19) | Protects Saul’s life (chs. 24; 26) |
| Failed holy warrior (ch. 15) | Mighty holy warrior (ch. 17) |
| Kingdom torn away (13:13–14; 15:11, 26) | Kingdom promised forever (2 Sam. 7:1–17) |
Comparison of 1–2 Chronicles with 2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings
| 1 Chronicles | 2 Samuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Genealogies | 1:1–9:44 | |
| Death of Saul and sons | 10:1–14 | 1 Sam. 31:1–2 Sam. 1:16 |
| Lament for Saul | 1:17–27 | |
| David king of Judah | 2:1–7 | |
| War between house of Saul and David; Ish-bosheth made king | 2:8–3:1 | |
| David’s sons in Hebron | 3:2–5 | |
| Abner helps David | 3:6–21 | |
| Joab kills Abner | 3:22–39 | |
| Ish-bosheth killed | 4:1–12 | |
| David king of Judah and Israel | 11:1–3 | 5:1–5 |
| Conquest of Jerusalem | 11:4–9 | 5:6–10 |
| David’s mighty men | 11:10–47 | 23:8–39 |
| David’s men at Ziklag | 12:1–22 | |
| Celebration at Hebron | 12:23–40 | |
| Attempted return of ark; death of Uzzah | 13:1–14 | 6:1–11 |
| David’s house built | 14:1–2 | 5:11–12 |
| David’s children in Jerusalem | 14:3–7 | 5:13–16 |
| David defeats Philistines | 14:8–17 | 5:17–25 |
| Spiritual preparation for the ark’s return | 15:1–24 | |
| Ark brought to Jerusalem | 15:25–16:6 | 6:12–19 |
| David and Michal | 6:20–23 | |
| David’s psalm of praise | 16:7–43 | |
| David’s desire to build the temple | 17:1–2 | 7:1–3 |
| Davidic covenant | 17:3–15 | 7:4–17 |
| David’s prayer of praise | 17:16–27 | 7:18–29 |
| David’s victories | 18:1–13 | 8:1–14 |
| David’s officials | 18:14–17 | 8:15–18 |
| David helps Mephibosheth | 9:1–13 | |
| Ammonites defeated | 19:1–15 | 10:1–14 |
| Syrians defeated | 19:16–19 | 10:15–19 |
| Ammonites defeated | 20:1–3 | 11:1; 12:26–31 |
| David and Bathsheba | 11:2–12:25 | |
| Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom | 13:1–14:33 | |
| Absalom’s rebellion | 15:1–19:43 | |
| Sheba’s rebellion | 20:1–26 | |
| Famine; death of Saul’s sons | 21:1–14 | |
| War with Philistines; the Philistine giants | 20:4–8 | 21:15–22 |
| David’s psalm of deliverance | 22:1–51 | |
| David’s last words | 23:1–7 | |
| David’s census | 21:1–27 | 24:1–25 |
| David plans for the temple | 21:28–22:5 | |
| David’s charge to Solomon and the leaders | 22:6–19 | |
| David organizes temple personnel | 23:1–26:32 | |
| Israel’s military | 27:1–15 | |
| Israel’s leaders | 27:16–34 | |
| David’s charge to Israel; affirmation of Solomon | 28:1–10 | |
| Pattern for the temple | 28:11–21 | |
| Offerings for the temple | 29:1–9 | |
| David’s prayer of thanks for the temple | 29:10–19 | |
| 1 Kings | ||
| David and Abishag | 1:1–4 | |
| Adonijah claims the throne | 1:5–27 | |
| Solomon’s coronation | 29:20–25 | 1:28–40 |
| David instructs Solomon | 2:1–9 | |
| Death of David | 29:26–30 | 2:10–11 |
| Solomon establishes his kingdom | 2:12–46 | |
| 2 Chronicles | ||
| Solomon marries Pharaoh’s daughter | 3:1–3 | |
| Solomon at Gibeon | 1:1–6 | 3:4 |
| God gives Solomon wisdom | 1:7–12 | 3:5–14 |
| Solomon’s wise judgment | 3:16–28 | |
| Solomon’s prosperity | 1:14–17 | 4:20–34 |
| Preparations for the temple | 2:1–18 | 5:1–18 |
| Temple built | 3:1–5:1 | 6:1–38;7:13–51 |
| Solomon’s palace | 7:1–12 | |
| Ark brought to the temple | 5:2–12 | 8:1–9 |
| God’s glory fills the temple | 5:13–14 | 8:10–11 |
| Solomon blesses the people | 6:1–11 | 8:12–21 |
| Solomon consecrates the temple | 6:12–42 | 8:22–61 |
| Fire from the Lord consumes the sacrifices | 7:1–3 | |
| Solomon and the people offer sacrifices | 7:4–7 | 8:62–64 |
| Feast of Tabernacles | 7:8–10 | 8:65–66 |
| The covenant confirmed | 7:11–22 | 9:1–9 |
| Solomon’s territory increases | 8:1–6 | 9:10–19 |
| Solomon’s enemies defeated | 8:7–10 | 9:20–23 |
| Solomon’s religious practices | 8:11–16 | 9:24–25 |
| Solomon’s economic operations | 8:17–18 | 9:26–28 |
| Queen of Sheba visits | 9:1–12 | 10:1–13 |
| Solomon’s wealth | 9:13–28 | 10:14–29 |
| Solomon’s apostasy and adversaries | 11:1–40 | |
| Death of Solomon | 9:29–31 | 11:41–43 |
| Division of the kingdom | 10:1–11:23 | 12:1–33 |
| Man of God from Judah warns Jeroboam (Israel) | 13:1–34 | |
| Ahijah’s prophecy against Jeroboam | 14:1–18 | |
| Death of Jeroboam | 14:19–20 | |
| Shishak invades Judah | 12:1–12 | 14:25–28 |
| Reign of Rehoboam (Judah) | 12:13–16 | 14:21–24,29–31 |
| War between Judah and Israel | 13:1–22 | 15:1–8 |
| Evaluation of Asa (Judah) | 14:1–8 | 15:9–12 |
| Ethiopians defeated | 14:9–15 | |
| Azariah the prophet | 15:1–7 | |
| Asa’s reforms | 15:8–19 | 15:13–15 |
| Asa defeats Syria | 16:1–10 | 15:16–22 |
| Death of Asa | 16:11–14 | 15:23–24 |
| Reigns of Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri (Israel) | 15:25–16:28 | |
| Ahab becomes king (Israel) | 16:29–34 | |
| Elijah | 17:1–19:18;21:17–29 | |
| Call of Elisha | 19:19–21 | |
| Ahab conquers Syria, acquires Naboth’s vineyard | 20:1–21:29 | |
| Evaluation of Jehoshaphat (Judah) | 17:1–9 | |
| Expansion of Judah | 17:10–19 | |
| Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab; death of Ahab | 18:1–34 | 22:1–40 |
| Jehoshaphat’s reforms, crisis, and deliverance | 19:1–20:30 | |
| Reign of Jehoshaphat | 20:31–37 | 22:41–50 |
| Reign of Ahaziah (Israel) | 22:51–53 | |
| 2 Kings | ||
| Death of Ahaziah; Elijah’s prophecy | 1:1–18 | |
| Elijah and Elisha | 2:1–25 | |
| Evaluation of Jehoram (Israel) | 3:1–3 | |
| Moab rebels | 3:4–27 | |
| The widow’s oil | 4:1–7 | |
| The Shunammite woman | 4:8–37 | |
| Miracles for the prophets | 4:38–44 | |
| Naaman healed | 5:1–27 | |
| The axe head recovered | 6:1–7 | |
| Chariots of fire | 6:8–23 | |
| Siege of Samaria | 6:24–7:20 | |
| Shunammite’s land restored | 8:1–6 | |
| Hazael kills Ben-hadad | 8:7–15 | |
| Evaluation of Jehoram (Judah) | 21:1–7 | 8:16–19 |
| Edom and Libnah rebel | 21:8–11 | 8:20–22 |
| Warning of Elijah | 21:12–15 | |
| Invasion of Philistia and Arabia | 21:16–17 | |
| Death of Jehoram | 21:18–20 | 8:23–24 |
| Reign of Ahaziah (Judah) | 22:1–9 | 8:25–29; 9:15–16, 27–28; 10:12–14 |
| Reign of Jehu (Israel) | 22:7–9 | 9:1–10:36 |
| Reign of Athaliah (Judah) | 22:10–23:15 | 11:1–16 |
| Jehoiada’s reforms (Judah) | 23:16–21 | 11:17–20 |
| Evaluation of Joash (Judah) | 24:1–3 | 11:21–12:3 |
| Joash repairs the temple | 24:4–14 | 12:4–16 |
| Death of Jehoiada | 24:15–16 | |
| Jehoiada’s son killed | 24:17–22 | |
| Syria invades Judah | 24:23–24 | 12:17–18 |
| Death of Joash | 24:25–27 | 12:19–21 |
| Reign of Jehoahaz (Israel) | 13:1–9 | |
| Reign of Jehoash (Israel) | 13:10–13 | |
| Elisha’s final prophecy and death | 13:14–25 | |
| Reign of Amaziah (Judah) | 25:1–16 | 14:1–20 |
| Israel defeats Judah | 25:17–24 | 14:8–14 |
| Death of Amaziah | 25:25–28 | 14:17–20 |
| Evaluation of Uzziah (Judah) | 26:1–5 | 14:21–22; 15:1–5 |
| Reign of Jeroboam II (Israel) | 14:23–29 | |
| Victories of Uzziah | 26:6–15 | |
| Sinful offering of Uzziah | 26:16–21 | |
| Death of Uzziah | 26:22–23 | 15:6–7 |
| Reign of Zechariah (Israel) | 15:8–12 | |
| Reign of Shallum (Israel) | 15:13–16 | |
| Reign of Menahem (Israel) | 15:17–22 | |
| Reign of Pekahiah (Israel) | 15:23–26 | |
| Reign of Pekah (Israel) | 15:27–31 | |
| Reign of Jotham (Judah) | 27:1–9 | 15:32–38 |
| Evaluation of Ahaz (Judah) | 28:1–4 | 16:1–4 |
| Israel defeats Judah | 28:5–21 | 16:5–9 |
| Ahaz’s idolatry and death | 28:22–27 | 16:10–12 |
| Fall of Israel | 17:1–23 | |
| Resettlement of Israel | 17:24–41 | |
| Evaluation of Hezekiah (Judah) | 29:1–2 | 18:1–8 |
| Hezekiah cleanses the temple | 29:3–19 | |
| Hezekiah restores temple worship | 29:20–36 | |
| Hezekiah restores Passover | 30:1–27 | |
| Hezekiah destroys idols, organizes priests | 31:1–21 | |
| Fall of Israel (restated) | 18:9–12 | |
| Assyria invades Judah | 32:1–23 | 18:13–19:37 |
| Hezekiah’s illness and restoration | 32:24–26 | 20:1–11 |
| Hezekiah’s wealth and foolish pride | 32:27–31 | 20:12–19 |
| Death of Hezekiah | 32:32–33 | 20:20–21 |
| Reign of Manasseh (Judah) | 33:1–9 | 21:1–18 |
| Manasseh’s repentance | 33:10–20 | |
| Reign of Amon (Judah) | 33:21–25 | 21:19–26 |
| Evaluation of Josiah (Judah) | 34:1–2 | 22:1–2 |
| Josiah’s early reforms | 34:3–7 | |
| Josiah repairs the temple | 34:8–13 | 22:3–7 |
| Book of Law discovered; Josiah’s reforms | 34:14–33 | 22:8–23:20 |
| Passover celebrated | 35:1–19 | 23:21–27 |
| Death of Josiah | 35:20–27 | 23:28–30 |
| Reign of Jehoahaz (Judah) | 36:1–3 | 23:31–33 |
| Reign of Jehoiakim (Judah) | 36:4–8 | 23:34–24:7 |
| Reign of Jehoiachin (Judah); Babylonian captivity | 36:9–10 | 24:8–17 |
| Evaluation of Zedekiah (Judah) | 36:11–12 | 24:18–20 |
| Destruction of Jerusalem | 36:13–21 | 25:1–21 |
| Remnant flees to Egypt | 25:22–26 | |
| Jehoiachin released | 25:27–30 | |
| Proclamation by Cyrus | 36:22–23 |
Abishai
Abishai was David’s nephew and became the commander of David’s “thirty men.” Like his brothers Joab and Asahel, Abishai was a loyal but ruthless warrior. He killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He urged David to allow him to kill Saul, but David refused to let him kill “the LORD’s anointed” (1 Sam. 26:8–9). He fought alongside his brothers at the Battle of Gibeon, where Abner killed Asahel. Abishai later helped Joab kill Abner in revenge. When Shimei cursed David, Abishai thought he should be put to death, but again David refused his request. He helped lead David’s troops against Absalom, and again fought for David when Sheba led a rebellion against him. Abishai also saved David’s life by killing the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob. (2 Samuel 23:18–19)
1 Sam 26:1 The Ziphites are no happier to have David among them now than they were in 23:19.
1 Sam 26:6 Ahimelech the Hittite is mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. He may have been a hired warrior. Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah. Zeruiah was David’s sister (1 Chron. 2:16–17), so Joab and Abishai were David’s nephews. For more on David’s family relationships, see note on 2 Sam. 2:13.
Abishai
Abishai was David’s nephew and became the commander of David’s “thirty men.” Like his brothers Joab and Asahel, Abishai was a loyal but ruthless warrior. He killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He urged David to allow him to kill Saul, but David refused to let him kill “the LORD’s anointed” (1 Sam. 26:8–9). He fought alongside his brothers at the Battle of Gibeon, where Abner killed Asahel. Abishai later helped Joab kill Abner in revenge. When Shimei cursed David, Abishai thought he should be put to death, but again David refused his request. He helped lead David’s troops against Absalom, and again fought for David when Sheba led a rebellion against him. Abishai also saved David’s life by killing the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob. (2 Samuel 23:18–19)
1 Sam 26:11–12 “take now the spear. . . .” So David took the spear. The narrator can say that David “took the spear” because David was the one who ordered it to be taken (“take now the spear”).
1 Sam 26:16 you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord. David uses the plural “you.” He is accusing Saul’s men as a group.
Fact: “Go, serve other gods.”
“Go, serve other gods.” Telling a fellow Israelite to go and serve other gods (26:19) was a capital offense against the Lord. For non-Israelites, it was a commonly accepted practice to serve the gods of the nation where one lived, regardless of one’s own national gods.
1 Sam 26:19–20 they have driven me out this day. David has concluded that he can no longer stay in Israel. Partridge is literally a “calling [bird].” Abner had asked who was “calling” the king (v. 14), so, perhaps humorously, David compares himself to a partridge being hunted down by Saul.
1 Sam 21:1–26:25 David begins his life as a fugitive. He moves around from place to place, gathering a group of 400 men, which later increases to 600. Saul is single-minded in his determination to kill David. He destroys the priests of Nob for innocently aiding David, and whenever he gets some firm news of David, he pursues him with his whole army. David continues to respect Saul as king and does not kill him, even when he apparently has God-sent opportunities to do so.
1 Sam 24:1–26:25 The three episodes in the next three chapters all have the same theme: David, who as a warrior has already killed many of the Lord’s enemies, should not kill for his own advantage. He should let the Lord act for him.
1 Sam 26:1–25 This chapter resembles ch. 24, but there are too many differences to think that they are simply different versions of the same event.
1 Sam 27:5 let a place be given me in one of the country towns. David probably wanted to get away from Gath so he could act freely, without interference.
1 Sam 27:6 Ziklag may have been some distance from Gath, but the cities nearer to Gath probably belonged to other foreigners serving Achish, a fact that David must have been well aware of when he made his request.
1 Sam 27:8 The Geshurites are those living near the Philistines (Josh. 13:2), not the Geshurites living near Bashan (Josh. 13:11). The Girzites are not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. The Amalekites mentioned in these chapters lived in the south, toward the Egyptian border.
1 Sam 27:1–12 Here, as in 21:10, David goes to the Philistine city of Gath as a mercenary. Whereas before he went anonymously and alone, here he goes in his own name, accompanied by his 600 men and their families. As he said in 26:19, he has finally concluded that he can no longer stay in Israel. Though he is the rightful king, he must remain a while longer in exile. To stay in good favor with the Philistines, David must pretend to be attacking Israel (27:8–12).
1 Sam 27:10–12 The Negeb was the area east and west of Beersheba and north of Kadesh-barnea. David would tell Achish that he attacked Judahite, Jerahmeelite, or Kenite settlements in the area. This would leave the impression that he was attacking the outposts of Israel itself and thus was loyal to the Philistines. Achish trusted David. The deception worked.
1 Sam 28:1–2 After David has been with Achish for over a year, the Philistines decide to attack Israel. Apparently they wanted to gain control over the northern Jezreel Valley, a wide, agriculturally rich plain. you and your men are to go out with me. David, as a paid soldier for Achish, is naturally expected to participate in the attack.
1 Sam 28:3–4 Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. Mosaic laws forbade mediums and necromancers, who consult the spirits of the dead, as well as other forms of divination (Lev. 19:31; 20:27). Saul’s action in banishing them shows that he knows this, yet now he will go ahead and consult a medium anyway.
1 Sam 28:6 By dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets were the allowable means of determining the will of the Lord. The LORD did not answer because he had rejected Saul from being king (15:23).
1 Sam 28:7–8 En-dor was 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northeast of Shunem, where the Philistines were encamped, so it was on the other side of the enemy from Saul. He was risking his life by going there, so he disguised himself and went by night.
1 Sam 28:12 she cried out with a loud voice. Perhaps Samuel’s appearance surprised the woman and she realized something was happening outside of her control. Readers are not told how the woman realized who Saul was.
1 Sam 28:13–14 A god is a term used of the spirits of the dead in ancient Near Eastern texts.
Fact: What is Sheol
What is Sheol? In the OT, Sheol (7:9–10) is where the dead reside. It is a place of rest for believers (1 Sam. 28:14), but a place of punishment for the wicked (Isa. 14:3–23).
1 Sam 28:15–19 Then Samuel said to Saul. The Bible text assumes that the spirit raised by the medium really is Samuel. He is called “Samuel” in vv. 15–16. He speaks much as he had spoken to Saul during his lifetime (compare vv. 16–18 with 15:18, 26–28: in both places, Samuel describes David as Saul’s “neighbor”). He uses the name of the LORD seven times, and adds the true prophecy that Saul and his sons will die. An evil spirit would not deliver a true prophecy or true words to Saul, as Samuel does here. That the woman’s actions brought Samuel up is implied by 28:15, Why have you disturbed me? Therefore, whatever the limits on a medium’s power normally were, in this case the Lord let her raise the spirit of Samuel himself.
1 Sam 28:19 Be with me may simply mean that Saul will die. Some think it implies that Saul’s spirit will join Samuel’s in the place of the dead, perhaps even among those whose sins are forgiven.
1 Sam 28:24 A fattened calf is a stall-fed calf that was being prepared for eating, rather than a pasture-fed calf.
Fact: How is a fattened calf different from a regular calf?
How is a fattened calf different from a regular calf? A fattened calf (28:24) was one that had been set aside for a special occasion. While most cattle simply grazed in fields, these select animals were fed in a stall. The extra food and the inability to roam freely meant that they would gain more weight.
1 Sam 28:3–25 The story now shifts to King Saul’s visit to the medium at En-dor and returns to David and the Philistines in 29:1. Saul faces overwhelming odds as the Philistines prepare to attack. In desperation he apparently decides that the only one who can guide him is the deceased prophet Samuel. This account shows that in some circumstances a medium may be able to contact the dead, but it stresses the wrongness of the practice. First Chronicles mentions this incident as one reason for Saul’s death (1 Chron. 10:13–14).
1 Sam 28:25 Saul went away, back to Gilboa. Saul apparently accepted that his death was the unchangeable will of the Lord. He does not try to escape the battle on the next day.
Fact: En-dor
En-dor (83:10) is perhaps most famous for being home to a spiritual medium whom Saul consulted on the eve of his final battle (1 Sam. 28:7–25).
What is the power of the medium that Saul consults?
Listen NowDive Deeper | 1 Samuel 26-28
Welcome to three of the wildest chapters in 1 Samuel. We have Saul attempting to take David's life (again), David fleeing to a foreign enemy's land (again), and Saul summoning Samuel from the dead. As you've journeyed through 1 Samuel, I hope you've noticed how the author is frequently trying to draw a comparison between Saul and David, but as we'll see in these chapters and in 2 Samuel, the author is showing us an even greater comparison: David and Jesus. Let's see how!
After another attempt on his life, David decides that he will flee to the Philistines. While commentaries differ on the reasoning for David's decision, they agree that, at this moment, David's faith falters. He is weary and tired of being chased and hunted. Fair. He decides to dwell in a foreign nation's land, particularly a nation that is an enemy of Israel. While there, David is granted a portion of land and deceives the king by telling him that David is attacking Israel while he is actually attacking the enemies of Israel.
By this point in the reading you may be asking, "Is David doing what God has asked him to do? Or is he going rogue? And did he just lie?" While God does command Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the land (Deuteronomy 20:10-18), and specifically the nations David attacks (Joshua 13, 16; 1 Samuel 15), David seems to be acting of his accord, not obeying God's provided instructions and simultaneously lying to the king.
While we know that David is a man after God's own heart, what we learn and will continue to learn as we study 2 Samuel is that David is still a sinful, fallen man who is not the perfect king or savior for Israel. The primary difference between Saul and David is that David continues to have "a broken and contrite heart" (Psalm 51:17) over his sin, while Saul persists in his. No matter how truly repentant David is over his sin, nonetheless, he still leaves us longing for the rightful King. Our King Jesus, the better David.
This month's memory verse
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
– 1 Samuel 16:7
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think David fled to the Philistines? Was it out of wisdom and prudence or out of fear?
2. Is there any area in your life in which you operate out of fear and self-protection? How does this story (and all of 1 Samuel) encourage you to trust God instead of self?
3. Are there any psalms that come to mind as you think about David's life and how he strengthened himself in the Lord in moments of distress? I'd encourage you to reflect on those psalms today.
4. What are some of the comparisons between Saul and David that we see in this passage?
5. Do you see an emphasis in these chapters on things happening "at night"? If so, why do you think the author includes these details? What does that communicate to us about Saul's actions?