WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.120 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.597 Day 100 and 95 00:00:05.152 --> 00:00:08.982 now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah, to tell him, 00:00:09.392 --> 00:00:14.022 David is hiding on the hill of Hekilah, which overlooks Jeshimon. 00:00:14.722 --> 00:00:18.922 So Saul took three thousand of Israel's elite troops, and went to hunt him 00:00:18.922 --> 00:00:20.652 down in the wilderness of Ziph. 00:00:21.382 --> 00:00:25.532 Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hekilah, near Jeshimon. 00:00:27.627 --> 00:00:30.507 When David learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 00:00:30.857 --> 00:00:34.167 he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul's arrival. 00:00:35.057 --> 00:00:38.277 David slipped over to Saul's camp one night to look around. 00:00:38.997 --> 00:00:44.397 Saul and Abner, son of Nur, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a 00:00:44.397 --> 00:00:47.087 ring formed by the slumbering warriors. 00:00:47.817 --> 00:00:49.927 Who will volunteer to go in there with me? 00:00:50.632 --> 00:00:56.672 David asked Ahimelech, the Hittite, and Abishai, son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother. 00:00:57.702 --> 00:01:00.082 I'll go with you, Abishai replied. 00:01:00.822 --> 00:01:06.422 So David and Abishai went right into Saul's camp and found him asleep, with his 00:01:06.422 --> 00:01:08.482 spear stuck in the ground beside his head. 00:01:09.362 --> 00:01:12.402 Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. 00:01:13.272 --> 00:01:16.772 God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time. 00:01:17.267 --> 00:01:20.627 Abishai whispered to David, Let me pin him to the ground 00:01:20.627 --> 00:01:22.127 with one thrust of the spear. 00:01:22.307 --> 00:01:23.927 I won't need to strike twice. 00:01:24.647 --> 00:01:27.737 No, David said, don't kill him. 00:01:28.357 --> 00:01:31.787 For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord's anointed one? 00:01:32.457 --> 00:01:35.147 Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday. 00:01:35.427 --> 00:01:37.787 Or he will die of old age or in battle. 00:01:38.327 --> 00:01:42.117 The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed. 00:01:42.777 --> 00:01:45.867 But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, 00:01:46.257 --> 00:01:47.647 and then let's get out of here. 00:01:48.647 --> 00:01:52.287 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul's head. 00:01:52.887 --> 00:01:57.027 Then he and Abishai got away, without anyone seeing them or even 00:01:57.027 --> 00:02:01.017 waking up, because the Lord had put Saul's men into a deep sleep. 00:02:02.177 --> 00:02:06.697 David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. 00:02:07.177 --> 00:02:12.187 Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner, son of Ner, Wake up, Abner! 00:02:12.997 --> 00:02:13.647 Who is it? 00:02:14.002 --> 00:02:14.892 Abner demanded. 00:02:15.572 --> 00:02:18.872 Well, Abner, you're a great man, aren't you? 00:02:19.262 --> 00:02:20.142 David taunted. 00:02:20.732 --> 00:02:23.812 Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? 00:02:24.372 --> 00:02:28.322 So why haven't you guarded your master, the king, when someone came to kill him? 00:02:29.052 --> 00:02:30.312 This isn't good at all. 00:02:30.822 --> 00:02:35.612 I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die because you failed to 00:02:35.612 --> 00:02:37.742 protect your master, the Lord's anointed. 00:02:38.262 --> 00:02:39.042 Look around. 00:02:39.472 --> 00:02:43.522 Where are the king's spear and the jug of water that were beside his head? 00:02:44.652 --> 00:02:49.362 Saul recognized David's voice and called out, Is that you, my son David? 00:02:50.082 --> 00:02:52.872 And David replied, Yes, my lord the king. 00:02:53.622 --> 00:02:55.172 Why are you chasing me? 00:02:55.562 --> 00:02:56.652 What have I done? 00:02:57.072 --> 00:02:58.302 What is my crime? 00:02:58.932 --> 00:03:02.562 But now, let my lord the king listen to his servant. 00:03:03.092 --> 00:03:07.532 If the lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. 00:03:08.182 --> 00:03:13.562 But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the lord. 00:03:13.957 --> 00:03:17.027 For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer 00:03:17.027 --> 00:03:18.407 live among the Lord's people. 00:03:18.717 --> 00:03:22.057 And they have said, Go, worship pagan gods. 00:03:23.037 --> 00:03:27.387 Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? 00:03:27.907 --> 00:03:31.927 Why has the King of Israel come out to search for a single flea? 00:03:32.537 --> 00:03:35.657 Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains? 00:03:36.667 --> 00:03:39.467 Then Saul confessed, I have sinned. 00:03:40.007 --> 00:03:41.517 Come back home, my son. 00:03:41.887 --> 00:03:45.707 And I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. 00:03:46.367 --> 00:03:49.357 I have been a fool and very, very wrong. 00:03:50.527 --> 00:03:53.697 Here is your spear, O king, David replied. 00:03:54.237 --> 00:03:56.857 Let one of your young men come over and get it. 00:03:57.497 --> 00:04:01.467 The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and 00:04:01.467 --> 00:04:05.717 I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for 00:04:05.717 --> 00:04:07.527 you are the Lord's anointed one. 00:04:08.627 --> 00:04:13.017 Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. 00:04:13.597 --> 00:04:15.947 May he rescue me from all my troubles. 00:04:17.037 --> 00:04:20.797 And Saul said to David, Blessings on you, my son David. 00:04:21.457 --> 00:04:25.437 You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed. 00:04:26.577 --> 00:04:29.727 Then David went away, and Saul returned home. 00:04:31.807 --> 00:04:36.567 But David kept thinking to himself, Someday, Saul is going to get me. 00:04:37.297 --> 00:04:40.297 The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. 00:04:40.927 --> 00:04:44.157 Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, 00:04:44.607 --> 00:04:46.197 and I will finally be safe. 00:04:47.367 --> 00:04:51.587 So David took his six hundred men and went over and joined Achish, 00:04:51.587 --> 00:04:53.497 son of Maok, the king of Gath. 00:04:54.437 --> 00:04:58.007 David and his men and their families settled there with Achish at Gath. 00:04:58.937 --> 00:05:03.567 David brought his two wives with him, Ahinoam from Jezreel, and 00:05:03.577 --> 00:05:05.977 Abigail, Nabal's widow from Carmel. 00:05:06.977 --> 00:05:09.967 Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath. 00:05:10.362 --> 00:05:11.832 So he stopped hunting for him. 00:05:13.122 --> 00:05:17.612 One day David said to Achish, If it is alright with you, we would rather 00:05:17.612 --> 00:05:21.192 live in one of the country towns instead of here in the royal city. 00:05:22.322 --> 00:05:26.222 So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag, which still belongs to 00:05:26.222 --> 00:05:27.982 the kings of Judah to this day. 00:05:28.472 --> 00:05:32.402 And they lived there among the Philistines for a year and four months. 00:05:33.347 --> 00:05:37.027 David and his men spent their time raiding the Gesherites, the 00:05:37.027 --> 00:05:41.867 Gerzites, and the Amalekites, people who had lived near shore toward the 00:05:41.867 --> 00:05:44.247 land of Egypt since ancient times. 00:05:45.017 --> 00:05:48.537 David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. 00:05:48.967 --> 00:05:55.087 He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before 00:05:55.087 --> 00:05:57.257 returning home to see King Achish. 00:05:58.317 --> 00:06:02.847 Where did you make your raid today, Akish would ask, and David would 00:06:02.847 --> 00:06:07.797 reply, against the south of Judah, the Jerameelites and the Kenites. 00:06:08.667 --> 00:06:13.247 No one was left alive to come to Gath and tell where he had really been. 00:06:13.817 --> 00:06:17.527 This happened again and again while he was living among the Philistines. 00:06:18.327 --> 00:06:22.597 Akish believed David and thought to himself, by now the people of 00:06:22.627 --> 00:06:24.397 Israel must hate him bitterly. 00:06:24.867 --> 00:06:28.407 Now he will have to stay here and serve me forever. 00:06:29.937 --> 00:06:34.617 About that time, the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. 00:06:35.307 --> 00:06:40.147 King Achish told David, You and your men will be expected to join me in battle. 00:06:41.017 --> 00:06:42.737 Very well, David agreed. 00:06:43.197 --> 00:06:45.447 Now you will see for yourself what we can do. 00:06:46.427 --> 00:06:51.247 Then Achish told David, I will make you my personal bodyguard for life. 00:06:52.302 --> 00:06:56.622 Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. 00:06:57.182 --> 00:06:59.672 He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. 00:07:00.392 --> 00:07:04.522 And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who 00:07:04.522 --> 00:07:06.152 consult the spirits of the dead. 00:07:07.432 --> 00:07:11.782 The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the 00:07:11.782 --> 00:07:14.262 army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. 00:07:15.022 --> 00:07:19.632 When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. 00:07:20.272 --> 00:07:24.532 He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him. 00:07:24.867 --> 00:07:28.707 Either by dreams, or by sacred lots, or by the prophets. 00:07:29.297 --> 00:07:33.577 Saul then said to his advisers, Find a woman who is a medium, so 00:07:33.577 --> 00:07:35.537 I can go and ask her what to do. 00:07:36.407 --> 00:07:40.037 His advisers replied, There is a medium at Endor. 00:07:40.627 --> 00:07:43.967 So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing 00:07:43.967 --> 00:07:45.432 instead of his royal robes. 00:07:45.942 --> 00:07:49.842 Then he went to the woman's home at night, accompanied by two of his men. 00:07:50.782 --> 00:07:53.712 I have to talk to a man who has died, he said. 00:07:54.282 --> 00:07:56.292 Will you call up his spirit for me? 00:07:57.282 --> 00:07:58.932 Are you trying to get me killed? 00:07:59.337 --> 00:08:04.127 The woman demanded, You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all 00:08:04.137 --> 00:08:05.787 who consult the spirits of the dead. 00:08:06.207 --> 00:08:07.957 Why are you setting a trap for me? 00:08:08.907 --> 00:08:12.717 But Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord and promised, As surely 00:08:12.717 --> 00:08:16.287 as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this. 00:08:17.177 --> 00:08:21.827 Finally, the woman said, Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up? 00:08:22.947 --> 00:08:24.007 Call up Samuel. 00:08:24.277 --> 00:08:25.107 Saul replied. 00:08:26.067 --> 00:08:29.717 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, You've deceived me! 00:08:29.807 --> 00:08:31.017 You are Saul! 00:08:31.737 --> 00:08:32.697 Don't be afraid! 00:08:33.087 --> 00:08:35.127 The king told her, What do you see? 00:08:36.127 --> 00:08:39.537 I see a god coming up out of the earth, she said. 00:08:40.217 --> 00:08:41.347 What does he look like? 00:08:41.637 --> 00:08:42.407 Saul asked. 00:08:43.247 --> 00:08:46.667 He is an old man wrapped in a robe, she replied. 00:08:47.457 --> 00:08:51.007 Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him. 00:08:52.197 --> 00:08:54.437 Why have you disturbed me by calling me back? 00:08:55.082 --> 00:08:59.492 Samuel asked Saul, Because I am in deep trouble, Saul replied. 00:09:00.032 --> 00:09:04.022 The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won't reply 00:09:04.032 --> 00:09:08.162 by prophets or dreams, so I have called for you to tell me what to do. 00:09:09.442 --> 00:09:14.242 But Samuel replied, Why ask me, since the Lord has left 00:09:14.242 --> 00:09:15.712 you and has become your enemy? 00:09:16.342 --> 00:09:18.802 The Lord has done just as he said he would. 00:09:19.762 --> 00:09:23.582 He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. 00:09:24.292 --> 00:09:28.422 The Lord has done this to you today because you refuse to carry out his 00:09:28.422 --> 00:09:30.522 fierce anger against the Amalekites. 00:09:31.142 --> 00:09:35.172 What's more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to 00:09:35.172 --> 00:09:39.202 the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. 00:09:39.962 --> 00:09:44.522 The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat. 00:09:45.712 --> 00:09:49.382 Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright 00:09:49.412 --> 00:09:50.812 because of Samuel's words. 00:09:51.572 --> 00:09:55.772 He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 00:09:56.912 --> 00:10:02.082 When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, Sir, I obeyed your command at 00:10:02.082 --> 00:10:07.437 the Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can 00:10:07.437 --> 00:10:09.447 regain your strength for the trip back. 00:10:10.527 --> 00:10:12.277 But Saul refused to eat anything. 00:10:13.237 --> 00:10:16.197 Then his advisors joined the woman in urging him to eat. 00:10:16.617 --> 00:10:20.707 So he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch. 00:10:21.717 --> 00:10:25.587 The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. 00:10:26.217 --> 00:10:30.667 She took some flour, kneaded it into dough, and baked unleavened bread. 00:10:31.297 --> 00:10:34.587 She brought the meal to Saul and his advisors, and they ate it. 00:10:35.242 --> 00:10:36.792 Then they went out into the night. 00:10:37.852 --> 00:10:40.692 This concludes today's Immerse Reading Experience. 00:10:40.842 --> 00:10:41.872 Thank you for joining us.