WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.677 Day 100 and 92 00:00:05.170 --> 00:00:08.320 when the Victoria's Israelite army was returning home after 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:09.940 David had killed the Philistine. 00:00:10.420 --> 00:00:14.200 Women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. 00:00:14.820 --> 00:00:18.240 They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and symbols. 00:00:18.775 --> 00:00:19.975 This was their song. 00:00:20.825 --> 00:00:25.505 Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 00:00:26.535 --> 00:00:28.325 This made Saul very angry. 00:00:28.785 --> 00:00:29.605 What's this? 00:00:29.855 --> 00:00:30.365 he said. 00:00:30.885 --> 00:00:35.245 They credit David with ten thousands, and me with only thousands? 00:00:35.685 --> 00:00:37.615 Next they'll be making him their king. 00:00:38.495 --> 00:00:42.665 So from that time on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 00:00:43.575 --> 00:00:48.535 The very next day, a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began 00:00:48.535 --> 00:00:50.685 to rave in his house like a madman. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:56.300 David was playing the harp as he did each day, but Saul had a spear in his 00:00:56.300 --> 00:01:00.770 hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the 00:01:00.770 --> 00:01:03.680 wall, but David escaped him twice. 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:08.370 Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David, 00:01:08.490 --> 00:01:10.140 and had turned away from Saul. 00:01:10.970 --> 00:01:13.065 Finally, Saul sent him away. 00:01:13.265 --> 00:01:17.885 And appointed him commander over 1, 000 men, and David faithfully 00:01:17.885 --> 00:01:19.325 led his troops into battle. 00:01:20.625 --> 00:01:24.715 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. 00:01:25.275 --> 00:01:29.085 When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him. 00:01:29.865 --> 00:01:34.415 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was so successful 00:01:34.415 --> 00:01:36.285 at leading his troops into battle. 00:01:37.785 --> 00:01:41.665 One day Saul said to David, I am ready to give you my older 00:01:41.665 --> 00:01:43.655 daughter, Merab, as your wife. 00:01:44.265 --> 00:01:47.415 But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior 00:01:47.415 --> 00:01:49.135 by fighting the Lord's battles. 00:01:49.725 --> 00:01:54.305 For Saul thought, I'll send him out against the Philistines and let them 00:01:54.305 --> 00:01:56.365 kill him rather than doing it myself. 00:01:57.685 --> 00:01:58.515 Who am I? 00:01:58.515 --> 00:02:02.845 And what is my family in Israel that I should be the king's son in law? 00:02:03.245 --> 00:02:04.155 David exclaimed. 00:02:04.775 --> 00:02:06.775 My father's family is nothing. 00:02:07.575 --> 00:02:11.975 So, when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage 00:02:12.005 --> 00:02:17.385 to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah. 00:02:18.695 --> 00:02:24.125 In the meantime, Saul's daughter Michael had fallen in love with David, and Saul 00:02:24.125 --> 00:02:25.925 was delighted when he heard about it. 00:02:26.585 --> 00:02:29.795 Here's another chance to see him killed by the Philistines. 00:02:30.230 --> 00:02:34.930 Saul said to himself, But to David he said, Today you have a second 00:02:34.940 --> 00:02:36.790 chance to become my son in law. 00:02:37.880 --> 00:02:43.190 Then Saul told his men to say to David, The king really likes you, and so do we. 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:47.140 Why don't you accept the king's offer and become his son in law? 00:02:48.370 --> 00:02:53.320 When Saul's men said these things to David, He replied, How can a poor man 00:02:53.330 --> 00:02:57.160 from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king? 00:02:58.380 --> 00:03:02.660 When Saul's men reported this back to the king, He told them, Tell 00:03:02.660 --> 00:03:07.790 David that all I want for the bride price is 100 Philistine foreskins. 00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:11.190 Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want. 00:03:11.990 --> 00:03:16.100 But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight. 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:19.320 David was delighted to accept the offer. 00:03:19.725 --> 00:03:23.155 Before the time limit expired, he and his men went out and 00:03:23.155 --> 00:03:25.005 killed two hundred Philistines. 00:03:25.695 --> 00:03:28.995 Then David fulfilled the king's requirement by presenting 00:03:29.025 --> 00:03:30.755 all their four skins to him. 00:03:31.925 --> 00:03:35.795 So Saul gave his daughter Michael to David to be his wife. 00:03:36.845 --> 00:03:40.895 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter 00:03:40.895 --> 00:03:45.960 Michael loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.250 David's enemy for the rest of his life. 00:03:49.370 --> 00:03:52.640 Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was 00:03:52.650 --> 00:03:56.130 more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's officers, 00:03:56.740 --> 00:03:59.360 so David's name became very famous. 00:04:01.030 --> 00:04:05.910 Saul now urged his servants, and his son Jonathan, to assassinate David. 00:04:06.650 --> 00:04:10.410 But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David, told 00:04:10.410 --> 00:04:11.980 him what his father was planning. 00:04:12.720 --> 00:04:17.540 Tomorrow morning, he warned him, you must find a hiding place out in the fields. 00:04:18.010 --> 00:04:21.990 I'll ask my father to go out there with me, and I'll talk to him about you. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:24.960 Then I'll tell you everything I can find out. 00:04:26.410 --> 00:04:29.530 The next morning, Jonathan spoke with his father about David, 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:31.660 saying many good things about him. 00:04:32.430 --> 00:04:35.040 The king must not sin against his servant David. 00:04:35.340 --> 00:04:38.690 Jonathan said, He's never done anything to harm you. 00:04:39.080 --> 00:04:41.770 He has always helped you in any way he could. 00:04:42.280 --> 00:04:46.510 Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine 00:04:46.520 --> 00:04:51.070 giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? 00:04:51.765 --> 00:04:53.735 You were certainly happy about it then. 00:04:54.325 --> 00:04:57.065 Why should you murder an innocent man like David? 00:04:57.255 --> 00:04:59.205 There is no reason for it at all. 00:05:00.355 --> 00:05:04.305 So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, As surely as the Lord 00:05:04.305 --> 00:05:06.655 lives, David will not be killed. 00:05:07.825 --> 00:05:11.235 Afterward, Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. 00:05:11.865 --> 00:05:13.465 Then he brought David Philistines. 00:05:22.590 --> 00:05:25.800 He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away. 00:05:26.850 --> 00:05:31.240 But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:34.900 tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. 00:05:35.820 --> 00:05:39.860 As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. 00:05:40.430 --> 00:05:44.340 But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, 00:05:44.710 --> 00:05:47.170 he fled and escaped into the night. 00:05:48.730 --> 00:05:51.480 Then Saul sent troops to watch David's house. 00:05:51.950 --> 00:05:54.850 They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. 00:05:55.610 --> 00:05:59.590 But Michael, David's wife, warned him, If you don't escape tonight, 00:05:59.820 --> 00:06:01.230 you will be dead by morning. 00:06:02.050 --> 00:06:04.310 So she helped him climb out through a window. 00:06:04.550 --> 00:06:06.190 And he fled and escaped. 00:06:07.170 --> 00:06:11.710 Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put 00:06:11.710 --> 00:06:13.650 a cushion of goat's hair at its head. 00:06:14.650 --> 00:06:17.780 When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick 00:06:17.780 --> 00:06:19.000 and couldn't get out of bed. 00:06:19.930 --> 00:06:22.490 But Saul sent the troops back to get David. 00:06:22.845 --> 00:06:26.785 He ordered, bring him to me in his bed so I can kill him. 00:06:27.765 --> 00:06:30.805 But when they came to carry David out, they discovered that it was 00:06:30.815 --> 00:06:34.885 only an idol in the bed, with a cushion of goat's hair at his head. 00:06:35.835 --> 00:06:39.055 Why have you betrayed me like this and let my enemy escape? 00:06:39.425 --> 00:06:40.875 Saul demanded of Michael. 00:06:41.765 --> 00:06:44.015 I had to, Michael replied. 00:06:44.605 --> 00:06:46.825 He threatened to kill me if I didn't help him. 00:06:48.385 --> 00:06:51.625 So David escaped and went to Ramah to see Samuel. 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:54.500 And he told him all that Saul had done to him. 00:06:55.450 --> 00:06:58.240 Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naoth. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:02.630 When the report reached Saul that David was at Naoth and Ramah, 00:07:03.050 --> 00:07:04.780 he sent troops to capture him. 00:07:05.760 --> 00:07:08.930 But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets 00:07:08.930 --> 00:07:12.850 who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men. 00:07:13.185 --> 00:07:15.135 And they also began to prophesy. 00:07:15.945 --> 00:07:20.595 When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied. 00:07:21.375 --> 00:07:23.605 The same thing happened a third time. 00:07:24.355 --> 00:07:29.545 Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah and arrived at the great well in Sikiu. 00:07:30.275 --> 00:07:32.165 Where are Samuel and David? 00:07:32.485 --> 00:07:33.215 he demanded. 00:07:33.985 --> 00:07:36.775 They are at Naoth in Ramah, someone told him. 00:07:37.875 --> 00:07:42.775 But on the way to Naoth in Ramah, the Spirit of God came even upon Saul. 00:07:43.090 --> 00:07:46.230 And he, too, began to prophesy all the way to Naoth. 00:07:46.870 --> 00:07:51.220 He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.690 prophesying in the presence of Samuel. 00:07:54.370 --> 00:07:56.950 The people who were watching exclaimed, What? 00:07:57.370 --> 00:07:59.160 Is even Saul a prophet? 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:04.220 David now fled from Naoth and Ramah and found Jonathan. 00:08:04.925 --> 00:08:05.975 What have I done? 00:08:06.365 --> 00:08:07.165 He exclaimed. 00:08:07.605 --> 00:08:08.765 What is my crime? 00:08:09.165 --> 00:08:13.175 How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me? 00:08:13.925 --> 00:08:16.435 That's not true, Jonathan protested. 00:08:16.815 --> 00:08:18.245 You're not going to die. 00:08:18.615 --> 00:08:22.165 He always tells me everything he's going to do, even the little things. 00:08:22.750 --> 00:08:25.610 I know my father wouldn't hide something like this from me. 00:08:25.790 --> 00:08:27.060 It just isn't so. 00:08:28.260 --> 00:08:32.400 Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, Your father knows 00:08:32.420 --> 00:08:34.170 perfectly well about our friendship. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.490 So he has said to himself, I won't tell Jonathan. 00:08:37.660 --> 00:08:38.940 Why should I hurt him? 00:08:39.680 --> 00:08:43.800 But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death. 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:47.450 I swear it by the Lord and by your own soul. 00:08:48.450 --> 00:08:50.010 Tell me what I can do to help you. 00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:51.530 Jonathan exclaimed. 00:08:52.630 --> 00:08:56.575 David replied, Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. 00:08:57.185 --> 00:09:00.965 I've always eaten with the king on this occasion, but tomorrow I'll 00:09:00.965 --> 00:09:04.765 hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day. 00:09:05.695 --> 00:09:10.025 If your father asks where I am, tell him I asked permission to go home to 00:09:10.025 --> 00:09:12.275 Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.290 If he says, fine, you will know all is well. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:21.640 But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me. 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:28.370 Show me this loyalty as my sworn friend, for we made a solemn pact before the Lord. 00:09:28.810 --> 00:09:31.900 Or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father, but 00:09:31.910 --> 00:09:34.430 please, don't betray me to him. 00:09:35.510 --> 00:09:37.490 Never, Jonathan exclaimed. 00:09:38.130 --> 00:09:41.870 You know that if I had the slightest notion my father was planning to 00:09:41.870 --> 00:09:43.880 kill you, I would tell you at once. 00:09:44.845 --> 00:09:48.995 Then David asked, How will I know whether or not your father is angry? 00:09:49.935 --> 00:09:52.525 Come out to the field with me, Jonathan replied. 00:09:53.075 --> 00:09:54.515 And they went out there together. 00:09:55.435 --> 00:10:00.565 Then Jonathan told David, I promise by the Lord, the God of Israel, that by this 00:10:00.565 --> 00:10:05.505 time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let 00:10:05.515 --> 00:10:07.835 you know at once how he feels about you. 00:10:08.495 --> 00:10:11.465 If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know. 00:10:12.095 --> 00:10:15.795 But if he is angry and wants you killed, may the Lord strike me 00:10:15.825 --> 00:10:20.245 and even kill me if I don't warn you, so you can escape and live. 00:10:21.045 --> 00:10:24.105 May the Lord be with you as he used to be with my father. 00:10:24.715 --> 00:10:28.705 And may you treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. 00:10:29.495 --> 00:10:34.235 But if I die, treat my family with this faithful love, even 00:10:34.235 --> 00:10:37.455 when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth. 00:10:38.895 --> 00:10:42.775 So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, May the 00:10:42.775 --> 00:10:44.935 Lord destroy all your enemies. 00:10:45.585 --> 00:10:50.675 And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan 00:10:50.675 --> 00:10:53.025 loved David as he loved himself. 00:10:54.150 --> 00:10:58.240 Then Jonathan said, Tomorrow we celebrate the New Moon Festival. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:01.240 You will be missed when your place at the table is empty. 00:11:01.910 --> 00:11:06.240 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid before, 00:11:06.430 --> 00:11:08.310 and wait there by the stone pile. 00:11:09.060 --> 00:11:13.480 I will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile, as 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:15.220 though I were shooting at a target. 00:11:15.930 --> 00:11:18.120 Then I will send a boy to bring the arrows back. 00:11:18.880 --> 00:11:22.800 If you hear me tell him, They're on this side, then you will know, as 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:26.980 surely as the Lord lives, that all is well, and there is no trouble. 00:11:27.800 --> 00:11:32.530 But if I tell him, Go farther, the arrows are still ahead of you, then it will 00:11:32.530 --> 00:11:36.460 mean that you must leave immediately, for the Lord is sending you away. 00:11:37.260 --> 00:11:42.180 And may the Lord make us keep our promises to each other, for He has witnessed them. 00:11:43.540 --> 00:11:47.120 So David hid himself in the field, And when the New Moon Festival 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.510 began, the king sat down to eat. 00:11:50.345 --> 00:11:54.105 He sat at his usual place against the wall, with Jonathan sitting 00:11:54.125 --> 00:11:58.785 opposite him, and Abner beside him, but David's place was empty. 00:11:59.705 --> 00:12:03.855 Saul didn't say anything about it that day, for he said to himself, Something 00:12:03.855 --> 00:12:06.505 must have made David ceremonially unclean. 00:12:07.365 --> 00:12:12.155 But when David's place was empty again the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, Why 00:12:12.165 --> 00:12:16.215 hasn't the son of Jesse been here for the meal, either yesterday or today? 00:12:17.335 --> 00:12:22.000 Jonathan replied, David earnestly asked me if he could go to Bethlehem. 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:26.410 He said, Please let me go, for we are having a family sacrifice. 00:12:26.810 --> 00:12:31.300 My brother demanded that I be there, so please let me get away to see my brothers. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:34.550 That's why he isn't here at the king's table. 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:38.030 Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:41.950 You stupid son of a whore, he swore at him. 00:12:42.550 --> 00:12:46.300 Do you think I don't know that you want him to be king in your place, 00:12:46.520 --> 00:12:48.330 shaming yourself and your mother? 00:12:49.030 --> 00:12:52.900 As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you will never be king. 00:12:53.330 --> 00:12:55.770 Now go and get him so I can kill him. 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:58.740 But why should he be put to death? 00:12:59.070 --> 00:13:00.400 Jonathan asked his father. 00:13:00.880 --> 00:13:02.010 What has he done? 00:13:02.920 --> 00:13:07.170 Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:11.580 So at last, Jonathan realized that his father was really 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:13.290 determined to kill David. 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:19.120 Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that second day of 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:24.020 the festival, for he was crushed by his father's shameful behavior toward David. 00:13:24.990 --> 00:13:29.730 The next morning, as agreed, Jonathan went out into the field and took a 00:13:29.730 --> 00:13:31.830 young boy with him to gather his arrows. 00:13:32.370 --> 00:13:36.860 Start running, he told the boy, so you can find the arrows as I shoot them. 00:13:37.730 --> 00:13:41.450 So the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him. 00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:45.340 When the boy had almost reached the arrow, Jonathan shouted, 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:47.100 The arrow is still ahead of you. 00:13:47.110 --> 00:13:47.510 Hurry! 00:13:47.520 --> 00:13:47.830 Hurry! 00:13:47.830 --> 00:13:48.600 Don't wait! 00:13:49.380 --> 00:13:51.430 So the boy quickly gathered up the arrows. 00:13:51.730 --> 00:13:53.290 And ran back to his master. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:55.870 He, of course, suspected nothing. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:58.970 Only Jonathan and David understood the signal. 00:13:59.900 --> 00:14:03.350 Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told 00:14:03.350 --> 00:14:05.180 him to take them back to town. 00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:09.630 As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had 00:14:09.630 --> 00:14:11.410 been hiding near the stone pile. 00:14:12.280 --> 00:14:16.030 Then David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. 00:14:16.900 --> 00:14:19.910 Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and 00:14:19.910 --> 00:14:22.430 said goodbye, especially David. 00:14:23.380 --> 00:14:28.510 At last, Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty 00:14:28.510 --> 00:14:30.080 to each other in the Lord's name. 00:14:30.670 --> 00:14:35.560 The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever. 00:14:36.530 --> 00:14:39.870 Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town. 00:14:41.510 --> 00:14:44.350 This concludes today's Immerse Reading Experience. 00:14:44.490 --> 00:14:45.899 Thank you for joining us.