1 Samuel 19
1 Then spake Saul unto Jonathan his son, and unto all his servants, that they should put David to death;
Now Saul spoke to his son Jonathan, and to all his servants, so that they would kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David very much.
2 but, Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted in David, exceedingly, —so Jonathan told David, saying, Saul, my father, is seeking to put thee to death, —now, therefore, take heed to thyself I pray thee, in the morning, and abide thou in concealment, and hide thyself;
And Jonathan revealed it to David, saying: “Saul, my father, is seeking to kill you. Because of this, I ask you, take care for yourself in the morning. And you should conceal yourself and remain in hiding.
3 and, I, will come out and stand beside my father, in the field where, thou, art, and, I, will speak of thee unto my father, —and, if I see aught, I will tell thee.
Then I, going out, will be standing beside my father in the field, where you will be. And I will speak about you to my father. And whatever I see, I will report to you.”
4 So then Jonathan spake of David things that were good, unto Saul his father, —and said unto him—May the king not sin against his servant—against David; for he hath not sinned against, thee, nay, indeed, his doings have been good to theeward exceedingly.
Then Jonathan spoke good things about David to his father Saul. And he said to him: “You should not sin, O king, against your servant David. For he has not sinned against you, and his works toward you are very good.
5 And, when he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and Yahweh wrought a great victory for all Israel, thou sawest, and didst rejoice. Wherefore, then, shouldst thou sin against innocent blood by putting David to death, without cause?
And he took his life in his own hand, and struck down the Philistine. And the Lord wrought a great salvation for all of Israel. You saw it, and you rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by killing David, who is without guilt?”
6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan, —and Saul sware, By the life of Yahweh, he shall not be put to death!
And when Saul had heard this, being pleased by the voice of Jonathan, he swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.”
7 And Jonathan called for David, and Jonathan told him all these things, —and Jonathan brought in David unto Saul, and so he was in his presence, as aforetime.
And so Jonathan called David, and he revealed to him all of these words. And Jonathan led in David to Saul, and he was before him, just as he had been yesterday and the day before.
8 But, when the war again brake out, —and David went forth and fought with the Philistines, and smote them with a great smiting, and they fled before him,
Then the war was stirred up again. And David went out and fought against the Philistines. And he struck them down with a great slaughter. And they fled from his face.
9 then came there a sad spirit of Yahweh unto Saul, he being in his house, seated, with his spear in his hand, —while, David, played with his hand,
And the evil spirit from the Lord came to Saul, who was sitting in his house and holding a lance. And David was playing music with his hand.
10 Saul sought to smite David with the spear, even to the wall, but he slipped away from before Saul, who smote the spear into the wall, —whereas, David, fled and escaped, that night.
And Saul attempted to fix David to the wall with the lance. But David turned aside from the face of Saul. And the lance failed to wound him, and it became fixed in the wall. And David fled, and so he was saved that night.
11 And Saul sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to put him to death, in the morning! And Michal his wife told David, saying, If thou do not deliver thyself to-night, to-morrow, art thou to be put to death.
Therefore, Saul sent his guards to David’s house, so that they might watch for him, and so that he might be killed in the morning. And after Michal, his wife, had reported this to David, saying, “Unless you save yourself this night, tomorrow you will die,”
12 So Michal let down David, through the window, and he departed and fled, and escaped.
she lowered him down through a window. Then he fled and went away, and he was saved.
13 And Michal took the household god, and put it in the bed, and, a fly-net of goat’s-hair, put she at its head, —and covered it with the clothes.
Then Michal took a statue, and placed it on the bed. And she placed the pelt of a goat for the hair at its head. And she covered it with clothes.
14 And, when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said—He is, sick.
And Saul sent attendants to seize David. And it was answered that he was sick.
15 So Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, —Bring him up in the bed unto me, that I may put him to death.
And again, Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him to me on the bed, so that he may be killed.”
16 And, when the messengers entered, lo! the household god in the bed, —with a fly-net of goat’s-hair at its head.
And when the messengers had arrived, they found a likeness on the bed, with a goat pelt at its head.
17 And Saul said unto Michal—Wherefore, in this way, hast thou deceived me, and let go mine enemy, that he hath escaped? Then said Michal unto Saul, He, himself, said unto me—Let me go, wherefore should I put thee to death?
And Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me in this way, and released my enemy, so that he may flee?” And Michal responded to Saul, “Because he said to me, ‘Release me, otherwise I will kill you.’”
18 So, David, fled, and escaped, and came in unto Samuel in Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him, —and he and Samuel departed, and dwelt in Naioth.
Now David was saved by fleeing, and he went to Samuel in Ramah. And he reported to him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went away and stayed at Naioth.
19 And it was told Saul, saying, —Lo! David, is in Naioth, in Ramah.
Then it was reported to Saul by some, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth, in Ramah.”
20 So Saul sent messengers to take David, but, when they saw the assembly of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, then came the Spirit of God upon the messengers of Saul, and, they also, were, moved to prophesy.
Therefore, Saul sent officers to seize David. And when they had seen a company of prophets prophesying, with Samuel presiding over them, the Spirit of the Lord also came to them, and they also began to prophesy.
21 And, when they told Saul, and he sent other messengers, then were, they also, moved to prophesy. And, when Saul again sent messengers a third time, then were, they also, moved to prophesy.
And when this was reported to Saul, he sent other messengers. But they also prophesied. And again, Saul sent messengers a third time. And they also prophesied. And Saul, being exceedingly angry,
22 Then went, he also himself, to Ramah, and came in as far as the well of the threshing-floor which is in Sephi, and asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said—Lo! in Naioth, in Ramah.
also went to Ramah himself. And he went as far as the great cistern, which is in Socoh. And he inquired and said, “In which place are Samuel and David?” And it was told to him, “Behold, they are at Naioth, in Ramah.”
23 And, when he departed from thence towards Naioth in Ramah, then came upon, him also, the Spirit of God, and he went on and on, and was moved to prophesy, until he entered Naioth in Ramah.
And he went to Naioth, in Ramah, and the Spirit of the Lord came to him also. And he continued on, walking and prophesying, until he arrived at Naioth, in Ramah.
24 And, even he, stripped off his upper garments, and, even he, was moved to prophesy before Samuel, and lay prostrate, disrobed, all that day, and all the night. For this cause, do they say, Is, even Saul, among the prophets?
And he also took off his garments, and he prophesied with the others before Samuel. And he fell down naked, throughout that day and night. From this, too, is derived the proverb, “Could Saul also be among the prophets?”
