1 Samuel 24

1 - 22 David Spares Saul's Life

When Saul returns from fighting the Philistines, he is told David is hiding the desert near Engedi. He picks 3,000 men to search for him. David's servants tell him that this is the day the Lord said He would deliver his enemy within his grasp. David moves to Saul, but he only cuts the end off of his mantle (because Saul is God's anointed). He calls to Saul, asking why he thinks he will harm him, and he declares he will not touch him, and asks Saul to swear he will not destroy him or his descendents (a great speech). He gives Saul his oath. Saul returns home & David goes back into hiding.

1 Samuel 23

1 - 14 Saul Pursues David

David learns that the Philistines attacked Keilah. He asked the Lord what to do. The Lord told him to rescue Keilah. David's men are afraid, and David goes to the Lord who again tells him to go against them. David goes and rescues them. Saul finds out and calls his people to destroy Keilah. The Lord tells David that the people of Keilah would turn him in, so they leave.

15 - 18 Jonathan Visits David in the Wilderness of Ziph

In Ziph, Jonathan visits David and encourages David, telling him that David will become the King of Israel and that Saul knows this.

19 - 28 Saul again Pursues David

Saul finds out that David is hiding among the Ziphites, but David gets word of it and hids in a desert gorge, when a messenger tells Saul that the Philistines had invaded, so he calls off the hunt.

1 Samuel 22

1 - 5 David at Adullam and Mizpah

David leaves Gath and hides in a cave in Adullam. His father's household hears about it and goes to him. All of the discontent (about 400) had gathered there with him. David goes to Moab of Mizpah and gets him to agree to keep his family until he learns what to do. The prophet of Gad tells him to go to Judah.

6 - 23 Saul Kills the Priest of Nob

Saul heard about David and that Ahimelech helped him. He orders the death of the priests plus the whole town of Nob (including women, children, infants, donkeys, cattle and sheep). But Abiathar a son of Ahimelech escapes and joins David, telling him what happened. David takes responsibility, and tells the man (without irony?) "Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me."

1 Samuel 21

1 - 9 David at Nob

In Nob, David visits Ahimelech the priest, tells him that he's on a mission for the king and since there is no regular bread and the men have kept themselves from women, he gets consecrated bread. Doeg the Edomite, Saul's head shepherd is there. David asks for a sword, and Ahimelech give Goliath's sword.

10 - 15 David at Gath

Then David goes to Achish king of Gath. Because he knows the song that made Saul so angry, David fears Achish. He pretends to go crazy so Achish will dismiss him.

1 Samuel 20

1 - 42 David and Jonathan

David flees to Naioth and goes to Jonathan for advice about Saul. Jonathan explains that Saul tells him everything. David tells Jonathan that he's going to hide and that if Saul misses him, to tell him that he's gone to Bethlehem for a sacrifice with his clan. David knows that if Saul loses his temper he's not safe. Jonathan promises to send word of Saul's mood.

At dinner, Saul says nothing because he thinks David has done something to become ceremonially unclean. When Jonathan tells him he gave David permission to go to his family, Saul explodes with anger. He tells him to bring David to him for execution. When he asks his father why, his father hurls a spear at him.

The next day, Jonathan ditches the boy he was hunting with, finds David, and warns him of Saul's plans. They swear their friendship and part ways. (Not only that, but the allegience of their descendants - i.e. Saul's descendents - Remember that David has a Most Holy Descendent - Jesus Christ!)

1 Samuel 19

1 – 7 Jonathan Intercedes for David

Saul tries to get Jonathan and his servants to kill David, but Jonathan warns David. Jonathan tells Saul the good things Jonathan did. Saul listens and gives an oath not to kill David. Jonathan tells David what happened.

8 – 17 Michal Helps David Escape from Saul

David fights another war and another evil spirit enters Saul. He tries to pin David to the wall with a spear. David escapes. Saul sends messengers to kill David, and Michal warns David of his danger. David escapes through a window and Michal puts and idol in David’s bed and tells the messengers he is sick. Saul finds out, and asks his daughter why she deceived him, and she lies to him, claiming David threatened her life.

18 – 24 Saul Among the Prophets

David and Samuel go to Naioth in Ramah. Saul finds out and sends men to kill him. When they arrive, the spirit of God comes upon them and they prophesy. This happens three times. Finally, Saul goes himself. The spirit of God comes even on him and he strips his garments and prophesies naked all day and night. People ask, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

1 Samuel 18

1 – 9 Jonathan’s Covenant with David

After David kills Goliath, Jonathan becomes very close to him. Saul won’t let David return to his family and Jonathan makes a covenant with him, giving him all of his accessories. (This is remarkable, because as Saul's son, he stands to gain everything upon Saul's death.) Saul puts David in charge of the army. As they return the women come out and sing to them – mainly about how David killed more Philistines than Saul. Saul “eyed David from that day on.”

10 – 6 Saul Tries to Kill David

An evil spirit from God comes upon Saul the next day. While David is playing, Saul attacks him with a spear but misses. Saul is afraid of David because the Lord was with David but not Saul. He sends David away to battle, and because the Lord was with him, David was always victorious.

17 – 30 David Marries Michal

Saul gives David his elder daughter Merab. David knows that the marriage isn’t proper – so Merab is promised to someone else. Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and Saul plans to give him to David “so that she may be a snare to him and the Philistines may be against him.” He even enlists the help of David’s servants. David still says he’s not worthy to be a king’s son-in-law. When Saul hears this, Saul declares he wants 100 Philistine foreskins as a price for his daughter. (Saul expects he’ll die in battle). David agrees, goes to battle, and brings back 200 Philistine foreskins. Saul gave him his daughter. When he realizes that the Lord is with David and Michal loves him, he is even more afraid of David and becomes his enemy for life.

1 Samuel 17

1 - 58 David and Goliath

The Philistines and Isrealites assemble for war. The Philistine warrior Goliath is intimidating: he's 9 feet tall and wears scary armor. He's so confident, he berates the Isrealites and tells them if a soldier can kill him, the Philistines will serve Isreal (and vice versa). He came out and threatened the Isrealites every day for 40 days.

David, the youngest son of Jesse, has to tend the sheep instead of going back war with Saul like his brothers. One morning, Jesse tells him to take some food to them and bring back news. When he gets there, Goliath comes out and makes his threats. The soldiers explain to David what's going on, and David asks, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" His oldest brother gives him a hard time for leaving his sheep and coming to watch the battle. David tells Saul he will fight Goliath. When Saul tells him he's too young, David tells Saul how - with God's help - he killed a bear. He promises to do the same to Goliath, "because he has defied the armies of the living God." He refuses Saul's armor, and brings 5 stones.

Goliath is offended the the Isrealites would send a child. David gives a speech that begins, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied . . . for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." David slings a rock into Goliath's forehead, kills him with a sword, and cuts off his head. The Isrealites chase the Philistines away and plunder their cap. He brings Goliath's head back to Jerusalem. Saul wants to know whose son David is.

1 Samuel 16

1 - 13 Samuel Anoints David

The Lord sends Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem with a heifer to sacrifice (and to find a new king). Samuel sees Eliab and thinks he's the chosen one, but the Lord tells him Samuel not to go on appearances. It turns out that the youngest, David, who is tending sheep is the chosen one. Samuel anoints David with a horn of oil and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon the young shepherd.

14 - 23 David in Saul's Service

The Spirit of the Lord leaves Saul and an evil spirit of the Lord torments him. Saul's attendents see this happening and decide to get someone to play the harp to soothe him. When David would play, the evil spirit would leave Saul and relieve him.