April 13 - Evening
"David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
He said:
'The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies... As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.' "
- Second Samuel 22:1-4, 31
'The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies... As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.' "
- Second Samuel 22:1-4, 31
The Lord is David's "Masada"
This psalm of David expresses David’s feelings of triumph beginning in the first line through the entire poem/lyric/psalm. 2 Samuel 22 is a statement of faith that has been realized. It is not simply a belief system, but something David has experience as he has seen his hope in God’s word fulfilled.
David selects several metaphors and descriptive words to describe to his listeners (or, readers) how the Lord has manifested in David’s times of need: Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Shield, Horn, Stronghold, Refuge, Savior.
The word “rock,” sela, refers to a very large outcropping of rock or bedrock projecting up out of the earth’s surface. This would be similar to David’s time in caves and areas of large rock formations while hiding from Saul. Sela is used in 1 Samuel 23:25-28, “Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock (sela) and stayed in the Desert of Maon.”
The word “fortress” is the Hebrew word mesuda, or Masada, which is the name of the fortress David used by the Dead Sea that was also used by the Maccabees, Herod and the Jewish Zealots. David used mesuda, or Masada, in 1 Samuel 22:4, “So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold (mesuda, Masada),” and 1 Samuel 24:22, “Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold (mesuda, Masada).” Jerusalem itself is built on a mesuda according to 2 Samuel 5:7, “Nevertheless, David captured the fortress (mesuda) of Zion—which is the City of David.”
David testifies as a witness of these events in 22:31 that God’s “way is perfect” and “the Lord’s word is flawless.” The phrase “the Lord’s word is flawless” is refers to God’s promises to David have “been proved true” or the verb literally says, “stands the test of fire.” This is a reference to fire separating the pure silver from the dross. David says the fire of battle and the situations in life have separated the false ideas from the sure Word of God spoken as promises to David. God’s way is perfect and the Lord’s word is flawless.
David’s personal use the word “my” five times reveals that David has personally experience God as his rock, his deliverer, his refuge, his salvation, etc.
Below are photos of Masada or the "stronghold" call mesuda in Hebrew, or Masada in English. Details
Heorte (Gr) – Feast (Eng) – heorte is Greek word that means “a feast” and “a festival.”
John uses heorte 17x to refer to the Jewish feasts, Luke uses heorte in Acts 8:21and Paul uses it once in Colossians 2:16.
I will express my appreciation of God in my own words, with my own voice, with my own song.
I will thank the Lord for who he is, what he has done and for what he has promised that is yet to be.
I will thank the Lord for who he is, what he has done and for what he has promised that is yet to be.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
For peace and contentment
Church
Proclamation of God's Word
Nation
Freedom of Speech
World
China
The Royal Archives of Tel al-Amarna, Egypt, contained 350 letters written in cuneiform script. This clay tablet is one of six letters written to Egyptian kings by the ruler of Jerusalem shortly after 1400 BC. Jerusalem is called “Urusalim” in these Amarna Letters. Joshua had recently killed a king of Jerusalem (Joshua 12:7-10). The city name “Urusalim” means “foundation of Shalem”. The deity’s name, “Shalem,” means “complete,” “prosperous,” and “peaceful” as seen in the text of Hebrews 7:2, “‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace.’” The original tablet is preserved in the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin. Recently (June 2010) Eilat Mazar found a clay fragment from this same time period in the area of the Ophel in Jerusalem written in the same cuneiform on Jerusalem clay by a royal scribe. This find confirms Egypt’s opinion of Jerusalem, as portrayed in the Amarna Letters, as a major city centuries before it was conquered by David.
Someone to Quote
"I would to God that a plouighman would sing a text of the scripture at his plough and that the weaver would hum them to the tune of his shuttle." - Erasmus
Something to Ponder
Paterology is the study of God the Father. Pater, or πατηρ, is the Greek word for father. The fatherhood of God as creator is true for all men, but the New Testament develops a richer and deeper relationship with God as Father for the believer in Jesus Christ.
The word for Father is used fifteen times in the Old Testament but 245 times in the New Testament. This concept was clarified by Jesus in his reference to God as his Father concerning his own relationship with God (see Matthew 11:25-27). The Aramaic term Abba, a term originally used by young children for their fathers, indicating an intimate and familiar relationship, was used by Jesus to address God (Mark 14:36).
The word for Father is used fifteen times in the Old Testament but 245 times in the New Testament. This concept was clarified by Jesus in his reference to God as his Father concerning his own relationship with God (see Matthew 11:25-27). The Aramaic term Abba, a term originally used by young children for their fathers, indicating an intimate and familiar relationship, was used by Jesus to address God (Mark 14:36).
Here’s a Fact
The Isaiah scroll that was found with the Dead Sea scrolls is an almost complete copy of the book of Isaiah. It was copied on leather (parchment) 100 years before the time of Jesus (100 BC). The text of this Isaiah scroll matches the next oldest text used to translate Isaiah into most English Bibles which is 100 years newer.
Proverb
"A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes."
- Proverbs 13:8
- Proverbs 13:8
Coach’s Corner
In the end the Lord will judge and evaluate you without considering public opinion and how people felt about you.
2 Samuel 22
English Standard Version (ESV)
David's Song of Deliverance
22 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
3
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.
4
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
5
“For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me;
6
the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
7
“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.
8
“Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.
9
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
10
He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
11
He rode on a cherub and flew; he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness around him his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water.
13
Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth.
14
The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.
15
And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them.
16
Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17
“He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
18
He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.
20
He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
21
“The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
22
For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23
For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside.
24
I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt.
25
And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
26
“With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
27
with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
28
You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
29
For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.
30
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
31
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
32
“For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
33
This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless.
34
He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.
35
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.
37
You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip;
38
I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed.
39
I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise; they fell under my feet.
40
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.
41
You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them.
42
They looked, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
43
I beat them fine as the dust of the earth; I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.
44
“You delivered me from strife with my people; you kept me as the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.
45
Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.
46
Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.
47
“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,
48
the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me,
49
who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence.
50
“For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.
51
Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
David's Song of Deliverance
22 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
3
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.
4
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
5
“For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me;
6
the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
7
“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.
8
“Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.
9
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
10
He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
11
He rode on a cherub and flew; he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness around him his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water.
13
Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth.
14
The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.
15
And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them.
16
Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17
“He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
18
He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.
20
He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
21
“The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
22
For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23
For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside.
24
I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt.
25
And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
26
“With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
27
with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
28
You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
29
For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.
30
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
31
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
32
“For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
33
This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless.
34
He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.
35
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.
37
You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip;
38
I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed.
39
I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise; they fell under my feet.
40
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.
41
You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them.
42
They looked, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
43
I beat them fine as the dust of the earth; I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.
44
“You delivered me from strife with my people; you kept me as the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.
45
Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.
46
Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.
47
“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,
48
the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me,
49
who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence.
50
“For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.
51
Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”
1 Samuel 23:25-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
25 And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.
English Standard Version (ESV)
25 And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.
2 Samuel 5
New International Version (NIV)
David Becomes King Over Israel
5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”
3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
David Conquers Jerusalem
6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.
8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”
9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.
11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
New International Version (NIV)
David Becomes King Over Israel
5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”
3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
David Conquers Jerusalem
6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.
8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”
9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.
11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
1 Samuel 20
New International Version (NIV)
David and Jonathan
20 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”
2 “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!”
3 But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”
4 Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”
5 So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. 6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. 8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”
9 “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”
10 David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
11 “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.
12 Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
18 Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. 21 Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. 23 And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”
24 So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat. 25 He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty. 26 Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.” 27 But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
30 Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? 31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”
32 “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David.
34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, 36 and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?” 38 Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
New International Version (NIV)
David and Jonathan
20 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”
2 “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!”
3 But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”
4 Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”
5 So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. 6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. 8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”
9 “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”
10 David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
11 “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.
12 Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
18 Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. 21 Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. 23 And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”
24 So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat. 25 He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty. 26 Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.” 27 But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
30 Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? 31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”
32 “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David.
34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, 36 and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?” 38 Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
2 Kings 6:8-23
New International Version (NIV)
Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans
8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”
9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
New International Version (NIV)
Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans
8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”
9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.