Page 461 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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MAY 6
over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of
the words of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of
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hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to
14:37 Saul asked counsel of God. At the Israel, how he ambushed him on the way
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request of Ahijah, Saul inquired of the Lord when he came up from Egypt. Now go and at-
regarding his battle plan. He did not answer tack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they
him.Because of the sin that Saul had caused in have, and do not spare them. But kill both
his army, God did not answer his inquiry. This man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox
would not be the last time that the Lord would and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
refuse to respond to sinful Saul (see 28:6). 4 So Saul gathered the people together and
numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thou-
And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems sand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Ju-
good to you.” dah. And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and
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41 Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of lay in wait in the valley.
Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” So Saul and Jona- 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart,
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than were taken, but the people escaped. And get down from among the Amalekites, lest I
Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan destroy you with them. For you showed kind-
and me.” So Jonathan was taken. Then Saul ness to all the children of Israel when they
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said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites depart-
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And Jonathan told him, and said, “I only ed from among the Amalekites. And Saul
tasted a little honey with the end of the rod attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the
that was in my hand. So now I must die!” way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He also
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44 Saul answered, “God do so and more also; took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and ut-
for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” terly destroyed all the people with the edge of
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45 But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jona- the sword. But Saul and the people spared
than die, who has accomplished this great Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the
deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and
LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But
the ground, for he has worked with God this everything despised and worthless, that they
day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he utterly destroyed.
did not die. 10 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel,
46 Then Saul returned from pursuing the Phi- saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up
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listines, and the Philistines went to their own Saul as king, for he has turned back from fol-
place. lowing Me, and has not performed My com-
47 So Saul established his sovereignty over mandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he
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Israel, and fought against all his enemies on cried out to the LORD all night. So when Sam-
every side, against Moab, against the people uel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it
of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of was told Samuel, saying, “Saul went to
Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for
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he turned, he harassed them. And he gath- himself; and he has gone on around, passed
ered an army and attacked the Amalekites, by, and gone down to Gilgal.” Then Samuel
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and delivered Israel from the hands of those went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed
who plundered them. are you of the LORD! I have performed the
49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and commandment of the LORD.”
Malchishua. And the names of his two daugh- 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleat-
ters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, ing of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of
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and the name of the younger Michal. The the oxen which I hear?”
name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter 15 And Saul said, “They have brought them
of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander from the Amalekites; for the people spared the
of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the
uncle. Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly
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the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. destroyed.”
52 Now there was fierce war with the 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I
Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
saw any strong man or any valiant man, he And he said to him, “Speak on.”
took him for himself. 17 So Samuel said, “When you were little in
Samuel also said to Saul, “The LORD sent your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes
15 me to anoint you king over His people, of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you

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