READ IT! - Introduction to 1st Samuel 20-26

Readings for this week

Monday: 1st Samuel 20

Tuesday: 1st Samuel 21

Wednesday: 1st Samuel 22

Thursday: 1st Samuel 23

Friday: 1st Samuel 24

Saturday: 1st Samuel 25

Sunday: 1st Samuel 26

Introduction to 1st Samuel 20-26

Chapter 20

Jonathan saves David’s life during a festival. They use coded messages with bows and arrows, and David flees. Saul wonders why David didn't show up to the festival, and when he finds out that Jonathan let him go, he throws his spear at Jonathan, calling him a “son of a b****”, or as more polite but less literal translations put it, "the son of a perverse and rebellious woman."

Chapter 21

After David and Jonathan’s final separation, we then read about David on the run in the wilderness from Saul. He takes refuge at Nob. Nob is near Gibeah, which is Saul’s home-base… so he’s hiding right under his nose. David receives the support of Ahimelech the priest who gifts David with the sword of Goliath. A man named Doeg tells Saul where David is, and Saul gets revenge on Ahimelech. Doeg himself kills the priests of Nob after Saul’s servants refuse to obey Saul’s wicked command. Previously, Saul failed to kill every enemy, but he has no trouble killing all but one of God’s priests at Nob. The priest Abiathar escapes death and joins David.

David then seeks refuge among the Philistines (enemies) at Gath. He pretends to be insane to avoid being considered a threat. Later, he escapes to the cave of Adullam. Also, David’s family visits him, and thugs and outcasts join his cause - a group of 400 men.

Chapter 22

Later, David takes refuge in Moab and makes allies with the Moabites (remember, his great grandmother Ruth was from Moab). The prophet Gad shows up and tells David to go back to Judah. David goes back and hides in the forest of Hereth.

Chapter 23

After this, we read a story about David saving Keilah from the Philistines. David is successful in battle against the Philistines, and we read that Yawheh also protects David from Saul. God tells David that Keilah will betray him to Saul, so David flees to the wilderness of Ziph.

Saul can’t find David, but Jonathan does. Jonathan and David renew their covenant together. Jonathan says, “You will be king and my father knows this.”

David later eludes Saul in the wilderness of Maon, but we read that Saul is breathing down David’s neck. David is cornered, but suddenly a messenger arrives with news for Saul about a new Philistine invasion and Saul leaves immediately and David is saved.

Chapter 24

David and his men then hide out at En-Gedi. En Gedi has many high cliffs and is full of caves in which David and his men hide. We then read about how David spares Saul’s life. David hides in a cave when Saul and his men come to the area. Saul goes into the cave in which David happens to be hiding and takes a dump. David's men want him to kill Saul while his pants are down, but David refuses. After Saul is done pooping, David appears and pleads his cause to Saul. He tells Saul that he could have killed him just now but he refused because of his great respect for him. Saul then declares, “You are more righteous than I am.” And he confesses, “I know you will be king.” David swears that he will not kill Saul’s family when he becomes king, and they go their separate ways.

Chapter 25

We then read about how David later goes to the area of Maon and of his encounter with Nabal. This chapter opens by mentioning the death of Samuel.

David makes his request – he offers Nabal “protection.” But Nabal’s response is, “Who is David? ...He’s just some guy breaking off from his master!” “Nabal” means “fool.” David and his men strap on their swords and go off to kill every person with Nabal who “pisses against the wall,” (the males) saying, “How dare ‘he piss’ on ‘our wall’ of protection.”

However, Nabal’s wife Abigail intercepts David and his men and offers them gifts of food, apologizes for Nabal's foolishness, and pleads with David to not play God by seeking revenge. David relents, and the text says, “God has prevented David from taking vengeance.” And, “God will establish David’s dynasty.” It then states that “The LORD strikes Nabal dead.” And we learn that Nabal was having a drunken party this whole time, and that in the morning, Abigail tells him what David almost did. Nabal drops dead while he is “pissing out the wine” from the night before.

Abigail then takes over Nabal’s wealth and marries David.

Chapter 26

David later travels to Jeshimon and we learn that when given the opportunity David refuses to kill Saul…again. David and Joab sneak into Saul’s camp and steal some of his personal belongings, but David won’t let Joab kill Saul. Later, David confronts Abner, saying, "Where were you, Abner? You're the king's bodyguard, but you were fast asleep when someone came to destroy your master!"

Saul then issues another confession, saying, “I have done wrong… I have been a fool (or nabal) …Blessed are you, my son, David. You will do many great things.” And they part in peace again… but it doesn’t last.