Jo’s Place

David Destroys the Amalekites The Egyptian slave led David, to the band of raiders, that had burned Ziklag, and they found the Amalekites …spread out across the fields, eating and drinking… and dancing, with joy, because of the vast amount of plunder, they had taken from the Philistines …and from the land of Judah.  David and his men rushed in, among them …and slaughtered them, throughout that night …and the entire next day, until evening.  None of the Amalekites escaped, except 400 young men, who fled on camels.  David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives.  Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken.  David brought everything back.  He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them, ahead of the other livestock.  “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.  Then, David returned to the brook,    at Besor, and met up with the 200 men, who had been left behind, because they were too ex

Amalekites Destroy Ziklag When David and his men arrived home, at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev… and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground.  They had carried off the women and children and everyone else, but without killing anyone.  When David and his men saw the ruins …and realized what had happened to their families, they wept, until they could weep no more.  David’s two wives, Ahinoam, from Jezreel, and Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from Carmel, were among those captured.  David was now in great danger, because all his men were very bitter, about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him.  But, David found strength, in the Lord, his God.  Then, he said to Abiathar, the priest,  “Bring me the ephod!”  So, Abiathar brought it.  Then, David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders?  Will I catch them?”  And the Lord told him,  “Yes, go after them.  You will surely r

The Philistines Reject David The entire Philistine army now mobilized, at Aphek, and the Israelites camped, at the spring, in Jezreel.  As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops, in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched, at the rear, with King Achish.  But, the Philistine commanders demanded,  “What are these Hebrews doing here?”  And Achish told them,  “This is David, the servant of King Saul, of Israel.  He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found a single fault in him, from the day he arrived, until today.”  But, the Philistine commanders were angry.  “Send him back, to the town that you’ve given him!”  …they demanded.  “He can’t go into the battle, with us.  What if he turns against us, in battle, and becomes our adversary?  Is there any better way, for him to reconcile himself, with his master, than by handing our heads over, to him?  Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing, in their dances,  ‘ Saul has killed his thou

Saul Consults a Medium The Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel.  King Achish told David,  “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.”  “Very well!” David agreed.  “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.”  Then Achish told David,  “I will make you my personal bodyguard, for life.”  …Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him.  He was buried in Ramah, his hometown.  And Saul had banned, from the land of Israel, all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead.  The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel …and camped at Gilboa.  When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.  He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams …or by sacred lots …or by the prophets.  Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”  His advisers replied,  “There is a medium at End