101 Now the Philistines fought against Israel ; and the men of Israel fled before e the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa . 2 The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons , and the Philistines struck down Jonathan , Abinadab and Malchi-shua , the sons of Saul . 3 The battle became heavy against Saul , and the archers e overtook him; and he was wounded by the archers . 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer , "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid . Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead , he likewise fell on his sword and died . 6 Thus Saul died with his three sons , and all those of his house died together . 7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled , and that Saul and his sons were dead , they forsook their cities and fled ; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 It came about the next day , when the Philistines came to strip the slain , that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa . 9 So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people . 10 They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon . 11 When all Jabesh-gilead e heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul , 12 all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh , and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh , and fasted seven days . 13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord , because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep ; and also because he asked counsel of a medium , making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord . Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse .
111 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said , "Behold , we are your bone and your flesh . 2 "In times e past , even when Saul was king , you were the one who led out and brought in Israel ; and the Lord your God said to you, ' You shall shepherd My people Israel , and you shall be prince over My people Israel .' " 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron , and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord ; and they anointed David king over Israel , according to the word of the Lord through Samuel .
4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem ( that is, Jebus ); and the Jebusites , the inhabitants of the land , were there . 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David , "You shall not enter here ." Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David ). 6 Now David had said , "Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander ." Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first , so he became chief . 7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold ; therefore e it was called the city of David . 8 He built the city all around , from the Millo even to the surrounding area ; and Joab repaired the rest of the city . 9 David became greater and greater , for the Lord of hosts was with him.
10 Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom , together with all Israel , to make him king , according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel . 11 These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam , the son of a Hachmonite , the chief of the thirty ; he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time . 12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo , the Ahohite , who was one of the three mighty men . 13 He was with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines were gathered together there to battle , and there was a plot of ground full of barley ; and the people fled before e the Philistines . 14 They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines ; and the Lord saved them by a great victory . 15 Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David , into the cave of Adullam , while the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim . 16 David was then in the stronghold , while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem . 17 David had a craving and said , "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem , which is by the gate !" 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate , and took it and brought it to David ; nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord ; 19 and he said , "Be it far from me before my God that I should do this . Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives ? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did . 20 As for Abshai the brother of Joab , he was chief of the thirty , and he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them; and he had a name as well as the thirty . 21 Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander ; however, he did not attain to the first three . 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada , the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel , mighty in deeds , struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab . He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day . 23 He killed an Egyptian , a man of great stature five cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam , but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear . 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did , and had a name as well as the three mighty men . 25 Behold , he was honored among the thirty , but he did not attain to the three ; and David appointed him over his guard . 26 Now the mighty men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab , Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem , 27 Shammoth the Harorite , Helez the Pelonite , 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite , Abiezer the Anathothite , 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite , Ilai the Ahohite , 30 Maharai the Netophathite , Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite , 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin , Benaiah the Pirathonite , 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash , Abiel the Arbathite , 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite , Eliahba the Shaalbonite , 34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite , Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite , 35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite , Eliphal the son of Ur , 36 Hepher the Mecherathite , Ahijah the Pelonite , 37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai , 38 Joel the brother of Nathan , Mibhar the son of Hagri , 39 Zelek the Ammonite , Naharai the Berothite , the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah , 40 Ira the Ithrite , Gareb the Ithrite , 41 Uriah the Hittite , Zabad the son of Ahlai , 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite , a chief of the Reubenites , and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite , 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite , Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite , 45 Jediael the son of Shimri and Joha his brother , the Tizite , 46 Eliel the Mahavite and Jeribai and Joshaviah , the sons of Elnaam , and Ithmah the Moabite , 47 Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite .
121 Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag , while he was still restricted because e of Saul the son of Kish ; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war . 2 They were equipped with bows , using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow ; they were Saul's kinsmen from Benjamin . 3 The chief was Ahiezer , then Joash , the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite ; and Jeziel and Pelet , the sons of Azmaveth , and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite , 4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite , a mighty man among the thirty , and over the thirty . Then Jeremiah , Jahaziel , Johanan , Jozabad the Gederathite , 5 Eluzai , Jerimoth , Bealiah , Shemariah , Shephatiah the Haruphite , 6 Elkanah , Isshiah , Azarel , Joezer , Jashobeam , the Korahites , 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah , the sons of Jeroham of Gedor . 8 From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness , mighty men of valor , men trained for war , who could handle shield and spear , and whose faces were like the faces of lions , and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains . 9 Ezer was the first , Obadiah the second , Eliab the third , 10 Mishmannah the fourth , Jeremiah the fifth , 11 Attai the sixth , Eliel the seventh , 12 Johanan the eighth , Elzabad the ninth , 13 Jeremiah the tenth , Machbannai the eleventh e . 14 These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army ; he who was least was equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand . 15 These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing e all its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys , both to the east and to the west . 16 Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David . 17 David went out to meet them, and said to them, "If you come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries , since there is no wrong in my hands , may the God of our fathers look on it and decide ." 18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai , who was the chief of the thirty , and he said, "We are yours, O David , And with you, O son of Jesse ! Peace , peace to you, And peace to him who helps you; Indeed , your God helps you!" Then David received them and made them captains of the band . 19 From Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul . But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent him away , saying , "At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul ." 20 As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh : Adnah , Jozabad , Jediael , Michael , Jozabad , Elihu and Zillethai , captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh . 21 They helped David against the band of raiders , for they were all mighty men of valor , and were captains in the army . 22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God .
23 Now these are the numbers of the divisions equipped for war , who came to David at Hebron , to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord . 24 The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800 e e e , equipped for war . 25 Of the sons of Simeon , mighty men of valor for war , 7,100 e e . 26 Of the sons of Levi 4,600 e e . 27 Now Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron , and with him were 3,700 e e e , 28 also Zadok , a young man mighty of valor , and of his father's house twenty-two e captains . 29 Of the sons of Benjamin , Saul's kinsmen , 3,000 e ; for until now the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul . 30 Of the sons of Ephraim 20,800 e e e , mighty men of valor , famous men in their fathers' households . 31 Of the half-tribe e of Manasseh 18,000 e e , who were designated by name to come and make David king . 32 Of the sons of Issachar , men who understood the times , with knowledge of what Israel should do , their chiefs were two hundred ; and all their kinsmen were at their command . 33 Of Zebulun , there were 50,000 e who went out in the army , who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David with an undivided e heart . 34 Of Naphtali there were 1,000 captains , and with them 37,000 e e with shield and spear . 35 Of the Danites who could draw up in battle formation , there were 28,600 e e e . 36 Of Asher there were 40,000 e who went out in the army to draw up in battle formation . 37 From the other side of the Jordan , of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half-tribe e of Manasseh , there were 120,000 e e with all kinds of weapons of war for the battle . 38 All these , being men of war who could draw up in battle formation , came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel ; and all the rest also of Israel were of one mind to make David king . 39 They were there with David three days , eating and drinking , for their kinsmen had prepared for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali , brought food on donkeys , camels , mules and on oxen , great quantities of flour cakes , fig cakes and bunches of raisins , wine , oil , oxen and sheep . There was joy indeed in Israel .
45 "It is written in the prophets , ' AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD .' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father , comes to Me. 46 " Not that anyone has seen the Father , except the One who is from God ; He has seen the Father . 47 "Truly , truly , I say to you, he who believes has eternal life . 48 " I am the bread of life . 49 " Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness , and they died . 50 "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven , so that one may eat of it and not die . 51 " I am the living bread that came down out of heaven ; if anyone eats of this bread , he will live forever ; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh ." 52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another , saying , "How can this man give us His flesh to eat ?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly , truly , I say to you, unless e you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood , you have no life in yourselves . 54 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life , and I will raise him up on the last day . 55 "For My flesh is true food , and My blood is true drink . 56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father , so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 "This is the bread which came down out of heaven ; not as the fathers ate and died ; he who eats this bread will live forever ." 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum .
60 Therefore many of His disciples , when they heard this said , " This is a difficult statement ; who can listen to it?" 61 But Jesus , conscious e e that His disciples grumbled at this , said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble ? 62 "What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before ? 63 " It is the Spirit who gives life ; the flesh profits nothing ; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life . 64 "But there are some of you who do not believe ." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe , and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying , "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless e it has been granted him from the Father ." 66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew e and were not walking with Him anymore . 67 So Jesus said to the twelve , "You do not want to go away also , do you?" 68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord , to whom shall we go ? You have words of eternal life . 69 "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God ." 70 Jesus answered them, " Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve , and yet one of you is a devil ?" 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot , for he, one of the twelve , was going to betray Him.
(Read John 6:36-46)
The discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, makes men willing and glad to come, and to give up every thing which hinders applying to him for salvation. The Father's will is, that not one of those who were given to the Son, should be rejected or lost by him. No one will come, till Divine grace has subdued, and in part changed his heart; therefore no one who comes will ever be cast out. The gospel finds none willing to be saved in the humbling, holy manner, made known therein; but God draws with his word and the Holy Ghost; and man's duty is to hear and learn; that is to say, to receive the grace offered, and consent to the promise. None had seen the Father but his beloved Son; and the Jews must expect to be taught by his inward power upon their minds, and by his word, and the ministers whom he sent among them.
(Read John 6:47-51)
The advantage of the manna was small, it only referred to this life; but the living Bread is so excellent, that the man who feedeth on it shall never die. This bread is Christ's human nature, which he took to present to the Father, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world; to purchase all things pertaining to life and godliness, for sinners of every nation, who repent and believe in him.
(Read John 6:52-59)
The flesh and blood of the Son of man, denote the Redeemer in the nature of man; Christ and him crucified, and the redemption wrought out by him, with all the precious benefits of redemption; pardon of sin, acceptance with God, the way to the throne of grace, the promises of the covenant, and eternal life. These are called the flesh and blood of Christ, because they are purchased by the breaking his body, and the shedding of his blood. Also, because they are meat and drink to our souls. Eating this flesh and drinking this blood mean believing in Christ. We partake of Christ and his benefits by faith. The soul that rightly knows its state and wants, finds whatever can calm the conscience, and promote true holiness, in the redeemer, God manifest in the flesh. Meditating upon the cross of Christ gives life to our repentance, love, and gratitude. We live by him, as our bodies live by our food. We live by him, as the members by the head, the branches by the root: because he lives we shall live also.
(Read John 6:60-65)
The human nature of Christ had not before been in heaven, but being God and man, that wondrous Person was truly said to have come down from heaven. The Messiah's kingdom was not of this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness. As without the soul of man the flesh is of no value, so without the quickening Spirit of God all forms of religion are dead and worthless. He who made this provision for our souls, alone can teach us these things, and draw us unto Christ, that we may live by faith in him. Let us apply to Christ, thankful that it is declared that every one who is willing to come unto him shall be made welcome.
(Read John 6:66-71)
When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offence, which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the disciples fastened on that plain saying, and resolved to cleave to him, when others fastened on hard sayings, and forsook him. Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life, therefore we must live and die by it. If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own mercies. They believed that this Jesus was the Messiah promised to their fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted to backslide or turn away, it is good to remember first principles, and to keep to them. And let us ever remember our Lord's searching question; Shall we go away and forsake our Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the forgiveness of sins. And this alone brings confidence, comfort, and joy, and bids fear and despondency flee away. It gains the only solid happiness in this world, and opens a way to the happiness of the next.
