Philistia and Israel had one interesting point in common with each other. They were both loosely held together alliances struggling to achieve unification. When Israel entered Canaan under Joshua’s leadership, they were a coalition of 12 independent tribes. Saul was the first ruler to achieve some limited success in uniting these tribes into one nation. […]

Let’s pause to get our bearings on where we’re at in 1 Samuel. It’s good to do this occasionally since we’re dealing with so many different characters and places. So the current situation is that David has given up all hope he’ll ever be able to have peace with Saul. He has concluded that as […]

“David said to Akhish, ‘If you are now favorably disposed toward me, let me have a place to live in one of the cities in the countryside. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?’”-1 Samuel 26:5 Are you familiar with the old feudal system in Eastern Europe? It’s an arrangement where […]

Today we begin 1st Samuel Chapter 27. For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE. For the King James version, click HERE. David’s thinking changed after his encounter with Saul and his men in the Zif wilderness. When I say “changed”, I mean NOT in a good way. Let’s try to imagine the thoughts circulating in […]

“Then Sha’ul said, ‘I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you any longer, because you regarded my life as precious today. Yes, I have behaved like a fool. I was altogether in the wrong.’  David answered, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Send one of the men over to bring it back. […]