I Samuel 30-31
As you remember in yesterday's reading, David was sent home after the other Philistine kings objected to him joining in the battle against his own people, the Israelites.
When David arrives home (3 days later), he finds that his own city Ziklag has been raided by the Amalekites. Not just raided but all of the wives and children are gone. Not killed, just taken.
I love that you have all of these tough warriors who find this scene and cry until they couldn't cry anymore. They weren't crying over the loss of their property, their valuables, their treasures. They were crying over the loss of their families. This thought is just heartwarming to me.
Obviously, David is a little upset. He starts out on the quest to find his wives.
And as always, God provides a way.
He provides an Egyptian servant who leads the men right to the Amalekites.
A little bit later, the families are reunited.
One other "neat" part of this story is that as David and his men were heading out to find their families, they came upon a ravine. Two hundred of the men were just too tired to cross the ravine. So David left them behind. After defeating the Amalekites, David and his men returned home. They came upon the 200 soldiers left behind. Trouble makers in the group didn't want the men left behind to get any valuables beyond their wives and children since they had stayed behind. David makes it clear that what they have, they have because of God. They will ALL share alike. End of story.
In the next chapter, the Philistines do attack the Israelites. And just like Samuel (the spirit) had predicted, Saul's sons are killed in action. That includes David's beloved friend Jonathan. Saul is wounded and begs his servant to just end his life. The servant just can't do it so Saul does it to himself.
And just like that, Saul's reign is over.
Tomorrow's reading:
2 Samuel 1-3:5
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