Bible in a Year.

On day 120, we reflect on the death of Saul and the beginning of David's reign in 2 Samuel 1 and 1 Chronicles 1. Psalm 13 encourages us to trust in God even in the face of loss and change, remembering that He sustains and directs the destiny of His people.

1. Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg.

2. And on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul's camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored.

3. And David said to him: From whence comest thou? And he said to him: I am fled out of the camp of Israel.

4. And David said unto him: What is the matter that is come to pass? tell me. He said: The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people are fallen and dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are slain.

5. And David said to the young man that told him: How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead?

6. And the young man that told him, said: I came by chance upon mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen drew nigh unto him,

7. And looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I answered, Here am I.

8. And he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an Amalecite.

9. And he said to me: Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come upon me, and as yet my whole life is in me.

10. So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them hither to thee, my lord.

11. Then David took hold of his garments and rent them, and likewise all the men that were with him.

12. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

13. And David said to the young man that told him: Whence art thou? He answered: I am the son of a stranger of Amalee.

14. David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill the Lord's anointed?

15. And David calling one of his servants, said: Go near and fall upon him. And he struck him so that he died.

16. And David said to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord's anointed.

17. And David made this kind of lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son.

18. (Also he commanded that they should teach the children of Juda the use of the bow, as it is written in the book of the just.) And he said: Consider, O Israel, for them that are dead, wounded on thy high places.

19. The illustrious of Israel are slain upon thy mountains: how are the valiant fallen?

20. Tell it not in Geth, publish it not in the streets of Ascalon: lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph,

21. Ye mountains of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rain come upon you, neither be they fields of firstfruits: for there was cast away the shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the valiant, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23. Saul and Jonathan, lovely, and comely in their life, even in death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

24. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet in delights, who gave ornaments of gold for your attire.

25. How are the valiant fallen in battle? Jonathan slain in the high places?

26. I grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan: exceeding beautiful, and amiable to me above the love of women. As the mother loveth her only son, so did I love thee.

27. How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished?

1. Adam, Seth, Enos,

2. Cainan, Malaleel, Jared,

3. Henoc, Mathusale, Lamech,

4. Noe, Sem, Cham, and Japheth.

5. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, Thubal, Mosoch, Thiras.

6. And the sons of Gomer: Ascenez, and Riphath, and Thogorma.

7. And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cethim and Dodanim.

8. The sons of Cham: Chus, and Mesrai, and Phut, and Chaanan.

9. And the sons of Chus: Saba, and Hevila, Sabatha, and Regma, and Sabathaca. And the sons of Regma: Saba, and Dadan.

10. Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty upon earth.

11. But Mesraim begot Ludim, and Anamim, and Laabim, and Nephtuim,

12. Phetrusim also, and Casluim: from whom came the Philistines, and Caphtorim.

13. And Chanaan beget Sidon his firstborn, and the Hethite,

14. And the Jebusite, and the Amorrhite, and the Gergesite,

15. And the Hevite, and the Aracite, and the Sinite,

16. And the Aradian, and the Samarite, and the Hamathite.

17. The sons of Sem: Elam and Asur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Hus, and Hul, and Gether, and Mosoch.

18. And Arphaxad beget Sale, and Sale beget Heber.

19. And to Heber were born two sons, the name of the one was Phaleg, because In his days the earth was divided; and the name of his brother was Jectan.

20. And Jectan beget Elmodad, and Saleph, and Asarmoth, and Jare,

21. And Adoram, and Usal, and Decla,

22. And Hebal, and Abimael, and Saba,

23. And Ophir, and Hevila, and Jobab. All these are the sons of Jectan.

24. Sem, Arphaxad, Sale,

25. Heber, Phaleg, Ragau,

26. Serug, Nachor, Thare,

27. Abram, this is Abraham.

28. And the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ismahel.

29. And these are the generations of them. The firstborn of Ismahel, Nabajoth, then Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam,

30. And Masma, and Duma, Massa, Hadad, and Thema,

31. Jetur, Naphis, Cedma: these are the sons of Ismahel.

32. And the sons of Cetura, Abraham's concubine, whom she bore: Zamran, Jecsan, Madan, Madian, Jesboc, and Sue. And the sons of Jecsan, Saba, and Dadan. And the sons of Dadan: Assurim, and Latussim, and Laomin.

33. And the sons of Madian: Epha, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaa. All these are the sons of Cetura.

34. And Abraham beget Isaac: and his sons were Esau and Israel.

35. The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Rahuel, Jehus, Ihelom, and Core.

36. The sons of Eliphaz: Theman, Omar, Sephi, Gathan, Cenez, and by Thamna, Amalec.

37. The sons of Rahuel: Nahath, Zara, Samma, Meza.

38. The sons of Seir: Lotan. Sobal, Sebeen, Ana, Dison, Eser, Disan.

39. The sons of Lotan: Hori, Homam. And the sister of Lotan was Thamna.

40. The sons of Sobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Sephi and Onam. The sons of Sebeon: Aia, and Ana. The son of Ana: Dison.

41. The sons of Dison: Hamram, and Eseban, and Jethran, and Charan.

42. The sons of Eser: Balaan, and Zavan, and Jacan. The sons of Disan: Hus and Aran.

43. Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there was a king over the children of Israel: Bale the son of Beer: and the name of his city was Denaba.

44. And Bale died, and Jobab the son of Zare of Bosra, reigned in his stead.

45. And when Jobab also was dead, Husam of the land of the Themanites reigned in his stead.

46. And Husam also died, and Adad the son of Badad reigned in his stead, and he defeated the Madianites in the land of Moab: and the name of his city was Avith.

47. And when Adad also was dead, Semla of Masreca reigned in his stead.

48. Semla also died, and Saul of Rohoboth, which is near the river, reigned in his stead.

49. And when Saul was dead, Balanan the son of Achobor reigned in his stead.

50. He also died, and Adad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Phau, and his wife was called Meetabel the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezaab.

51. And after the death of Adad, there began to be dukes in Edom instead of kings: duke Thamna, duke Alva, duke Jetheth,

52. Duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon,

53. 53Duke Cenez, duke Theman, duke Mabsar,

54. Duke Magdiel, duke Hiram. These are the dukes of Edom.

1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy face from me?

2. How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all the day?

3. How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

4. Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God. Enlighten my eyes that I never sleep in death:

5. lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They that trouble me will rejoice when I am moved:

6. but I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea I will sing to the name of the Lord the most high.