Introduction: The Books of Samuel and Kings enter a new phase in Israel – The anointed Shepherds (Kings) of Israel now oversee the flock of the Nation of Israel – The first three anointed Kings of Israel [Trilogy of Israeli Kings] are actually going to be Biblical types – King Saul (asked for – by the people) is in part a type of Satan – King David (beloved of God) is in part a type of Jesus Christ – King Solomon (peaceable and deceiving) is in part a type of the coming Antichrist

Jesus compares Himself to the Shepherds of Israel: 'John 10:7-18 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers [i.e. King Saul - a type of Satan]: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd [i.e. King David - a type of Jesus]: the good shepherd giveth His Life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling [i.e. King Solomon - a type of the Antichrist], and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.' - Note: King David is going to be a King of Israel much like Sampson was a Judge of Israel. King David is also going to fail in many ways and actually David is going to break all or almost all of the 10 Commandments of God. Ultimately in determining the godliness of a person it is based on their trust in the living God and in their relationship with God. King David trusted God completely with his life and as a result he had a devotional and a prayer life dedicated to God that was second to none. [King David wrote most of the Book of Psalms] - Also Note: The Kings of Israel are actual people and as actual people only certain events and aspects of their life have been recorded as examples for us in the Bible in order to help give us a prophetic [Kingdom of God], spiritual and future understanding while we are still in our restricted physical realm. Though King Solomon is in part a Biblical type of the Kingdom of Antichrist, King Solomon was not and is not the Antichrist himself and in fact for much of the start of King Solomon's career he is in some ways a type of Jesus and this is what is intriguing as King Solomon in type morphs from being a type of Jesus Christ into a type of the Antichrist. King Solomon as a real person though is very probably in Heaven however as a real person his entrance into Heaven is based solely on his relationship with God and not on his accomplishments, his titles or even his birthright as King.

bible.org: Introduction to 1 Samuel – One might conclude from reading the Book of Judges that the problem was the absence of a king in Israel: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” [Judges 21:25] – In 1 Samuel, Israel will get her king – Saul, Israel’s first king, will be the kind of king the people want, and prove to be the king Israel deserves – David, Israel’s second king, will replace Saul – He is God’s kind of king, a man after God’s heart – While the people and events of 1 Samuel are from long ago and from far away, the struggles these men and women faced are the same as ours today, as we seek to live in a fallen world in a way that is pleasing to God

We are not ready for the Book of 1 Samuel until after we have read the Book of Judges. These days of the judges were dark days for the nation Israel. God had delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. Due to their unbelief, the first generation of Israelites failed to enter the promisedland. The second generation entered Canaan, and under the leadership of Joshua, did reasonably well. But after the death of Joshua, things began to fall apart. Israel went through repetitive cycles of blessing and discipline, the result of their obedience or rebellion. When Israel disobeyed, God gave the nation over to an oppressive enemy. When the Israelites repented and cried out to God, He sent a "judge" to deliver them. When that judge died, the people of Israel returned to their sin. The cycle seemed to be endless. - One might conclude from reading the Book of Judges that the problem was the absence of a king in Israel: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). In 1 Samuel, Israel will get her king. Saul, Israel's first king, will be the kind of king the people want, and prove to be the king Israel deserves. David, Israel's second king, will replace Saul. He is God's kind of king, a man after God's heart. 1 Samuel tells the story of fascinating people like Hannah and Samuel, like Saul and David. There is never a dull moment in this masterfully well written history. The book closes with the death of Saul, and thus the end of David's flight from the hand of Saul, who seeks to kill him as an enemy. - While the people and events of 1 Samuel are from long ago and from far away, the struggles these men and women faced are the same as ours today, as we seek to live in a fallen world in a way that is pleasing to God. There are many ways in which we can identify with these ancient Israelites, and many lessons we can learn from their successes and failures. As we embark on our study, let us do so with a sense of expectation, praying that God may change us and work in our lives as He did in the lives of these men and women of old. May God use this book to make us men and women after His heart. ~ by Bob Deffinbaugh [link]

Introduction to First Samuel: First Samuel brings us out of the anarchy and moral decline of the period of the Judges and into the period of Israel’s kings – The pivotal character in this transition is the prophet and judge Samuel, who anoints Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. The history of First Samuel unfolds largely through the lives of these three men: a mighty prophet [Samuel], the promising but tragic life of Israel’s first king Saul, and his faithful successor [King] David

What follows is initial success marred by repeated fear and disobedience on [King] Saul's part until he finally is removed in judgment and the young godly leader David is established as king. Saul failed God in several ways: 1. His presumption at God's altar (1 Samuel 13:11-13). 2. His cruelty to his son Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:44). 3. His disobedience in the matter of Amalek (1 Samuel 15:23). 4. His jealousy and hatred of David (1 Samuel 18:29). 5. His sinful appeal to the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:7). ... Embedded in Saul's tragic story is the story of a brave young soldier in Saul's army. From humble beginnings as a shepherd, David rises to prominence as a warrior and a leader. Despite Saul's jealous attempts to kill him, David survives and thrives, and after years of testing, becomes Israel's king and establishes a new monarchy. Of the tribe of Judah, he will establish a throne upon which eventually one of his descendants, Jesus, will reign as Messiah forever. Though he had his faults, David was "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14) who sought God in prayer and wrote many Psalms we still read today. They endure as examples of a transparently God-absorbed man seeking the Lord amidst the pressures and trials of life. In them and in David's life we can see the reward of a life spent in passionate pursuit of God. ~ by Dr. Jeff Wubbenhorst [link]

1 Samuel 1-2 – The Book of the Prophet Samuel – The establishment of God’s Prophets and Kings in the Nation of Israel – ‘1 Samuel 1:3 And this man [Elkanah and his wife Hannah] went up out of his city [Ramah] yearly to worship and to sacrifice [at the Tabernacle] unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh [the Temple in Jerusalem had not yet been built]. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the [Levitical] Priests of the LORD, were there.’

1 Samuel 1:26-2:11 And she [Hannah] said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord [Eli the High Priest], I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child [Samuel] I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: Therefore also I have lent him [Samuel] to the LORD; as long as he liveth [consecration, burnt offering vow] he shall be lent to the LORD [the same consecration vow Jephthah made with God Judges 11:31]. And he [Eli] worshipped the LORD there. And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none Holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, *and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars [stabilization] of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world [stable] upon them. He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall He thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His King (Jesus), and exalt the horn of His anointed. And Elkanah [and Hannah] went to Ramah to his house. And the child [Samuel] did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest. - Hanna vowed and consecrated her son Samuel to the service of God for his entire life. Samuel is from the tribe of Ephraim not a Levite and is ineligible to serve God as a priest however he does serve God as a Prophet. The three offices of God; Priest, Prophet and King are not allowed to be combined into one human man because they are only combined into one office in Jesus Christ. In coming verses we will see the distinctions of the three Godly offices and also the disastrous results when King Saul who was already counted among the Prophets takes upon himself the office of Priest and performs a sacrifice.

1 Samuel 3-5 – Hannah receives an answer to her prayer and gives birth to her first son Samuel whom she had promised to dedicate to the service of God – As a small child Samuel is dedicated at the Tabernacle and remains to help minister in the Tabernacle at Shiloh – While a child and ministering in the Tabernacle as he took a nap one day God talked to the little Samuel – God made Samuel a Prophet for the Nation of Israel — ‘1 Samuel 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he [Samuel] answered, Here am I.’ … And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.’

'1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before [in the presence of] Eli [the High Priest].' - A main lesson in the books of Samuel and Kings is the distribution of the three offices of God. The offices of Priest, Prophet and King were to be divided among there Tribes [Priests - Tribe of Levi; Kings - Tribe of Judah] and among the people. The offices of Prophet, Priest and King are only allowed to combine in the one person Jesus Christ. - A Priest could be a prophet though it was unlikely and when God did communicate with the High Priest it was often not as a Prophet but through the Thummim and Urim stones or the stones on His breastplate but usually not speaking directly like to a prophet. Some of the of the Kings were both Prophets and Kings but were not to take on the third office of Priest or particularly High Priest. When King David offered sacrifices to God it was on behalf of the Nation of Israel not on behalf of himself as Saul did. King David was also careful to wear a linen ephod not a gold ephod like the High Priest would wear and certainly King David had the Priests do the actual sacrifices. When King David built an Alter on the site of the future Temple and offered a sacrifice to God [2 Samuel 24:25] it is probable that David had the Priests offer the actual sacrifices [as he had the Priests move the Ark in 2nd Samuel 6:1-18] though King David is a type of Jesus and as the type of a King, Prophet and Priest for Jesus he might have been led by God to offer a sacrifice as well because it was on the correct location of the new Temple Mount and not some random location chosen by David but a place designated by God. - Samuel was ministering to God under Eli in that Samuel was probably not a Levite Priest but he was a firstborn male that was not redeemed but was consecrated to God by his mother Hannah so he was eligible to minister in some capacity with the Levitical Priesthood. [Samuel wore only a linen ephod like King David would later wear.] - Note: Samuel was probably from the Tribe of Ephraim and not of the Priestly Tribe of Levi. If Samuel was of the Tribe of Levi then his mother Hannah would not have had to dedicate him to the service of the Lord because he would already have been dedicated to the service of God through a Levitical heritage. Samuel's father's family is listed as worshipers not Priests. Samuel's father Elkanah has two wives if he was a Levitical Priest he probably could only have one wife and possibly a concubine [Judges 19:1]. - There is an Elkanah and a Samuel listed in 1 Chronicles in the Levitical family line of Kohath the son of Levi however it does not appear to be the same family as listed in 1 Samuel. '1 Samuel 1:1-3 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah [Samuel's father], the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, *an Ephrathite [Tribe of Ephraim]: And he had *two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city yearly to *worship and to sacrifice [as a citizen] unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh.' - '1 Chronicles 6:22-28 The sons of Kohath [Levitical Priestly line, Kohath was a son of Levi]; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth. As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai [Zuph?] his son, and Nahath [Tohu?] his son, Eliab [Elihu?] his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni [Joel?], and Abiah.' - Though some of the names are similar and some of the names are the same its possibly not the same family. It seems more likely that these are two different families and that Samuel the Prophet was of the Tribe of Ephraim and he did some ministry to the Lord as a firstborn unredeemed male and that Samuel and two of his sons functioned as Judges in Israel though Samuel officiated in two offices of God it's important to note that he did not serve in the third office or capacity as a King in Israel. It doesn't make a big difference whether or not Samuel was from the Tribe of Levi or not because he was not a King but just keep in mind that Israel had strict procedures and policies that they followed to the letter of the law and Samuel does not match the Levitical Priesthood to the letter but his main office was that of a true Prophet and he does fit that office and serve God to the letter of the law.

1 Samuel 6-8 – The Philistines are defeating the Children of Israel in battle – The Ark of the Covenant is improperly brought up to the battle in an attempt to encourage the Israelites – The battle is lost and the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant – Samuel has grown older and the Children of Israel do not want his sons to continue to be a Judge over them – The Nation of Israel asks for a King to be more like the other nations — ‘1 Samuel 8:1-4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a King to judge us like all the nations.’

1 Samuel 8:6-22 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the [worldly] manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that 'asked' [the name Saul means asked for] of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; *and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; *That we also may be like all the nations; and *that our king may judge us, and *go out before us, and *fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. - The Nation of Israel asks Samuel and God for their own King to reign over them and God will grant their request. Note: With the coming human King now leading and reining over Israel it will end an era that began in Egypt when God led them out of Egypt and into the Promise Land of Israel. With God no longer their visible leader it will end the era of the 'Seer' and Samuel will be their first modern 'Prophet' for the Nation of Israel. When Israel had God as their King they had Seers because God was in their midst and could be seen now with a man as their King they return to the era of the Prophets.

1 Samuel 9-11 – Saul a young man from the Tribe of Benjamin is selected to be the first anointed King over Israel — ‘1 Samuel 9:21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a *Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? *wherefore [why] then speakest thou so to me?’ {Saul new that Israel had requested a King from Samuel but Saul also knew that he was from the wrong Tribe in Israel. The Kings for Israel were supposed to come only from the Tribe of Judah [Genesis 49:10] just as the Levitical Priests of Israel are to come only from the Tribe of Levi and the family of Aaron [Exodus 28:1] and Saul is from the Tribe of Benjamin.}

'1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon [Saul] his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because *the LORD hath anointed thee *to be Captain [King] over his *inheritance?' [The inheritance of God is both the Nation of Israel and the Gentiles, Jesus being the firstborn gets the double inheritance (Jews and Gentiles) for His firstborn double portion inheritance.]- Saul has been anointed into one of the offices of God as King and soon Saul will gain his second office of God as a Prophet. Later Saul will disobey God and he will take upon himself a third office of God when Saul himself builds his own alter and offers a burnt offering sacrifice to God, making himself a Priest to God and possibly in this case by building a sacrifice alter accidently making himself a High Priest to God. Saul unknowingly or knowingly in taking on all three offices of God in being a King, Prophet and Priest Saul has declared himself to be the coming Messiah (Christ). The results are that Saul is immediacy rebuked by Samuel and Saul is stripped of his two offices of King and Prophet. - '1 Samuel 10:10-16 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him [Saul]; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, *he [Saul] prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? *Therefore it became a proverb [a well-known saying], Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses [donkeys]: and when we saw that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel. And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. *But of the matter of the Kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.'

1 Samuel 12-14 – Saul is anointed as King though not everyone accepted him as their King until Saul was able to provide a great victory [expanding his Kingdom] at the hands of God for the Nation — ‘1 Samuel 11:14-15 Then said Samuel to the people [after the victory], Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom [of Saul] there. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.’ {Saul though anointed and appointed King over Israel does not become a King in the eyes of the people until he delivers a great victory over their enemies. The King needing a great victory is similar to the High Priest needing to enter successfully into the Holy of Holies inner room with the Atonement blood and return alive to show that he is indeed chosen and acceptable to God and likewise the Prophet can prophecy however until his prophecies come to pass and are shown to be true the people will not accept him as a prophet appointed from God.}

'1 Samuel 13:9-14 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? ... I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: *the LORD hath sought him a man after his own [spiritual] heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [David] to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.' - Saul's Kingdom is a purely physical kingdom and not the spiritual Kingdom that God had in mind with Judah. - Saul had a personal issue in that he knew that in being from the Tribe of Benjamin and not from the Tribe of Judah that he was from the wrong Tribe in Israel to be the permanent King of Israel. Saul suspected that his kingdom reign was only temporary until God could raise up a King from the Tribe of Judah. Saul was partially correct when Judah unknowingly slept with his daughter-in-law it was an act of a curse [Deuteronomy 23:2] that kept his family from being King over Israel for 10 generations. Jesse the father of King David was the tenth generation and his sons were among the first of the Tribe of Judah to be eligible to serve as King of Israel without the curse. David was of the eleventh generation from Judah and he was also the eight son of Jesse, David was a new type of leader not the physical leaders as his seven brothers were and as Saul was but King David was a Spiritual King of Israel, the King that God had intended to shepherd His inheritance Israel. Saul suspected that his kingdom was only temporary and it was Saul's desire to gain, seize, build and hold his physical Kingdom over Israel at any cost and his irrational intentions cost him his kingdom. The main point about Saul is that he had a suspension that his kingdom would end however Saul never one time asked God what God's intentions were in having a Benjamite King over Israel. Saul just went with his opportunity from God and then tried to take from God the kingdom that Saul wanted. After wrongly sacrificing and losing his kingdom Samuel told Saul that God would have given him and his family a kingdom over Israel forever has Saul obeyed God. Saul could have been a physical King over Israel and in two generations after Solomon the Nation of Israel split into two Nations and had two Kings anyhow but Saul sought to establish his kingdom his way among God's people and therefore Saul came to a ruinous end and Saul is one of the main Biblical examples of the personality, attributes and actions of Satan.

1 Samuel 15-16 – Saul is removed in principal from being in authority over God’s people – Saul begins to make rash decisions as he picks and chooses the institutes of God that he wants to follow and interprets the few instructions of God according to his own desires at that moment – In effect Saul has exalted himself to the point where his commands are now equal to and even superior to God’s words and God’s intentions – ‘1 Samuel 14:37 And [after Saul already made his decision] Saul [then] asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He (God) answered him (Saul) not that day.’ {Saul blamed everyone including his son Jonathan for God not responding to him but Saul never even presumed for one second that he was actually at fault and the reason that God was silent towards him was because of his own sins.}

Samuel anoints David as the new [spiritual] King of Israel: '1 Samuel 16:1-14 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite [Tribe of Judah]: for I have provided me a King among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he [physically] looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his [physical] countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: *for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, *but the LORD looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made 'seven' of his sons to pass before Samuel. *And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest [eight son, spiritual son], and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his [seven] brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.' - Now at the appointed time after the ten generation curse from Judah and Tamar has passed David of the Tribe of Judah and of the eleventh generation is anointed to be King over all of Israel and to establish the throne of Judah that will eventually seat the Messiah Jesus Christ. Note: King David will later find out that the Messiah is to come as a descendant of his and therefore Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea [the same hometown of King David] to the house and Tribe of Judah.

Reigning in Life Series – King David Part 1 of 2 [page 7] (Mp3s)

Brief Sermon Overview: Using Romans 5:17 as the foundation verse. "For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness, reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.' Pastor Kevin Gould applies this verse to the lives of the Godly Kings of Israel and examines them, in order to find out what we can learn and so fulfill the wonderful promise of Romans 5:17 for ourselves. The series starts with King David and in this first message, the passage in 1 Chronicles 28 is used, to show how David looks back on his life and testifies to God's faithfulness in choosing him. [link]

Is it the Palace of King David? – Of all the personalities in the Bible, have you ever wondered whose name other than Jesus is mentioned most often? – King David – His name is found both in the very first verse of the New Testament (Matt 1:1), and at the end of the Bible, in the very last chapter of the Book of Revelation 22:16 (Photos)

King David brought God's tabernacle from the wilderness to its final home in Jerusalem. He expanded the city, which showed very little growth in the thousand years prior to his arrival, and made it the spiritual and economic capital of the world of his time. The book of 2 Samuel 5:9 states that, after he conquered Jerusalem, King David made it his capital. "David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward." (NIV) At the same time, the Phoenician King Hiram of Tyre offered to build him a palace fit for an emperor. 2 Samuel 5:11, 1 Chronicles 14:1. ... It was in this same palace that, "David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful... [and her name was] Bathsheba..." 2 Samuel 11:2, (NIV) "For decades," says Leon, "and despite much effort by scholars and archaeologists, the location of King David 's palace has remained a mystery." ... Later, as the Bible records, King Solomon built his own palace, known as the "upper king's house" (Nehemiah 3:25) which was located farther to the north and closer to the site of the Temple. However, King David's palace, now referred to as the "lower king's house," continued to serve the kings of Israel and Judea for many generations to follow. "There is no question that King David's palace was a magnificent and impressive structure," says Leon. "But much more of his home remains buried under generations of rubble." "Only by continuing to excavate will we be able to truly understand the extent and grandeur of King David's royal house," says Dr. Mazar. "After all," added the archaeologist, "finding his royal residence opens a new window of understanding into the life of a man who has affected the world more than any other king in the history of mankind." [link]

Aish.com: The world of archeology is rocked by evidence of King David’s palace unearthed in Jerusalem – Dr. Eilat Mazar, world authority on Jerusalem’s past, has taken King David out of the pages of the Bible and put him back into living history – Some biblical scholars gave up looking for the palace because, according to Mazar, they were looking in the wrong place – But Mazar always suspected that the palace was outside the original city, and cites the Bible to prove it – The Bible says that David heard about it and “descended to the fortress,” (2-Samuel 5:17), implying that he went down from his palace, which was higher up on the mountain than the citadel/city

Mazar's latest excavation in the City of David, in the southern shadow of the Temple Mount, has shaken up the archaeological world. For lying undisturbed for over 3,000 years is a massive building which Mazar believes is King David's palace. For Mazar, 48, one of the world's leading authorities on the archaeology of ancient Jerusalem and head archaeologist of the Shalem Center Institute of Archaeology, the discovery was the culmination of years of effort and solid speculation. From the time she was a teenager, she had her nose in archaeology literature, and worked closely with her grandfather, renowned archaeologist Benjamin Mazar, who conducted the southern wall excavations next to the Western Wall. She holds a doctorate in archaeology from Hebrew University, is author of The Complete Guide to the Temple Mount Excavations, and in the 1970s and '80s worked on the digs supervised by Yigal Shilo in the City of David. The significant discoveries made then, including a huge wall called the "stepped-stone structure" -- which Shilo believed was a retaining wall for David's royal palace or part of the Jebusite fortress he conquered -- ignited Mazar to continue to look for the prize: David's palace itself. Some biblical scholars gave up looking for the palace because, according to Mazar, they were looking in the wrong place. Scholars searched for remains of the palace within the walls of the ancient Jebusite city that David conquered and called Ir David (City of David). This city, while heavily fortified with both natural and man-made boundaries, was also very small, just nine acres in size. When no evidence of such a majestic palace as the Bible describes was found there, the next step was to claim that David's monarchy never really existed. But Mazar always suspected that the palace was outside the original city, and cites the Bible to prove it. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed, they went on the attack to apprehend him. This occurred after he conquered the Fortress of Zion, which was the actual nucleus of the city, and built his palace. The Bible says that David heard about it and "descended to the fortress," (2-Samuel 5:17), implying that he went down from his palace, which was higher up on the mountain than the citadel/city. Mazar told Aish.com: "I always asked myself: Down from where? It must have been from his palace on top of the hill, outside the original Jebusite city." Mazar says she was confident in her assessment of where the palace would be. What she discovered was a section of massive wall running about 100 feet from west to east along the length of the excavation (underneath what until this summer was the Ir David Visitors Center), and ending with a right-angle corner that turns south and implies a very large building. [link]

King David of Israel a docudrama series [in production] – The first episodes focus on David’s life as a young boy taking care of his father’s sheep – We witness the powers God bestows upon him via Samuel – We see David’s victories like his slaying of a lion and at age sixteen and his downing of Goliath in combat – The series ends with the words of Jesus: “I am the Root of David, the Bright Morning Star. … Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:16-21)

The story begins with God commanding the prophet Samuel to seek out David, the son of Jesse. Once found, David is anointed by God through Samuel to be the future King of Israel. From here the episodes follow David's genealogy and his difficult journey to the Kingship of Israel, which ultimately leads to his most famous descendants, Mary, Joseph and Jesus Christ. David's faults are revealed: his infidelity with Bathsheba, his responsibility in the death of her husband, for which he repents later and humbles himself before God. His son, Amnon, goes unpunished for raping his stepsister. David's other son, Absalom, receives a mild punishment of a two year banishment for the avenge-murder of his half-brother Amnon. ... God's word comes to David through Nathan the prophet, for the punishment for his sin. David repents his sin. He and Bathsheba lose their firstborn son. When she gives birth to her second son, Solomon, God sends Nathan to David again, saying that Solomon would be the next heir to the throne of Israel. ... Adonijah is the fourth son of David and heir-apparent to the throne. But, Bathsheba preferred Solomon, the younger brother as the heir. As David lay dying Adonijah proclaims himself king. But the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba induced David to give orders that Solomon should at once be proclaimed and admitted to the throne. Adonijah fled and later received pardon for his conduct from Solomon. Shortly afterwards Adonijah made a second attempt to gain the throne, but was seized and put to death. [King Solomon inherits his father's throne] ... The last Episode focuses on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The series ends with the words of Jesus: "I am the Root of David, the Bright Morning Star. Behold, I am coming soon". [link]

1 Samuel 17-18 – A young David answers Goliath’s challenge and defeats the Philistine Giant who was covered head to toe with brass [sin] in a winner take all battle – The Philistines rather than live up to their side of Goliath’s winner take all wager they fled – David and Saul’s son Jonathan become friends – David marries Saul’s daughter Michal – Saul becomes even more jealous of David and tries repeatedly to kill him — ‘1 Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, *and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.’

'1 Samuel 18:1-4 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.' - Jonathan the oldest son of King Saul is one of the great men of God in the Bible. King Saul wanted his son Jonathan to fight against David in an attempt to continue the family royal dynasty a dynasty that was already declared ended by God. Jonathan didn't quite understand his future role in the plans of God however Jonathan respected God enough to defer his life and his royal status as prince to the desires and wishes of God even over his own father's desires and ambitions to the point that Jonathan befriended David and helped him along in his young career and life.

1 Samuel 19-21 – The crisis around King Saul with his desire to kill to maintain his fragile kingdom status has gotten to the point where David has to flee — ‘1 Samuel 20:41-42 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they [brotherly] kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed forever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.’

David flees from King Saul going all the way to enemy territory in Gath: Once in Gath David feels it necessary to pretend to be insane in order to preserve his life - '1 Samuel 21:10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?' - Departing the congregation and going among nonbelievers for protection as David did is a picture of backsliding and our backsliding is a picture of insanity among the people of the world as they wonder why an heir to the throne, a future King in Israel would leave his people and act so ridiculously among the unsaved.

1 Samuel 22-24 – David continues to flee from the wrath of Saul – David locates Saul asleep in a cave yet David spared his life because Saul at one time had been anointed by God — ‘1 Samuel 24:15-17 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me [David] and thee [Saul], and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. *And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.’

King Saul as a full type of Satan commands the murder of the Priests of God: '1 Samuel 22:13-21 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute anything unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. *And the king [Saul] said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, *Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. *But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword. And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.' - King Saul in complete, open and irrational defiance of God and of everything that is good, decent and honest commanded the murder of 85 innocent, peaceful men of God and the death of all the women and children that accompanied them. The men of God put up no resistance to Saul and his evil servant Doeg and Saul no doubt considered it a valiant and justified action and possible assured himself that he was blessed by God to have such a victory over a band of innocent, helpless Priests of God.

1 Samuel 25-26 – The great Samuel the Prophet dies – After Samuel’s death David begins more and more to take events into his own hands and more often in a violent way – A Jewish woman named Abigail met and ministered to David assuring him and reminded him that God’s plans towards David were for good and not for evil and that David as a servant and man of God was better than the conduct he was displaying — ‘1 Samuel 25:32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.’

Abigail a Jewish woman says the "sinner's prayer" and David as a type of Jesus Christ takes her to be his wife: '1 Samuel 25:12-44 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, *and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, *I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial [demons], even Nabal [foolish]: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. *Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. ***I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. *So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person. And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. *And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee to take thee to him to wife. *And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels [five wise virgins of Matthew 25:1-13] of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. David [as a type of Christ] also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives. But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to [another man] Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.' - The name Nabal means 'foolish' and as Abigail is married to Nabal he is considered to be a type of the old self, the world or even a type of Satan that she is married to and desperately seeking to escape from and to salvage what is left of her precious valuable life. In God's servant David (beloved) a type of Jesus Christ Abigail seeks his forgiveness and begins her new life as she is accepted by him and becomes another bride of the true King.

Lessons from the Story of Abigail – Parts 1 and 2 (Mp3s)

Brief Sermon Overview: This is part 1 of 2 concerning the story of David, Nabal, & Abigail. Six practical lessons are observed. Nine more in Part 2. [link]

1 Samuel 27-29 – In the darkest hours before the dawn of David’s eventual kingdom reign – David went back to enemy territory and so completely joined the enemy that he very nearly disqualified himself from being King over Israel – Had God not intervened and kept David from going to war against Israel then David would have invalidated his presence on the throne of Israel — ‘1 Samuel 29:6-15 Then Achish [king of Gath] called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me [an enemy of Israel] in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords [Philistine kings] favour thee not. Wherefore now return, and go in peace [back to Gath], that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines. And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, *that I may not go fight against the [Israelis] enemies of my lord [Achish] the king? And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: *notwithstanding {saved from his ultimate stupidity by God} the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle [against Israel]. Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart. So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel [to fight Israel].’

Saul seeks a Witch in Endor to communicate with the departed Prophet Samuel: '1 Samuel 28:4-20 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. *And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not [Saul had killed 85 Preists], neither by dreams nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, *and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him [Samuel the prophet] up [from the grave], whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land {not because Saul was good but because evil destroys everything even other evil}: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel [God temporarily returned the actual Samuel from Paradise], she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods {spirit beings?} ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up {in appearance so she could recognize him as Samuel}; and he is covered with a mantle [of a Prophet - Samuel is about to Prophesy from the grave]. *And Saul perceived [without seeing Samuel] that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. *And Samuel said [spoke audibly] to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. *Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. [Samuel gives his Prophecy] Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow [the next day] shalt thou and thy sons be with me [in the afterlife, whether Saul is saved or unsaved is unknown]: the LORD also shall deliver the host [army] of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.' - God showing that He has complete authority in communicating with mankind and that He has complete ability over life and death He brings Samuel himself up from the grave to confront the requests of Saul. God would not talk to Saul and to show that it was not an oversight God sent Samuel from the afterlife to confront Saul and to show that there would be no mistake that it was the real Samuel God then had Samuel prophesy of the next day's events. The Witch of Endor knew immediately that she had seen the real spirit realm and Saul knowing well the voice of Samuel also knew he was in contact with the real afterlife realm something that seldom happens because God has fixed a separation between the two realms and they not to be crossed [Luke 16:26] in an individual status but God allows it in a Biblical proportion [knowledge for everyone] status i.e. Saul and later in the events of Revelation with the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12 who have also returned from the afterlife as Samuel did briefly to confront Saul.

The Witch of Endor, a Familiar Spirit, and the State of the Dead – When discussing the state of the dead, that the dead are really dead and not in heaven, hell, or purgatory, the case of the Witch of Endor may be presented as proof that people don’t really die, that they continue in some conscious state even after death. So let’s examine what happened regarding King Saul and the Witch of Endor

Note that Saul did not actually see anything himself, he had to ask the witch who is was that she saw. So based on what the witch said, Saul presumed it was Samuel who he was communicating with, that Samuel had been summoned from the grave to speak with him, since the witch said she could see Samuel coming up from out of the earth not down from heaven [Note: There was no access to heaven for humans before the cross of Jesus Christ so Samuel could only come up from Paradise not down from heaven]. King Saul was putting his trust completely in a spirit medium, a witch, a necromancer, against the expressed will of God. So the following conversation was not between Saul and Samuel, but between Saul and a witch with a familiar demonic spirit: ... Conclusion: King Saul was looking for help from the witch of Endor, to contact someone in the grave, a dead Samuel, so that he could know from God how he could gain a victory over the Philistines. But God was not talking to Saul any more. By knowing what the Bible teaches about the state of the dead, and the circumstances regarding Saul's relationship with God at the time, we can be quite certain that it was not actually Samuel raised from the dead speaking to him, but a fallen angel, a demonic spirit. That Saul even attempted this séance with a spirit medium witch was an abomination, a further rebellion against God, and Saul paid for his rebellion with his life. {Note: By all Biblical accounts it was the real Samuel who returned briefly in spirit form from the afterlife in Paradise to rebuke Saul and to give a last accurate Prophecy concerning the unlikely events of the next day the last day of Saul's life and the beginning of the prophesied and planned Kingdom of King David. - Also Note: The Bible is about the spiritual realm to the point that all of our accurate understanding and insight into the afterlife and into the spiritual realm is delivered to us only through the pages of the Holy Bible.} [link]

1 Samuel 30-31 – David and his men return from their treason with the Philistines to find that in their absence their families have been conquered and taken off into captivity by the Amlalekites – David repents and at this point goes all in with his life for God on God’s side and for Israel the people of God — ‘1 Samuel 30:4-8 Then David and the people [men of his army] that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. … David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. … And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And He (God) answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.’

Saul's prophesied death occurs: '1 Samuel 31:1-6 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.' - '*2 Samuel 1:5-10 And David said unto the young [Amalekite] man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance {he was probably looting the battlefield} upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he [Saul] saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. And he said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord [David].' - '1 Samuel 31:8-13 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.' - Even after multiple battle wounds and falling on his own sword and appearing to be dead to those around him but Saul being full of demons did not immediately die. It was not until after Saul was attacked again by an Amalekite [2 Samuel 1:8] and possibly even only ultimately after being beheaded by the Philistines that it was confirmed that Saul was dead. At this point in Saul's life having disobeyed God on numerous occasions and then ordering the murder of the innocent Priests of God and God having completely removed His protection from Saul, Saul was clearly demon possessed and being demon possessed the demons do not readily want to give up the body they inhabit and as in Saul's case he was demonically driven in life and probably demonically driven for a short time after his death at least for a few hours and into the next day after his life.

NationalGeographic.com: Blackbeard Pirate Terror at Sea – Merchant crews often surrendered without a fight the moment they saw Blackbeard’s flag – BLACKBEARD WAS BRITISH, probably born before 1690 his real name was thought to be Edward Teach – As Teach’s power and reputation as the most frightening of pirates grew, so did his beard and hair – Now calling himself Blackbeard, he braided his beard and tied the braids with black ribbons – He stuffed burning rope under his hat to make himself look more ferocious and menacing he scared everyone

In the fall of 1718 Blackbeard returned from sea to his favorite hideaway off Ocracoke Island [North Carolina]. He hosted a huge, wild pirate get-together with dancing, drinking, and bonfires. Other famous pirates sailed in for the days-long event. News of the pirate bash reached Alexander Spotswood, the governor of Virginia. He decided that the time had come to stop Blackbeard once and for all. He spent the next several weeks planning Blackbeard's capture. SPOTSWOOD SENT TWO SLOOPS, small swift ships, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy to Ocracoke. Seeing the navy's sails, Blackbeard and his pirates knew they were trapped. Only sandbars lay between them and the navy. By morning, the tide would rise, the sloops would glide over the submerged sandbars, and the attack on the pirate ship would begin. All through the night Maynard's men prepared for the next day's fighting. Muffled laughter and swearing from the pirate ship echoed across the water. Blackbeard didn't seem worried about the upcoming battle. His pirates, however, were nervous. They stockpiled ammunition on deck and soaked blankets in water in preparation for putting out fires. They spread sand on the decks to soak up blood once the fighting started. Thinking it likely they would all die, one pirate asked Blackbeard whether Blackbeard's wife knew where he had buried his treasure. Blackbeard bellowed that nobody but he "...and the devil knew where it was, and the longest liver shall take it." ... Pistol in one hand, cutlass in the other, Blackbeard came face-to-face with Maynard. They both fired pistols. Blackbeard missed. Maynard hit his mark. Shot, Blackbeard still managed to swing his cutlass and snap off Maynard's sword blade. Maynard drew back. Blackbeard raised his arm for a finishing blow. Just in time, a navy seaman came up from behind Blackbeard and slashed his throat. AS A WARNING TO OTHER PIRATES, Blackbeard's head was cut off and suspended from the bow of Maynard's sloop. Maynard searched for Blackbeard's treasure but found only supplies and letters. When Blackbeard died, the secret of his treasure died, too-if indeed he ever had one. [link]

Edward Teach, better known as “Blackbeard,” is perhaps the best known non-fictional pirate even though he was not the most successful – He is remembered mainly because of his image that he himself helped to create – [First lieutenant] Maynard later commented that Blackbeard fell with at least five gunshot wounds and at least 20 sword wounds

Today Edward Teach, better known as "Blackbeard," is perhaps the best known non-fictional pirate even though he was not the most successful. He is remembered mainly because of his image that he himself helped to create. Teach's life story is basically only known within the few years before his death when he was a pirate. His previous origins are unknown but it is believed that he was born in Bristol around 1680. His true identity is not entirely known either, but "Edward Teach" is recognized as being his standard name. Other forms of his last name were commonly cited in letters of the day - "Thatch," "Tach," "Tash," and even "Drummond" to list a few. It is believed that he was a well-educated man since he could read/write and papers were found on him after his death. It is reasonable to believe that he wished to keep his true identity secret to protect his relatives at home, so "Edward Teach" may have been just an alias. ... Soon citizens and neighbouring Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood feared the large gathering of pirates and rumors began to spread that a planned pirate haven would be set up. Spotswood began to organize a military force to rid Blackbeard. HMS Pearl and HMS Lyme were selected for the task but their captains informed the governor that their large ships would not be able to navigate the waters. Spotswood then offered up his own money to lease two sloops for the specific job, Ranger and Jane, which would be crewed by the warship men. First lieutenant Robert Maynard of HMS Pearl was selected to lead the two ships for the hunt while Captain Brand of HMS Lyme would lead ground forces. -- The two [British Navy] sloops set out for Blackbeard's hideout at Ocracoke Island [North Carolina] and arrived on late November 21, 1718. The next morning, the battle began. The two leased sloops were unarmed so they had to fight only with small guns and swords, but Blackbeard's sloop Adventure had 9 guns so he was able to fire at the approaching sloops. At their approach, Adventure set sail and fired at the sloops but there was very little wind so there was not much speed in the chase so oars were needed. Ranger was essentially knocked out from a lethal broadside shot from Adventure so Maynard moved in alone with Jane. Jane managed to damage Adventure enough, and Maynard ordered most of his crew below decks to bluff Blackbeard into thinking the crew was killed. His bluff worked, when the two ships were alongside one another Blackbeard and several of his crew boarded Jane. At this time, Maynard's armed and waiting crew belowdeck surfaced and a raging hand-to-hand battle ensued. Soon Maynard and Blackbeard were fighting each other in duel of naval officer versus pirate - a fight between good and evil. After Blackbeard wounded Maynard's fingers with a cutlass blow, Maynard moved back and shot him but had little effect in stopping Blackbeard. Several other Jane crewmen fought with Blackbeard after this before he was eventually overcome by his numerous wounds. (It has also been stated that Blackbeard was decapitated by a sword blow to the back of the head during the fighting rather than getting his head removed after his death.) Maynard later commented that Blackbeard fell with at least five gunshot wounds and at least 20 sword wounds. Blackbeard's severed head was hung from Maynard's sloop's bowsprit as a trophy and also to prove that the legendary Blackbeard the pirate was indeed dead. [link]

Blackbeard’s Ghost (Demon) – [First lieutenant] Maynard seemed to think that the only way to ensure that Blackbeard was dead was to remove his head – They hung the head from the bowsprit and threw the pirate’s body overboard – As the body [of Blackbeard] hit the water, the head hanging from the bowsprit shouted: “Come on Edward [Edward Teach – Blackbeard’s name]” and the headless body swam [flailed about] three times [completely] around the ship before sinking to the bottom {Blackbeard was demon possessed and being possessed he had additional human strength and powers and those demonic powers then continued on momentarily after Edward Teach was dead. Piracy is Satanism the two are synonymous there were no nice pirates in order to become a pirate a person was required to renounce Jesus Christ and to join Satan. The Skull and bones flags of the pirates all represented their perceived victory of Satan over Jesus Christ on the cross. The flag of pirates are the claims of an un-resurrected Jesus Christ.}

Maynard seemed to think that the only way to ensure that Blackbeard was dead was to remove his head. They hung the head from the bowsprit and threw the pirate's body overboard. As the body hit the water, the head hanging from the bowsprit shouted: "Come on Edward" and the headless body swam three times around the ship before sinking to the bottom. From that day to this, Blackbeard's ghost has haunted Teach's Hole, forever searching for his missing head. Sometimes, the headless ghost floats on the surface of the water, or swims around and around and around Teach's Hole, glowing just underneath the water. Sometimes, folks see a strange light coming from the shore on the Pamlico Sound side of Ocracoke Island and know that it is "Teach's light". On night's that the ghost light appears, if the wind is blowing inland, you can still hear Blackbeard's ghost (demon) tramping up and down and roaring: 'Where's my head?' [link]

John Newton – (Satanic) [Pirate] Captain of a slaveship, but in 1743, while on the way to visit some friends, he was captured and pressed into [British] naval service – Sailing back to England in 1748 aboard the merchant ship, he experienced a spiritual conversion in the Greyhound, which was hauling a load of beeswax and dyer’s wood – The ship encountered a severe storm off the coast of Donegal and almost sank – Newton awoke in the middle of the night and finally called out to God as the ship filled with water – It was this experience which he later marked as the beginnings of his conversion to evangelical Christianity [his mother’s fundamental Christianity, more conservative than the common Church of England] – In 1767 William Cowper, the poet, moved to Olney – He worshipped in the church, and collaborated with Newton on producing a volume of hymns [including] “Faith’s Review and Expectation” which came to be known by its opening phrase “Amazing Grace”

Early life: John Newton was born in Wapping, London, in 1725, the son of John Newton Sr., a shipmaster in the Mediterranean service, and Elizabeth Newton (née Seatclife), a Nonconformist Christian. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was six. Newton spent two years at boarding school, and at the age of eleven he went to sea with his father and sailed with him on a total of six voyages until the elder Newton retired in 1742. Newton's father had planned for him to take up a position as a slave master at a sugar plantation in Jamaica. He did become a Captain of a slaveship, but in 1743, while on the way to visit some friends, he was captured and pressed into naval service, and became a midshipman aboard the HMS Harwich. After attempting to desert upon learning of an extended voyage, Newton was returned to the Harwich for punishment. The captain, who detested traitors and deserters, was determined to make an example of Newton for the rest of the crew. Thus, in the presence of 350 members of the crew, the eighteen year old midshipman was stripped to the waist, tied to the grating, and received a flogging of ninety-six lashes, and was reduced to the rank of a common seaman. Following that disgrace and humiliation, Newton initially contemplated suicide, but he recovered, both physically and mentally, and, at his own request, he was placed in service on a slave ship bound for West Africa called the "Pegasus", which carried goods to Africa, and traded them for slaves to be shipped to England and other countries. After negotiating with a slave merchant named Amos Clowe, Newton's deliberate mischief against the crew eventually got him discharged. Amos took him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He became the servant of the merchant's wife, an African duchess called Princess Peye who abused him along with other of her slaves. It was this period that Newton later remembered as the time he was "once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in West Africa." Thankfully, early in 1748 he was rescued by a sea captain who had been asked by Newton's father to search for him on his next voyage. He initially turned down the offer, but agreed to come upon hearing of an inheritance of which he was to gather from(this was later shown to have been made up so as to convince Newton to return home). With this sudden news, Newton began the journey home. ... Spiritual conversion: Sailing back to England in 1748 aboard the merchant ship, he experienced a spiritual conversion in the Greyhound, which was hauling a load of beeswax and dyer's wood. The ship encountered a severe storm off the coast of Donegal and almost sank. Newton awoke in the middle of the night and finally called out to God as the ship filled with water. It was this experience which he later marked as the beginnings of his conversion to evangelical Christianity. As the ship sailed home, Newton began to read the Bible and other religious literature. By the time he reached Britain, he had accepted the doctrines of Evangelical Christianity. The date was May 10, 1748, an anniversary he marked for the rest of his life. From that point on, he avoided profanity, gambling, and drinking. Although he continued to work in the slave trade, he had a considerable amount of gained sympathy for the slaves. He later said that his true conversion did not happen until sometime later: "I cannot consider myself to have been a believer in the full sense of the word, until a considerable time afterwards." Newton returned to Liverpool, England and, partly due to the influence of Joseph Manesty, a friend of his father's, obtained a position as first mate aboard a slave trading vessel, the Brownlow, bound for the West Indies via the coast of Guinea. During the first leg of this voyage, while in west Africa (1748-49), Newton acknowledged the inadequacy of his spiritual life. While he was sick with a fever, he professed his full belief in Christ and asked God to take control of his destiny. He later said that this experience was his true conversion and the turning point in his spiritual life. He claimed it was the first time he felt totally at peace with the Almighty God. Still, he did not renounce the slave trade until later in his life. After his return to England in 1750, he made three further voyages as captain of the slave-trading ships Duke of Argyle (1750) and the African (1752-53 and 1753-54). He only gave up seafaring and his active slave-trading activities in 1754, after suffering a severe stroke, but continued to invest his savings in Manesty's slaving operations." ... Writer and Hymnist: In 1767 William Cowper, the poet, moved to Olney. He worshipped in the church, and collaborated with Newton on producing a volume of hymns, which was eventually published as Olney Hymns in 1779. This work was to have a great influence on English hymnology. The volume included Newton's well-known hymns "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken", "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds!", "Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare", "Approach, My Soul, the Mercy-seat", and "Faith's Review and Expectation" which came to be known by its opening phrase, "Amazing Grace". Many of Newton's (as well as Cowper's) hymns are preserved in the Sacred Harp [a cappella (without instruments) songbook]. [link]