1 Samuel Chapters 17 and 18

by Linda Claassen Mitchell 1 Samuel 17 & 18 Day 1 When faced with a giant... 1 Samuel 17:1-11 (IEB): "The Philistines gathered their armies for a battle (this happened about 27 years after their defeat at Michmash) (1 Samuel 13-14). They met at Socoh (about 15 miles west of Bethlehem) in the territory of Judah. Their camp was at Ephes-Dammim (about 4 miles northeast of Socoh) between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites gathered in the Valley of Elah (between Socoh and Azekah, along the Es-Sunt Wadi) and they camped there. They drew up their battle-lines…

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1 Samuel Chapters 15 and 16

by Linda Claassen Mitchell When enough is enough: Day 1 I Samuel 15:2 (IEB) Samuel says to Saul: "This is what Yahweh of the armies of heaven says: When the Israelites came up out of Egypt, the Amalekites (b) tried to block their way to Canaan.(c) I will punish the Amalekites for what they did." Following the footnotes: (b) They were Bedouin nomads who had descended from Esau and lived mostly in the Negev. See Genesis 36:12,16. Genesis 36:12,16 (IEB): "12) Eliphaz (Esau's son) also had a concubine - Timna. She gave birth to Amalek for Eliphaz. These…

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1 Samuel Chapter 14

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Trust in God: Day 1 Jonathan trusts God and God is faithful. Jonathan, Saul's son, trusted that God would give them the victory over the Philistines. 1 Samuel 14:1 (IEB): "Then the day came when Jonathan, Saul's son, spoke to the young man who carried his weapons. Jonathan said, 'Come on, let's go over to the Philistine outpost that is on the other side.' (However, Jonathan did not tell his father.)" 1 Samuel 14:6-10 (IEB): "Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, 'Come on, let's cross over to the outpost of…

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1 Samuel Chapters 11, 12 and 13

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Trusting God: Day 1 The Spirit of God comes over Saul. 1 Samuel 11:1-3 (IEB): "About one month later (after Saul was made king), Nahash the Ammonite and his army surrounded the city of Jabesh in Gilead. All of the people of Jabesh said to Nahash, 'Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you!' But he answered them, 'I will make a pact with you...on one condition; that I can gouge out the right eye of each one of you! I want to humiliate all Israel!' The elders of Jabesh said to…

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1 Samuel Chapters 8, 9 and10

by Linda Claassen Mitchell The people demand a king: Day 1 They have rejected God. 1 Samuel 8:1-7 (IEB): "When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. His oldest son's name was Joel, and his next son's name was Abijah. They were acting as judges in Beer-Sheba. However, Samuel's sons did not live the same way he did. Instead, they tried to get money dishonestly. They took bribes. They twisted justice to obtain money. Therefore, all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, 'Look,…

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