In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.
David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.
In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them ten times , better than all the magicians and mediums in his entire kingdom.
Then the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. The third captain went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, ‘Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious to you.
Saul responded, ‘I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.’
‘Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: “I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me for ever. But now,” this is the Lord’s declaration, “no longer! For those who honour me I will honour, but those who despise me will be disgraced.
I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth.