After Saul and Jonathan died, David asked the Lord for advice. “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
For three years in a row there wasn’t enough food in the land. That was while David was king. So David asked the Lord why he wasn’t blessing his people. The Lord said, “It is because Saul and his family committed murder. He put the people of Gibeon to death.”
Joshua will stand in front of Eleazar the priest. Eleazar will help him make decisions. Eleazar will get help from me by using the Urim. Joshua and the whole community of Israel must not make any move at all unless I command them to.”
The Israelites went up to Bethel. There they asked God, “Who should go up first and fight against the people of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “The tribe of Judah will go first.”
The Israelites went and wept in front of the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord, “Should we go up again to fight against the men of Benjamin? They are our fellow Israelites.” The Lord answered, “Go up and fight against them.”
Phinehas was serving as priest at the ark. He was the son of Eleazar. Eleazar was the son of Aaron. The Israelites asked, “Should we go up again to fight against the men of Benjamin? They are our fellow Israelites.” The Lord answered, “Go. Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”
Next he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward, family group by family group. Matri’s group was chosen. Finally Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen. But when people looked for him, they realized he wasn’t there.
Samuel said, “There was a time when you didn’t think you were important. But you became the leader of the tribes of Israel. The Lord anointed you to be king over Israel.
David asked the Lord for advice. He said, “Should I chase after the men who attacked Ziklag? If I do, will I catch up with them?” “Chase after them,” the Lord answered. “You will certainly catch up with them. You will succeed in saving those who were captured.”
Saul answered, “But I’m from the tribe of Benjamin. It’s the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family group is the least important in the whole tribe of Benjamin. So why are you saying that to me?”