Portions: I Samuel 11-14

The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;
during the last watch of the night
they broke into the camp of the Ammonites
and slaughtered them until the heat of the day.
Those who survived were scattered,
so that no two of them were left together.
Then Samuel said to the people,
"Come, let  us go to Gilgal
and there reaffirm the kingship."
So all the people went to Gilgal
and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the Lord.
There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord,
and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
(I Samuel 11:11,14-15)

Then Samuel said to the people,
"It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron
and brought your forefathers out of Egypt.
Now then, stand here,
because I am going to confront you with evidence
before the Lord
as to all the righteous acts performed
by the Lord for you and your fathers.
If you fear the Lord and serve and obey Him
and do not rebel against His commands,
and if both you and the king who reigns over you
follow the Lord your God - good!
But if you do not obey the Lord,
and if you rebel against His commands,
His hand will be against you,
as it was against your fathers.
(I Samuel 12:6-7,14-15)

"What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering,
and that you did not come at the set time,
and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,
I thought 'Now the Philistines
will come down against me at Gilgal,
and I have not sought the Lord's favor.'
So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
"You acted foolishly,"
Samuel said.
"You have not kept the command
the Lord your God gave you;
if you had,
He would have established your kingdom over Israel
for all time."
(I Samuel 11-13)

All the days of Saul
there was bitter war with the Philistines,
and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man,
he took him into his service.
(I Samuel 14:52)