Definition: So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them].

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 14:47. It's a really dramatic passage about David’s actions and his growing power. Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, David was becoming too powerful and started to aggressively pursue enemies. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening: “So Saul took the kingdom over Israel…” – This tells us that David was now the king of Israel. He had a lot of authority and control over this territory. “…and fought against all his enemies on every side…” – He was actively battling everyone who opposed him, including Moab (a group in southwestern Iraq), Ammon (another group), and the Philistines (who were known for their strong military). “Against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom…” – He relentlessly pursued these groups. It’s like he was sending out a constant stream of warriors to harass and defeat them. “…and against the kings of Zobah…” - David also targeted the rulers of the Zobah kingdom, which is located in present-day Lebanon. “…and against the Philistines…” – He was actively challenging the Philistine people, who were a major military force. The Key Part: "whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them].” This is where it gets really interesting and a bit mysterious. It means that whenever David moved his attention to a new area or enemy, he was always causing trouble . It wasn't just about fighting; it was about actively disrupting their lives and causing them distress. So, what does this all mean? It suggests that David’s ambition and growing power were leading him to be a restless, aggressive leader. He was becoming so focused on defeating his enemies that he wasn’t able to focus on building a strong and stable kingdom for Israel. He was essentially creating chaos and unrest. In short, it's a story about David’s ambition causing problems, and the consequences of that. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of 1 Samuel? Discuss the context of this passage in more detail (e.g., why it was important for David’s rise)?