even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. Samuel entertaineth him. again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetine in Israel, when a man 16 And be will take your men-ser-went to inquire of God, thus be spake, vants, and your maid-servants, and Come, and let us go to the seer: for your goodliest young men, and your he that is now called a Prophet was asses, and put them to his work. beforetime called a Seer.) 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep and ye shall be his servants. 19 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge Es, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuei heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto bis city. CHAP. IX. 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said: come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was. 11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, is the seer here? 12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to-day in the high place: 13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before, he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he came, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up: for about this time ye shall find him. 14 And they went up into the city: NOW there was a man of Benjamin, and when they were come into the whose name was Kish, the son of city, behold, Samuel came out against Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Be-them, for to go up to the high place. chorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a 16 fo-morrow about this time I will goodly: and there was not among the send thee a man out of the land of children of Israel a goodlier person Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint hin than he: from his shoulders and up-to be captain over my people Israel. ward he was higher than any of the people. 3 And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of this same shall reign over my people. And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel of Shalisha, but they found them not: in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray then they passed through the land of thee, where the seer's house is. Shalim, and there they were not: and 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and he passed through the land of the Ben-said, I am the seer: go up before me jamites, but they found them not. unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to-day, and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. 5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. 20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind 6 And he said unto him, Behold on them; for they are found. And now, there is in this city a man of on whom is all the desire of Israel? God, and he is an honourable man; all is it not on thee, and on all thy father's that he saith cometh surely to pass: house? Low let us go thither; peradventure 21 And Saul answered and said, Am he can shew us our way that we not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of abould go. the tribes of Israel? and my family 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But the least of all the families of the tribe behold, if we go, what shail we bring of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest the man for the bread is spent in thou so to me? our vessels, and there is not a present 22 And Samuel took Saul and his to bring to the nan of God: what servant, and brought them into the have we? parlour, and made them sit in the And the servant answered Sau! chiefest place among them that were Samuel anointeth Saul. sons. 1. SAMUEL Saul prophetet Midden, which were about thirty per-, to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peaceofferings: seven days shalt thou tarr till I come to thee, and shew the what thou shalt do. 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by tbee.' 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set st before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. 25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26 And they rose early; and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that 1 may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, be and Samuel, abroad. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and be passed on,) but stand thou stil a while, that I may shew thee the word of God. CHAP. X. 9 And it was so, that when be had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and aif those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came thither to the hill, bebold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and be prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw, that, bebold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish?' Saul also among the prophets? 12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the bigla place. 14 And Saul's uncle said unto him, and to his servant, Whither went ye f And he said, To seek the asses: and THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and when we saw that they were no where, poured it upon his head, and kiss-we came to Samuel. ed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 2 When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzab; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. 5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them, and they shall prophesy: 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee; for God is with thee. And thou shalt go down before me 15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, Ha told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not. 17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh 18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: 19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. 20 And when Samuel bad caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their fami lies, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 92 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD an swered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23 Anu they ran and fetched him thence: and when be stood among the people, he was bigher than any Săul is chosen king. CHAP. XI, XII. The Ammonites disconte of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, 6ee ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26¶ And Saul also went home to Gibeah and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. CHAP. XI. THEN Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jaheshgilead and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite an swered them, On this condition will 1 make a covenant with you, that I may shrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gi beah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when be heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and bewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto bis oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the raessengers caine and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh enid, To-morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that pemeth good unto you. 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left to gether. 12 And the people said unto Sa muel, Who is be that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. 14Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal: and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. CHAP. XII. AND Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, 1 have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you and I am old and grayheaded; and behold, my sons are with you and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed; whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken or whom have I defrauded? whom have 1 oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. 4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand. 5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. 64 And Samuel said into the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD, of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. 8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron. which brought forth vour fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. 9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, be sold them into the band of Sisera, captain of the host of Ha zor, and into the hand of the Philis tines, and into the hand of the king Samuel's exhortation to the people.I.SAMUEL Saul's selected an of Moab, and they fought against, 25 But if ye shall still do wickealy,. ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king. them. 10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the band of our enemies, and we will serve thee. CHAP. XIII. SAUL reigned one year: and when he had reigned two years over 1srael, 2 Saul chose him three thousand 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, men of Israel; whereof two thousand and Bedan, and Jephthab, and Samuel, were with Saul in Michimash and in and delivered you out of the hand of mount Beth-el, and a thousand were your enemies on every side, and ye with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: dweiled safe. and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us when the LORD your God was your king. 13 Now therefore, behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired and behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye, and also the king that reigneth over you, continue following the LORD your God: 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shail the band of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews bear. 4 And all Israel heard say, that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Phistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together ater Saul to Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michinashi, eastward from Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.. 7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed hum trembling. ST And be tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scat 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burntoffering to me, and peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering. 19 And all the people said unto Sa-tered from him. muel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not. for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from folJowing the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your beart: for consider bow great things he hath done for you. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11 And Samuel said,What hast thou done? Ana Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said 1, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilga!, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself there. fore, and offered a burnt-offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have esta The policy of the Philistines. CHAP. XIV. Lished thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. Jonathan smileth them. 5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. 6 And Jonathan said to the young 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD batir commanded him to be cap-man that bare his armour, Come, and tain over his people, because thou hast let us go over unto the garrison of not kept that which the LORD com- these uncircumcised: it may be that manded thee. the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 15 And Samuel arose, and gat bim up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjazin. And Saul numbered the people. that were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: Dat the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: 18 And another company turned the way to Beth-horon: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash. CHAP. XIV. Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. 7 And his armour-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we wili pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. 11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we wili shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armour-bearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the band of Israal. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after him and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half-acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gi2 And Saui tarried in the uttermost beah of Benjamin looked; and behold, part of Gibeah under a pomegranate the multitude melted away, and they tree which is in Migron: and the peo- went on beating down one another. ple that were with him, were about six | 17 Then said Saul unto the people hundred men; that were with him, Number now, and 3 And Abiah, the son of Ahitub, see who is gone from us. And when I-chabod's brother, the son of Phine- they had numbered, behold, Jonahas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest than and his armour-bearer were not in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the there. people knew not that Jonathan wast gone. 18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring bither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a 19 And it came to pass, while Saul sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp talked unto the priest, that the noise rock on the other side: and the name that was in the host of the Philistines of the one was Bozez, and the name of went on and increased: and Saul said the other Seneh. unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand |