Saul's unadvised adjuration

CHAP. XV.

hinders the victory.

wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And was in his hand, and dipped it in a honey- Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the comb, and put his hand to his mouth; and people escaped.. his eyes were enlightened. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me 28 Then answered one of the people, and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was and said, Thy father straitly charged the taken. people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.

29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and lo, I must die.

44 And Saul answered, God do so, and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jona than.

30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their 45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall enemies which they found? for had there Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great not been now a much greater slaughter salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the among the Philistines? LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his

31 And they smote the Philistines that head fall to the ground; for he hath day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the wrought with God this day. So the peopeople were very faint. ple rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 32 And the people flew upon the spoil, 46 Then Saul went up from following and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and the Philistines: and the Philistines went slew them on the ground: and the people to their own place. did eat them with the blood.

47 T So Saul took the kingdom over

33 Then they told Saul, saying, Be-Israel, and fought against all his enemies hold, the people sin against the LORD, in on every side, against Moab, and against that they eat with the blood. And he the children of Ammon, and against Edom, said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great and against the kings of Zobah, and against stone unto me this day. the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.

34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, 48 And he gathered a host, and smote Bring me hither every man his ox, and the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out every man his sheep, and slay them here, of the hands of them that spoiled them. and eat; and sin not against the LORD in 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, eating with the blood. And all the people and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names brought every man his ox with him that of his two daughters were these; the name night, and slew them there. of the first-born Merab, and the name of

35 And Saul built an altar unto the the younger Michal: LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD:

50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and 36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the name of the captain of his host was Abthe Philistines by night, and spoil them ner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. until the morning light, and let us not leave 51 And Kish was the father of Saul; a man of them. And they said, Do what- and Ner the father of Abner was the son soever seemeth good unto thee. Then of Abiel.

said the priest, Let us draw near hither 52 And there was sore war against the unto God. Philistines all the days of Saul: and when 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt man, he took him unto him. thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?

But he answered him not that day. 38 And Saul said, Draw ye near

CHAP. XV.

AMUEL also said unto Saul, The

bither SAMU

all the chief of the people and know and king over his people, over Israel: now see wherein this sin hath been this day. therefore hearken thou unto the voice of

39 For as the LORD liveth, which saveth the words of the LORD. Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I reshall surely die. But there was not a man member that which Amalek did to Israel, among all the people that answered him. how he laid wait for him in the way, when 40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye he came up from Egypt.

on one side, and I and Jonathan my son 3 Now go and sinite Amalek, and utwill be on the other side. And the people terly destroy all that they have, and spare said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel

unto thee.

41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD and ass.

.1

Saul smites the Amalekites.

1. SAMUEL

Samuel kills Agag.

4 And Saul gathered the people toge- 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, 1 ther, and numbered them in Telaim, two have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and hundred thousand footmen, and ten thou-have gone the way which the LORD sent sand men of Judah. me, and have brought Agag the king of 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the and laid wait in the valley. Amalekites.

6¶ And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, 21 But the people took of the spoil, depart, get you down from among the sheep and oxen, the chief of the things, Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: which should have been utterly destroyed, for ye shewed kindness to all the children to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as So the Kenites departed from among the great delight in burnt-offerings and sacri Amalekites. fices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, Havilah, until thou comest to Shur, that and to hearken than the fat of rams. is over against Egypt. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witch

8 And he took Agag the king of the craft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the all the people with the edge of the sword. word of the LORD, he hath also rejected 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, thee from being king.

and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, 24 ¶ And Saul said unto Samuel, I have and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all sinned: for I have transgressed the com that was good, and would not utterly de-mandment of the LORD, and thy words: stroy them but every thing that was vile because I feared the people, and obeyed and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 10 T Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, 28 And Samuel said unto him, The and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from 13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul thee this day, and hath given it to a neighsaid unto him, Blessed be thou of the bour of thine that is better than thou. LORD: I have performed the command- 29 And also the Strength of Israel will ment of the LORD. not lie nor repent: for he is not a man,

14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then that he should repent. this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? honour me now, I pray thee, before the el15 And Saul said, They have brought ders of my people, and before Israel, and them from the Amalekites for the people turn again with me, that I may worship spared the best of the sheep and of the the LORD thy God.

:

oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; 31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. and Saul worshipped the LORD.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, 32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither and I will tell thee what the LORD hath to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And said to me this night. And he said unto Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag him, Say on. said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast 33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath little in thine own sight, wast thou not made women childless, so shall thy mother made the head of the tribes of Israel, and be childless among women. And Samuel the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in 18 And the LORD sent thee on a jour-Gilgal.

ney, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the 34 T Then Samuel went to Ramah ; and sinners the Amalekites, and fight against Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. them until they be consumed. 35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey until the day of his death: nevertheless the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of repented that he had made Saul king over the LORD!

Israel.