6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What that her father-in-law, and her husband were dead, she bowed herself, and travailed; for her pains 12 came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death, the women that stood by her said to her, Fear not; for thou hast borne a son. But she answered not, 13 neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child 14 I-chabod, saying, The glory hath departed from Israel. (Because the ark of God was ta meaneth the noise of this great shout in a Judg. 13. 1. ken, and because of her father-in-law and 9 Be strong, and acquit yourselves 9 Heb. stood. like men, O ye Philistines, that ye may not be servants to the Hebrews, 4 as they have been to you: acquit yourselves like 10 Heb. is men, and fight. 10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every the thing. to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon had man into his tent: and there was a very 11 or, to cry fallen upon his face to the earth before great slaughter, for there fell of Israel out. thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, 8 were slain. 12 ¶ And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. 13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the way-side watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes 9 were dim, that he could not see. 16 And the man said to Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. And he said, What 10 is there done, my son? 17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel hath fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 19¶ And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child near 11 to be 1 12 Heb. were turned. 13 Heb. set not her heart. 14 That is, Where is the glory? or, There is no glory. or, the fishy part. the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD: and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod, and its borders. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is severe upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 8 They sent therefore, and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel thither. 9 And it was so, that after they had carried it thither, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts. 10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have delivered and when she heard the ti- Ps. 78. 66. brought about the ark of the God of Isra dings that the ark of God was taken, and! el to us, to slay us and our people. to the way of Beth-shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth-shemesh. 13 And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they cleaved the wood of the cart, and offered the cows a burnt-offering to the LORD. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with AND the ark of the Lostines in the Ex. 12. 31. it, in em here the jewels of gold and country of Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for thel priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us with what we shall send it to its place. put them on great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to the LORD. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ek 3 And they said, If ye send away the 3 Heb. them. ron the same day. ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass-offering: then ye will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. 4 Then said they, What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods. and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on 1 you all, and on your lords. 5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory to the God of Israel: it may be he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. 6 Why then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought 2 wonderfully among them, a did they not let 3 the people go, and they departed? 4 or, it. 7 Now therefore make a new cart, and 5 or, great take two milch-cows on which there hath stones. come no yoke, and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: 8 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold which ye return to him for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by its side; and send it away, that it may go. 9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Beth-shemesh, then 4 he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know, that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us. 10 And the men did so; and took two milch cows, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: 11 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. 12 And the cows took the straight way! 17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering to the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; 18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities, and of country villages, even to the 5 great stone of Abel, on which they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. 19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and seventy men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us? 21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and bring it up to you. CHAP. VII. 1 They of Kirjath-jearim bring the ark into the house of Abinadab, and sanctify Eleazar his son to keep it. 2 After twenty years, 3 The Israelites, by Samuel's means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh. 9 While Samuel prayeth and sacrificeth, the Lord discomfiteth the Philistines by thunder at Eben-ezer. 13 The Philistines are subdued. 15 Samuel peaceably and religiously judgeth Israel. AND the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and brought up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. Before CHRIST, 1140. 3 And Samuel spoke to all the house | of Israel, saying, If ye do return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods, and Ashtaroth, from among you, and prepare your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only: and a Josh. 24. he will deliver you from the hand of the 14. 23. Philistines. 4 Then the children of Israel put away Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you to the LORD. 6 And they assembled at Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and there said, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. Judg. 2. 13. Deut. 6. 13. Luke 4. 8. d Judg. 2. 11. 1 Heb. Be not si lent from us from crying. 7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were assembled at Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid 2 or, answered. of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us from the hand of the Philistines. 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD 2 heard him. 3 That is, of help. Heb. 10 And as Samuel was offering the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited a Deut. 16. them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it 3 Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the borders of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 1 19. Hos. 13. 10. over Israel. 2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel assembled, and came to Samuel to Ramah, 5 And said to him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing 1 displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt even to this day, by which they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to thee. 9 Now therefore 2 hearken to their voice: 3 yet protest solemnly to them, and show them the manner of the king that will reign over them. 10 T And Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people that asked of of him a king. 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some will run before his was evil in chariots. the eyes of Samuel. Heb. 2 or, obey. withstand 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and 3 or, not. the borders of it did Israel deliver from the hands of the Philistines: and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year 4 in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar to the LORD. ing, when 4 Heb. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to till his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectioneries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, 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 4 officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your most choice young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye will be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 19 ¶ Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us; CHAP. IX. Before 1095. 1 Chr. 8. 33. 20 That we also may be like all the c. 14. 51. nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. or, the son of a man of Jemini. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of 2 or, Israel, Go ye every man to his city. CHAP. IX. substance. out, &c. 1 Saul despairing to find his father's asses, NOW TOW there was a man of Benjamin, W there was a ma Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, 1 a Benjaminite, a mighty man of 2 power. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he: from his shoulders and upward 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. 4 Heb. 5 there is Heb. found in my hand. Heb. 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: 7 Heb. in then they passed through the land of the ascent Shalim, and there they were not: and he of the city. passed through the land of the Benja-8 or, minites, but they found them not. feast. 5 And when they had come to the land of Zuf, Saul said to his servant that 9 Heb. was with him, Come, and let us return; to-day. lest my father leave caring for the asses, and be anxious for us. b c. 15. 1. 6 Well said; come, let us go: so they was. 11 ¶ And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to 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 as sacrifice of the people today in the high place: 13. As soon as ye shall enter the city, ye will straightway find him, before he goeth up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he cometh, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that are invited. Now therefore go up: for about 9 this time ye will find him." 14 And they went up into the city: and when they had come into the city, behold, Samuel came out meeting them, to go up to the high place. 15 Now the LORD had 10 told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people from the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man of whom 1 spoke to thee! this same shall 11 reign over my people. 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me to 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 thy heart. thee, and on all thy father's house? 20 And as for thy asses that were lost 12 three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom 6 And he said to him, Behold now, Acts 13. 21. is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; it may be he can show us our way that we should go. 21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then speakest thou 13 so to me? 22 And Samuel took Saul, and his parservant, and brought them into the lor, and made them sit in the chief place among them that were invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which ver: that will I give to the man of God,cording to I said to thee, Set it by thee. 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is 14 left! set it before thee, and eat; for to this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited 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 6 Heb. three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4 And they will 2 salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive from 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 hast 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 will 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 turned. Heb. a man to his neighbor. cc. 19. 24. 9 And it was so, that when he had turned his 5 back to go from Samuel, God 6 gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass when all that formerly knew him saw, that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said 7 one to another, What is this that hath come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? 12 And one 8 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 high place. 14 And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel. 15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, What Samuel said to you. 16 And Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he told him not. 17 ¶ And Samuel called the people together to the LORD to Mizpeh; 18 And said to the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, brought Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyp tians, 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 to him, No, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. 20 And when Samuel had 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 families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man would yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23 And they ran and brought him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, See 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, levery man to his house. |