3 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return to the LORD with all your hearts, then a put away the strange gods, and Ashtaroth, from among you, and prepare your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you from the hand of the 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. over Israel. Deut. 6. 13. Luke 4. 8. d Judg. 2. 11. 1 Heb. Be not si lent from 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, anof the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, 1 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. swered. 3 That is, 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. 4 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 them; and they were smitten before Is- 19. rael. & Deut. 16. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, & Hos. 13. 10. 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. Acts 13. 21. 1 Heb. 2 or, obey. 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 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 chariots. 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 bakers. to be cooks, and 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 CHRIST, 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. 1 or, the 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. 1 Saul despairing to find his father's asses, TOW there was a man of Benjamin, N° « Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, 1 a Benjaminite, a mighty man of 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. 4 Heb. is with us. there is found in my hand. 5 Heb. Thy word 13 And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, and is good. the ascent 7 Heb. in of the city. Ephraim, 6 And he said to him, Behold now, 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. feast. to-day. 6 Well said; come, let us go: so they was. 11 And as they went up 7 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 a s 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. 20 And as for thy asses that were lost 12 three days ago, set not thy mind on b c. 15. 1. them; for they are found. And on whom Acts 13. 21. is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house? 22 And Samuel took Saul, and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, 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 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 the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they had 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, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. Before CHRIST, 1095. 15 Heb. to-day. 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 Gen. 35. 20. 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? 1 Heb. the 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 he passed on,) but stand thou still 15 a while, that I may show thee the word of of peace. God. CHAP. X. 1 Samuel anointeth Saul: 2 He confirmeth him by prediction of three signs. 9 Saul's heart is changed, and he prophesieth: 14 He concealeth the matter of the kingdom from his uncle. 17 Saul is chosen at Mizpeh by lot. 26 The different affections of his subjects. THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 2 Heb. 3 Heb. it shall come to pass that when these signs, &c. 4 Heb. do for thee as thine hand shall find. 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 pla 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 Heb. a man to his neighbor. с с. 19. 24. thence. 7 And 3 let it be, when these signs 8 Heb. from have come to thee, 4 that thou do as occasion shall serve thee; for God is with thee. 8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down 9 Heb. Let to thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to the king sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: & seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do. live. 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, I 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 nily 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, every man to his house. HEN Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, 1 Heb. For. and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. bear us. one man. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said to 2 Heb. as him, 1 Give us seven days respit, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel: and then, if there is no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people; and all the peo- 3 or, delivple 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 he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. erance. ransom. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and 1 Heb. hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out 2 with one oxen. consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 2 or, that I should hide mine 3 or, made. 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. 1 Samuel testifieth his integrity: 6 He reproveth the people of ingratitude: 16 He terrifieth them with thunder in harvest-time: 20 He comforteth them in God's mercy. ND Samuel said to all Israel, be A hold, have hearkened to your voice in all that ye said to me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and gray-headed; and behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood to 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 I oppressed? or from whose hand have I received any 1 bribe 2 to blind my eyes with it? and I will restore it you. 4 And they said thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught from any man's hand. 5 And he said to 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. 6 And Samuel said to the people, It is the LORD that 3 advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers 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 4 Heb. right he did 5 to you and to your fathers. ousnesses or, benefits. 8 When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the LORD, then the LORD & sent Moses and Aaron, who and made them dwell in this place. 9 And they said to the messengers that came, thus shall ye say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have 3 help. And the messengers came and showed 5 Heb. with brought forth your fathers from Egypt, it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow we will come out to you, 6. and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good to you. Gen. 46. 5. Judg. 4. 2. 11 And it was so on the morrow, that & Ex. 4. 16. Saul disposed 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 who remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 And the people said to Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign d Judg. 1. 11. 9 And when they forgot the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 And they cried to the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Bedan, and d Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you from the hand of hand of the Lord be against you, as it s Heb. from ots, and six thousand horsemen, and peo your enemies on every side, and ye dwelt safe. 12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said to me, No; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king. Before CHRIST, 1093. 6 Heb. 13 Now therefore, behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye mouth. 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 6 commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye, and also the king that 7 Heb. reigneth over you 7 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 shall the be after. 2 Saul chose him three thoasandmen of Israel; of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in a Geba; and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also 3 was had in abomination with the Philistines: and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chari was against your fathers. ceasing. 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? I will call to the Lord, and he will send 9 or, what thunder and rain; that ye may perceive a great 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 to the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for thy servants to the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said to the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside for then would ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsakeis people for his great name's sake: because -it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD 8 in eeasing 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 heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye will be consumed, both ye and your king. CHAP. XIІІ. thing, &c. .. 1 Heb. the son of one year in his reigning. 2 or, the hill. 3 Heb. did stink. 4 Heb. trembled after him. a c. 10. 8. bless him. 5 Heb. 1 Saul's selected band: 3 He calleth the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines, whose garrison Jonathan had smitten. 5 The Philistines' great host. 6 The distress of the Israelites. 8 Saul weary of staying for Samuel, sacrificeth. 11 Samuel reprov. eth him. 17 The three spoiling bands of the 6 Heb. Philistines. 19 The policy of the Philistines, to suffer no smith in Israel. entreated the face. ple as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, 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 hid 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 4 followed him trembling. 8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burntoffering to me, and peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering. 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 5 salute him. 11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And 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 assembled at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, the Philistines will now come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not 6 made supplication to the LORD; I forced myself therefore, 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 established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD Commanded thee. 15 And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that |