The people smitten. 1. SAMUEL. The Ist relites repent and they clave the wood of the cart, then put away the strange gods and and offered the kine a burnt-offering| Ashtaroth from among you, and preunto the Lord. pare your hearts unto the Lord, and 15 And the Levites took down the ark [serve him only; and he will deliver of the LORD, and the coffer that was you out of the hands of the Philistines. with it, wherein the jewels of gold 4 Then the children of Israel did put were, and put them on the great stone away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and serv and the men of Beth-sheniesh offered ed the Lord only. burnt-offerings, and sacrificed sacri- 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel ces, the same day unto the Lond. to Mizpel, and I will pray for you. unto the Lord. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. 6 And they gathered together to Miz- 19 ¶ And he smote the men of Beth-9 T Aud Samuel took a sucking lamb, 21 T And they sent messengers to the II And the men of Israel went out of A CHAP. VII. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and callND the men of Kirjath jearimed the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, came, and fetched up the ark of Hitherto hath the Lono helped us the Loan, and brought it into the bonse 13 ¶ So the Philistines were subdued, of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified and they came no more into the coast Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the of Israel: and the band of the LonD Lord. was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 2 And it came to pass, while the ark that the time 14 And the cities which the Philis"y years: and]tines had taken from Israel were rented after stored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did all the Israel deliver out of the hands of the return Philistines. And there was peace be. Dearts,tween Israel and the Amorites. The Israelites CHAP. VIII, 1x. desire a king. 15 T And Samuel judged Israel allties; and will set them to ear his the days of his life. ground, and to reap his harvest, and 16 And be went from year to year in to make his instruments of war, and circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mis-instruments of his chariots. peh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 And his return was to Ramalı; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD. CHAP. VIII 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your AND it came to pass, when Samuel seed, and of your vineyards, and give was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your men-ser2 Now the name of his first-born was vants, and your maid-servants, and Joel, and the name of his second Abi- your goodliest young men, and your ali: they were judges in Beer-slieba. asses, and put them to his work. 3 And his sons walked not in his 17 He will take the tenth of your ways, but turned aside after lucre, and sheep: and ye shall be his servants. took bribes, and perverted judginent 18 And ye shall cry out in that day 4 Then all the elders of Israël gath-because of your king which ye shall ered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto 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 T But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 19 T 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 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 Lond. 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have 22 And the Loud said to Samuel, Fejected me, that I should not reign Hearken unto their voice, and make over them. them a king. And Samuel said unto 8 According to all the works which the men of Israel, Go ye every man they have done, since the day that 1 unto his city. brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken ine, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. NOW CHAP. IX. there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howheit, yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner 2. And be had a son, whose name was of the king that shall reign over them. Saul, a choice young man, and a good10 T And Samuel told all the words ly; and there was not among the chilof the LORD unto the people that ask-dren of Israel a goodlier person thau ed of him a king. he: from his shoulders and upward he II And he said, This will be the man-was higher than any of the people. ner of the king that shall reigu over 3 And the asses of Kish, Saul'sfather, you: He will take your sons, and ap-were lost: and Rish said to Saul his point them for himself, for his charson, Take now one of the servants iots, and to be his horsemen ; and some with thee, and arise, go seek the asses shall run before his chariots. 4 And he passed through mount 12 And he will appoint hin captains Ephraim, and passed through the land over thousands, and captains over fif lof Shalisha, but they found them not, then they passed through the land of Shalim; and there they were not; and he passed through the land of the Ben jainites, but they found them not. 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. 6 Aud he said unto him, Bebold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now, let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go. 7 Then said Saul to bis servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God; what have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul] again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of eilver; that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. Father's asses. 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 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. 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 unto the bigh 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 thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's 9 (Before-time in Israel, when a inauhouse? went to inquire of God, thus he spake, 21 And Saul auswered and said, Am Come, and let us go to the seer: for he not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of that is now called a Prophet, was be-the tribes of Israel? and my family the fore-time called a seer.) 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; coine, 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 peo- | ple 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 ent: for the people will not eat until he come, 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: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. 15 T Now the Loan had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? 22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the par lour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, aud set it 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 arose early: and it camo to pass, about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they Saul anointed. CHAP. X. Saul prophesieth. went out both of them, he and Samu-|God gave him another heart; and all el, abroad. those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came thither to the bill, behold, a company of proph ets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servants pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee among them. the word of God. CHAP. X. HEN Samuel took a vial of oil, 11 And it came to paɛs, when all that knew him before-time saw, that, behold, he prophesied among the proph THEN Samuel took his head, and ets, then the people mid the por qu kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? other, What is this that is come unte the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? 12 And one of the same place answer. ed and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? 2 When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachael's sepulchre, in the border Benjamin at Zelzab; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wantest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses and place. sorroweth for you, saying, What sball I do for my son? 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high 14 T And Saul's uncle said unto him ļaud to his servant, Whither went ye? 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from And be said, To seek the asses; and thence, and thou shalt come to the when he saw that they were no where, plain of Tabor, and there shall meet we came to Samuel. thee three men going up toGod to Beth- 15 And Saul's uncle said,Tell me, 1 el, one carrying three kids, and anoth-pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. er carrying three loaves of bread, and 16 And Saul said unto his uncle,He another carrying a bottle of wine: told us plainly that the asses were 4 And they will salute thee, and give found. But of the matter of the king thee two loaves of bread; which thou¦dom, whereof Samuel spake, he told shalt receive of their hands. him not. 5 After that thou shalt come to the 17 ¶ And Samuel called the people hill of God, where is the garrison of together unto the Lond to Mizpeb; the Philistines; and it shall come to 18 And said unto the children of Is pass, when thou art come thither to rael, Thus saith the LORD God of Is the city, that thou shalt meet a con-racl, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, pany of prophets coming down from and delivered you out of the hand of the high place, with a psaltery, and a the Egyptians, and out of the hand of tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before all kingdoms, and of them that op them; and they shall prophesy: pressed you: 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will 19 And ye bave this day rejected come upon thee, and thou shalt proph-[your God, who himself saved you out esy with them, and shalt be turned of all your adversities and your tribuinto another man. lations: 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. the 7. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do us occasion shall serve thee; for God is with thee. 8 And thou shalt go down before me 20 And when Samuel had caused all to Gilgal; and, behold, 1 will come the tribes of Israel to come near, down unto thee, to offer burut-offer-tribe of Benjamin was taken. ings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of 21 When he had caused the tribe of peace-offerings; seven days shalt thou | Benjamin to come near by their fantarry, till I come to thee, and show ilies, the family of Matri was taken, thee what thou shalt do. and Saul the son of Kish was taken: 9 ¶ And it was so, that,when he had and when they sought him, he could turned his back to go from Samuel,[not be found. Election of a king. I. SAMUEI Ammonites smilten. 22 Therefore they inquired of the throughout all the coasts of Israel by LORD further, if the man should yet the hands of messengers, saying, Whocome thither. And the LORD answer-soever cometh not forth after Saul and ed, Behold, he kath hid himself among after Samuel, so shall it be done unto the stuff. his oxen. And the fear of the LoRD 23 And they ran and fetched him fel on the people, and they came out thence; and when he stood among with one consent. 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 m a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 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 messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. 26 T And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had 11 And it was so on the morrow,that touched. Saul put the people in three compa27 But the children of Belial said,nies; and they came into the midst of How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents: but he held his peace. CHAP. XI. 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, 80 HEN Nabashthe Ammonite came that two of themwere not left together up, and encamped against Jabesh- 12 T And the people said unto Sam gilead and all the men of Jabesh said uel, Who is be that said, Shall Saul unto Nahashi, Make a covenant with|reign over us? bring the men, that we us, and we will serve thee. T 2 And Nabash 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. 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. 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. 14 ¶ Then 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 Lono in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings 4 T Then came the messengers to before the Lond; and there Saul and Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. the ears of the people: and all the prople lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And, behold, Saul came after the AND Samuel said unto all Israel, 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 Ius anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them CHAP. X11. Behold, I 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 walk eth before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, bebold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 3 Behold, here I am: witness against one before the LORD, and before his |