in the jewels of gold were, and put them on Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for
the great stone: and the men of Beth-she- us, that he will save us out of the hand of
mesh offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed the Philistines.
sacrifices, the same day unto the LORD.

9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb,
16 And when the five lords the Philis- and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly
tines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the unto the LORD; and Samuel cried unto the
same day.
LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
17 And these are the golden emerods, 10 And as Samuel was offering up the
which the Philistines returned for a trespass- burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to
offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for battle against Israel. but the LORD thunder-
Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for ed with a great thunder on that day upon
Ekron one;
the Philistines, and discomfited them; and
they were smitten before Israel.

18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it beof the LORD; which stone remaineth unto this tween Mizpeh and Shen, and called the day in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemite. name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car.

19¶ And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, the LORD helped us.

because they had looked into the ark of the 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and
LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thou- they came no more into the coast of Israel :
sand and threescore and ten men. And the peo- and the hand of the LORD was against the
ple lamented, because the LORD had smitten Philistines all the days of Samuel.
many of the people with a great slaughter.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had
20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who taken from Israel were restored to Israel,
is able to stand before this holy LORD God: from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts
and to whom shall he go up from us? thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of
21 And they sent messengers to the inha- the Philistines. And there was peace be-
bitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Phi-tween Israel and the Amorites.
listines have brought again the ark of the 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the
LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you. days of his life.

CHAP. VII.

16 And he went from year to year in circut to Bethel, 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 unto the

CHAP. VIII.

2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode LORD. in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years; and all the house AND it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made sons judges over

the LORD.

31 And Samuel spake unto all the house 2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel, of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the and the name of his second Abiah: they were LORD with all your hearts, then put away judges in Beer-sheba.

the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but
you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and
and serve him only; and he will deliver you perverted judgment.
out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered 4 Then the children of Israel did put away themselves together, and came to Samuel Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD unto Ramah,

only.
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old,
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now
Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
LORD.
6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, they said, Give us a king to judge us. And
and drew water, and poured it out before Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Heark-
there, We have sinned against the LORD. en unto the voice of the people in all that
And Samuel judged the children of Israel they say unto thee: for they have not re-
in Mizpeh.
jected thee, but they have rejected me, that

71 And when the Philistines heard that I should not reign over them.
the children of Israel were gathered together 8 According to all the works which they
to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went have done, since the day that I brought them
up against Israel. And when the children up out of Egypt even unto this day, where-
of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the with they have forsaken me, and served
other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Philistines.
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice:

fetched up

AND the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and of LORD, brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and him, Come, and let us return; lest my father shew them the manner of the king that shall leave caring for the asses, and take thought reign over them. for us.

10 1 And Samuel told all the words of the 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there LORD unto the people that asked of him a is in this city a man of God, and he is an hoking. nourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now, let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

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 shall run before his chariots.

7 Then said Saul to his servant, But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there

12 And he will appoint him captains over is not a present to bring to the man of God: thousands, and captains over fifties, and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

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 silver; that will I give to the man of God to tell us our way.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 9 (Before-time in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet, was before-time called a Seer.) 10 Then said Sanl to his servant, Well said; come let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

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 seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

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?

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 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.

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.

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 na-eat until he come, because he doth bless the tions, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

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

sacrifice, and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

14 And they went up into the city and when they were come into the city, behold,

22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hear-Samuel came out against them, for to go up ken unto their voice, and make them a king. to the high place. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

15 ¶ Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To-morrow, about this time, I will send

CHAP. IX.

of

a

out of

name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my there and of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of people Israel, that he may save my people Aphiah, a Benjamite,a mighty man of power. out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, looked upon my people, because their cry is a choice young man, and a goodly; and there come unto me. was not among the children of Israel a good- 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD lier person than he: from his shoulders and said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake upward he was higher than any of the people. to thee of! this same shall reign over my 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 And be passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of 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 Benjamites, but they found them not.

5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with

people.

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

I

19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, am the seer: go up before me 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.

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

desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shal 21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I serve thee; for God is with thee. a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of 8 And thou shalt go down before me to Israel? and my family the least of all the fa- Gilgal; and behold, I will come down unto milies of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacri. then speakest thou so to me? fice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant. and brought them into the parlour, 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 came to pass that day. said unto 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 left set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee, since said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

9¶ And it was so, that, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs

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.

And it came to pass, when all that knew him before-time saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is 25¶ And when they were come down from come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also the high place into the city, Samuel commu-among the prophets?

ned with Saul upon the top of the house. 12 And one of the same place answered

26 And they arose early and it came to and said. But who is their father? Therefore pass, about the spring of the day, that Sa- it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the mue! called Saul to the top of the house, say-prophets

ing, Up, that I may send thee away, And And when he had made an end of proSaul arose, and they went out both of them, phesying, he came to the high place. he 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 he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

CHAP. X.

14 And Saul's uncle said unto 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.

La And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told

THE HEN Samuel took a vial of oil and pourus plainly that the asses were found. But of ed it upon his head, and kissed him, and the matter of the kingdom, whereof Sa said. Is it not because the LORD hath anoint-muel spake, he told him not.

ed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 17 And Samuel called the people toge 2 When thou art departed from me to-day, ther unto the LORD to Mizpel; then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's 18 And said unto the children of Israel, sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin, at el. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, zah; and they will say unto thee, The asses brought up Israel out of Egypt, and deliver which thou wentest to seek are found and ed you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I that oppressed you : do for my son?

19 And ye have this day rejected your 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from God, who himself saved you out of all your thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of adversities and your tribulations; and ye Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men have said unto him. Nay, but set a king going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three over us Now therefore present yourselves Kids, and another carrying three loaves of before the LORD by your tribes, and by your bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: thousands.

4 And they will salute thee, and give thee 20 And when Samuel had caused all the two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Ben of their hands. jamin was taken.

5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of 21 When he had caused the tribe of BenGod, where is the garrison of the Philistines: jamin to come near by their families, the faand it shall come to pass, when thou art come mily of Matri was taken, and Saul the son thither to the city that thou shalt meet a of Kish was taken: and when they sought company of propliets coming down from the him, he could not be found.

high place, with a psaltery, and a tabret, and 2 Therefore they enquired of the LORD a pipe, and a harp, before them, and they further, if the man should yet come thither. shall prophesy: And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath

6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come hid himself among the stuff. npon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: them, and shalt be turned into another man. 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.

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.

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 together.

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.

12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he 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 to-day 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 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.

THE

CHAP. XII.

HEN Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve ND Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, thee. I have hearkened unto your voice in all 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered that ye said unto me, and have made a king them, On this condition will I make a cove-over you.

ant with you, that I may thrust out all your 2 And now, behold, the king walketh beright eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

fore you and I am old and gray-headed; 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

41 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of have I oppressed? or of whose hand have Į the people and all the people lifted up their received any bribe to blind mine eyes therevoices, and wept. with? and I will restore it you.

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.

4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

5 And he said unto them, The LORD is

6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul witness against you, and his anointed is witwhen he heard those tidings, and his anger ness this day, that ye have not found ought was kindled greatly. in my hand. And they answered, He is

61 And Samuel said unto the people, It is

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed witness. them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messen- the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, gers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth and that brought your fathers up out of the after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be land of Egypt. done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

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.

S And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

S When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

9 And when they forgat the LORD their God,

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 messen-he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain came and shewed it to the men of of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Jabesh; and they were glad. Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto

10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsal the LORD, and have served Baalim and

you.

taroth but now deliver us out of the hand] 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the of our enemies, and we will serve thee. Philistines that was in Geba; and the Philis

11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Be-tines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumdan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and deliver-pet throughout all the land, saying, Let the ed you out of the hand of your enemies on Hebrews hear. every side, and ye dwelled safe.

4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines gathered themselves 13 Now therefore behold the king whom together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and and behold, the LORD hath set a king over people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude; and they came up and pitched in Michimash, eastward from Beth-aven.

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 gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin: and Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul 16 And Saul, and Jonathan bis son,and the in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a people that were present with them, abode thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent encamped in Michmash. 17 And the spoilers came out of the camp