And Samuel took Saul and his Servant, and brought them into the house, and entertained them. And in the evening Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house, and they arose early, and about the spring of the day, Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up that I may send thee away; and Saul arose, and they went out both of them.

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 awhile, that I may shew thee the word of God. Then Samuel took a Vial of Oil, and poured it upon Saul's head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be Captain over his Inheritance? When thou art departed from me, thou shalt find two Men by Rachael's Sepulchre, and they shall tell thee the Asses are found, and in the Plain of Taber thou shalt meet three Men, one carrying three Kids, and another carrying three Loaves of Bread, and another carrying a Bottle of Wine,—and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, for God is with thee. And all these signs came to pass that day, and God gave Saul another heart.

And Samuel called all the People together,—and they drew lots, and the Tribe of Benjamin was taken; and out of that Tribe the Family of Mihi, and out of that Family Saul; and they ran and fetched him, and he was higher than any of the People from his shoulders upwards. And Samuel said, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen. And all the People shouted and said, God save the King.

Then Samuel told the People the manner of the Kingdom, and wrote it in a Book,—and Saul went home to Gibeah, and there went with him a band of

men whose hearts God had touched.

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.

CHAPTER 54.

SAUL KING OF ISRAEL.

THEN the Ammonites encamped against the Israelites in Jabesh, and the men of Jabesh said, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee; and the Ammonite said, On this condition, will I make a covenant, that I thrust out all your right eyes. And the men of

may

Jabesh said, Give us seven days respite, and they sent messengers to all the coasts of Israel, and told the tidings in the ears of the people, and they wept. And behold Saul came after the herd out of the Field, and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took a Yoke of Oxen and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout Israel saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and Samuel, so shall be done unto his Oxen, and they came out with one consent; and they fell on the Ammonites and slew them.

And the People said to Samuel, Who is he that said shall Saul reign over us? Bring the Men that we may put them to death,-And Saul said, Not a Man shall be put to death this day. And all the People went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul King before the Lord in Gilgal. For Saul being now appointed by the Lord to be their King, his high and commanding `spirit soon made all Israel to obey him.

And Samuel said to all Israel, Behold I am old aud gray-headed, and I have walked before you from my Childhood unto this day. Here I am, Witness against me, whose Ox or Ass have I taken, or whom have I

defrauded or oppressed? Stand still, that I may reason with you, of all the righteous acts of the Lord, to you and to your Fathers. Behold the King whom ye have chosen, if ye will fear the Lord, both ye and your King shall continue following the Lord your God; but if ye rebel against the Commandment of the Lord, then shall the Lord be against you, as against your Fathers. Now therefore stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not Wheat harvest to-day? And Samuel called unto the Lord, and he sent Thunder and Rain, and all the People feared the Lord and Samuel.

And when Saul had reigned two years, the Philistines came against Israel. And the People followed Saul trembling; and Saul sacrificed unto the Lord, without waiting for Samuel, as Samuel had commanded; and Samuel said, Thy Kingdom shall not continne.

And the Philistines spoiled Israel, and carried away all their Smiths lest they should make Swords or Spears. And Saul and Jonathan his son abode in Gibeah, with six hundred men, and the Philistines encamped in Michmash. And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come let us go over to the Philistines garrison, but he told not his Father. And between the passages by which Jonathan sought to go over, there was a sharp rock on one side, and a sharp rock on the other side-and Jonathan said, It may be the Lord will work for us, there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. We will discover ourselves to them, and if they say Come up, it shall be a sign that the Lord will deliver them into our hands. And they discovered themselves, and the Philistines said, Behold the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they hid themselves-Come up to us. And Jonathan

climbed up upon his hands and his feet, and his armour-bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah looked, and behold the multitude melted away. And Saul and all the People that were with him came to the battle, and there was a great discomfiture. And there was sore

war against the Philistines all the days of Saul.

And Samuel said to Saul, Go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have. And Saul smote the Amalekites, but took Agag their King alive; and spared the best of the Cattle for sacrifice, which was contrary to God's Commandment,-and Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned; now pardon my sin and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord,—and Samuel said, I will not return with thee. And as he turned about to go away, Saul laid hold of the skirt of his Mantle and it rent.

And Samuel said, The Lord hath rent the Kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a Neighbour of thine that is better than thee. Then Saul said, I have sinned, yet turn again and honour me that I may worship the Lord.

So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord; but Saul's heart was never wholly and intirely with his God;-then Samuel went to Ramah, and came no more to see Saul until the day of his death.

CHAPTER 55.

DAVID ANOINTED KING.

AND the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing that I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlemite; for I have pro

vided me a King among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an Heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord; and call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do. And Samuel came to Bethlehem, and the elders of the town trembled, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably. I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord, sanctify yourselves and come with me, and he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And when they were come, Samuel looked on Eliab, but the Lord said, Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature, for the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord, looketh on the heart. Then Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.

And Samuel said unto Jesse, are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold he keepeth the sheep. And he sent and brought him in, now he was ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance, and the Lord said, Arise anoint him, this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel went up and went to Ramah.

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul's servant said, Let us seek out a man who is a cunning player on the Harp-and one of his servants said, Behold I have seen a son of Jesse, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, prudent in matters, and comely in person. Wherefore Saul sent messengers