1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount

Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the

son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and

the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but

Hannah had no children.

1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and

to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons

of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were]

there.

1:4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to

Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters,

portions:

1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved

Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

1:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her

fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

1:7 And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the

house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and

did not eat.

1:8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest

thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?

[am] not I better to thee than ten sons?

1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after

they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of

the temple of the LORD.

1:10 And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the

LORD, and wept sore.

1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou

wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and

remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto

thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD

all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon

his head.

1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the

LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

1:13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved,

but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been

drunken.

1:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put

away thy wine from thee.

1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a woman

of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong

drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

1:16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out

of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken

hitherto.

1:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of

Israel grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight.

So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was

no more [sad].

1:19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped

before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to

Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD

remembered her.

1:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about

after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his

name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.

1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer

unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

1:22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, [I

will not go up] until the child be weaned, and [then] I will

bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide

for ever.

1:23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee

good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish

his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she

weaned him.

1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with

three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine,

and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the

child [was] young.

1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

1:26 And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I

[am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my

petition which I asked of him:

1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he

liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD

there.

2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,

mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over

mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2:2 [There is] none holy as the LORD: for [there is] none beside

thee: neither [is there] any rock like our God.

2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come

out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by

him actions are weighed.

2:4 The bows of the mighty men [are] broken, and they that

stumbled are girded with strength.

2:5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread;

and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath

born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the

grave, and bringeth up.

2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and

lifteth up.

2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the

beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to

make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the

earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be

silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out

of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the

ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king,

and exalt the horn of his anointed.

2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did

minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

2:12 Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they knew not

the LORD.

2:13 And the priests' custom with the people [was, that], when

any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the

flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his

hand;

2:14 And he struck [it] into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or

pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for

himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that

came thither.

2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came,

and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for

the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

2:16 And [if] any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn

the fat presently, and [then] take [as much] as thy soul

desireth; then he would answer him, [Nay]; but thou shalt give

[it me] now: and if not, I will take [it] by force.

2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before

the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, [being] a child,

girded with a linen ephod.

2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought

[it] to him from year to year, when she came up with her

husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD

give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the

LORD. And they went unto their own home.

2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and

bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew

before the LORD.

2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto

all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled [at]

the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

2:23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of

your evil dealings by all this people.

2:24 Nay, my sons; for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye

make the LORD'S people to transgress.

2:25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him:

but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him?

Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their

father, because the LORD would slay them.

2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with

the LORD, and also with men.

2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him,

Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy

father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel [to

be] my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to

wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy

father all the offerings made by fire of the children of

Israel?

2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,

which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest thy

sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all

the offerings of Israel my people?

2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed

[that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk

before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me;

for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me

shall be lightly esteemed.

2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and

the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old

man in thine house.

2:32 And thou shalt see an enemy [in my] habitation, in all [the

wealth] which [God] shall give Israel: and there shall not be

an old man in thine house for ever.

2:33 And the man of thine, [whom] I shall not cut off from mine

altar, [shall be] to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine

heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the

flower of their age.

2:34 And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, that shall come upon

thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die

both of them.

2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, [that] shall do

according to [that] which [is] in mine heart and in my mind:

and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before

mine anointed for ever.

2:36 And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left in

thine house shall come [and] crouch to him for a piece of

silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray

thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece

of bread.

3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli.

And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there

was] no open vision.

3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli [was] laid down

in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, [that] he could

not see;

3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD,

where the ark of God [was], and Samuel was laid down [to

sleep];

3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here [am] I.

3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou

calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he

went and lay down.

3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and

went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And

he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word

of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he

arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst

call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall

be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy

servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times,

Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant

heareth.

3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in

Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it

shall tingle.

3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all [things] which I

have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also

make an end.

3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever

for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made

themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the

iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor

offering for ever.

3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of

the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the

vision.

3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he

answered, Here [am] I.

3:17 And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said

unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to

thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all

the things that he said unto thee.

3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him.

And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him

good.

3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let

none of his words fall to the ground.

3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel

[was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD.

3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD

revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went

out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside

Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel:

and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the

Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four

thousand men.

4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of

Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before

the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the

LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it

may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from

thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which

dwelleth [between] the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli,

Hophni and Phinehas, [were] there with the ark of the covenant

of God.

4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the

camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth

rang again.

4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they

said, What [meaneth] the noise of this great shout in the camp

of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD

was come into the camp.

4:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come

into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not

been such a thing heretofore.

4:8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these

mighty Gods? these [are] the Gods that smote the Egyptians with

all the plagues in the wilderness.

4:9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines,

that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to

you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and

they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great

slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli,

Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

4:12 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.

4:13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside

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.

4:14 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.

4:15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were

dim, that he could not see.

4:16 And the man said unto Eli, I [am] he that came out of the

army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is

there done, my son?

4:17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is 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.

4:18 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 brake, and he died: for he was an old man,

and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

4:19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child,

[near] to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the

ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her

husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her

pains came upon her.

4:20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her

said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she

answered not, neither did she regard [it].

4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is

departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and

because of her father in law and her husband.

4:22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the

ark of God is taken.

5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from

Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

5:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it

into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

5:3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold,

Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of

the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold,

Dagon [was] 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.

5:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come

into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod

unto this day.

5:6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and

he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, [even] Ashdod

and the coasts thereof.

5:7 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 sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the

Philistines unto 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 unto Gath. And they carried the ark

of the God of Israel about [thither].

5:9 And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about, 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.

5:10 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 brought about the ark of the God of

Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

5:11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the

Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel,

and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and

our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all

the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

5:12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods:

and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

6:1 And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the

Philistines seven months.

6:2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,

saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us

wherewith we shall send it to his place.

6:3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel,

send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass

offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you

why his hand is not removed from you.

6:4 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 you all, and on your

lords.

6:5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images

of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto

the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from

off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians

and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought

wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and

they departed?

6:7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on

which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart,

and bring their calves home from them:

6:8 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and

put the jewels of gold, which ye return him [for] a trespass

offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away,

that it may go.

6:9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to

Bethshemesh, [then] 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.

6:10 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them

to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:

6:11 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.

6:12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of

Bethshemesh, [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 unto the border of

Bethshemesh.

6:13 And [they of] Bethshemesh [were] reaping their wheat

harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw

the ark, and rejoiced to see [it].

6:14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite,

and stood there, where [there was] a great stone: and they

clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt

offering unto the LORD.

6:15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the

coffer that [was] with it, wherein the jewels of gold [were],

and put [them] on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh

offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day

unto the LORD.

6:16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen [it],

they returned to Ekron the same day.

6:17 And these [are] the golden emerods which the Philistines

returned [for] a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod

one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron

one;

6:18 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 of the LORD:

[which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of Joshua,

the Bethshemite.

6:19 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 threescore and ten men: and the people

lamented, because the LORD had smitten [many] of the people

with a great slaughter.

6:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand

before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

6:21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of

Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the

ark of the LORD; come ye down, [and] fetch it up to you.

7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of

the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the

hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the

LORD.

7:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim,

that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the

house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye

do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, [then] put away

the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your

hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver

you out of the hand of the Philistines.

7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and

Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will

pray for you unto the LORD.

7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and

poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and

said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged

the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7:7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel

were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines

went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard

[it], they were afraid of the Philistines.

7:8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry

unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the

hand of the Philistines.

7:9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered [it for] a burnt

offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD

for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

7:10 And as Samuel was offering up 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

Israel.

7:11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the

Philistines, and smote them, until [they came] under Bethcar.

7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and

Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath

the LORD helped us.

7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into

the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the

Philistines all the days of Samuel.

7:14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel

were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the

coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the

Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the

Amorites.

7:15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

7:16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and

Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

7:17 And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his house;

and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto

the LORD.

8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his

sons judges over Israel.

8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his

second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beersheba.

8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after

lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,

and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

8:5 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.

8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a

king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

8:7 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 rejected me, that I should not

reign over them.

8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the

day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day,

wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do

they also unto thee.

8:9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest

solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that

shall reign over them.

8:10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people

that asked of him a king.

8:11 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.

8:12 And he will appoint him captains over 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.

8:13 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries,

and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.

8:14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your

oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his

servants.

8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your

vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

8:16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants,

and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to

his work.

8:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his

servants.

8:18 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.

8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of

Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

8:20 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.

8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he

rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

8:22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and

make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye

every man unto his city.

9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the

son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son

of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

9:2 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 goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he

was] higher than any of the people.

9:3 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.

9:4 And he 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.

9:5 [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.

9:6 And he said unto him, Behold 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 shew us our way that we should go.

9:7 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 is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what

have we?

9:8 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.

9:9 (Beforetime 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 beforetime called a Seer.)

9:10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go.

So they went unto the city where the man of God [was].

9:11 [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?

9:12 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:

9:13 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 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.

9:14 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.

9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul

came, saying,

9:16 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.

9:17 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.

9:18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell

me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is].

9:19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I [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.

9:20 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 house?

9:21 And Saul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benjamite, of the

smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of

all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then

speakest thou so to me?

9:22 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.

9:23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I

gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

9:24 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 I said, I have

invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

9:25 And when they were come down from the high place into the

city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

9:26 And they arose early: and it came 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

went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

9:27 [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.

10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and 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?

10:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find

two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at

Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou

wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the

care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I

do for my son?

10:3 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 Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another

carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle

of wine:

10:4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two [loaves] of

bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

10:5 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 art 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 shall prophesy:

10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou

shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

10:7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, [that]

thou do as occasion serve thee; for God [is] with thee.

10:8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I

will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, [and] to

sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou

tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

10:9 And it was [so], that when he had turned his back to go

from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs

came to pass that day.

10:10 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.

10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw

that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people

said one to another, What [is] this [that] is come unto the son

of Kish? [Is] Saul also among the prophets?

10:12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who [is]

their father? Therefore it became a proverb, [Is] Saul also

among the prophets?

10:13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the

high place.

10:14 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.

10:15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel

said unto you.

10:16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the

asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof

Samuel spake, he told him not.

10:17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to

Mizpeh;

10:18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD

God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered

you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of

all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed you:

10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved

you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye

have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now

therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes,

and by your thousands.

10:20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to

come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

10:21 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.

10:22 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man

should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath

hid himself among the stuff.

10:23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood

among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his

shoulders and upward.

10:24 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.

10:25 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.

10:26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him

a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

10:27 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.

11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against

Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make

a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

11:2 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.

11:3 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.

11:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the

tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up

their voices, and wept.

11:5 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.

11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those

tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and

sent [them] throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of

messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and

after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear

of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one

consent.

11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel

were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty

thousand.

11:9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye

say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time] the

sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and

shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

11:10 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.

11:11 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.

11:12 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.

11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this

day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to

Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

11:15 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.

12:1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened

unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a

king over you.

12:2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old

and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons [are] with you: and I have

walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

12:3 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 of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes

therewith? and I will restore it you.

12:4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed

us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

12:5 And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness against you,

and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found

ought in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness.

12:6 And Samuel said unto the people, [It is] the LORD that

advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out

of the land of Egypt.

12:7 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.

12:8 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.

12:9 And when they forgat 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.

12:10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned,

because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and

Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies,

and we will serve thee.

12:11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and

Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on

every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12:12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of

Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall

reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king.

12:13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, [and]

whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king

over you.

12:14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his

voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then

shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue

following the LORD your God:

12:15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel

against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the

LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers.

12:16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the

LORD will do before your eyes.

12:17 [Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the

LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive

and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in

the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

12:18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder

and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD

and Samuel.

12:19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants

unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto

all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.

12:20 And Samuel said unto 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;

12:21 And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain

[things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain.

12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great

name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his

people.

12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against

the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the

good and the right way:

12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your

heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you.

12:25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed,

both ye and your king.

13:1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years

over Israel,

13:2 Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof]

two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel,

and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and

the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that

[was] in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew

the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews

hear.

13:4 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.

13:5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight

with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand

horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the sea shore in

multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward

from Bethaven.

13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for

the people were distressed,) then the people did hide

themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high

places, and in pits.

13:7 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 followed him trembling.

13:8 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.

13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and

peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

13:10 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 salute him.

13:11 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 gathered themselves together at Michmash;

13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon

me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I

forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13:13 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.

13:14 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.

13:15 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.

13:16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people [that were]

present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the

Philistines encamped in Michmash.

13:17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines

in three companies: one company turned unto the way [that

leadeth to] Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:

13:18 And another company turned the way [to] Bethhoron: and

another company turned [to] the way of the border that looketh

to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

13:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of

Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [them]

swords or spears:

13:20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to

sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and

his mattock.

13:21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the

coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen

the goads.

13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was

neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people

that [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with

Jonathan his son was there found.

13:23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the

passage of Michmash.

14:1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of

Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and

let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that [is] on the

other side. But he told not his father.

14:2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a

pomegranate tree which [is] in Migron: and the people that

[were] with him [were] about six hundred men;

14:3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of

Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing

an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

14:4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go

over unto the Philistines' garrison, [there was] a sharp rock

on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the

name of the one [was] Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

14:5 The forefront of the one [was] situate northward over

against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour,

Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these

uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for

[there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

14:7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in

thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to

thy heart.

14:8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto [these]

men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

14:9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then

we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

14:10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up:

for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this [shall

be] a sign unto us.

14:11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison

of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the

Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid

themselves.

14:12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his

armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a

thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after

me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

14:13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet,

and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan;

and his armourbearer slew after him.

14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his

armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an

half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].

14:15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and

among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also

trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great

trembling.

14:16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked;

and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on

beating down [one another].

14:17 Then said Saul unto the people that [were] with him,

Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had

numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer [were] not

[there].

14:18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For

the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

14:19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest,

that the noise that [was] in the host of the Philistines went

on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine

hand.

14:20 And Saul and all the people that [were] with him assembled

themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every

man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very

great discomfiture.

14:21 Moreover the Hebrews [that] were with the Philistines

before that time, which went up with them into the camp [from

the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with

the Israelites that [were] with Saul and Jonathan.

14:22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in

mount Ephraim, [when] they heard that the Philistines fled,

even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed

over unto Bethaven.

14:24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul

had adjured the people, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth

[any] food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine

enemies. So none of the people tasted [any] food.

14:25 And all [they of] the land came to a wood; and there was

honey upon the ground.

14:26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the

honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the

people feared the oath.

14:27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people

with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that

[was] in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his

hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

14:28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father

straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed [be]

the man that eateth [any] food this day. And the people were

faint.

14:29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see,

I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I

tasted a little of this honey.

14:30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day

of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there

not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

14:31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to

Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

14:32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and

oxen, and calves, and slew [them] on the ground: and the people

did eat [them] with the blood.

14:33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin

against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said,

Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

14:34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and

say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man

his sheep, and slay [them] here, and eat; and sin not against

the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought

every man his ox with him that night, and slew [them] there.

14:35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the

first altar that he built unto the LORD.

14:36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by

night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not

leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good

unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto

God.

14:37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the

Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?

But he answered him not that day.

14:38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the

people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

14:39 For, [as] the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it

be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But [there was] not

a man among all the people [that] answered him.

14:40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and

Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said

unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

14:41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a

perfect [lot]. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people

escaped.

14:42 And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my son.

And Jonathan was taken.

14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done.

And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey

with the end of the rod that [was] in mine hand, [and], lo, I

must die.

14:44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt

surely die, Jonathan.

14:45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who

hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: [as]

the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to

the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the

people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

14:46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the

Philistines went to their own place.

14:47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against

all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the

children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of

Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned

himself, he vexed [them].

14:48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and

delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and

Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters [were these];

the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger

Michal:

14:50 And the name of Saul's wife [was] Ahinoam, the daughter of

Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host [was] Abner,

the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

14:51 And Kish [was] the father of Saul; and Ner the father of

Abner [was] the son of Abiel.

14:52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the

days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant

man, he took him unto him.

15:1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee

[to be] king over his people, over Israel: now therefore

hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which

Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way,

when he came up from Egypt.

15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they

have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant

and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

15:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in

Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of

Judah.

15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the

valley.

15:6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down

from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye

shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came

up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the

Amalekites.

15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah [until] thou

comest to Shur, that [is] over against Egypt.

15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and

utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the

sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and

all [that was] good, and would not utterly destroy them: but

every thing [that was] vile and refuse, that they destroyed

utterly.

15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for

he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my

commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD

all night.

15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it

was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he

set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone

down to Gilgal.

15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed

[be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the

LORD.

15:14 And Samuel said, What [meaneth] then this bleating of the

sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites:

for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to

sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly

destroyed.

15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee

what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him,

Say on.

15:17 And Samuel said, When thou [wast] little in thine own

sight, [wast] thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Israel,

and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and

utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against

them until they be consumed.

15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD,

but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of

the LORD?

15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of

the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and

have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly

destroyed the Amalekites.

15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the

chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed,

to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt

offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken

than the fat of rams.

15:23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and

stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast

rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from

[being] king.

15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have

transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words:

because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again

with me, that I may worship the LORD.

15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee:

for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath

rejected thee from being king over Israel.

15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon

the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

15:28 And Samuel said unto him, 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 thou.

15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent:

for he [is] not a man, that he should repent.

15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: [yet] honour me now, I pray

thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and

turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

15:31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the

LORD.

15:32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of

the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag

said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

15:33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless,

so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed

Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house

to Gibeah of Saul.

15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his

death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD

repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for

Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?

fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the

Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

16:2 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 to the LORD.

16:3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what

thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me [him] whom I name

unto thee.

16:4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to

Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming,

and said, Comest thou peaceably?

16:5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the

LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.

And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the

sacrifice.

16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on

Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed [is] before him.

16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance,

or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:

for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the

outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before

Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither

hath the LORD chosen this.

16:10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel.

And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

16:11 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 Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch

him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and]

withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And

the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.

16:13 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 rose up, and went to

Ramah.

16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil

spirit from the LORD troubled him.

16:15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil

spirit from God troubleth thee.

16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, [which are] before

thee, to seek out a man, [who is] a cunning player on an harp:

and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is

upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be

well.

16:17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that

can play well, and bring [him] to me.

16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I

have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in

playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and

prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with

him.

16:19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send

me David thy son, which [is] with the sheep.

16:20 And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of

wine, and a kid, and sent [them] by David his son unto Saul.

16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved

him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

16:22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee,

stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

16:23 And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was

upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand:

so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit

departed from him.

17:1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to

battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which

[belongeth] to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah,

in Ephesdammim.

17:2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and

pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array

against the Philistines.

17:3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side,

and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and [there

was] a valley between them.

17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the

Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height [was] six

cubits and a span.

17:5 And [he had] an helmet of brass upon his head, and he [was]

armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat [was]

five thousand shekels of brass.

17:6 And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target

of brass between his shoulders.

17:7 And the staff of his spear [was] like a weaver's beam; and

his spear's head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and one

bearing a shield went before him.

17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said

unto them, Why are ye come out to set [your] battle in array?

[am] not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a

man for you, and let him come down to me.

17:9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will

we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill

him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this

day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the

Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

17:12 Now David [was] the son of that Ephrathite of

Bethlehemjudah, whose name [was] Jesse; and he had eight sons:

and the man went among men [for] an old man in the days of

Saul.

17:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went [and] followed

Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went

to the battle [were] Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him

Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

17:14 And David [was] the youngest: and the three eldest

followed Saul.

17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's

sheep at Bethlehem.

17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and

presented himself forty days.

17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy

brethren an ephah of this parched [corn], and these ten loaves,

and run to the camp to thy brethren;

17:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of [their]

thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their

pledge.

17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, [were] in

the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep

with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him;

and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the

fight, and shouted for the battle.

17:21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in

array, army against army.

17:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of

the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his

brethren.

17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the

champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the

armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same

words: and David heard [them].

17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled

from him, and were sore afraid.

17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is

come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be,

[that] the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with

great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his

father's house free in Israel.

17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What

shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and

taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who [is] this

uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the

living God?

17:27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So

shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the

men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said,

Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those

few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the

naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou

mightest see the battle.

17:29 And David said, What have I now done? [Is there] not a

cause?

17:30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the

same manner: and the people answered him again after the former

manner.

17:31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they

rehearsed [them] before Saul: and he sent for him.

17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of

him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against

this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth,

and he a man of war from his youth.

17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's

sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out

of the flock:

17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered

[it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught

[him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this

uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he

hath defied the armies of the living God.

17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the

paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will

deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said

unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

17:38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet

of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed

to go; for he had not proved [it]. And David said unto Saul, I

cannot go with these; for I have not proved [them]. And David

put them off him.

17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five

smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's

bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his

hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and

the man that bare the shield [went] before him.

17:42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he

disdained him: for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a

fair countenance.

17:43 And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that

thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David

by his gods.

17:44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will

give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of

the field.

17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with

a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to

thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of

Israel, whom thou hast defied.

17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I

will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give

the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the

fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all

the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not

with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he

will give you into our hands.

17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came

and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward

the army to meet the Philistine.

17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a

stone, and slang [it], and smote the Philistine in his

forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell

upon his face to the earth.

17:50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and

with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but

[there was] no sword in the hand of David.

17:51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and

took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew

him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines

saw their champion was dead, they fled.

17:52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and

pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to

the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell

down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

17:53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the

Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it

to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

17:55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine,

he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son

[is] this youth? And Abner said, [As] thy soul liveth, O king,

I cannot tell.

17:56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling

[is].

17:57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the

Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with

the head of the Philistine in his hand.

17:58 And Saul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou] young

man? And David answered, I [am] the son of thy servant Jesse

the Bethlehemite.

18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking

unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of

David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more

home to his father's house.

18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved

him as his own soul.

18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was] upon

him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword,

and to his bow, and to his girdle.

18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and]

behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war,

and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in

the sight of Saul's servants.

18:6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned

from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out

of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king

Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

18:7 And the women answered [one another] as they played, and

said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten

thousands.

18:8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and

he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me

they have ascribed [but] thousands: and [what] can he have more

but the kingdom?

18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit

from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the

house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and

[there was] a javelin in Saul's hand.

18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David

even to the wall [with it]. And David avoided out of his

presence twice.

18:12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with

him, and was departed from Saul.

18:13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his

captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the

people.

18:14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the

LORD [was] with him.

18:15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very

wisely, he was afraid of him.

18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out

and came in before them.

18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab,

her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and

fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be

upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who [am] I? and what [is] my

life, [or] my father's family in Israel, that I should be son

in law to the king?

18:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter

should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel

the Meholathite to wife.

18:20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told

Saul, and the thing pleased him.

18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a

snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be

against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day

be my son in law in [the one of] the twain.

18:22 And Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with

David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee,

and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son

in law.

18:23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of

David. And David said, Seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to

be a king's son in law, seeing that I [am] a poor man, and

lightly esteemed?

18:24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner

spake David.

18:25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king

desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the

Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul

thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

18:26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased

David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not

expired.

18:27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew

of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their

foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he

might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his

daughter to wife.

18:28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with David, and

[that] Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

18:29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became

David's enemy continually.

18:30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it

came to pass, after they went forth, [that] David behaved

himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his

name was much set by.

19:1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his

servants, that they should kill David.

19:2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and

Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill

thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until

the morning, and abide in a secret [place], and hide thyself:

19:3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field

where thou [art], and I will commune with my father of thee;

and what I see, that I will tell thee.

19:4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and

said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant,

against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and

because his works [have been] to thee-ward very good:

19:5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the

Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all

Israel: thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice: wherefore then

wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a

cause?

19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul

sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

19:7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all

those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in

his presence, as in times past.

19:8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought

with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and

they fled from him.

19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat

in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played

with [his] hand.

19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the

javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he

smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped

that night.

19:11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch

him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife

told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow

thou shalt be slain.

19:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went,

and fled, and escaped.

19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid [it] in the bed, and

put a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster, and covered [it]

with a cloth.

19:14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He

[is] sick.

19:15 And Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying,

Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

19:16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was]

an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' [hair] for his

bolster.

19:17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so,

and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal

answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill

thee?

19:18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel

went and dwelt in Naioth.

19:19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David [is] at Naioth

in Ramah.

19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw

the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing

[as] appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the

messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

19:21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and

they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the

third time, and they prophesied also.

19:22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that

[is] in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where [are] Samuel and

David? And [one] said, Behold, [they be] at Naioth in Ramah.

19:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of

God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he

came to Naioth in Ramah.

19:24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied

before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day

and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul also among

the prophets?

20:1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said

before Jonathan, What have I done? what [is] mine iniquity? and

what [is] my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

20:2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die:

behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but

that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this

thing from me? it [is] not [so].

20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly

knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith,

Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as]

the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a

step between me and death.

20:4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul

desireth, I will even do [it] for thee.

20:5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow [is] the

new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat:

but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the

third [day] at even.

20:6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly

asked [leave] of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city:

for [there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

20:7 If he say thus, [It is] well; thy servant shall have peace:

but if he be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is determined

by him.

20:8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou

hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee:

notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself;

for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

20:9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew

certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon

thee, then would not I tell it thee?

20:10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what

[if] thy father answer thee roughly?

20:11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into

the field. And they went out both of them into the field.

20:12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I

have sounded my father about to morrow any time, [or] the third

[day], and, behold, [if there be] good toward David, and I then

send not unto thee, and shew it thee;

20:13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please

my father [to do] thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send

thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with

thee, as he hath been with my father.

20:14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the

kindness of the LORD, that I die not:

20:15 But [also] thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my

house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies

of David every one from the face of the earth.

20:16 So Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David,

[saying], Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of David's

enemies.

20:17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved

him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

20:18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow [is] the new moon:

and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.

20:19 And [when] thou hast stayed three days, [then] thou shalt

go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide

thyself when the business was [in hand], and shalt remain by

the stone Ezel.

20:20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side [thereof], as

though I shot at a mark.

20:21 And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying], Go, find out the

arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows

[are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for

[there is] peace to thee, and no hurt; [as] the LORD liveth.

20:22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows

[are] beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee

away.

20:23 And [as touching] the matter which thou and I have spoken

of, behold, the LORD [be] between thee and me for ever.

20:24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon

was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

20:25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, [even]

upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by

Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

20:26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he

thought, Something hath befallen him, he [is] not clean; surely

he [is] not clean.

20:27 And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the second

[day] of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said

unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to

meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?

20:28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked [leave]

of me [to go] to Bethlehem:

20:29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a

sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me [to

be there]: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let

me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he

cometh not unto the king's table.

20:30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he

said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do

not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own

confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

20:31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground,

thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now

send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

20:32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him,

Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

20:33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby

Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay

David.

20:34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did

eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for

David, because his father had done him shame.

20:35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out

into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little

lad with him.

20:36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows

which I shoot. [And] as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond

him.

20:37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which

Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, [Is]

not the arrow beyond thee?

20:38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay

not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his

master.

20:39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David

knew the matter.

20:40 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said

unto him, Go, carry [them] to the city.

20:41 [And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of [a

place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground,

and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and

wept one with another, until David exceeded.

20:42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we

have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD

be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for

ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the

city.

21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and

Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto

him, Why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee?

21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath

commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know

any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I

have commanded thee: and I have appointed [my] servants to such

and such a place.

21:3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give [me] five

[loaves of] bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

21:4 And the priest answered David, and said, [There is] no

common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if

the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a

truth women [have been] kept from us about these three days,

since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy,

and [the bread is] in a manner common, yea, though it were

sanctified this day in the vessel.

21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed [bread]: for there was no

bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the

LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

21:7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul [was] there that

day, detained before the LORD; and his name [was] Doeg, an

Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that [belonged] to Saul.

21:8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under

thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword

nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required

haste.

21:9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine,

whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it [is here]

wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that,

take [it]: for [there is] no other save that here. And David

said, [There is] none like that; give it me.

21:10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and

went to Achish the king of Gath.

21:11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, [Is] not this

David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of

him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David

his ten thousands?

21:12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore

afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

21:13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned

himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the

gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

21:14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is

mad: wherefore [then] have ye brought him to me?

21:15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this [fellow]

to play the mad man in my presence? shall this [fellow] come

into my house?

22:1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave

Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard

[it], they went down thither to him.

22:2 And every one [that was] in distress, and every one that

[was] in debt, and every one [that was] discontented, gathered

themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and

there were with him about four hundred men.

22:3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto

the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee,

come forth, [and be] with you, till I know what God will do for

me.

22:4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt

with him all the while that David was in the hold.

22:5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold;

depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David

departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

22:6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that

[were] with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in

Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants

[were] standing about him;)

22:7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear

now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you

fields and vineyards, [and] make you all captains of thousands,

and captains of hundreds;

22:8 That all of you have conspired against me, and [there is]

none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the

son of Jesse, and [there is] none of you that is sorry for me,

or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant

against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

22:9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the

servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to

Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

22:10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him

victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

22:11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son

of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that [were]

in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

22:12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he

answered, Here I [am], my lord.

22:13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me,

thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread,

and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should

rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

22:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who [is

so] faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the

king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable

in thine house?

22:15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from

me: let not the king impute [any] thing unto his servant, [nor]

to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of

all this, less or more.

22:16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou,

and all thy father's house.

22:17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him,

Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also

[is] with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did

not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put

forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

22:18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the

priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the

priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that

did wear a linen ephod.

22:19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge

of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and

oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

22:20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named

Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

22:21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S

priests.

22:22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew [it] that day, when

Doeg the Edomite [was] there, that he would surely tell Saul: I

have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of thy father's

house.

22:23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life

seeketh thy life: but with me thou [shalt be] in safeguard.

23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight

against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

23:2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go

and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go,

and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

23:3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in

Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the

armies of the Philistines?

23:4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD

answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will

deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

23:5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the

Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with

a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

23:6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech

fled to David to Keilah, [that] he came down [with] an ephod in

his hand.

23:7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And

Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is

shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

23:8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down

to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

23:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief

against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither

the ephod.

23:10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath

certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy

the city for my sake.

23:11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will

Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of

Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He

will come down.

23:12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my

men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver

[thee] up.

23:13 Then David and his men, [which were] about six hundred,

arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they

could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from

Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

23:14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and

remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul

sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

23:15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and

David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

23:16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the

wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

23:17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my

father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel,

and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father

knoweth.

23:18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David

abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

23:19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth

not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in

the hill of Hachilah, which [is] on the south of Jeshimon?

23:20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the

desire of thy soul to come down; and our part [shall be] to

deliver him into the king's hand.

23:21 And Saul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have

compassion on me.

23:22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place

where his haunt is, [and] who hath seen him there: for it is

told me [that] he dealeth very subtilly.

23:23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking

places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with

the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to

pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out

throughout all the thousands of Judah.

23:24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David

and his men [were] in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on

the south of Jeshimon.

23:25 Saul also and his men went to seek [him]. And they told

David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the

wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard [that], he pursued

after David in the wilderness of Maon.

23:26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and

his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to

get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David

and his men round about to take them.

23:27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee,

and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

23:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and

went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place

Selahammahlekoth.

23:29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds

at Engedi.

24:1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following

the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David

[is] in the wilderness of Engedi.

24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel,

and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild

goats.

24:3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where [was] a

cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men

remained in the sides of the cave.

24:4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which

the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy

into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem

good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of

Saul's robe privily.

24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote

him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do

this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch

forth mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of the

LORD.

24:7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered

them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the

cave, and went on [his] way.

24:8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and

cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul

looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth,

and bowed himself.

24:9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words,

saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

24:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD

had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and

[some] bade [me] kill thee: but [mine eye] spared thee; and I

said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he

[is] the LORD'S anointed.

24:11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe

in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and

killed thee not, know thou and see that [there is] neither evil

nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against

thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me

of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness

proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon

thee.

24:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost

thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and

thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine

hand.

24:16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of

speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy

voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

24:17 And he said to David, Thou [art] more righteous than I:

for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee

evil.

24:18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt

well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into

thine hand, thou killedst me not.

24:19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?

wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done

unto me this day.

24:20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be

king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in

thine hand.

24:21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt

not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my

name out of my father's house.

24:22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David

and his men gat them up unto the hold.

25:1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered

together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at

Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of

Paran.

25:2 And [there was] a man in Maon, whose possessions [were] in

Carmel; and the man [was] very great, and he had three thousand

sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in

Carmel.

25:3 Now the name of the man [was] Nabal; and the name of his

wife Abigail: and [she was] a woman of good understanding, and

of a beautiful countenance: but the man [was] churlish and evil

in his doings; and he [was] of the house of Caleb.

25:4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his

sheep.

25:5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the

young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him

in my name:

25:6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth [in prosperity],

Peace [be] both to thee, and peace [be] to thine house, and

peace [be] unto all that thou hast.

25:7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy

shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was

there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in

Carmel.

25:8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let

the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good

day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto

thy servants, and to thy son David.

25:9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal

according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

25:10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who [is]

David? and who [is] the son of Jesse? there be many servants

now a days that break away every man from his master.

25:11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh

that I have killed for my shearers, and give [it] unto men,

whom I know not whence they [be]?

25:12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and

came and told him all those sayings.

25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his

sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also

girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four

hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

25:14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife,

saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to

salute our master; and he railed on them.

25:15 But the men [were] very good unto us, and we were not

hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were

conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

25:16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the

while we were with them keeping the sheep.

25:17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for

evil is determined against our master, and against all his

household: for he [is such] a son of Belial, that [a man]

cannot speak to him.

25:18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and

two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five

measures of parched [corn], and an hundred clusters of raisins,

and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid [them] on asses.

25:19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I

come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

25:20 And it was [so, as] she rode on the ass, that she came

down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men

came down against her; and she met them.

25:21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that

this [fellow] hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was

missed of all that [pertained] unto him: and he hath requited

me evil for good.

25:22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I

leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light any

that pisseth against the wall.

25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off

the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself

to the ground,

25:24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, [upon]

me [let this] iniquity [be]: and let thine handmaid, I pray

thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine

handmaid.

25:25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial,

[even] Nabal: for as his name [is], so [is] he; Nabal [is] his

name, and folly [is] with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the

young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

25:26 Now therefore, my lord, [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy

soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming

to [shed] blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand,

now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be

as Nabal.

25:27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought

unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that

follow my lord.

25:28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for

the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my

lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been

found in thee [all] thy days.

25:29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul:

but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life

with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them

shall he sling out, [as out] of the middle of a sling.

25:30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done

to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken

concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over

Israel;

25:31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of

heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless,

or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall

have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

25:32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed [be] the LORD God of

Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

25:33 And blessed [be] thy advice, and blessed [be] thou, which

hast kept me this day from coming to [shed] blood, and from

avenging myself with mine own hand.

25:34 For in very deed, [as] the LORD God of Israel liveth,

which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst

hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto

Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

25:35 So David received of her hand [that] which she had brought

him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I

have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in

his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart [was]

merry within him, for he [was] very drunken: wherefore she told

him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

25:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone

out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his

heart died within him, and he became [as] a stone.

25:38 And it came to pass about ten days [after], that the LORD

smote Nabal, that he died.

25:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed

[be] the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from

the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the

LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.

And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to

wife.

25:40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to

Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee,

to take thee to him to wife.

25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on [her] face to the

earth, and said, Behold, [let] thine handmaid [be] a servant to

wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

25:42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with

five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after

the messengers of David, and became his wife.

25:43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also

both of them his wives.

25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to

Phalti the son of Laish, which [was] of Gallim.

26:1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not

David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, [which is] before

Jeshimon?

26:2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph,

having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek

David in the wilderness of Ziph.

26:3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] before

Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he

saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul

was come in very deed.

26:5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had

pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner

the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the

trench, and the people pitched round about him.

26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and

to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who

will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I

will go down with thee.

26:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and,

behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear

stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people

lay round about him.

26:8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy

into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I

pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will

not [smite] him the second time.

26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can

stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be

guiltless?

26:10 David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD

shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall

descend into battle, and perish.

26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand

against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now

the spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and

let us go.

26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's

bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw [it], nor knew

[it], neither awaked: for they [were] all asleep; because a

deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the

top of an hill afar off; a great space [being] between them:

26:14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of

Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and

said, Who [art] thou [that] criest to the king?

26:15 And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man?

and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou

not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in

to destroy the king thy lord.

26:16 This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] the

LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept

your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's

spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.

26:17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, [Is] this thy

voice, my son David? And David said, [It is] my voice, my lord,

O king.

26:18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his

servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand?

26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the

words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against

me, let him accept an offering: but if [they be] the children

of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they have driven

me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD,

saying, Go, serve other gods.

26:20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before

the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to

seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the

mountains.

26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I

will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in

thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have

erred exceedingly.

26:22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and

let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his

faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into [my] hand to

day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S

anointed.

26:24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine

eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD,

and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

26:25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, my son David:

thou shalt both do great [things], and also shalt still

prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his

place.

27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by

the hand of Saul: [there is] nothing better for me than that I

should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and

Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of

Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

27:2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred

men that [were] with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of

Gath.

27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every

man with his household, [even] David with his two wives,

Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's

wife.

27:4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he

sought no more again for him.

27:5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in

thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the

country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant

dwell in the royal city with thee?

27:6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag

pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

27:7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the

Philistines was a full year and four months.

27:8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites,

and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those [nations were]

of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even

unto the land of Egypt.

27:9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman

alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses,

and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to

Achish.

27:10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And

David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south

of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

27:11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring

[tidings] to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying,

So did David, and so [will be] his manner all the while he

dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

27:12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people

Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant

for ever.

28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines

gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with

Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that

thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

28:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy

servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make

thee keeper of mine head for ever.

28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and

buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put

away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of

the land.

28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came

and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together,

and they pitched in Gilboa.

28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was

afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

28:6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him

not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath

a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.

And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that

hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and

he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by

night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar

spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee.

28:9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul

hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar

spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then

layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

28:10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the LORD

liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this

thing.

28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And

he said, Bring me up Samuel.

28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud

voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou

deceived me? for thou [art] Saul.

28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest

thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of

the earth.

28:14 And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said,

An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle. And

Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with [his]

face to the ground, and bowed himself.

28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to

bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the

Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me,

and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams:

therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto

me what I shall do.

28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me,

seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine

enemy?

28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the

LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to

thy neighbour, [even] to David:

28:18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor

executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the

LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into

the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow [shalt] thou and thy

sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of

Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was

sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no

strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all

the night.

28:21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore

troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed

thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have

hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

28:22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the

voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread

before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou

goest on thy way.

28:23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his

servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he

hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat

upon the bed.

28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted,

and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded [it], and did bake

unleavened bread thereof:

28:25 And she brought [it] before Saul, and before his servants;

and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to

Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which [is] in

Jezreel.

29:2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and

by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward

with Achish.

29:3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What [do] these

Hebrews [here]? And Achish said unto the princes of the

Philistines, [Is] not this David, the servant of Saul the king

of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years,

and I have found no fault in him since he fell [unto me] unto

this day?

29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and

the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow

return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast

appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest

in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he

reconcile himself unto his master? [should it] not [be] with

the heads of these men?

29:5 [Is] not this David, of whom they sang one to another in

dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten

thousands?

29:6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, [as]

the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and

thy coming in with me in the host [is] good in my sight: for I

have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me

unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.

29:7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease

not the lords of the Philistines.

29:8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what

hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee

unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of

my lord the king?

29:9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou

[art] good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the

princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with

us to the battle.

29:10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy

master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be

up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

29:11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the

morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the

Philistines went up to Jezreel.

30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to

Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the

south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

30:2 And had taken the women captives, that [were] therein: they

slew not any, either great or small, but carried [them] away,

and went on their way.

30:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, [it

was] burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and

their daughters, were taken captives.

30:4 Then David and the people that [were] with him lifted up

their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

30:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the

Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of

stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved,

every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David

encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

30:7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I

pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought

thither the ephod to David.

30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue

after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him,

Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and without fail

recover [all].

30:9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that [were] with

him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left

behind stayed.

30:10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two

hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not

go over the brook Besor.

30:11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him

to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him

drink water;

30:12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two

clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came

again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk [any] water,

three days and three nights.

30:13 And David said unto him, To whom [belongest] thou? and

whence [art] thou? And he said, I [am] a young man of Egypt,

servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three

days agone I fell sick.

30:14 We made an invasion [upon] the south of the Cherethites,

and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah, and upon the

south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

30:15 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this

company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt

neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master,

and I will bring thee down to this company.

30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, [they were]

spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and

dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out

of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the

evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them,

save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

30:18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried

away: and David rescued his two wives.

30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor

great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any

[thing] that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they

drave before those [other] cattle, and said, This [is] David's

spoil.

30:21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint

that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to

abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David,

and to meet the people that [were] with him: and when David

came near to the people, he saluted them.

30:22 Then answered all the wicked men and [men] of Belial, of

those that went with David, and said, Because they went not

with us, we will not give them [ought] of the spoil that we

have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children,

that they may lead [them] away, and depart.

30:23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with

that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and

delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his

part [is] that goeth down to the battle, so [shall] his part

[be] that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

30:25 And it was [so] from that day forward, that he made it a

statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

30:26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto

the elders of Judah, [even] to his friends, saying, Behold a

present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

30:27 To [them] which [were] in Bethel, and to [them] which

[were] in south Ramoth, and to [them] which [were] in Jattir,

30:28 And to [them] which [were] in Aroer, and to [them] which

[were] in Siphmoth, and to [them] which [were] in Eshtemoa,

30:29 And to [them] which [were] in Rachal, and to [them] which

[were] in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to [them] which

[were] in the cities of the Kenites,

30:30 And to [them] which [were] in Hormah, and to [them] which

[were] in Chorashan, and to [them] which [were] in Athach,

30:31 And to [them] which [were] in Hebron, and to all the

places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of

Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in

mount Gilboa.

31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his

sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and

Malchishua, Saul's sons.

31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit

him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and

thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and

thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would

not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and

fell upon it.

31:5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell

likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and

all his men, that same day together.

31:7 And when the men of Israel that [were] on the other side of

the valley, and [they] that [were] on the other side Jordan,

saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons

were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the

Philistines came and dwelt in them.

31:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines

came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three

sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

31:9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and

sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish

[it in] the house of their idols, and among the people.

31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and

they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that

which the Philistines had done to Saul;

31:12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took

the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of

Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

31:13 And they took their bones, and buried [them] under a tree

at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Webmaster
©1997 William H. Lawson, Jr.
bill@livingweb.com
Updated: June 28, 1997